Playing Outside!

Updates on Clifton -
Our journal has been so fun thus far.

It might be because I get letters like this and it makes me so happy.  He is a great boy!

Updates on McKay -
She is so fun, we have been getting along very well these days and she is just a hoot to be with.

I was getting ready to work out and she insisted she did her hair like me so we could be matching work out buddies.

Updates on Stanley -
Man it has been a tough week.  He has been happy but not sleeping.  Up all night :(  Hoping this passes soon because I sure miss sleep.

He loves being outside.  He often gets me his shoes and his jacket trying to hint to me that we need to play outside.  He will also go sit by the front door waiting for me.

And almost every time we are outside he is eating dirt, rocks, sticks, sand etc...

Monday I got to help at Clifton's school.

I love helping out and Clifton loves it when I can come.  Totally worth it!

It was such a beautiful week in Washington!  The sun and warmer weather makes us happy and me a better mother.

Morning hikes!

 Bubbles!

 Best buddies - they both love being outside together.

Play date with friends.

Our neighborhood friend sees me running past her house often and expressed that she would love to go running with me.  So out we went.  They both ran a mile with me and did it in 10:05 which is pretty good for 6 year olds.

Tuesday night poor Clifton was up throwing up.  So he had to miss school and he had to miss the 100th day of school.  He was heart broken.

 Stanley sure was concerned for Clifton and gave him lots of hugs and kisses that day.

And I didn't mind the extra cuddles from my boy who is thinking he is getting to old to cuddle these days.

Wednesday I had an opportunity to lead a workout with friends at my church.

Oh man did we have fun.  I sure am lucky to be surrounded by so many amazing ladies!

Thursday is dance day.  McKay is still loving it

Friday we started our coed league.

Minivan Mafia!  It is definitely more competitive and faster paced than the women's league and I like it!  I also love my team mates, great friends to spend Friday's with.

With some of the kids... And with this many kids in tow a name like Minivan Mafia is perfect.  I think we are missing 7 kids from the picture.  I have a feeling Friday nights will be my favorite night.

Saturday we meet with Alex's family for lunch and celebrated birthdays.

This is Alex's gift to his sister.  Who wouldn't want this, right?  And don't worry I put pictures of her family under Alex's if she chooses to remove his face :)

Updates on Clifton -
We have had a hard week and I am thinking Clifton is feeling left out.  Being at school all day and then when he gets home mom is so busy with crazy Stanley.  So I started a Mom and I Journal.

And it has been great so far.  Not deep conversations but he sure feels special and it actually has helped me too.

Probably because he writes things like this to me :)

Updates on McKay -
She was sick this week but we still had a fun and good week for her.  She seems to be getting ahold of her emotions a little more these days!

Updates on Stanley -
He is getting so big and fun.  Alex and I were debating whether or not his is our craziest one year old yet.  And we both agreed that he is :)  Probably because he has siblings to help inspire his craziness.  He is so full of energy and spunk and as crazy as it is we totally love it!

Stanley insists on throwing his food on the floor and not eating until I put him down then he eats it off the floor.  I have seriously considered just putting food on the floor every time we eat :)

Monday there was no school for President's day.  We got to play with our friends at Play Kitsap!

Fun morning! We love getting together with the Neilson's!

That night for FHE we talked about Satan and his plan.

How he wants to make us think doing one bad thing is ok but if we listen pretty soon we are trapped in his ways and will be miserable like he wants us to be.

Tuesday we had no school either.  We had fun celebrating our friend, Dallin's birthday.

We also had fun playing with our friends and loved having Evan and Dallin over for the day.

That night McKay woke up sick :(  So we had to cancel preschool with her friends and she was quite sad about it.

 So I taught what I had planned with her and Stanley.

 Took me a sick day to realize Stanley is getting old enough to join in on the fun preschool stuff.  He loved it.

And so did McKay and I, even if it often lead to Stanley getting on the table.

Thursday was McKay's dance class and she still loves it!

Saturday was a beautiful day so out we went!

Hiking with friends!

Out to collect 100 baby pinecones for Clifton's 100th day of school next week.

 Swings.  Clifton is the master of photo bombing!

Then we had a camp fire outside made dinner over the fire and smore's!

It was such a fun night.  I sure could get use to warmer and sunnier days.  Hurry up Spring and Summer!

 Sunday I had to make cookies for a meeting that the eight year olds in our church are going to.  The kids of course were on board to help.

Sunday Bakeday!

Random pictures from the week...

A man was working on our neighbors house and I saw him cleaning out their dryer vent.  I asked if he had a minute to do ours and of course I would pay.  Glad I did, this is what he found.

 Something Clifton made at school.  Alex why did you teach him that.  We all know Clifton wants a dog but you've persuaded him.  One day we will have one!

 This is what happens when I lay down to try and rest.  Yep that is not going to happen.

Valentine's 2016

Updates on Clifton -
He had two girls planning on kissing him on Valentine's day.  Boy oh boy!  It's a good thing he still runs away from girls trying to kiss him.

Updates on McKay -
Another good week for her.  She went to her sports and dance class and had no melt downs.  Oh this makes me so happy.  I sure hope she is growing out of these multiply day melt downs.  She has also started to be shy, which has never been McKay.

Updates on Stanley -
He has three teeth coming in on the top (finally).  He also got thrush (due to his inhaler medicine - I must not have rinsed his mouth well enough after giving him his inhaler).  Luckily we noticed quickly and had medicine so only a couple days of discomfort for him.
He is getting into every thing and climbing on everything, being a toddler and a boy.

Keeping me on my toes!

Monday was a beautiful day.  We had so much fun just being outside.

We even had to bust out our sunglasses.

Clifton racing his friend that lives across the street and is in his class.  Ya the pink Barbie car lost every time.

That night for FHE we heart attacked each other and some friends too.

I love holidays!

Tuesday was another beautiful day in Washington.

 We spent the morning playing in the park with friends.

Bubbles!

Tuesday night Clifton's school had a Bluberries takeover.

So we went to get frozen yogurt together as a family and helped support the school.

Wednesday McKay had a preschool Valentines party.

We love our friends and how they are always ready to party.

That night I got to spend time with my friends and plan our lip sync performance.

I love my friends!

Friday I got to help at Clifton's school Valentine's party.

I love volunteering at his school.

That night our ward had a Valentine's Family Dance.

A crazy fun night.  Clifton had his fist dance with a girl besides mom, Alex and I got to two step, and I got to dance the night away with family/friends.

I also competed in a lip sync battle that night and won!  Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting!

I cannot say it enough... I love my friends!  Such a fun night.

Here is the award winning lip sync...

Saturday I got to go to lunch with some friends and celebrate a friends birthday.  Then Alex and I got to escape to the temple.

It was a much needed and wonderful trip to the temple.

Sunday was Valentine's day.

 Heart shaped pancakes... which is a big deal.  Breakfast rarely gets made in this house.

 Candle light dinner.

And tons of kisses... Love is in the air!