Happy birthday little princess!
Monday, May 24, 2010
Happy Birthday Annalise!
Our baby girl turns one today! I can't believe it has been a year. It seems like it was just yesterday that she joined our family here on earth and yet it seems she has been a part of our family forever. It has been fun to get to know this little one's personality over the year and we look forward to many wonderful years to come.
Happy birthday little princess!
Happy birthday little princess!
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Very Productive Week
This past week, my Mom gave me an early birthday present. I picked her up from the airport Saturday evening and she spent a week here helping me go through things and getting things organized. We started by making a list of all that I have been wanting to get done and by planning the meals for the week. Monday morning we went grocery shopping and then set to work. We cleaned out and organized the pantries, some of the food storage stuff, linen closet, clothes buckets, under beds, many corners of boxes full of "stuff" to go through, pampered chef items from my selling days, prepping things for a yard sale, etc, etc, etc. My mom was awesome at keeping the laundry going, helping with cub scouts, and picking kids up from the bus. She is a power house and it was amazing how much we got done in a week. My list of "to do" is still long, but it sure feels good to have accomplished what we did. I feel a little bit less overwhelmed anyway.
It was great for me, but I think the boys felt a little left out. Basically all of my mom's time was spent working on something. Jacob kept asking why I was treating her like a slave. =) She didn't give them as much individual attention as she often does when she is here and I don't think they liked that one bit. By the end of the week it was showing. They were all acting up more than usual. We'll have to have Grandma come back sometime when there is not so much that we are trying to get done. Luckily by Saturday morning it was a whole different story as you can see by this video. The three older boys were having a great time playing and wrestling, Bryce enjoyed lying on the floor watching them, and Annalise...well, she was just happily doing her own thing!
Friday evening my Mom and sister were both here, so John and I took the opportunity to go to the temple together. It has been a long time since we have been able to do that. Of course there were a few "bumps" that evening that tried to keep us from getting there, but we made it and had a wonderful time. After the session, we went home and said goodbye to my Mom. She stayed the night at Sheri's house and left for home Saturday morning. I miss her all ready and am so thankful for the wonderful gift of help that she gave me.
Saturday morning John, William, and Jacob had play rehearsal so I took Spencer, Bryce, and Annalise over to help at a fund raising car wash for a 6 year old little girl with cancer who is in our ward. She is also in Jacob's class at school and he has become really good friends with her these past few months. Spencer had a great time washing tires and then jumping in puddles when there were no cars to wash. Bryce had a great time being pushed around in his chair by Dylan and her siblings. There was a pretty good turn out and it was nice to get out and help...even if it was only a little bit.
Then last night John and I watched the movie Extraordinary Measures about the kids with Pompe Disease and their father's mission to find a cure. Gives me hope that we will one day be able to find a cure to Bryce's illness...of course, we have to find out exactly what that is first.
With all of the birthdays, school year end events, and appointments coming up this week, it promises to be a busy one. I'm not sure if I will get back here again this week or not. If not, whenever I do, I will have lots to share.
It was great for me, but I think the boys felt a little left out. Basically all of my mom's time was spent working on something. Jacob kept asking why I was treating her like a slave. =) She didn't give them as much individual attention as she often does when she is here and I don't think they liked that one bit. By the end of the week it was showing. They were all acting up more than usual. We'll have to have Grandma come back sometime when there is not so much that we are trying to get done. Luckily by Saturday morning it was a whole different story as you can see by this video. The three older boys were having a great time playing and wrestling, Bryce enjoyed lying on the floor watching them, and Annalise...well, she was just happily doing her own thing!
Friday evening my Mom and sister were both here, so John and I took the opportunity to go to the temple together. It has been a long time since we have been able to do that. Of course there were a few "bumps" that evening that tried to keep us from getting there, but we made it and had a wonderful time. After the session, we went home and said goodbye to my Mom. She stayed the night at Sheri's house and left for home Saturday morning. I miss her all ready and am so thankful for the wonderful gift of help that she gave me.
Saturday morning John, William, and Jacob had play rehearsal so I took Spencer, Bryce, and Annalise over to help at a fund raising car wash for a 6 year old little girl with cancer who is in our ward. She is also in Jacob's class at school and he has become really good friends with her these past few months. Spencer had a great time washing tires and then jumping in puddles when there were no cars to wash. Bryce had a great time being pushed around in his chair by Dylan and her siblings. There was a pretty good turn out and it was nice to get out and help...even if it was only a little bit.
Then last night John and I watched the movie Extraordinary Measures about the kids with Pompe Disease and their father's mission to find a cure. Gives me hope that we will one day be able to find a cure to Bryce's illness...of course, we have to find out exactly what that is first.
With all of the birthdays, school year end events, and appointments coming up this week, it promises to be a busy one. I'm not sure if I will get back here again this week or not. If not, whenever I do, I will have lots to share.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Other Fun Annalise Pictures
Here are some random pictures of Annalise.
She can fall asleep anywhere! That must be the Stephens in her. I will often find her asleep wherever she happens to be. She is our first child that has done that.
January
February
April
Our own little Stevie Wonder
She just seems to love life. Here she is playing with a punch balloon.
One thing she loves to do is look at books.
She can fall asleep anywhere! That must be the Stephens in her. I will often find her asleep wherever she happens to be. She is our first child that has done that.
January
February
April
Our own little Stevie Wonder
She just seems to love life. Here she is playing with a punch balloon.
One thing she loves to do is look at books.
She Walks!
Annalise has been taking a step or two all month long, but the last couple of days, she has really begun to take off. She loves to walk and is just so cute doing it! I'm so excited. Maybe now I will be able to wash her knees and they will stay clean!
Walking between Mom and Grandma.
Walking with Aunt Sheri
She often tries to lean and reach the person's hands as early as possible.
Another trick she likes to pull is after taking a step or two, she will turn around and fall back into the arms of the person who she just left.
She often gets distracted by what is going on around her.
Here is a video of her walking. Almost every time before she takes off walking, she stands for a minute, twirling her hands and talking away. Then she takes off. It is so funny. I don't know what she is saying, but she is definitely saying something.
Walking between Mom and Grandma.
Walking with Aunt Sheri
She often tries to lean and reach the person's hands as early as possible.
Another trick she likes to pull is after taking a step or two, she will turn around and fall back into the arms of the person who she just left.
She often gets distracted by what is going on around her.
Here is a video of her walking. Almost every time before she takes off walking, she stands for a minute, twirling her hands and talking away. Then she takes off. It is so funny. I don't know what she is saying, but she is definitely saying something.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Happy Anniversary To Us!
10 years and counting! We will be attending the temple together tomorrow night to celebrate. I'm looking forward to it. It has been a while since we have been able to go together.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Bottle Rockets and School Water Party
Last Wednesday during pack meeting, the cubs shot off bottle rockets that they had made at the previous den meeting. Here are a few shots of William with his rocket...the math rocket. Yes, he named it the math rocket and while the other cubs played basketball, he wrote math problems on slips of paper and attached them to his rocket. That boy is a true Clayton!
Then last night, Patterson Elementary had it's end of the year water party. They had a dunk tank, a petting zoo, a water slide, a spinny thing, and of course plenty of treats to buy. Luckily the weather was nice and everyone had a good time.
Annalise enjoyed playing in the dirt and rocks while we waited in lines.
She thought rocks would make a good treat. You can see she has one stuck in her cheek in this picture. This girl puts everything in her mouth!
The boys favorite thing there was "the Spinny Thing". The only problem was that the line for this was very long. We spent a little over an hour waiting for their two minute ride. They all said it was worth the wait though.
William and Spencer went first.
Next came Jacob. He wasn't sure at first that he wanted to go, but by the end, he was glad that he had decided to try it.
At the end of each ride, the guy doing the spinning would hold them upside down long enough for us to get a good shot. If I had a better camera, you may have been able to see their big smiles a little better, but they're not bad I guess for pictures taken by a phone.
Then last night, Patterson Elementary had it's end of the year water party. They had a dunk tank, a petting zoo, a water slide, a spinny thing, and of course plenty of treats to buy. Luckily the weather was nice and everyone had a good time.
Annalise enjoyed playing in the dirt and rocks while we waited in lines.
She thought rocks would make a good treat. You can see she has one stuck in her cheek in this picture. This girl puts everything in her mouth!
The boys favorite thing there was "the Spinny Thing". The only problem was that the line for this was very long. We spent a little over an hour waiting for their two minute ride. They all said it was worth the wait though.
William and Spencer went first.
Next came Jacob. He wasn't sure at first that he wanted to go, but by the end, he was glad that he had decided to try it.
At the end of each ride, the guy doing the spinning would hold them upside down long enough for us to get a good shot. If I had a better camera, you may have been able to see their big smiles a little better, but they're not bad I guess for pictures taken by a phone.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Let's Play Music Recital
This time of year is full of activities, and although I love to see my kids perform and see that all the time and money is paying off, I am also a little relieved to see one thing "finish up" for the year. On Monday, May 3rd, Let's Play Music came to an end until fall. This was Jacob's third and final year with it and Spencer's first. We went as a family to the recital, but John, Bryce, and Annalise ended up spending most of the time in the nursery room. Spencer joined them shortly after he finished his performance. It was a nice performance and of course Mrs. Marci and Mrs. Robyn did a great job!
All I had was my phone camera, so the pictures didn't turn out so well, but here are a few anyway. This is Spencer's group. He is in the second row wearing a white shirt and red tie.
Spencer with his certificate and reward...a whistle pop!
Jacob receiving his award from Mrs. Marci.
All of the third year students.
Mrs. Marci will be missed!
Jacob at the piano. I had to get a picture of him at the piano after the recital. He was the first one of the third years to perform and I was out in the hall and heard his name called. Luckily I made it back in just as he was beginning his piece.
Here is the video I also took "after the fact". Jacob is playing an original composition by Jacob Clayton titled Chord Adventures. It is amazing how much these kids learn in 3 short years.
All I had was my phone camera, so the pictures didn't turn out so well, but here are a few anyway. This is Spencer's group. He is in the second row wearing a white shirt and red tie.
Spencer with his certificate and reward...a whistle pop!
Jacob receiving his award from Mrs. Marci.
All of the third year students.
Mrs. Marci will be missed!
Jacob at the piano. I had to get a picture of him at the piano after the recital. He was the first one of the third years to perform and I was out in the hall and heard his name called. Luckily I made it back in just as he was beginning his piece.
Here is the video I also took "after the fact". Jacob is playing an original composition by Jacob Clayton titled Chord Adventures. It is amazing how much these kids learn in 3 short years.
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