From Trains to Legos

Matthew has found a new past time, Legos!!!! It started a couple of weeks ago when he bought with his own money this little lego race car kit. For his birthday he wanted more legos. Alison gave him a motorcycle kit. When Grandma took him to the store she wanted to buy him a bucket of just plane legos, Matthew was persistent on that he hated it and did not want to buy it. When we got it home it ended up being his favorite thing because he can make what ever he wants. I bought him this set a couple of years ago when it was half off and decided it was finally time to give it to him. Casey, Melody, Matt and Dad put it together, I couldn't tell which one of them was having the most fun. The next day we inherited the Welch boys bucket filled with legos. Let the building begin.

Gettin Caught in the Pantry

Paige loves food and out eats Matthew. Many times I have caught her in the pantry helping herself to some food.

Daddy's Girl

Paige has turned into a Daddy's girl and perfers him over me now. When he is gone she is constantly holding a phone up to her ear saying "Hi DaDa".

Matthew's Birthday Party

What a crazy day. I had a party planned at the park where we would have a three legged race, sack race, spoon race, etc. Clay and I spent the whole evening before filling up water balloons. Thunderstorms rolled in about 3:30 in the morning and did not let up all day. We ended up moving the party to our house. We had the living room set up with all of Matt's toys and the front table set up for the kids to decorate goodie bags. We had pizza and cupcakes. The biggest hit of the party were these wall climbing guys ($1.97 @ Walmart) and balloon blowers that were put away after about 20 minutes. Matthew was so excited to have all his friends over and everyone had a blast.

I made Airliners.net!!!!!!!

During a stop in Kemble UK, some photographers took our picture and we were posted on Airliners.net. For some that don't know what that is, it is a website dedicated to airplane spotting and photography. I've been checking Airliners.net for years to see if I was spotted but flying at night the spotters never got me. That seems to have changed!!! I'm so exited! I've been spotted!! I can't wait to buy a print of it and post the picture in my office.

I included the picture as well as the official link for viewing. I'm a rock star in an old stinky plane crossing the world baby!!

Clayton

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Fokker-F-27-500F-Friendship/1525712/L/

Paige is Walking!!!

For the past week Paige has been practicing her walking skills. At first she would stand at the fire place and walk two steps, fall and giggle. Since then she has progressed to many steps. She gets so tickled when she walks and loves to practice over and over again. She can take about 10 steps now. By the end of the week she will be running.

Graduation from Preschool

Matthew and Mrs. Suzanne

Matthew had a small ceremony to mark his new adventure to Kindergarten. They said Bible verses, played out the Good Samaritan, he was the donkey, did the alphabet in sign language, played the bells, read Oh, The Place You'll Go and received little awards. This has been such an awesome learning experience for Matthew.

MDO Party

Matthew and his best friend Joelle

The end to Mother's Day Out has come with much sadness to Matthew and I. He has learned so much and made so many new friends. I will miss having 10 hours a week to spend with just Paige. But one bright note, I have enrolled Paige to attend MDO next year so she can have interaction with other kids her age.
They picked the perfect place for the end of the year party, Let's Jump. The party started at 4 and kindergarten round up was at 3:30, so we were racing to get through all the forms so we could spend every possible minute jumping.

Kenya trip.

As some of you know I was given the opportunity to take an F to Kenya this past week. I can't say enough about how this trip has truly changed my outlook on life. The challenges presented were incredible, the flying conditions extreme to the tenth degree, and the learning and appreciation for what we have here in the states was profound.

My experienced ranged from mechanical difficulties and having to gamble a bit on the plane over the far far North Atlantic, or not knowing how I was going to get out of western Somalia without being "detained". Then there was seeing Scotland and how it was exactly as I had imagined it to be, right out of BraveHeart.

I will wait to post a truly detailed story of the journey for about a week. My photos that were taken were only a third of those actually taken. The other two guys are sending me some disks of their pics. After I sort them out I will make a big post with all the crazy stories that I'm sure you will think I'm embellishing about.

I've tried to upload some pictures but for some reason they are not uploading from the hotel. Oh, I guess I forgot to mention that after being gone for two weeks I was home for a solid 8 hours before having to go back back to work at Empire for the week. Luckily I'll be home for abut 10 days coming Friday. Crazy month for travel so far I wonder how the rest of the month is going to go......

Clayton

Clay is off traveling the world.

I have not made many post lately because Clay has been gone delivering a plane to Kenya and took the camera to document all of the amazing places that he is seeing. This is Clay's first trip over seas and I have been so excited for him. It has been hard on my end though. Usually when he is gone I can talk with him on the phone on via Skype. I have had a hard time tracking his flight since he left Canada. The hardest time for me was when I did not hear from him for about 36 hours. As a women things race through your head, did his plane crash or is he being held hostage in some foreign country. Finally I receive a text and it is amazing how dear to my heart I hold those text. I read them over again to reassure myself that he is ok.

I am used to him traveling, but this is his first time over seas with little communication. I am reminded of the days when we were first married. I would worry every time he flew wondering if he would make it home alive and not able to sleep. You finally get used to the fact and trust in his ability to fly and know that he has a bigger possibility of dieing just driving to the airport. I know with each trip he makes it will get better and that I will be able to know in my heart at all times that things are well and that it will just be another day.
For now, I have not talked with Clay for 4 days on the phone. I have received 3 texted messages. I love him so dearly and know that this is just as hard on me as it is on me. He is doing this for the love of his family and for flying.
These are just my thoughts and feelings at this time and just wanted to write it down so I could remember how I was feeling on his first of many trips over seas. I love you Clay and the drive you have for flying. Many post are soon to come of his first amazing trip over seas!!!

Matt In Skateboard Shirt

Matt in Easter Outfit

My Angels

Paige cried the whole time she was in the studio. For some reason the room was discomforting to her. This is the only picture in this season that turned out. Paige is actually sitting on my lap (I am sitting side ways from them). These kids are so full of life and personality. They keep me wishing for more energy. They play awesome together as long as the both of them stay far away from the toy that the other is playing with. I am so lucky to be blessed with such amazing children. I love them both so much.

Matthew's Five Year Old Pictures

This is just a preview of a few of the beautiful pictures that were taken of Matthew. We got them done a little early that way my mom could get them when she comes into town. He is such a cutie and it is such a pleasure to be his mother.

One Year Pictures