Daddy dates

 Clay took both the girls on their own daddy daughter date.

They both loved it so much and felt so special. Clay really tried hard to think of things that they each would like individually. After they both got home the were all smiles and it was all they could talk about for days!

 

Kaitlyn was first. It started with breakfast for dinner at Ihop and then they went to this really cool gymnastics place. They have open gym during certain time of the day where you can just go and jump on their trampolines etc. They have this huge slide that you can slide down into a big pit of foam. Kaitlyn can't wait to take the rest of our family.  

While they were gone Carter, Mea and I did some crafts and played games. 

For Mea's date I didn't get any pictures :(. But she still had just as much fun! For their date first they went to outer limits fun zone and played arcade games. Mea won a bunch of tickets so she even got some souvenirs.   Then they went to Elmers (a local place) and had breakfast for dinner too.

After Mea's date we had to help clean the church for stake conference that weekend so we had to run straight there and clean. But I don't think she minded.

Both of the girls loved it, and I'm sure it will be something they can remember forever! They are so lucky to have such a thoughtful fun dad!

This Man.....

Sometimes we just have to brag about how great the people in our lives are! I can't even begin to express how much I love and adore this Man. We have been together for over 10 years and each year gets better and better. Yes we have had struggles and sometimes it is hard but I would not change it for anything. I think sometimes in the day to day of life we forget to slow down and really let the people who mean the most to us know how much we love and appreciate them. So that is what I'm doing right now :).

Clay is such a family man, and I love it. He loves his kids with all his heart and he wants to see them be successful. He would much rather spend time with his family then do something by himself or with the guys. He puts his family first before his own need and wants. The kids love it when daddy plays with them and will specifically ask him to tickle them.

Clay tries very hard to teach them to do the right thing and make the right decisions. He wants them to always remember how to act and what is appropriate. He is able to see past the begging eyes and the desperate pleas and know that even though things are hard for them now they will live and they can do it. All too often I just give in when they don't want to do something and I let them get away with way too much. But Clay knows that it’s ok for them to do hard things or things that they don't like and in the end they will be better for it.

Clay is such a good husband. I can't even count the number of times I have came home from work and the house has been cleaned or he has spent the day doing much needed projects around the house, especially lately. Clay does not like clutter of any kind. Sometimes this is hard for me because my life is so buys and I'm always running here or there and it is easy to just let things pile up. But I know when things are put away where they go and not left to pile up our day runs so much smoother and it just helps both Clay and I to be in better moods. He hates laundry piled up also, so instead of telling me to do it or complaining he will just go and do it and it's no big deal to him. I am so thankful he is so willing to help with things like this around the house. Especially with me working it is so nice to know we are team and we help each other.

Clay is my biggest supporter. I sometimes, ok often, get some crazy ideas in my head of things I want to do. And even though they are ambitious and often times too much for me to handle, Clay is always supportive. He never tells me I can't do something. If I am really passionate about it he will support me 100%. Clay is really good at keeping me grounded without making me feel belittled or small. He has a way of wording his questions that make me think about things in a way I wouldn't have thought, but still being supportive. When I wanted to go back to school he was with me all the way. It meant for him to have a lot more responsibilities on his plate but he took them all without complaining. Then when I wanted to sell paparazzi and that meant I would be gone some nights doing parties, he would graciously watch the kids for me. Then when I had a crazy harebrain idea to start an online party store, he gently and kindly helped me realize that it was probably a little more then we could take on at that time in our lives. I'm so thankful I have him to keep me grounded and to be my biggest supporter.

Clay has such an amazing work ethic. Anything he does he does it with all his heart. To him, you don't leave something half done, you finish it and you do it right the first time. Nothing is above him, if he sees something that needs done and there is no one to do it, or if someone needs help he will just get right in there and do it even if that is technically not his job. He has amazing dedication and is very reliable. If he is expected to be at work @ 8:00 you can bet he will do everything he can to get there @ 7:50 and if he is even a couple minutes late he will feel bad about it. He will stay late to finish something up without ever complaining. There are so many more things I could go on about, like how Clay loves traditions and he wants to continue traditions on in our little family. How he is so kind and helpful to our very annoying neighbor. But I think you get the picture of what an amazing guy he is. I am so thankful that he is mine and that I get to spend forever with him!

Growing up so FAST!

Sorry, I haven't blogged forever! No one probably even checks this anymore because I never update it. Well I'm finally out of school until June14th then I start my internship, I'm am LOVING my time off with my girls! Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the past few months, enjoy!

I love this, it is so funny!

She HATED these on easter morning, later in the day she wanted to play with them on but I didn't get a picture.

Mea loves to play with her cousin Makayla, they are so cute together Mea just follows Makayla around.

Clay turned 30 WOW, so we had a suprise party for him at the bowling ally. He was so suprised, his birthday was on Wed. but everyone was coming down for Kaitlyn's blessing so I did the party on Saturday. Earlier that day he was totally feeling sorry for himself and was like I can't believe you didn't even make me a birthday cake, haha.

Jennie and Annie at the party

Kaitlyn's blessing was so good, Clay did great! She was so beautiful it was an awesome day!

What a cutie that little girl is, I love her so much!

We took Mea to the park for the first time, she had a blast! Last year she wasn't really old enough to play on the toys but this year she is. I'm so excited to take her more this summer.

Mea wanted to climb on these without help, SCARY! I was so nervous she would fall, even when Clay was helping her. She is becoming so independant, she wants to do everything by herself.

Kaitlyn slept at the park! Isn't she precious!

Kaitlyn was just laying like this one day, it was so funny with her bum bum sticking right in the air.



What cute girls I have, and they are growing up and amazing me everyday! Mea just seems so old to me all of the sudden. She talks so much, she knows so many words and she will repeat just about anything we say but she is talking in like sentences, usually I can't understand her but I will pick up a word or two in the sentence. She is such a lover, she always wants to hug and kiss on sister and I love it when she just comes up to me and gives me a hug and tells me she loves me out of nowhere. She wants to do everything on her own, and she knows how to use a spoon now and feed herself. What a cute loving personality she has! Kaitlyn is rolling over and has been for about two weeks, it only took her a couple of times to figure out and she is now a pro. Kaitlyn is such a happy baby and smiles so much, today I was playing with her feet and she was laughing so much. She has been giggling for a while but today was the first real laugh. She loves to be held so she can look at everything around her, and I love to hold her! I'm so glad I get these few weeks to be home with my girls, I am having so much fun spending time with them!

So Thankful!

I am so thankful to my heavenly father for knowing me personally, for knowing exactly what I need and what I can handle. Its amazing how heavenly father knows me better then I even know myself. I truly know I wouldn't have been able to get through everything, from being a mom and wife to getting everything done at school and at clinicals without my heavenly father helping me. I lean on him so much, I know that he knows what's in my heart, he knows my needs. When times get so hard and I don't think I get everything done, I feel like I'm being pulled in a thousand directions, I feel heavenly fathers reassurance that I can handle this and that he is there to help me get through it. My family has always been there to help and support me but I have especially needed them lately. Clay is so wonderful, he does so many things that most husbands wouldn't even think about doing to help out. And he always does them willingly without complaining, I usually and the one who feels guilty, like he shouldn't have to do all that he does. He always tells me he wants to help and not to feel guilty, but I still do. I am so thankful for Clay, and for the wonderful husband and father that he is. My mom has been so great, she watches the girls for me all day on Tuesdays and Thursdays while I'm at my clinical. By the time I get home sometimes I can tell that she is so tired from chasing Mea and taking care of Kaitlyn. I am so thankful for her help, without her I really wouldn't be able to go school. She is always willing and expects nothing in return, I love her so much! I have the best sisters in the whole world, I know whenever I need them they will come to do whatever. Usually its to entertain Mea while I study. I'm so thankful that I got to have them come and stay with us last year that is time that I will always remember with them. Really I am truly blessed!

Updates from like the past two months

Ok sorry,I have been super bad at updating my blog! I would start a post and then never quite finish it, then our internet started acting crazy and wouldn't work very well. So we decided to cancel our internet and we have just never signed up with anyone else. I'm sure we will again soon but I don't know when. So I will start at the beginning and this will probably be a super long post.

CLAY



Clay had to work on Sunday so we celebrated his fathers day on Monday, well part of the day. I was so excited to celebrate fathers day this year because it was Clay's first. Clay is such a good father to Mea, and I am so thankful to him for that. Before Mea was even born everyone said that she had him wrapped around her little finger, and really it is so true. He loves her so much. Clay thank you for everything you do for Mea, I love to watch you play with her, sleep with her on your chest, feed her (sometimes this is a little funny :) Walk with her, talk to her, everything you do with her because when I see you do these things I see so much love for her and our family.

MEA



Yesterday morning (I don't even remember when this was now) I needed to weed my flower beds but I just didn't know what to do with Mea, if I put her in her play thing she just cries and so I thought I would just set her on a blanket, but no she was crawling all over the place exploring everything. At first I would stop weeding and go put her back on her blanket but after about the hundredth time I decided that if she was just on the grass it would be fine, but then she was trying to crawl in the flower beds. I was very frustrated because I didn't want her to get dirty, but then I just though why not just let her have fun and I can always just bath her after. So you know what yep you bet she played in the wet dirt, and yep you bet she pulled the flowers off the stems and stuck them in her mouth, and yep she ate grass as well, and yep she was really dirty, and yep she touched bird poop and then stuck her finger in her mouth, that was the last straw, I couldn't handle that YUCK! But luckily I was done weeding by then, so that was the end of her being dirty, and the end of her fun, but oh did she have fun!

JACK



So I have felt like I have neglected my little dog lately, I have been so busy with Mea and other things that I just haven't had time to give him the attention that he deserves. Well on Saturday it was Jacks day, it was full of loves, and treats, and walks, and he even got to go to the spa. When he got home he was a new man, he was running all over the place and loving life.

4th of July



Sorry not very many pictures, I don't know why but I didn't take any. This year we went with my family to Palisades, usually it is so much fun, and it was fun this year as well but it rained almost the whole time we were there so we couldn't do much. Clay did get to go fishing a few times but we couldn't go play on the resivoir because it was to cold. We went 4-wheeling but again it was muddy and cold. Then we had to cut our camping trip short because Clay's uncle had passed away a few days earilier and his veiwing and funeral was on Sunday and Monday. So we got home from camping at like 1:00 am and then left for Utah at like 2:00 pm on Sunday. So it was a busy weekend for us with lots of driving, Mea did pretty good with all the driving though, after a few hours she was done and ready to get out of her car seat and crawl and play.

Cousin Pictures



Clay's sister and her family came down to get their family pictures taken and while they were here we got all the girls pictures taken together. They turned our pretty cute, it was quite the sturggle to get three little girls to all hold still and smile at the same time. But I'm so glad that they came down and we had so much fun with them here.

Happy Birthday Clay

Yesterday was Clay's birthday, he turned 29. He says now he isn't counting the years until he is 30 he is counting down the days haha. Happy Birthday Clay I hope you had a great day! Clay you are such an awesome person, a wonderful husband and father! Maleah and I couldn't ask for anything better, you are so good to both of us and treat us both like princesses. I truly am the lucky one. For those of you that don't know Clay very well, I know I am bias but I think he could win the award for the best husband ever, seriously. He does the laundry without me ever having to ask him, he always does the dishes when they need done, he changes Maleah's poopy diapers even though it makes him gag haha. And he even likes our blog and reads almost on a daily basis. Clay always fills my car up with gas because I always forget, he goes to the store to get me tampons and doesn't even complain about it. He sacrifices so much so I can go to school, he stays up with Maleah to watch her while I am at school after working 12 hours and being dead tired. He has such a strong testimony and he always helps me to understand when I have questions. He is a great listener and such a good example to both our families. The list could go on and on but I love you Clay so much, happy birthday1


This is Clay with our dog Jack

Four Years Ago Today

(Sorry I couldn't get a better picture)

This was truly one of the best days of my life! Clay you are a wonderful husband and father, and I love you with all my heart!

His and Hers

HIS - Clay

1. Sitting in front of the TV, what's on the screen? Sports Center, The Office, Lost
2. You're out to eat; what kind of dressing does he get on his salad? Italian
3. What's one food he doesn't like? Milk, Deserts - Crazy I know
4. You go out to a restaurant, what does he get to drink? Pepsi
5. Where did he go to high school? Springville High School
6. What is one phrase he says all the time? "I never want to live here", EVERY time we drive through Ogden or Salt Lake
7. If he was to collect anything, what would it be? Classic Cars
8. What is his favorite type of sandwich? Italian with everything
9. What would this person eat everyday if he could? Anything he is not picky at all
10. What is his favorite cereal? Cinnamon Toast Crunch
11. What would he never wear? Chap Stick, flip flops, tight pants his have to be loose fit
12. What is his favorite sports team? Yankees
13. Who will he vote for? Usually Democratic
14. Who is his best friend? Me
15. How many states has he lived in? Utah, Idaho and Venezuela
16. Does he have any nervous habits? He doesn't look at who he is talking to
17. What could he spend hours doing? Holding Maleah, Watching TV
18. He is: A great Husband and Father
HER'S

1. Sitting in front of the TV, what's on the screen? The Food Network
2. You're out to eat; what kind of dressing does she get on her salad? Italian or Ranch it depends
3. What's one food she doesn't like? Mushrooms
4. You go out to a restaurant, what does she get to drink? Water
5. Where did she go to high school? Blackfoot High School
6. What is one phrase she says all the time? I don't know I will have to ask Clay
7. If she was to collect anything, what would it be? Things from where we have traveled
8. What is her favorite type of sandwich? Turkey
9. What would this person eat everyday if she could? Chocolate
10. What is her favorite cereal? Honey Bunches of Oats
11. What would she never wear? Anything Yellow
12. What does she always wear? Jeans
13. Who will she vote for? Usually Republican - This is the cause of many heated debates
14. Who is her best friend? Clay
15. How many states has she lived in? Idaho and Utah
16. Does she have any nervous habits? Fidgeting
17. What could she spend hours doing? Holding Maleah, being on the internet
18. She is: Sick of Homework

I tag: Alysa, Shylo, Lindsay

Super Bowl Party

Maleah got all dressed up in her favorite team's colors, Red & White. GO CARDINALS!!! Although Maleah doesn't realize that the Cardinals are her team yet, the night she was born the Cardinals won on Monday Night Football. Uncle Bryan said that the Cardinals won because Maleah was born, so from then on her NFL team is the Cardinals. We had a great time at Grandma & Grandpa Kappas' Super Bowl Party. It's too bad that the Cardinals lost, but Grandma Kappas was happy that her Steelers won!

LOVE

Ok, I know I totally have the wrong holiday and valentines isn't for two more months but I just feel so much love today for my family.  I love my little Maleah so much and I can't believe how fast she is growing, this morning she was all smiles while her daddy was leaving for work. It was so cute to see her smile at him! I love Clay so much and appreciate all he does for me and for Maleah.  He is such a good dad and when he comes home from work he just wants to hold Maleah all night and never put her down.  He works so hard so that I can stay home with Maleah and so we can have and do nice things.  I love you Clay!  And yes, I do love Christmas too. I love the spirit of giving, remembering Christ in our lives, being with family, buying presents for people, and good food, and I even love the snow, but only during the week of Christmas. I love everyone in our families and I am so thankful for each of you and everything you do for Clay and I!