Visit from Grandma and Uncle James

We love having family come to visit and last week TC's mom was here for a week. She was here mainly to help April, TC's sister, move to a new place (still fairly close to us which we are happy about. Our kids love Aunt April! Clark even now says April.) but we still tried to see her as much as we could and help April. I didn't feel like I was much help to April with the kids always being around but TC was able to help more. Anyway, TC's mom is a really fun grandma and the kids loving having her around. Seriously she proved how much fun she is when she ran around playing "gym" with Savanna in the living room and had a picnic with her with pretend food. Then TC's brother came down for a little over a day and we were able to celebrate his birthday which was this past weekend by eating at the Olive Garden and having some cheesecake. So I didn't really take any great pictures but here are a few.

Clark feeding April at the Olive Garden

TC and his mom

Happy 24th birthday James! (We only had the number 2 to put on the cake.)

A Day at the Pool with Clark

So yesterday some friends and I went to the pool. It is a small, shallow pool which must have given Clark more permission to himself to go crazy! When we first got there I turned my back and was putting some sunscreen on and I turned around and Clark was already in the pool sitting down playing. Then once I got into the pool he decided he wanted to play the game of getting in and out of the pool over and over again and running to the grass. This made me a bit nervous because he could fall on the cement and it was also exhausting me. So I decided to attempt to talk to my friends while I walked around with him in the pool. He thought this was fun for awhile but then decided he just wanted to hold my finger and run around in circles over and over again laughing hysterically. Sometime during this time he also fell face first in the water a couple of times and swallowed some pool water. After a bit Savanna decided she wanted a snack. (I believe this was after she leaned on the handles of the stroller and tipped herself over face first. She was ok luckily.) Clark of course saw the food and had to have it but did not understand that he could not swim while eating his snacks. He repeatedly tried to get in the pool with a vanilla wafer in his mouth while holding one or two in his hands. After he tired of this game he decided to visit a baby in a car seat while bending down and looking at her, saying hi and tickling her feet. Then he tried to steal a few other toys that were laying around the pool and threw them in the water over and over again. Finally I was exhausted, Savanna was cold and we decided to head home. I love that little Clark and glad he had a good time but he wears me out! I didn't get to talk to my friends as much as I would have liked to either. (I never understood before I had kids why moms could never finish a conversation without interrupting themselves multiple times. Now I get it). Anyway, the joys of motherhood! Oh and did I tell you that Clark throws temper tantrums occasionally now? Oh yeah, throws himself on the floor, dramatic screaming, the whole she bang! I thought that 14 months was too young for that but I guess not. Yesterday he threw a fit because he wanted his binky in his crib and we wouldn't give it to him. (We are trying to only give it to him while he sleeps) and then this morning he threw a fit because he didn't want his diaper changed. He is a little fireball! We love him though. He is really funny but Savanna's personality definitely did not prepare me for a lot of his behavior but I love how each of them is so unique!

Weaning Woes (Warning: This may be too much information for some!)

So as of Saturday I had only been breastfeeding Clark once a day in the morning for at least a week and a half and was planning on weaning him completely shortly. Well Saturday morning he woke up and it was the first time he did not expect to be breastfed right away so I decided that it was time to be done. A little part of me is sad but it definetely feels like it is the right time. Clark has not even asked to be breast fed since then and he is taking milk now. Unfortunately for me I've had some issues. Mostly just that yesterday and today I feel like I'm PMSING! I'm feeling very irritable and emotional. I can't remember the last time I felt this irritable. And of course my boobs feel hard as rocks and I'm uncomfortable. How long does it take after you stop breastfeeding to dry up? My experience with Savanna was very different. The last time I fed Clark was Friday morning! Help!

Clark update-14 months

So our little Mr. Clark is now 14 months! This has been a fun month and a challenging one as well. I won't re hash the whole ear infection drama but that was rough on him. He was much fussier than normal. He is back to normal now and I'm hoping my kids will stay healthy for awhile. Clark is so much fun. He really is a toddler now! It is crazy it just seemed like overnight he got so much older! He is walking like a pro now though he does fall occasionally and has a few bruises on his face right now. He loves to make us laugh and be silly. He loves to play "I'm going to get you"with Savanna and runs around and laughs his "machine gun" laugh (that is the only way I can think to describe it!) Clark continues to say more and more words. New words we have heard him say this month include: hat, hot, bear, duck, "more please", baby, and fish. We also have heard him try to sing along to songs. It is so cute! Clark loves flowers (especially dandelions, he loves to blow them), dancing, and music. We love our sweet little guy!

Congrats TC!

So I just realized that TC completed his Biggest Loser competition at work almost a month ago and I never posted the results! So TC came in second place and won $150! His total weight loss was 38 pounds! I'm proud of him for his dedication (and he is looking good but I love you no matter what you look like honey!)

Idaho Trip

So we had a fun weekend in Idaho this weekend. My cousin's son graduated from high school and we went up for his graduation. Congratulations Vincent! My parents flew into Salt Lake and I drove up with them and the kids on Wednesday and TC met up with us Friday night. He actually missed the graduation because it was on Thursday night. That was a bit of a bummer not to have him there but we are glad that he was at least able to come for some of the fun. We stayed in a hotel with my parents and Savanna had a wonderful time swimming in the pool. She swam three out of the four days we were there. We also went to the zoo, ate out and had a lot of yummy food and spent a day in Rexburg on Saturday. TC loved showing me the places he lived when he went to school there and we walked around BYU-Idaho and around the Rexburg temple. We also visited the sand dunes and had to eat at TC's favorite place, Gringo's and get yogurt at Mill Creek. We also were able to visit with TC's sister, her husband, and TC's brother. Sunday we headed back to Utah after church and lunch. It was a quick but nice trip. It is always fun to get away but also nice to get back home. The kids did really well on the trip as well. They were well behaved during the graduation and I did not have to take either of them out once. I did not take as many pictures as I would have liked and some of them are awful quality-I'm not sure why but here are a few nonetheless!

Savanna enjoying ice cream with Papa

Savanna at the gardens at BYU-Idaho

Savanna relaxing with Daddy at Marisha's house (she looks like she is asleep here but she isn't). Rexburg Temple

Clark has an obsession with flowers lately!

The only picture I took of Vincent (the high school graduate) and his parents.

Savanna and Clark riding the saddle at the Texas Roadhouse

Fun at the hotel

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!