SOS

Part of SOS is performing "spirit missions." Dave's class has had plenty of fun with this. Yesterday they covered the Flight Commander's sports car with a painted car cover and Bart and Homer.

This is their first spirit mission. The class dressed the statue on base as a knight, their mascot.

Miranda's Citizenship Award

The award reads:

Once there was talking, I said "whoever is talking will have to move their name." Miranda got up and moved her name. This impressed me and I believe she showed a lot of integrity. She was more concerned about doing the right thing instead of getting into trouble.

I am very proud of my little girls.

McKenzie has been doing really well as well. I am very proud of her this week too. She has been struggling a little in fifth grade with other friends. She had a situation that wasn't particularly the best for her and she asked to sit down with the other person involved and the parents and tell the girl how she felt by how she was treated! Way to go McKenzie! It was a very healthy way for her to express her feelings and change how she was being treated.

Mei Lan--Atlanta's Beauty

The girls received their report cards on Friday and that is the day that I found out that the panda cub was allowed out for visitor viewing at the zoo. Miranda wanted to go ice skating, but it wasn't much work to have her trade her ice skating trip for a trip to Atlanta to see the new baby panda.

We knew we weren't guaranteed to see the panda, but I was hoping. We woke up at 5 am in order to be there by 9 for a member's only view.....well. Things didn't go quite as planned and we didn't make it until regular viewing. The mommy panda was scared early that morning from all of the flash of cameras when she brought the baby out (before we arrived) and wasn't coming back out with the cub. We waited patiently for quite some time, and decided to leave the zoo.

We went to CNN and took the tour. That was a lot of fun. I convinced Dave and McKenzie to let me take Miranda back to the zoo one last time before we left Atlanta.

Miranda and I waited patiently in the packed little enclosure, trying to be as quiet as could be so that mommy panda would bring the baby out. It was fun to watch the video in the den behind the visitor viewing. She was "mopping" the floor with the baby by pulling her by the neck and legs, kind of like a mommy kitty. We waited and waited. She finally came out and saw all of the people through the glass and immediately turned and took the cub back to her den. We got a two second glance, and I didn't think that I got a picture, but I did!!!!! It isn't very good, but this is all we saw of the little fur ball. But we did see her!
It's hard to tell that it is a panda cub. The cub is facing the mom. You can see the black little ears to the left and the reddish color is the nape of her neck where mommy bites her and carriers her. It is the staining of her fur from the vitamin biscuits that mom eats.

This is the second click of the camera. One when she started to come out and the second as she turned quickly to leave!

Trip to Oregon!

Krystal, Brian, Kyndall, Me, Mom and Dad



My scrapbooking girls!!! It was so good to see them. We had a wonderful time at Baja Fresh just being together. I can't wait for my trip in July to spend some more time with them.



This is my first few moments with Kyndall. She is precious. I am so thankful that I was able to go see her and the rest of my family.


It was good to be able to spend a few visits with Grandma.



If you have been around me long, you know that besides people in Oregon, this is what I miss. THE MOUNTAINS!!!! I want to wake up every morning with this outside my window.


I experienced snow for the first time in a long time. I don't love it. It looks really nice from a distance :)

I have tons to post and will keep trying to do a little at a time. I won't share them all, but I took over 200 pictures while I was gone :)

I'm a New Auntie!!!

My brother called last night at 4:00 p.m. and said that he was headed to the hospital. Krystal was already there. She was dilated to 3 and 90% effaced. I kept my cell phone close to my side all night. Kyndall RaeAnne was born at 9:51 p.m. on December 27, 2006. She weighed 7 lbs 12 oz and is healthy. Both Krystal and Kyndall are doing well. I'm so relieved. I won't miss seeing her on my trip!!! She also arrived prior to the New Year, so it is financially helpful to her parents :)

Pray for Grandma Waggener

My mom called today and said that Grandma's Doctor confirmed that she has kidney failure and he has given her 2 weeks to 2 months left here on this earth. She has lived a nice, long life of 85 years for Christ. I am amazed at God's planning in the timing of my trip home. I am beginning to understand that God may have a bigger plan than I imagined. Please pray that I am settled with whatever happens in the timing of the new baby and what may be Grandma's last few months.

Merry Christmas

I wish that I would have had the camera at the Christmas Eve Candlelight service. Dave was responsible for this service this year. It was very nice. I love Christmas and how it reminds me of Christ's love for us.

The girls had a lot of fun opening their gifts!
Miranda got a Polly Cruise Ship!

McKenzie got a new bike!

It has been HOT!

I'm going to have trouble adjusting to Oregon weather when I am home. Last night at 5:30 p.m. it was 78 degrees. Tonight it was 74! Because it is December and a complete habit, I found myself putting on my leather coat as I headed out the door. I got in the car and felt a little hot. No wonder! I was afraid that I didn't dress appropriately for the night with a sleeveless dress and flip flops. I don't even know if I will be able to comprehend how cold I really am going to be when I get to Oregon!

Visit to Santa

Miranda went to go see Santa. I would love to include photos of McKenzie, but she is way too big to be seen doing that!

Dad bribed Miranda to ask Santa for a motorcycle for him too. She enjoyed Starbucks afterwards.

Miranda ate up the fact that she was going to enjoy Santa this year. She even rode his train!

Miranda's Christmas Program

How can you have Christmas without the annual Christmas Program? They are so cute!


This is one of the many faces of Miranda. She wasn't happy that mom wanted a picture of her with her gingerbread house.


I told her she couldn't go outside until I got a good smile. That's my girl!



We were able to have lunch with McKenzie too!

Dave has been selected for SOS!

Dave found out this week that he is going to SOS (Squadron Officer's School)! This is a school for Captains. He felt honored to be selected to go as such a "young" Captain. I am delighted that he has been chosen, although it is right when my niece is due. I'm going to have to make some adjustments with my trip. I'll leave on Dec 31 and come back home on January 7 for him to start class on January 8. Congratulations Dave!

Christmas Decorating!

It is tradition for us to wait until December 4 to decorate for Christmas. We always wait until after Miranda's birthday is finished. This year was quite a bit different. Miranda got the stomach flu the night of her birthday, passed it on to Dave, then Kenzie, and then me. We are finally through it. We finally got to the decorating today. Last year on the after Christmas clearance sales I bought a new Christmas tree and realized that I may have gone a little too big. Luckily, our house accommodates 9 1/2 feet....the angel is a little smashed. I love big trees! We are almost ready for Christmas. I will finalize the decorating and cleaning tomorrow when everybody goes back to work and school.

Randa Panda is 7!

Miranda chose a Panda Karaoke party this year. Some of the little girls hadn't experienced Karaoke before. They all loved it and we heard "What I Like About You" more times than any one could bear!


Don't be fooled! This isn't an ice cream cone. It's a microphone. We had to improvise with Miranda's pinata.







You know a birthday party is a success when you are told that this is fun and they comment that they want to live with you! Do they think we do this everyday?


Papa John and Nanny Nadine sent a Duck's shirt. Go Ducks!

Preparing for Panda Party!

Miranda requested a Panda Karaoke party this year. Here is her cake. The party is tomorrow. I'm sure it will be lots of fun.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving. We had a relaxing day and enjoyed a nice dinner. We invited our neighbors, John, Brandy and Colton. I only had to do half the cooking! We are very thankful for our family, friends and health. We are blessed!

McKenzie's Thanksgiving Art

Miranda's Thanksgiving Art. It is a turkey crossing the road!