Thank you for a marvelous Mother's Day...and the beautiful ring with all your birthstones. It does make me realize that I did have a LOT of kids!!! But I am so glad and I love each and everyone of you and all your spouses and children!

Here's a picture of the ring for those who are not here:



As Adina said below, I did my best run yet on Saturday. I did the quarter-marathon in 1 hour 19 minutes...a pace of 11:40 approximately...depending on what output of the GPS I believe...I think the best is the one to take! My goal now is to work toward a half-marathon.

Love you all,

Mom

Noah and I just want to say happy Mothers Day to Buffy. She is a wonderful mother and wife. We also want to say happy Mothers Day to Grandma Barb, Brooke, Adina, Tracey, Anne, and Kim. Also to Marnie who I know is not a mother yet but is a fantastic aunt to all of her nieces and nephews.

Love you all
Brent and Noah

(I'm sure more are to come...to me at least. I won't bore you all with them.)

So as I think many of you have already heard, there was a pretty big event in Rancho Penasquitos today. Every year on American Idol when it gets down to the top 3 contestants, they go back to their hometown and have a parade. So this year, with Adam being on the show, it was PQs turn to have the celebration.

I fortunately got to go this morning to join in the fun. After a little persuasion and a couple of phone calls to verify that I was, in fact, Adam's friend, I got into the Mt. Carmel High School campus and got to go to our old choir room where Adam did a small Q&A with the current choir students there. I got to talk to him briefly, give him a hug and we had a small photoshoot on the theater stage with all the old friends from high school that were there.

After that we walked up to the football stadium where hundreds of people were waiting for Adam to appear. It was a little crazy walking in cause everyone was cheering because they thought Adam was with us and they were asking who we are and everything. We got to sit front and center, which was awesome. Adam came in to the MCHS band playing the high school fight song and he was in a Ford (of course) Mustang convertible waving to the fans. They circled the track and then he went to the middle of the field and spoke to the students then sang two songs for everyone (Black & White and Mad World). After that there was an awesome appearance of a random high school student who decided to take off her shirt and run on the stage - I'm sure she'll be expelled.

He circled the track one more time in the car and then made his way down to his limo. The crowds were out of control so we just decided that we'd go. Luckily the way we walked to leave was the way that the limo was driving out so when he passed by us he rolled down the window and yelled that he was sad he couldn't hang out with us more and that is misses and loves us. It was very sweet. :)

It was so fun to see him. He really hasn't changed at all and is seriously one of the nicest people I know. It'll be fun to see how AI transforms all the footage they have from this morning for the show since I think they only allot about 3 minutes of time for each contestant's hometown piece. Who knows - you may see me somewhere on that footage! :)

Pictures below. Such fun. Well remember VOTE FOR ADAM!!! :)

Got to love the laugh. Also Phoebe was very good and did not retaliate.

It is a very wet day here. Spring is a 3-month affair here, for sure.

We celebrated Dave's birthday on Sunday - it is really fun having Kim & Treven here. It adds to the fun of our small gatherings - and all the kids get along so well. I got Dave a tandem skydive for his birthday - so he is waiting for a beautiful day, then he takes the leap.

Isaac ran his fastest mile last week at a track meet: 6:00. He really wants to break a 6:00 this season. He had a bit of bad luck last week - ran through some poison oak and managed to spread it from both legs to his torso. Complete misery. A few days into that, he had some spasm in his jaw and couldn't open his mouth all afternoon. So, he ran at his meet with a locked jaw and poison oak all over his legs. I think he gets injured in pairs - reminds me of last fall when he put his teeth through his lip and then dislocated his hip the following day. Pitiful.

Taylor earned his Arrow of Light award in Cub Scouts. It was a nice ceremony, though Taylor hated being the center of attention. He is officially a boy scout now.

Parker bought a whoopee cushion. Need I say more?

Morgan is a softball star. Hits every time she's up to bat, runs like a mad woman holding on to the way-too-big-for-her-head helmet. She is one of the smallest on her team, though it is made up of only 7 & 8-year olds. It's all these meat 'n potato Washougal kids - they are all bigger than her.

I'm off to Arizona on Wednesday morning - this time all by my lonesome. I am attending a class on renovating and expanding the practice. Dave can't go, so I am. Can't say that I'll miss this rain.

Adina

There has been a lot of talk on the swine flu within the United States in the last two weeks. On May 1st, we have documented a case in the Vancouver, Washington area.

Sent from Zip Trower, one of Dad's pilot friends from VAQ-134...the GARUDAS! He lives in Issaquah, Washington and flew for Alaska Airlines for many years. Retired now. Zip, JimBob, Diamond Jim and The Silver Fox and Stinko (Dad) flew many missions together. Well, not all at once as Diamond Jim and Z-Man (Zip) were both pilots, so it was one of them or the other. Dad, The Silver Fox and JimBob were ECMOS (Electronic Countermeasures Officers).

When a Veteran leaves the 'job' and retires to a better life, many
are jealous, some are pleased, and others, who may have already retired, wonder if he knows what he is leaving behind, because we already know.

1. We know, for example, that after a lifetime of camaraderie that few
experience, it will remain as a longing for those past times.

2. We know in the Military life there is a fellowship which lasts long
after the uniforms are hung up in the back of the closet.

3. We know even if he throws them away, they will be on him with every step and breath that remains in his life. We also know how the very bearing of the man speaks of what he was and in his heart still is.

These are the burdens of the job. You will still look at people
suspiciously, still see what others do not see or choose to ignore and
always will look at the rest of the Military world with a respect for
what they do; only grown in a lifetime of knowing.

Never think for one moment you are escaping from that life. You are only escaping the 'job' and merely being allowed to leave 'active' duty.

So what I wish for you is that whenever you ease into retirement, in
your heart you never forget for one moment that you are still a member
of the greatest fraternity the world has ever known.

----------------------------------------------------
A veteran - whether active duty, retired, or reserve- is someone who,
at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to: 'The
Government of the United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and
including my life'. .. . and military wives are as much veterans as their
spouses.

From one Veteran to another, it's an honor to be in your company. Thank
you Veterans. Zip (James Trower)