Easter 2011

Easter was so much fun this year....the Bunny was extra nice leaving not only our baskets, but clues all around the house (just like Blues Clues) as to how to find special prizes! We found D.J. equipment and a drum set in the bathroom, a soccer goal and wedding barbies in the backyard and a new kitchen set in the playroom just by following the clues! They had a blast on this treasure hunt! Of course, I have no pictures as the race was on and there was no time for that!



The real deal Easter Bunny showed up at the club house for the annual Egg Hunt...



Too sweet getting ready to find the Golden Egg!!!!!!

KidsFest 2011

Kyle had had enough "help" working in the yard, so the kids and I headed out to KidsFest in Ridgeland to try to sneak a peek at Dora and Deigo LIVE! Holy smokes this was a fun, fun time!

Here we are heading in all grown up!



Dora and Boots....


Deigo....


The Merry Go Round...



Real Ponies...



The Big, huge tractors, dozers and mowers...



The roller coaster...




Elizabeth Haze the fearless...on the BIG swings, I mean fair style...I wasn't ready for this at all and was very glad that my parents nor Kyle were there to witness this daredevil stunt (in my opinion...it is totally different when it is your baby on these things!)

Let's play catch up!

Life is so crazy, I am lucky to get pictures taken these days, much less update this blog, but I promise to do better! Elizabeth Haze and Gray are growing up so fast...I swear, we blink and they grow an inch! I am so far behind, I am just going to pick and chose some photos of birthday parties, church events, school parties and what not to show their cute little faces! Sorry if your birthday party doesn't get the blog space it deserves, but if your really my friend...you'll understand! haha

Lil Man would rather have a tool or weed eater in his hand than a toy or piece of candy any day! He is all boy....good or bad!


The kids are getting so big, a few months ago we had a back seat added to the golf cart, plus new paint, new wheels, lights and I could go on....that's what happens when daddy goes to the store by himself! haha


Presley turned seven and had a cheerleading party to celebrate. She was such a trooper considering that she had been in the hospital for almost a week. The party was a huge sucess with all the girls sporting their uniforms of their favorite teams.


Headed out to church....a rare serious look for the wild man!!!!


Silly girls at Chuck E. Cheese for Elenora's birthday...um, not sure where Haze's shoes are or why she doesn't have them on!

The Tooth Fairy!!!!

March 24th, I looked at Elizabeth Haze's bottom front teeth with some concern that we may have allowed her to use a sippy cup a little too long. I reached in her crooked little mouth only to find that one tooth was hanging on by a thread loose! I have to say, I was in total shock! I did not lose a tooth until the third grade and my baby is only 5! Two days later, EH woke me up at 4 o'clock to say her tooth fell out in her sleep! Talk about a drama free tooth story....none the less...the tooth fairy was on her way!!!

Here are the matching tooth fairy boxes! (Lil man couldn't totally miss out on all of the excitement AND I decided to be well prepared for the next time this happened!)



The tooth.....



The snaggle tooth princess....


I didn't get any pictures of the 'loose change' fairy dust trail that she left from EH's room to the front door because I woke up to the sound of change landing in Haze's trick or treat bucket and missed the whole thing!!!!!!!

Valentines and Summertime in February

Sweet little Valentines!


With the great weather lately and daylight lasting longer, the 4 Claytons have been spending a lot of quality time outside riding our new rigs from Santa.

Mastered this quickly....notice the 'no hands' 360.....

Hey, can I try that???? Mine is too hard to drive...


Well, let me show you....


Ok, this is what we are going to do....


Follow me around this circle....


The solo ride......I guess I should really put this in black and white, but hey, he doesn't care!!!


And the payoff....jammies by 8pm.....


Passed out shortly after!!!!

Grayson turns 3

Grayson Kyle Clayton turned three on January 21st and all he asked for was "a belt and a pair of bewdeans." So what did he get?? A belt and a pair of blue jeans.....he could not have been happier!

This is the first time either of my children have donned denim!!!! At least I made it this long!



To celebrate, we converted the Clayton house into The Clayton Candy Shoppe!

Here's the invitation......




Here's the birthday boy's table and banner.....




Candy, candy everywhere, not a nutritious thing in sight!!!!!!!


The BOPS man came and made "special order" ice cream sundaes for everyone....


We served traditional white cupcakes then had an icing table for everyone to decorate their own cupcake!


We finished the sugar high off by busting the pinata!!!!



Who says that all that sugar is going to get these kids all hyped up? This lil fella zonked out before the last guests departed!!!!



The day was a blast with a lot of friends and family. I know next year will be totally different...he'll decide what kind of party he wants (a football party, he already has it planned), his school friends will be included (because he will know the difference) and I am ok with that......I am more laid back than I ever thought I would or could be as a mom.....letting my children lead and live their own lives, while at times a struggle, is so much fun to watch.

Finishing out 2010

Another year comes to a close and life, as usual, is flying by. If only we could hit pause to thoroughly enjoy the precious moments of our children's lives...and fast forward through the trying moments! 2010 has been an eventful year and we have learned more about ourselves as we parented our children through the terrible twos and the 'fantastic' fours. God has provided and blessed us with enormous joy. I pray that we appreciate all His gifts to the fullest and that we never take these blessings for granted. The journey continues into 2011 and the 4 Claytons look forward to seeing what is in store for us all!