Chase's 30th

Chase HATES attention... especially on his birthday. I kept teasing him that there was a big surprise coming. He was mortified at the thought of a surprise party. I kept fishing him lines leading up to his actual birthday and he was racking his brain as to what I had up my sleeve. So the day before his birthday, I took him to dinner and handed him a poem that revealed the surprise:

July is the best, we wait all year long for,
Independence day, fireworks, and swimming galore!
Then our 8th anniversary, oh how time flies,
Remembering the day, with great love in our eyes!
Then there’s your birthday, that shortly follows,
But this year is different; it might be hard to swallow.
You’re leaving your 20’s, there’s no looking back,
For now you’re a man with a bucket list to attack.
Temple marriage.  Check.  And two kids to boot.
A diploma (almost) and church callings, you’ve had a hoot!
As you enter this new era, it’s time to ponder,
No looking back, just look out yonder.
Think of the things you’ve always dreamt to do,
And today one of those dreams will come true!

Have any guesses?  Have any clue?
Sure you’d like to travel or scuba dive too.
And you’ve talked about Australia, or a safari, how fun,
Or getting a motorcycle, or a concealed handgun.
These are all great things, but they’ll have to wait,
For today is a different dream I hope to create.
You’ll be moving really fast, and soaring so high,
Look up.  Look up.  High in the sky!
Not far from home, you’ll get squared away,
To meet with your pilot, he’ll teach you the ways.
You’ll hop in a plane and shortly learn to fly,
A sunset flight, a sure dream for my guy.

Happy Birthday Chase and have a fun flight,
For tomorrow you’re 30, oh what a sight! 

He was nervous and excited.  We arrived at the Bountiful Flight School and met our pilot.  We hoped in the small, rickety plane, and he went over a few basics.  And then it was time to take-off...

... Chase was a natural and pretty much flew the whole time.  We played around with positive and negative g-forces (of which made both of us motion sick)... but overall it was so fun flying over the wasatch mountain range at sunset.  Definitely a birthday, and experience, to remember.

Enjoy this highlight video of the flight-


Take Off from Katie Oborn on Vimeo.