Easter Sunday

The Easter Bunny came!

He brought Sawyer a rubber ducky for his first Easter.  Sawyer is 6 months old now and is grabbing everything.  He just watches and giggles all the time.  He is a happy baby!

After church, we went to Granny and Papa's for Easter dinner.  We took lots of family pictures.

Landon was mad from the minute I put this outfit on him.  I think he could sense it didn't look as masculine as usual.  He screamed when I put it on him and started pulling at it saying, "too tight!"  Hey, Easter only comes around once a year!  I love these sweet outfits.

Sweet sisters!

The Parents!

Three generations of Clayton boys.

The cousins.

Savannah, Spencer, and Laurel making silly faces!

Sawyer and Alistair with Aunt Jennifer and Uncle Roger.

Landon would find an egg, stop, crack it open and eat the treat!  Needless to say, he did not find many eggs!

Aww... fun times!
Happy Easter!

Saturday of Easter Weekend

Seth had a dirtbike race on that Saturday of Easter weekend.  So he took Landon with him while I took the girls to our church's Easter breakfast and egg hunt.  Looking back, I wish I had video taped Landon that morning.  He was so excited that he was getting to go with his dad to the "b-bike race!"  I took this picture when they got home.  Landon had slept the whole two hours home.  Seth said he had a blast and didn't whine or complain not one time. 

The girls, Sawyer and I had fun at the egg hunt.  I'm bummed I left my camera, because guess who made a surprise visit?  That's right!  The Easter bunny.  He surprised us all.  It was top secret.  He was a cute bunny.  He walked around with the children while they hunted eggs.  He handed out candy, gave hugs and posed for pictures. 

That night Laurel and Savannah put carrots out for the Easter Bunny!

Fun Saturday for all!

The Easter Book

All week Savannah and Laurel kept saying they had a surprise for us on Easter.  They came running in Saturday morning ready to give us their surprise.  They presented Seth and I with:

The Easter Book By Laurel Madison Clayton and by Savannah Grace Clayton
At the top they had written, I hope you enjoy it!
each page was decorated and numbered
1st page
It's Easter we get to find Easter eggs.  But what it's really about is Jesus Crist resurrection.  let me tell the story.  There was a little boy named Jesus he had to be naild to a cross. And he had to wear a thorn crown then Mary and Josef was standing in front of the cross. Mary and Josef was crieing then Jesus died.  He whent to a toum and was died for 3 days. Then he was resurrection!
Page 2 and 3 were games they had made up
Page 4
musical notes drawn all over the page
Jesus has risen, Jesus our friend.
Joy fills our hearts;
He lives again. Praises we sing to him, This Easter time
Jesus has risen, Savior divine
Jesus has risen, Savior divine
they included the song that they were going to sing in church on Easter Sunday
Page 5 picture
page 6 and 7
You may not know that the Easter Bunny is real. But he is he really is. I have never seen him but he is.  He brings us choclate bunnies that daddy ate last year. That was pretty sad! Well we will talk about some more about Jesus Crist!
You know that Jesus love each and every one.  He look at every one he nose when were doing something wrong but he love us and we should love him. reambere he died for every body. I propley cout not do that but he did!
But I gess we have to close up the Book but happy Easter!

I love these girls!

Daddy's Homecoming



I'm so glad when daddy comes home, Glad as I can be;

Clap my hands and shout for joy, Then climb upon his knee,

Put my arms around his neck, Hug him tight like this,

Pat his cheeks, then give him what?  A great big kiss.

All about Savannah

Savannah has had the best year in Kindergarten!  Seriously, wouldn't it be great if every year was as fun and as exciting as kindergarten.  The girl comes home with a new recognition every week.  She got in the car with another one stuck to her shirt and I said, "wow, Savannah you got another recognition! We should just tape all of your recognitions to you and take a picture!"  When we got home, she went running to her room and came out looking like this!
Here are some of my favorites:
*for always being a helper to others! Thank you!
*great job at partner reading!
*great writing at the writing table!
*for being a great example to others!
*for always listening and following directions! Also for always being a kind friend.
*Best in the hallway line! Thanks!
*awesome behavior!

She loves filling up her reading log.  The other night she was reading and looked at me and said, "I can't believe I am actually reading!"  "I have waited my whole, entire life to read!"
When she reads to us, she crosses her legs like her teacher, Mrs. Conn.  She will read then show us the pictures.

{picture taken by Laurel}

Savannah lost her front tooth!

Poor girl went days trying to get that tooth out.  It just wasn't ready.  She begged and begged me to pull it out.

I told her," that's a job for daddy."

My little Savannah is growing up!

Oh Yeah...

it's going to be a good week!!

A friend of mine was getting rid of this battery powered four wheeler and asked if we would like it.
Well, yes ma'am we would!

He has had a blast this morning riding around and around the yard.  He stands up like his daddy does when he rides his dirtbike.  He is so excited and keeps saying, "my B-bike, Mommy?" 
He rode for two hours straight.
Now we wait.
For the battery to charge.
He's keeping a close eye on it to make sure it still sits there.

P.S. He would like for his cousin Luke to bring his 4-wheeler over so they can go for a ride!

Traditions and Motherhood

It seems like it's becoming a Sunday tradition around our house...

Daddy has started making brownies...

with lots and lots of help!
 
I got to talk to my cousin, Natalie this weekend.  We grew up together.  We had a path through the woods that led to each others house.  She was really my best friend.  We were just a school year apart in age.  She has two children.  Her daughter just left home and has started her freshman year of college.  Her son is sixteen.  She asked me how I was and could hear the exhaustion in my voice.  I told her that some days I feel like God is looking down on me giggling and saying, "you asked and you have received!"  And that is right.  All I ever wanted was a baby that knew I was his or her mommy.  I wanted a baby that  would stop crying because it knew my voice and my smell.  I wanted a baby that would grin from ear to ear and start kicking its legs because he was so excited to see me, because I am his mommy.
I have been blessed with four of these babies.

I was sharing with her some of my frustrations.
And they were mainly things like not being able to get everything done in the house.  Or looking like a fool in public because Landon will not mind.  Yelling too much at Landon because I can't get through to him.  Listening to Sawyer cry because he wants to be held, but I can't because I have to keep a very active two year old from running down the driveway and jumping in the creek!  Learning how to balance everything with four children.  Giving Laurel and Savannah the attention they need with school events and homework.

She gave me the best advice.
"Lori, your children will not remember if your house is clean.  They will remember if you played with them. Their childhood goes by in 5 minutes and you can never get it back!" 
I know that raising these sweet children is the most important work I will ever do.  And I don't want to look back and have any, or many regrets.
Here's to a new week.
Trying to find balance.
Having a new attitude.