Clayton’s 11 years old today!!!!

I can hardly believe my first born is 11 years old.

Jennette and John made Clayton a fabulous birthday breakfast of pancakes with coconut syrup, eggs, sausage (from their own pigs) and chocolate milk. Too bad I forgot to bust out a cream cow, I know Jennette has one, oh well.

I made the cake and pistachio filling yesterday and this morning I assembled it before church. I still need to add the chocolate ganache frosting, but luckily most of it is finished.

After church we headed out on a drive to a beautiful location so that I could take the Larsen family pictures.

Clayton was pretty happy to wonder around, play in the water and catch lizards.

I love my birthday boy…

Then we went to Ryan’s house to celebrate Clayton’s birthday and for the Hall fhe.

We had hamburgers and hotdogs with plenty of sides.

I think Clayton has requested this birthday cake at least 3 times now. I’m pretty sure he loves the massiveness of it.

He cut out a fish from paper and I used it to make a fish out of powdered sugar.

The kids awaiting cake and ice cream.

The birthday boy lighting the candles.

Make a wish…Alissa actually put trick candles on the cake, so he would blow them out and a flame would return.

Yummy layers of chocolate and white flavored cakes with pistachio filling and ganache frosting.

Pearce and Mason got Clayton this awesome pocket knife. Clayton doesn’t have one with a hammer, so he was pretty pumped. Ryan’s family got him a DQ gift card, genius idea, considering how much this boy loves sweets. Both his grandparents gave him money and we gave him money, which he is going to use to buy some binoculars.

 

11 things I love about Clayton:

1- his amazing ability to make friends

2- his big heart, sensitivity and compassion

3- his willingness to try new things

4- his passion

5- his desire to tell me things that go on in his day

6- he’s a hard worker

7- his love for the outdoors (hiking, fishing, hunting, etc.)

8- his smile

9- he adores his dad and is an awesome big brother

10- his athletic abilities

11- his love for reading

 

We will wait to go out for Clayton’s birthday lunch when Laun gets back from Saudi Arabia.

treats and a rodeo

Today Jennette and I took the kids to go get treats. Porter and Alden were pretty excited to get jawbreakers that came in an alien dude package. Marlee of course got a ring pop.

 

Tonight we went to Grandma Lucy’s for dinner and then to the rodeo. We missed a lot of the rodeo since it was raining. By the time we got there the rodeo ground was a muddy mess.

The bulls seemed especially agitated tonight…who can blame them, I wouldn’t want to be in all that mud.

This bull rider didn’t seem to mind the mess.

The kids love their kettle corn.

My favorite event of the night was the “musical chairs” game. The riders had to race around the barrel and then come back and sit on a keg. There was always one keg short, so someone got eliminated each round. It was pretty fun to watch.

Thanks Grandma Lucy for a fun evening!

ward activity

The ward in Show Low does this cool campout every year. As a service they cut a town of wood for the widows/widowers in the ward, since most people use fireplaces and woodstoves to stay warm in the winter. They also provide these wonderful meals for all who come. I went up for just the evening part, but my boys went up earlier that day to help out and Clayton stayed the night with Pearce’s family.

Of course, Clayton caught something. How adorable is this little bunny. I swear I need to have my boys get a rabies shot, because I know they are going to get bitten someday.

Cousins/Buddies Pearce and Clayton:

Can you spot Porter? He’s the little dude in the group. That boy hung out with his cousin Michael who is 15 years old and Michael’s friends all day. They played Frisbee, cards, etc.

This little girl was so excited to play with her girl cousins.

After the amazing dinner, they had what I call monkey bread (biscuits covered in brown sugar and butter), but they cooked it in dutch ovens, it was good.

I had a great time visiting with family.

what’s a girl to do

What does Marlee do when her mom lays sick in bed with prego sickness…keep occupied at my bedside with Anna’s phone. This girl loves electronics. And whenever I say I don’t feel good, Marlee informs me that it’s because I’m preg-a-nant. Love this sweet girl who keeps me company, especially while Laun’s gone and the boys play all day with cousins.

A night with the Halls

We went to a Joseph Smith play in Snowflake and then out for Mexican food. The kids are loving all this time with their cousins.

D-backs

The kids not only did the summer reading program in Tucson, they also completed the Phoenix summer program. When the kids finished the Phoenix program they got Diamondback tickets. We had Grandma and Grandpa Turley and the Layton’s join us.

My mom did Marlee’s hair tonight…she looks like a little ballerina.

Kenley and Marlee are so adorable.

The kids were excited that Grandpa got them some popcorn and hotdogs. 

I love this picture Laura took of mom and I adoring sweet Kenley.

 

The Diamondbacks didn’t win, but we had a lot of fun.

I really love this picture Justin took:

Afterwards we checked out this marble contraption.

Another great picture from Laura.

There was some boys playing instruments outside of the stadium trying to raise money. Marlee was excited to put some cash in the box.

Mom and Dad are so cute.

Then we celebrated my Mom’s upcoming birthday on the 24th. The kids and I will be in Show Low for awhile, so I got mom a cake to celebrate with her before we leave.

I love all these pictures Laura took of my kids, especially the one of Clayton and I.

we love rainy days

painting

The kids helped Grandma and Grandpa paint the living room blue today.

Clayton was especially helpful.