Monday, June 30, 2014



Getting Pinned
Fort Benning, GA
Day 24-Year 3
Team Zybko
June 30, 2014



C130 going down the strip
251 gonna take a little trip
Stand up buckle up shuffle to the door
Jump right out and count to four

If my chute don't open wide
I have another one by my side
If my reserve don't blossom round
I'll be the first one on the ground

Lo, right- left
lefty , right lea eft
lo, right left
lefty-right left


We were there alright, standing at the correct airfield, on time, with bells on and everything. Drex, La and I waited patiently for the pinning part of the ceremony in the hot, hot, hot Georgia sun but missed the photo op and special moment by mere seconds anyway. No ones fault really, who knew how difficult it would be to find your kid amongst a couple hundred straight faced silent soldiers. With sweat dripping from every nook and cranny we searched the orderly rows and rows of camouflaged buzzed cut and tight military hair buns. A real life Waldo hunt. Although I am pretty good at inadvertently embarrassing my kids I did have enough sense not to call out in a desperate mommy voice for Dylan's whereabouts. Just as we thought our efforts were futile I see a familiar hand raise up above the heads of the other proud parents from the very back row. No picture of the official military dude pinning the gold wings on his uniform, you just have to take my word on it. Congrats Dylan and the rest of Charlie Company. 
Airborne...all the way!  



These Silver Wing peeps were amazing to watch fall from the sky. Each one of them gracefully landing upon an "X" neatly laid out on the grassy ground. A targeted spot roughly the size of our dinning room table. Wow! Most of them clocking in over a thousand jumps each, impressive to say the least, I can barely jump off my living room couch and land on my feet! Hooah.  

































Sunday, June 29, 2014




Happiest of Birthdays to You
Day 23-Year 3
Team Zybko
June 29th, 2014

I'm feeling 22!
Thank you so much Taylor Swift, your song had been stuck in my bug ole head all day, that one line rattling around like a bunch of tin cans. Just that one part though, not really sure how the rest of the ditty goes, no biggie, not the point. Happy Birthday Diane, that's what's up or turn down for what...what ever these young wipper snappers say these days. 

Tomorrow we will celebrate a little better, sorry we weren't in town today to hug you and kiss you and sing to you in person and help you eat a cupcake or two. I hear June 30th is the new June 29th anyway. I just randomly picked pics of you from my iPhoto in the past year to represent what sorta young lady you have grown to be, but in the event these images don't tell a thousand words here are a few more. Love you lots Di-Di!

You are special.
You are adventurous.
You are smart.
You are funny.
You are athletic.
You are strong.
You are goofy.
You are determined.
You are generous.
You are witty.
You are giving of your time.
and
You apparently don't take a bad picture.
You are one of a kind Di-Di!
Love Team Z
OJBP






















Snagged this one off your wall :)