SIMC: Sioux Falls Air Show Part I

The Sioux Falls Air Show Part I

Last month Lexi, Bubba and I attended the air show on Sunday afternoon. Sadly we missed a lot of the fun performances but we still had a great time. I would suggest to anyone wanting to attend one to be sure and get their early so you don't miss anything.

The show was on the Air Guard Base so attendees had to park at various locations off base and were transported to the base via school buses. I had the pleasure of sharing a seat with this sweet young lady.

The first plane we saw as we got off the bus was the E-2C Hawkeye. For our family this was pretty special because we refer to this plan as "Kris' plane". For nine years Kris was an avionics electrician in the Navy and it was his responsibility to make sure the E-2C Hawkeyes in his unit were in top running order. We met up with him at the Hawkeye a little while after we got there, so I could take a few pictures of him with 'His' plane. Of course he was quick to point out that it wasn't one of his because it belonged to a different unit. :) Later this week on Nita's Photography I will be sharing some pretty cool photos of this plane.

The turn out was very impressive, some brought lawn chairs, some blankets while others opted for a nice patch of grass to sit and enjoy the show. Some just wandered the field looking at all the different planes and military equipment.

Others took tours of the various planes, yes that is a long line of people waiting to go inside the cargo bay of what I believe is a C-17 Globemaster III. I know these types of planes are BIG but knowing and then standing next to one of these giants are two different things. 

I did get some shots of birds in flight. However, since we had missed the more entertaining flight shows, I was more drawn to the people and the planes on the ground. 

As to be expected with an event hosted on a military base security was tight. One security measure that I found very smart was the plan they put in place for lost children. When we were getting off the bus we were directed to the Child Safety booth to register Bubba. At the booth he was given a wrist band with a number on it, the number was then recorded on a record ledger with his name, his mom's name and a phone number to contact his mom. He was told if he got separated from us to tell one of the many uniformed service members present. If that occurred he would then be taken back to the Child Safety booth and they would call us so that we could be reunited. I think that this is a good idea for any large event where children will be present.

In addition to the planes and military equipment there were a number of fun things especially for the kids.

Now back to the planes. It was very nice of this pilot to perform an inverted flight at just the right time so I could get this shot with the tip of the bright red bouncy house in the corner. 

I am going to let you in on my rather weird, mischievous side. When we were walking back to meet up with Kris at the E-2C Hawkeye and I saw the row of porta potty's all lined up at the *ss end of his plane I could not resist the shot. Who knows I am sure I can come up with some ornery tag line to add on this for his birthday card come November. Any suggestions?

I looked around but I couldn't find the Storm Troopers' aircraft.

As we were leaving I noticed that the Commissioning Committee for the USS South Dakota (SSN 790) had a booth with a model of the new nuclear submarine that is in the process of being built. I had to stop and chat a bit. I plan on doing a post about this sub when the Commissioning Committee announces the winners of the crest artwork competition. Yes, at Kris' request I entered the contest. I have my fingers crossed that I win. Not only would it be awesome to have bragging rights to a US Navy Crest design but I know it would mean a great deal to Kris.

Lexi had to be at work by 5pm so we wound up leaving just as the Blue Angels took to the air. It worked out as we could see them in the air all the way home. 

Over the next few days I will share more photos from the airshow, both here and on my photo blog.

I am a day late, but this is my contribution to 'Sunday In My City'. 

To find out what is going on around the world hop over to

 Unknown Mami's Sunday In My City blog hop. 

Have a Great Week Everyone!

Wild Months

What crazy wild months these have been! Lots of sorting photos, some time spent creating new designs. But, mostly I have been swamped with an unrelenting amount of fatigue. If only I could absorb and use some of these guys energy. LOL 

Of all the photos I took this last summer my favorites have to be these very special photos of my grandchildren. 

For the first time ever all five of my biological grandchildren were together. It was a very happy day!

Not only were the biological grandchildren there but two honorary grandchildren as well. The little boy and the girl front and center are my oldest daughter's kids all the girls in the back row make up my oldest son's tribe. The three in the middle are his daughters and the two cute blondes on the ends are his significant others daughters. Yes, he is in for a wild ride with five beautiful girls!

While the fatigue has certainly slowed me way down and made it difficult to get things done, I have managed to finish a few designs and make them available on a wide selection of products in our gift shop including Christmas ornaments. Here are two of the new designs.

This design is part of our Hand drawn art products.

This design is part of our Historical Navy products.

If I can manage to stay awake long enough I hope to share more summer photos and some current creative and fun endeavors. I can't believe Christmas is almost here, personally I am not ready are you?

Tearful Farewells and Emotional Homecomings

Oldest Son just after graduation from boot camp

Since my oldest son joined the Navy in 2002 and my Son-In-Law joined in 2006 there have been many tearful farewells and emotional homecomings. I am sure any parent who has a child move far from home experiences joy and sadness saying goodbye or welcoming their child home after a long spell of not seeing them.

Son-in-law leaving for boot camp

While most of our farewells and homecomings have been emotional only a few exceptions have they come close to the level of emotion experienced when sending a loved one off or welcoming them home from a military deployment.

With the kids and their families on the East coast and us back home in the Midwest it was not possible to be there when the boys left on their different deployments or when they returned from deployment, so while I did experience the worry of them being deployed and the relief of knowing they were finally home safely, I did not experience the full impact of such events. Our farewells and homecomings were generally during the summer time when they were home and on leave, or when they were able to get long enough leave to bring their families home for a visit, so the emotions were the typical family reunion emotions.

Just after Thanksgiving, our friend Brown was transferred to a ship that was already underway and we saw him off as he was flown to join the ship on deployment. Just before Brown left he asked if I would come to the pier when his ship pulled in from deployment to photograph his return. I was honored both to be there for him and to take photos of his return. The experience showed me just how much I missed not being on the pier during such important times. 

Saturday morning dawned crisp and cold with Norfolk having received an unusual snowstorm on Friday. We arrived at the pier about an hour before the ship was due to arrive. Many people were already there. Most were inside a heated tent, erected on the pier for the occasion, while others were taking advantage of the snow cover as these children building a snowman are doing. 

Service members worked diligently to clear the pier of snow.

Finally the ship was in sight, with tug boats maneuvering it to the dock as loved ones watched with tears of joy and whispered prayers of thanks.

Once the ship was along side the pier and tied off people were allowed to go out onto the pier to watch for the loved ones. I thought it was pretty awesome that they allowed the families of service members who had a child born during the deployment go first and after a few minutes opened the pier to everyone else.

As you can see there was a good size crowd waiting for the returning sailors to come ashore. The atmosphere was nearly electric with emotion. Excitement and anticipation buzzed all around us. With the temperature barely reaching 30 degrees and the cold wind blowing off the bay it was a long cold wait. 

Weekly Top Shot

Since we were waiting for a friend and not an actual family member we stood toward the back. After almost an hour the crowed had thinned to only maybe 40 people standing on the pier,  and we were beginning to wonder if maybe we had missed Brown.  Then all of a sudden we saw him coming across the  brow, I snapped a few quick shots and then went for a hug. I was so glad to see him safe and sound back in the states. I couldn't help but think how proud his mother, who passed away last fall, would have been to see him come off that ship, and how much I had missed not being there to welcome my boys home. 

Ever since Val suggested we offer to photograph Service member Farewells and Homecomings free of charge I have been all for the idea. Now that I have experienced one I am more determined than ever to let people know that we will photograph these events locally free of charge.

So if you know a service member in the Norfolk area that is having such an event and needs someone to photograph it let them know about us.

After an exciting and cold day yesterday I spent today relaxing indoors. Now head over to one or both of these great meme's to see what is going on elsewhere:

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OpSail/Harborfest 2012

My Sunday 'Week In Pictures' post has been pre-empted to bring you this look at one of Norfolk's' biggest festivals. OpSail combined with Harborfest for an exciting weekend of nautical enjoyment reaching full force with the Tall Ship Parade on Friday. I was fortunate enough to spend a good part of the day Friday taking in the excitement. There was so much to see it has taken almost two days to go through the nearly 600 photographs I took.

I could fill a large photo book with just photos of all the terrific Tall Ships. They came from all around the world to participate in the parade. It would be easy to dedicate this entire post to just photos of these beautiful ships. Visit my other blog to check out the Tall Ships. Instead I would like to focus on the the fun sights and entertainment to be witnessed at the festival. Harborfest celebrates the nautical history of the region and with this year marking the bi-centennial of The War of 1812 there was a definite focus on that time period. Actors dressed in period garb entertained and interacted with festival goers.

What would an 1800's nautical festival be without Blackbeard and other pirates?

There were so many amazing sights, like these sailors that stood on the masts for hours while the ships sailed in the parade.

 There were so many different types of entertainment, rides and games galore.

Of course being a Navy family I couldn't pass up a patriotic shot or two.

Click on the button below to head over to Unknown Mami's to see what is going on all over the world.