a trifecta tribute

Yes, I am still around. I have been lazy lately and haven't felt like posting. Well, that and the Olympics were on and I was glued to the tv. Those were some good games! Alas, they are over now and I have found new things to occupy my time...mainly spider solitaire and channel surfing.


Now it's that oh so wonderful time of the year when military families PCS (permanent change of station) to new places. Our friends Mark & Emma are one of the families that are moving. Mark & Emma moved here the same time we did 4 years ago. Chip and Mark worked together at the test range and became friends. We all happened to go to the same church and that is how I met Mark's wife Emma. We all hit it off and have been friends ever since. A few weeks after that we met Austin & Ashley. Answering their call for friends at our Sunday School Christmas party, we all hit it off. That started the super power known as the trifecta, as Emma affectionately dubbed us. Here is a picture of all of us at another Christmas party in 2005.



We spent many a weekend hanging out, going to movies, playing Goofy Golf, and going to movies. Last July Austin & Ashley moved to Jacksonville, but we all remained in contact and still got together every now and again. But now Mark & Emma are moving to Ohio so that kind of diminishes the chances. Of course, there is the phone and the internet, but come on, it doesn't replace actually spending time together.


A few weeks ago Austin & Ashley came into town so we could all hang out one more time before Mark & Emma moved. We went out to eat at the Crab trap in Destin for Ashley's birthday. We also all cheered on Team USA together watching the Olympics. One highlight of the weekend was playing Rock Band on the PS3. Few of us had played that game before, but we had a great time living it up. From me belting out Creedance Clearwater Revival's "Fortunate One"(oh yes I did!), Emma playing the heck out of the cowbell on Blue Oyster Cult's "Don't Fear the Reaper", or any of the guys playing the guitar or drums, we made quite the band. It was a lot of fun.


Here are a few of the pictures from the weekend.

This last picture cracks me up. Yes, I am well aware that it isn't remotely in focus. After we ate at the Crab Trap we walked out on the beach and took a few pictures. We thought it would be nice to get a picture of us all together. So we asked the first guy that walked by to take our picture. We don't realize until after he takes the picture that he is drunk and doesn't hold down the shutter on the camera to focus the picture before he takes it. He didn't give us warning when he took the picture either. I mentioned to him I wasn't sure if we were all looking and he said "It's too late now" and handed the camera back and staggered away. Thanks!

We'll miss you Mark, Emma & Sarah Beth! Best of luck to you as you move on to Ohio! Enjoy having seasons again - I'm jealous!!