Lots of Love

 

Detric gets LOTS of love... ALL THE TIME!  There is an over abundance of hugs and kisses being given around here-- it doesn't matter if Detric is awake or asleep... the other kids feel the need to show their feelings and therefore proceed to fill his bucket with a smothering of love!  Mom and Dad's full time job is helping the little man get a little sleep and air to breathe with all the constant "demonstrations of love"

 

For Valentines Day, Clay and Laura got a date!!  They went out to PF changs for dinner and then headed to the Stake's Sweetheart Dance.  Clay and Laura were trying to remember the last "dance" they went to - a dance where they were there to dance; not teach something, do a floor show, chaperone, etc... a go and shake your own groove thing adult dance...well, it had been a long time and Laura and Clay quickly realized they were a bit rusty!  They had a great time, but the sad reality is.... we are better dancers when our audience is a 7 year old, 5 year old, 3 year old, and 2 month old kids!  This year, Laura made Clay a RED lemon meringue pie and Clay attempted to get Laura flowers!  He thought it would be fun to order online and have the flowers delivered to the house...well..it would have been fun but...the flowers were 2 days late and NOT what he ordered!  So, Clay went and got flowers himself and boy were they beautiful!  Clay even picked up flowers for Aparri - she thought that was the greatest thing ever!  When they started to wilt and die, she said, "I guess Dad needs to go and get me some more flowers!"  Funny girl!!  Laura is working hard to keep her orchids alive this year!  She read the instructions and she is religiously following them!  We will see how that goes!  Clay was mad and disappointed that the flowers didn't arrive ontime...Laura was ok...Valentines Day was extended several days.Happy Valentines Day Everyone!

 

Laura's a little wiser today

Laura had a great birthday...got completely spoiled by her family!  She got breakfast in bed...pancakes, cool whip, strawberries, and CJ's special eggs!  Yum!  Then she was totally surprised with the fantastic decorating job done by Clayboy!  We had to keep them up for days just to enjoy the ambiance of the room!  Clay gave Laura the best gift ever.... a "day off"  and $100.  This gift included a babysitter, which was hired for the day, and Laura could go and do whatevery she wanted for as long as she wanted!  In Laura's own words it was "magical."  After being gone for a little over 6 hours, Clay asked Laura...so where did you go? Laura replied, "DI" Clay then asked, "Where else?"  "DI"  "You mean, you spent over 6 hours in DI?"  "Yep, and it was the BEST DAY EVER!!!"  Plus, the day was finished off with a cream cheese pie...perfect day..DONE!

Mommy Time Too

Most days this little man is attached to Laura's hip...or not too far away..and as Laura was going through pictures, she realized...hey... I don't have very many pictures of me with my little man!  So...here we go - Laura and her newest little man spending some Mommy time together!

Daddy Time

 Detric loves his Daddy and it shows!  Look at that smile!  Detric and Clay were having a fun time talking and playing together, Laura couldn't help but capture the moment!  

3 Motorcycle Men and a Lady

 Everyone has some wheels to have fun with!  The boys and Aparri love to ride motorcycles!  They were all riding them around the neighborhood having a marvelous time.

Canning Craziness

While Nana was here, Laura and Nana went crazy canning!  They canned Beef....LOTS of Beef!  We are well stocked on ground meet in our food storage now!  Thanks Nana....that was a lot of work.  You are a life saver!

Birthday Tradition...

 Aparri requested french toast, strawberries and coolwhip for breakfast!  Aparri was so excited to have breakfast in bed!  She took her sweet tim eating it too..she was easily distracted and having to much fun enjoying the novelty of eating in bed! 

Aparri's Aerial Mermaid Cake

This year Aparri wanted an Aerial Mermaid cake...and waa laa this is how it turned out!  Laura had a lot of fun putting it together!  Aparri stood close by watching the production of the cake and putting in pointers and instructions now and again!  We were excited her mermaids didn't want to go swimming in the "sink pool" like her princess cake last year!  The cake wasn't only cute, it was super yummy too..I think everyone' favorite part of  the cake was Aerials tail and the little rocks that Aerial's sisters are all sitting on.  They were "cake balls" and just melted in your mouth..yumm.

Brother had to sneak in and help Aparri blow out the candles!  Little stinker!

Our Dancing Queen

 

Part of Aparri's Birthday gifts was getting signed up for dance class...and let me tell you - that was the single best thing we could have given Aparri.  The girl loves it!  Everyday we hear the question, "Is there dance today?"  Oh..if only everyday could be Thursday, "Dance Day" Aparri would be in heaven.  It doesn't matter what is going on - she could be watching her favorite show, playing with babies, at a friends house, fighting with her brothers..oops, I mean playing with her brothers! crying, or completely sound asleep...when she hears the words "It's time to get ready for dance"  she perks up and is immediately happy and eager to put on the leotard and tights!  Mom and Dad can't wait for the recital and see her in action!

Aparri is 3

Thank Goodness she has 3 brothers!  We are going to need them in a few years!  Aparri is the princess of the house and she carries it well!  She is such a little lady, but can also hold her own with the boys!  We love her so much and are having so much fun having a princess among the ruffians.  (Aparri loves BOOTS...she has red boots, brown boots, snow boots, many kinds of boots....and they are always on her feet!  They are the footwear of choice most days!  Ok...it is either boots or sparkley dress shoes or one of each.  Aparri was wanting to wear 2 different shoes all the time, and Laura finally said...NO.  Your shoes have to match.  Goodness ..that is Aparri for ya - alittle bit of this and a little bit of that!  And she can still look cute doing it too!)