For Family Home Evening this week, we let the kids finally carve their pumpkins. Grandpa bought them for them awhile ago, so they have been waiting. It is so funny because they really hate to clean out the inside, but that is part of the job. Of course I have to help a little bit. They had a fun time, and Claire was so cute telling us that she wanted triangle eyes, a circle nose and a sad moon mouth. We had a lot of fun, and can't wait for Halloween.

Clayson Family Halloween Party

On Saturday we headed to Chad's parents house for our annual Clayson family Halloween party. This year we had a contest to see who could grow the biggest pumpkin and we all put $10 in the pot for the winners. Unfortunately we lost - our pumpkin weighed about 50 pounds. Mom and dad won with a pumpkin that weighed over 100 pounds. As usual, we had a fun time, except for the header Owen took off the porch.

Grant at 6 Weeks

Time flies by, and Grant is already 6 weeks old. He loves to grab onto things now, and really focuses on things. He still really hates commotion, and will just go to sleep if there is a lot of noise. He still has clogged tear ducts, so he hates the end of his baths when I wash his eyes, but he loves the rest of it. He knows every one's voice, and is starting to sleep better - thankfully! He is finally about out of newborn clothes and we are trying on his 0-3 month clothes which are still very big! Claire especially loves him, and has now decided she can carry him around and get him out of his swing. We are still trying to teach her that she could hurt him, but he is still a little doll to her.

The Past Two Weeks

Well, I haven't blogged in awhile, and I do have a very good reason for that. It is hard to do with one hand!!! Grant has finally decided that his bouncy chair isn't horrible, so he is currently allowing me a few moments of blogging. I also have a crazy life. I have taken on a few little part time gigs for some extra money so along with preschool I tutor two kids two days a week for an hour each, and I work at the Holt Arena selling tickets to events (that is a fun job, and I only work a few nights a week, usually weekends so Chad can stay with the kids). It is a nice break to get away, and has been very good for Chad to take care of 3 kids.

Along with all of my activities, I got sick - I mean lay in bed and let the kids do whatever they want sick. Last week I had some type of flu for about three days. I felt great all weekend, then Sunday night as I'm in the babies room feeding Grant I see Owen headed to our room and hear him throwing up. Chad is still asleep so I have to yell at him to wake him up. Owen ends up sleeping on our floor and the next day I washed blankets and bedding all day!!!! Thank goodness it is only about a 12 hour stomach bug, but do you know how hard it is to convince a two year old to throw up in a bowl??

Next Chad gets this lovely flu, then yesterday was my turn. Claire has yet to get it so I hope it passes her by. So basically we have all been surviving, and hopefully with Halloween coming up and Grant's blessing we will all be over everything, and feel great next week! (I have decided that the flu shot didn't work this year since I've been sick two times since I got it!!!) Wish us luck!

One Month Already!!

My little man is already a month old. It is hard to believe that Grant has been in our family that long. I am still trying to convince the kids not to hurt him. He is definitely a night owl, which is not very easy on Chad or I. We really like to go to bed at 10:00 since the other two get up about 6:30-7ish, so going to bed at 12:30 has been a killer. Chad and I switch nights so we can take turns being grumpy. Grant is getting so big, but has yet to move into 0-3 month clothes or size one diapers. He can stay this small as long as he wants. He is still battling the clogged tear ducts, so his eyes are never clean, but I am hoping soon they will clear up. I still have yet to get a picture of him where he doesn't look that scared, so here is the best we can do.

Is it already winter???

Two Saturday's ago, it snowed (depressing!!). It started late Friday night, and just continued on. Luckily I had taken the kids to buy new winter coats the day before, so they were all ready. Owen refused to try his coat on at the store, and wouldn't put it on until he decided that he really was cold in the snow. Claire could hardly wait to get outside. She wasn't feeling that well, but put on all her snow clothes, and went out for some fun. Most of the snow melted on Saturday, but we woke up Sunday to a fresh batch. Claire wasn't happy when I told her that she couldn't go outside until after church. As soon as we walked in the door she said, "OK, I'm going outside to play now." She got on all her clothes, and convinced Owen to make a snowman with her. She wasn't happy when I left a little while later and ran over their small snowman with the car. I'm glad she is so excited but I'm worried that it won't last long, especially when it is really cold!

Randomness

One day I got the kids in the bath and heard them laughing hystericaly. This is what I found.
Our Sunday tradition includes making popcorn (Owen's favorite), and watching funny videos (America's Funniest Home Videos) - Claire's favorite. Owen loves to watch the popcorn popping!
Owen gets really tired in the afternoons but refuses to take a nap. Some days I can get him to fall asleep in front of a movie. He really wanted to watch "Cars" in my room, so I put it on for him. Chad found him like this a little while later - so funny! I bet his arms hurt!

Big Sister Claire

Claire is absolutely in love with Grant, it is almost scary. I have told her that the only way she can hold him is if she is sitting down, but it never fails that he is in a new spot. The other day I caught her trying to put him in her baby doll stroller (those things aren't that sturdy!). She now thinks it is OK to take him out of the swing, and always makes sure that he is covered up. I know she means well, but it is so frustrating sometimes because he will be perfectly content until she messes with him. It will be interesting to see what happens when he can finally get away from her.

Visit from Grandpas!!

Two weeks ago (that is how far behind I am), we were luckly to have Grandpa Farmer and Great Grandpa Farmer visit us. Dad had meetings in Salt Lake and Logan so decided to drive instead of fly so he could visit is newest grandchild. Grandpa Farmer wanted to come with him so he could do some more research at the Family History Center. They stopped by Wednesday on their way and got here early enough to have dinner (thanks for the yummy steak dad!), and then came back through on Friday night. He brought the kids some pumpkins, which they loves, but they weren't awake when he got here. They can hardly wait to carve them!

PEACHES!!!

Can I say that I am sick of peaches!!! Our peach tree had a ton of peaches on it this year, but they weren't turning, and weren't growing. Usually they are ready by the end of August, but last week we finally decided that they were ready. I wanted to get them off before it got to cold. So with lots of help from the kids (they loved picking peaches!), and Chad on that ladder, we picked the tree clean (or as much as we could). On Monday I started canning. I canned 42 quarts of peaches, and then I started puting them in bags to freeze. I ended up freezing 60 cups of peaches too. I'm not sure that I even want to eat them after all that work. Thanks Debra for taking the kids for a few hours - it really helped!!

My Kitchen Helpers

My kids have taken a huge interest in helping me in the kitchen. They really don't help, but make more of a mess. I try really hard to be patient, but it can be HARD!! I am glad that they like to help me. Owen loves to wash the dishes while I am giving Grant his bath. I hope he keeps it up after Grant moves to the bath tub.
Claire just had to wear her apron to help me cook.
Owen does the best thing he can in the kitchen - eat!!!!

2 Weeks Old

Someone once told me to take a picture of my kids each week and see how much they grow. I tried really hard with Claire and Owen, but it was not easy!! Plus I never had time to scrap their pictures, so I just have a ton of shots of them. But, with blogging, I have decided to give it a try with Grant. Here he is at 2 weeks old.

He went to the doctor and he has already gained almost a pound. He weighs 7 pounds, 7 ounces. The doctor says that he looks perfect. His umbilical cord finally fell off, and his circumcision came off, so he can have a real bath, which he loves. He just doesn't like getting out. He is still sleeping a lot, but loves to be awake until at least midnight (that is killer on a mom who goes to bed at 10:00!).