Labor Day Weekend

We had a relaxing Labor Day weekend, mostly just hung out at home (or a “staycation” as the media would call it). Here are a few pictures from our weekend:

Ava and Daddy at Max’s football game
DSC_9604.JPG

Ava and Aunt Crystal
DSC_9631.JPG

Mom and David watching the game (or is David texting)
DSC_9594.JPG

The pass
DSC_9611.JPG

Max coming through the “parent tunnel”
DSC_9627.JPG

DSC_9629.JPG

And here are some pictures taken at the park
DSC_9653.JPG

DSC_9680.JPG

DSC_9666.JPG

DSC_9645.JPG

DSC_9688.JPG

DSC_9686.JPG

Sophia
DSC_9634.JPG

Much to my dismay.. Ava LOVES drinking fountains!
DSC_9670.JPG

DSC_9674.JPG

Ava’s First Flight

This morning Ava, Jenn, and Scott went for a flight just to see how Ava would do in an airplane. Turns out she had fun and wanted to go flying again as soon as we landed!

I love Ava’s little giggle as we lift off

We flew out to the Snake River canyon around Swan Falls. You can see the canyon through the window.
IMG_3383.JPG

Ava enjoying her apple on final approach

This is as we are taxiing back to the parking area. Ava wanted to go again as soon as we touched down…

Passed my check ride!

After 4 months, countless mornings of getting up at 4:30AM to go fly before work, studying textbooks in the evenings, doing flight plan after flight plan, 500 miles of cross county trips, 3.2 hours of night flight, 3.4 hours of instrument flying, 20 hours of dual instruction flight, 31 hours of solo flight, and 176 takeoffs and 176 landings (it’s good for them to be equal 🙂 ), today I passed my Private Pilot FAA practical exam (checkride) and now hold in my hand my temporary airman certificate!  (That’s what they give you until your real one comes in the mail).

Just glad to be done -  now I can’t wait to take Jenn and Ava up.  Many, many, many thanks to Jenn for being so supportive, she’s the absolute best.

My parting advice from the pilot examiner was to always follow the rule on the placard below (above the altimeter), “Don’t do anything stupid!”