Dover Castle and Secret Wartime Tunnels

This is Dover Castle!

It is huge and has hundreds of years of history. This link will explain the history about the castle:

English Heritage/Dover Castle

We decided to visit Dover Castle on a whim. We ultimately wanted to go camping in the Sherwood Forest but when everything was booked we changed our plans and headed south to Dover. We set up camp and had a interesting night with miserable rain then waking up to a foggy grey morning. Many of our pictures show the thick fog hanging over the area. Turns out the day we visited was an extra expensive/interactive event, because of the 1 day price we decided to join English Heritage (a organization which protects and preserves national heritage sites) and enjoy the benefits of seeing other Heritage sites for free. There were re-enactment actors scattered throughout the grounds. It was fun to see all of them living, cooking, fighting. . .

Our tickets also got us into the Secret War Time Tunnels. Hidden within the White Cliffs are a maze of military tunnels. There is an ambulance drop off, with reception and multiple surgery rooms, recovery, kitchen, dormitory, and a communication level complete with radios and top secret military files. The pilots who were shot down over the straights of Dover were brought to this hospital first to be stabilized. Even the top secret actions of the evacuation of Dunkirk were given by Vice-Admiral Bertram Home Ramsay from these tunnels. This was by far my favourite part of the trip. As you tour the tunnels you are taken on a fictitious story of a wounded pilot, you follow his recovery process and experience all the bombing and power outages of WWII. You aren't allowed to take pictures in the tunnel so I copied some from English Heritage.

The BIG 30!

My wonderful husband turned 30 this year! I wish we could have had a huge family filled birthday bash for him but unfortunately we are still living overseas and far away. David's birthday fun was spread out across many weeks and sadly was littered with car repair bills and long work shifts but we tried to make it fun. I put together this small photo time line of his past 30 years and it makes me laugh just looking at it. I tell Dave all the time that I wish I knew him growing up, I feel like I missed out on a huge part of his "character building years."

I love you so much, Happy 30th Birthday!

This last picture is of Ava delivering Davids birthday balloon and present to him while at work, but because Dave works in a classified area we can't take pictures of him opening it. He requested coconut chicken curry and a cheesecake for his birthday meal which we shared over a hole punch and stapler on his desk, very memorable.

The Royal International Air Tattoo

This air show is held at RAF Fairford and is expensive (around 35 pounds a person) Dave really wanted to go but felt bad about buying such an expensive ticket. I said it would be a fun birthday present for him and a buddy to go together. A couple of days later we found out that it was free for all military ID card holders if we went on Sunday 18 of July. We decided to go as a family and made a weekend of it. The amount of people was unreal, it's so big that it's deemed "the worlds largest military air show." Most of our pictures aren't very good, but it is hard to capture a great shot with a low quality camera on a fast moving airplane and 2000 people in your way.

F22

Vulcan

French Demonstration team

A400M

B52 Bomber

Miller Goofy Shots

The planes were loud, really loud especially because we were so close to the runway; however Ava managed to fall asleep during the F22 demo. Go figure?

It hurts to wait

This is a way for me to type out my feelings straight from my heart. I know of friends and family who have waited longer and are still waiting to have their little miracles come from heaven. These are my personal feelings that I want to express.

Have you ever wanted something so bad that it hurts? Praying, fasting and of course trying trying trying haven't worked. Never did I ever think this would be me. I want a second baby so bad. I waited until I thought it was the "perfect time" when I was completely ready, and that everything was planned out so well. Well time was perfect for me but not the Lord. I can't help but feel like maybe I'm being punished for not constantly saying my prayers or for privately groaning when I'm asked to serve in another high intensity calling at church. The couple that lives behind us, who always fight and curse and don't even look like they like each other let alone love one another seem to be blessed with 3 children, why not me? It was all so easy with Ava, a surprise pregnancy, flawless 9 months, long but uncomplicated labor, and a perfectly healthy baby. Maybe that's just it maybe the next one won't be such a breeze, maybe I need the time and distance between children to recharge my system for a more complicated situation. My thoughts can get pretty random and completely irrational, but don't these thoughts sit at the back of every mothers mind? I know one day I will have another little angel to hold and love and teach but obviously not today or 9 months from today but hopefully it won't take years. Every month that goes by and every test that comes back negative means Ava is one month closer to 3 years, 4 years. . . I want my family to grow and it hurts to wait!

I would love your comments but for personal privacy I won't publish any comments under this post.

Oh No Mom

Oh no Mom, you have all these pictures that no one has ever seen! Lets do a crazy blog.

This is what happens when Ava decides Jessie needs more food.

This is what happens when I try to go for a bike ride with a child who hasn't had a nap!

This is princess Ava in the Disney Store, with Sleeping Booty! (that's what Ava says)

Goofing around in the Mildenhall BX fitness section.

listening to her first set of headphones, listening to Papa's Ipod

A while back I blogged about this Oreo cake pan and Mom Miller bought it for me for Christmas. This was the first time I made it and it was delicious. I went the ice cream cake route,adding mint chocolate chip ice cream in the center.

Dave calls this picture "Nerd Ava"

Waiting for Dave in the car. Ava put Lamby in her car seat and buckled her in.