Owen's Winter ONEderland Birthday

Oh my gosh people, I cannot believe it, my baby boy is 1!  Cue the tears!

My sweet precious little guy is now officially not a baby and I have to admit I am 

finding it hard to deal with at the moment.  

My sad Mama's heart doesn't negate the fact that we still had a party to throw!  I mean you 

only turn 1 once right?  And what a major accomplishment when you think

about what all babies accomplish in that first year of life!

I had been pondering what "theme" to do for this little laid back guy.  For his brother it

was so very easy because balls were all he played with!  But Owen likes pretty much

anything and everyone, so having something specific to him wasn't quite

as easy.  Luckily my mother found the cutest theme of a Winter ONEderland on pinterest

and we just went from there.  Isn't pinterest awesome?

This was by far a super easy party thanks in part to the principal at the elementary school here. 

She loves to decorate anything and everything and she had all of these decorations on hand 

besides the table cloths!  My mother was gracious enough to bring them to me as 

well as help out with supplies for the party.  Her, my grandmother, grandfather, aunt and cousin

all helped set everything up the night before (I know, I really do have the best family).  I was

so thankful for their help because I had been laid up with a sinus infection for two days and

didn't get down there until late! 

Some of the refreshments.  I loved the water jug that was supposed to resemble a melted snowman!
We also had hot chocolate and chili, along with "snow" powdered donuts and pop-corn in snowman cups.

The banner said "Happy Birthday" with snowflakes behind it.  

We later put monthly pictures I had taken of Owen on the tree to show his growth!

The DELICIOUS cupcakes our friend and surrogate "grandmother" Lolli made for us!

My Birthday Boy!

What party would it be if there wasn't train ride!

I had some handsome help opening presents!

Ready for some cake!

My friend, Shaina, made his darling smash cake which was also DELICIOUS!

HE was nasty, so nasty that I didn't want to get him out.  My brother did that for me.

It was definitely a two man clean up job!

Reid and his two favorite people in the world basically!  They get married in like 47 days!  Woohoo!


All in all, Owen had a terrific birthday!  I couldn't have done it without help, especially from my mom
who bought banners, table cloths, made gum favors, and everything in between.
Seriously she is the best and I am so thankful for her and all her help.

We are so blessed by our little man and are excited to watch him grow up into a wonderful man of God!

Tree Triming 2013

 I don't know about you, but trimming the tree is one of my favorite things to do for the Holidays!   Mark actually tells me it is not called trimming the tree if it is artificial, but decorating it.  However, I find something so rustic about saying "trimming" so that is what we're gonna say.  Seriously though, there is something so magical about cranking up some Christmas music and reminiscing over ornaments you haven't seen in a year.  I love the family togetherness and I can't wait to see how it evolves as our kids grow older. I hope to make this one of the most special memories of home they have.  Until then, back to the present day.  Reid has really enjoyed Christmas this year, and though he is still working on grasping the big concept, all of the fun things are great.

Here are a few iPhone pictures snapped.  We were on our way to head to a family pre-thanksgiving meal this day.  Though we are normally die hard "no tree up until after Thanksgiving" people, we knew we would be gone from Thursday to Sunday to celebrate in Tyler, so up it went.

Seriously couldn't you just eat him up?

This is one of my favorite ornaments.  It was my great great grandmothers.  Her arms are tucked behind her back btw.

Proof that the parents actually do exist!

Sweet Owen on his first tree trimming!

My heart is full

I love this sweet boy!

Reid got the job of putting the star on the top! 

Too. Much. Cuteness!

Here you get an instagram video of Reid singing Frosty the Snowman!  Enjoy!

All in October

This is a random post of off the things that happened in the month of october around the clifton house!

I know this wouldn't be most people's cup of tea but I love living next to my parents, grandparents, and aunt and uncle.  It is seriously the best.  One of the major benefits is getting to see family constantly.  We work together to get things done and as a result my kids get to experience different things and get to know their grandparents.  I adore the way Reid loves Poppy and wants to help him do many different things around the "land".

Reid helping Poppy on the Tractor

This kid also LOVES LOVES LOVES sports.  He will go to a football game and actually watch it.  He has done so for most of his life.  He claps when others clap, and just enjoys the game.

One of his birthday presents from his "Tink" (my aunt) was a two man tent!  He ate breakfast in it for 2 solid weeks.  

I just think he is adorable!

On October 19, my brother-in-law, Mark's Twin, Blake got married to a wonderful girl  We were all there to celebrate the occasion with Mark as best man and Reid as ring bearer.  Reid's eardrum had burst the Monday before, but we didn't find out about it until we were driving down Thursday morning!  Mark said "Um, Kristen, have you seen this green gunk coming out of Reid's ear?"  Poor guy did not sleep very good at all the two nights we were away.  However you can't tell it from the pictures!

Reid showing of his "bones".  They were also glow in the dark!

One of my sister-in-laws, Katy, who helped me get the boys ready and to the wedding.  Love her!

Every one is married!  Sister in laws!

Isn't he adorable?!

 The wedding was beautiful but it was a LONG trip back.  Made even worse by the ear escapade.  At one point I was sitting in the backseat trying to feed both boys who were screaming!  When that ordeal was over 30 minutes later I told Mark I had a proposition.  I decided he and I would renew our vows when the rest of his brothers all had small children and they would have to drive just far enough to make it feasible they could drive back.  Luckily I don't think that will happen, but at the time it made me feel better!

They both fell asleep the last 15 minutes of the 4 hour drive! 

Showin' Owen: 7 Months Old

Once again it is that time.  My sweet baby boy just wont stop growing.  Children are funny that way haha.  7 months have gone by and have truly been some of the very best.  Sadly this week we have our first ear infection ever to deal with, but Owen is such a trooper, still smiling through it all.

Here are some things he is doing at 7 months:

1. He is much more alert and plays really well with toys and things.  Reid was never really a big "toy" kid, he loved balls, but this one likes just about anything.

2.  We still have NO TEETH!  I keep waiting on them to come in and nothing has shown up!  I'm ready to get this show on the road!

 3.  He can sit up really well on his own, no more "oh no!" falling backwards accidents.

4.  He is starting to rock back and forth to get ready to crawl.  I don't want him to crawl because then I know it is on and I will be going two different directions!

5.  He eats more table food than Reid ever did!  Whatever we are having I try to give him a bite of it somehow.  He likes most everything we give him so far.

We are loving his cloth diapers!

6. He can find his paci and put it in his mouth, sadly we are going to be trying to take that away pretty soonish.  Reid let his go around 9 months!

 7.  He is still nursing, but has FINALLY moved to the 4 hour mark!  Hallelujah!  We usually nurse, then eat cereal, the when up from our morning nap nurse again and eat a little something for lunch.  Then we sleep and wake up from our afternoon nap and nurse, eat something around dinner, and possibly go back down for a short evening nap.  We also nurse right before bed:)

8.  His cousin, born 3 weeks before him, just said "Dada" for the first time (and it was oh so cute!!!) so you better believe I have been working on both "Mama" and "Dada"

 9.  He really is just the happiest little guy.  He loves to be held and enjoys being outside the most.

10.  He weighs 17.15 and was in the 61% for height when we went for his last check up. All in all a very healthy boy.

He is playing on a quilt from my great grandmother!

Sitting up tall!!!