4th of July

 Updates on Clifton -
I strongly believe in waiting to potty train until Clifton is ready, but I am not sure he will ever be ready.  He refuses to sit on his toilet or the big toilet or even stand and go potty.  But he hates his diaper.  I have even bribed him with treats or goodies but he would not try to go potty.  I am fine with waiting, but I really think he has no interest in going on the toilet:(  So I don't want to wait forever.
Clifton LOVES making McKay laugh and McKay thinks he is so funny!  It is really cute to watch.  Clifton is definitely one silly boy.  He can get me laughing pretty good sometimes. He is always good at putting a smile on our faces.
Clifton is a true Washington boy.  He hates the sun.  He whines and complains whenever it is on him.  He wont wear a hat or sunglasses.  Silly kiddo.  I love the sun!

Clifton and McKay love sitting and listening to me read a book.  And I quite enjoy it, too.

Updates on McKay -
She is sitting up more these days.  She can do it well but really has no interest.  She would rather be rolling or scooting on the floor.  She is a wigglier!

 She sat in the shopping cart for the first time this week and liked it a whole lot better then here car seat.  Safeway needs to get a bigger cart!  Three kids in this tiny cart leaves me no room for food:(

Mondays at our bowling alley is 1 dollar bowl.  A dollar for shoes and a dollar for games.  So I decided to take the boys.  They had a ton of fun. 

They loved cheering for the ball to go go go!

For an art project I got out cookie cutters (stars for the 4th of July) and they painted with them.

They enjoyed it but it quickly turned to finger/hand painting.

Tuesday we had a really low tide.  People told me that we could probably find some starfish.  So the boys and I went for a walk looking for cool things and hoping to find a star fish.

Sadly we did not find any starfish, but we found a ton of cool shells, touched slimy seaweed, saw a sea snail, and some crabs.

Alex had the 4th off work and decided to take the rest of the week off and build us a fence, which was much needed.  He worked super hard for three days straight and finished our fence.  I must say that my husband is super handy.  He did it in half the cost of paying a professional to do it.  And it looks great.  We had help from friends and really appreciate all the help we got.  I even got out one day while and friend was watching our kids and help (I enjoy dirty work).

 

I was surprised Clifton was not out helping the whole day everyday.   He kept complaining it was hot, but when there was shade out you bet he was out helping his Daddy.

It really turned out nice!

One night Clifton went out to play and found his shadow.  So we played with our shadows together.  He thought it was fun that his shadow followed him and did what he did.

I thought it looked cool so I took a few photos.

Fourth of July!  Well it started out great.  We all got our matching shirts on.  We helped Alex work in the yard a little.

Made cookies (I tried to shape chocolate chip cookies into starts they just turned out like blobs, but still tasted great).

Just having fun being together.  Then I decided to get some little non-boom fireworks to do with Clifton.  I grabbed some snakes, smokers, sparklers, and tanks.  All of which were supposed to not make noise.

Well Clifton loved the smokers and the snakes.  But then I lit the tank and at the end it let off a big bang.  Both Clifton and McKay hated it and were crying.  Later the neighbors started doing fireworks and McKay hated it.  She would fuss every time one would go off.  So we decided to be lame and stay in for the night and not go to the firework show.  If it is just going to scare our kids then there was no point in going.
 
Well I am sad to report I had no weight loss this week.  But no weight gain.  I actually got a staph infection that caused me to get boils on my body.  One of those boils got infected.  The had to cut it open and drain it.  So I was in pain all week.  The bumps were on my upper thigh so it hurt even to walk.  Because of the pain I did not workout or run or anything.  Then it started feeling better, but the antibiotics were making me feel sick:/  Then I think I am invincible and did not listen to the doctors orders, he said the medicine makes you weak to the sun.  I thought whatever so I get a burn.  But I got a rash on my face!!!!!  Learned my lesson.  It kills me that for the next ten days I need to stay out of the sun as much as possible and the next ten days are supposed to be sunny.  I will just have to find shade or put extra sun screen on.  It is hard to stay out of the sun!

Six Months Old

Updates on Clifton -
It has been a tough week for him.  He is getting more molars in:(  But we still managed to have fun.  His new thing is to act like he is the boss.  He like to tell McKay and Evan "no" if he thinks they are doing something wrong.  He apparently does not think I can parent:/  So we are trying to teach him he does not need to parent but it is tough for me to explain to him.  He can say no when appropriate but not to be bossy and mean.
The other new thing he does (this one I like) is play a game with Alex and I.  He acts like Alex is getting him and yells out "Help me, Mommy!"  Then I come to rescue him.  It is a fun little game that gets us all laughing.
I think we have gotten over the fear of nursery.   He is going in and not crying and staying the whole time.  WOOT WOOT!

Updates on McKay -
She is our little six month old!  It is hard to believe, she is growing so so fast.  She had her six month check up.  She is doing great.  Still has a little thrush but we are trying different medicine and that should help.  But she is in the 90% for height!  She is going to be our tall girl!  Her weight percentile went down but still doing well, she weighs 15 pounds.
McKay is starting to get up on her hands and knees.  Not moving forward yet...she usually ends up on her face.  But she is getting closer to crawling.  She likes to get up on her hands and feet and shake her booty back and forth, it is cute!

McKay's hair after bath time.  Rockstar!

Love these two!

Having fun again around here!  Tuesday the other leaders and I took the cub scouts Geocaching.  I have never done it before, but knew we would be taking a little hike so I decided to take Clifton with us.  It was fun!

Clifton found a little fireman figurine that he wanted to take and swap out another toy for.  He enjoyed the hike and getting a toy.

Introducing my wonderful mother helper, Judy!

During the summer she is going to help with the kids every Wednesday and we all love it!

 Wagon ride!

Wednesday the library had a Brazilian musician come in and play music.

 The boys enjoyed the music and we decided to go down on the sand and listen. 

Some kids found a crab in the water and brought it to the sand so other kids could look at it.  Clifton thought it was cool.  Clifton's crab sounds like crap and it makes me giggle under my breath.

 The boys then enjoyed a free lunch on the bay.

The boys had fun doing some Fourth of July crafts this week.

 American flag hand prints.  They were the right way when I painted them on their hands but then when they stamped it on the paper it was the other way around... oops!  I am not usually a product art person, meaning I usually don't want the same outcome for their artwork I like them to be able to express their art.  But they really enjoyed me painting their hands so it was fun!

I found some cheap star foam stickers and let the boys go at it.  It was nice because they could take the backs of by themselves so I could get something done while they were working on the stars.

Friday was the beginning of Port Orchards Summer Festival.  They had a craft festival down by the bay.  Vendors were selling items that they made. 

I found this cute little dress and head band.  I could not resist getting it.  She looked so cute in it.

They also had the horses back again.  So Clifton wanted to go for a ride.  He sure does like riding horses. He is cute!

Later that night they had a concert by the bay.  We all went and enjoyed the music.

 I love this picture!

:)

Alex got a ton of yard work done this last week (he is a good husband) and Clifton was a big helper!

 Alex being the dork he is!

Finished product on one side!  I love it.  Now to put up a fence!

Saturday Port Orchard had a parade.  Despite the cloudy skies we decided to go.

 McKay and Alex watching the parade.

Clifton thought this car was Sheriff from the movie Cars.  He was so excited to see it!  

This is his excited face!

One more pound down!  Only two more!!!!!!!  The exciting thing for me this week was I had time for a long run and I ran 13.1 miles in two hours and ten minutes.  I was sore the next day:/  But it felt great.  I want to get it under two hours if possible, but it is great to know I can do it.  I love setting and then reaching goals.  It is a great and addicting feeling.

Summer Time

Updates on Clifton-
Clifton asks to say the prayers these days and I love it.  He of course needs help and only says a few words of what we say but he starts and ends the prayer properly.  It is very cute!!!!
He is a good boy!  This week I sat back a lot and watched him play.  He loves his cars and could play with them all day.  I really enjoy listening to the dialogue he gives the cars and watching him play.  He is growing up:)  I love him oh so much!

Well we decided to do our monthly hair cuts for the boys.  Alex shaves his by himself and just needs me to touch up.  He decided he wanted to trim his beard as well and switched the clippers to a two.  When he asked me to come help touch up the back I grab the clippers and started.  I paused after the first shave and had a look of confusion.  Alex saw my look in the mirror and immediately realized he still had a two on the clippers.  So it was time to buzz the rest of his head! We then went to cut Clifton's hair and decided we wanted him to match his Daddy.  So we shaved his as well.   He has such blonde hair he kind of looks bald:/  Oh well it is just hair and it will grow back.  Plus he is still super cute.  My two shaved-headed boys!

Updates on McKay -
She got thrush again:(  I worry about her all the time, but that is just who I am... a worrier.  Anyway she still has a cough.  It has seriously been over a month.  It is not a horrible cough but it is still lingering.  But we have a doctor's appointment this next week and that will hopefully put me at ease.
Alex has been able to get her giggling more and more.  She is definitely having more and more personality these days. It is fun to watch her grow.  It is happening a little too fast though:/

 This picture shows just how crazy she is.  If there is anything near her, she will try anything to get it.  She is crazy!   Never done wiggling.  Alex's face is funny too:)

For our FHE activity we made a pizza for dinner.  Clifton loves pizza and was so excited to make one.  It was a lot of fun and the pizza turned out great.  I will totally do it again.

Well Summer officially started this week and we saw two days of it.  I will take it.  Those two days and even one glum day we got out and enjoyed being outside.

Our ward play group has started again for the summer!  I love getting out with friends and so does Clifton.  We usually go to a park.

His new way to go down a slide:)

Wednesday the library puts together shows at the gazebo on the bay.  (I love our library, they are always doing fun things!) I also signed McKay and Clifton up for the summer reading program.  The goal is to read 10 hours total to each of them by August and they can get a free book and go to the library end of summer party.  I love that I signed them up.  It is great for Alex and I to be motivated to read to them more and for them to start young with a love for reading.

 While we were waiting for that to start the boys wanted to go walk on the sand while the tide was out.

 The show this week was a one man band/juggler/puppeteer.  He was fun to watch and the boys liked it too!  They got a little tired at the end but that is expected with two year olds during an hour-long show.

We live right next to a golf course and they have tons of beautiful trails to walk.  This one had a pond that the boys could throw rocks into.  It was a nice walk and they both really enjoyed it.

  One day was even warm enough to get the sprinkler out for a little.

 

The boys needed a towel to warm up afterwards!

Thursday nights during the Summer, Port Orchard puts on "Concerts on the Bay".  Local bands play music at the Gazebo and it is free for everyone.  The kids and I decided to go.  I really enjoyed it.  It was a beautiful night and the band was fun.  The played oldies (60's/70's) music. 

Clifton dancing to the music.  How can you not love this boy?  He is so cute and funny!

While we were sitting listening to the music I spotted a submarine coming into the Bremerton Base across the water.  It was really cool to see.  If you look close enough you can see two boats leading the sub into the base.

Saturday Port Orchard had a 5k.  

Alex and Clifton made a sign to cheer me on.  They are so cute and thoughtful.  I really appreciated it because running takes me away from them and it is nice to know they support what I am doing and are proud of me.  (I got myself a good husband)

 Clifton cheering me on!  Love him:)

 I was hoping to finish under 26 minutes but did not quite make it:(  Close!  It was a trail run which was different for me.  Not only was I trying to go fast but I had to make sure I did not trip over a root or step on a slug!  It was a beautiful run but I think I might stick to running on paved roads:)  Next 5k hopefully I can beat my time and get it under 26 minutes.

Well this week I lost 2 pounds!  Woot woot!  I am getting so close and I am very excited.  I feel great.  So I need to decide on what I want to do with my hair, because when I reach my goal I get to have a makeover. (Got to give myself a reward)  I was thinking keeping it longer, getting bangs and trimming it up.  It has been a while since I had it long.  But I do like short hair.  So I am not sure.  Suggestions?  Opinions?