We took another fun Monday School field trip this week to the Mercy Flights hangar at the airport. Rylee's dad, Shawn, is a helicopter pilot and he showed us the helicopter and ambulances that are used to respond to emergencies and the fixed wing plane that is used for transporting critically ill patients to bigger hospitals. In the photo are Sophie, Kyia (Rylee's sister), Helen, Gibson, Rylee and Abe. Rylee and Kyia's mom, Kris, was also there. Shawn was a terrific tour guide, showing us everything from the computers the pilots use to monitor the weather to inside the engine compartment for the helicopter rotors. These Monday school field trips are spoiling us for regular school outings. There was enough time to let everyone have a turn. The kids clambered in and out of the vehicles at will. A cute flight nurse gave the kids stickers and pens. Becky asked whatever questions popped into her head without having other parents look at her strangely and think, "Who is that weird mom and why won't she be quiet?"
Abe really enjoyed trying out the pilot seat. We asked him if he would like to be a pilot when he grew up. "No, too scary. I want to be an astronaut." Because being an astronaut is less scary?
The helicopter is very compact. This allows it to maneuver into tight spots and land at a crash site, but doesn't leave a lot of room for passengers. Shawn showed us how a patient needing transport would be loaded into the back of the helicopter. Becky, who is a bit claustrophobic, would need sedation to ride in that narrow space. The liftoff fee for the helicopter is $7500, then an additional $50 per mile traveled is added to the bill. Trauma patients typically have a golden hour after their accident when treatment is most effective, which makes the speed of helicopter transport invaluable. We're so glad Mercy Flights provides this service. At the same time, we'll try to avoid using it.
Helen and Brandan made a blueberry cream pie this week just for fun. Gibson kept asking if it was family night. Nope. Brandan wanted to try adapting a recipe from the newspaper (is veganizing a word?) and Helen likes helping her dad.
The finished pie. You can tell Helen liked it, since she finished her piece before Brandan had cut pieces for everyone else. At least half the ingredients were substitutes (tofu, powdered soy milk, wheat-free graham crackers) but the finished product could be eaten by everyone. Everyone liked it except for Abe, who gave it 2 thumbs down. "And if my feet were hands, I'd give it 4 thumbs down." Don't listen to him-- it was delicious.
4 comments:
We just purchased Life Flight insurance for our family. For an annual fee of $50, St. Alphonsus picks up any portion of the bill that isn't covered by traditional insurance. That's pretty amazing when you consider how much one emergency can cost.
wow, the helicopter tour sounds so cool. What a fun field trip.
Vegan blueberry cream pie...interesting. I am sure it takes a lot of work coming up with something that can be eaten by your whole family. I am glad you get to indulge once in a while despite the allergies and vegan diet. What does Thanksgiving look like at your house?
We're going to friends' for Thanksgiving and our kids are over the moon at the prospect of MEAT.
You are doing an awesome job of digging up cool field trips. Hope you are giving yourself "good mom" pats on the back! That's great that you are finding ways to adapt foods to your vegan lifestyle. I think too many people are scared or intimidated to make those regular substitutions, but then you've had years of practice!
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