It's a Wonderful Life

:)  . . . So You Think You Can Dance (specifically Ellenore) . . . In order to eat our chocolates on our Christmas Advent Calendar, each night we say something kind we did for someone.  Last night, Jackson, without any help, said that he "shared the playground steering wheel at the park with Wyatt" and he really had . . . Derrick's 4 disc Chrismas compilation that he gave us 6 (?) years ago . . . My brocolli is growing so big! :( . . . So You Think You Can Dance (specifically Nathan) . . . Wyatt being sick, has woken up to nurse every hour during the last three nights . . . Erik is going on another work trip to San Diego this week . . . We have just paid our 5th consecutive house payment on an empty house

This Thanksgiving holiday was spent in Henderson, NV where Rebecca and her family live.  It was originally planned to be a whole family kind of deal, but as it turned out, life got in the way and only my parents, Derrick, and us made the trip.  But no matter how many Clements family members get together, it is always a blast: interesting topics of conversation, fun activities, yummy treats, and the joy of not really worrying about Jackson because he is so enamored with the Winsborrow cousins! The drive down was surprisingly easy.  They just watched movies and about 2/3 of the in, they fell asleep, nice! Our Thanksgiving feast was a little non traditional and Rebecca made "bobbies."  They are very delicious sandwiches made up of roast turkey, cornbread stuffing, and homemade cranberry sauce.  Of course there was also pumpkin pie at the end. :)  It was really nice to just focus on being with each other and not spending too much time prepari...

I got my blog printed into a book, and it came last week.  Erik and I have really enjoyed looking through it (he doesn't look at the actual blog, so it was all new to him!).  I'm glad to have this family journal.  It made me think however, of all the times we didn't have a camera and how so much obviously goes undocumented.  I wonder if my memory will keep those times alive, or if I will just remember the instances that were snapped.  This afternoon was one of those times when I was dying for a camera.  It wasn't fancy or amazing, but it was just one of those perfect moments.  We were at the sports park here that has grassy soccer field upon grassy field along with 3 fun playgrounds (its our favorite park).  We were playing soccer, and my phone and camera were in the bike trailer on the completely other side of the park .  Jackson is really into soccer right now and he will run and kick the ball and even dribble it for quite a long tim...

Erik has been gone this week, because really what would a month be in our family without him gone for at least half of it?? :)  I'm actually really appreciative of how hard Erik works.  And even though it's tough and lonely while he's gone, I have all of this:

Yesterday, Erik and Jackson took an Amtrack train ride up to Livermore.  We're buying Erik's Dad's truck and since I didn't want to make Wyatt ride in the car all day, it worked out really well.  We didn't decide to do this until late Friday night, so Jackson was so excited in the morning to learn of the plans.  I really enjoyed my day, because with just Wyatt, I was able to get almost all of our Christmas shopping done- yahoo! 6:45 am and ready to go! :) Waiting by the tracks.  I told Erik to take lots of pictures.  He was a very good husband and did just that! I can tell he was lovin' it Such a handsome guy Ready to leave Livermore Erik is really excited about having a truck again.  But I must admit, I am more excited about my new "vehicle."  I bought a bike trailer last month, but with everything that's been going on we haven't had a chance to get it all set up before this weekend.  We took our bikes for a spin...

Today we went with our preschool group to the Fresno Zoo.  On the Jenny-Nyholm-Scale-of-Zoos I would  put this one above Idaho Falls but below Hogle.  I always like to see how Jackson interacts with kids his age.  Of course, we had to go on the one super rainy day we've had this fall.  I felt bad taking Wyatt in the wet and cold, because he is a bit sick.  I have a feeling this is the first of many decisions I have to make that is really good for one child and not so good for the other.  How do I balance it? I don't know why, but I was a little obsessed with the elephants.  I just loved seeing such gigantic animals up close.  We talked with the elephant keeper for a long time, and I learned all of these "cool" elephant facts. Poor little sickie.  He was pretty good at holding the umbrella while sitting in the stroller :) All of the kiddos.  It was so difficult to get them to stay still for a picture! I thought J...

Well, we are finally back home and back together, and it is so so nice!  I get in this "survival mode" while Erik's away, and really we do pretty well.  However when Erik is back, its like I'm finally able to exhale a long breath I've been holding in without realizing.  Is this not the sweetest picture ever?  Wyatt checking out the "mountain man beard" Erik was so sweet and picked out little gifts at Cabella's for us.  Jackson got a candy tackle box . . .  . . . and Wyatt loved his little deer.  He kept setting it down on the floor like this, just like it was a real little animal :) All of the hunters:  I'm sure Jeremy was happier than he looks!