Peach Days

Peach Days is a long running tradition for most anyone who grew up in the box elder county area. I wasn't sure if we were going to make it this year but we did. The biggest reason I wasn't sure if we would go was because I just didn't want to drag the kids around the thousands of people who show up to this event. Navigating a stroller around is madness. However, tradition won out. AND.THEY.LOVED.IT.

Kaden was literally jumping up and down at the junior parade saying things like "it is so beautiful" or "look mommy, its amazing." if you are going to a parade this kid is a must.

Grandma and the kids waiting for the junior parade to start

Studly Hunter walked in the parade holding a flag.

Taycee loved to wave to everyone as they drove by

The fire engine sirens were a little loud for their tiny ears

The real peach days parade

Who is this girl that Kaden is holding hands with and sitting right next to??

NO IDEA

a few teenagers put a blanket down on the curb right in front of our tarp ( kind of annoying) and Kaden decided that she was his new best friend. He went and sat down right next to her and talked to her the entire time. Like I said he makes parades pretty interesting so she didn't mind at all. He is definitely not my shy child.

Kaden and Hunter are so cute together. Hunter is so good to help Kaden around and make sure he is ok. Kaden adores Hunter and is always asking to see him. He is lucky to have and Uncle that is so close to him in age.

The train ride I thought was free... yeah right... nothing at Peach Days is free.... 4 dollars for the two of them. That guy makes a killing.

The best part of peach days was definitely the hypnotist show at the end of the night in which Chris volunteered and get hypnotised. Whoa Buddy... it was funny... really funny... I laughed hard. He is such a good sport to volunteer just because I beg and plead. Even better I got Taycee to fall asleep in the stroller about 10 minutes before the show started so she slept through the whole thing ( good thing considering it started at 9:30 at night.) Kaden thought it was pretty neat to see his daddy up on the stage.

I tried uploading a video of him dancing some ballet... it wont let me though... I'll try tomorrow.

Real Life

So here is a taste of every day real life at the Clayton Home...

Kaden is a streaker. He hates wearing clothes, I have to keep a very close eye on him or I find him naked running around in the back yard. The other day he walked out the front door with no pants on and told me he was going to see "the girls"... oh boy.

Kaden REFUSES to sleep in his own bed. He has numerous reasons but basically it comes down to he just would rather be sleeping close to mom and dad. I REFUSE to let him sleep in our bed. If he wants to sleep in our room he can sleep on the floor... and he does... every night. This means he usually does not go to bed til we do. Sometimes that is late... this particular night it was very late.

Chris plays basketball on Wednesday night and doesnt get home til quite late. This particular night I was laying in bed with Kaden and he found the camera on the nightstand and wanted to take pictures with mommy.

We did.... I will regret it someday I just know it.

He would tell me what face to make and then we would take the picture... however he was laughing so hard he didnt quite get around to making the face in most of the pictures..... here are a few of the real beauties...

MONSTER FACE
SCARED FACE

Surprised Face

I dont know what this is

Sad Face

Go easy on the judgement.... it was late... I had been in bed for an hour and it had been a long day.

Slip Slidin Away

We have the perfect hill in our backyard for a slip n slide. Since in took us all summer to get our backyard finished the kids havent been able to play much outside, however, I bought a slip n slide at a "end of summer sale" for 10 dollars. There have been 2 days warm enough to use it since.
The kids LOVE it. I wasn't sure how well it would go over, they can be rather timid at times, but it was a huge hit! Can't wait til next summer when it can really get some good use.

Our cute neighbors came over to join the party. Their darling little girl Stella is about the same age as Taycee. We are so glad to have fun friends close. :D

Sad to see summer go... but a huge WELCOME to fall and the beautiful colors and crisp cool air. Anyone wanting a fall photo shoot?

Just do it

So a while back I was reading my cousins blog and came across what she calls "the green smoothie" To be quite honest I gagged a bit when I read what it was all about... HOWEVER, I am not one to make judgement on things before I try them... especially things that are SUPER SUPER healthy. So I ventured to the grocery store to pick up some spinach, and Kale, and Chard. I threw in some frozen fruit and a banana and WHALA.... this is what I got...

When I handed Chris his cup he said "SERIOUSLY? It looks like puke." But folks I am here to tell you, it's actually quite tasty :D Once you hear how healthy it is I think you might like to try it too.

Here is a blurb off Mckell's blog on the "healthiness" (is that a word) of the Green Smoothie

Kale helps to release toxins from the body and also helps with regular weight loss. Spinach has tons of healthy protein. All three have amazing amounts of vitamins minerals, fiber... they are a power house of everything a body needs. By blending the greens it helps to unlock all the nutrients so our bodies can easily digest and make use of all the good stuff.

And best of all.... my kids love it. Not many kids eat spinach and Kale and Chard, so the fact that I can get them to drink 16 oz of it in one sitting is fine by me.

So now you all need to go try it.

Here is the basics

Fill your blender up with a mixture of kale, chard and spinach, add some liquid in the bottom ( water is fine... my kids prefer V8 splash)

Blend it all up till its nice and runny

Add in a few more greens and whatever fruit you like to sweeten up the taste. (Fresh fruit has a stronger taste than frozen fruit but either works)

Fill to the top with ice and blend it all up....

there really is no strict recipe my cousin likes lime juice in hers and there is no set amount to the portions, just be creative.

There are about 15 servings of fruits and vegetables in ONE quart. Can't beat that.

SO GO TRY IT... just do it.

FIRST

Kadens FIRST first day of school was Tuesday Sept. 7th. I honestly CAN NOT believe that he is that old. Going shopping for school clothes and sending him to school seemed like something that was far in the future. It snuck up on me way too fast.

I took these pictures while we were in St George last weekend. Doesn't he look all grown up with not an ounce of baby left in him? He is obsessed with this backpack. We bought him a cars backpack for his birthday in May, and he liked it just fine. While I was shopping to find some jeans for him ( WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE the kid is too skinny for 5's and too tall for 4's) he came across this toy story backpack on wheels. Whoa Buddy, there was no going back. He carried it all around the store and begged grandma to buy it for him.... ok really he didn't even have to beg, grandma is such a softie :D. I was trying to convince him to put it back and said something like " Kaden remember your cars backpack at home? You like that one, is this one that much better?" and he said " YES MOM MUCH BETTER!"

Apparently that is true because he doesn't go anywhere without his backpack. He can't leave the house without it or even go downstairs without it. He loves to pull it behind him wherever he goes.

This was the real first day of school. Woah buddy was he excited. All morning he just kept saying "I am going to school today huh!" He walked straight in the door without even turning around to say bye. :'(

Chris also gave Kaden his first fathers blessing for the first day of school. As I thought of all the many blessings our kids will recieve from their dad I was so overwhelmed with gratitude to have a husband who is so faithful to his duties and is worthy to hold the preisthood in our home.

Hope your first day of school was great buddy... .but will you please stop getting so big? Thanks.

Love, Mom