Two out of Three Ain't Bad!

The kids and I wanted to get way from home for the day and celebrate Mother's day with something different. Mission accomplished. We went for a plane ride.

We got to the Aero Club right at 9 and were a bit surprised to see there was already a line. Which is how we ended up flying with "Captain Justin" instead of Col. McClintock, the Base Commander. We had to decide who would get to be "pilot" and although it was "my" day I let younger daughter get all the glory. She climbed into the cockpit, strapped in, put on the headset, and grabbed the yoke. Meanwhile Ashley was hyperventilating in the backseat. I decided it would be better to ride with the "chicken" than risk her attempting to escape while still on the run way.

Mid-flight Justin (very bravely---or foolishly!) let Haley fly. She grabbed the controls and did her level best to make her big sister barf. We climbed, we dipped, we twisted. Haley was laughing so hard she could barely hold on. Ashley had her eyes glued shut and both hands wrapped around the safety harness so tightly she literally gave herself blisters on her palms.

As we came in for a landing I'm pretty sure I heard Ashley muttering a quick "Our Father." As we pulled back up to the hanger Haley leaped out of the plane, just about tackled the pilot and begged to go AGAIN, AGAIN!! Ashley staggered out and said, "Thank GOD we're alive!"

Last week she wanted to be a fighter pilot. I think we can safely scratch that off her list. But then again, it wouldn't surprise me at all if her younger sister became just that...if fighter pilots can wear sparkly jumpsuits and glitter eyeshadow that is.