4th of July Rocket Launch

The kids are loving rockets and for this launch they each had their own new rocket. 

Zeke's is a cool green and launched okay but the parachute got stuck. So it sped to earth like a missile rather than floating down on a parachute. Fortunately it hit the soccer goal before it plowed into the ground so damage was minimal. Aaron repaired it and it's ready to try again next time. 

Nora's is the pulsar pink crayon. It flew beautifully twice.

She loves her crayon rocket, and loves Grandpa for catching it for her.

Since Zeke's parachute guy didn't deploy in his rocket, we tried putting it in Nora's rocket. Success! And Zeke was ecstatic that he caught his paratrooper.

And Aaron got to fly his planes too (far away from the rockets of course). Thank goodness for all these clouds, they kept us from getting too hot!

Christmas Scenes

We went to Temple Square with the Carliles on the 23rd. We went early (around 5pm) and it wasn't nearly as cold or crowded as I had imagined. Plus the parking was free! 

Christmas Eve we celebrated with the Loertschers. Quinn and Dawnie and Grandpa and Grandma did a great job at getting the perfect presents for all of us. For the first time we gave to one of the out-of-state siblings and had fun packing and mailing our gifts to Skye and Jon and their girls and then watching them open them via webcam.

Christmas morning we had our Christmas at home. Nora loves her pop-up bugs, and Zeke really liked both his sea-rescue track and his Cars 2 cars.

And Christmas night we celebrated with the Carliles. Grandma Carlile had lots of fun stocking stuffers for all, and Zeke helped everyone open their presents. 

It was a wonderful weekend and we feel so blessed by family that gives us so much. We stayed out of the hustle and bustle and stress this year and had a very magical and peaceful season (keeping things as simple as possible really does make us happy!).

Flying in the House

Aaron had the great idea to hang his small planes and helicopter from our living room ceiling. This not only stores them out of the way, but it also puts them 'up in the sky' where they belong. Just ask Zeke.

Little Girl Quilt

Now we're really ready -- I finished this quilt yesterday. Now it is washed and in her crib, all ready to snuggle our beautiful baby girl when she comes.

Rockets and Fireworks

We started our third of July celebration with rocket launch. Aaron flew his plane, and we watched the rest of the fam launch rockets.

The kids loved to help, when they weren't on the playground.

We finished our day with an outdoor dinner, s'mores and popcorn, and watching the fireworks from the backyard. Zeke is still asking to go to Grandma's for rockets and fireworks.

Flying in the Dark

We went night flying for the first time last weekend. Aaron put lights on his plane and so did several of his flying friends. We went out to the field around 8 pm to watch the sun set over the salt flats and chat while we waited for the night to fly in.

It was really really fun to watch the lighted planes fly around in the dark. Each plane had a unique lighting scheme and they were easy to see for spectators.

Most people used plane-specific light tubes, although there was one guy who taped dollar-store glow sticks to his jet. And it worked really well for him.

Aaron's plane only flew once because the propellar broke on landing. We were a little bummed (Zeke especially) that Aaron couldn't fly more, but it was still fun to watch everyone else fly. This one is Aaron's plane while it was in the sky.

We also got to show Zeke real stars while we weren't watching planes. He knows all about (and loves) star shapes, but we've never pointed out the stars in the sky. He was as excited about stars as he was about planes!

Fort Collins Jet Vacation

Our family vacation for this year was a trip to Fort Collins to go to an RC jet rally. Aaron wants to fly jets someday, and the closest jet events for him to see them in action are in northern Idaho and eastern Colorado. So it's a trip. We drove through Wyoming because that's fastest --- it's still a long drive though. I was trying taking some pictures through the windshield while we were driving (it turns out better at the beginning of the trip when there is less dust and fewer bugs).

We got to Fort Collins late and stayed up even later. The next morning we headed out to see jets!

We used our shade shelter for the first time and it was great. No sunburns on this trip!

We don't quite have a fancy enough camera to get great jet action shots up close, but that doesn't stop us from trying! Really, this jet isn't going to hit this shade shelter, it just looks like it.

Friday night we went to dinner and hung out with one of Aaron's college friends and his family and stayed up late again. Then we were back out at the field on Saturday morning.

Saturday at noon all the pilots gathered in the jets so the spectators could look at them up close. We looked and took lots of pictures and were about to move out when one of the pilots asked if Zeke would like a picture with a jet. We said yes and the pilot carried him out into the center of the field by a jet. We took our picture and Zeke came back to us when some guys from the Academy of Model Aeronautics (the national organization) came by and asked if the pilot could take Zeke back out to the plane so they could get pictures for their magazine. Zeke could be in print in a few months!

Father's Day Planes

We have developed a pattern of giving Aaron airplanes for Father's Day. Usually as early Father's Day gifts to be used for spring flying. Last year he got his Zero.

And this year he got a Slow Stick. We got one because his club scheduled a combat with slow flyers at the annual electric plane event. However, Aaron enjoys his so much there was no way he was going to put it in combat danger!

Another Fine Presentation

Aaron was scheduled to give a presentation-demonstration to his flying club about the club's website last night. Aaron had his laptop and one of the other guys brought the projector. Then the club's website was down for the 2 hours of the meeting. Naturally was back up by the time Aaron got home.

All we can do is laugh. It is pretty funny when you think about it. Two failed presentations in one family in one week really is absolutely ridiculous....

Fall Flying

We did manage to get out and go flying this month, despite no organized flying events. Fall flying is chilly, and the sun goes down ridiculously early, but we still had a good time.

The Bandit

Aaron found a new way to release his school stress.

He drives his Traxxas Bandit VXL remote control car in the backyard or an empty parking lot.

It's fast!

Float Fly

Aaron's club held a float fly at Utah Lake on September 13. It was held in memory of Stu, a club member who died earlier this year. Stu built Aaron's Super Sportster, and he also built the Coast Guard plane below.

We really liked this foamy mini Seawind.

Aaron doesn't have a float plane yet, but Zeke does!

Just Plane Fun

The UTE RC Expo and Warbirds event was held August 16 and 17. We went on Saturday and had plenty of fun in the sun. One of the highlights was bringing Draper with us and showing him what our model airplane hobby is all about. And Draper is now thinking about getting a model helicopter.

The saddest part of the day is when the NexStar met a tree. And the tree won the battle. It probably could be fixed, with lots of time and TLC. But Aaron decided to retire the NexStar. It served us faithfully for over a year. Although Aaron will miss having it to fly, he's moved up to the Super Sportster.

These are some of the planes we saw flying around: a foam Boeing 777 passenger jet, a giant PT-17 Stearman biplane, an electric helicopter, and yes that is a flying lawnmower.

And then, to complete the day, when Zeke and I took Draper home, Zeke found Dynna's stuffed cat, picked it up, and I wondered if he would ever put it down. Zeke just loves cats. He is so precious.