Flying with Mike

On Sunday we made a decision to take Ryan up in a small airplane for the first time. He has been on an airliner about 6 or 7 times when he was pretty tiny, but nothing like this. When you are in an airliner you don't feel like you are flying in an airplane. You get on the airplane from a buliding, you can barely feel any turbulence and you can't even see the ground for 99% of the plane ride. Flying in a small airplane is such a different experience. I have been flying with Mike like 3 or 4 times so far and everytime I do, I have more fun. I get less nervous and am able to look around and take pictures and just enjoy the ride. Mike is a pretty good pilot (not that I would really even know). He likes to explain everything he is doing to me (that is the flight instructor in him). He says that one day he will teach me to fly. I don't know about that, but it would be cool to say that I know how to FLY AN AIRPLANE!

Here are some pictures of our little adventure....

He was a little nervous at first

Santa Paula airport from inside the plane

I tried to distract him by looking at the other airplanes
Wow, cool

Santa Paula from the sky

Mike flying


Just landed in Camarillo

Taking off from Camarillo

He must have been really relaxed

We had alot of fun. If Ryan grew up to love flying and airplanes like Mike, I think that would be the proudest dad in the whole world. It's important to have something that Mike and Ryan both love to and can do together.

Like Father, Like Son........

I just have to share this with everyone. People with children (especially boys) will find this funny and probably familiar.

I made meatloaf last night (it was actually pretty good), I put it on Ryan's plate he looks at it and says "ewww, poo poo". I almost fell out of my chair I thought it was so funny and to be honest, it kinda does look like it. let's just say that he didn't eat his meatloaf last night. At least I know my child won't eat just ANYTHING.

It just reminded me of how alike Mike & Ryan are and for those of you who know Mike you know what I mean when I say "poor me".

December 7th...

December 7th has alot of different meanings to me. It is both happy and sad.

December 7th, 2001 - My 18 year old cousin Anthony was killed in a car accident. This was the first time that I anyone I knew died. My grandfather died a few years eariler, but he had been sick for a long time. He had lived a long, fullilling life. Anthony was taken at such a young age. It's hard to imagine why god would take someone so young and so innocent. I guess that everything happens for a reason. There was a reason he lived and there was a reason he died.

December 7, 2006 - Ryan was born. He was born and he changed my whole life. I never knew what it meant to love another person so unconditionally. To love someone you barely knew. I felt that he had part of me. I dont think it was a concidence that Ryan was born on the same day that Anthony died. I think he was born to turn December 7th from a sad day to a happy one. To remind us of the important things in life. Life turns into death...that's what makes this world go round. The most important part of Ryan being born is that I feel he has a part of Anthony inside of him. Everytime I look at him, I remember Anthony. He is here because of Anthony, I truely believe that.

The long road has an end in sight..................

For those of you who know Mike's dad was diganosed with Lymphoma at the beginning of the year.

Well after 9 months on intense chemotherapy...HE IS DONE!!!

He said that he hasn't felt this good since before he was diagnosed.

Please keep him in your prayers, he still has a long road ahead of him, but at least now he can start to get his life back.