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As of December 2nd, 2012 we are posting our blogs at a new blogspot address since we apparently max'd out our data storage with this one. You can get to our current posts at http://claywardcrew2.blogspot.com

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Visitors from Idaho



We sure enjoyed some visitors this month!!! Mom and Dad Ward drove all the way to San Antonio from Idaho to visit us!!! We had a fun time showing them around our favorite spots!!!

The first place we took them was...the ZOO of course!! We spend so much time at the zoo here in San Antonio, that we had to show it off to the Grandparents!! We were really disappointed because the hippos were sleeping when we went by their exhibit...but we decided to take a second gander on our way out..and low and behold, they were swimming about for us!! Yipee. The hippo was "the animal" that Amy wanted to see...so we were glad that it worked out on the second try and we had a happy Grandma!










Sunday, January 02, 2011

Christmas Morning Treasures

We all had a great Christmas...being that it was Aparri's first Christmas...she wasn't sure what to expect...but we are pretty sure she is a fan! Aparri got a new car for Christmas...and we can't keep her out of it!! She sits in it and waits for someone to walk by..then she looks up at you and starts rocking the car as if to say, "Go, Go, Go...push me" and then she laughs and squeals with delight as you push her around the house. She also loves taking it outside and on walks...it was the perfect gift for her...go Santa!!! The boys loved all their treasures from building tiles to iron man to nerf guns...It was a great day full of family, fun, good food, and staying in our PJs until 4pm (we probably would have stayed in them ALL day, but Aparri was dying to try out her new car outside!!! So we all took a walk around the block, we decided we better not do that in our PJs!)

Christmas Eve Traditions


Even though Christmas Eve consisted of just our small family...our family traditions were alive and well!! Our annual nativity was a little scarce...but we had the essential roles filled...casting was as follows: Joseph: Clay, Mary: Aparri, Donkey: Preston, Sheperd: CJ, Wiseman: Laura....now let me explain about our dear donkey...when we were preparing for our nativity re-enactment, we each went through and picked what we wanted to be. Preston was adament that he play the role of Jesus Christ....well, with Aparri being Mary...having Preston play the role of baby Jesus just wasn't going to work..plus, Preston didn't want to be baby Jesus, he wanted to be the big Jesus...well, after much explaining and convincing...the only thing that Preston would agree to be was the Donkey....it had several things working for it...one- it is brown (Preston is really into Brown right now), and Preston had the donkey's hee haw down to a tee and he was having a great time making the sounds...so..yes, Preston was our perfect Christmas donkey.... All in all...it was a great nativity with our small family!!! The sheperd's acting was superb (he really got into his part...classic!)...good job CJ!



After the nativity, we continued on to a second Christmas Eve tradition...new PJs. This year, Clayboy was on PJ pickout...and Clayboy decided to share one of his "loves" with the rest of us...LONG JOHNS! Yes, Clayboy loves his long Johns and therefore, we each got a new pair to wear Chritmas Eve...Don't we all look great sporting our new long underware!!! Thanks Clay!!

Saturday, January 01, 2011

No School and No Work...what to do?

It has been sooo nice having CJ and Clay home all day for 2 weeks!!! We have been soo spoiled, Laura's going to have a hard time adjusting when we have to go back to real life! We have kept ourselves busy with little day trips around San Antonio...we hit the Zoo (of course!!)- we actually went on Christmas Eve...and it was really nice. We got stuck in a rain storm...but that was an adventure all in itself! The street in between the zoo and the parking lot was completely flooded over...we had to wade through about a foot of water - Clay and Laura took different approaches - Clay, Preston and CJ plowed right through, didn't even think twice...it was raining at the time- we had no umbrella, and the street was flooded..what is a man to do? Get across the fastest and most direct possible way...Laura however, took a minute to take in the scene and analyzed it..as women like to do and what did she do next? Yes, you women can probably guess...with Aparri on the hip...and let me remind you it was still raining...Laura took the time to roll up her pants, take off her socks and shoes and then wade across...goodness! But hey...Laura didn't have to dry out her shoes when they got home!!! They were dry! Plus, she started a trend..there was a whole line of people doing the same thing after her..none before, just after!!! We were all "laughing all the way".... Before the rain storm, we actually were able to take a ride on the zoo train (that was a first!)- the kids ask every time we go if we can ride the train - so we finally said YES!!





Another day trip was to the New Braunfels train museum- they had several train cars that we could walk through- an engine, dining car, and a caboose. It was a small, but fun museum..and with boys that love trains, we couldn't go wrong!




The Witte Museum was a fun stop too.. some of our friends told us that they had a huge bug exhibit- so we knew we just had to go! It was sooo fun! There was a whole exhibit on bugs- robotic and large statues of a wasp, spiders, ants, butterflies, etc. they also had a Texas history exhibit, a science house- which the kids loved...tons of kid friendly experiments, noise makers, cause and effect hands on toys, and outdoor activities, log homes, etc.. We stayed about 4 hours..it was fabulous!










Clay was also able to reserve a T-6 simulator for us! So we each took a turn trying to fly the T-6! CJ and Preston loved it! They took turns flying the plane and being "Tower" They both did a GREAT Job....future pilots! Laura on the other hand..needs some private lessons!! After 4 crash landings...she was finally able to land without flames!! Yipee. Clay asked if she wanted to keep going, but amazingly enough...Laura was getting motion sick...and you don't even move in the simulator... the screen in made in such a way that your body feels like it is moving!!! So...Laura decided that she successfully landed once..she better stop while she was ahead - and let a pro take over the controls!! Since Laura has never been in the plane with Clay when he is flying, she wanted to see him in action...so she asked him to take the seat and show her how it was done...let's just say...if Clay was flying the whole time, I don't think Laura would have been feeling quite as sick! Yes, Clay's flying was quite a bit more steady and less squirrelish than Laura's attempts...well, we're all glad he is the pilot!!! Good job Clay!!!





Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Sunday Before Christmas....



It was the Sunday before Christmas and nothing but chaos and hurrying all through the house. 3 little kids doing their best to have fun, while Mom and Dad try and get dressed on the run... 2 parents doing their best with 8:30AM church, 3 rambunctious kids, living about 15+ minutes to the building, and Laura wanting a picture before we go...yeah right!!! I swear..it shouldn't be that difficult...but for some reason it is....they never want to look at the camera at the same time, sit still, or not be silly.....here is the best of our efforts!!!



and here are a few of the "out-takes"

Flying Santa

Clay's squadron had a great Christmas party!!! Yummy food, crafts for the kids, and Drum roll please....Santa flew in on a T-6. The kids sat and listened as Santa radioed in stating how far away he was, etc. and then they watched as he taxied in. Santa then proceeded to get out, gave each kid a candy cane, and then gave each kid individual time inside as he gave each a present. Yes, it took a while, there were lots of kids...and wouldn't you know it...our kids were LAST...but the wait was worth it...the kids loved it...well, Aparri not so much....this was her third Santa encounter this season and I don't think she is getting any better...possibly worse...but that seems to be the pattern with each of our kids...year one is fear, 2 a little better, and usually by 3 they will atleast tolerate the man and usually sit on his lap....so hope for the future!!!