A "Parade"

On Tuesday morning of our trip (May 27), we went to a parade on the parade field. The band began playing, and all 40 squadrons marched out onto the field. After some ceremony, the seniors, or "Firsties," march out of their squadron. When they were freshmen ("Doolies"), the marched into their squadron on the same field. This ceremony represented the seniors leaving and making room for the freshmen that will be arriving in June. The seniors came up close to the audience to stand, and Phillip was able to hop out an join them. You'll see his crutches in the pictures.

The band at the corner of the field: (This is the drum corps that Phillip was the drum major for, but had to quit to become his squadron commander.)


You can barely see the "wing" (all the squadrons) lining up for the parade:


The squadrons march out:


The squadrons line up two deep:


Phillip's squadron 37 is in the front middle of the pic:


The seniors leave their squadrons - see the crutches? Hi, Phil!:


Another shot of the seniors:


Squadron 38 (in front) and 37 (in back) seniors: (Did you find the crutches?)


The white sashes are for the seniors carrying sabres:


Mom, Dad, Phil, Jed, and Jamey after the parade:

The Falconers

So one club you can join at the United States Air Force Academy (Go Falcons!) is the Falconers Club. Here, you train the falcons to fly at games and other events. Before the parade on Tuesday morning, this nice cadet brought a falcon by for the kids to see. You can pet him (her?), and he wears that hood to keep him calm. The cadet took off his hood for a moment to show us his eyes. The hood slips on and off very easily and painlessly.

Thanks, Cadet Fourth Class DeLong!:


Falcon:


Hoodless:

Out to Dinner at Biaggi's

Monday night, we went out to dinner with everyone who was in our rented house: Nana and PopPop, Jamey and Constance, Jed and Molly, Phil and Claire, Uncle Mike and Haika(?), Elliot, David and I. The service was spectacular, the food was great, and the prices were surprisingly reasonable.

Nana and Elliot: (Elliot was wearing Nana out!)


Out at Biaggi's: (clockwise from top) Uncle Mike, Haika, PopPop, Nana, Claire


Our table:


Daddy and Elli:


Constance, Molly, and Jamey:


Our table, other end:

Olympic Training Center - Colorado Springs, CO

On Monday of our trip, Dave and I decided to check out the Olympic Training Park in C-Springs. This is where the movie Miracle took place (though the hockey arena is not on the site we visited). Endurance athletes train here, because the air is so thin it makes training harder. Then, when they compete elsewhere, they have a distinct advantage. It was a really cool place to visit. On our way there, we saw the mountain that NORAD is located in. NORAD is the group who tracks Santa Claus's trip each year, and they do other important stuff, too, like national security. After the Olympic Park, we went down to Old Colorado City and went to a street fair. Daddy got a new Mario (Scarface) t-shirt, because he doesn't have enough video game t-shirts yet. Haha! (Or is it, HaHA!!!?)

NORAD's mountain:


Olympic Training Park:


All sports represented:


Countdown to Beijing:


Olympic Flames:


Elliot's new sport:


Elli and Mommy:


Daddy and Elli:


Olympic swimming:


Olympic Rings:


All about the hockey team "Miracle" was based on:


Olympic Park Entrance:

More from the Garden of the Gods

I didn't realize how many pics we took there, but it really was beautiful, and it turned out to be a great walk!

Nana, Jamey, and Jed:


Rock climbers:


Do Not Rock Climb sign:


Trees growing out of rocks:


Curious Jed:


Which way, Jed?:


Elliot's Cindy-Lou-Who face:


Smiley Elli:


Silli Elli:


What's with that sideburn?:

Playtime and Garden of the Gods

On Sunday, Phil, Mom, and Dad had some stuff to go to, but the rest of us got to play and relax. Here are Ella and Molly together (they have the same hairstylist), and some pics of Nana and Ella cuddling.







That evening, we went to The Garden of the Gods. Here's what we were told, 'It has really cool rock formations.' Dave and I went, certain we would be bored. We were wrong - it was beautiful, and we had a lovely evening walk while the sun set over these red rocks.

Rock by where we parked. See how big it is?


Starting down the path:


Garden of the Gods paths:


Daddies pushing strollers - Jamey and Dave:


Kissing Camels Rock - look at the top of it, two camels:


Part of the Park:


Elliot thought it was all so fascinating, she could hardly contain her excitement:


Jed and Molly ready to roll:


What a view!


Nana and Jed running ahead:


Elliot decides to join us:


Rock climbers:


Jamey and Jed climbing in the rocks:


More Garden of the Gods pics to follow in another post. I didn't realize how many there were!