31 Days of Gratitude {Day 2} San Diego Airshow

We had a full day yesterday, so though I made sure that I really tried to take it all in and be thankful for it all, I did not have time to put it into words here at the end of the day.  So here I am to do that this morning instead.  

Our day was spent in Miramar, CA at the airshow.  This is our second year going (last year's post here), and we enjoyed another long, but fun day this time around too.  It was hot, though not as hot as last year, and this year we brought more water which helped too.

Happy Feast of the Guardian Angels.  We pray the Guardian Angel prayer every day (usually several times) with the girls.  It's definitely one of our favorites.  

What beautiful reassurance that God is watching out for us and caring for us.  

This challenge is already making me taking a closer look at the relationships in my life and causing me to be more grateful for the beautiful moments  that happen each and every day with people I love.  I caught these two having a sweet daddy/daughter moment. 

I love seeing my husband share his interests with his girls. He's such an incredible dad. 

 

Kayla loved on her littlest sis, made new friends, and led the group in watching the planes.  Since she's so small, she was able to find a spot at the fence to get a better view of the planes, and she was not scared at all to stand up there without any of us.  Later she was able to convince her sisters to come up with her.  She's a good leader. 

 

Elise was not having the noise of it all when we first got there, but by the time we watched the Blue Angels she was the most excited and engaged of them all.  She is our fearful child, and it was beautiful watching the slow transformation as she let go of her fears and embraced the thrill of the day. 

 

Ava, Ava, Ava...what a ham.  I love her little winky-eye that she does these days.  She spent a good part of the airshow dancing around  and asking for more apples and hugging my shins.  Love that kid. She is also a test to my patience when she gets tired because then she is just a bear.  But my patience needs work, so....  :)

I'm always grateful for this sweetie who is my almost-constant companion especially when we're out.  She's usually in the carrier with me or climbing up on my legs or diving into my lap.  She has a smile for everyone and everything and reminds me to do the same.  

There was a lot to take in around us at the airshow.  I was constantly amazed, awed, and inspired by the talent, fearlessness, and boldness of the pilots.  

The pictures aren't high quality, but it gives you a tiny glimpse into how awesome and daring and precise these pilots are and what wonder fills the sky when you have your face turned skyward.  

I was so, so grateful for a bowl of chocolate ice cream (with M&M's!) to end my day yesterday.  All the sun and fun wore me out and that bowl of ice cream was Just. So. delicious! And. So. Refreshing!

San Diego Air Show 2014

Earlier in the month, we went to an air show at Miramar (a Marine base) near San Diego. Unlike other air shows around the country, this one is both awesome AND free so we were able to take the girls to experience something new and exciting at no cost! Yeah for living in SoCal!


The show was incredible, and I can definitely say that no pictures or descriptions I can put up here do any justice to the awesome experience, but we'll put some up anyway so that the memories will be recorded for future remembering with the girls.


Sunhats because it was HOT! Not normal weather this time of year here in Southern California...we brought what I thought was tons of water, but at the end of the day, I think we could have used even more. But we had enough and lots of fun snacks too.

There were two parachute teams (Navy Leapfrogs and the Army Golden Knights), Sean D. Tucker in the Oracle Challenger (a bi-plane) doing all sorts of neat stunts, the F-35 in it's first public appearance, The Patriots jet team, the Red Bull Helo and Air Force, and a Marine demonstration team, MAGTF (Marine Air Ground Task Force). In the MAGTF there were two KC-130J's for refueling, 3 MV-22 Ospreys for transport, two F/A-18 Hornets for air support, 4 CH-45 Sea Knights for transport, 2 AH-1Z Super Cobras for air support, a UH-1Y Huey, 1 CH-53E Super Stallion for cargo, 2 AV-8B Harriers for air support,plus some M1-A1-s (tanks)as well as some other ground transport including a HMMWV.
And then of course the Fat Albert and the famed Blue Angels.


Parachute teams


Marine demonstration. In the picture with the three helicopters, the first one was being retired and this was it's final flight.



F-18 fly by


I love these shots of the girls watching the show. We got there early enough to get pretty close to the front and after a few folks departed for the rest of the day, the girls were able to snag a spot right up front. They loved watching the planes. It was a long day, but a great one. We had to skip naps, so here was Ava's solution when she had a few tired moments throughout the day.






The Patriot team


Ava and Elise taking an afternoon break in the stroller, reading the Air Show program.



Blue Angels




More Blue Angels

Afterwards, we were able to check out some of the planes up close too. The girls were thrilled by the whole experience.


And Kayla became an airplane and had her own little air show. The pilots of the planes in her airshow were Ariel and Rapunzel and they did all sorts of amazing tricks.