Audios!!

I am done! Well, I am at least done with preschool, but in 4 more hours I will be done watching kids too! I can hardly wait. It is such a great day. I even got the preschool all cleaned and picked up for the summer so I don't have to go back down there until August (yah right!). It is such a relief! Just 24 more hours and I will be headed to my moms for a much needed vacation, so I will update the blog when we get back. I hope everyone has a wonderful end of school year. Talk to you soon.

Common question

So, the most common question I am asked lately is "What are you having?" I promptly reply a baby and move on, but people don't think that is a very good answer. The truth is that we decided to have a surprise baby - some days I think we are crazy. I figured that I have a boy and a girl, so therefore I have enough newborn jammies to last until I might need to go shopping, and there really aren't many surprises when you have baby number 3 except maybe the fact that there are more pains - fun!! I am really excited for the baby to come and the doctor to tell me what it is, and then get to pick out a name for it instead of having one all ready. I am excited for Claire and Owen to meet their new sibling because they both want something different depending on the day, and I am so excited that my kids already love this baby. My tummy gets frequent kisses and extra loves (although we are working on not jumping on mommy's tummy!). So there you have it - many people call me crazy, but I'm excited to have a little surprise after 9 months. Oh yah - what do you think of the name Quinn?? I love it for a boy but Chad says no, he thinks it is cowboyish, but I'm going for cute yet long lasting - help me out.

Owen's 2nd Birthday!

Owen had a wonderful birthday. He was so excited about his cake all day that when you would ask him how old he was, he would say "Choo, choo train cake." By the end of the day, he would answer with the correct answer of 2. They sang to him in nursery, and I happen to be in the hall, and I could hear him singing just as loud as everyone else, then he yelled "thank you." I'm so glad that I raised a polite kid.

We had a few of our friends and family over last night for cake and ice cream. He was so happy to blow out the candles and had plenty of help from his cousins who are very close in age - they don't understand at two. Then he opened his presents and didn't really want to go on to another present until we got the thing he just opened out of the box. We finally got him to move on. After each gift, we would tell him who it was from, but he would just wave and say thank you to everyone. After cake and ice cream all the kids went outside to play, so the adults had a few minutes to bask in the heat that is my house (I need an air conditioner!!!!). Then he came in and played with his new choo choo train. He is very good at making the noises, and doesn't want to share Thomas with anyone. I hope he gets over that! He had a great day! Thanks to everyone who came and made Owen's day a special one!

All About Owen

Since today is Owen's 2nd birthday, I thought I would share some things that are all about him.

1. He is very independent. He likes to try things himself, but isn't afraid to ask for help.
2. He can count to ten, but every time he finishes he yells - "here I come," like he is playing hide and seek all the time.
3. He is very good with names. He can remember names of people that I forget.
4. He loves his friend Ellie across the street. They have such a great time together and give each other hugs often.
5. He loves riding the tricycle around outside, but can't reach the petals so he uses one leg - he can really move.
6. He loves Claire - and is always asking where she is.
7. He knows all of his letter sounds and can actually find letters he is looking for (what a genius!). I can't take any credit for that he loves the Leap Frog Letter Factory video.
8. He is currently in love with Cars and Thomas the Train - although tractors and trucks are still in the running.
9. He would rather be outside than anywhere else - that includes at 6 in the morning.
10. He has a great personality, and makes us laugh each day!
We love you Owen, and are so glad that you are in our family. Have a great 2nd birthday!!

"I do it!"

Our new favorite saying around our house is "I do it!" Owen says it at least 20 times a day. He wants to buckle himself into the car, get himself out, put on his shoes, his clothes, cut his food, pour his drink - if I do it for him, he wants to do it. It is funny because I let him try, and he usually can't complete the task, and he comes to me and then asks for help. Claire was not this independent, so it is a new experience for me.

Husband Tag

My sister Heather (who never updates her blog!!) decided it was time, and she tagged me, so here it is, just for you Heather.
1-What is his name? Chad Nolan Clayson
2-Who eats more? Me - I'm pregnant!!
3-Who said I love you first? Chad did - his family was visiting him in Nampa, and he said it in his parents hotel room while they were gone for a few minutes. It was really sweet.
4-Who is taller? Chad
5-Who is smarter? I would say me, but it really depends on what we are talking about - we're pretty equal
6-Who is more sensitive? HMMMM - ME!!
7-Who does the laundry? Me - I'm home more, but he is really great at helping me fold it, especially if it is on our bed, and getting late (you think he wants to go to bed!).
8-Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Chad - it is farther away from the door, so the kids always come to my side of the bed.
9-Who pays the bills? I do. He lets me take care of all the money, and asks me if there is something he wants - what a great guy!
10-Who cooks more? ME - Chad can really brown some hamburger though!
11-What meals do you cook together? BBQ meals
12-Who is more stubborn? Chad - I'm a pushover
13-Who is the first to admit they are wrong? Chad - because as said before I am emotional, and can't admit anything in that state.
14-Who is more clean? ME!! I will find Chad's clothes on the floor, about 1/2 an inch from the hamper - and his shoes - don't get me started!
15-Who has more siblings? Chad - 6, me - 5
16-Who wears the pants in the relationship? We make decisions together.
17-What do you like to do together? Watch movies, go out to eat, and spend time with the kids.
18-Who eats more sweets? Chad - I think he had dessert every night growing up - we were Sunday dessert eaters.
19-Guilty pleasures? I honestly can't think of any.
20-How did you meet? We met in our singles ward in Nampa. A bunch of us went skiing and Chad had just bought his new pick up so he drove us all. My roommate had her eye on him, but lucky for me he picked me.
21-Who asked who out first? I think it was me, but I'm not sure. My roommates wanted to go see the Olympic torch come through Boise, so we made plans, but then everyone left for the weekend, so Chad and I went by ourselves. He actually had to help me break into my house that night because I forgot my keys.
22-Who kissed who first? Chad kissed me, and our first kiss was awful!! We had just had this talk about taking things slow, and then he laid one on me. I was a little freaked, and all I could think about was that I'm kissing the Elder's Quorum President - lame!!
23-Who proposed? Chad - I knew it was coming because he actually called and asked me on a date - you don't do that when your dating, you just hang out. He was so cute all night.
24-His best features? His ability to look at things rationally for me.
25-What is his greatest quality? He is a wonderful husband and father, and works so hard to take care of us all. He is dedicated to his church callings, and always does what is asked of him (except change stinky diapers - I might never get help with that!)

The Garden

Saturday afternoon we took advantage of the nice weather and planted our garden. We actually only planted beans in the garden spot, but don't worry our pumpkin has a better spot - you better watch out all you pumpkin growers, ours is going to win!! Claire helped me plant about 50 strawberry plants in our new strawberry patch - hopefully it works out better than last year. Then she ran inside and found her watering can and watered each one very carefully. She was very happy to have the hose and a job all to herself. Owen loved putting the seeds in the ground, and where Claire helped the beans should be very thick - she doesn't understand spacing the seeds very well, but she had fun. Now we just have to wait for it to grow so our work can begin - weeding, watering, and canning a ton of beans - what fun!!!

The Baby Animal Fair

Our friends the Copelands invited us to go with them to the fairgrounds to the baby animal fair. We had a great time!! Owen absolutely loved the animals. They had them in pens, but the kids could go in and pet each one. Owen would run from pen to pen, and push people out of the way so he could pet the animals. It was a side of him I have not yet met. When he as holding the baby bunny, he actually gave it a kiss. I missed the picture opportunity, but it was really cute. I really had to keep my eyes on him or he would have got away. I thought Claire would be a little more skeptical of the whole thing, but she got right in there and pet all the animals. They really enjoyed seeing the snakes at the end, but I was standing a little to far away to take pictures. Lets just say they were big!!! We finished off our fun morning with a wagon ride, and then went over to Uncle Trevor and Aunt Shanna's for some lunch - thanks for inviting us.

Free Time

I got out of the shower the other morning, and this is what I found. Apparently his reading level is much higher than I thought, or he just loves looking at books upside down.

My Kitchen Helper

Last week I decided it was time to make some strawberry jam (my all time favorite). Claire has become very helpful in the kitchen, so she couldn't wait to help. She wasn't to happy when she realized that it mostly cooks on the stove and it bubbles, but she loved stirring in the pectin, and pouring in all the sugar.

Friday Morning Favorite

I think I am asked every day if the garbage truck is here. Owen just loves that truck, and when he hears it on Friday morning it is the treat of the week for him. It is the easiest day to get him dressed because I always tell him we have to hurry so we can see the garbage truck. Good thing it has a pretty set schedule and always comes about the same time.

Grandpa, Sun, Snow and Cousins

We have had a busy week, and I just wanted to make sure that we remember it. We were so lucky to have a visit from Grandpa Farmer on Monday and Tuesday. He was doing business in Salt Lake and had a few days off. It is so great for the kids to see him, and they love for him to come because he brings them bribes (M&M's - my kids will do just about anything for one of those). So after grandpa sugars them up, he is covered with kisses and hugs just so they can get some more. On Monday night for FHE we went to the park and had a picnic and played on the toys. Tuesday Grandpa worked all day with Aunt Heather, but we were all together for a BBQ at Heather's house (thanks for the ribs dad - they were yummy!!). Claire was so happy that he was here that she didn't want to go to her friends house while I taught preschool so she waited for him to get off his conference call so she could go with him. It was so cute. We never got any pictures because once I remembered to take any, the kids were grumpy - next time!

We had great weather on Monday and Tuesday, then came the snow - I think everyone knows how I feel about that.

Friday we headed to the library, where the kids have so much fun. I had a tons of books to look at for preschool, but they just played and were so good. Afterwards we went for chicken and french fries at Artic Circle (their favorite place because of the toys). We played for awhile, and then went home for naps.

Saturday was a busy day. Our stake has some wheat available to them, so we went and got about 200 pounds of wheat. Then Chad and Owen went to the dump to get rid of some other trees that we cut down (Chad told me today that maybe it is so cold because we keep cutting trees down, but we are done now so it can't be blamed on me).

After that we headed to Firth. All the sister-in-laws had a plan to go to Olive Garden for lunch, and all the kids got to play. We had lunch, and then did a little shopping. I picked up a great kitchen for the preschool at DI. I just need to clean it up. Then I got a new portable DVD player for our upcoming trip to White Bird. Unfortunately one of the screens doesn't work, and we don't have a Target here so I guess I will have to make another trip to Idaho Falls.

That night we had a BBQ with everyone and played forever. It was so great to see everyone and have Stacey, Chad and their kids there. I of course forgot my camera (I need to work on that). The kids were very grumpy today because of no naps yesterday and not getting to bed until 10:00.

Today was so beautiful that we played outside for 2 hours with the kids. They rode their bikes, swung, and dug in the sand box that is not quite completed. We are all ready for a rest from our weekend adventures.

Happy May!

Who said that it was May?? I woke up this morning with Chad looking out the window and making a lot of noise - well, I don't really blame him. I want warm weather. On Monday and Tuesday it was so nice. We were at the park both days and took walks outside. We all got some much needed vitamin C. Now, we have snow again - at least 6 inches. Where is Spring???? We are all ready and it needs to come soon. So hopefully mother nature will listen to all of us pleading mothers and bring it soon.