Atlantic City Airshow

What has 500,000 people, ear stinging noise, sweltering heat, and was about the coolest thing ever???

If you answered the Atlantic City Airshow, you are correct!!

Wow! It was amazing. Not just the planes, but the whole event. We left our home, running late as usual to drive down to Atlantic City for the "Free" airshow called "Thunder Over the Boardwalk". It is an annual event and draws huge crowds and features the USAF Thunderbird team. Well, traffic was a nightmare and parking, even worse!! About 3 times during the first hour in Atlantic City I seriously considered just turning around and going home thinking we had made a huge mistake in going. The weather was hot, humid and sunny... yup well over 90 degrees!! When we finally got to the beach I was absolutely stunned at what I saw. I have never seen so many people on the beach before in my life! They were literally blanket to blanket. Thankfully there was a roped off area for the Cub Scouts so we were able to sit there.

We missed some of the show with the traffic delay and the trouble finding parking - did I mention there were 1/2 a million people there??? - we finally found our spot and got in our beach attire. Yes, changing in a portapotty in the 90+degree heat is really fun - NOT! Oh and did I mention the screaming babies who were scared to death of the huge jets overhead and all the noise of the afterburners?? Yes, it was a rough start but after a dip in the ocean, things started to look up.

We cooled off and were able to watch the show from the water to.. Jets right over head!!

The afternoon ended with a wonderful performance of the Thunderbirds. Truely spectacular!!

Day Six...

Well, Oshkosh - more exactly - EAA AirVenture - kicked off yesterday with some really neat fly ins. An aircraft called the WhiteKnightTwo arrived. It is the launch vehicle for the first civilian space flight system. Colin called to tell us all about what he saw, I had a hard time understanding what this "double airplane" he saw was and thought we was just talking about an old fashioned bi-plane. It seems the WK2 is a pretty impressive aircraft and it will be on display for the whole festival.

Colin was also excited to tell us about the fire bombing demo he saw done by a plane called Elvis.

The helicopter's tank holds 2,650 gallons of water or retardant and, according to a U.S. Forest Service study, is the most economical firefighting platform on a price-per-gallon basis. I think Colin just liked to see the big 'splash'!

Colin also got to attend KidVenture and play around in a green DC-3 that is one display just for the kids. He said he has made some friends and is looking forward to going and seeing them and the Dc-3 again today.

He said he was taking a whole lot of pictures and is really enjoying his time. I was so happy to hear his voice after 2 days of not hearing it... he sounded so big and absolutely ecstatic about his adventure. He couldn't wait to see what today would hold for him and what fun things he would see and learn about. You could really hear the excitement in his voice.

Oh the home front, we are holding up ok. It sure isn't the same without him. Braden seems to really miss his brother and bunk-mate a whole ton. I do too!

Colin leaves for Oshkosh....

My big boy is gone!!

After months of planning and thinking about this wonderful opportunity, Colin has left on an adventure with his grandparents to EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI. http://www.airventure.org

He will be gone for 2 weeks - I know he will have a great time, but how am I going to manage with out him??? This is the longest he has ever been away from us. Things are not going to be the same around here without him. Colin is my little BUG! I know he is 9 now but he still is my little guy and quite a Momma's boy! He is such a cute and inquisitive kid. So full of wonder at everything. He loves nature and bugs. He is also very artistic and loves to create things and find out how things work. I am going to be pretty lonely without my pal.

Anyway, I guess I need to give some background here. "Oshkosh" is an aviation festival that takes place every year in WI. It is the heart of the general aviation world for a week and it truly amazing. I am more than a bit jealous that Colin is going.. without me!! ;) People from all over the USA and world flock to Oshkosh, WI for a week long airplane fly-in. It has daily airshow and tons of exhibits and things to do. Here is a little movie http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1412255721?bctid=1381694270 That might explain it better than I can.

They will camp there for the whole festival. Grammie & Poppie will be volunteering with the EAA to help run the festival. There are so many wonderful opportunities there for Colin to experience from air shows to airplane displays to museums. I can't wait to hear all about it each day when he calls to check in. But for now, Colin and Grammie & Poppie are in off on a fabulous adventure in airplane land....