Recent Savanna Quotes

• Me: "What are your babies' names?" Savanna: "Savanna and Clarka" (Baby Savanna was also born on December 22nd).
• (After getting lollipops at Harmon's) "Sometimes boys and girls want lollipops. Clark really wanted a lollipop. This lollipop is making my little guy happy."
• At Sam's Club with TC's sister, April. April: "What do you think I will name my baby when I have one?" Savanna: "Maybe you could name her Clarka?" April: "But I want her to have a different name that is not like yours and Clark's. Savanna: "Maybe you could name her Savanna?"
• "When I go to school I will hold Sadie's hand. I will make sure she does not get hit by a car and die." (Sadie is a good friend of Savanna's who is actually two months older but is quite a bit shorter than her. Savanna is always very protective of her and sometimes a bit bossy. I keep reminding her Sadie is older than her but it has not seem to sunk in yet."
• (While driving today and passing the elementary school) Savanna: "Mommy there's my school!" Me: "Yes if we are still living here you will go to that school. Do you want to go to school?" Savanna: "Yes and I will slide down the slide. But don't worry Mommy I will come back!"
• (While driving one day) "Mommy, you are my mom. I like that you take care of me. I love you mom!" (this stuff makes all the hard moments worth it)
• Me:"You are little but one day you will grow up and not be little." Savanna: "Yes but today I'm little."
• "We are getting medicine for Clark. He has sad ears. I do not have sad ears."
• (While outside working on the front yard with TC and a little girl passes by on her bike) Savanna: "Hi girlfriend!" The little girl says hi and keeps riding her bike. Savanna yells to her, "Hey come back! What's your name?" The little girl comes back and TC said they had a very mature conversation. Savanna asked her where she lived and a couple other questions. TC said it was really cute to watch.

I love this precious little girl!

Update on Hard Days

So sorry if this is too much information on Clark's ears for you but thought I would update from my previous post. So I took Clark to the doctor and he said the blood was just from the ear infection and not to worry. I was happy about that but still a bit annoyed that I woke my kids up for him to tell me to just keep using the drops that we already have though we are almost out of them and he gave us a new prescription. Clark's ears do not seem to be bothering him much anymore though the day after I took him to the doctor fluid starting coming out of his other ear so I guess both of them are infected. There was still fluid coming out today as well. The doctor said to bring him back if there is still fluid coming out after a week and that would be Monday so hopefully they will clear up by then. Oh yeah and the Wal Mart gift cards situation. Basically I'm a MORON. I called and swore up and down that I did not have them and they had a manager who looked at the tape when I was checking out and said they went into a bag and left the store with me. I double checked and found them inside one of the Father's Day's cards I bought. I had looked and did not notice it before. Anyway, gotta love it.

Hard Days

So these last couple days have not been my best mommy days. I shouldn't complain but I will. First, Savanna embarrassed us in church when I was bringing her back into the chapel and instead of heading to our row she booked it onto the stand. I did not manage to catch her until she was completely across the stand. Then TC took her out and to the bathroom so I could play the organ and someone while on the toilet she managed to pee all over her underwear, tights, and the floor. So he had to take her home to change. Then I woke up Sunday night with this freaky pulsing sound in my ear. Seriously it scared me. SO I went to the doctor Monday morning. They checked out my ear and saw nothing wrong with it. They also did a hearing test and a pressure test and did not find anything wrong. They think I may just have irritated something when I cleaned out my ears on Sunday. Anyway, it stopped happening yesterday around noon so hopefully it will not happen again. Then Clark was really fussy yesterday because he has an ear infection. YES he has tubes and still managed to get an ear infection with this cold and he was just sick a little over a week ago. Anyway, today he is doing much better but I noticed blood coming out of his ears (it is normal when you have tubes for fluid to come out when you have an ear infection but not blood I guess). Anyway so I called the ear nose and throat doctor. They told me they needed me to bring him in and of course the only available time they have is 2:30 when both my kids are sleeping. So I have to wake them both up now. I thought about calling some friends to sit with Savanna but most of them have kids sleeping as well and I do not like to inconvenience anyone. Oh yeah and today at Wal Mart I got 2 gift cards which I did not have when I got home. I KNOW that I got all my bags but the cashier does not have them so they are looking at the tapes to see where they went. Anyway off to to wake my kids up and go to the doctor...ugh I hope we have a better day tomorrow. I will update later about Clark's ear. I'm kind of nervous but hopefully it is not real serious.

Comparisons

So I know that many say not to compare your children but it is okay when it is not to their faces right? Anyway, I have noticed some similarities and differences between Savanna and Clark over this past year and thought I would document some things I've observed. I want to be able to remember what I've noticed about both of them when they were little. So here are some of my observations.

• Savanna is much more focused than Clark. Even as a baby she was able to concentrate on one thing for a longer period of time. His attention span is much shorter.
• Clark is more stubborn. He lets you know if you do something that he does not like. For example, he hates getting his face wiped and his diaper change. Savanna was a super mell0w baby. There was not much that would upset her.
• Clark is more emotional than Savanna. He gets excited and happier more easily than Savanna did as a baby. It is really easy to make him laugh. He also gets POed more easily than Savanna did. For example just take your time while making his food. You will see how mad he gets!
• Clark is fussier when he gets sick. Savanna really does not get fussy when she gets sick. She would never wake up in the middle of the night when she was sick and Clark will occasionally when he does not feel well.
• Savanna and Clark are both good eaters, good sleepers, and were little chunks as babies.
• Savanna and Clark both love a lot of one on one attention from TC and I.
• Savanna and Clark are both very affectionate.
• Savanna and Clark both love music but I noticed that it is even more close to Clark's heart than it was to Savanna as a baby.
• So yeah looking at this I would say that overall Savanna was an easier baby. But don't get me wrong I love Clark just as much! Clark was not difficult in his first year, I actually think he was quite good but I think Savanna was just a really easy baby. My mom used to joke with me and say, "Next time you will get a real baby!" TC and I have both observed that we think Savanna's personality is more like his and Clark's is more like mine. Anyway, I love both my little ones and it is so much fun to watch them grow and see how they are alike and different.

Savanna Update-3 years 5 months

So thought I'd do an update on our sweet little Savanna. Savanna is as fun as ever and seems to get more grown up everyday! I really love having a little girl. She keeps us laughing. She has been a really good big sister this month especially with Clark being sick this past week and much more fussy. She was very understanding and did not let it bug her too much. Savanna was also sick last weekend with croup. Her breathing sounded weird on Sunday and I took her into the ER and they had to give her a breathing treatment and a steroid. The next day she was completely fine. Now I'm recovering from a cold. Fun stuff. Anyway, but back to Savanna. Here is some fun information about Savanna right now.

• Still loves puzzles
• Has really gotten into playing with her doll house lately
• Still LOVES Cinderella
• Now loves to play dominoes
• LOVES to go to birthday parties (Seriously I thought she was going to have to miss a birthday party on Friday since Clark was sick and she was so sad. It turned out TC was able to leave work early and stayed with Clark.)
• Loves primary
• Loves gym class
• Loves playing outside
• Loves to help with yard work and gardening
• Loves to pick daffodils

I have also started doing "learning time" with the kids before naps. Clark lasts for about 5 minutes and then I put him down to sleep. Then I spend some more time with Savanna. She is learning how to write her letters and read some words. Funny Quotes recently said by Savanna

• Me:"Who are you talking to on the phone Savanna?" (she was pretending) Savanna:"Cinderella. She is my friend."
• Me: "Oh Clark stop crying. I'm tired of hearing you cry." (he was a lot fussier these last few days with this virus. He ran a fever for over 2 days.) Savanna:"Mommy, it sounds better if you say, "Clark please don't cry."
• Savanna often calls me "Mommy girl!" and TC "Daddy boy!"
• She will wear mismatched socks like TC's sister, Marisha, wears them and will say, "I'm wearing my socks like Marisha."
• "I get to watch a movie because I was so good today." (she came up with this reward herself and it does not usually happen)
• "I'm so pretty!"
• "Mommy, daddy's belly is smaller because he is on a diet."
• "This is my baby, Mommy. It came out of my tummy and then I put it in a blanket." (FYI her baby is a piece of fabric)
• "Clark you will not get Mommy's milk much longer!" (Lol-yeah she probably heard that quoted directly from me)
• In the bath Savanna pointed to her whole body Savanna: "This is my whole body." Me:"Yes you have a body because of Jesus. He died for all of us so we could come down and get bodies. Before when we were in heaven we did not have bodies." Savanna: "Yeah, what a nice Jesus."

We love you Savanna girl!!!!

Happy Mother's Day!

Ok so here is a belated Happy Mother's Day wish to all those wonderful mothers out there that I know: my own wonderful mother, my mother-in-law, my sister-in-law, Kristin, TC's gradmother, and many wonderful friends. I also can't help but think of my grandma and Nana on Mother's Day and miss them. (My grandma died when I was 7 and my Nana died in 2004. I was extremely close to both of them). I had a great Mother's Day. We got back from our date Sunday morning and TC's sister, April, surprised me by having the kids all bathed and ready for church. She also had them decorate plates for me with their hand prints. So sweet! My friend wanted to make matching skirts for Savanna and I to wear to church so we wore them. Funny story about my skirt though. When I was putting it on at the Anniversary Inn Sunday morning the elastic pulled out or something and it would not stay on at all. Of course me with my extensive sewing skills was able to fix it without a hitch. Ha Ha, just kidding. I called my friend and told her what happened. She had worked hard to have them finished by Mother's Day and I did not want her to think that I did not want to wear them. Anyway, by the time we got back it was 12:30 and church started at 1 and I had to be there early to play the organ so I knew I did not have time to go over to my friend's house to have her fix it. Anyway, April told me she could pin the skirt for me with a safety pin and it should stay up. That seemed like it would work fine. It did until I stood up to play the intermediate hymn. I felt the pin opened up and uncomfortably poke into my side. My face got hot as I held up my skirt with my hands. All I could think of the whole time I was playing is, "This skirt better not fall down when I'm getting off the organ!" Anyway, I managed to keep it up and I sat down and immediately turned around and motioned to my friend who made it to follow me out into the hall. Anyway, we ran into the nearby mother's lounge and she was able to pin the elastic for me securely. She told me that she didn't notice I was holding up my skirt when I was walking too and from the organ. Thank goodness! Hopefully no one else did either. Anyway, after church TC and Savanna were sweet enough to make dinner for me-chicken lasagna at my request. Then we were able to talk to my brother, Jonathan, who is on a mission to Canada. It was good to talk to him. He comes home in about 4 months! Crazy that it has been almost 2 years! Then we were able to chat with TC's mom and sister as well. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to be a mother. I honestly think that being a mother is the hardest thing I have ever done but it is the most rewarding and wonderful thing I've ever experienced as well. I love my sweet little ones, Savanna and Clark! They fill my days with chaos yes but also love, happiness, and smiles. I'm so grateful to be their mommy! I'm also so grateful for my mother and all she has done for me. One thing I remember about my mom is she always put my brothers and I first in her life. She was always there when we needed her. Even now when call her (which is almost every day) she is always there. Even if she can't talk she will answer the phone in a hurried voice and say, "Can I call you back? Or do you really need me?" She answers just in case I really need her because I know that I am a priority in her life. She is really good at giving advice and giving me a different perspective on a problem. She is a great example of someone who lives the Gospel and is always performing service for others. I remember growing up she would always welcome so many people into our home for dinner and even if they needed a place to stay. I'm also grateful to my mother-in-law for raising such a wonderful son. She is so easy to talk to and made me feel like I was a part of the family from the very beginning. She is very laid back, low key, and always ready for a good laugh. She also is really great at giving advice on random stuff. She knows the answers to lots of things from "Can I keep the rice cooker on when I go out or will the house catch on fire?" to " Why is Savanna throwing a tantrum right now?" Anyway, I love this quote about mothers and though I would share to close my post,

• "You are doing God's work. You are doing it wonderfully well. He is blessing you, and He will bless you, --even--no, -especially--when your days and your nights may be most challenging. Like the woman who anonymously, meekly, perhaps even with hesitation and some embarrassment, fought her way through the crowd just to touch the hem of the Master's garment, so Christ will say to the women who worry and wonder and weep over their responsibility as mothers, `Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole.' And it will make your children whole as well."

— Jeffrey R. Holland

Anniversary Date

So TC and I finally got away and did our anniversary date. Thanks so much to Kristine and April for working in shifts and watching the kids for us! It was great to get away and spend quality time alone with each other. We started off Saturday by participating in the Race for the Cure (Oh did I mention TC does not work Saturdays anymore? Yeah!). We took the kids along with us and had a fun time (Thank you to my friend ,Ashley, for letting us borrow your two person jogging stroller!). I was hoping to be able to jog but there was so many people and they were all walking that I was only able to jog a very little bit of it (like less than a mile). Oh well it was still fun. It took us about one hour and twelve minutes to finish ( I better make better time when I do my half marathon!). Anyway, then we hurried and took Savanna to her gym class. We got back and then left for our date around 2 p.m. We went straight to the Salt Lake temple and did sealings. It was really nice to go there again and seeing all the brides really brought me back to when TC and I got married especially since it was around the same time of year. After we did sealings we walked around the temple grounds for a bit and then headed to the Olive Garden for dinner. Yummy-I love the Olive Garden! We dropped by Smith's and got some snacks for the evening and then headed to the Anniversary Inn. We enjoyed a nice, relaxing evening together. I love the Anniversary Inn. For those of you who have not heard of it all of the rooms are themed and are pretty awesome. It is such a fun place. We stayed in the lighthouse room. Our bed was round and inside a light house and there was an aquarium above it. The aquarium was cool but not quite as awesome as I was expecting. I thought it would be bigger and have more fish. There were only like 6 fish in it. Anyway, and the shower and bath tub are pretty cool as well. The shower comes out of a clam. Anyway, it was nice to get away for a bit though it was great to get back to the kids. We've only been away from the kids over night a few times and it is hard for me to think of leaving them for a longer period of time. However, we do want to go on a cruise sometime! Well here are some pictures from our date.

So I did not see anything about not being able to take pictures at the Anniversary Inn so I figured it was ok. Here is the lighthouse in our room.

Pictures at the temple

Florida Pictures

Ok so these are a little late because our camera broke right when we got back from Florida. We had to send it in and get it fixed (thank goodness it was still covered under warranty). So anyway here are some of the pictures from when the kids and I went to Florida. We had a great time!

Fun at the zoo! Nana and Savanna

Riding the carousel

Eating at the zoo cafe (wow not a very good picture of me, oh well).

Savanna was so excited to be able to wear her summer clothes and go play in the fountain!

Clark in the same high chair I used as a baby.

Savanna "napping" with Uncle Spenser. We were actually so busy that day that she did not get a nap. (Spenser flew down for a couple days that we were there. It was good to be able to see him.

Spenser, David, Alisha, and I (David and Alisha are our cousins. We spent a lot of time with them growing up. We were able to go to Alisha's house for her son's birthday party. It was so fun to see them!)

The birthday boy blowing out his candles.

Bedtime stories with Nana.

Bedtime stories with my cousin, Nicole.

Clark with my cousin, Amanda.

Savanna making pancakes with Papa.

Ok this one is really blurry but still wanted to put it on here for memory's sake. Savanna is getting a piggy back ride to bed from Papa. (My dad did this with my brothers and I for years growing up probably until I was like 14-lol!)

My friend, Missy, and I. I haven't seen Missy in years and it was so great to hang out with her. It brings back good memories!

Savanna and I at the beach. (Savanna loved the beach! She especially loved sitting in the water and letting the waves crash around her. )

Getting the mail with Papa

My grandpa and us

Restaurant Fun