1st Piano Performance

Aparri had her first piano recital!  She played a duet with Laura called "Old Mac Donald Christmas."  She did a great job!  We are so proud of Aparri and all her hard work.  She is 5 years old and doing a great job with her new piano skills.

Flying for Grades

We don't pay the kids for getting good grades, but we made a deal with them...those who got A's and B's on their report card would get to go flying with Dad.  The kids were super excited and worked hard.  CJ and Aparri earned their flights!  So on a Saturday in November...Clay took CJ and Aparri up into the clear blue skies!  CJ diligently helped Clay do the preflight check by reading off the different check list items.  Laura, Detric and Preston watched front the ground as they taxied and took off.   Then Laura and the boys raced the plane to the house where they flagged, danced, and said hello to the flyers with red rags as they flew around the neighborhood.  CJ loved flying - he even flew the plane for a while - look out world, I think we have another pilot coming!!!  Aparri loved the ride too, but preferred her seat in the back where she got so relaxed she took a nice nap!   

25 weeks CUTE!

We are ALL already in love with this little girl!  Detric comes up to Laura's belly, that has now POPed, and puts his hands on it and says, "I want to hold the baby."  It is fun that he is beginning to understand!  We have been thinking about names and right now our favorite name is Erica (named after Laura - her middle name). While saying goodnight to CJ the other night he asks, "So, Erica is the favorite name, right?" "Yep."  To which CJ responds..."Well, then  I will start calling her Erica!"  On her own, Aparri picked out (pretty sure it is a girl toy from her room) a gift for the baby.  She proceeded to wrap it, label it, and has it waiting in her room on the shelf for when the baby comes!  Preston asks daily when the baby is coming and can hardly contain his excitement and is always telling Clay and Laura ways that he is going to help and take care of the baby!  It is fun to see, hear and feel the excitement in the house!

Technology is amazing- to see this baby girl so clearly is incredible!  Can't wait to meet her in a few short months.

First-Time For Flag Football

CJ and his best friend, Chandler, decided to try flag football for the first time together!  They were enjoying playing and practicing together and we heard of nothing else.... however, all was well until the day before their first game.  CJ and Chandler decided to ride motorcycles together (which they do often) but this time was different - because apparently there were girls watching and they were around the corner from the house (so Mom and Dad weren't there either)...a dangerous combination...  well, CJ wasn't lured by the girls attention and tried to convince his buddy that he should stop trying to show off and do tricks....but unfortunately, his buddy didn't listen and on one of his attempts to ride a motorcycle without hands and then without feet.... he hit the curb, went over the handlebars, landed on his arm, and broke it!  Needless to say, football season was over for Chandler.  CJ was disappointed about his buddy's break, but he carried on and had a great season.  CJ loved flag football!  I do believe he will be playing again next year!  We had a great time watching CJ chase the flags too!

Caramel Apple Time

IT's Caramel Apple Time!!!!  We had a Fun October FHE making individual apples!!!  Everyone's was very unique and very Yummy.. (they taste better the next day after they harden and chill....fyi)

Halloween Marathon Week

When did Halloween become such a huge event?  Holy Cow…this week was crazy in our house.  We had a pumpkin decorating contest at school (pumpkin had to correlate to a book) so CJ decorated a pumpkin for Katness Everdeen in Catching Fire, Preston decorated an alien pumpkin in honor of New Mexico and his alien book, and Aparri used the girl baby pumpkin for Little Critters Baby Sister.  Then, we had the church trunk or treat – Laura and the rest of the primary presidency was in charge of the Haunted House…wow…that was an ordeal, but turned out amazing.  Then Clay’s work trick or treat – which was fun to go and see Clay’s new work space.  An adult Halloween party for Clay and Laura Friday night (where they arrived as Santa and Mrs. Clause - whose crime was they turned a family of elves into toys because they broke the strict rule of "no elving" in the North Pole - which was put in place to keep the hidden secret that Santa and Mrs. Clause Don't like children...hahahaha.), and finally actual Halloween on Saturday night – where we went trick or treating with a group of friends and then ended at the Hickman’s house where we ate hot chocolate, cider, and muffins (Laura made her favorite blueberry pumpkin muffins…oh yum. )  The week was a blast, but EXHAUSTING!  Whew…we definitely needed Sunday, a true day of rest!