Elsie's Blessing Slideshow

Kristyn did such a good job the other day with Elsie's little photo shoot I had done in her blessing dress. Just click on the link below......
http://bigshow.bigfolio.com/?s=000010307&t=4b40e7c99fda8c16359a12620cef99e5

Happy Fathers Day!

Our Dads!

I want to wish the special men in my life a Happy Fathers Day! Today is less stressful than Mothers day for us because this is the first year that we have only one dad to see and he happens to live in Laguna and we are anxious to see him tuesday. I am so grateful to have my dad in my life. He is such an amazing example to me. He has taught us from a very small age the difference between right and wrong. He is an amazing leader in the church and has such a strong testimony of our gospel and is always willing to sit down and spend the time to teach us. Even as an adult, Jason and I are always learning something from my dad whether it's from the Book of Mormon, the economy, business or about raising children, he always takes that extra time to teach us. He is so generous to others and is always willing to help others in need. Even though he lives in Laguna, we are fortunate enough to see him on a semi weekly bases and I look forward each week to spend time with him.  Although I am married, he always puts forth an effort to have a strong relationship with us! We always joke that when him and Jason get into a DISCUSSION or disagreement, I ALWAYS take my dads side! He tells Jason that when his girls are older they will be the same with him. It is funny how daughters always think their dad is ALWAYS right no matter what! I love my dad so much and am grateful to  him for his love and teachings to me in my life. I don't know where my life would be without great parents and amazing examples. 

Me, Dad and Tracey in the Sacred Grove

Ava and Grandpa

Me and my Dad 

This is definitely a different and  more emotional day for my husband. This is his first Fathers Day without his dad. Chuck was such a good dad. He loved his children so much and would do ANYTHING for them. At his funeral in December, Jason told a story that I thought was so funny. When they were little, Chuck was a single dad for awhile and he loved to spend time with his boys. One day after the boys soccer game, he stopped at a gas station picked up a pay phone and called into work to tell them he wasn't able to make it because his son had just broken their arm! Jason looked down at his arms and then looked down at Dougs and neither one of them had a broken bone! He just wanted to take some time off and spend it with his boys. I am appreciative for this quality in him because he has passed it down to my husband. (not the fibbing part, the need for spending quality time with his kids!) Chuck always had a smile on his face and really loved life. He had so many great qualities and makes me want to be a better person. Every time he walked in the room he would always greet you with a hug! My children were his only grandkids and he really did love them. Ava still prays for him every night. We miss him so much and can't wait to see him again!

Jasons 3rd Birthday with his dad

Jason and his dad 

Grandpa and Emmie in California

Last but not least, I am also grateful for my sweet husband who is such a good dad. He works so hard to give us a good life and I am so grateful for that. He is always looking out for others and has a very sensitive side to him. He is such a great leader and is always willing to serve others in time of need. I want him to know how lucky I am to have him by my side raising these children. They love him soooo much and he always has their best interest at heart. Whenever I am in need of help with the kids I know he is always willing to step in and help out. He will even take them to work with him! I certainly married my best friend and I wouldn't have it any other way. I hope he has a great day! Happy Fathers Day!

Sacred Grove writing in his journal. Always striving to be a better person!

Us in the Sacred Grove! Awesome feeling!

Jason and his little GIRLS!

Toothless Emmie!

My little Em bug lost a tooth last night! It has been loose for about a week and I have been contemplating on having her pictures taken again before she looses her baby girl look. Well, I should have done it.... It became a little more loose during therapy yesterday, so while we were hanging out having prayer before bed, I decided to yank it! It was hanging by a thread and I noticed she had lost another bottom tooth that nobody has any recollection of, which means it probably was swallowed. She lost her first tooth while I was in the hospital having Elsie so we put both of them under a cute tooth fairy pillow that Grandma Eileen had made and it was the first time we have been able to use it! Mr. Tooth Fairy came last night and took both of them! (I was shocked that he remembered!)

I had to get a picture of her this morning before she got on the bus for her 1st day of Summer School. I am so glad that she gets to go to school to keep her busy during the summer. She loves school and gets to be reacquainted with all of her old friends for 4 weeks at Foundation. As you can tell in the picture, she wasn't too excited to get up early this morning but she will be happy once she gets there. They are going on a field trip today to go swimming! Can't wait to hear about it! Emmie is such a special girl and makes me smile all the time. (especially now since she is missing her front tooth)  I can't believe how big she is getting. We went to the Dr. last week when she was sick and I had them measure her just to see how tall she was getting and she was 47 inches. Keep in mind that I am only 4 ft. 11". She has less than a foot to catch up to me. SCARY!!!! What am I going to do? She definitely didn't get my genes! I love you Em and hope you have a great day!

Couldn't get a smile out of her!

Emmie waiting for the bus

Elsie's Special Blessing Day

Last Sunday we blessed our little princess and Jason gave her such a beautiful blessing! I am so grateful to have a husband who honors his priesthood and is able to bless our children. All of our family from both sides came to support us and we are so grateful for them. We each took the opportunity to share our testimonies and express our gratitude for Elsie's safe arrival. I am so blessed to have this gospel in my life and I don't know where my life would be without it. I am so happy that she has joined our family and has brought such a sweet spirit into our home. She is such a good baby and I am so glad that Emmie and Ava have fallen in love with her too! She has the cutest personality and I have a feeling that she is going to be a little spit fire, which will go right along with her RED hair! I don't know how we ended up with 3 girls that look NOTHING like one another. I feel so honored to be the mother of my children and that my Heavenly Father has entrusted me to teach my children about his gospel here on this earth.

 

Dad and Elsie (she must have been hungry!)

Dad and Ava

My 3 little angels!

Waiting to dig in!

Yes! This cake is real and it was yummy! A lady in Queen Creek makes them and she did an awesome job. designercakesbyapril.blogspot.com check her out!

Elsie (aka Big Red!) that is what her dad calls her every time he walks in the room! We are all so in LOVE with her!

 

Grandpa McCleve and Elsie

All her Grandparents, we aren't lacking in the Grandma department!
Elsie with Grandma Eileen

Elsie and Grandma Bella

Elsie and Grandma McCleve

Elsie and Grandma Cindy

Elsie, she is getting so big!

Dad and Elsie

Mom and Elsie

Ahhhh.... I just LOVE her!

Laguna Beach!

It's been a month since we went out of town but I wanted to do a post for my own records. We went to California the beginning of May and stayed at my parents house to watch their dog, "Bear" while they were in Israel for 2 weeks! Who wouldn't want to do that? Besides, he is so cute and cuddly and my kids adore him! Anyway, the weather was overcast the entire time which was nice for a change but we definitely didn't come home with a tan from the beach! Grandma Bella came with us to help with the girls and we had such a relaxing time. We hung around the house and watched so many movies, ate out, shopped, went dolphin and whale watching, went to Sea World, went to Disneyland and just enjoyed being away from the heat and enjoyed being with each other with no chaos! We had so much fun... until the last 3 days! Jason got sick with the flu on Mothers Day (lucky me)! Emmie and Ava both got strep and Ava also got it in places I never knew you could catch it! Ava also smashed her finger in the shower door and screamed like no other. I got strep and a breast infection at the same time. Talk about MISERABLE! So, I had a friend that lives in our neighborhood call in an antibiotic for me. Needless to say, we were trying to leave but I couldn't even get out of bed the last day so we put the drive on hold until the following day thinking we were on our way back to normalcy. Well the last night I had gone to bed, I was taking my 5th bath up in my parents room in the middle of the night and Jason was yelling for me to come and feed Elsie because she was hungry. So, I get out and go running down the travertine stairs without drying off because I was trying to hurry to get to my baby and BOOM! I fell all the way down the stairs and hurt myself very bad. Luckily Jason was at the bottom so he picked me up and put me on the bed. I have never been in SO much pain in my entire life! I would much rather have had a baby naturally, it hurt so bad! So, we delayed the trip another day because I couldn't move. I completely forgot that I was running a fever with a breast infection and strep throat. Ava and I flew home the next morning so that I could get my back looked at and she could go to the doctor. There was NO way I would have been able to sit in the car for 5 hours! We are all better now thanks to Dr. Curtis! Avas finger and strep eventually got better and Emmie still hasn't been able to kick this cold that she has had for the past month. She is on her 2nd series of antibiotics and we are hoping that she doesn't have pneumonia. We had such a fun time on our first little family trip since Elsie has joined us! Life is good but would be a lot better if Em got over this sickness! Thanks to my parents for letting us come stay in their beautiful home for 2 weeks and getting to wake up to this every morning.......                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

This is their view from their beautiful home!

Emmie and Ava at Sea World

Em was so tired!

Little Miss Ava

Good ol' Sea World and Shamu

Grandma and Ava waiting for Shamu to start!

Emmie and Dad

Mom and Emmie

It was so COLD!

Our little family at Disneyland

The happiest place on earth! (it truly is with a handicap pass!)

Mom and Elsie at Grandma and Grandpa McCleves!

We went on a boat and went dolphin watching. It was so awesome, we found a pod of 300 dolphin and they were surrounding our boat! They were so close you could touch them! Amazing!

Em Bug sure did love the BUMPY boat ride! She smiled the entire time. It was better than Sea World to her!

Dad of course got sea sick. He said it put his equilibrium off for the next week. I, of course don't buy it!!!!!

Em and Ava in Minnie mouses house

Ava

Mickey Mouse

Dad and Em. She loved the feeling of the water on that spinning ball!

Dad and Elsie. He sat out most all the rides at Disneyland due to his equilibrium being off! We still LOVE him!

Sisterly LOVE! 

Grandma and Elsie

Ava and Dad

Mom Elsie and Em

Love the teacups!

Good ol' Dumbo... it's always a hit with these girls!