What's up?

Everyone keeps asking me what we have been up to lately and I am so bad for not posting more, but I just wanted to tell everyone we are all doing great!

Tyli is sneaky and into EVERYTHING! She is just so curious. Also, she is so independent it kills me. My boys were never this bad! "TyTy do it!" Also, and I really hate to admit this, but I have a very vain daughter. "TyTy is so pretty. TyTy is beautiful!" Yes, my friends, that is what you hear around this house several times a day! She is so stinking cute though that we love her to death! We are trying to be consistant to break her of some annoying habits, like climbing, getting into things that aren't hers, taking things away from other children- you know, the typical 2 year old stuff. Her binki is now gone! (We always take that away at 2 years and have yet to have a problem with it!) Hurray! The only disadvantage, if you can call it that, is now she won't sleep on her bed for some reason. She pulls everything off the bed to the floor, turns on the light, and sleeps next to the door. Odd- that's the best way to describe her. She just had her 2 year appointment and now she is 38 in. tall, 30 lbs, and her head is still very big as it has been since birth. (I can't remember the measurements- head size doesn't mean anything to me!)

McKade is still himself. Even though he is very much considered a "featherweight," he is eating me out of house and home. Seriously, for those of you who haven't seen him eat, believe me! He eats WAY more than I do. The good part is that he isn't consistent. Last week he went through 2 loafs of bread by himself in 2 days. (Jennifer, I know you've probably got something to say about that, but seriously!) Not only the bread, but a little more than 1/2 jar of pb and jam! At lunch one other day he ate 3 (rally 2 1/2 because there were some on the floor) packages of Ramen noddles. (I was out of bread- go figure!) Then, today, he won't eat hardly anything. This will probably go on for a week. He is so little thought that I sit and watch in wonder as to where all the food goes. He is getting taller, but sheesh! He plays with his trucks, cars, and tractors every day. He loves to talk about them, making up stories as to what they are doing. I guess I could say he has a great imagination- or another odd child.

Dallin is starting to drive us crazy. My parents got my family a Wii for Christmas and that is pretty much all Dallin does lately. Ok, so we don't let him play all the time (not even every day.) but he talks non-stop about playing it. I am about to accidentally "loose" it, but that would be something too obvious to lose. Other than the Wii, he is playing soccer right now. He's had 3 games and is starting to figure it out finally. He has a fun little team and we love yelling and cheering for all the kids. Saturday Dallin scored his first goal of the season. He was so excited he had to run over and ask if that meant he got extra time to play the Wii. The little stinker! He is doing well in school and is really liking the morning class. I don't think he likes to get up that early though. Why is it my kids never slept in until one of them started school?

Cauley is doing good. He is working hard getting ready for this upcoming Track season. He is also working a little extra and taking tickets for the boys home basketball games once a week. Oh yah, he's also taking 2 classes right now too. With his calling, school, and work, he is definitely staying busy!

I am also staying busy. My cub scout calling is starting to drown me (or so it feels like!) but should get better after Pack meeting, our Blue and Gold Banquet in less than a month, and Pine Wood Derby the following week. I just remind myself to take a deep breath every time I think about it. Actually, it really isn't bad. I have wonderful leaders who help a lot, it's just a lot to think about. I had one Saturday training earlier this month and I am so excited for the big POW WOW training this coming Saturday! On top of Cub Scouts, my primary calling has been fun. I feel like I am finally starting to love it. I just really don't like conducting, as I haven't had a very successful time getting through without messing up somehow. I really love serving with the sisters that I do and feel blessed to have this calling and to get to know more people in the ward. We have the most wonderful kids in our primary! Seriously, we had our "8 is great" tonight and I was so impressed with all 16 kids in our ward who turn 8 this year- they're amazing! I feel so blessed to be around them every Sunday.
That's basically what I've been up to. Notice I didn't say "I've been busy doing housework or laundry?" I haven't. Please don't come by my house- it's disgusting! That is my goal for tomorrow- clean this place up and do all 14 loads of laundry!

1-800-222-1222

This is Tyli's Christmas/birthday dress. It's really cute except you can't see the polka dots very well.

Have you ever had one of those moments where a child of yours may be in dire medical attention or possibly in need of an ambulance, or in a "demanding need" of a bandaid? I don't like those situations too well. Last week this happened to me and I panicked- hard core!

Tyli, my climber, was up on our kitchen counter when I walked into the kitchen from folding laundry in my room. I placed her back on the floor, but the paused, as I couldn't figure out how in the world she got up there as no props were around and no cupboard door left open for a boost up on a shelf. After inquiring McKade, I found out that she just "climbed like Spiderman." "Rats!" I thought as I walked back to my room to finish folding the never-ending pile of laundry. "Now she'll always be up there."

A few minutes later I noticed that Tyli's singing had once again stopped. It was too quiet so I went back to the kitchen to investigate. This time she wasn't on the counter. I found her on my kitchen rug, covered in a bottle of Children's Dimatap DM ( which she would have had to climb back up on the counter to get!) as she was pouring what was left of the bottle into a little medicine cup that was oozing over onto her pants and all over my rug. I panicked! How much had she drank? Is she going to die? How did she get into the child-proof bottle? Should I call 911? Is she going to be ok? What is the number to Poison Control? Is she going to die?

While I was panicking my phone rang. Oh, good. It was someone with a sensible head! "Hi, Lisanne? WHAT'S THE NUMBER FOR POISON CONTROL!!!!????" (I sure hope I didn't scare you, Lisanne!) After she very calmly found the number for me, I started to assess the situation a little more clearly. Although her pants and my rug were COVERED in the purple gooey stuff, her shirt had not a drop. Hmmm. This child has yet to drink a cup of the Sacrament water and not drizzle most of it's contents down the front of herself and the person sitting next to her. The bottle she had dumped out was only about 1/3 of the way full, but it looked as if all of it's contents were all over her pants and my rug. Had she even got any into her mouth? And how did she do it without dropping a single droplet on her shirt or face? Hmmm.

I hung up the phone and immediately called poison control. (The number is really easy, for those who don't know it. I really do have it memorized, but being in the moment, I forgot it! 1-800-222-1222) The lady who answered was very nice and listened and calmed me down. She asked how old she was, and when I told her that she just turned 2, she told me to look around her mouth for any signs of the medicine. I told her of my assessment, and she said I was probably correct and that that we'd know more within 30-45 minutes. "If she drank any at all, she'll be asleep within the hour." Good- except bad- her naptime is in 30 minutes. The nice lady told me she'd call back in an hour to check on Tyli, which she did. Poison Control also called 2 more times, making sure Tyli seemed normal. I stayed busy, going to Costco, my mother-in-law's, and feeding her to help her not want a nap. The good news- she never fell asleep. The bad news- she didn't get a nap that day. (For those of you who know my little Ty, she can be REALLY awnry with no nap!) The final conclusion is that she probably didn't drink any (thank goodness!) and that she is a very curious 2 year old! (And a great climber!) (And that my kitchen rug is now purple instead of tan.) My goal this week is to move all medicine probably to a lock box somewhere in the house, as I don't want this to happen again!

"I'll be a Sunbeam for Him!"

This is the best picture I could find of McKade as he is very camera shy and usually won't let us take any pictures of him at all! The best one I got of him today has both hands and arms wrapped around his little face, trying to hide from me.
Today was a big day for my little "monkey" McKade! He is now officially a Sunbeam! We talked it up for about 3 months now (He is NOT a big person who likes to deal with change!) and since the primary activity of "Meeting the Teachers" yesterday, he was so excited to be in primary now. He has a great teacher this year so that will help a lot. I could see the nervousness in his eyes (I conducted in primary today) but he did great. He even sang all of the songs. He probably thinks his mom is the ditsiest person ever as I had no clue what I was doing while conducting today and pretty much messed up everything (backward, out of order, forgetting things) but overall I think he had a good experience. We asked him if he liked primary when we were driving home and his response was this."No! My teacher didn't bring us any food!" I believe that is a typical Clark family answer as that is exactly what Dallin said after his first day and I can guarentee that's what Tyli will say too!

Back to life.....

The drive home went really well. We made excellent time, which made up for our drive to Idaho. McKade didn't feel to well coming home which continued for the next few days. He had a cold. Then Tyli got it. Her fever broke Friday morning, leaving behind a nice rash all over her body. This always happens with her so I'm used to it. Later that day she fell asleep in the car 5 minutes from our home. She woke up being brought into the house and I could tell she wasn't feeling well at all! After a few hours, we cancelled our plans for the night and I took her into the dr. She has another bad ear infection, the "start of" pink eye, and Roseolla- which the dr. explained as the rash that appears after a high fever breaks. (I always thought it was something worse than that, but I guess I am wrong.) She got the disgusting antibiotics that no kids ever will take to get rid of the ear infection and "pink eye", but the next morning she had no symptom of the pink eye, so I am wondering if she just has a goober that was mistaken for pink eye. She has been a gem ever since. (I am being VERY sarcastic!)

My baby turned 2!!

The big birthday girl blowing out her candles

Enjoying her store-bought cupcake's frosting- hey I totally ran out of time with her birthday being the day after Christmas! I made her crown because she always wants one of my preschooler's.

Grandpa Ruth "helping" Tyli bowl

Dallin and Colton showing off their bowling shoes

Brooklynn "posing" for the camera- she wanted me to take somewhere around 25 pictures of her and each time she would run down to me to "see it". I erased every other one except for this one- they all looked exactly the same! (Brooks is 9 days younger than Ty.)

Can you believe Ty is 2? (You would if you've been around her lately, sheesh!) My mom decided that for Tyli's birthday party she would take us all bowling. After dinner we went to the Idaho State SUB to bowl. The older boys, Carson, Dallin, and Colton took on the girls, Tyli and Brooklynn on one lane while Cauley, Jeni, my mom and I went at it one another. My dad "helped" the younger ones out by pushing the ball for them, even though they thought they were doing it by themselves. McKade didn't want to bowl at first, as he sometimes has a hard time trying new things. At the 7th frame, however, he decided it might be fun so he jumped in. We let him do it by himself the first time, but after waiting 15 minutes for the ball the ball to get to the other end, my dad decided that he needed help to get his bowling ball down the lane for the rest of their game. Us adults didn't do too hot, so I won't post our scores.

After our trek out in the snow for bowling, we went back to my parent's house for cake and ice cream- and presents. Ty actually blew out her own candles this year and then enjoyed her frosting off her cupcake and her ice cream. (My daughter won't eat bread in any form! The only exception is my Bishop's wife's cornbread, which she'll eat a ton of! She won't even eat cake!) Then came her presents, which she probably just thought was a hang over from Christmas. She enjoyed everything, which who wouldn't at 2 years of age? She especially loves the new baby stroller Grandma and Grandpa gave her for her new baby Santa brought her (that is pink- you have to say that or she'll say it for you.) I think she had a wonderful birthday- she says no, but that seems to be her choice of word for everything lately!

Lets rewind, shall we?

I know all of my pictures are way out of order, but at least they are there!

I know, long time, no post once again. I didn't even take advantage of my parent's computer and post pictures as promised. Sorry. You have probably guessed by now that we are home- back into the decent temperatures once agin, although I must say, I am still freezing! (The only time I'm not freezing is from June-November when I am in deed roasting!) A lot has happened between last post and now, but I'll only fill you in on a few fun things. First of all, the snow. By now you may know that I don't care too much for it other than looking at it, but holy cow! Cauley and I both agree we got over 2 feet- yes my friends, 2 FEET of snow while we were at my parent's house! That is not official, but it's pretty close to what we (and yes, that means I actually went outside and helped too- pictures and a video to prove it!) shoveled while we were in Idaho. It was lovely, as long as we didn't have to go out in it. (which we did.)

Christmas Eve is always fun for the Ruth family. We always go over to my Grandma's house (Grandma Ruth) and have a BIG party. It may not seem like a lot of people for those reading this, but when you add all the young kids into the mix, it can be hectic. I actually think things went rather smoothly this year! Dallin got to be Joseph for the annual Nativity story reinactment thing, but he wouldn't open his mouth to talk. Afterward, instead of the Christmas elf, who usually leaves new jammies or Christmas socks or slippers for everyone, Santa came and joined us! It was hilarious, and I have to say, this "Santa's Helper" really livened things up! He brought everyone a santa hat and candy. Then it was time to head home to get the little ones ready for bed.

Christmas morning was nice. Cauley and I pretty much had to wake up the kids to open presants. We opened our family stuff up down stairs in my mom's basement where we stay and then headed upstairs for more presants. It's a tradition since we've been married for us to have cinamon rolls, orange rolls, and donuts for breakfast on Christmas. This year my dad bought those huge donuts for Cauley and Luke (Jeni's husband) which were supprising delicious for how big they were!

This is where I am going to end, as Tyli's birthday is the day after Christmas so you will have probably already read about that.