Destin Beach with Friends

I just love how even though the army moves us all around that we still can get together with friends from far away.  Since leaving Clarksville I have been fortunate to be able to go on several trips with my friends from there and had several of them visit me here in Alabama.

This past Labor day we met our friends Erin and Daniel and Jenae and Steven in Destin with our kids.  Lisa was going to join us but her hubby returned home from deployment early. What a great reason to miss a vacation!

We all met up in Destin for a long weekend and had a blast.  Each couple took turns cooking a meal each night so we were well fed.  We also took advantage of the awesome pool and playground of the condo as well as the beautiful beaches.  We actually stayed at Blue mountain beach which is just out side of Destin.  It was also just down the street from Sea Side which is one of our favorite spots.  It is the town where "The Truman Show" was filmed.  After the kids went down at night we enjoyed hanging out and catching up as well as playing Left, right, center to help Daniel and Erin pick a baby name.

We had a blast and so did the kids!

Fall Photoshoot

It sure is nice to have creative and talented friends.  A few weeks ago my friend Erin was gearing up to do fall mini sessions for her photography business and she invited Ava over for a photo shoot to test out her props.  I made the shirts for the girls and Erin made the cute headbands to match.  Ava and Claire had so much fun and were such good sports about posing and smiling for the camera.  The pictures turned out amazing!  

Down on the Farm

Today Ava's school had a field trip at a local farm.  There were pony rides, a hay ride and pleanty of animals to pet and hold.  Ava and her friends had a blast!!!  Being there brought back many fond memories going to my cousins house when I was little and playing on the farm.  What a great way to spend Friday!!!

 Claire and Ava had so much fun together!

 Going on a hay ride

Ava loved the bunnies!  She cried because she wanted to take one home.  They were sweet little things!

Tallahassee Race

Mark finished up his race season with SERC last month and to stay in shape he plans on doing a few of the Florida races that are near by.  This past weekend we traveled to Tallahassee for the first race for the Florida series.  They had all kinds of fun events set up for the riders and their families to enjoy.  Ava especially enjoyed the enormous playground!

On race day Mark presented a flag to the Gone Riding crew and was asked to speak to the crowd.  He was nervous that his emotions would get the best of him as he presented a special flag that he had flown in all of his missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.  It was a very fitting time to present it as it was September 11th on the 10 year anniversary of the tragedy that had started the war on terrorism that he had been a part of for three deployments.  We had a moment of silence to remember those lives lost and the microphone was handed to Mark.  I was so proud of him and the words he spoke that day.  Now the flag that Mark present to Gone Riding will be flown at every event.

 Getting a little emotional during his speech but he did well!

 Ava had fun on her bike as well

 The Florida races have many more riders than in SERC.  

Since we have been here in Alabama, biking has been a big part of our lives as a family.  We have enjoyed traveling and meeting some really great people along the way.  Who knows maybe one day I will get back into Mountain biking.  Gotta get in shape first!!!

Catching up!

I have been bad about blogging and taking pictures lately.  Orders for my business Ava Tate Creations have picked up which is great and other obligations have kept me busy.  So here is a quick recap of what has been going on.

First off Ava started back to pre-school August 15th.  She was so excited to start back and especially excited that her friend Claire is in her class.

Labor day weekend my parents came to visit.    Ava was beyond excited to see her Mamaw and Papaw.  They came bearing toys and a huge coloring book with crayons which came in hand over the rainy dreary weekend.  Ava even got Papaw in on the coloring!

 My dad really enjoyed the screened in porch and listening to the rain so Ava set up a party for her dolls and animals.  She even conducted a wedding!

We had wanted to take my parents to the beach while they were here but the weather was not cooperative.  We had lots of rain and several tornado watches and warnings throughout the weekend.  Ava kept us entertained!

Rucker Lancer Reunion

Weather it be TDY or permeant party there are several Lancers here at Rucker.  As we always said once a Lancer always a Lancer,  the Rucker Lancer group all got together last night for a mini reunion.

We were a part of the Lancer Company back at Ft. Campbell during the last deployment Mark went on in 2008-2009.  I have to say it is the best company in the Army that we have been a part of and the greatest group of people you will ever meet.  It was so nice to all get together again and catch up and talk about old times back at Ft. Campbell.

Thanks to the Nelson family for hosting us all!

 Top toast to the Lancer's

Work and Pleasure Road Trip

The first week in August Ava and I joined Mark on a work trip to Ft. Campbell KY.  Since we were going to be so close to home the Sunday before his work trip we spent in Bowling Green visiting my family at my sisters house.  I couldn't believe how fast my niece Peyton had grown in the two months it had been since I saw her last.  I didn't get to hold her long before Mark snatched her up.  This was his first time meeting baby Peyton.

After a nice visit with the family, we headed down to Clarksville to check into our hotel.  We spent the week visiting with friends and driving around to see what all had changed in the two years we had been away.  I am sad that we didn't get as much visiting in as we had planned as Ava had a fever two of the days we were there.  Hopefully we will be up that way again soon to visit with those we missed.

Friday after Mark was done working we headed to Fontana, NC for Mark's last SERC race of the season.  It was a long 5 hours with the last hour being on the curviest road called the Dragon's tail.  Many motorcyclist and sports car riders come from all over to ride this stretch of road.  For someone who never gets car sick, this road made me almost sick. 

We spent the weekend in a cabin with no cell phone, land phone or internet.  It's amazing how much we rely on our cell phones!!!  This year Mark is part of a racing team so we had fun getting together with the team and their family while there.

 Ava was the trophy girl for the day.

Mark had an amazing race coming in 3rd in the race and 4th place overall for the year.  Afterwards they had a nice dinner banquet where several of Mark's team mates won prizes for placing 1st, 2nd or 3rd for the year.  Team Northstar Rocks!!!!