What we do for our kids.

Sixth grade at our elementary school is filled with new experiences. The biggest for the kids is the three day trip to Camp Cimi, located on Catalina Island. There they learn about marine life, learn to snorkel, but mostly just have fun. Every year more and more parents want to chaperon this event and so the teachers put roadblocks into place to weed out those not dedicated. Parents have to attend several mandatory meetings, write a letter of intention that they are interested, then those that make it through all the hoops are place in a hat and the number of needed chaperons are pulled out.


With our older son, my husband, would never have even thought about missing work to attend, but with our younger one he has learned how important this is and what a great experience he will miss out on. So he jumped on the bandwagon, attended the first meeting, wrote the letter (with a large amount of help from me lol), and received the notice last night that he is in!!!!!


Below is the letter, that I wish to keep for future reference :)

Dear sixth grade teachers.


I offer this letter as my request to chaperon Camp Cimi for the sixth grade this year. I know that the standards are high and space available is low, so I thought I might offer up some special qualifications, which I have, that might influence your decision.


1. I own a home in Mammoth and would be more than willing to share.

2. I am in good shape (round is a shape).

3. Being in the shape I am, I can help out in several capacities:

A floating buoy.

If no whales are spotted I could swim out in my wetsuit and imitate one.

A life saving device for anyone who might be drowning.

4. Mammoth

5. I could keep Anthony Price in check (ya right!)

6. I just bought a new thong and have no place to wear it.

7. I represent a good male role model :}

8. I only drink when I am alone, or when I’m with Anthony.

9. I am great entertainment; have you seen my impression of a duck?

10. Did I mention Mammoth?


Thank you for your consideration regarding this and if you have any questions or would like further qualifications or recommendations please contact me.

Sincerely,

My life through facebook.........

Some special memories from my facebook status I want to remember:


Today I feel like Dorothy, but without the adventure, when she gets back to reality and has to clean up the mess from the tornado. Which in my case means one XL trampoline that flew over the wall n a block down the street, some nice men stopped n helped us carry it back, but we still couldn't get it through our tractor gate, a broken windshield on kevs car, a dog who is permanently traumatized, numerous trees down, and no electricity.:) (December 1, 2011)


Thinking of doing an au natural xmas tree this year. No lights, no ornaments, no work,......just a wonderful smell, now if I could just get the rest of the family on board (although it is us moms that do all the decorating work anyway lol) (Dec 7, 2011)

Kellan skyped me tonight, then wanted to show me where he was......next thing I saw was my license plate.......needless to say I went screaming outside. It is so good to have him home! :) (Dec 14, 2011)


Last night my bunco group celebrated our 20th year together, what a blessing to have friends to go through the stages of life with!!!! (Dec 9. 2011)

My Hubby!

Recently my hubby was asked to submit a profile for a website he was being featured on and I was lucky enough to write it for him. It allowed me to reflect on all that he has accomplished and all that he continues to accomplish as The Discovery Channel recently asked him to be a part of their special on flying which he will be featured in:


Kevin's love of flying began at an early age as he watched his father’s enthusiasm as a pilot for United Airlines, and grew into a passion that only continues to get stronger each year.

At the age of sixteen, Kevin soloed his first aircraft and at the age of seventeen he received his private pilot license. He graduated from Metropolitan State College in December of 1980 with a degree in Aviation.

His actual flying career began when he became a flight instructor at the age of eighteen at Cable Airport in Upland, California. It is here that Kevin fell in love with the teaching aspect of flying, which still continues today as he strives to mentor and train pilots at every level, whether they are a student sitting in the right seat, a check ride candidate sitting in the left, or a co-pilot on a Boeing 737.

Kevin’s reputation as a thorough and extremely confident pilot caught the eye of a local businessman and a new stage of flying began for him as a corporate pilot in 1981. In 1987 Kevin fulfilled a lifelong dream of following in his father’s footsteps, by signing on with Continental Airlines. Throughout his career he has been a flight engineer on a B-727 and the DC-10, a copilot on B-737, and now resides as an LA-based captain on the B-737.

Kevin’s passion is not one to be corralled. In 1986 he began and ran his own small charter company, KMR Aviation, which began with only two employees and grew to over fifty, when sold in 2003. In September of 2009 he became the Director of Operations/Check Airman for Elite Aviation out of Van Nuys, California, a title he held until of April of 2011. He remains active in the 135 world as a training instructor and consultant for a variety of charter companies. In 2006 he was honored to be asked by the FAA to become a Designated Pilot Examiner, where he specializes in administering FAA type ratings in a variety of light business jets.

Presently Kevin has the privilege of holding an Airline Transport Pilot certificate and Certified Flight Instructor ratings with type ratings in seventeen different corporate jets in addition to the B-737, and he is scheduled to include a nineteenth rating on the Phenom 300, by the end of 2011.

Flying is not a profession for Kevin, it is a calling. Kevin has passed this passion down to his youngest son, Keaton, who at the age of twelve is on his way to becoming as amazing pilot as his dad.

Aviation Roles
Director of Operations, Check Airman, FAA Designated Pilot Examiner, Training Instructor
Special Skills
17 Type Ratings, Boeing 727, Boeing 737, DC-10

A Scheidemantle Adventure

Kellan's ex-girlfriend, Hayley, promised Keaton long ago a fishing trip. She is one to never forget a promise and so last week she and her mom, Cindy, picked him up for a Scheidemantle adventure, which means lots of action. They went up the mountain to Arrowhead when they got a call from Alyssa, Hayleys sister, that her credit card was stolen. Cindy had to hit the nearest bank and after that they decided to do the trout farm, it was closed. As a last resort they went to Puddingstone, where they had a blast and even included a five mile hike to the VOR.

I always kid that Keaton should have been born into their family, because they love to do everything he does and like them he just keeps going like an energizer bunny.

They also have the same sense of humor Cindy told me she was teasing Keaton that his dad needed to find her a pilot and she didn't care if he was short and fat and ugly, he just needed to be nice. And Keaton replied, so I should tell him your desperate. Lol...Keaton should have fun in Cindy's jr high classroom:)

Thank you Hayley and Cindy for making the day so special for Keaton!!!!! Next time I want to go! But not if it is one of your marathons lol.

A Stranger in Room 160.

Today, I walked into room 160 at San Antonio hospital looking for my sister, but instead I encountered a stranger.

The person there was the same height as my sister yet that is where the similarity ended. For where my sister has beautiful black hair which has never gone gray, even though she is nine years older then me, this woman had wispy strings of hair making her look like a zombie in a horror movie.

Where my sister has beautiful skin that she took great pride in, this person had scaly dried skin, making her look wrinkled and a good forty years older then my sisters fifty-five.

Where my sister had a figure to be proud of and well she should, as she took great care in watching her weight and making sure it stayed the same as she was in high school. This person looked like a skeleton, twenty pounds less then my sisters ideal weight.

I took a step back at this sight, and a second look at the numbers on the door. Yes, this was the right room number. I began to wonder if perhaps they had given me the wrong room in error. As I turned to leave my eyes fell on a framed picture near this woman's bed. I recognized the people in it; my niece and her two day old son....... my sisters, daughter and first grandchild. The light began to dawn and as I once again looked to this woman her eyes lifted to mine and lit up at the sight of me. I knew instantly that this was indeed my sister, Denise.

In that moment memories came rushing at me, like a tidal wave you are unprepared for. Her smell hit me first. The smell of her is different than any other person I know and it was ingrained in my senses during the Saturday mornings of my childhood. I would get up early and crawl into her bed, falling into her deep mattress and being cacooned in her warmth. There we would stay cuddling and laughing until the outside world made us enter it. I remember her feeding me, bathing me, and even licking her thumb and scrubbing my face with it when I needed to look presentable. I remember spending almost every weekend from the age of twelve on, when she and Bob married, at their home, learning how to be a parent by watching her raise her children. I remember her door was never locked, but most importantly, her arms were always open to me at any age, or time of day.

In that instant, all the episodes of my life that she had been a part of, brought me to a very simple conclusion. My sisters outside was but a shell, but shining through those eyes was the unconditional love that she has always given me and which is the essence of who she is.

My sister, Denise and her Grandson, Grey (three months).

Creating a goodbye "remembrance" necklace for Fe, that including everything from an airplane, to pictures of the boys, to a chicken as a reminder of me, sparked a creative outlet that had lain dormant for sometime. Five of my nieces birthdays falling together allowed me to feed this new obsession and release some creativity.

A bracelet for Cara that I used scrap paper, some "liquid vinyl" type substance and crystals.

Earring made from old buttons (green) for Lauren and the bright colors of Andrea, her twin sister, which I hoped,(and did) remind her of Spain.

My two nieces, Michelle and Monique (who happen to be sister-in-laws) and both having and had their first babies, received lockets.

Michelle, whose son, Grey, is three months old received hers already with his smiling face enclosed....she loved it and cried big tears...... I told her it was hormones :)

Monique's is waiting for that special someone to make his/her appearance.

So much fun to make and give gifts filled with love.

Passing on life lessons...........

My 18 year old son, Kellan, came storming through the garage door, metaphoric steam rising from his being. When I asked him what was wrong he threw his hands up in disgust and uttered one word...."Fe", as he exited through the patio door and into the night.

Seconds later his girlfriend, Fe, came striding through the garage door with anger and frustration emanating from her every pore. I asked her the same question and received a somewhat garbled response "YOUR SON...(unrecognizable word in her native German language).....ARROGANT......(another German word that I thought I knew, but can't be repeated)......PHYSICS....!!!!!! As she stormed upstairs.

I thought to myself, yes, he is my son. Yes, he can be arrogant. And yes, he is all about physics....so glad that is cleared up;)

Enter Kellan again, still steamed. As he walked by I uttered a simple sentence,

"I hear that you are being arrogant about physics, my son?"

Fire flew from his mouth as he began to tell me his side of the story........

"You have no idea how stubborn she can be. We were discussing the fact that if you put a shirt in a plastic bag and sucked out all the air what would happen? She said it would curl up on the edges and I stated no, that because of physics, it would not.....I tried to explain it to her,but she wouldn't listen........"

At this point the giggle, that started when I realized what they were fighting about, could not be contained and erupted like a volcano.

"What are you laughing at!," indignantly exclaimed Kellan.

"Who cares if it curls or doesn't,," I gasped through tears of laughter.

Kellan finally getting the stupidity of the fight, caught my contagious laughter and soon we were both rolling on the floor.

Fe hearing us, came down to investigate and soon too was caught in our web of silliness, laughing so hard she leaned against Kellan and they both fell on the couch into each others arms.

When the laughter subsided I heard each apologize to the other for the stupidity of making a mountain out of a molehill and later when they exited the room I heard Kellan tell Fe.

"Next time we have a fight, we have to come see my mom, she can fix anything" and we all three smiled:)