Proud to be an Air Force Granddaughter

Hello...I know, I've been a slacker. All three or four of my blog readers have turned blue in the face waiting for my next post :)

I am definitely behind in keeping up with my "electronic diary". I have lots I hope to post, and find time slipping away too easily. However, one reason for my slacker-ness was the first part of my pregnancy. The first trimester is well over and I am feeling so much better. So I've been trying to catch up on all sorts of things around here...like school for the girls and cleaning the house...blogging had to be put way on the back burner.

Um, Rachel, this is nice and all, but what does any of this have to do with the title of your post?

Glad you were wondering!

Our family traveled down to Raleigh, NC last month for the NC Veterans Day Parade. My dad, retired Air Force Major Yates, was the chair of the parade this year and he did a GREAT job organizing the event! He invited us down to participate in the parade. Well, there was no way that this homeschool family was going to miss out on an opportunity like this...history and civics at it's best!

In preparation, Bella knitted her own red, white, and blue scarf for the parade. I made a matching one for Sophia. I also taught the girls a bit about the history of Veterans Day and took them for a visit to the PA Veterans Museum right here in our little town of Media. We talked about family members on both sides of our family who have served in the military. It was interesting to see them connect that their own Uncle Chris is a veteran who has served in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Parade day was cold and chilly and a bit wet...thankfully the rain held off until right after the parade and ceremony were over. Dad had arranged for the girls to ride in a classic car...they actually got to be in the parade...wow! Steve and I walked along with them. It was a very special experience...one I'll cherish. We stayed for the ceremony and speeches following the parade. The girls listened, sang, asked questions...it was wonderful.

After the parade, we celebrated with a Veterans Day themed tea-party feast organized by my Mom, Sophia, and Bella...yum! Bella and Sophia each honored my dad with a speech thanking him and sharing with him how much they enjoyed the parade. This was their own idea and neither Steve nor I had any idea they were planning a speech...we were touched and impressed. Bella ended her speech with, "I'm proud to be an Air Force granddaughter"...I almost cried and I think my parents were very touched too.

I am thoroughly impressed with my dad and the wonderful job he did organizing the parade. Thank You, dad, for all your hard work. The parade was wonderful and an honor to all the Veterans and their families. You can see more of the parade at www.ncveteransparade.com

Here are some of the pics I took...enjoy!

God bless~
Rachel