Family Vacation in Sedona!

What a wonderful week of family bliss! John and I were able to spend five days with my family in a gorgeous cabin up Oak Creek Canyon near Sedona, Arizona. We met up with them on Friday night after we got done with work. The rest of the family had arrived the day before. Megan, my sister-in-law, was gracious enough to offer HER family cabin for our family's enjoyment, and we utilized it to the fullest! The place is incredible, having its own guest house and a separate workout room. It has river-front access, a hot tub, a huge kitchen, and enough bedrooms and bathrooms to accomodate all thirteen of us! We had a wonderful time, playing ping pong, watching the Olympics, catching up on each others lives, and, most importantly, eating way too much food. Everyone was worried we wouldn't have enough to go around, which just resulted in enough food to feed a small nation for a month. That's how we like it! It was a great week with great people, and John got to meet my parents and oldest sister for the first time. No worries, since they already loved him before they met him! How could they not?!

It was a real treat being able to spend a whole week with my man and not having to worry about leaving for work. The nice thing is I never got sick of him, and I just want to be with him even more. I think the rest of our lives together won't be long enough, so I am glad we are doing eternity, too! Golly, I love that man!

Oshkosh 2008

What a terrific week! I was Captain of the Beechjet during the EAA Airventure Airshow in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It is the largest airshow in North America and the second-largest airshow in the world! Thousands and thousands of people in their airplanes come to Oshkosh for a week of aerobatic demonstrations, unveilings of new airplanes, and just to meet and mingle with pilots from all over the world. We left Sunday from Phoenix and stopped in Salina, Kansas for fuel. My passengers wanted to fly over the Oshkosh airfield, but we had to wait until after the tower and airport closed at 8:00 PM to do that. The airport we were parking at, Fond Du Lac, was located about 14 miles to the south and closed at 8:30 PM! So my timing had to be perfect to get us there in that half-hour window. It all worked out and was a blast!

Celebrities who are aviation nuts were there, including Harrison Ford and John Travolta. We had very long days, heading to the show each morning at about 7:00 AM (5:00 AM my time) and not returning to the La Quinta until after midnight each evening because of the fly-in movie shown on a huge, five-story, inflatable screen. I spent most of the day walking around looking at airplanes. Those of you who know me know I was in complete heaven! I also took the opportunity to sit and watch people, which is a favorite past-time of mine.

We left Fond Du Lac around 3:00 PM on Friday afternoon after a breakfast at Eclipse Aviation to hear about their recent changes (we have an Eclipse flying in our fleet and a few more ordered). We landed in Salina for fuel yet again, then landed in Phoenix after going around some weather at about 5:00 PM. It was a wonderful week with perfect skies and temperatures for the airshow. I have several tans lines and was even called "my little Mexican" by John when I got home.

Speaking of getting home, I had been dreading it because I only had one day to move from Phoenix to Mesa and didn't know how I was going to get everything finished in time. When I walked into my apartment on Friday evening, I discovered that John had secretly been moving my things for me all week so I wouldn't be stressed! He was even really sick but still spent one night making trips back and forth with all the big stuff. All we had left to do on Saturday was move my bed and a few boxes. That just illuminates again what an incredible man I am marrying! I am so blessed to have him and sure love him.

Weekend in Snowflake

We went north to spend the weekend in John's home town, Snowflake, Arizona. It was beautiful! We arrived at about 9:30 on Friday evening after getting new tires on John's car. The drive lasted less than three hours, so we made good time. They had a bed made up for me and an air mattress in the living room made up for John. John's brother and sister-in-law were also up visiting for the weekend from Mesa. Saturday morning, after a yummy breakfast of cold cereal with John's 90 year-old grandma, we went to the Snowflake Pioneer Days Parade, celebrating the arrival of the pioneers to settle the city over 150 years ago. The parade was cute and lasted almost an hour! Then it was BBQ time, heading to The Social Hall for some BBQ pork, cole slaw and beans and cold watermelon. Pretty yummy!

That afternoon, we went to the park to see all the craft booths and visit John's old high school. We then went to the Snowflake Temple to take some pictures. I try to get pictures of temples if I am close! Then we went back to John's parent's home for some fishing with Mick Weir, John's dad. When a thunderstorm hit, we packed up and walked the block back to the house. John and I played wiffleball against Matthew and Heather in the yard until the pizza arrived that evening. Instead of going to the rodeo and getting rained on, we sat around the house and visited and played cribbage.

Micah, John and Brian (John's brother who lives in Snowflake) rented a movie to watch later that evening on Brian's new projection theater. John then took me to watch the fireworks and proposed to me. I said YES! We watched a movie then crashed after a great day!

Sunday morning, John was up before everyone and was able to tell them all the good news. Everyone was excited and love the ring, including me! That John Weir has great taste! After letting Brian and Julie know the good news, we hit the road to head home in time for John's church meetings that afternoon. It was such a fun weekend! I never get to be spur-of-the-moment other than at work!