Hello Portland!

Updates on Clifton -
He is talking and talking all day long.  Half the time I am not quite sure about what but he likes to tell stories about things he has done.  It makes it fun to go out and do things with him and then hear him talk about it later!
Clifton randomly came up to me this past week and told me he loved me.  Melted my heart!!!!!!  One of the best being a mom moments so far.

Updates on McKay -
She has not giggled much since her first couple times.  I try and try but nothing.  I guess I am not funny enough:(  It is my goal to find what makes her laugh!  She is getting so big.  I already have to put clothes away that she does not fit into and get knew ones out.  Too fast!

 I have to say that I have some pretty dang cute kids!  I love them to pieces!

This week Alex had to go to California for work.  So I decided that while he was away I would escape to Portland.  I was extremely nervous to go on my own with two kiddos.  Also to sleep in one room with two kids.  Clifton is such a light sleeper I worried McKay would wake him up and he would fight going back to bed.  But it went very very well.  We made the three hour drive fine and the nights went well.

Monday we went to the zoo!

 The bears were so close!  That was probably my favorite part.

 Clifton with his cousins Emma and Jack.  Of course we had to stop and play a while with the tractor!

 

 Clifton loves his cousins!

 Riding the horses!

 Clifton loves Elephants lately.  This is us making elephant sounds with our trunks. 

On the way out the kids were tired of walking so I pushed them all back up and out of the zoo. They loved it.

That day was the only sunny day we had so that afternoon we played outside on my brothers trampoline.

 Grandma joined in on the fun!

 Love my kiddos!
 
Tuesday we went to OMSI (the Oregon science museum)  I loved OMSI growing up so I was excited to take Clifton.  He is still too young for a lot of it, but they have a toddler area and he liked most of it.

 

My favorite part was Lego Land!  The had so many cool statues that people made out of Lego's.  The crayons were my favorite!

This was McKay the whole time we were at OMSI.  She is a good girl!

We also went to the Duck ponds and feed ducks!  This was Clifton's first time feeding the ducks.  I cannot seem to find ducks in Port Orchard.

 He loved going for a ride with Grandpa around the ponds!

I got to meet up with some old friends!  It was great to see them and their cute families.  I loved hearing what they have done with their lives.  I cannot believe it has been 8 years!

 Baby Dillon and Baby McKay!

 Clifton, Dillon, and McKay.  Clifton loved Dillon.  He loves babies:)

Stephanie, Megan, and I.  Plus our cute kiddos!

 

We also went bowling.  Clifton loved the ramp so much more then rolling/throwing the ball!

Here are some random fun pictures from the trip.

 Clifton climbed in to the dog kennel!

 Clifton loved my brothers dog Lucky! 

 McKay sleeping with her hands up!

We had a ton of fun in Portland.  I was so happy to be able to go down and for the kids to do well so it could be an enjoyable time.  I was so scared to do it on my own but it is good to know that I can.  

The next day when we got home our home development had an Easter Egg hunt.   

He only got a few eggs but he had fun specially eating the treats that were in the eggs.

This weekend was General Conference.  I loved hearing the Prophet and Apostles speak.  The messages they spoke where what I needed to hear.  It gave me a long list of things I need to improve and work on. It also gave me motivation to be better. 

However it was real hard with Clifton running around.  So I found an activity that kept him busy and quiet.  

 He strung fruit loops onto yarn and made an edible necklace.  He made one for McKay too.  I love this picture it looks like she is trying to lick the necklace!

Anyone who knows me knows that I rarely make breakfast.  I am a simple cereal kind of gal.  So to make conference weekend special I made breakfast.  Alex got crafty and made little waffle sandwiches.  He took biscuits and cut the dough in half laid eggs, cheese and bacon in the middle and grilled it.   I made cinnamon roll waffles!  It was a good conference!  

April fools day was on Sunday.  So I decided to throw a little prank on Alex.

I covered the bar of soap with clear finger nail polish.  It was funny.  He was confused with the soap:)

A great week!!!!!

Keeping the Boys Busy!

 Updates on Clifton -
He has strung 4 words together.  He usually only does three but he is starting to make short little sentences.  It is really fun to watch him grow.  It only took 2 years to get here, but he is putting himself to sleep these days.  I read a story and then sing a few songs and then leave.  It takes him longer but I do not have to stay in there with him all night.  So I am very proud of his progress:)
A new thing he has started (and it probably will never stop now) is saying "no mommy"  when I tell him to do something.  I am trying to teach him it is not okay but I am pretty sure this will be a battle for years to come.

Updates on McKay -
She is three months old!!! I can hardle believe it. She growing too fast. She giggled!!!!!  Oh it is so cute.  She has only done it a few times.  I now spend most of my day trying to get her to laugh.
She is the wiggliest little one I have every met.  She wiggles and wiggles all day long.

I had some more fun with the boys this week.

 

We painted bread with milk and food coloring and then toasted it and ate it for lunch.  It was fun.

 

Clifton struggled with painting it at first.  He just wanted to eat it!

This is their final product.  I am sure you can guess which one Clifton's is:) (The one with bits out of it already)

I had leftover dirt from the party so I got it out and let them play in it.  It was a rainy the whole first of the week so we did it in the garage.  They were doing very well at trying to keep it in the bins...

 ...until I had to go and get McKay a bottle.  Seriously, one minute later and it was all over he garage; and the boys. I walked in right when Evan was dumping a bucket full of dirt on Clifton.

I normally hate crying pictures but this makes me laugh.  Because as I was walking towards the garage I heard giggling but as soon as I stepped in and said "Boys! What are you doing?"  The water works started.  Nice try buddy, you knew you were doing something wrong!

So to the bath they went!  They were okay with that!

Later that week the rain had let up so I let them go outside and do it.  I still however had to stop Evan from dumping dirt on Clifton.  Apparently he finds it hard to resist:)

Also to keep the boys happy and get some energy out I put up the basketball hoop Grandma and Grandpa P got Clifton for his birthday.  The boys really like it!

On Friday, we took Clifton bowling for the first time.

 He really enjoyed it.  He was getting tired towards the end but we all had a real good time.

These were my cheerleaders!

The bowling alley also has an arcade so we went and played around there for a little while.  A cheap and fun time!  My favorite two things:)

We finally got some dry and warmer weather.  So we went outside to play!  I loved feeling the sun and cannot wait for it to warm up even more and to have more days with sunshine!

 He is getting so close to being able to climb up by himself!

Clifton loves to help.

 Sweeping the patio.

And helping with the dishes.  Really he was having fun!

Well we got our car back Tuesday but it was not working 100% the way it should.  And I just paid them a ton of money to fix it so I expect it to be perfect.  So we sent it back with the agreement that they would fix it asap and at no cost to us.  Well 2 more days later they say something else is broken and it will cost us more to fix it!  We are both fed up with this process that we made them put it back together and just give it to us.  Mainly because we both are leaving town in two different directions so we kind of need two cars.  We are hoping when we get back that the part will be in and they will fix it for free.  I hate car problems and having to depend on someone else to fix it for me.  I am just ready for this to be over and I am done spending money on it!

Alex left for California for a week (another business trip) and I decided to head down to Portland and visit family while he was gone.   It will be my first over night outing with two kiddos.  I might be a little crazy trying to do it without Alex but we shall see.  I am excited for this next week!