A mini vacation...

....and NOT to San Antonio! Haha, finally! I am very excited about our upcoming trip to Houston/Charleston/Houston this Friday! We are going to Charleston to scope things out and see what our future home is like. I'm excited just to go anywhere, but I have heard so many good things about Charleston and how so many people want to go there, I think its pretty cool that the Air Force wants us to live there (unless they change their minds and tell us to go somewhere else, which I don't expect to happen but still could b/c its the Air Force and they like to change their minds sometimes). Don't worry, I will take my new camera, which I love, and post lots of pictures.



I am also excited b/c I am going to get my hair cut for the first time since October (I know right!) and I am probably going to lighten it. Hopefully I will get in before we go to SC and then you can see that in our pics, otherwise, I guess you'll have to visit me in person... Rachel Black ;). Haha, you know I just kid with you, and you are probably really excited right now that you made the blog; miss you!



That's about all I've got for now...until after the trip!! :)

(I had to throw the C-17 on there...its just too cool not to!)

Orders!!

So, they are in. Here is our schedule from now until September when Kyle begins at Charleston (as always with they Air Force, these are subject to change):

Feb 29 - March 3: Houston
March 4 - 8: Trip to Charleston
March 8 - 12: Houston
March 13 - 16: Del Rio
March 17 - 21: Water Survival in Pensacola, FL (Kyle only, I stay in Del Rio)
March 22 - April 6: Del Rio - move out
April 7 - July 15: Altus, OK (I plan on spending time in Houston and OK)
July 16 - 23: Del Rio - out process
July 24 - August 16: Land Survival in Washington (again, Kyle only. During this time the blog will be down)
August 17 - 18: Houston
August 19 - forever: Charleston

Its so exciting to have a plan; it definitly makes things more real!

Graduation

Graduation this past weekend was wonderful! It was so great to have so much family here to see Kyle get his wings and officially become an Air Force pilot! Those that were unable to make it were definatly missed.

The festivities started on Thursday when the class held a retreat ceremony at the flag pole. The 3 training planes here (the T-6, T-1 and T-38) did a flyover and after that we went to the officers club for some an informal awards ceremony. Friday was actual graduation day. The ceremony was held on Friday morning. Kyle received 2 awards: the Distinguished Graduate for his T-1 class as well as the Commander's Trophy. We were surprised and very honored that he was recognized in such a way! After he received his wings we went out to the flightline for some photos by the planes. Friday evening was the banquet for the graduates. It was a very nice evening and I think everyone really enjoyed themselves. Our families were also able to "fly" the simulator with a little (or a lot) of help from Kyle ;).

It was a really great weekend; a very nice way to cap off the past year. It has been a good year, it definatly had its ups and downs with challenges for both Kyle and I, and we are very excited for the next stage in Charleston! Thank you all so much for your support of us this past year. I put together a little slidshow with some of the pictures from this weekend. Enjoy!

We're moving!

Last night Kyle and I found out that he will be flying the C-17 Globemaster III at Charleston AFB in South Carolina. We are both really excited about this assignment and believe it is truly an answer to prayer! We don't have orders yet, so we have no idea when we will actually be moving, but the guess is we will be in SC by late summer. Thank you all for your prayers!

Here are some pictures of the C-17:

Today is the day...

Well, the day has come. After a whole year of thinking this day is so far off, we are getting our assignment tonight. It really hasn't sunk in yet that UPT is pretty much over, but I think once I see a plane on that screen and Kyle standing there, I'll get it. Maybe. None the less, I am excited and a little nervous. I'll keep you updated as to where we are going and what Kyle will be flying. Be praying for us today!

Finished!

Well, Kyle is now T-1/UPT complete! He flew his last check ride today and did very well! I am so proud of him; he has worked so hard this past year, and on Friday, we will see what that hard work translates into.

I lied.

Ok, so the order I listed below is no longer correct. The top 3 choices are still the same, but then we listed the other C-17 options, then KC-1os and some other planes then FAIP. So, its similar, but things rarely stay the same for long in the military, even when its us doing the deciding. Anyhow, I thought y'all would like to know.