Mushu's Visit and Alex's First Day of Flight School!

Katie a.k.a Mushu came to our sweet home Alabama to visit!!! Time with her went by so quickly and it was so hard to watch her leave not knowing a date when we'll see her again! I already can't wait for our next reunion!
 Alex made sure she left knowing how to pump her own gas...

While she was here we made the trek to Georgia to visit "Pebble Hill Plantation." A Lovely place that has a pump house bigger than the house we are living in now, Tennis courts, vet clinic, private pools, a log cabin school and a pond were all part of the over 3000 acre plantation. It was fun walking around the elaborate grounds of the house that has entertained Presidents and socialites of years past.



We also traveled to Panama City Beach, Florida to spend the night and enjoy the sandy beach! The weather was nice and sunny for us, although there were hurricane warnings  Katie also tried fried alligator for the first time at Pineapple Willy's Restaurant on the beach; she liked it! (Also an included picture to prove I have not gained 30 pounds like Mushu claimed she was going to tell family members back home!)



Katie and I got to lounge around by the pool and spend lots of sister time together; I am so blessed to have such a sweet and fun sister to call my very own! Thank you Katie for coming all the way down here to see us! We love you so much!

Alex also started his first official day of flight school, and he looks so good in the flight suit and helmet!!! Now comes the time where his schedule gets CRAZY! I'm talking, going to bed at midnight and waking up at 3:00am crazy! Lots and lots of time memorizing flight manuals, physics, aeromedical principles, systems (engine, transmission, rotor blades) basically all the system components, performance planning...just to name a few:-) If you've ever seen the inside of a helicopter and looked at all the buttons, and wondered how someone could possibly know what each and every one of them do, well, helicopter  Pilots do have to know! Here is a little picture of the cock pit of a Blackhawk helicopter and all that Alex has to know!

This Wednesday, September 12 Alex will actually get to practice flying, up until now he has only been in simulators- I know he'll do great and I absolutely cannot wait to hear all about it!!! (I'm sure he'll have a permanent smile on his face for weeks to come!)

Here's a little picture I took to mark the occasion and stats of his first day of Flight School:

While the husbands were away at SERE training, I made chicken and dumplings on two occasions for different groups of people and I always get asked for this super easy, best dumplings ever recipe! It's a Wales family recipe is kid friendly and is a definite family favorite!

Nancy Wales Chicken & Dumplings:

1 can of cream of chicken soup (I use cream of chicken and herbs)

2 cups 1/2 & 1/2

1 cup milk

1 tsp seasoning salt & pepper

1 tsp celery salt

1-2 tsp. parsley flakes

3-4 chicken breast cut into strips

1/4 tsp butter

2 Tbs. flour

1 can of Pillsbury Grands original biscuits, (cut biscuits in halves)

In large electric skillet with a large lid, melt butter over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper and brown chicken until golden on both sides. Remove chicken from skillet. Add flour, soup and milk(s) and seasonings to pan and stir until slightly thickened and not lumpy. Place chicken back into skillet and place biscuits on top chicken/gravy mixture. Sprinkle with parsley flakes. Place lid over skillet for 20 minutes. No peaking!

I won't include a picture because it's not a beautiful dish, but it sure is tasty and I hope you enjoy it!