Birthday Fun

January 2, 2010

For my birthday/Kate's blessing celebration we had the Buchanan's over. Rosemary's birthday is January 3rd. So we both enjoyed blowing out the candles.

The hit of the night was Collin's gift to me. He gave me these awesome Tweety Bird jammies. He picked them out himself. He said he knew I would love them because he knew my favorite color was green. I did love them, and you better believe I wore them to bed that night too...tight as they were... I didn't post a picture of that for all of your sake. Cute Cousins! Thanks Heidi for being our photographer that night. Sorry you're not in any of the pictures!

Merry Christmas!

We had a wonderful Christmas. The highlights were the transformers and pirate ship, and the fact that it was Kate's first Christmas. The fun thing about this year was that the boys were happy with the few things that we had set out for them. They only opened a few presents on Christmas. The next day we had another "Christmas morning" and they opened the rest of their presents. It was a good "note to take" for next year. I'm learning that less is more with little ones! We were lucky to have Uncle Justin and Aunt Julie stay with us for Christmas. They live in St. George and we don't get to see them near enough. Uncle Larry was in town from St. George as well. He entertained the boys by being silly with them and reading to them. Grandpa Rick came over Christmas morning to see what Santa brought the kids.Later on Christmas day we went over to Holly and Matt's house to spend some time with the Buchanan side of the family. Unfortunately, Ty got really sick by about noon on Christmas. He had a fever of 103* and was really lethargic. He stayed at Grandma and Grandpa Clegg's house so that he wouldn't get any of the other kids sick at the Buchanan party. I spent the remainder of the day stressed about getting back to Ty, and finally took Kate and went home to be with him. Jesse and Collin stayed at the Buchanan's and played games. We still had a nice day despite Ty getting sick. We are truly blessed.

Family Nativity

We spent Christmas Eve with the Clegg side of the family. We do the traditional Nativity story every year. Grandma Deanne loves to have all of the grandkids act it out. This year Collin was Joseph, Kassidy was Mary, Cambree was a Shepherd(?), Grace and Emelyn were Angels, and Kate was baby Jesus for a minute.

And a few other photo op's...

Four Generations

My mom Deanne Clegg, Kate, me, and my Grandma June Rabiger

The Wonder of Santa

Every year we are lucky enough to have Santa come to the Clegg Family Christmas Party. This isn't just one of Santa's helpers either. You can ask any of the kids and they will tell you... this is the REAL Santa. I, myself, as a child used to look forward to this party every year, because there is truly something magical and wonderful about Santa Claus. Just look at all their faces.Forgive me for a moment as I share with you one of my all time favorite Christmas songs. It is a favorite of not only mine, but all of my siblings as well. Dont' laugh. It's by the Oak Ridge Boys, and it's called "Thank God For Kids"."If it weren't for kids have you ever thought

there wouldn't be no Santa Claus?

Or look what the stork just brought, Thank God for Kids.

And we'd all live in a quiet house, without Big Bird or Mickey Mouse

Or Kool-aid on the couch, Thank God for Kids."

" Thank God for Kids there's magic for a while. A special kind of sunshine in a smile.
Did you ever stop to think, I wonder why...
The nearest thing to heaven is a child?"" Daddy, how does this thing fly?
And a hundred other where's and why's...
I really don't know but I try, Thank God for Kids."

"When you look down in those trusting eyes

That look to you, You realize,

There's love that you can't buy, Thank God for Kids.

When you get down on your knees tonight

to thank God for his guiding light,

and pray they turn out right...

Thank God for Kids.

Thank God for Kids there's magic for a while...

A special kind of sunshine in a smile.

Did you ever stop to think, I wonder why...

The nearest thing to heaven is a child?"

These pictures just reminded me of that song.

The Wonder of Santa, the Wonder of a child...

The Wonder of Christmas.

Annual GDI Christmas Party

I love all my girls!

Jami hosted our 17th Annual Christmas Party this year. We had so much fun, just as we always do. I love you all! Merry Christmas!

Back row: Amber, Jen, Leesa, Dana, Jody, Keri & Valerie

Front row: Kristi, Kriste, Jami & Me

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all. It was an extra great Thanksgiving this year since I actually got to celebrate it at home. I was scheduled to be induced on November 25th, which would have put me recovering in the hospital on Thanksgiving. I was fully prepared, and happy I might add, to do that. Even on the 25th, my baby still would have been a week early. But I was thrilled Kate came when she did. It made us extra thankful this year to have a healthy baby join our family.

Kate on Thanksgiving DayMy awesome mom putting on the show. Her amazing rolls are displayed in the background. MMM. Yummy! Ty and Jesse enjoying the feast
Me enjoying my sweet little Kate

The boys wearing their Thanksgiving necklaces that they made for everyone

Halloween

On Halloween Jesse and I took the kids to this "haunted house". It was just a cool house that Jesse had heard about that had spent tons of money decorating their yard and garage. It was awesome. We purposely went during the daylight so that the kids could see it better. As you can see in this picture, Collin was not thrilled. He was totally freaked out! He kept saying, "Okay guys, that's good, let's go." He was trying to play it cool, but he was so scared. Ty on the other hand loved it! He kept saying "Look at that mean guy! He's funny!" Amazing the difference between these two little boys!

Jesse finally picked Collin up and carried him.
Ty loving all the Mean Guys!

This is actually a picture of Collin at his school Halloween parade. As you have seen in previous pics, he decided to be the "black spiderman" this year, and he insisted it had to be the one with "muscles". I had to hide this costume from him for 3 weeks because he asked every single day if he could wear it. He feels like a real super hero in this costume, and I think he looks pretty cute in it too.

Here is Ty in his "clown"costume. This is a hand-me-down from Collin from a couple of years ago. Ty saw that his favorite TV character, Caillou, was a clown for Halloween and decided that would be a good idea. We didn't argue. It was free and he was happy as could be. A clown couldn't be any cuter!

Here's Collin in front of the Jack-o-lanterns that we carved this year. I'm normally really on the ball with these things. But somehow we didn't get around to carving the pumpkins until 4:00pm on Halloween! What is happening to me?! Pregnancy. That is what is happening. Say no more. But at least we didn't jip our kids out of it all together. It was just a little late that's all.

Hope you all had a fun Halloween!

Buchanan Family Halloween Party

Heidi went all out this year and had us all over to her house for a Halloween Party! She planned a lot of fun games for the kids. It was also a requirement that all adults dress up. So, brace yourself for the worst picture of me that I have ever posted online before. Pregnant Geisha's are non-existent for a reason. I loved seeing everyone else dress up though. Halloween is so fun.

This is cute Ellie with Ty. Oh, wow, please do not comment on this picture.
Helen always goes all out with her costume! Very fun!

Holly & Matt were a cute Jessy and Woody from Toy Story!

Heather & Chris with their boys Dylan & Carson

Lindsey, Lauren, and Ellie all looked adorable.

Heidi and Gary were hilarious as the "Juno" couple. Heidi and I should have traded costumes for the evening. She is not really prego. She is too skinny & cute to be pregnant! Avie was a little penguin. She refused to put on her hat for the picture.

Thanks again for the fun night, Heidi!

Annual Clegg Family Halloween Party

No matter how crazy my mom's life is, and believe me she's a busy lady, she manages to do a Halloween party for all of her grandkids. She and my dad were going to be out of town for Halloween this year and she could not fathom missing all of them in their costumes. So we all gathered and had a great time, as usual.

Grace, Kassidy, Ty and Collin dancing to "The Monster Mash"

Annual Halloween Sugar Cookies

Every year I make sugar cookies a couple of days before Halloween. This is something that my kids don't request. I think it's just something I do to prove to myself that I have a small speck of domestic talent - (it also probably has something to do with the fact that I love to eat sugar cookie dough). I eat so much of the dough that I usually can only force one baked cookie down my throat. Sugar cookies are a major undertaking. They usually take me 2 days. One day I make the dough and the next day I roll it out, cut out the cookies, and bake them. This year my kids were much more interested in the flour than they were the dough. Anyway, here are a couple pics of the boys enjoying the mess! It is fun for the kids and a great way to distract them for an hour or so!

First Snow

My boys were so excited today to see the snow for the first time this season - Even if it is before Halloween and we got a little jipped of Fall this year. It's still fun to see their little faces light up to the change outstide!So it's a chill kinda day at our house. Collin went and gathered up a couple of heavy blankets so he and Ty could snuggle up and get warm while watching their new favorite show - Max & Ruby.

Too Cute!

Heber Valley Camp Ropes Course

I'm not really sure what this challenge was called but basically they had to use eachother to balance on their individual ropes. At the end of each challenge the course helper would ask, "How does this relate to life?" It kind of became a joke on the trip. Anytime anyone would do anything, someone would ask, "Now, how did that relate to life?" We got a lot of laughs out of that one for some reason.

Deanne and Wendy balancing together Grace and Hailey doing great!
Brian and Cally got really far

Collin and Cambree

The highlight of the trip was the "swing" on the ropes course. Everyone said it was so much fun. Since I was prego - obviously I was not able to participate. But I was proud of both of my little boys for daring to do it. Collin on the swing
Jesse preparing for his turn Wendy flying high!
Wendy slowing down

Ty swinging

Ty all suited up