Living in Georgia

 Thirteen years ago today I married my best friend - and boy what a ride it's been!  We married in my grandparent's backyard, the same place my parents married, amongst family and friends on a beautiful Seattle summer day (the only nice weekend day that month, remember?).  I should have known when those devil horns came out that I was in for a crazy, wild ride.  We've had our share of ups and downs but we've gotten closer because of them.  There has been so much that could have torn us apart but I think it's only made our love and commitment to each other stronger.  We moved across the country to a place where we knew no one and had no family.  And while I was scared and sad to leave, it was the best thing for us and I haven't looked back once!  We made our own family and filled it with friends that have become more like family than some of our actual family.  We've lived in three houses but have owned several more.  We've had three beauti

 After a much-needed stay at the beach, we headed home via Fort Pickens State Park.  With a military buff behind the wheel and a couple little mini-me's behind him, we had no chance to drive straight home -- but who wants to do that?  Ft. Pickens is the largest of four forts built to defend Pensacola Bay and it's navy yard built back in the 1820-30s.  We had a lot of fun doing a short walking tour of the fort.  That black dot in the middle of the picture is a Navy plane (maybe a Blue Angel) that we watched circle us and then land.  I really want to come back down and stay over a Tuesday or Wednesday so we can watch the Blue Angels perform. We had a great time and are so happy that we have friends that live here so we have an excuse to come back again and again and again....

 In addition to laying on the beach and hanging out at our friend's house, we all took some time to visit the National Naval Aviation Museum on Pensacola Naval Airstation.  There are lots of photos and I don't know much about any of them.  Here are the boys, Jack and Carson!  I still crack up over Wyatt's "cheese" face.  Jason was in seventh heaven here.  I enjoyed the Blue Angels the most, I think because I had the pleasure of meeting them one year in Seattle.  And I always think of my Grandpa Jack, as he was career Navy.  Ethan wore himself out!  We met another family with a little boy who also has Down syndrome.  They seemed really happy to run into another family going through the same thing they were.  Future pilot...  Or two!  My little blue angel.  Carson and Jack defend the world together!  Ethan loved the play area.  Ashton and Wya