Easter Weekend

Easter Weekend April 23-24, 2011

The Saturday before Easter we had a nice little party, and Easter Egg Hunt, at our house for our friends. But before we could stuff the eggs with candy, and eat the tasty BBQ pork I made, we had to get Harry back from the cops.  Yep, you heard me right.  He ran away again, or rather, this time he was let out the house (by Clark) and wandered down the street.  This is the third time he has wandered off, but by far the scariest, cause we had no idea he was ever gone.  With our guest showing up, and kids running around in the back yard, I had no idea Clark even opened up the front door for Harry.  Luckily people were out and about, and some neighbors got to Harry before he went into the  busy intersection.  Since they didn't know which house Harry came from, they called the cops... and well the cops finally came to us.  I was/am mortified, embarrassed, angry.... and relieved that he was okay, and nothing more serious happened.  The cops were really understanding, once they understood the situation, and the rest of the afternoon went off without a hitch.  The cop did make some ridiculous comment about how Harry didn't recognize him as a police officer and a person of authority, and I laughed and said, "Well, I'm sorry.  But Harry doesn't even really recognize me as his Mother... so I can't really help you there... nor do I care".

Since then Clark has let Harry out the yard one other time, out the side gate I didn't even know he could open.  Harry does pretty well not wandering away, as long as we can keep Clark from letting him out, so we are now locked down like a prison, bolts and locks on everything.  

Everyday I think about how bad both those situations could've ended, someone could've taken Harry, he could've wandered into the busy intersection...my whole life could've been over in a matter of seconds.  I am thankful someone was watching out for my family, and protecting my child, when I couldn't...or didn't.  We have definitely have learned our lesson.  Also, we are now"that family" on the block, all my neighbors think I am a crap Mom, and talk over the fence to each other about it...ugh, they suck.

Anyway, back to our awesome Easter weekend.  

After a rather tasty lunch, the Dads hid all the eggs around the yard for the kiddies to find.

Harry found a few eggs, but mostly just wanted to open them up and eat the candy inside.

Clark had a lot of fun finding the eggs, but just like Harry, he wanted to open each one to see what was inside before he would go find another one.

Cute little Porter, Clark's best friend.

I'm so glad we have such nice friends, and enough friends to have a fun party for our kids, we are so lucky.  It is so wonderful to live in an area where we really feel like we belong, 

and we have a "far away from home family".

Clark finding his basket Easter morning.  He was super excited about his Star Wars eggs.

Harry was only interested in the books in his Easter basket, 

I think it is safe to say he had a pretty good morning.

Clark was THRILLED to get a little Star Wars Lego kit, to build planes. 

He loved building them with his Dad, he was in heaven.

Enjoying his book, so serious.

The finished plane.

I wish I had a nice little picture of us dressed up in our Sunday clothes, but alas my babies do not like looking anywhere near a camera, and I didn't want to be late for church....maybe next year.

Holidays are much more meaningful to me, now that I have a family.  I hope I did a good job teaching and explaining to the boys the real significance of Easter.  I am so thankful for the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, my brother.  And I am thankful for the knowledge and testimony that I have, that my family can be together forever.

I love Easter time!

Happy 4th Birthday Clark!

Hey Clark, you got a little something on your face....

Clark's birthday was over a month ago, but since I was so sick I never got around to doing my annual happy birthday blog.  I feel sad I hardly took any pictures on his birthday, but we did have a nice little  celebration.  The day of his birthday we went out to dinner, and played some arcade games.  Then we stayed up super late eating ice cream and watching Star Wars.  The next day we took him to Toys R Us to choose his birthday presents, and spend some of his birthday money.  All he wanted was a new Lego Indiana Jones video game, we ended up buying him a new train table as well (his old one was broken, and too big for their room).  He also spent some of his birthday money getting some new Star Wars movies.  I was kind of surprised by the gifts he choose to get himself, I was sure he was going to want a hundred trains or a new light saber.

Clark really has such a great personality, he is growing into himself, and his sense of humor, more and more everyday.  He surprises me daily with new things he is saying or learning to do.  He loves going to school so much.  We have him going to pre-school at the local elementary school near our house, and we took him out of head start (both classes were just too much for him, and me).  He is so happy to get up everyday and go to school, and when he gets home he loves to show me any papers he made.  He has been learning about farms at school, and farm animals, he loves to sing Old McDonald Has A Farm, and he tells me all about the animals.  He goes to bed at night much easier than he used to, once we figured out he was afraid of the dark.  For months he would cry every night when it was time for bed, cry for hours, then finally one night he asked us to turn the light on and it clicked... now he goes right to bed, and I get to save myself one giant headache.  I am so thankful, and very proud of him, that he talks more... I love to hear him say his little prayers, and sing a song, or even just ask me for something.

Clark a little overwhelmed with his birthday cake, and candles on fire.

The weekend after his birthday we had Clark's best friend Porter, and his family, over for cake and ice cream.  Clark loves his friend so much, I think it is so sweet that he calls him MY Porter... not just any ones Porter, Clark's.  He is such a happy and social little boy, he makes friends where ever he goes.  He is always ready for a party and a good time.  He gets excited anytime the door bell rings, so sure that someone has come over to play with him.  I love that about him, so carefree and happy, so full of life.  I can't help but smile whenever I am around... unless he is being mischievous and naughty, which he is a lot as well, but always in good fun.

Clark blowing out his birthday candles.

Clark loved his (very small and low key) Star Wars party.

To my Clark,

Happy 4th birthday son.  I am so happy you were born, I am so happy you are MY Clark.  I couldn't live without you, and your laughter and bright shining face.  I love how happy you are to go to church, and sing songs about Jesus... please don't ever grow out of that.  I love that you love to eat ketchup sandwiches, even though they are really really gross.  I love watching Star Wars with you, and listening to you try to sing along to the music.  I feel like you grew up so much this year.  You experienced your first move (and probably not your last), your first real winter, going to school, and making new friends.  You are so brave, and confident.  I love when you say "thank you Mommy" and "I love you too".
Sometimes it is sad watching you grow up, and become less dependent on me, knowing that someday you won't need me at all... or *gasp* even like me very much.
Just you remember you will always be my baby, always.

Love Mommy.

Our Happy Christmas 2010!

You want to know one of the things I love the most about Christmas morning in our house...
Jason always gets up first.  He is so excited.  Not for his presents, but to see me open mine, and the boys open theirs.  He has always been that way, such a good gift giver, so into the giving spirit.  It makes me so happy, and it is really sweet.  Clark woke up happy, and asked immediately where Santa was, I don't think he realized that Santa was going to bring presents too... he was in for a big surprise.

Harry was a little grumpy at first... but once he got his milkies and opened his special Christmas pretzels, he was a happy baby.  We couldn't get him to open any of the presents, but he enjoyed the festivities anyway.

Clark was so into opening presents this year, he tore through all of his so fast, and since Harry didn't care one bit about opening his, we just let Clark open them all.
After every gift Clark opened he would ohhh and ahhh, genuinely thrilled about what was inside.

Jason made me this really sweet Keepsake Chest, it was such a thoughtful gift, and I really really love it.
He and Clark worked on it for weeks, and Jay even took a few pictures of Clark staining it.
I am surprised I never guessed what he was doing all this time.
Now I just need to figure out what I am going to put in it...

Clark was SUPER thrilled when he opened his new Star Wars video game, 

I think it was his favorite gift.

He was hugging it, and jumping up and down, mumbling something excitedly about R2D2 and robots.

After all the gifts were opened, Harry kicked back and did some reading.

He examined all the dvds, and read the little books we got him (which he loved).

This is the cute little present Clark got, and wrapped for me.  So sweet!   Jason promised he wrapped it all by himself.  It was a new Harry Potter Lego game, for our Wii.  I can honestly say Clark was more excited to play it than I was, I think it is his favorite game... after Mario and Star Wars of-course.

Jason also got me a bubble machine for Christmas too, which the boys LOVED.

Harry could sit and watch the bubbles for hours.  It is such a fun idea, and I can't wait to show my nursery kids at church (which is why Jay said he got it for me).

We had our delicious Christmas breakfast, with lots of bacon and hash browns.  We played video games and watched movies all day...the boys and I loved Despicable Me.  We snuggled on the couch, in our pajamas.  We played Star Wars, and trains, and with Daddies new remote control helicopter.  

We had a fun day!  My favorite kind of day. 

Sweet little Harry fell asleep a little early, so tired from his busy day.
We didn't even have time to wipe the chocolate off his face before he passed out.

And as a last Christmas surprise, it started snowing!!!  We got our white Christmas after all!  I was/am so so happy.  A perfect ending to a perfect day, I love the snow.
I hope all of you, my dear family and friends, had a special and fun Christmas.
Merry Christmas! 

Christmas Eve 2010

December 24, 2010
Our annual Christmas Eve picture in our pjs.
(I am so glad I figured out how to set the timer on my camera.)

Harry was so confused over the beeping noise, but at least it helped him look in the right direction.

I love my cute little family, and our pj tradition.

Happy Christmas!

Harry checking out his stocking. 

I love our Granny stockings, they are one of my favorite things I put out every year.

Granny is so sweet, and nice to make one for everyone in our whole Deimler family.

(She really is the best!)

The boys, not cooperating for picture time.

Clark and Harry

Clark loves putting his arm around Harry, poor Harry really hates it.

Aren't their Christmas pjs so cute?? I got them at Carters, both for $15.  

And to think I was going to make our pjs this year, Christmas fabric is way expensive, 

and they would've never turned out as cute.  

Maybe next year I will try and make them... although I do say that every year.

Harry giving Clark a little Christmas nibble,

he got tired of Clark trying to hug and kiss him... poor Clark.

This year we decided to leave out a treat for the Santa's Reindeer, to help them find our house.

We got a little gift from a friend, with the "reindeer treats", and cute little poem about the treats helping the reindeer find our house (the bag had oatmeal, and candy sugar).

Such a fun idea, and Clark was really into it.

I tried to tell him to just throw the "treats" on the lawn, but he somehow got the idea into his head that we were supposed to be feeding our reindeer lights.

So he made sure all the lighted reindeer got a handful of "rist-mist treats" as he called it (translation=Christmas treats).

Daddy and Harry putting some treats up on the roof for the reindeer.

Our little Christmas tree, after Santa's visit.

Santa!

Dec. 15, 2010
A couple weeks ago Clark's school had a little Christmas party for the kids, and parents.
It was nice to meet the other parents, and kids, and both boys had a great time.
Even Harry, who sometimes has a hard time with crowds and new situations, had a lot of fun.
We even got a surprise visit from Santa!

Hiding from Santa???

I am not sure why Clark was so shy of Santa, he talks about him constantly,

 and never seems shy or afraid of anything.

It took a lot of coaxing, but we finally got him on Santa's lap.

This is his "okay Mom, I am sitting on his lap, are you happy??? and where is my candy" look.

He did manage to whisper to Santa, something about wanting a Star Wars game.

He was very very excited when Santa gave him some new cars.  He still calls them his Santa cars.

This is as good as it got for Harry.  He had no interest what-so-ever in sitting on some weird guys lap,

especially when there was a room full of toys and treats from him to explore and eat.

I felt bad for this slim little Santa, having to wrestle with 42 pounds of chunky Harry.

Clark so exited to eat his candy cane.  My cute little sugar-aholic.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

Here is our outside Christmas lights this year.
 Jason was so excited to finally live in a house that we could decorate!
All Thanksgiving weekend Jason was outside, with Clark, sorting and hanging lights.
I love that he let Clark help, and how excited Clark was about it.
After Christmas we plan to visit a few sales to pick up a few more lights and pieces for next year.
I really am proud of Jason's hard work,
and I'm so thankful he loves to do this kind of stuff for the family.

Clark helping Daddy decorate the tree.

Harry was only interested in eating the lights, so we let him sit out this activity.

Only a couple more weeks until Christmas, I feel like it is going by so fast this year.

Gingerbread Houses

November 25, 2010
More from our super awesome fun week with Carol and Eddie.
Before our big Thanksgiving Day feast we decided it would be fun to decorate gingerbread houses.

Carol looking cute, showing off her mad decorating skills.  

I think she had an unfair advantage, seeing as she went to school for interior design.

I think she was the only one who knew what she was doing, the rest of us were making a big ol' mess.

Jason and Eddie working hard on their houses.  

Clark took advantage of all the free icing he could sneak.

Finally he gave up sneaking the icing, and took a big bite out of his house.

I am pretty sure Clark had no idea what we were doing, 

but he had so much fun eating every thing in sight.

Mine (right) and Carol's (left) gingerbread houses.  Doesn't hers look so great!

Jason (right) and Eddie's (left) gingerbread houses.  I like Ed's little pool in the backyard.
Such a fun afternoon, and maybe a new Thanksgiving tradition :)