Yet another first, to add among thousands, for our family!

BIG title, yah, I know. I was just way excited for this. I guess you could say I've been looking forward to it for about um, 18 months now! Have you guessed what it is yet? Cheater! I saw you read ahead! That's right- Tyli is now officially in Nursery! She has (very UNwillinginly) been going to nursery for a few weeks, which has always resulted in me ending up with her because her nursery teachers love the sound of her screaming as much as I do, but today was her actual "legal" day to go, so I opened the door, placed her on the floor as I grabbed a toy from the toy bin, shoved it in her hand, and RAN! OK, so I know my sister-in-laws are thinking, "I always knew she was a mean mom!"-I'm only kidding Jen and Steph! I guess I am mean. She is so stubborn that she would NEVER go, and she needs to learn a little Independence- TRUST ME! She REALLY needs to be away from her mom- even if it's only a little under 2 hours a week at a time. I have to thank Megan, who had to endure the screaming, and another big thanks to Lindsay who ended up holding her the whole time. I just hope next Sunday she will let me plop her down again without magically sticking to me. Today was big because I actually got to listen to ALL of my Sunday School and combined meeting lesson for the first time in almost 3 years (no joke!), which I really needed.Really Megan, thanks!

Dallin Had A Birthday, Shout Hurray!

I can't believe my big boy is 5 already! He looks 5, according to him, and I agree, but it hasn't really been 5 years since I had him, has it?

The kids and I had a great time looking at Dallin's scrapbook and talking about the day he was born. He loved seeing pictures of him from that time and the year following his birth. I think we spent a little over an hour doing this, but it kept them occupied. McKade thought every picture was of him, and Tyli just kept saying, "baby!" I loved looking at this almost more than they did.

Dallin is a very strong, opinionated boy (just like him mom!). He was convinced we HAD to go to Peter Piper Pizza for a party. Since it was his year to not have a party, we were hesitant, but decided to take our family and have fun. Brad and Stephanie and their boys joined us, and we all had a great time together. Dallin sure loves his cousins and was so excited to see that they were there. (Aunt) Stephanie bought him some tokens for his birthday, so the kids all enjoyed playing games and riding the rides. Dallin liked a video game the best, and the most wonderful part was that for some reason, he was playing off someone else's tokens and played for free for about 20 minutes! He even beat Steph and I at Air Hockey (well, kinda- the score said he won, but you know, it was his birthday!)

After dinner, we headed to Grandma's house for brownies and ice cream. Dallin was so excited for his presents, it was fun watching him try not to look at them. He absolutely loved everything he got, and was feeling pretty overwhelmed towards the end. I snuck out and got his new bike Cauley and I surprised him with. He was hesitant riding it at first as it is MUCH bigger then the one he had, but he got the hang of it and was riding up and down the sidewalk before too long. It was cute watching Parker and McKade run after him. All in all, he had "the best birthday ever!" I love him so much and can't believe that 5 years has passed so quickly!

Turley Family Reunion

Our family "hike" lead by Uncle Grant.

What a weekend! We all loaded our cars and headed to a secluded spot outside of Show Low, AZ for the Turley family reunion. We "camped out" in a very old church, which fit our family very well. We had plenty of rooms for everyone to sleep in, giving every family their own room, and everyone had their own bed. The "Relief Society room was changed into our "dining room" and provided enough space at the table for a majority of the people to eat. The cultural hall was my kids' favorite, providing loads of fun with ping pong, a pool table, and enough space for all our crafts, games, and running around. There was even an area (chapel maybe?) where we had couches and a big screen TV with satellite cable! This was where we all would meet for family time, which included games, meetings, and, of course, laughter and tears. My personal favorite area of this old church was the old baptismal font which had been changed into a big shower (which I don't think anyone used!). Our kids had so much fun running around this huge building with cousins old and young! I had a wonderful time chatting with Aunts and Uncles and had a great time with my two nephews, Parker and Bryce. My mother-in-law planned a lot of the reunion, with help from Aunt Gerry, and I must say they did a phenomenal job! I love spending time with this side of our family, and am grateful for the opportunity to go to our reunion again this year! (A BIG thank you to Aunt Gerry for everything!) I can't wait for next year!

Grandma Kathy (my mother-in-law) and McKade outside "exploring."

My kids taking their bath Saturday night in an old tub.



A fun family moment at a park in Show Low.

Brad and Bryce

?Thankful Thursday?

I know, I am pretty weird some times, but I just wanted to say how thankful I am to be helping out the primary lately. For pretty much the past 3 months now, I have substituted EVERY week by filling in as a teacher in either the nursery or primary. Either I am called during the week from a teacher who won't be attending that week or "searched out" as soon as Sacrament is over by a very desperate primary president, and willingly give up my seat to Sunday School to help out. Having been a primary teacher for the past 8 years of my life now (mingled with other fun callings, of course) I feel right at home sitting in singing time with 2-3 kids sitting on my lap while belting out the primary hymns. I pretty much have the lesson manuals memorized, and have a few "tricks," or time filling games I have learned. I love teaching these little ones and learning from them more than I could ever teach them. I am very thankful to be able to help out, as I have depended on others to fulfill my calling a time or two in the past.

*This is an absolute disclaimer, that in NO WAY am I wanting to be called AGAIN as a primary teacher (for the time being anyways). I am just happy to help out, that's all. But, I know the call is coming- it's just a matter of time. I think my purpose in life is to go every Sunday and teach either primary or nursery.

Happy Father's Day, Cauley!

I am not the sappy type, so, following my usual, I just want to say Happy Father's Day to the most wonderful husband ever, Cauley. (aka Daddy, Mr. Clark, and Coach Clark. ) I am so thankful to have you in my life. You are a wonderful example to me and our kids and I love watching you teach and play with them. It's no wonder our boys want to be just like you when they grow up, and if they are, I will be one VERY happy mom!

Tyli goes swimming

As I was cooking dinner the other night, I heard Cauley yell "Jami, bring the camera!" I quickly did as I was told, trying hard to figure out where he was. I heard him say, "No. Sit down!" and realized he was in our bathroom with one of our kids. To my surprise, I saw Tyli sitting in our toilet with a huge grin on her face. When she saw me, she said, "I swim, mommy!" I quickly turned on the video camera and we had a nice little conversation with her on video, then I turned it off and snapped a few pictures before we let her get out of her new swimming pool. (Just kidding about her new pool!) I hope we got the message to her about not getting into the toilet again!

Our New TV

I will not bore you all with details of this very interesting story, so if you want to read about it, please go to our other blog. (* I will not try and hyperlink this because none of mine ever work anyhow- just click on it under my fantastic family links.) Anyways, The first TV picture was returned, the second picture is of the TV that is now sitting in our entertainment center waiting for us to watch it! (Just kidding, we have used it PLENTY already.)

Swim Lessons

Living in Arizona, there is no other option other than putting your kids in swim lessons so they can learn to swim. Our swimming season here lasts about 5 months a year, and most of that time the temperature outside is much higher than the average body temp., so the most comfortable way to live is to swim. It is not easy to keep comfortable in the water while watching 3 small children who are fearless of it, however, so , like any wise person should, I enrolled my kids in swim lessons. Jennifer, my sister-in-law, taught my 2 oldest last year and I have to say, she did an AMAZING job! This year proved to be a little more difficult, as Jennifer is now living very far east of AZ. Aunt Jeni got the honor this year, and my kids loved it! (ok, so McKade screamed for the first week every time he had to go under the water, but since then begs us to go swimming!) They loved the fact that at the end of their lesson, Gavin, Cauley's cousin, would bring out each kid an otter pop. (Tyli even snagged a few!) I, however, sat outside for an hour or so everyday, watching and wishing I could be in the water cooling off with my boys. I think the only thing that saved me was good company (Megan, Jenn, and all the rest of you who shared in our dread for listening to our children screaming!) and giving my non-swimming kiddos a spray bottle filled with water so I could "keep my cool!" Overall, I am sad we are done with swim lessons with Aunt Jeni for the summer. Cauley is going to take over now that he has a few (VERY FEW!) extra minutes and he has experience teaching swim to small kids. (He worked at Swim Kids USA like Jennifer and Stephanie for a summer.) I just love watching Dallin swim under the water, as he LOVES it, and McKade "monkey walking" around the pool, which makes him VERY happy-acting like an orangutan. Tyli, I am afraid for her, as she hasn't had swim lessons yet, but has absolutely NO fear of water, and will willingly walk off the side of the pool or steps. If any of you need a good referance for swim lessons, please call or email me.

Daddy's gone!

Cauley and Jeff (Cauley's younger brother) are off in New Mexico (Mexico if you ask my kids!) having fun. Ok, really, they are having a great time, but Cauley went to coach one of his track athletes in the Southwest National Meet. (The guy who won the state decathlon when I was at home with food poisoning!) Anyways, I was, and still am, determined to make the most of it- especially when I am the one needing a vacation away from my kids. (I will take 15 minutes away- any takers? They really are good kids, I just need some kind of a break.) Anyways, Cauley left early Friday morning and the fun started with Tyli waking up shortly after and running into our room to see "Daddy." The poor thing was heartbroken that her "Daddy" wasn't there. I bargained and after some cereal, milk, and a "crackah," she was ok. Friday went pretty smooth overall. The kids and I spent a few minutes over at Cauley's parents before heading off to Costco to meet up with Brad and Steph. They were really good through Costco, and even made it home without falling asleep. After some lunch, Tyli took a quick nap and the boys helped me clean up. Then we had pizza for dinner. (I bought one at Costco for our "fun" dinner.) We had a movie night, watching "Finding Nemo" again and eating popcorn. They even went to bed good! Then they woke up.

Dallin seemed determined to make everyone scream today, including myself. Tyli found her Independence and is turning out to be a little more than difficult, and McKade just wanted to be loved ALL day. (Nothing wrong with that, I just can't sit and cuddle all day.) Anyways, Tyli was found in the boys' room ripping off the border (wallpaper) where she could reach from Dallin's bed while I washed dishes. Then, about 15 minutes later, after putting "Finding Nemo" back on as a babysitter, I finally got a shower. I should have stayed in. I had just put my shirt back on when I hear Dallin yelling "Mom, Tyli's stinky but doesn't have her diaper on!" (quick check to remember if I had put one on, and I remembered putting one back on and the shorts on as well.) I run to the living room thinking she's in there. No sign of her, just her shorts she had taken off and a stinky diaper in the middle of the floor along with evidence that she had headed to the boy's room. (When I say evidence, I mean I followed the trail of brown stinky stuff on the walls and carpet!) Tyli was not in there any longer, but had definitely been been on the boy's beds again! I followed the trail into her room and found she had climbed into my rocking chair, the baby bouncy seat, and there I found her bouncing along on her zebra my mom gave her for Christmas. BATH TIME! It was a pretty big STINKY mess, but I somehow managed (with help from a package of dried fruit and her booster seat I can tightly strap her into!) to clean everything up in about 45 minutes. No time for a nap, we had to lather up in sunscreen for our ward party. That was a lot of fun- no really it was. I only lasted about an hour, running after all 3 of my kids at a neighborhood park that had kiddie pools set up every 3-4 feet and slip and slides for my kids to stand in the middle of whenever someone came running toward one. I could tell we were all getting burnt, despite my use of half a bottle of "sun lotion." So I put us all back in the stroller and we walked home, only to get even more burnt. Try explaining to a 4 year old why gas costs so much so we have to walk the 2 blocks instead of driving when it's 105 outside! After dinner, we had a great time going shopping for a Father's Day present and then off to Sonic for "Date Night." (Dallin has been asking me forever to take him on a date, so since my husband isn't in town, why not?) We went to Sonic and each of the kids got a milkshake, which are on sale right now for 99 pennies! We had a great time sitting outside, once again, in the HOT weather eating ice cream and playing McKade's favorite game of "I Spy." When we got home, all three were ready for bed, but since it was only 6:30, we read books for an hour before I gave in and let them go to sleep. So, here I sit, feeling very proud of myself that I have survived yet another day without my husband here to laugh with me at our comical children. One more day to go- and this is the real test as tomorrow is the sabbath and I get to go husbandless with my three amigos to church- and yes, we are going the full 3 hours! I just hope he's home when we get home, so maybe I'll be able to make dinner without the help of 6 unhelpful hands!

Thank You!

I was trying to think of what I have really been thankful for for my Thankful Thursday post today, and have decided to "Thank You!" Yep! I read your blogs and am so grateful for the perspective it gives me with my own life and crazy kiddos. My kids come running to the sound of me laughing out loud as I read some of your blogs like Megan, and the meanest mom, and Melissa (and lots others!). Dallin always wants to know what was so funny. They always love to sit on my lap and look at the pictures that you post, as opposed to me who doesn't have time to wait an hour per picture to load on my dial-up connection. Stephanie, Andrea, and Anne do a great job putting up tons of pictures (as well as most of you!) and I am thinking of hiring you guys out (or at least your computers) to add a couple of pictures to my blog every now and again. Like I said about four months ago, I love reading all of your blogs so I can keep in touch and see what you and your families are up to. I especially love finding old high school friends like Tami, Kira, and Courtney and am so excited when I find my college roommates like Melanie, and Annie. But really, thank you for being honest and real, allowing me to feel bad when I'm not being a fun mom or feel good for acheiving something off your list of goals! Thanks for giving me something to read that helps me deal with life's everyday situations. Who better to get advice and laughter from than friends like you?

* Just a little sidenote- I love all of your blogs and am sorry if I hurt your feelings by not meantioning you, I just picked randomly off the top of my head. Maybe, if you REALLY got your feelings hurt, post me and I'll meantion you in one of my next posts!

The promised pictures

I know I said I would post some pictures of our fun "adventures" from last week, but Cauley beat me to it. To see them, please check out our "other" blog here.