Wow

wow last time i posted here, the iPhone hadn't been invented yet

Click on a photo below to see some of what we saw at the zoo!

Gotta write something...

Today Eclipse announced that we received the prestigious Collier Trophy Award - an aviation award that's been around almost as long as aviation has. It's given to the company that shows great practical innovention in the aviation world - not just hypothetically, but it needs to have actually happened.

So with our Friction Stir welding process, which is exclusive to us in the industry, and with PhostrEx, our Halon replacing fire suppression system, we've earned the right to win the 2005 Trophy.

It turns out that L-3 won the trophy back in 2000. I didn't even know it at the time. So did Raytheon for the same program. Wow. I'll need to remember those achievements at Resume' time.

We're IN! But...

We're in our new home! Whee! I wish I could say, though, that everything was good. We still REQUIRE our house in Texas to be sold and that is just not happening.

I was going to wait to post this note until I had pictures, but I don't have a computer hooked up to download the plethora of photos onto yet, so that will have to wait.

The house is beautiful! We have an incredible view to the West of absolutely nothing but sagebrush and an occasional car or truck traversing lonely NM-6.

Nights are incredibly dark and quiet. We were the third family on our street to close, so things are still very quiet. Haven't met the neighbors yet. Still trying to unpack our boxes. LOTS of boxes!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! We had a terrific time in Texas again at Amber's Mom, Gail's, home in Rockwall. Nothing real exciting to report. All of us got sick again, but nothing like Thanksgiving. Amber really hurts in her lower back and the rest of us have a chest cold.

So here's how things are looking the first week of 2006:

Family
The family is doing well. Amber is staying home with the kids, at least until the move. With the cost of childcare around here, it's almost cheaper for her to stay home with Levi than to take a job and pay childcare. Ashley is 13 and is continuing her homeschooling. Luke is 5 and is learning to write his alphabet. Levi is 5 months and is growing like a weed. He's starting to cut his teeth, though, and that is making him very uncomfortable (not to mention the lack of sleep by Amber and myself).

Housing
Our house in Los Lunas is almost complete. There are three major issues that should be taken care of this week - 1) Wrong airconditioner unit, 2) Wrong counter in kids bathroom, and 3) wrong landscaping out front. We're scheduled to close on 1/11, but may delay a day or two because of these and funding issues.

Our house in Texas hasn't sold. Our Realtor has quit and so we are assigned a new one from the same brokerage.

Work
Eclipse Aviation announced that we are pushing back certification of the aircraft to Q2 of 2006 instead of Q1. The primary reason for that is the delay of one of our primary suppliers. When certification is met and the first aircraft is delivered, start listening for IPO talk.

Church
We are continuing to go to Eastern Hills Baptist Church in Albuquerque. Amber already has made many friends and I continue to work with the youth in a very casual environment. We haven't actually joined yet, but SOON.

And that's the wrap up for the beginning of 2006. I hope and pray that this will be a terrific year for all!

Our House is Coming Right Along!

Here is what our home looks like with about a month remaining. This was taken by our sales rep, Carlos.

We're EXCITED, but still need LOTS of prayer to get the house in Texas sold!!!

Levi Chuckles!

Today, Amber got Levi to laugh out loud for the first time. He's been smiling and making noises (other than crying) for a while now, but this time he coordinated the two tasks to create a single, honest to goodness chuckle!

Go Levi!