Happy 2nd Birthday Shelby!

Happy Birthday Sweetie! I can't believe that you are 2 already. I swear it wasn't that long ago you were my baby! You bring so much joy and laughter to my life- I don't know what I would do without you. You are so smart and do things that amaze me every day! Right now you LOVE: milk, goldfish crackers, movies at home, playing with Gabe, and screaming! You love dogs, horses, and our pet fish, Surprise. You like to be silly and you love to hold hands with Gabe! It is really cute! I love you Shels!

She was so serious, the smiles were few and far between. She looks so grown up to me! Where has the time gone?!

Opening a present with Grandpa's help!

Mommy got her a bike for her birthday! She loves it!

She started getting silly- my dad was making faces at her and she started making them back!

For our family get together these are the Giant Cupcake cakes that I made!

Shelby is starting to want to potty train! The only problem is, she will only go if she is standing up! Yes, it makes a huge mess! She "cracks" me up! ( I know cheesy, but funny!) I just want to squeeze her!

Spring Fever!

Wow! I didn't realize how long it had been since I posted anything! Things have been super crazy lately! School has kept me way busy this spring, precalc, geoscience, and a geoscience lab. Its been way too much fun! My mom is nearing the end of her chemo (we hope!) I tried dating, which was super scary and I might try again soon! (Serisously- it's scary out there!) I just got out of the hospital with pancreatitis, shelby has had a bout of pnuemonia, and gabe just started some serious speech therapy. Like I said we have been busy! Shelby just pooped on the potty tonight for the first time too! Yay!
I went to a Timeout for Women last fall with a really good friend, and it was amazing. (Thanks again for taking me to that!)I bought this book there that is called "A Mother's Book of Secrets". I love it! One of the things talked about was having a family motto. I really like this idea and have been racking my brain trying to find one that suits our family. I finally found it! Part of it did not come from me, but was on the bottom of an email, and part of it I changed a little. So here is the brand spankin' new Clinger Family Motto:

live simply, speak kindly, care deeply, love generously, serve often

I am so excited about this! I don't know what it is, but I feel it is important for our little family! I think if I did these things a lot more, the spirit would be in our home more, and its presence would be felt stronger. Another thing mentioned in this book was a repentance bench. They had one in their home and they used it when their kids would get in a fight, both of them would have to sit on the bench and think about their role in the fight, and then they would apologize. I like the idea of having them think about what they did, instead of what the other person had done. When my kids get a little older, I might implement that too! Too often I think we try to blame the other person instead of taking responsibility for our own actions- we see it all over society these days. It's kinda crazy out there! I am hoping that I can do my part to make our lives a little better!

Fall Fun 2010

We have been so busy this fall! This is a long post, but it has some super cute pics of the kids! I promised them that we would make cookies, so we did! Half of the dough was regular sugar cookie dough and the other half I dyed orange to make some candy corn cookies. Here's some pics:

Gabe enjoying some cookies after he decorated them! I think he used half of the bottle of sprinkles on these 2 cookies!

I think she enjoyed them!
Here are the little candy corn cookies. I dipped the top and bottom in colored chocolate! Not a very good pic, but they were fun to make!
Next we picked out pumpkins! This was Shelby's first time and she had fun because Gabe was so excited! She kept watching him and laughing because he was so happy!

He has been talking about "pumpkin orange" for so long! When the time came for us to actually go and get one, he was so excited! He picked one of the biggest pumpkins out of our group!

Here are the cuties all dressed up and ready to go! They got to dress up a few times this year. We have a family Halloween costume party and it was so much fun. I am going to have to find some pics of me in my costume! All I can say is....wow!

Super charged Buzz light year! He loves buzz and was totally stoked to go trick or treating!

Shelby loved her costume and it was so cute on her! It fit just perfect!

These silly glasses were a given to them in their treat bags from our family party!

Shelby loved them, she actually found hers and put them on all by herself! She is so funny!

I was trying to get them to come in for dinner, instead, they played in some leaves! It was a nice evening why not right?!

I couldn't get him to look at me, he kept saying cheese and looking away! He is such a sweetheart! This was caught mid action!

Loving the leaves!

I love this one of her! She loves to explore the world, this her to a T!

All dressed up for Sunday! She is slowly getting used to nursery! Mommy loves nursery! Thanks Tam and Jackie for your patience with her!

They both had new outfits on and looked so good! They were both in a silly mood this day! For me it was one of those days where my heart was so full of gratitude to the Lord for blessing me with these amazing kids! I think he knew that I would need them both in different ways to help me through some tough times! They bring so much joy to me, I don't know what I would do with out them!

My handsome little man! His smile brightens the room!

Shelby's FIRST Haircut! I can't believe I actually did it, but it is still curly and it looks so cute!

Gabe wanted one too! He looks great!

So cute!
All in all this has been a great fall. We have had a lot of fun in between all of the craziness of life! School is starting to wind down and then comes Thanksgiving and Christmas. I am so excited for both of these holidays. My mom is doing well. Her first round of Chemo was pretty rough! Hopefully this next round will be better. She talked to her dr. and he has given her some sleeping meds along with some strong pain meds. I am so grateful for my family and my kids. The Lord sure knew what he was doing when he blessed me with all of them. My parents have been amazing examples to me in my life. I don't know what I would do without my sisters and brothers, they are great friends and wonderful supports for me. My kids are why I get out of bed every day! Because of them I have experienced true joy in life. Thanks to all of my friends and neighbors who have been so willing to help. My heart is very full and I love you all. (a bit cheesy yes, but I'm done!)

These were supposed to go on the last post!

It's raining and pouring...

I have totally slacked on posting this whole summer! We have been really busy with the 4th of July, Gabes 4th birthday, family things, and life. The hard thing is, life just keeps getting crazier and crazier! My divorce is almost final, which we be a good thing to be done with. It's been really tough and lonely at times, but I know that it is the best thing for me and for Gabe and Shelby. We just found out about 2 weeks ago that my mom is now battling cancer. She is going to be in for a tough ride. Last week while she was in the hospital, we also had to put my grandma in an Alzheimer's unit. Total overload right now! Thanks to everyone for their support, prayers, meals, and everything else. I have learned so much this past year, I have gotten closer to the Lord, and I am so thankful for my family. I guess we learn the most when we struggle the hardest.

Chicken Oatmeal!

So this morning as we were eating breakfast, Gabe said that he wanted oatmeal- so I got him some apples and cinnamon oatmeal, made it, and gave it to him. He sat their eating it for a while and then he said- "mom look, chicken!" I laughed and said no- they're pieces of apples. He looked at me and smiled and said "no, it's chicken!" He insisted over and over again that it was chicken! So I finally caved and said OK- lets call it chicken. Sounds delish I know- so if you don't know what is sounding good for breakfast- stop on by, I make a mean chicken oatmeal!

Picture Time!

So I decided to get the kids pictures taken for Mothers Day. They turned out great! Shelby cried the whole time almost, but we got some cutes ones of her still, and Gabe, he is always so cute- how can you not get all good ones!?! Here they are:

I love this one- I love watching her walk and explore- she is constantly on the go- this is totally her!

I love his smile!

I love this one! Her eyes are so pretty!

He is so funny- look at that grin- what a handsome guy!

Here are a few of them! There are so many that are super cute- Thanks Emily for the great pics and for putting up with us! Check her out emilybaileyphotography.blogspot.com.