DANIEL'S FLIGHT SCHOOL GRADUATION!

It finally came! Daniel's Flight School Graduation finally came. It was a long and bumpy road but we made it! He made it! We are so proud of all that Daniel has accomplished. He is an amazing man!

This graduation class consists of Apache, Blackhawk, Chinook and Kiowa pilots.

Daniel receiving his certificate and his wings!

Daniel standing at attention waiting for his pinning of his wings.

I pinned him! I can't tell you how proud I was of him that moment!

I love my man! He looks so darn good in his uniform. Especially with newly pinned pilot wings!

His class reciting the Soldier's Creed.

Our new Apache family! The kids were so excited for him! Way to go Daniel! What an amazing man!

Flight School Graduation Ball!

For Daniel's Flight School Graduation thy held a Ball for the soldiers and their spouses. It was a very formal affair and a lot of fun. They had a receiving line where we were introduced to the Commander and a bunch of other high ranking officials. Then we got to mingle and then sit down for a formal dinner. After dinner the soldiers got to present the spouses with wings that come on a necklace and a certificate of PHT (Putting Honey Through) It was nice.

This is Daniel and I sitting at dinner. 

Some of Daniel's classmates and their spouses. They are a great bunch of people.

Daniel's stick buddy. Brent LaChance and his date.

The woman in blue was our FRG(family readiness group) leader and I helped her with some of the get togethers.

We had a lot of fun and made some really great friends along the way. I even got jewelry from my husband( my wings necklace) out of it.

The Hills Storm Disney World!

Welcome to Disney World and the Hills' Family Vacation!

We were so close to Disney World and Fort Rucker offered such a great deal on tickets that we couldn't pass up this opportunity. Daniel also found us an amazing deal on a 2 bedroom hotel that had a kitchen for an amazing price. 

Our first ride to the first park. Little chilly but not to bad.

We went to Universal Studios first. It was so cool. and some great rides.

They have the Star Wars ride there and they do a show and train young Jedi. They were booked for the day for our kids but the rides was awesome.

I think this show was my favorite part!

Levi couldn't ride most of the rides so Daniel and I took turns taking the kids on them. I took the kids on Star Wars. It's a 3d one and was amazing.

The kids went back and did it with dad so Levi and I had our pictures taken with Mater and Lightning McQueen!

Luke's Super Hero! Superman and Batman are his favorite!

Levi is really into Buzz Light Year so when we were walking around he saw hi and couldn't take his eyes off him. I didn't want to take him to see them because the line was so long. What a mother does for her son. He loved it! He got a Buzz stuffed animal and has slept with it every night!

My sister Shauna came and enjoyed our vacation and we went to the Magic Kingdom the second day. It's an amazing place. Here is Cinderella's castle and the had Belle's castle and even the tower from Tangled.

This is the only place my kids will get to drive a car under age. I rode with Abby. We need to work with her a bit more!

Tayci got to drive herself. I think the teenager in her came out a bit more on this ride. Daniel rode with Luke in the car behind her.

Daniel took Luke and Levi on the Mad Hatter's tea cup ride. All it does is spin you in a million circles. Mom doesn't do so well on those rides and was very happy when Dad took them. They had a ton of fun.

Abby met almost every princess. Tangled is the one she was dying to meet and we almost missed her.

Abby and Princess Aurora!

Abby and Cinderella!

We went to Animal Kingdom on the third day. We took a Safari! It was a blast and they had so many fun animals to see.

This was the craziest ride ever! My kids actually rode it 3 times! Talk about a pants peeing, heart stopper, make you go grey kind of ride! Holy Crap! I can never remember the rides name and just call it the Yeti ride. The pictures of you at the peak are priceless. I bought every picture because they were so funny and plan on using them as black mail for when my kids get older!

Luke, Levi, and Abby all got glowing light sabers and man did they have fun with them.

Abby and Belle! She was in Epcot, which is where they have the different countries.

All our kids got to get a souvenir. Tayci got books and this is what she did for almost all of Epcot! 

We had so much fun. I have to say this. Disney World is a once in a lifetime opportunity and we have done our once. Good Memories. Thanks to my sister Shauna for flying out to have fun with us!



Jill does Aviation Spouses Day here at Fort Rucker!

So I had the chance to do aviation spouses day here at Fort Rucker. Pretty much the give you a taste of what the guys go through for flight school. We got to shoot guns in a simulation, fly a simulated helicopter, do HOST (underwater helicopter simulation) and a leadership course and work as a team.

 

This is our formation where we got into teams. We were team 2 the "Fire bird Assassins." There is a horribly made movie with Nicholas Cage and Tommy Lee Jones about the Apache. Any way we hate the movie and thus the name. I was able to go with some good friends. Emily Baker on my right and Dani Bastian on my left.

This is me shooting an M4. I did my best on this gun. Shot 5 turkeys my first time.

This is our group all huddled and getting ready to shoot. We are being taught on how to load the weapons.

This is me shooting the big 50 cal or the M2. Loved this gun but it was off. They have u aim and shoot and then show you where all your rounds went and mine were a good 3 feet above the target. I know I was aiming. I also got to shoot a 240. That was cool. it has a tripod and you have to lay low to the ground.

This was our group!

We went to the simulators to fly aircraft. They wouldn't let us take cameras in but this was outside the building. When you go to the simulated aircraft it reminds of a part of Star Wars. You walk down a cat walk to a pod and get in. We flew a Kiowa. I was able to shout a machine gun and a Hellfire missile from it. It is such a small cock pit that I got a little nauseated.

This was HOST. Helicopter (Something) Survival Training. This is where they simulate going under water in a helicopter and get out. They teach you to go off a point off you body to find your way out. This is me before in all my gear.

This is me in the water getting ready to do my thing. You have to hold on to a bar and hold your breath and get to a door and then get out. I succeeded.

This is me after my success.

This is one of our leadership survival courses. We had to cross 3 platforms with out touching the ground carrying "top secret" papers. 

Another one of the courses was to carry a big metal barrel up this. I was the team captain on this one. We made it in the time allotted.

This was us getting our barrel over. Yeah!

Me getting my "Wings." I got mine before Daniel did. Funny!

This was our graduating class. I am in the middle. It was a great experience and a fun opportunity. It made me realize how much Daniel went through and all he had to learn. And I only went through a very small version of what he has. He is an amazing man and I appreciate him and look up to him a whole lot more.   

 

 

 



Happy BIrthday TAYCI!

Tayci turned 11 on the 11th of January!

 

She chose to have a BRAVE cake. I didn't know she liked the movie that much.

She had a little friend party since we are leaving Alabama soon and hung out and ate munchies with them. It was quite chaotic. These are just a few of her friends. They are good kids.

The craziness begins!

Tayci received lots of well wishes for her birthday! It was so good to see them all have fun and here the little things they talk about. The boy talk begins and I think that there was a little truth and dare in there. A lot of hide and seek and playing outside. Tayci got a new bike from her mom and dad.