A Decade? Seriously?

Did I seriously just spent the past 48 hours at our Air Force Academy 10-year class reunion?? Yep. It happened. Um...excuse me, Time, slow the 'H' down already!

The weekend was a slightly mixed bag of emotions for me though -- thrilled to see old friends and meet some of their new little families but also a bit sad to say such a brief hello (or none at all in some cases) then goodbye to our beloved C-Springs "family". Hopefully, Team Anders can pack up shop and head west once again in the near future...

Anyway (waa waa)...the reunion weekend was amazing!  I picked Sam up at the Springs airport around 10 AM, we grabbed some essentials and then headed for the hotel. It's a good thing we're still so classy. That evening Kathy and Rollan Logan, my sponsor family, had us both over for dinner.
They had prepared all my favorites -- grilled chicken with the special Logan BBQ sauce, cheesy macaroni goodness, salad and beer!! The conversation was wonderful and we got all caught up on the last few years since we'd seen one another. Once Sam and I had reached our caloric intake limit it was time to head out... we had grand intentions...instead I put my pajamas on and was in bed by 9! hahaha - such a loser but the prospect of sleeping with no alarm clock or little munchkin waking me up was just too much to resist. I was asleep by 9:30 :)

Friday was the our big day. We started with a nice visit and lunch with Sam's sponsor family, Col (ret) and Mrs. Hall. They treated us to another home-cooked meal and some of Mr. Hall's homemade beaujolais. After stuffing our faces once again we headed up to school and cruised through the Athletic Department to see some people and check out the new facilities. The improvements that have been made there are incredible!! There's a brand new indoor practice facility that helps deconflict team practices and the cadet weight/cardio room had been completed. I had to pick my jaw back up off the floor before heading up to the T-zo. Once we arrived on the hill we met up with our friend Robin Cadow who neither one of us had seen in YEARS and is now an instructor at the Academy. We toured the new improvements to the Fairchild Hall lectinars, walked around the Terrazzo, tried to find our old dorms and, of course, made the obligatory trip to the Visitor Center!  Our tour took us more than three hours because we'd take a few steps, start talking about something and stop or run into a familiar face and catch up. It was SO much fun...and exhausting...you forget how flippin' big that place is! I took a bunch of photos and have posted them out on Facebook...here's the album link: USAFA 10-Year Reunion

And a few highlights...

With Rollan and Kathy -- SO many wonderful hours spent in that house!!

I love this picture of us :) My Sammy...

Robin wore her flight suit to register, too. She loves it.

Seriously hate standing, sitting or generally being the same photo
frame as this woman...gorgeous even while rocking a flight suit!

Artsy-fartsy -- can you say 'fartsy' while referencing a place of worship?

I love this photo!!!

Friday evening was the only social we signed up to attend and it was held at the Colorado Mountain Brewery just off Interquest Parkway. This place hadn't been built when Jace and I were there so it was fun to see a new place! There were six of us gals who arrived together -- Sam, Robin, Niki, Courtney, Beth and me but I was still a bit anxious walking in the door. I'm absolute dogs*t with names and was worried about that awkward encounter where a person remembers your name but you've forgotten theirs. Sounds so conceited when written but that's how I felt. Turns out there was nothing to be worried about -- almost everyone had their name tags on!! :) It was too much fun to be surrounded by such familiar faces and it felt like yesterday that we threw our hats into the sky as the Thunderbirds roared overhead. I heard about some really inspirational stories, met some significant others of some really great friends and laughed all night long!!  I regret not taking more (read: any) pictures...not even one with all of us girls. Terrible. I'm ashamed of myself. Ugh... At any rate we called it a night around 11:30 and returned safely to the hotel via the shuttle service our class chartered (brilliant!). I was DYING...soooo late!!!

On Saturday morning Sam and I got up for a hike to clear the cobwebs and then headed over to an authentic Rob Malone tailgate prior to the AF/CSU game. It was complete with queso dip, grilled sausages, hamburgers and LOTS of great conversation with Mrs. Green. LOVE!!! I could have stayed in that parking lot for quite a long time... We did eventually break away to watch the game for a bit but inevitably it was time to hit the road for Denver around 2:00 o'clock. It was sad to drive away but I'm so thankful for the time with my friends and I hope it doesn't take another 10 years for us all to get together again.

Today's been awesome as I got to see my boys again...sure don't like being away from them for too long! We finally found a solid hiking spot in the area so our Sunday routine is back in tact though we had to make a small purchase to make this work for us now. We're looking forward to its arrival later this week -- hopefully before Grandpa Tomlinson touches down in Dayton on Thurs!! Whooo Hoooo!!

Here are some shots of our Little Homie rockin' his new replacement jersey today -- so long, A-Rod. It's his hometown team so I don't wanna hear a peep you haters!! :) Much love, all.  Have a great week -- Anders out!

Who do I look like? Mom or Dad??

Gymboree bubbles...he still eats these, too. :(

Just came a bombin' down the hill --
and I realized I was watching him lose his balance
THROUGH my camera viewfinder!! Luckily he
didn't smash his face on the lens :)

And repeat...

TREE! (there's a tree over there, really)