Aunt Robyn Wins the Day

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the fact that yes, Aunt Robyn did of course, graduate too. That was the point of the trip, right? And, she was a distinguished graduate no less. For anyone who has been within shouting distance of the McClain family for more than ten minutes, you would have expected no less of our dear Robyn because if there is a top slot in anything, she's sure to get it. We could not be more proud of her and we're super happy and have to tell the world...see! (ignore the weird bump in my skirt that makes me look like I should be hiding something with a Trapper Keeper)

And, Aunt Robyn made everyone misty and teary-eyed by giving Bryon her wings. Well, not her wings exactly. But apparently, there is a tradition by which it's bad luck for the pilot to wear their first set of wings, so they break them in half, thus rendering them unwearable. They are supposed to keep half for themselves and give the other half to someone important in their lives, making sure to keep the two halve separate. The two halves are only to meet again when the pilot dies, at which time they meet at the pilot's final resting place, where they will help the pilot soar in the afterlife. Well, the half they give away is supposed to go to someone that has helped them soar now, right?

It seemed a no-brainer to me...she'd give them to J, her hubby. Nope, she gave them to Bryon! Jeesh. What a moment. We all melted. And, she even made a beautiful shadowbox for him to keep them in. It's got a picture of his little sister looking all tough and brave in front of her plane and a plaque with her name and the date on it and a little blurb about the wing breaking story. It's so gorgeous and sweet, I don't think there's a wonderful enough place that we can hang it in our house. Maybe in the White House? Can you tell that we're proud of her?

Collin decided that he was pretty proud and excited too. He wants nothing more than to be a pilot just like Aunt Robyn and Uncle J...or to just sign "airplane," the rest of his life, because they fly "up high," which he can actually say aloud.