Awww..... the beach!

Dear Mr. Beach~

It has been way too long, four years to be exact.  We vow to never let this happen again. 

This was Landon's first time to have his cute,  little feet in your grainy sand.  He did not know what to think about you.  He didn't really like the way his feet were feeling.

As we approached your ocean, he became even more troubled.  He gets the cutest, concerned look on his face.  When your vicious waves came rushing up to him and  ran over his feet,

he squealed like a girl and jumped in his daddy's arms!

But, not his sisters!  They rolled and splashed all in your salty water.  They let your waves slap them in the face and knock them down.  They giggled and were in their own little world.

The next day brought more joy for Landon.  He decided it was a lot of fun to be out with daddy and Laurel riding your waves.  If daddy was out with Laurel and Savannah, he would stand at your shore line with his arms reached out saying, "daddy, daddy!"

Savannah had the most fun playing in your beautiful, white sand.  We watched dolphins play in your ocean and fish flip up in the air.  One poor fish lost his life to a sea gull.

We buried each other in your sand!

We built sand castles and collected sea shells.

We had a blast and you are truly one of the most beautiful places on earth.  Until next summer Mr. beach, until next time.
Love,
The Claytons

A Gift

He is the father's day gift that just keeps on giving.

We celebrated Landon's 2nd birthday yesterday, along with father's day.  He was born two years ago on father's day weekend.

Last year Landon wanted nothing to do with his cake.

But, not this year.  He could not get enough. 

He enjoyed every last bit and morsel of his birthday cake! He giggled and made yummy noises and gave us all a good show. 
We don't know what we would do without this rambunctious, lovable, mischievous, full of life little boy!

And another thing I love about my sweet husband.  He always remembers that video camera.  We have years and years of video that my children sit and watch like movies.

Father's Day

Fathers.  Wow, what would we do without them.  I'm so thankful for the fathers in my life. 

  Especially my children's father.  Seth made it clear when we first met that having a family was the most important thing to him.  He is the best father and our children adore him and I adore him.  That man to the right of Seth is a great father also.  I actually know how Seth will look in his 70's!  We call him papa and he is the sweetest man.  He has always treated me just like a daughter.

And these are some of papa's sons.  They are all great fathers and have been great uncles to my children.  Do you know he has two more sons?  That's right, he has 5 sons!  Galen and Karsten couldn't be with us.  We missed them.

And this is my dad.  I love this man.  He has taught me so much throughout my life.  I think I get my wit and sense of humor from him.  He is a great dad!

Happy Father's Day!

It's a......

Boy!! 

We all walked out of the doctor office and Seth and I looked at each other and I said who would have thought that we would have four children!  Just ten years ago I was crying for one and now some days I almost cry because I'm so overwhelmed with three and now four!  Funny how life works. We were driving home and Savannah said, "I can't believe it's a boy."  Laurel said, "I know.  Now that's enough.  We have enough kids!"  We just all busted out laughing.  I could not agree more with Laurel.  We feel very blessed.

Sisters

I have such great memories of sharing a bed with my older sister, Angela.  I couldn't help but think of those memories when I saw these two.  Angela had blonde hair and I had brown, just like Laurel and Savannah.  Angela always wanted us to snuggle in the winter time and in the summer time she would send me down the hall to tap the thermostat on the wall.  For some reason the air conditioner would always come on everytime I tapped it.  I would run back to bed and she would say, "okay, let's go to sleep fast before it turns off!"  I look back on that and wonder, was it really that hot, or was it just thrilling for me to tap it and it magically come on.  We would play, you scratch my back, I will scratch yours. 

So here I am looking at my two daughters doing the same thing.  I will walk by their room at night and hear Laurel telling stories to Savannah.  And then saying, "it's your turn now."  They play the same back scratching game.  They giggle.  They go to sleep most nights holding hands.  Laurel puts up with the closet light being on because Savannah is afraid of the dark.

What is really funny to me is when Laurel gets up in the morning and says, "Savannah is so wild at night.  She is all over the bed.  I had to put her head back on the Pillow in the middle of the night.  Oh mommy, she is messing up my beautiful sleep!" 

Now I know that Laurel is not making any of this up!

Slip-n-Slide

Summer has begun!

~Nothing better than giggly, wet, tan babies!

Las Vegas

Over Memorial weekend, I met my two sisters and mom in Las Vegas for our second annual girl's trip.

I think we might have a tradition going!
And the older I get the more I realize that it is a good thing to take some time for yourself.  I think it makes you a better mother, better homemaker, and a better wife. 
We had the best time doing absolutely nothing!  We took a nap when we wanted to.  We layed out by the pool.  We went out to eat.  There was no cooking allowed.  We watched some cute "chick flicks!"  We read books.  And I can't wait to do it again.  I said goodbye to my mom and sisters at the airport.  I was heading to Alabama and they were heading back to Utah. 

I had these three adorable ones waiting for me.

You know what made this trip even more relaxing?  I knew I had one awsome man at home holding down the fort!