Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

The day after Christmas we decided to pack up everything but the kitchen sink and head up to the cabin. Three of my sisters and my parents decided to try to tackle the weekend with 2 two year olds! When we got up there Friday afternoon, it had just started to snow and the kids got to see their first snow storm. It was AWESOME! I love the snow- especially when it is coming down. There is just something so peaceful about falling snow. It is just such a nice change to see clouds and snow and actually have some cold weather. I miss the snow of Idaho and having a white Christmas- but having it the day after Christmas was just as good. Saturday the weather had cleared, but it was still really cold. It got to 0 degrees at night and didnt get warmer than about 25 degrees that day. But it was sunny- so it didnt feel that cold. We got the sleds out and had a great time sledding down the hill behind the cabin. Clark and Kate didnt like it so much- it scared them when other people would come down the hill and "crash" at the bottom. So they stayed up on the porch with Auntie Nancy for most of it. I had a great time and managed to get Ryan to go down a few times too. It was fun to see my Mom and Dad take their turns sledding. I guess you never get too old for some things! Sunday it warmed up quite a bit and the snow started melting, I just hope it doesnt all melt before we get up there again!

Clark on the porch Friday during the snow storm.

Kate with Nana

Daddy with Clark and Mommy with Kate

Way to go Paco!!

My nephew Wyatt

My niece Hannah- the only one brave enough to go on her stomach!

The peanut gallery(Ryan, Hannah, Nancy, Aimee and Paco)

Christmas

There's really not too much to say about Christmas- so I'll let the pictures do the talking.....

Clark opening presents with Daddy

Clarks breakfast- a chocolate Santa from his stocking

Clark playing in the new sandbox

Daddy showing Clark and Kate what to do in the sand box!

Kate in the sandbox

Kate at Grandmas with her new stroller and cell phone!

Just Like Daddy

Okland had their Christmas party last week and in addition to getting all day passes to the zoo and zoo lights that night, they gave each of the kids an offical Okland hardhat with their names on it! Kate and Clark love to wear their " hat like Daddy's" although I have not let them wear them out in public. Not because I don't think it's cute, it's because they are big and bulky and I would end up carrying them after 5 minutes. So as you can see, Kate usually has on her "pretty shoes" , a purse and her hard hat! Clark just does the usual boy thing and wears it when he's workin with his tools! I just had to share- I think it's too cute!

Life

Geeze Jel, update your blog already! I know, I know, I know. Life is just crazy, as I'm sure it is for everyone else. It doesnt help that everytime I sit down to blog I can't get my pictures off my camera and who wants to read a post without any pictures! So anyways I was going to write about my kids having to take their clothes off from the waist down everytime they go outside- but it's just not a cute without pictures of their bare butts. So maybe another day.
I have been really busy with just life in general. I feel like I have so much going on that I dont even have time to keep up with the normal day to day things. I acutally just got called to be the 'Activities Committee Chairman' at church and had to plan a Christmas party in 3 weeks for 200 people. So needless to say, I haven't had much time to myself. Plus I've been so BAH Humbug about Christmas this year- it's really been hard for me to get into the Christmas spirit. I think it was because I was so busy Thanksgiving weekend, that I didnt have time to just sit and enjoy the beginning of the holiday season. I usually get my Christmas decorations up that weekend but was too tired after baking for a boutique and running the Turkey Trot. I just barely put up some decorations on Monday and dont have the energy to put the rest up. I debated for about a week whether or not to even send out Christmas cards. But I ordered them yesterday- so if you get one- it might just be after Christmas. I dont know if it's because money is tight and things all of a sudden seem way too expensive, but I just don't even want to buy a dang thing. So we will be having a very humble Christmas this year- which really is fine with me. We're just going to build the kids a sand box in the back yard and call it good. Gosh I sound depressing! Really life isnt that bad, but sometimes all the bad stuff piles up and just comes out! Like in the book "These is My Words" when Sarah just explodes on Savannah one day- that is me today! So anyways- I think I've vented enough, and if you actually read this post without a picture- you really are a good friend!

Halloween Week

I know it's a little passed Halloween, but life has been jam-packed, and I haven't even had 10 minutes to myself all week, let alone time to sit and blog. So after canning almost 100 jars of applesauce and apple pie filling, taking 2yr pictures for the kids, Play along Pals, Clark falling out of the shopping cart in the Bashas parking lot, coloring my moms hair, jury duty and last but not least helping Ryan install a new water heater; I am FINALLY able to sit down for a few minutes!
The week of Halloween was quite eventful for the kids, they got to dress up 3 times, and I must say, were the cutest twins around. Monday night my mom had her annual 'Haynes Halloween Party'. Since this was the first time getting them all dressed, putting the makeup on was quite the task. Once we got to Nanas, they were a little shy with so many people there. But they played the games, swung at the pinata and had nothing but candy for dinner. They even got another birthday cake!

Eating Birthday cake

Swinging at the pinata

Kate and Clark love their Paco

The next dress up day was Wednesday for our ward "Trunk or Treat". Poor kids, we didn't even let them trick or treat. We figured they didn't need the candy, as we wouldn't have let them eat it anyways, and Ryan and I would end up eating it all and we don't need it! They were a little worried about going to church and seeing everyone dressed up, but once they figured out they didnt have to be quiet and could run around, they liked it alot.

Thursday was our last dress up day. Kate and Clarks friend Annie invited them to a carnival at her house. They both had a great time, once they figured out that when they played the games they got candy. Clark made best friends with Annie's grandpa. It was like Clark found the only male in the place and instantly made friends with him. It was cute.

From Annies carnival, we went to Grandma and Grandpa's house for carving pumpkins. Kate and Clark liked this the best because they got to be in nothing but a diaper and make a mess! So that's our Halloween!

Helping clean out the 'yuckies'

Kate and Clark love their 'Papa'

Building, Birthday Cakes and Bare Butts

What could a post with that kind of title possibly be about? A cabin trip! This past weekend we went up to my parents cabin so Ryan could help my Dad build his wood shed. Ryan had this great idea to build my Dad a wood shed this summer, and then made the mistake of telling my Dad! Ryan poured the concrete a few weeks ago and then this weekend did the wood framing and roofing. My Dad is an aerospace engineer, not a construction engineer, so Ryan had to bite his tongue a few times, and let my Dad "Roger" the project. Ryan is a perfectionist, especially when it comes to building, and my Dad is the fastest, cheapest way kind of guy. From my untrained eye- it looks just fine, but Ryan would tell you otherwise!

So they worked all day Saturday on that, while I played with the kids and worked in the kitchen. Bridgett and Rob came up that night and brought Kate and Clark a 'Fudgy the Whale' birthday cake. I had never seen one before, but apparently they are pretty popular. It's an ice cream cake, and very (as Kate would say) Delicious! Bridgett and Rob spoil my kids, but I'm definitely ok with that. Kate is finally warming up to Rob and even let him hold her on the swing.

Now's the part you've been waiting for- what's the story about the bare butt? Well Kate and Clark have been intrigued with the toilet and potty training. Kate is doing much better than Clark, but Clark wants to so badly! He now just wants to sit on the toilet after Kate does, even though he doesn't do anything. So we've had some problems with Clark taking his diaper off. He doesn't undo the velcro, he just shimmy's out of it. Well Sunday after church, we came home and put them to bed. While they were sleeping we got all packed up to go, and ended up having to wake them up to leave. So when Ryan went to get Clark, this is what he found.......

Happy Birthday

Today is Kate and Clarks 2nd Birthday! Man, time flies. Some days are hard, but I am so grateful for the changes that have come into my life because of my 2 kids. I just wanted to take a minute today to tell them how much I love them and give and update on everything they are doing in thier little lives.

Kate:

Kate is like her Mom in that she loves to get up early and get started on the day. As soon as I get her out of her crib, she wants her jammies off and her clothes for the day on. She usually wakes up a good 1/2 hour before Clark everyday and I love the time we get to spend together just the two of us. Not that we do anything special, and sometimes she'll sit at the table with me while I study my scriptures and get ready to teach Sunday School. She is very loving and always has a 'baby' of some sort in her hands. One of her first words in sign language was 'baby'. If Clark is crying or upset, she will go find his buddy (blanket) and give it to him. She loves to gives hugs and kisses to Mom, Dad and just about anyone who asks. (as long as you are a girl or a grandpa!) She loves to sing songs, especially "Wheels on the Bus" and "Old McDonald". She learned all the motions to songs very quickly, as well as sign language.

Kate has a love/hate relationship with animals, especially dogs. She is always talking about them, loves to look at them in books and movies, but when it comes to seeing a dog up close, she is very afraid! Even little puppies she cannot pet. She has become accustomed to Paco's cats, and will pet them sometimes too.

She is the follower in her relationship with Clark. Whatever he does, she does too. This includes whatever toy he has, she wants; whenever Clark cries, she cries; or if Clark gets hurt, she needs a kiss on whatever part he got hurt on too! She has also learned how to be disobedient from Clark, but is quicker to obey than Clark.

Her favorites are: Animal : Elephant

Color : Doesn't have one

Person: Nancy or Ellen

Song: Wheels on the Bus

Thing to do: Swing

New vocabulary: Delicious! (it sounds so cute!)
Ephant monie (Elephant Movie, ie Baby Noah)

Poopoo Toilet ( I have to go poop!)
I love you Kate! Thanks for bringing your light into our home. I know that you and I will always be great friends.

Clark:

Clark is just a BOY! He is like his dad in that he loves to stay up late and cannot stand it if he can hear commotion and he's not a part of it. However, he is like his mom in that he needs lots of sleep at night and loves long naps! Clark is very into 'fixing' things. He has a tool set, and frequently has some tool in his hand and is fixing just about everything. He loves the 'big tools' that do the road construction. He even knows the difference between a Track Hoe, Dozer, Loader and a Dump Truck. ( I had to ask Ryan before I could teach him! So now I know the difference too) He loves to play outside in the dirt, and has to take a 'shovel' (aka spoon) with him. Just this morning they got a play kitchen for their birthday, and within 30 seconds he had found a big spoon and was heading out the back door!

He is a worker bee and is my best helper. He rakes the leaves outside and will even take the shovel and shovel the rocks. He loves to help me in the garden and would stay outside all day if I'd let him. Hence, he LOVES my Dad. I think they are kindred spirits. He asks to go to Nana and Paco's everyday. On days that we do get to visit, he finds Paco right away and leads him outside.

Clark does have a soft side too. He loves for Mom to hold him. He can be very snuggly at times and loves back rubs. He will even lift his shirt up for you, as it feels better on his bare skin! Just yesterday he woke up before Kate after their nap and we just sat in the rocking chair and talked. He is pretty good for a 2 year old with his language skills. He loves to talk and learn new words- so be careful what you say- he will repeat it!

He shares Kates loves for animals and apprehension with dogs!

His favorites are: Animals: Horses

Color: Yellow

Person: Paco/ Grandpa

Song: Old McDonald

Thing to do: Paco Mobile ride

New Vocabulary: 'Go where' (what he says when he is trying to get you to go somewhere with him)

'panamonie' (Panda movie ie Baby Noah)

'play dirt'

'my do it'

I love you Clark. Thanks for being who you are. You test me everyday, but I know that you love me too. Thanks for always being so happy and always giving me something to laugh about!

Potty Training

Kate just went poop in the toilet! I can't believe it. I have not tried at all to potty train her. She has been telling me over the past few weeks when she has pooped in her diaper, and has recently started telling me when she is about to poop. So the other day at my moms, she said she had to poop and we put her on the toilet, and nothing. So then today she told me she had to poop, and then said,"toilet". So I sat her down and what do you know- she acutally pooped! I know I should be thrilled, but this just means potty training- which I know nothing about. Plus I have to buy a little potty chair and panites and all that. Not to mention all the accidents that are bound to happen, and having to carry an extra set of clothes everywhere.
So I am soliciting help. If you have any suggestions as to how I can do this - please share! If you have any good books, movies, websites or anything that can educate me as to how to do this- I'd apprecate it! Thanks!

Cabin Trip

We were supposed to go up to the cabin for Ryan's birthday way back in August, but we could never quite get all our ducks in a row to get up there. So we finally got up there last weekend. We drove up Thursday night and didn't come home until Sunday night. It makes such a difference when you have a few days to spend up there, instead of packing the whole house for overnight.

The kids had fun feeding the fish, watching the horses and playing on the tractor. They got lots of attention from "Bigee and Bob" (Bridgett and Rob) and their surrogate parents, Ellen and Josh. Friday afternoon we got hit by a big rain storm. The rain cooled it down to between 55 and 60 degrees, and it actually stayed cool for the rest of the day. It was nice change from our never-ending heat.

Friday Ryan worked all day fixing the bathtub fixtures in one of the bathrooms. It was quite the project- but we are all glad it's finally done. Thanks Honey!

Ryan and Josh spent most of Sunday playing Halo while Ellen and I jammed out to Guitar Hero. Believe it or not, we are rock stars, and our band, "The Brownies" beat the game. On easy. (Ellen did most of it)

Ellen was even nice enough to take some family pictures for us, and I'm excited to see how they turned out. Ryan wasn't especially happy that I decided to take pictures (as he HATES taking pictures) so we'll see if his smug grin is worthy of a Christmas card.

Kate playing with her 'purse'

Clark's first Oreo

Clark with his favorite pal, Josh

Kate with surrogate Mom, Ellen

My Garden

When I was growing up, my parents always had a garden and I, along with my brothers and sisters, were always volunteered to help take care of it. I remember having my Mom wake me up early on Saturday morning to go weed the garden and hating it! I just hated working in the garden. It wasn't until I went on my mission that I realized the value of a garden. I remember the first time I had to buy lettuce and thinking- shoot- I could get this for free at home!!! I learned alot about gardening on my mission, as everyone in Idaho has a garden, and some people make their living off the land. So since I've been married I've wanted to have a garden, and it wasn't until we moved into this house that I was able to do it.

Last winter is when I officially started gardening. I have to say- without my Dad, it would've never happened. My Dad is an amazing gardener and has an amazing garden. He has it down to an art-and can grow just about anything (that will grow in Arizona) and even has stuff coming up on it's own. So I was asking my Dad for tips on how to get started, and one Saturday (my Mom was out of town and I think he was bored) he called and asked if I wanted help getting my garden started. I excitedly agreed, and he brought over his rowdo-tiller and all the tools and even some seeds. Well I was busy doing something with the kids when he got there - and by the time I got outside to help, he had already used the rowdo-tiller, made rows and was planting the seeds! All I had to do was water and weed for the next few months, and ended up with a garden full of lettuce, broccoli and spinach.
So this spring I was on my own. I started my summer garden late, one because I procrastinated and two, my Dad's rowdo-tiller was broken. So I planted anyways the end of May- and am now enjoying my harvest!

I planted tomatoes, watermelon, squash, pumpkin, corn and cucumber. My tomatoes and corn didn't do very well this year- but the watermelon and cucumber have taken over! The squash and pumpkin have grown alot and have huge vines, but I haven't got much fruit off of them.

I have to say that I love to garden now. I enjoy going out and picking the weeds and just spending the time outside. It is the most rewarding feeling to pick and eat food from your own garden. And it really isn't that difficult. I spent the most time planting, and now just have to water everyday. I can't really pick weeds in my summer garden because the vines and plants cover the entire garden!

So I am taking this moment to share my success! If you want some cucumbers- I'd be happy to give you some!

This is in July- the squash are against the wall and the watermelon are the small plants on the bottom.

Corn in July

Tomatoes in the corner and cucumber on the ground

This was a few weeks ago- you cant even see the ground!

Heres one of the watermelons- we have about 12 more growing!

Here's the harvest! Cucumbers, butternut squash and watermelon

So this is the third time I have tried doing this post and if it doesn't work this time- I Quit! You may have noticed that its been a while since I have posted something on my blog, and I have triedm but after 2 failed attempts I just couldn't get myself to sit down and do it . And the longer you wait the easier it is to just avoid it all together. So I'm hoping this post will get me back in gear to post more regularly. Since it has been so long- this is going to be all my posts rolled into one.

So here it goes.

Shoes

Kate has developed quite the shoe feddish. She loves to put her own shoes on and does a dang good job of it too. She usually gets the shoes on the right feet too! Her latest is to come into my room, go in the closet and pick a pair of shoes for her and I. She doesn't like it very much if I don't wear the shoes she picked out. Clark also likes shoes, but only his Dad's. He loves to 'help' Ryan put on his shoes or wear them himself. He also just recently figured out how to put on his own shoes. However- he does NOT like to wear shoes at church. So sometimes we make it in the building, or maybe 10 minutes of Sacrament meeting before they come off. And he usually ditches the socks during nursery.

First Invitation To a Birthday Party

My friend Deanna has a little girl Madison who is just 2 months older than Kate and Clark, and since they are play date buddies, we got invited to Madision's 2nd Birthday Party. Kate was not very happy the day before when we picked out Madision's present and she wasn't able to keep it. But they did very well at the party, only we spent most of the time in the kitchen eating the snacks!



Kate giving Madison a hug

Kate opening Madision's presents

Clark enjoying someone else's toys

Clark and Paco

Clark just loves my Dad. A few weeks ago my Mom and Dad came over to get their hair done. They came over right after I had put the kids down for their nap, but I think Clark heard my Dad's voice and did not fall asleep. So after I cut my Dad's hair and started working on my Mom, Paco (my dad) got Clark out of his bed to play. Well they eventually ended up outside in the backyard. And if any of you know my Dad, he can't sit still for more than 3 minutes, so he started picking weeds. So my Mom and I went outside to check things out and this is what we found....

Wait... That's Kate!

The other day after dinner, I was doing the dishes and Ryan was playing with the kids. After a few minutes, Ryan said "Look Mommy", so I turned a looked, and saw what I thought was Clark walking towards me. Then I took a harder look and realized it was Kate in Clarks clothes!! Poor girl- she has no hair, so in boys clothes- she could pass as a little boy! It was just cute!