California Trip

Last week we took a trailer trip to Oceanside, CA. We wanted to take Thomas to Legoland (ok, I wanted to, Ryan was just along for the ride). It was so nice to finally get away. After Ryan's internship during tax season, it was a much needed vacation. We had so much fun just relaxing, enjoying the weather, and doing whatever we wanted.



We spent the first day exploring Legoland.

Thomas later said that these cars were his favorite ride

Ryan and Thomas on the train ride


Andrew

and then Thomas

Thomas and me on the safari ride

When we finally got to the front of the line, I was starting to panic, because the entire time Thomas kept telling me he wanted to be on the zebra car (see Zoo Trip post) and the ride worker makes you get on the first car available. Well the first two out of the three cars available were leopard print. If he didn't get the zebra one, things were going to get ugly! Good thing the people behind us - their little girl wanted the leopard print one really bad. So I had them go ahead of us, they took the two leopard cars and we got the zebra one without having to wait another turn. Everyone was happy!

The next day we went to Legoland's Sea Life aquarium. It was pretty fun.

Thomas and the Nemo fishes

Touching the starfish

All three of my boys

We took one day at the beach. It was a little cold and windy, but still fun.

Andrew LOVED the water

Thomas would rather play in the sand, but I did get him in the water for a minute

Zoo Trip

We had a fun day at the zoo with Grandma and Grandpa Clouse, Aunt Marcia, Dallin, Sean, Morgan, Aunt Angela, Kadence, and Addi.

Thomas had just recently decided that zebras are his favorite animals, so the whole time he kept telling us we needed to find the zebras. Thank goodness we finally did!

Another 1st for Andrew

Ryan gave him his 1st haircut a couple weeks after his birthday. He sat SO good and didn't make a peep, VERY much unlike his big brother who cries and fights it every step of the way!

Our 4th Anniversary

On May 20th it was our 4th Anniversary. We really didn't plan anything for it, since we had just gotten home from our California trip just a day before. But Ryan's mom offered to babysit while we went out. So we couldn't pass up a free babysitting opportunity! We had a nice dinner at Charleston's and were going to go to a movie, but the timing didn't quite work out. We then went over to Ryan's Grandma Clouse's to return a book and ended up just sitting there and visiting for a while. It was a nice night anyway. And Ryan surprised me with a gorgeous bouquet of flowers earlier in the day. What a wonderful husband I am lucky to have! We had such a fun day just being able to enjoy each other's company.

Thomas's 3rd Birthday

Thomas had so much fun for his 3rd birthday on April 22nd. He had some of his friends over for a party. It was so cute, that's all he talked about for at least a week before and after. It was all animal themed, so we had 'Pin the Tail on the Lion' and 'Feed the Monkey' bean bag toss. Then of course lunch and cupcakes, followed by playing in the water.

Side note: I was proud of myself for using my sewing machine for the first time, and I sewed up the bean bags (with Afton's coaching).

Kimball and Cannon

Benton

Aidan

Breghten

Thomas

Thomas and Andrew

Thomas

Andrew's 1st Birthday

Andrew had his 1st birthday back on March 8th. We threw him a little party, and he had lots of family, including all of his grandparents there.

I would have more pictures, but I couldn't find my dang camera for half of the night! So I still need to get some additional pictures from my sister-in-law Leslie.

One memorable part: I had made Andrew his own little cake to play in. So with the cake sitting right in front of him in his high chair, I light up the candle, and then turn my back for a split-second to grab the newly discovered camera and Andrew grabs at the fire! (Note to self: Duh! Do NOT do that again!) Everyone in the room, with all eyes on him (except his mother, of course) screams, "NO!" Which scared him more than the candle hurt him, I think. But the damage was done. He wouldn't stop crying until I got him out of his high chair and calmed him down. It was quite a while before he would trust putting his hand near his cake again. But once he did, he downed that cake!

Although I know at least one little cousin of his learned a lesson from this. Ethan (age 6) during the blessing for his baby brother Oliver's first birthday (exactly a month later) blessed that Oliver wouldn't get the fire. It was cute.

Can you tell which one is which?

(Andrew, Thomas)

(Andrew, Thomas)

(Thomas, Andrew)

(Andrew, Thomas)

(Andrew, Thomas)


Isn't it astonishing how much they look alike sometimes?

Palmer Family Pictures

These are some of my favorite pictures that my sister, Cami, took during Thanksgiving:

Me, Sandi, and Cami
My parents

My nephew Barrett and niece Kendall

Ryan and me

My niece Kyli and her husband Kevin

Cami and Mike

Thomas and Andrew

My mom and Andrew

Me and Sandi

Barrett and Dad

The Bless You's

People who really know Thomas can tell you he is such a polite little boy. Always saying Thank you, Your Welcome, Bless You, and I'm Sorry. (Unless he's shy around you.)

Well the other day he sneezed or coughed or something and I forgot to say "Bless you" to him. So he comes up to me and tells me, "Mom, I have the Bless You's in my mouth."

He cracks me up every day!

Christmas Pictures

The Holidays this year were very nice. We have so much to be thankful for in our family. My parents and my sister, Sandi, came down here to Phoenix for Thanksgiving at my house. (Mom did all the cooking, thank goodness. I just set the table and created the ambiance!) My sister, Cami, took some beautiful family pictures of all of us. It was such a lovely afternoon. I just wish my parents could be closer - the boys just love them so much.

Santa was also very good to us this year. Here he is with the boys, making a surprise Christmas Eve visit to Grandma and Grandpa Clouse's:

Here is Thomas and Andrew dressed up for the traditional reading of the Birth of Jesus. Thomas as a shepherd and Andrew as a stable cow. (We are determined to get our money's worth out of that Halloween costume!)
I thought I would share a couple pictures of some home-made Christmas gifts I did. In my very first sewing project ever, I hand-stitched this tooth bear for a couple of nephews who are in their tooth-losing days:

(thanks for the pic, Afton)

And then for my mother-in-law, Margo, I made these ornaments with all the ancestor's pictures in them:

I thought they turned out really cute. (Thanks for the idea, Carolyn!)

Andrew finally started crawling last month. Now he follows Thomas around and tries so hard to play with his toys too. He just loves Thomas. Usually Thomas is really good and sweet with him, but if Andrew gets to some toys that Thomas is trying to do something with, then I always hear Thomas whining, "No, Brother, no!" Then sometimes he'll even yell for me, "Mom! Brother needs his nap - come get him!" Little stinker!

Ryan applied for and got a new job. It is a paid internship at Larson Allen, an accounting firm, and he is so excited about it. This whole week he has been gone to Minneapolis for training. I finally get him back home tonight! Yeah!

Ryan finally graduates from ASU next semester in Accountancy. Then he will start his Master's program (another 2 years). I can't wait until school is over with.

But I am very proud of Ryan. He is such a smart and hard-working man. He has been so diligent with his school work - something I really admire about him. I couldn't ask for a better provider, husband, and father!