Two Helping Angels

Have you met these two before?  These two angels on earth?  I sure have and I must tell you, I am indebted to them!

(**picture borrowed from www.rccleverley.blogspot.com)

Despite all the things that went wrong the day before (broken glass, cut fingers, cleaning other peoples kids puke {double yuck}), Saturday was a WONDERFUL day.  I felt like a new woman!  Refreshed and renewed.  After almost 8 straight hours of sleep and just lying in bed for 20 minutes listening to silence, it was so rejuvenating.  8 hours I tell you!  It was bliss!  I did wake up to kiss Greg goodbye at the wee hours of 6 AM (he had a scout meeting to go to).  Teehee, I was so tickled that I could still stay in bed!  I really shouldn't complain though because if one of the kids wakes up at night Greg is so willing to get them and help out.  We have also been switching off on who gets up in the morning with the early-risers and that has been nice too, but this was PURE BLISS! 

I was away from my kiddos for less than 24 hours, less than 18 even, but I must tell you that it was the best thing that could have happened at this time.  I LOVED going to the temple with Greg and going on a date with him; not worrying about being back quickly to get a babysitter home.  It was so fun to go shopping with Greg and just shop.  We didn't even get back until after midnight, but that didn't matter because these two angels had offered to watch our kiddos overnight.  Now, for some of you this might not seem so big, but we have had a TON going on lately and this was a very wonderful gift!  Thank you thank you THANK YOU Ryan and Chrystal!  (Plus, we are SO glad that Cody slept all night for them!...I was worried he would keep them up all night!)

So, here are a few more photos of these two angels that helped us refresh our parenting...enjoy!

Thanks again guys! We love you!

New Library and PreSchool Bowling

Alrighty then, how was everyone's Valentine's Day?  I hope everyone had a wonderful day FULL of love!

This week for FHE we visited a new library in the area. I don't remember libraries being this much fun when I grew up.  Have things changed a bit? :o)

They had really COOL chairs.

Some really BIG soft blocks to build and play on.

A really cool rolly-wooden toy that Cody adored.

Two HUGE trees to play in.

And a really fun toy train table.

Oh, they did have a TON of books too.  :o)

Then later on in the week we had heard of a local bowling alley having preschool bowling hours in the morning and decided to try it out.  On Greg and I's first date we went bowling and I don't think we have been since.  We thought it was time to start this 'tradition' again.  :o)

Emma and Daddy ready to get started.

I love this picture of Carter. The bowling shoes were so tiny on him!

The bowling alley had these really cool metal-ball-helping devices (I have no clue what they are really called). The kids loved having the ball go where they wanted it to...well, sortof.  :o) 

Emma wanted to try it without the metal help thing.  The alley also had the bumpers come up when it was the kids turn and then would go down for Greg's and I's turns.  I wish they would have left them up for me! :o)

Here is our winner showing his stuff.

Cody even tried his hand at bowling!

He quickly wanted the ball to come back to him and tried to chase after it.

And the results...

(time for mom to start practicing bowling more often in her spare time)

KiDdOs CoRnEr

The kids this week have been infatuated with this Book of Mormon they found on Grandma and Papa's shelf. We have plenty of scriptures for them to read, but for some reason, this certain one has caught their attention.  Here is Emma 'preaching' to her little brothers and cousin.

Here they are, listening intently...or as well as kids under 3 do.

Here is my cute niece Gwen (or Gwenny as Carter calls her). She is so fun!

Cody pretty much just wanted to get to the camera. He loves whatever anyone else has.

More listening.  :o)

SO CUTE!

I love my little kiddos and we are trying to embrace every moment, good or bad, because I know they will grow up so fast (they already are!) and will become invovled in school, activities, friends, etc.  Emma will start kindergarten in the fall and I know we will be tied down more than we are right now, so for now we are trying to make the most of every moment, for who knows what challenge or adventure tomorrow will bring!

On a side note, I attended a kindergarten meeting for Emma at a potential school we are looking into and when I got home I asked Emma what she wanted to learn about in kindergarten.  She said 'gardens'.  Kindergardens. Gotta love it! :o)

Muffin Tin Monday

Muffin Tin Monday

We are starting a new tradition in our home.

We are excited about this new tradition.

Thank Chrystal for the idea...I forget who else had this idea.

The Dollar Tree visit this morning brought home muffin tins for each child.

Emma was having fun of her own on a Daddy-date, so she'll have to wait until next Monday.

Here is the yummy lunch for today...

Cody was excited!

  

So was Carter!

And then Cody decided he was done. :o)

Colorado Adventures

Yes, I have been a blogging-slacker lately. I have no excuse, just living life. Here are a few things we have been up to...

We are in Colorado! For the time being, until our house is sold in Idaho, Greg's parents graciously are letting us stay with them.  We are having a fun time being around family here, but we sure do miss our family in Idaho too!

Here we are with a few of the cousins.  These 5 have a BLAST together!

Ben and Megan had a great idea to re-design Greg's parents room while they were out of town a few weeks ago.  We painted...

And moved furniture around and decorated.

And vwaalaaa.....beeeeuuuuutiful!

Chrystal and I were so excited to try our hand at vinyl on the cricut and we think it turned out great!

We also had hair cuts this week.  This was Cody's 1st haircut!  Yes, he was in need of one and I just put it off because his hair was SO soft and just fun to play with, but it was time.  Here he is beforehand...

(I just noticed Emma in the background of this photo..haha...she was into wearing her swimsuit a lot last week.)

...during the haircut Cody didn't mind it at all! He was a real trooper.

Enjoying the reward! YUM!

We finally got the cheesey smile on camera! (thanks Chrystal!) This picture doesn't do it justice, but this is still stinkin' cute!

Do you think we could get through hair cut day without tears?  Haha, nope!  Carter was  next and the tears started rolling. (he really needed a hair cut, see all the fly-a-ways?)

And the screaming continued...

Amazing.

Boy, we were happy when this cut was over.

And here we are before church today, just chillin'.

Emma and Mommy

The new do. (yes, I cut it off!)

We also went to the WOW museum this last week and the kids loved it! Greg and I also are doing the 'Cleverley Family Biggest Loser' and so we've being exercising a bit more than normal and we're ready to whip some fanny! (haha, we are doing this challenge as a family to see who can loose the most weight, well percentege of weight loss).

(PS, I love the updated version of publishing with photos! I think it makes it a ton easier and I don't have to worry about adding text after putting photos in first.  Maybe it has been around for a while, but I just figured it out.  Thanks Valerie!) oh and by the way, what happened to spell check?