Real Men Like Dirt!

Like most little boys, CJ is fascinated with being outdoors and exploring everything that he possibly can. He loves to get in the dirt and squeeze it between his finger, as well as find all of the leaves, twigs, bark etc... and give it a good taste. As you can imagine, mom is usually standing there saying "No CJ", and dads usually standing there saying, "That's My Boy".

Flashlight Fun

There's just some nights when you have a hard time coming up with something to do (at least the nights before primary flight training started), That's when stuff like this happens. We were playing with the shutter speed on our camera and got the bright idea to twirl flashlights around. It looks dumb but was actually quite entertaining.

Peek-A-Boo.....I Hear You?

One of CJ's new things has been getting on all fours with his hind quarters in the air, and playing peek-a-boo through his legs.... he had also been doing the 'hands over the ears' bit. We don't know why he does it, but we're sure that it has some deep (CJ language) meaning, like the time when we found reconstituted raisins in his diaper.

Discovering Milton

Yesterday the Ward crew decided to have a look-see of downtown Milton Florida (a very short look-see as it turned out, Milton isn't that big). We look a walk down the Milton Riverwalk which was nice, but the Riverwalk is about a hundred yards long, and is just a long dock-like walkway. But fun none-the-less, and CJ enjoyed watching the seagulls and the water. Next to the riverwalk was a war memorial which was really interesting to see. It had information on every major conflict that the U.S. has ever been in which was carved into large polished granite slabs. Also, the walking area at the memorial is layed bricks, and on every brick was carved the names of every person who has lived in Milton and died in war. It was humbling to see how much one small town has sacrificed for our countries freedom.

Some Play Time

Thursday afternoon was such nice weather that we had to take advantage of it and get out a bit. We went on a bike ride around the neighborhood, which CJ loves to do, as well as hit the playground for some swinging, sliding, monkey bar'ing, and playing with one of those funny looking wheels that looks like the helm of a ship (we are on a Navy base). It was lots of fun. CJ enjoyed it, except for one time when dad let him go down the big kid slide a little too fast for a ten month old.

An Early Celebration

Well we know that 11 Jan was a bit early to be celebrating Laura's birthday, but we figured that since Clay will probably be up to his ears in flight training come time, it would be a little better to celebrate early. We took CJ to some of our good friends and then went to see The Cronicles of Narnia, as well as go out to dinner. We then came home and Laura blew out her cheese cake candles and opened her birthday gifts.

Day Trip To Tyndall AFB

Yesterday, 7 Jan we decided to take a little trip over to Panama City, FL and visit Tyndall AFB, where Clay did his field training (like boot camp) 2 1/2 years ago. We spent most of our time there at the beach where we ate lunch, played in the sand, and hunted sea shells. We would have played in the water if it wasn't 45 degrees outside (we took off CJ's hat and gloves for the pictures). But it was a good time and it's always fun to get out and explore the area a bit.

Little Boys Gotta Have Trucks!

CJ has been putting his shiny new dump truck to good use, and I'm sure that he'll have the paint starting to wear off of it in no time; although I don't think that it will be from hauling DIRT around.
Earlier today the three of us went out into the backwoods of Florida and shot some of our guns; mainly the 220 swift, the 9mm, and one of the .22's. It was a fun little outing and we even saw an armadillo. We have probably seen hundreds of armadillos along side the highway (more like hundreds of pieces of armadillos) but this was the first one that we saw alive and upclose. Did you know that armadillos hop kinda like kangaroos when they run away? Neither did we until today.

CJ Gets Teeth

CJ got his first tooth at the beginning of November, we have just failed to let it be known to the world. As of now he has five teeth and we're excited to see them coming in. Luckily we have been fortunate not to experience too much of the fussy-baby-syndrome that sometimes accompanies a teething kid.

CJ also started walking about a week and a half ago. We know that we'll be kicking ourselves later for being so excited about him walking, but for now it's pretty exciting watching the little guy shuffle around the place. But one things for sure, nobody is as excited for CJ to be walking than CJ. His eyes light up with every step.

CJ Makes New Friends

On 23 December CJ became quite the social bug when he personally invited over about four armed officers from the local Milton police department. Early in the evening he had gotten hold of the phone and started pushing numbers, which means mommy had to keep pushing the 'hang-up' button since the operator kept coming on. But obviously one of his calls went through to someone besides the operator because a few minutes later we got a call from 911 dispatch asking if everybody in the household was all right. Mom apologetically explained the situation to the dispatch who understood and informed us that she would call off the police officers en route to the house. So we didn't think anything of it and went across the street to tend to our neighbors dogs (the neighbors were out of town). When we left their house we were quite startled to see at least three cop cars parked in front of our house and about four cops peering through our windows. Quite embarrased we stated that we were 'over here' and that CJ had been the one who had made the call. Luckily they were completely understanding.

Santa Clause Did Come!!!

Well, Christmas certainly came in the Ward house. He was quite generous, especially when it came to CJ and his newly acquired mountain of loot. He got all kinds of toys, from learning-games, to squishy blowfish, to a toddler-sized dump truck (every little boy needs to have a dump truck, along with airplanes and cars, all of which CJ got this Christmas). We're sure that he didn't need that much stuff, but what can you do. Clay was also excited to see that CJ didn't receive any girly dolls or anything of that sort.

CJ Meets Santa

Since it's CJ's first Christmas, it's also his first holiday to meet the big, scary guy in the red suit, which were CJ's thoughts judging by the tone in his screams. Oh well. I'm sure he won't be as frightened when he meets the REAL Santa Clause. We tried twice to get a good picture of CJ with Santa, once at Wal-Mart and once at the ward party, with no luck. Maybe next year.

Beware of hot stovetops!!!

Of course it was inevitable, since just about every kid has to touch a hot stove top at least once. But we were hoping that CJ would have at least waited until he was old enough to understand the lesson a little better. Last Saturday (17Dec) he found just that while mom & dad weren't looking. Naturally, it look a good while before there was peace and quiet in the Ward house again.

Where Have We Been For a Month?

November was a busy month. Mom and Dad Ward took a trip to church sites at the beginning of November, and showed up here in Florida on the 9th. While down here we went to the Blue Angels Airshow, went to Eglin AFB, and just explored a bit around the area.
A few days before they were about to head back to Idaho, we found out that we weren't going to start primary flight training until 12 December, so at the last minute we took leave for three weeks and hitched a ride back west with them (yes, they drove). We were in the car, four adults and one CJ, for four days of driving. It wasn't too bad actually, CJ did really well throughout the trip. We did stop at Liberty jail in Independence , Missouri, as well as Adam-Ondi-Ahman which was really neat. We arrived in Utah on Thursday, 17 Nov, and surprised the Smith Family (who were planning on spending Thanksgiving in American Fork). We spent about a week with them, and then we headed to Idaho for about another week with the Ward Family. Clay spent a few days up in the mountains hunting in the snow for ellusive elk. There was a lot of snow and cold temperatures in Dietrich which made Clay really appreciate the beauty of the changing seasons, while it made Laura really appreciate Florida. We returned to Milton on 7 Dec and threw up our Christmas decorations. We them found out on Friday, 9 Dec that Clay's class-up date was pushed back once again to 17 Jan (another month of waiting). It's frustrating not getting into flight training yet, but the time for all three of us to be together is great, and we're really excited to start our own family traditions as we spend this Christmas with just....... us.

An Airplane of My Very Own

Well, for the last few weeks since Clay's been finished with phase I of flight training, and waiting to start Phase II, he's been occupying some of his time (way too much time, if you ask Laura) to building a radio controlled airplane from scratch. It was a particular challenge because it wasn't a kit, and there was no manual or instructions on how to build it,not even any patterns to follow, but it was a alot of fun shaping all of the pieces from plywood and balsa and slowly putting it all together. Clay hasn't taken it to the skies, still just taxiing it around on the ground, and he'll probably work up (slowly) to the point of actually taking it off. Hopefully the construction is sound enough that it will fly, He'd hate to see it crash and burn right after he finished building it.

Military Appreciation Day

Friday, 4 Nov was military appretiation day up at Whiting Field, so we trucked up to see what was going on. There was some good food, some nice raffle prizes (which we didn't win), basketball, softball, and bowling tournaments, and this nice big green bubbley slide, among other things. CJ was thoroughly amused with it, and he probably would have been even more amused with it had mommy let daddy let CJ go down it by himself (ok, so maybe it wasn't such a good idea!). We also ate lunch with Derek and Alisson Neal, and then played a game of horseshoes with Eric and Tina Balls. All in all it was a good day.

Our Little Elephant

Although Daddy had major objections at first....For those of you who have seen the Christmas Story... it resembled a certain pink bunny suit too closely for Clay's approval... But, when Mom sneaked the little man into his ELEPHANT SUIT, Daddy couldn't deny It was a winner of a Halloween outfit! What a cutie!!

Halloween Party and BonFire!

Meet... Dr. Laura, Wyatt Erp, and "Dumbo." We all enjoyed our ward halloween party! It was a bonfire, barbacue, hayride and trunk or treat! CJ had fun hanging out with his little friend Riley the pumpkin!

Home MakeOver

Laura's been spending a lot of her time researching curtains and pillows, then in the stores looking for the perfect matches, and finally behind the sewing machine making the final touches! Laura has had a fun time rearranging the house,"dejunking" as she calls it, and giving the walls alittle color! The house is finally put back together and looks better than ever with its new face lift.

Big Clay, Little Clay

They look alike when they are awake and asleep! Everyone sure knows whose kid this is! This picture was just too cute to pass up... Awe.. Nap time!

I'm a Big Kid Now

With his tennis shoes on, CJ no longer looks like a baby! He is becoming such a little boy! On the first of November he will officially be eight months old! He is slowly getting used to having something on his feet! He is realizing that his shoes are more than something to play with... they are able to give him more leverage than those little toes!! CJ actually stood by himself for 3 seconds today! Yipee.

CJ's First Bike Ride!!

We'd been contemplating it for quite a while now, and last night we finally went out and bought a bike seat for CJ to ride in. Before that we could never go on bike rides together. One of us would have to stay back and keep an eye on the little guy. But this morning we finally went on the Blackwater trail together. It was a lot of fun and CJ seems to really enjoy his new seat.







The mornings have been getting a bit colder, and when mom takes the little man on her morning workout on the trail, he needs to wear a little more than just his onesy. But after getting him into his hooded sweatshirt for the first time, it was necessary to get a picture since he was such a dashing dude. Luckily he still doesn't know just how cute he really is!

The National Shrimp Festival

Earlier today the ward crew, along with Derek & Alisson and Kevin & Kristin, took a little gander to Gulf Shores Alabama to attend the Nat'l Shrimp festival. There were all kinds of food vendors, along with music, crafts booths, and a sand castle contest. It was fun hanging out at the beach and getting a little crisped at the same time.