First Snow to play In

This was the first snow that left enough for the kids to play in it. It also happened to be the same day Rusty was putting up the Christmas lights! I bundled the kids up and went outside while Rusty was up on the roof. Claysen could barely walk he was so bundled up. He is wear the snow stuff Callen wore as late as last winter! Granted it was a tad small on Callen last year and a bit big on Claysen this year. You get my point in how differently they are built though.

Callen was having a little trouble making a snow ball so he decided to ditch his new gloves. He found out how cold the snow really is.

Good friends, good drinks and warm weather

What more could you ask for! Our trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico was fantastic. I really enjoyed the weather. It was in the 80s and sunny everyday! While we were there the resort was decorating for Christmas, that just felt strange being that it was so warm outside. I went snorkeling one day and Rusty went deep sea fishing with the guys, he finally caught something other than a tuna! The groom caught a marlin so I think this was a best deep sea fishing trip yet! The wives on this trip were great too. Rusty knew the guys but I didn't know any of the ladies, it was refreshing to meet great people and be able to have a good time with them for a week!

By Friday we were ready to come home to the boys, but we were glad to have some time to ourselves too. Thanks to our mothers and family for helping out with the boys while we were gone.

This is the view of the ocean and resort from the bride and grooms room. Our view was just of the resort and a pool (not this pool) .
Swim up bars are awesome!
As the Mexicans call it, The End of the Earth or Land's End.



This was taken after the wedding. The wedding was very nice.









Our last night in Mexico, you can see the Christmas lights in the background. Doesn't Rusty look nice?

Recent pictures

No it isn't Halloween again, Callen just found this stashed in Claysen's closet and insisted on wearing it. Claysen wore this to Callen's Halloween party at school. My sister in law made it for her son when he was about 18 months old. You can see how skinny Callen is that it will still "fit" him!

Drummer boy! Callen is very creative and always making a mess. He is is putting his mess to good use! Drumming away!

Hauling Claysen... this isn't the first time.

Just eating Oreos. Claysen loves sweets. He will open his mouth wide at the mention of a cookie or some other treat!

Another creative invention of Callen's. Super Duper Shoes! He had it on his foot at one point too, carefully walking around. Boys!

Walking!!

I would say Claysen is offically walking now. He is standing up on his own and taking a stroll across the room now and sitting back down with complete control. Now will come the bumps and bruises to the face. I am a little glad at this point that it is coming on winter. Maybe the bumps won't be on concrete outside! He did get bruise right on his cheek yesterday. Poor guy. We are glad that he is taking off and grinning each time we see it. Callen still tries to help him walk holding his hands and walking backwards with him. It is funny!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Standing on his own

Claysen discovered how to stand up on his own yesterday. Walking will be very soon! Rusty made the comment to me that he hopes he walks in the next two weeks. We are leaving for our vacation to Mexico on 11/30 for a week. He doesn't want to miss it. I really hadn't thought that way, but I hope so too! I learned early with Callen that even if his first step or time sitting etc was when I was away, the first time I saw it was still just as exciting! We've seen him take a few steps after pulling himself up and seen him stand on his own the first so we are happy with that.

I promise I will post pictures soon......

One Step at a Time...

On Tuesday evening Claysen took two tiny wobbly steps! He has been standing alone more for 15-20 seconds. He still need to pull himself up to get to the standing position by himself, but will now let go.

Enjoying the last warm days of the year

We haven't been out in the wagon at all this summer. Shame on me. I could have ripped legs by now pulling these two around! It has been pretty nice here lately, mid to upper 60s and sunny. So I finally decided I better put this awesome toy to use. Callen had fun pulling Claysen around. He rode a little bit too. We walked down our little lane and back.

This last photo is so nastalgic looking. I love the black and white photographs. I think I may enlarge this one and find a place to hang it.

Happy Halloween!

We had a dancing bat and a web shooting Spider-Man!

Claysen can stand alone for a couple of seconds. Here he is mostly leaning against the wall and I am very close waiting to catch if he topples.

SPIDER-MAN and BAT!!

I love dressing them up. Yesterday for Callen's preschool party Claysen went as a Holstein Cow.

Pumpkin Carving time!

On Tuesday, Callen, Claysen and I went to a pumpkin patch with Callen's pre-school class for a field trip. They each got to pick out a pumpkin. I didn't get any pictures of them in the patch because it was cold and after being confined for 1 hour, Claysen wasn't real happy. So we picked quickly and got out of there! Callen got to go in the straw maze and on a hay ride. He thought it was fun, so it was all worth it.

When Rusty got home they he and Callen sat down to carve the pumpkins up. I was really proud of Rusty diving into this task with out any suggesting or nudging from me. Callen looks concerned that Rusty is hurting the pumpkin. He asked a lot of questions about why and what he was doing. This was Callen's first carving experience. Last year he just drew on his pumpkin.

Next it was picture time! How many tries does it take to get two young boys to look at the camera and smile (or at least not grimace).

One,

Two,

Three!

(really it was about 5, but I won't bore you with every picture we took! Just half!)

Claysen just looks so cute here. He is checking out Callen's scary pumpkin!

Next week....costumes.

Happy Halloween!

Reminiscing

The other night Callen was running around being his usual crazy 3 year old boy self and Claysen laughing and being so sweet and good and I say to Rusty, "I find myself wishing these last two hours of the day would go by faster." He says, "Remember when we cherished them?" That was about 3 years ago when Callen was a baby and played in the living room while we watched TV. Claysen would do that now, but Callen is so busy "teaching him how to play" and pretending to be a bucking bull or horse. I think we still enjoy watching the kids play it was just nicer when the play wasn't so loud and rowdy!

Here are few pictures so you can reminisce with us too!

Taking donations, trying to reach $5 Million

Our family went on an "adventure" last weekend. Our first long road trip with the kids. My college friend Nicole was getting married and I was honored to be her bridesmaid. The wedding was in Spokane, WA. We decided to go up Hwy 95 to make some familiar stops along the way.

Our first stop and the reason I am asking for donations was in Council, ID. Rusty is leasing some ground to run cattle on. He currently has steers up there. I had never been to the place and Rusty is always saying how pretty it is. Callen even talks about Council and the heifers and steers. We got some great pictures of Callen and just the ranch. It really is very beautiful as you can see from these photos. I think they rival professional photographs. The place is for sale for approximately $5 Million so now you understand why I need donations! If you win the lottery please share with us!

We also stopped in Ferdinand, ID to meet a long time loyal client turned friend that I had never had the chance to meet. It was great to meet Leeanne after 6-ish years! We also stopped in Lewiston to meet another client of mine that I had never met.

We made it to Spokane in time to pick up my dress, check in the hotel and off to the rehersal. The kids traveled ok. Rusty thought they did well, so I guess that means good, he drove, so I was busy with them and thought they could have been a little less demanding but hey they are 3 and 1. Claysen had a hard time while we were there. He slept terribly and refused to not be held or be held while stationary. We had to be moving!! He now seems to dislike the car and screams if he doesn't get what he wants!

The wedding was very nice, I enjoyed being a part of their special day. She looked beautiful and very happy.

The trip home was quicker; we came home through Washington and Oregon. The portable DVD player was SOOOOO helpful and was put to good use. It even put Callen to sleep one night in the hotel! There is a God and I think She is a mother and knows when I need a little slack!

My Labor Day Project

We have lived in our house for seven years now and I've never changed the southwest decor/wallpaper in the spare bathroom. I have never liked it but never made time to change it. I was inspired to make it a kid bathroom by a stamp set I own and things I've seen in Pottery Barn for Kids catalogs. I was able to accomplish the "redecorating" in one long weekend. I think it turned out really cute. I painted the artwork too. I just bought blank canvases at a craft store and used the same paint I bought for the walls with a couple little bottles of cermacoat to accent. I really like how it turned out and wanted to share.

Claysen's First Birthday!

Here is our sweet, sweet baby boy that is turning one this week (9/7)! I can't believe how fast a year goes when you have babies to watch grow! Claysen's hair is much lighter now than when he was born. He didn't loose very much. His eyes are an awesome shade of blue and has lashes that are a mile long to attract love from every woman he meets.

I made some vintage car and truck cupcakes for Claysen's Truck themed Birthday. I was a little disappointed in how decorating them turned out, but they tasted good, so that is all that really matters.


Claysen got many great things for his birthday. Clothes, toys, money and a trampoline (shared by big brother on his birthday). Thank you to all that came and all that gave gifts. He wasn't really tearing into them, but wanted to play with a few as we opened. He got some great books, two are already being read a lot to big brother too.

I love this picture, look at Claysen's expression. Isn't it just funny, he looks elated and mischevious!
This is the outfit we got him, I love that Robin (my sister-in-law who takes great pictures each party for me, Thanks Robin) got a picture of him smiling/laughing with it draped over him.

I think this picture is perfect at showing how content Claysen almost always is. He is such a great baby.
This was the first present he opened. It was from Papa Fred. Claysen had the chance to open it earlier in the day so we gave him some more time to play and pull it out himself.
He was not sure what to think of that candle. I had to hold his hands back for a little bit before he got the idea he couldn't touch the flame. I had to blow it out. When Callen turned one, he didn't get the hang of it, so I just didn't try to teach Claysen yet.

Claysen still isn't eating a lot of table food so he was a bit turned off at the texture of the cake. I think this picture is awesome of his eyes. It displays how big and beautiful they are.

This was taken before the party, Claysen is really getting into being outside and watching the dogs. (just as the weather is changing!) I just think it is cute to photograph the boys from the backside together.