Since being back

Well, a not so quick update since we got back: Brady and I had to speak on Sunday the 27th in our ward (the boys and I got back from Utah on Wednesday), so the rest of that week was needless to say, STRESSFUL! Glad to have it over with. Tayson even got up when Brady gave his talk and recited one of the articles of faith with Brady's help, as part of Brady's talk. He was so brave and did a great job and we are proud of him. We then went camping last weekend in Astoria, OR (very northwest corner of Oregon). It was Beautiful to say the least! It was fun to finally check out the coast, and yes, the Tillamook Cheese Factory on the way home. Now we are ready to stop traveling for a while.
Tayson continues to make us laugh with his random comments. He had the comment of the MONTH on Sunday. Here is what he said while sitting on the toilet:
"Dad, how about after I'm done here, we do something that is better than popsicles....We go outside and play?" Where did that come from? It was quite the random comment.
Camden has really kicked in the terrible twos lately. I'm not sure what is going on, but I'm going Nuts to say the least. He now screams, throws fits, etc too (he didn't do it much before, or at least not nearly as bad). He has always been our stubborn child, but boy is he letting it be known now! This is usually how just about every conversation goes now with him:
Camden: "Mommy?"
Me: "yes?"
Camden: " I want a cookie (or whatever it is he wants at the time) please"
Me: "Okay, but you can only have one (or if he's had a lot already, only one more okay?)"
Camden: "No two"
Me: "No just one"
Camden "okay" and eats it. after eating it "Mommy I want another cookie (or treat)."
Me: "No more sweetheart"
Camden: "Mommy?"
Me: "Yes?"
Camden: "I want another cookie"
Me: "Camden I know you want another one but you can't have another one"
Camden: "Ooohhhh" .... "Mommy?"
Me: "Yes?"
Camden: "I want another cookie."
And then at this point I generally have no more patience and I yell. Many times I try to be patient longer and the conversation just continues as above, it's never ending. Brady was laughing this weekend while we were camping at just how persistant this little dude is. What do I do? If I give in, then he will know he can get what he wants eventually, but if I don't, he still continues on and on and on. He is Great at testing the waters, and he's only 2. My mom cursed me as a teenager that I would have a girl just like me, but I think since I don't have a girl, I got a boy to give me a run for my money.
Also everything the past two weeks sets him off and he cries and whines about everything, and now throws fits in stores, etc. Not sure if he is lacking sleep or what, he acts like it, but still seems to be sleeping fine? I did notice last week though that he is getting his two year old molars, so I don't know if that has something to do with it. Hope so, only because it means, maybe things will improve sooner rather than later. I can hope right? I told Brady the other night, it is a good thing he is such a cute kid, especially when he is sleeping. I love to look at him sleeping in his bed before I go to bed to be reminded what a sweetheart he is or at least can be at times.

Couple other pics from Utah trip

Tayson and Ainsleigh riding with Papa on Nana and Papa's quadricycle. They love this thing. My parents actually bought this when I was in junior high I think. We went on a vacation to San Diego and they rode one of these at a resort there and when we got back they decided to get their own. To be honest, I was a VERY stubborn teenager and I thought this thing was so ugly and embarrasing to be seen on as a teenager, so I never rode it. I still don't think I have ever been on it. I know, I'm pathetic. My younger sisters both rode on it growing up with their friends and loved it. I just thought I was TOO COOL growing up I guess. Pathetic. The boys at least love it now though. I had the chance to catch up with a friend from high school days while we were in Utah, though we never went to high school together. Ryan and I actually met at EFY over 10 years ago and became good friends though we went to rival high schools. I hadn't seen him since their wedding reception four or five years ago. We got back in contact through blogging, and his wife, Meagan, and I became friends that way. It was nice to finally get to know her in person, other than just a congrats in the wedding line. She is SO awesome and sweet and they have the cutest little boy Jase who is SO smiley! They are now moving to Boston for dental school, so it was fun to see them before they take off for 4-6 more years. Maybe one day we'll have to make our way back out to Boston for another vacation since that is where I nannied way back when. Good luck with the big move you guys and thanks for taking time to stop by and for sending the pic.

Tayson Swinging

Tayson thought this big swing was so cool. He was pretty brave, but as you watch you'll see his head was left behind during the initial fall. Fortunately there was no real whiplash. The joys of having a big noggin, thanks to Daddy. :)

Camden Swinging

As you can tell, Camden didn't enjoy it quite like Tayson. The helmet was weighing down his head so he couldn't see very well and I think that scared him more.

Pictures from Family Reunion

The boys and cousin Ainsleigh hanging out with Papa and coloring at Camp.
Other family members playing Settlers (sister Erin and her daughter Peyton and husband Tyler, and sister-in-law Karee and my mom. My dad is at the far end of the table)

Camden and Ainsleigh getting harnessed for the swing

Me swinging

Tayson trying the trust fall, though he kept sitting down rather than staying straight and falling backwards.

My sister CieJae and I doing another activity at the ropes course.

Comments from the Boys

I don't have pictures yet, once again because I don't have my camera, and Brady wanted to keep his with him in Oregon, but the boys and I arrived in Utah safely on Tuesday. We haven't done anything too exciting, but it has been fun to hang out with family and see a few friends, especially those I haven't seen in years! Our reunion is tomorrow and Saturday, and then we will likely drive back Monday. I did however have to comment on a couple comments of the day the past few days. On our way to Utah on Monday as we were driving and I had been trying to get the boys to take a nap for quite a few hours with no luck (AHHH!). Anyways, out of the blue Tayson said he was tired and was going to take a nap. I told him "go for it". Five minutes later he was talking and asking questions galore and here is our conversation:
Me: "I thought you said you were tired."
Tayson: "the power turned off inside my tummy mom"
Me: "The power turned off inside your tummy, what does that have to do with you going to sleep?"
Tayson: "Mom, the power turned off inside my tummy and it made me not tired anymore."

What???? I still don't get it, but I had to laugh. It was rather random.
Then yesterday we met up with Brady's parents who happen to be in town and went to Cabella's and then to dinner. At dinner we were eating a shake and Camden looked at me and took his plastic spoon and lightly bopped me on the forehead with it and said, "Mom, you're fired."
(there is a slight explanation- the boys at home a lot of times will get on the couches and pretend the floor is on fire and when I come in the room they tell me to hurry and get on the couches or I'll get fired (they say fired for burned). So on occasion they will yell, "Mom, you're fired" if I'm somewhere they are pretending is fire. I can't help but think on occasion though "Am I really that bad of a mom that my kids are firing me?" j/k I got quite the laugh at Arctic Circle though as it was such a random comment (they weren't talking about anything being on fire).

Anyways, that's all for now. Nothing else new, though I want Brady to know I love him and miss him and the kids say "I miss you Daddy". Thanks for working so hard and taking care of our family. We'll see ya next week.

Family Reunion in June

We had a great opportunity to take a family picture so we took advantage of it, thanks to Brady's brother Derek. Thanks!

We also had an opportunity to get one of all of Brady's immediate family. Thanks Uncle Randy and aunt Lari for coming up early to take it.

All the Grandkids. As you can see there are PLENTY of boys in this family. 11 grandkids, 3 of which are girls, and Brady's brother and sister-in-law are expecting another boy in November. As you can see we don't have high hopes of ever having a baby girl down the road.

The boys with Uncle Randy and Aunt Lari. They sure LOVE them!! They were SOO EXCITED when I told them in the car that we would get to see Uncle Randy and Aunt Lari. This is Brady's Uncle and Aunt who allowed us to stay in one of their homes in Arizona while Brady was doing his internship. We are SO Grateful to them for everything they have done for us, and the boys have become quite attached to them since. I now see that Camden is a Clark (Brady's mom's side of the family) at least his Smile is if you zoom in, he and Randy have the same smile.

Family picture with our Wonderful Grandma Clark. The boys have gotten to know her a little better this past year as they've seen her more often. They LOVE her, as do we!!!

The Clark Family reunion at Heber Valley Camp. It was a Blast! Thanks SO MUCH to Derek and Carla for planning it all. It was SO fun to see everyone. The drive was well worth it, just wish the reunion could have lasted longer.

Tayson was brave enough to go on the zipline. He climbed the pole with all his might. I wasn't sure if he would be brave enough to walk across the top log, but he proved me wrong!!

After he got down I was talking to him about how proud I was of him and how he was so tough and brave and didn't even cry. He said "Mom, I did cry a little bit" (But he didn't let anyone see). He thought the zipline was SOOOOO COOL. He is so excited to head back next week to do it again as my side of the family has a reunion at the same camp. Hopefully that excitement will carry him through the 14 hour one-way drive again to get there. Time to start planning how to keep two kids entertained again while I drive. If anyone has any creative suggestions, please feel free to pass them my way. They did great on the last drive, but I don't think I can use everything again that I did last time, as some of it is no longer new and exciting to them, so they have lost interest.

Multnomah Falls in the Columbia Gorge. We stopped by instead of just looking at it from the freeway this time, so Brady could snap a few pictures and so the boys could get out and take a look of course. It was breathtaking, though Very crowded.