Daddy Daughter Extravaganza

I am writting this blog at great personal risk. For the past year I have mercilessly mocked a few of my friends who are "bloggers." One in particular who is constantly taking pictures during pilot training for his blog, as if we were high schoolers at the prom. Therefore, let it be known that this will be my only blog, and I'm only doing it because Molly wasn't there.

This all started with a sweet deal on a car on eBay. I decided to buy the car and pick it up in New York City. Molly wanted me to take one of the girls, but we couldn't decide which. I wanted to take Maggie because Cora and I always do things together, but I wanted to take Cora because Cora and I always do things together. Molly thought I should take Maggie becasue Maggie is under the impression that Cora is my favorite, maybe that's because I keep saying Cora is my favorite. Anyway, I ended up taking both which was a great decision.

We got the term Daddy/Daughter extravaganza from Cora. When we started Daddy/Daughter dates, Cora decided that we needed to do three fun things for it to count as a Daddy/Daughter date. After some serious thought, Cora came up with the following system:

One fun thing: Daddy/Daughter Time

Two fun things: Daddy/Daughter Fun

Three fun things: Daddy/Daughter Date

Ten or more fun things: Daddy/Daughter Extravaganza

We haven't come up with anything for four through nine, we'll accept suggestions.

So as part of their Christmas gifts we told them that I was taking them to NYC to see the biggest Christmas tree in the world (maybe that's not true, but who cares, they're kids). We packed a small bag headed to Memphis for a flight to Charlotte then NYC. We took a taxi from the airport to Dunkin Donuts, which is actually the number one location to make an automobile transaction on Christmas Day. I thanked the guy for letting me pick up the car on Christmas and he replied "I'm Jewish!" I said "Sweet, I guess that worked out well."

We drove into the city, checked into the hotel and then hit the streets. Our first stop was Rockefeller Plaza to see the tree. The crowd was unbelievable, I had to fight to get through the people. I had a hand on each of the girls and a hand on my wallet.

After the Plaza we went to the ATM so the kids could get food from street vendors. I got a hundred bucks which to Cora was amazing. When we walked out of the bank, Cora announced to everyone going into the bank "MY DAD JUST GOT A HUNDRED DOLLARS!!"

Our next stop was Central Park, we took a carriage ride around the park, then went to see the ice skaters. Afterwards, I let the kids play in the snow for a while then we went back to the hotel.

The next day we woke up early and went to Toys R Us, the girls favorite store in NYC. Afterwards we began the long drive home. I planned on 15 hours to get home, that didn't work out. With the food stops, the sleep stops and because the girls could never coordinated their tinkling, we were on the road for 27 hours before we got home.

It was a great trip.

Carriage Ride aroun Central Park

Central Park

Rockefeller Plaza Christmas Tree


Rockefeller Plaza Fountain

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all our friends and family!

Good thing I'm not a goat!

Well, I now have 3 weeks and 2 days left in this pregnancy, less if I have any say in the matter. (It is my body after all) I just had to share my thoughts on how amazed I am at people's ignorance and non-consideration for the delicate emotional state a woman is in during her last month of pregnancy. After almost a full nine months of having your body no longer just be hers, and having absolutely nothing physically, emotionally, or mentally function correctly she's bound to lose it at any moment. And still people feel it is okay to offer up unsolicited advice on very personal matters.

This week at my doctor's appointment I practiced self-control like I've never practiced it before. The doctor, who I know is one person who has the right to give me his oppinion, was discussing breast feeding my baby after he is born. I proceeded to tell him that I choose not to breast feed my babies due to the fact that I don't produce enough milk. I figure this is enough information to offer up on a personal matter and it should be left at that.

He proceeds to tell me that it would be beneficial for me to feed the baby as much I can and then supplement with bottle feeding. (Easy for him to say, for anyone who hasn't done this before, it literally takes hours. He also seems to have forgotten I have already done this twice and know what works for me). He then jumps into a shpeel about how important colostrum is for the baby, and informs me of a certain species of GOATS who's babies will die if they do not recieve the much needed colostrum from their mother right after birth.

It took every ounce of self control I had to not turn to him and say, "GOOD THING I'M NOT A GOAT!!!!"

Needless to say it was a rough day, and I am still not planning on breast feeding my baby!

Introducing Maggie's Step-Dad!

Here he is....Maggie's Step-Dad.

AKA-Her real Dad

Let me explain....Kevin took the girls to their Nutcracker practice, which is usually my job. Maggie wanted to introduce Kevin to Miss Heather, one of her teachers. She turned to Miss Heather and said, "This is my step-dad."

Kevin was so shocked and amused, he didnt' even correct her! When he asked Maggie if she knew what a step-dad was she said, "Ya, it's your second dad. I was just playing a trick on Miss Heather."

Apparently, Maggie is feeling a little left out when it comes to her family dynamics!

The Black Bean Shop

One of my friend's sisters just started this company.

Could these beanies be any cuter!?

I thought I'd share the link with everyone. These would make great holiday gifts, or stocking stuffers.

ENJOY!

I'm Such a Pilot's Wife!

I never thought in a million years I'd be an Air Force wife, and what's more I never would have thought I'd like it!

We live on a training base for Air Force pilots. Once a year they have a career day for the student pilots. They bring in as many Air Force planes as they can and let you walk through them, or look into them, whatever the case may be, and the pilots answer any questions you may have.

I felt like such a loser pilot wife because I was so excited to see all the planes and get pictures. I am amazed that I have been sucked into this world of aviation and I actually find it interesting. I've become one of those wives whose husband's life has become her life. But that's not necessarily a bad thing, right?

Anyway, I am just amazed at my genuine interest and excitement over the world of aviation and grateful for the opportunity to learn and experience things I never thought I would. Who knew I would ever find myself explaining to a new student pilot what winglets are!

This is the T-38.

This is the plane Kevin is currently flying. The T-38 is a fighter/bomber training plane.

Mags and Cora were so excited to see the T-38 up close. Aren't they adorable!?

The F-16

F-16 is Kevin's second choice of assignment out of pilot training. His number one choice is the

B-2 Bomber

F-16 engine. I love the way the fighters and bombers look from the backside.

F-15D

B-1 Bomber

(front)

(back)

C-17 Globemaster

Aah the C-17. If it's possible to have sentimental feelings about an aircraft, then this is it for me. Kevin logged about 1500 hours as a loadmaster on the C-17 and I logged about 2 during a spouses flight. I take pride in the fact that on the spouse flight we flew with the back open which was something Kevin never got to do since he wasn't airdrop qualified.

P.S. Those little tips on the end of the wings are called winglets.

The girls on the ramp of the C-17.

Okay, so this doesn't have much plane in it, but the girls were cracking me up living it up inside this posh jet. It is the PC-12. .

PC-12

This is a special operations plane. Kevin will never be able to fly it. You can't weigh over 185 lbs.

KC-135

refueler/cargo carrier

C-130

Happy Halloween! '08

Happy Halloween!

Cora the Witch!

Maggie the cheerleader.

Country Pumpkins '08

We went to the local pumpkin patch, "Country Pumpkins," for family home evening and had so much fun. The girls each picked out a pumpkin and played in the hay maze, corn boxes, and cotton while Kevin and I played a rousing game of bags. I almost beat him!

What could be more fun than a trailer full of cotton!

Cora is almost 4" Tall

Mags is just over 4"

More Missouri

A Gadd Family Trip wouldn't be complete without a trip or two to the ball park. We saw the Cardinals in St. Louis (pictures with lots of red), and the Royals in Kansas City (pictures with lots of blue).

What can I say. It's a picture of Cora and Jesus.
Cute Maggie.

Crazy Cora!

Maggie loved this little cabin at the visitor's center. She wanted to play in there the whole time. I thought this was funny because it was totally dark in there because there was not light, but she didn't care.

Cora loved the statues at the Independence Visitor's Center. She wanted a picture with each one.

The fam at Liberty Jail. Just when you think the kids aren't paying attention they suprise you. They have talked about the jail again and again since we went. If it's ever mentioned in church their ears perk up and they say, "Hey, we've been there."

Mags at the St. Louis Arch.

Cora's windy model shot.

I make no promises, but I'm attempting to work on my blog again. So here are a few pics from a short trip we took to Kansas City and St. Louis, MO a few months ago.