Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind. ~Seneca

Our move has officially begun. For the past 3 hours, I have watched three hard working men pack the last two and a half years of our lives up as if they never even happened. Things are really happening fast now! We're so excited, too. Ashton seems to be rolling with whatever we're doing ~ and I am relieved for that. I'm sure she's a little curious about what's going on ~ especially since she's taking a nap in our bedroom closet due to no other available space. Poor thing. She's managing well, though.

We returned on Sunday after a relaxing trip to Iowa. It was nice to have Brandon's undivided attention (no work, no school stuff). He was a bit jet-lagged after his Sweden trip, but he bounced back surprisingly quick. We spent some time with the Yegge's in Ankeny, but the majority of the week with my parents in Forest City. As always, time went too quickly, we ate too much, and we didn't have the time to see all the people we had wanted to see. It was still a great trip - and it even ended with a snowy white drive to the airport. So beautiful!

Brandon drove to Minnesota on Saturday to pick up an airplane he "inherited" from an older gentleman who passed away over the summer. He visited with this family last winter, and in July we received news of his passing ~ and news of our recent gain in the airplane department.

Yes, my friends, *this* is the airplane.

And, here is the tail portion. My parents have officially turned their garage into a hanger. :)

A little out of sync, but no less important ~ Brandon was honored when the Swedish Air Force offered him a flight in their Gripen fighter jet. The base they flew out of, Lulea, was very far north, and a BIT colder than Nellis. He also flew a trainer jet while he was there - but, I can't recall what it was called.

There's no doubt the guy on the left is Swedish. ;-)


Like a kid in a candy store.

Very cool experience in a very strange looking aircraft.