JROTC Flight Challenge 2010

 Today at 8 a.m. the FHS JROTC had their annual Flight Challenge.  As we sat in our cold weather gear (here in Florida that would consist of 2 shirts, a pair of jeans and a jacket.) on a bleacher at the 40 yard line of the FHS football field, we wondered what in the world Kyler’s part would be in these next few hours. Last year, he participated by doing the Dodge ball game and that was it. This year we were hoping for more!  Well, we were leery to say the least when half way through the even (2 hours later,) he had done nothing but held a flag and talked to other Cadets in his Lima squadron. Really this is what we have been sitting here for all this time, this and the okay burger, chips and store brand soda?!  I feel as If I have been gypped just a little even though I thoroughly enjoy watching Kyler interact with other kids his age. Matt and I always wonder how he acts around others here in Ocala, since he always acts like he is the antisocial one in our family even though we know darn well that he really isn’t.
Matt and Mckenna head off to the bank so that we can donate to the bbq fund and while they are gone. Here comes Kyler to the next challenge; The bat spin?  Interesting, I think to myself, out of the 4 meter relay,

The Girl in the relay picture is Kyler’s Girlfriend Danielle. She is a cutie! (She is on the HS Softball team and does Tourney ball also.)

the pushups,

 

the pull-ups

This Cadet, I think, beat everyone hands down on the pull-ups. He had the rhythm man, seriously pumping those reps turbo speed!
this is the event that he picks?  I wondered why he chose this, he is a great runner. He runs circles around the rest of the PT group on Tues and Thursdays. Sometimes his CO gets frustrated with this little kid because they start out the same pace and then Kyler ends up 3 blocks ahead of Stg. Elder, So I know that he could've done any of the running events and the kid has always beat everyone in his PE classes with pushups and sit-ups so I am left still wondering.
Can you say awesome event?! Can you say crazy insight into my child and his peers and can you say Holy cow, Great Big Smile on that kid when it is all over?!

Kyler doing the Bat spin

After Kyler ran drunkenly towards the finish line, he dropped to the ground either from the dizziness or from the disappointment that he was 3 seconds off the JROTC record of having the top time for this event. It was the drunken running that did it! :0(

  But that didn’t matter after it was over because his teammates thought he was awesome!

He also participates in the flight challenge Ball relay, but he has too, this is the whole flight!  Then awe, another event the obstacle course… Yes, he is doing this one also! Finally, I feel as if I can really enjoy this day!

The Ball Pass… Kyler’s flight came in 2nd in this event

Kyler’s 2 teams from his flight doing the obstacle course

Alley Oops, over the hill Cadets, move it, move it, it’s all about the final time!
Next there was an event a week in the making. Each flight was told they needed to make a vehicle out of cardboard and a little wood to drag across the football field.

This flat Cardboard thing was the start of a pink ice-cream truck but the walls, fell apart. Poor Lima Flight. (Kyler’s group.)

Then on to the Joust.

The final Challenge was the tug of war… fun times!
When it all came down to it. We think that either Alpha flight or Fox trot won the over all challenge. But, really, I don’t care about who won because the smile on my son’s face was winning enough for me!!! 

Man, I love that boy!

Happy Birthday Kyler!

How in the world is Kyler 17?! Is this really possible? Two Children have now broken into the realm of unbelieve-ality! I don’t have the words to say what I am thinking about right at this moment about how this situation is affecting me, so I will just jump into the night at hand:

The night before Kyler’s birthday we took him, his girlfriend Danielle and their friend Mel to Outback for dinner. It was really nice to get to know the girls better. They really are darling girls.

He was a lucky guy when it came to gifts, I think that he hit it big… He got Call of Duty Black Ops Xbox game, an Xbox live 3 month card, a shirt from Aero, Plain Bagels, white powdered donuts from Matt and I, a handmade, homemade room garbage can from Kenna, and Halo (whatever this new one is,) from Devin.

He was spoiled by Mel and Danielle with a cake, candy, and a great big UF inspired birthday card. (boo, to the that Danielle.)

He I think loved it even though, he never says anything. He is really a man of little words. I guess that is good for some, but I always, ALWAYS, want to know what someone is thinking so sometimes it drives me nuts! But the pictures do show that he was enjoying himself, so that is all that is important.

Kyler special requested not to have a birthday cake this year so I went and got him a chocolate chip cookie cake instead. It was delicious and he loved it!

Also, a dear person dropped off a pan of brownies at our front door to him, but I am the only one that knows who it was. It was a special request that Kyler not know. I thought it was a very sweet move from a very caring person. Lucky spoiled Kyler!

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Yummy…