Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Angels Among Us

We had quite the November. Lots and lots going on! Justin was able to go on a hunt (which is where he scored this baby) with my dad and brothers! And then he also did a hunt in Salmon with his buddies Dan, Darryl, and Nate. He got a huge elk and I'm so happy about it! Elk meat is the best!



And lucky me...I got to go to Philadelphia with my mom and Spencer to see my sister and her family while Justin was gone hunting for 10 days! We had so much fun! Spencer did great on the airplane and had a blast with his cousins! It was so nice to be there and hang with my mom and sister! I miss my nieces and nephews! They were sure fun to mug on!



Spencer was scooting around and crawled a little bit. He loved all the noise and fit in very well. I think he was the loudest!


Amity celebrated her birthday while we were there. She had a big safari party with all her friends. I got to help decorate the cake. I loved it. So much fun!


Me, mom, and Kim! We got to go shopping one day in the King of Prussia mall. It was so much fun and great to be shopping with the girls. Mom bought us a philly cheese and it was yummy.


Kim n' Tyler


Here is Taybree with a horse of hers. She loves horses and loves to draw. She is a very talented artist. She is also in 1st grade and is doing very well at reading and writing.


Here is Amity. She loves Pandas and Zebras. That's why she wanted a Safari birthday party. She has the most contagious laugh and is such a goof ball.


Here is Colben. He is so darn sweet. He gave me so many hugs and would run to me and say...Kellllli and then hug my leg. He was so cute with Spencer. One night he was saying the prayer and Kim was helping him. She told him to say "we're thankful that gramma and kelli are here" and after he repeated that he said "and Spencorr". That's how he said Spencer. So cute!


Lincoln is so much fun. He and Spencer are about the same size even though there is a 8 month difference in age. He gives the best loves and can be very serious at times. All the kids love star wars and Lincoln would sing the tune. There is a video at the end of the blog that shows all the kids in their element. Check it out!


Well this is where it gets ugly. I got home from Philadelphia around noon and we ran some errands before we had to get back home to West Yellowstone. I'd been up since 1:45am (time difference & plane rides). We had to get back home because we had a busy week ahead. We were moving and headed to Jackson by the end of the week. We were a little (haha) stressed! We were about 20 minutes from home, around 6pm, when our truck slipped on black ice and started fishtailing into the opposite lane. We were angled and headed right for the borrow pit full of rock. Justin told me we were going to crash and to hold on tight. I closed my eyes and we hit full force. There was lots of loud noise and then we came to a stop. We had rolled our car and ended upside down and turned 180. We were hanging by our seat belts. After we asked each other if we were okay and replied yes...we were in action. Justin was crawling through glass of our front windshield trying to get out. Spencer had been asleep but at that point he was awake and screaming. I unclicked my seat belt and fell on Justin but we were able to get out quickly. My door was the only door that would open. So the next step was to get Spencer out. When I got out of the car I had lost a shoe and was afraid of getting cut by all the glass on the road, but somehow there was a slipper lying by the car I was able to slip on. Cars were passing by running over all of our things. Some people stopped to help. One man stopped traffic with his car in the opposing lane we ended up in. And while we were trying to figure out how to get Spencer out he came to us and asked us for a flashlight so he could stop traffic. That is when I flipped. I hadn't even thought of that! But when I looked down the road there was a huge semi in the distance heading our way. A man crossing the highway to help us called out to me if we were okay and I just screamed at him....MY BABY is in the car! Get him out NOW!!! (poor guy) We got Spencer out and he was really shook up but he settled down pretty quick. We were examining him and he seemed to be okay. Justin had a big cut above his ear and his arms were all scraped up from the glass. I didn't realize I was hurting until 10 minutes after the wreck. With all the adrenalin pumping and our focus on Spencer I didn't have time to think of anything else. After I had Spencer in my arms I immediately called my mom. I told her we had been in an accident and I needed her. She told me she wouldn't be able to come because she had mutual that night. She had an aunt in the area close to us and thought maybe we could stay there. Spencer and I got into a car of someone who had stopped to help. That's when I realized my ribs were hurting. Justin was trying to move our important personal items out of the road and later we were taken into the ambulance where they could check us out further. I then called my dad and asked him to come and he told us he would meet us at the Rexburg hospital. The ambulance ride was so long and I was worried about Spencer. We didn't have any food for him because it was broken and scattered all over the highway. But my dad and brother saved the day and brought all that we needed them to bring.
The hospital was awful. They were worried I might have a broken neck or spine so they put me on a hard board and cut my clothes off. They asked me several questions and the doctor came to check me out. My ribs were killing me and when he pushed on them it was awful pain. They did a cat scan on me and told me I wouldn't be able to breastfeed for 24-48 hours. It ended up I had a broken rib...and they can't do anything for a broken rib. My inlaws also rushed to the hospital when we called and I got to cry on my mother-in-laws shoulder. I was emotionally wrecked. Plus I was in desperate need of some sleep.
Here are some pictures of our full sized, 4 door, Chevy Silvarado cherry red truck we only had for 2 months :( sad
If you look close in this next picture the frame of the car is bent onto the headrest and steering wheel of the drivers seat, yet Justin just had a scrape above his ear. What a miracle!



But after all of this...we just couldn't be more thankful! I really believe that we weren't just lucky that everything turned out as good as it did. There is no question we were being watched over. Several of the hospital staff and ambulance workers told us that we must of had an angel watching over us. I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for my family and I am so thankful for His love. I am so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the peace it brings to my life. I know the gospel is true!
So in the end, Justin got scraped up, I have a broken rib, but I really couldn't be happier! And my baby is in perfect condition. He had no glass on him or even in his car seat which is nothing short of a huge blessing, especially considering the window he was facing was shattered and there's nothing left to it. Lucky...no. Blessed.....yes.

Here is a fun little video of the Clayton kids!

Monday, November 2, 2009

Cousins, Costumes,Candy, Cute!!!

This was the costume I bought last year on clearance. It was cute on the hanger, but much much cuter on Spencer!


My dad, brothers, and Justin went for their annual hunt...
so the girls and little boys got together for a late lunch and
pictures. It's so great to have cousins so close in age!


Lion, Tootsie Roll, Tin Man, and Yoda! My sis-in-law, Lynnell,
made her boys costumes. They turned out great! The theme was
Wizard of Oz...she was Dorthy. How fun!


Love it!


How cute is this toothy little grin!



Here is the backside of the lion costume. Even the tail is cute!


I thought this pic was so fun! He is even acting like a lion...Roar!!

Saturday, September 12, 2009

He just keeps growing!

Spencer is such a happy little boy (most of the time). He has lots of energy and when he smiles, he lights up the room. He sits in this boppy (borrowed from Colby and Ashley...THANKS!) in his pack n' play so he can be involved while I cook. Yup, that's right...the pack n' play is set up in our kitchen. We don't have a whole lotta room in our house, but it works.


This is Spencer and Daddy just lounging watching the tube.



Spencer does really well on his tummy. He loves rolling over and completes a 360! He is so active. He's always kicking, swatting, chatting, always moving unless he's asleep.


I sat him down on the couch so I could get ready to feed him and couldn't resist snapping this shot. He just looks like a little man.


Spencer had just woken up and was so content on his tummy. Sometimes I think he's asleep and he's just in there talking and enjoying himself.


And this was just a funny phase he went through. He had his tongue sticking out all the time, even when he was smiling. What a goof ball. But that phase has past. He is just growing and changing every day.


Eli, Coy, and Spencer hanging out at our family reunion. How lucky for them to be so close in age. It is so funny when we take these pictures because we have to keep their hands away from each others faces. How cute!



And this is my dad and Spencer at the cabin. Fun times, fun times!


Justin and Spencer lounging in the rocking chair!

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Summer Time

Let me just say that way too much has been going on this summer! But that way too much does include a lot of fun! It's just hard to know where to start. Well I guess it all started with Justin getting a new job! He is managing "Firehole Trading Company" in West Yellowstone. Yup, West Yellowstone. And we do live there now so if you are in town, give us a call! But it was about a month and a half before we moved, so I am glad to have my husband back around. He was gone 4 hours each day just traveling, plus all the hours he was working. Hard times! Glad that is over.
My sister and her family came into town from Philadelphia! I had been looking forward to them coming for months! And it was great! I can't wait until they live closer. My whole family got together and had a lot of fun. We went to Ross Park, had a great BBQ, enjoyed fireworks at my parents house provided by Justin, family pictures, birthday parties with amazing cakes made by my talented sister Kim, and lots of fun! Oh and did I mention a great night of lightening! Check out this picture I took! We all got some great shots! It was actually kinda scary. That thunder was bone chilling!


Here is a pic Justin took of me and my sisters. Kristin, me, and Kim! Wow! We are definitely related! I never thought we all looked that much alike, but here is the proof!


This is a picture taken from my back patio in West Yellowstone. I really didn't know what to think when Justin first took me out to our new home. I was in disbelief. I didn't think I would ever be living in the forest. But here we are! We have seen all sorts of wildlife and birds are always landing on our porch. It is amazing!


We also went to a great reunion with Justin's family! It was a blast! We had Spencer in a hat pretty much the whole time and we wore him right out. Sleeping in a tent made me nervous because I didn't know what to do with Spencer and our tent wasn't going to fit a play yard, but we made it work out! We used a doggie bed and it was great!


And I think my favorite part of the reunion was the Olympics! The games were a secret until it came time! This was the froot loop toss! And yes that is Justin covered in cool whip! We won this game if you couldn't tell! Another game we played, I had to cover my nose in vaseline and pick up cotton balls with my nose and put as many as I could in a bowl without using my hands. There was a hula hoop contest and much more! It was very inventive and fun!


And what was supposed to be a surprise for my birthday, we went to the cabin with Eric and Cori! I figured it out of course...older and wiser, what can I say! It was so much fun! We went there last year for Cori's birthday and it was a blast. And this year was also a blast! I got totally spoiled! Kent and Holly (Cori's parents) came up on my birthday and made us the best dinner! Yummy steaks, scrumptious spinach salad, and great buttered bread! And then they brought out this massive chocolate cake that was to die for. My mouth is watering as I'm thinking about it! WOW! I hope that we can make it to the cabin every year! I think that would be a great tradition!
We put Audrey and Spencer in the sink(bath) together and as you can see Spencer was hungry, but check out those long eyelashes.

And this was our attempt at a hike! We took off and it was looking great until we hit a huge pile of snow on the path. But it was still fun and beautiful! Good times good times!

And last, but not least here is a video of Spencer. He is just growing up so fast and lately he has been talking so much and it is just so cute! So this is a video of him talking. Enjoy!

Friday, May 1, 2009

Spencer has really been growing and it is bittersweet. I love that he is more active, but he is growing up too fast. He loves when we just talk to him. He is more interested in his toys and he has been smiling a ton. It just melts my heart. He really has the cutest smile!


He also has the longest eyelashes.


Justin and I actually had a morning together (sorta uninterrupted) so we made one of our favorite breakfasts... German Pancakes... YUM!!!


I really think he is so precious when he gets into that deep sleep. I told my dad that I thought Spencer looked like an angel and he said, "that's because he is an angel". How cute is that!


He is a tough little guy! He is really good at holding his head up and getting better at sitting up. I've been surprised how strong he is. Now I know why it hurt so bad when he was kicking while I was pregnant. He gets so stiff sometimes and is unbendable. He rolled over at just 2 weeks while I had him on his tummy. Crazy!


Here is Justin and Cade (our nephew). He really loves his Uncle Justin and Justin loves him. All our nieces and nephews love Justin because he loves to play with them. They even get horsey back rides sometimes!







We got pictures taken of Spencer (soon to come) and some family pix too. And since we got all dressed up nice, we took some pix with our handsome son!



















Here is Spencer with his cousin Kenzie! My parents think she looks a lot like me when I was a little girl. I think it's the dark hair and freckles!


This is Tate, Zack, and Spencer. Zack was born in December and Spencer is only 9 days older than Tate. These are the cousins on Justin's side.


And on my side of the family he has 3 more his age, but only 2 live close. This is Eli (born in Nov), Coy (born in Feb) and Spencer (in March)! Lincoln was born in August and he lives in Philadelphia, but will be here to visit this summer! Yahoo! I'm glad he will have so many close cousins, and all BOYS! How lucky is he?!



This is Coy and Spencer hangin' out after Coy's baby blessing. What a precious boy! Coy is wearing the blessing outfit that my brother (his dad) wore when he was blessed. How neat is that!

And last but not least, here is Spencer showing off how big he is. Well actually, I wanted to show him off. He is just so sweet and makes the cutest noises too. Enjoy!

Friday, April 24, 2009

Cousins, Graduation, and our little guy!


Here is Spencer just hangin out in his Easter outfit with the
blanket that Grandma Jo crocheted for him



Cousins just hangin' out. Spencer has lots of boy cousins his same age.
Here are Tate and Zack on either side of Spencer.



My handsome husband graduated! He hasn't gotten used
to no homework yet. I'm sure that won't last long.
We are so happy and we've been doing some CELEBRATEing!


It seems like Spencer gets bigger every day. He just
has the bluest eyes and cutest face. We sure love this little guy!




And here he is hangin' out with daddy. I love the
position of his hands. Sooo chill. Our little man.



We have been busy and really tired. It has been hard to function, but
life goes on. We have all been sick this week and it is just awful to hear
Spencer cough and wheeze. Hopefully it all passes soon. I can't wait for
summer to come. We are getting small glimpses of sunshine and I'm excited
for a nice change. Well, the weekend is here so we'll try to embrace it!