Surfing the net … came across an air show up in Madera, CA. I was totally stoked — WWII birds! P-51’s! Ooooh, and A-10’s. Jets! Noise! I HAD to go! I asked my friends Toney & Kari if they wanted to tag along … Toney said yeah, he totally digs the birds too … Kari was hesitant, but she went along for the ride anyway. It was the first time I’d ever been to an air show … other than the Blue Angel’s, and it was the first time the girls had ever been to one. I was super stoked about it all week long! Parking was dreadful … the dust and wind … terrible … but all worth it to see the birds! 🙂 I was in heaven the moment we walked through the gate … shiny birds everywhere! We grabbed a spot and watched some of the acrobatic planes in action …

This is how Rob caught the action in the sky …

Then we mozied on down to check out the birds that were parked …

However, we were soon distracted by our shadows …self portrait time! 🙂

Yeah, we’re sooo easily amused … but hey, they are pretty rad looking shadows! 🙂 We were getting the oddest looks … of course, they’re probably thinking,

“Man, we are surrounded by WWII birds, and these folks are taking pictures of their shadows? Really? Wow.” Egh, who cares … that’s how we roll! lol

Then … we heard A-10 Demonstration … and ran! They’re big … they’re loud … and they’re ninja’s in the sky!

Well, lets fast forward …

Our baby girl turned 6 years old on the very last day of the year!!! Happy Birthday baby!

I can still remember the day she was born, as though it were yesterday. *Sigh* She is sooooo beyond words excited to be 6 … because 6 means she’s officially a big girl (according to her). It’s major … I agree! 5 was the year of her first hair cut … 2009 was the year of “Rather than a party and presents, can we go play in the snow ALL day long?” I love this kid! For Christmas, they both agreed on bunk beds. And now, a snow day for the byrd’s birthday (the bug is already planning on Sea World for her birthday). 🙂 They’re great.

So, we ordered snow pants off amazon.com (which they will get at least 2 years of use from at the rate they grow), grabbed some snow boots off the clearance rack at Target, some snacks/water,  and waited for the hubs to get off work for the weekend! Then, we grabbed Magellan and piled into the truck for a voyage to Sierra Summit! It was simply amazing — spending the day in the snow, with my family, sledding with the girls … teaching them how to build a snowman, showing them how to make the best snowballs for snowball fights, and how to get up after making a snow angel. It was beyond perfect. Here’s just a few shots from our trip … we left the camera in the car for the most part, but I had to bust it out to capture a few moments, since it was their first official snow day …

So, I said I was teaching them to snow ball fight … bug caught on very, very quick …

Miss Byrd was hiding behind her saucer, when the bug yells out …

“Sister … watch oooouuuuuut!” (in a taunting sorta voice)

And here’s Miss Robyn trying to hide behind her saucer … “You can’t get me!!!”

Haha … think again sister! (I’ve taught her well)

After our brief snow ball fight, it was off to get our saucer on … the byrd was FEARLESS!!!!

Bug was a bit nervous … she couldn’t bring herself to watch …

But, she took the hill solo anyhow … <3 her face!!!

Then the byrd had this crazy idea to “Superman” down the slope …

Apparently, she thought daddy was afraid, so she covered his eyes … gotta love her! 🙂

As for the bug, one solo trip was enough … she took daddy with her on her next trip down the hill …

After the “saucering” down the hills … Jayson snatched up the camera and took a few shots of the bug and I … which I totally <3

I grabbed it back to catch a quick shot of them together …

Then, the bug did something totally, totally random …

bug: Mom, dad, derder (sister) … if a bear came, I would do this (see below)

Me: RITSL — ( just in case yuh didn’t catch that one, it’s rolling in the snow laughing)

the bug: And umm bear would go away …. ar ar away! Uhz I ared em!

I <3 that girl!

And then there’s the byrd … 2 guesses as to what she’s doing.

Of course, I had to have the hubs get one shot of us gals up there in the snow … thanks hun! 🙂

After that, it was time to head home! I honestly thought the bug wouldn’t last more than an hour up there in the cold … we stayed for over 5 hours, and not one complaint came from either kiddo! 🙂

We headed back to the car to de-snowsuit, and that bright eyed little 6 year old girl looked up at me with truly happy eyes …

byrd: “Oh Em Gee Mom! This was the best day of my entire life! I LOVE snow!!!”

Me: “Better than meeting Cinderella?”

byrd: “Ok, it’s a tie”

bug: “Mom, best day whole life ever!”

I couldn’t have said it better myself! 🙂

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BYRD!!!

Mommy and daddy LOVE you!

xoxoxo