2010 Big Country Air Fest

For the past couple of days, the Thunderbirds have been flying over and earthquaking our house. I noticed the first rumble a couple of nights ago, during a 30 minute yoga session I was treating myself to- the windows started rattling with no clouds in sight. We're used to planes flying overhead day in and day out, we live on an Air Force Base, but these planes were much louder, and much faster than what we're used to.

When I was finished with my workout, I headed upstairs, where the rest of my family was huddled beside the 3 year olds bed, staring out the window, watching with mesmeration (I may have just made that word up). Charlie was pounding on the window, squealing something in a high pitched excited baby voice, Elie was pointing and jumping up and down every time she saw one do a flip or trick, and Christopher- like a big goofy 13 year old, was sitting on the edge of his seat, wagging his tail, unable to control himself.

I watched for a little while, but having just exhausted all of my energy on downward dogging and trying to bend myself into positions un natural to my ever growing pregnant body- I walked away and opted for a shower. I could wait a couple of days for the air show...


Saturday morning came. We filled up the diaper bag with sippys and pampers, rubbed sunblock thick as glue onto our arms and faces, and headed off into the wild blue yonder. Charlie sat on my back in the ERGO, Elie walked hand in hand with Christopher, and together we all headed down to look at the airplanes.

I had dressed the babies in their flightsuit shirts, what event could possibly be more perfect?

After watching people parachute out of planes, piglet and donkey (her two best imaginary friends), according to Eleanore, we went and found ourselves a cozy spot on the pavement to sit and watch the Thunderbirds.


The kids were being ridiculously cute, climbing all over each other and running in circles around Mommy and Daddy, getting excited over what- they didn't even know yet. Charlie would stomp off into a nearby crowd of strangers, my eye almost glued to his every step, and as soon as somebody would say something to him, he'd put on his shy face and come running back to Mama.



And then... lift off!!

We brought ear plugs, but couldn't get the babies to keep theirs plugged in. Have you ever been to a Thunderbirds show? Its loud enough to rupture your eardrum, maybe even your skull, haha. Christopher and I decided our hands would make appropriate ear covers for the babies, so there we sat, their little heads cradled in our fingers- staring up at the jets in the sky. We'd be watching 4 of them flip and twist that way and that way, and then another two would come flying out from behind us, without any warning, causing a wave of startles in the audience. Up, and down, and roll roll roll. Fast, and slow, side to side to side. Twirly whirly, zoom zoom zoom- was there anything they couldn't do?


As the Thunderbirds were landing, we strapped Charlie back into his cocoon, shook Elie's wobbly legs to a standing, and went off to get a closer look at what the show had to offer. We walked through planes, we ran our fingertips along the barrels of guns, we danced with history.

And did I mention, that during the Air Show, they were using the music from the movie Transformers, to pump us up? Its hard not to let your inner American Flag come out when you've got Bumblebee and Optimus Prime there with you.


We don't usually buy souvenirs, we're really picky when it comes to how we spend our money or what kind of junk we bring home with us- but it was pretty obvious that both of the kids needed toy planes. They both got the same one, with the least amount of parts. Nothing to fight over, and nothing to accidentally or purposely swallow.


From the moment that Eleanore had hers in hand, she was too busy zig zagging it and loopty looping it, to even concentrate on walking. We stopped frequently, to let her drive it along the ground, swirl it around in the muggy air, and eventually- bring it in for a landing on Mommy's tummy.

Another amazing day, that hopefully made long lasting impressions in the minds of our little ones, and helped their hearts grow.