Beach Trip 2012

Updates on Clifton -
He loves to jibber jabber.  He has to feel comfortable around you to talk but once he does he never stops.  He gets that from his Dad.  He has been learning to use the words yesterday and tomorrow properly.  He often think before nap time is yesterday.  He will wake up from nap telling me things he did that morning but said he did them yesterday.

Updates on McKay -
She is still moving like crazy. Climbing herself up onto everything and crawling everywhere.  She is our smiley girl and is pretty happy as long as mom is near her.  She is a joy to have in our lives and we just love her to peices.

The big news this week is we got a new van.  We got a used 2010 Toyota Sienna.  I love it!

It is so nice to have more space.  The doors slide open so no more squeezing between cars to get the kids in.  The boys can get into their car seat all by themselves.  It has a DVD player and that has come in handy on our long rides.  I needed a van and we found a good one for a good price.

We had a real fun packed week this week!  The boys and I stayed real busy with going out and about and doing some art projects.  I love doing art with the boys and they enjoy it as well.

I got Clifton a stamp set.  And he loves it.  I will have to get more stamp pads and different colors.  He really enjoyed that.

For the first time this summer I took the boys on the foot ferry.  They loved it.  It has been about a year since they have been on it.  We went over to Bremerton and had a little treat and then came back.  A short but fun trip!

Then we went to the Kitsap County Fair.  We got free tickets from the summer reading program that the kids and I did!
 They had a little area where the boys could push buttons to turn on a siren and to turn on police lights.  They could have spent the whole night there.

 Put in jail for making trouble:)  Set free because they are cute!

 Then they had tractors.  They could have spent all night here too.

They are animals!  We went to look at all the different kinds of animals.

 Clifton is getting tall and so big.  They said he could not ride this one (which I think he is right on the 36 mark but that's ok).  There were still rides we could go on.

 Waiting in line to go on a ride.  I love my little man!

 He loved this ride.  During the ride he shouted, "this is awesome!"

 Also a good one.

 

Big slide!

 

Alex and McKay watching us go on the rides.  She is a good girl!

Peterson Beach Trip!  We got pretty lucky with the weather.  It was just a little under 70, but it was real windy.  However we had a blast.

It was McKay's first trip to the beach!

 Ice cream!

 We stayed at Alex's parents' house for the weekend.  So the next day we took a trip to go see Sand in the City.  It was pretty cool to see all the sculptures built.

This was Clifton's favorite sculpture.

We had the family birthday party at Alex's parents house.  For dessert Alex wanted blackberry cobbler. 

 So Clifton, Grandma, and Aunt Rebecca got busy picking blackberries.  Clifton really enjoyed picking the berries and did pretty good at getting the black ones.

The boys trying to finish up the painting job!

We also got to go to Alex's friend's wedding reception.  It was good to see old friends.

They had bubbles at the table.  Clifton liked trying to blow them.  Silly face:)

All in all it was a wonderful week.  We had a terrific trip and loved being together as a family.  I love my little family!

Go Sounders!!!!

Updates on Clifton -
Clifton's binky is officially gone!!!!  So so happy with this.  I was not sure the day would ever come.
My poor Clifton had Croup all week.  He was really sick.  When Clifton is sick he does not sleep but is super tired and really really clingy.  So it has been a long week.  He still has a runny nose and a little cough but he is doing better.

Updates on McKay -
She too got croup and still has a runny nose and a cough.  She actually slept while she was sick but I could not put her down and she would need a power nap about every hour or so during the day. 
McKay is pulling herself up onto everything.  She is our little mover.  I really have to keep an eye on her so she does not hurt herself.
McKay loves finger food.  I forget how messy babies are when they start to eat food.  Back to sweeping after every meal.

Knowing we would be stuck at home for a while with my sick kids I decided to go out and buy some games Clifton and I could play to keep him entertained.

He loves the fishing game and is pretty good at it.  He likes to catch the fish by color.  So all the red first and then another color.  (For some reason all the red is always first)

Due to sickness all week we did not do much.  But by the end of the week we all were feeling well enough to go out.

The library was having an end of the summer celebration.  They had games, ice cream, bubbles, and more.  Clifton enjoyed the hula hoop.

McKay, Clifton and I finished the ten hour reading chart.  So we stopped at the library to pick out a free book.  Clifton was so excited to get a book.  He is our little reader.  He loves looking at books and having stories read to him and retelling stories to us.  He picked out a bigger book.  He like Curious George and insisted this be the book he took home.  McKay got a cute little book too.

 Picnic time!

Trying to cool off.

Clifton loves to play with the hose.

Playing with water, buckets, measuring cups, and funnels.

I love my silly boy!

Hiking time.  We did not make it to the view but it was still a fun adventure.

Next time we will make it to the view or take a shorter trail:/  Five miles is a little much for toddler legs.

My mother-in-law came up to watch the kids Saturday so I could take Alex to the Sounders Game (his birthday present).  It was super nice of her to come spend all day with our kiddos.  The kids enjoyed having her there and we enjoyed being out just the two of us.

 Sounder sunglasses they were handing out at the game.  Love them!

 Good seats!
We also got to meet up with some friends who were at the game too and go out to eat afterwards.  It was a wonderful day!

 Ferry leaving beautiful Seattle.

Clifton wearing the Sounder glasses.

It was a crazy and stressful week with all the sickness but it ended wonderfully and I am excited for a new week and new adventures!

Happy Birthday, Alex! (2012)

Updates on Clifton -
He is starting to explore and test his limits.  He has been able to open doors for a while but now has a interest in opening them and getting things out.  Sadly child lock is going to have to go on a few of them (where the arts and crafts and food is).  He also seems to explore and do things when I am putting McKay down for a nap or showering.   The last few times I have showered the boys have done something inappropriate.  Turning on the TV used to work to keep their attention while I showered but it no longer does the trick.

So I have to put them in my room so I can see them while I am showering.  Of course they think it is a privilege:)  I am not sure how to teach them but right now I am trying to teach the word trust.  I know that is a big word/concept but I hope to teach him that he gets to do things when I trust him (he has to prove me I can trust him).  If I cannot not trust him then things get taken away.

 But I still enjoy my silly little man:)

Updates on McKay -
She is moving more and more.  Her knew thing is trying to pull herself up onto everything.

I came to get her one morning and saw she had pulled herself up and was smiling her big proud smile.   Gates are officially going up.  She also crawled on her hands and knees a few times but then went back to her army crawling.  But she can do it!

 

I know this will gross some of you out, but McKay loves feet.  She is always trying to munch on my toes or just play with them.  I had to take a picture and then I quickly took my toe out of her mouth.  It is not something I let her do often, but she sure tries.

Monday was Alex's birthday!  He does not like making a big deal out of his birthday, which is hard for me because I do!  But I tried to hold myself back and did not do much.  The boys and I decorated and made signs.

 We made him run through it when he got home from work.

 We also made cupcakes (don't judge me on my cupcake frosting.  I am not skilled in that department:).  I will just blame it on the boys, they helped.

It was a simple way to let him know I am happy he was born!  We then went out to dinner as a family.

Just trying to keep the boys busy and happy.

 Truck painting (Clifton's favorite)

 Playing with pipe cleaners.

More painting!

I took Clifton back to Play Kitsap and took Evan, too.  He liked it even more with Evan there.  It was fun.

 McKay and I even got in one of the bounce houses and jumped with the boys.

We spent a day cleaning our cars.  Clifton loves this job! 

 

He also loves to try and get Daddy wet.

 He is a good helper.

 Nice and clean.  We are trying to sell our car and use that money to put down for a new van.  I know I can trade it in but I feel like I might be able to get more if someone bought it.  We will see.  I have loved this car and it has been pretty good to me but it is time for us to part our ways.  Alex and I went van shopping Friday.  We have 3 vans we like.  We want either a Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey, or Volkswagen Routan.  So we are keeping our eyes out for a good price on one of them.

Two things I had to share.
 1.  I was driving in Port Orchard and was stopped at a red light.  I saw a car in front of me turn and a sign caught my attention.  It was a detour sign and to me it looked like it was taking me to Burger King.  I quickly took a picture.  I think they are trying to tell me something.  It made me laugh:)  

 2.  I went to a couple of garage sales in my neighborhood and came across a Mickey and Minnie outfit.  That is exactly what I wanted Clifton and McKay to be for Halloween!  And it only cost me ten dollars.  SCORE!

Well the end of our week started to become a sick one.  Clifton got sick with a high fever and then McKay.  It has been a sad and tiring weekend at the Peterson's.  But hoping all will feel better soon!