The food snatcher!

Our little man is becoming a big boy;  He is officially 5 months now.  This boy can't wait to eat food - he has been staring at our food for over a month now...and has recently started grabbing it out of our hands!  So watch out, if you are within this little boys reach, he will snatch your food!  Especially if it is an otterpop or a slushee! In this hot Vegas heat- cool treats are essential!  We were out for a walk this week, and stopped at the shopette for a cool treat - slushees!  It was so hot, we gave Detric a taste...well, a taste turned into a feast...the kid LOVED it!  He couldn't get enough of it!  He literally would grabbed the straw when he saw it coming and shove it into his mouth!  He is now eating banana, pears, and oatmeal.  Bananas are by far his favorite! We don't have any eating pictures yet - but here are some bath shots! 

Sharing the 4 Wheeler Love

 When the kids came home from school on Friday and saw a pair of four wheelers in front of the house...they went crazy! And then when we told them that they weren't coming with us on the Friday night four wheeling adventure - well, I am sure your imagination can produce a close replica of the disappointed faces that we saw. We were torturing our children...our four wheeler loving children...torture. Well, as it turned out - we wanted to rent the 4 wheelers in the evening, but the place closed at 5...so in order to rent them for our anniversary date, we needed to get them for 24 hours. The owner was really nice and gave us an "anniversary special." Now we could take the kids out Saturday morning! Perfect!  So that is what we did - Saturday morning was spent out at the trails -   The kids had sooo much fun driving the four wheelers. When we first got to the trails, we let the 2 boys drive around the parking area to get familiar with the 4 wheelers. After getting warmed up, we loaded the rest of us. Preston drove one with Dad and Aparri in tow. CJ drove the other with Mom and Detric. We drove around the trails, going up and down hills, Clay and Laura thought it was GREAT - the hills and bumps were what made it fun...however, it was interesting that the boys both made the same comment at different times to different parents, "I want to go back to where the truck is parked and drive - it is too bumpy up here....what? Well, after a little longer on the "bumpy trails"  we went back to the car and let the boys drive around free style. Aparri hitched a ride with CJ - and she was hilarious - every time she would go past mom and dad -she would wave or give a thumbs up! Princess Aparri on her chariot 4 wheeler!  We had so much fun, we could have  stayed out there all day! The kids are now trying to convince Mom and Dad that Santa needs to bring four wheelers for Christmas this year!

11th Anniversary and Fulfilling dreams!

On May 17th, We celebrated our 11 year wedding anniversay!  We decided to celebrate by fulfilling a Vegas dream!  We have been driving by these off roading tracks for over 2 years now  (they are up the road from the base) and every time we drive by - Clay and Laura say, "We have to do that someday before we leave Vegas."  What better day to do it than our anniversary?  So that is what we did!  We rented 2 four wheelers and Clay and Laura had a ball!  We had 3 1/2 hours of freedom, fun, and danger (I live for danger!!)* (sorry inside joke)!  Laura was a little timid at first, but by the end- she was doing things she didn't think she would be able to do!  Clay only had to bail her out of a sticky situation 3 times - my hero..literally!  Laura would just cletch the brake and yell, "CLAY!" and he would come a runnin'...what a patient man!  We climbed up rocks, tall hills, went down into valleys, and had a nice picnic dinner in the middle of the sand dunes!  Here is to 11 years and counting....

 

   

Mother's Day 2013

 

Laura was pampered and showered with love on Mother's Day and the days that surrounded it. She was able to go with a group of friends to get a pedicure...one word descibes the experience... HEAVEN! Then, she received breakfast in bed - CJ made his special muffins that were warm and cooked light and perfect- coupled with a wheat pancake, eggs, strawberries and coolwhip!  Each of the kids made a special card. Preston made a flower pot. CJ wrote a poem for her.
And they all went together and got Laura some earrings and a hanging plant. What a lucky lady to have such a wonderful family! Oh...and to finish off the day - we had...marshmello popcorn, of course (Laura's favorite). Happy Mother's day!

 

A Unique Gift

 

Preston loves animals, insects, creeping things, crawling things, & licking things.  I am beginning to believe this kid has a true gift.  He can catch flys with his fingers people!  Flys stay on his hand...animals that don't like anyone else...like Preston! This kid has GOT to be a vet when he grows up or something with animals... it is truely amazing - he gets such joy out of animal life.  If only we can train him to be a little more gentle  - he sometimes LOVES things to death.  We are working on it!

MISTER Francis NutterButter

 After watching "Wreck-it Ralph" Preston loves Francis Nutterbutter.  And NO matter what Mom and Dad say or how many times we say it...according to Preston, Francis Nutterbutter is a BOY.... and Preston can tell you why.  #1- because HE is Preston's favorite, #2 - HE doesnt' have eye lashes.  #3 - HE is wearing pants (not a skirt) and #4 - he thinks the voice sounds like a boy.  So there you go!  Preston even said, "When I get older I am going to change my name to Francis."  He thought that was sooo FUNNY!  Then he ended his comment with, "I am going to play a trick on my wife and tell her my name is Francis.  That way she will never know I am really Preston!"  He then proceeds to laugh at his little scheme...hilarious!

Preston was sooo excited to try and make some HOMEMADE peanut butter cups!  He knew what ingredients he wanted to use and all...(and honestly..they were pretty accurate), however, in the end, Mom helped supervise and oversee quantities of ingredients added.  When the balls were all done, Preston climbed up on the counter, got out the cupcake liners and cut out liners for his nutterbutter balls!  With Preston, there is attention to every detail and he has the idea and know how to do it.  Good job Preston - your nutterbutters turned out really good!  When they were done and the kids had each partaken of the peanut butter cups, Preston told Laura, he wants to go sell the leftovers to the neighbors!  Nutterbutter Balls, Anyone?  They only sell for about 100 dollars each!

Here is a picture of Preston's completed peanut butter cup..they turned out perfect!  Good job our little chef!

tball and baseball season 2013

It was a fun season in baseball this year!  The boys did great!  We saw lots of improvement from last year.  We had a good time going and cheering them on.  Preston had an amazing coach this year - Mr. Clay Ward himself!  Luckily they do t-ball early here in Vegas, so it wasn't too hot! Detric was the best cheerleader there was -sporting his baseball hat and all!   Good job boys.

Growin' Painted Ladies

For Christmas the kids got a butterfly kit from Nana and Papa - a butterfly house and a coupon for caterpillars!  It has taken us a few months, but we were finally ready to send away for our caterpillars!  We got 4 healthy caterpillars that ate and ate and ate and ate and then pooped and pooped and pooped and pooped - and in the course of a few days - quadrupled in size!  It was an amazing experience watching those little things grow exponentially!   They would also practice making their silk/ webbing stuff around their container.  And they would even occassionally fight with each other!  After about a week, they each took a turn attaching themselves to the roof of the jar, hang upside down in a J shape, and then form their chrystallus.  They were in their chrystallus' for about a week and then within a day they were all butterflies flying around the butterfly house!  It was our job to feed them fresh "sugared" flowers and fresh fruit.  The kids were excited to watch them, try and hold them, and then set them free.  Preston, our animal lover, had a hard time understanding why we had to let them go!  Good Bye Painted Ladies...fly free, it was fun to have you in our home!