Happy 2nd Birthday Abigail!

Our little Abby is two.  She is growing up so fast!  I may be the worst picture taker ever the past little while, but I at least wanted to post what I have and put up a few memories about her.

My mom made the comment once that Abby is going to be the child who makes me wonder if I ever want more children.  That's probably true.  She was an absolute angel from birth to age 1.  And then the switch flipped and that mischievous little personality came out!  Not that I don't love her, she's just a lot to handle.  :)

One of her most common phrases is "Sorry momma."  She says it all the time!  And very sweetly.  It's really cute.  Although it's more of a "I'm sorry that you have to deal with the fact that I'm never going to stop doing this" rather than a "I'm sorry I did that and it'll never happen again" kind of sorry.

Other words and phrases I love to hear her say:

"Meggy, are ya?" - meaning where are you?
"Otay momma." - when I ask her to do something
"Baymax show!" - Megan loves quoting that movie and Abby recognizes all the quotes
"Binky come too?"
She used to call Megan "May may," but now she says Meggy.

In almost all the pictures I have taken she either has a binky or food in her mouth.  She loves her binky and she loves to eat!  Her favorite foods are fruits.  She loves bananas.  In fact, when people are crying while bearing their testimony at church she tries to talk me into giving them a banana.  Of course it would make them feel better!

We went to Denver in April.  Patrick was there for work and so the girls and I entertained ourselves during the day.  We hiked all the stairs to the top of the Colorado state capitol building.  These are their tough faces after walking so much!

 

We also went to the aquarium there.  Abigail LOVED petting the sting rays and thought it was hilarious.  She giggled the whole time and threw a huge fit when it was time to go.

Abby loves being outside.  She loves climbing and has fairly good balance.  She only runs everywhere she goes.  She loves loves loves her cousin Jenna.  And her grandma's.  She likes building blocks with Megan.  She loves skirts and pink and is getting very opinionated about her clothes.  She wants a ponytail everyday, but only for 5 minutes.  And she wants to do everything Megan does.  Just like Megan.  She is sweet and funny behind the mischief.  She likes Curious George, Barney, and Daniel Tiger.  And of course "Baymax show!"

Love you Abby!

Orlene Lois Mayberry Clayson

My Grandma Clayson passed away about one week ago.  Her viewing and funeral were this week.  It was a good time to reflect on her goodness and the difference she has made in the world.

 

Grandma's viewing and funeral were very nice and there were so many things about it that were just grandma.  Grandma had a beautiful pearl colored casket that looked just like her and the casket spread was beautiful--the perfect colors for grandma.  During the viewing I told my cousin that it was the loudest viewing I'd ever been too and then we both just laughed and said of course it is.  It's grandma's viewing.  She wouldn't want it any other way.

Everyone who spoke did a great job and I was reminded of fun memories with grandma.  The two biggest traits that were talked about that really sum up grandma for me is that she was a fun, enthusiastic people person who could talk anybody's ear off and she served without a second thought.

My grandma loved people and parties.  And anytime she could visit with someone or have a party she was in.  I probably took it for granted when I was young, but she loved spending time with her grandkids.  We had grandkid sleepovers and temple days, she took us out shopping and to lunch for our birthday, and there was always a party for sporting events and holidays.

My grandma also served, served, served.  And it wasn't a big deal.  Not a big deal at all.  I don't think she ever batted an eye at doing something for someone else.  She didn't need to flaunt it.  It wasn't a show.  She just helped other people.  One of her services to my family that keeps coming back to me is that we would often wake up to grandma at our house.  She would help us get ready for and off to school so my parents could go to the temple before my dad had to go to work.  She also had a way of making people feel special.  Her heart was big and it had room for everyone.

During the funeral, my uncle Brett talked about how grandma had thick skin even though she was so sensitive to others needs.  I had never realized that about grandma but it is 100% true.  I can't imagine my grandma ever holding a grudge.  She was aware of others and their needs but wasn't easily bothered by what others said or did.

I have always had a soft spot in my heart for my Grandpa Clayson.  For whatever reason he is the grandparent I feel the most connected to and want to be the most like.  As long as I can remember I have  looked up to him.  Watching grandpa at my grandma's funeral made that soft spot even bigger.  He treated my sweet grandma's body with such respect and he looked at her with the purest love I can imagine.  Watching him kiss her while his tears fell on her face before they closed the casket will be a memory I cherish.  Her goodness was reflected in him.  And his goodness is reflected in her.

Obituary for Orlene Mayberry Clayson

Orlene Lois Mayberry Clayson passed away December 7, 2014 from the effects of a long struggle with Alzheimer's disease.

She was born April 8, 1937 to Joseph Lawrence Mayberry and Margaret Cynthia Heslop Mayberry in Kanesville, Utah. She was raised in Kanesville and Ogden, Utah where she graduated from Ogden High School. She continued her education at Weber State for her Associate's Degree and Brigham Young University where she graduated with honors with her teaching certification. She played the clarinet well enough to hold the 1st or 2nd chair through her college years.
 
While student teaching she was set up on a blind date with Douglas Clayson. They were later married August 5, 1959 in the Logan Temple. They raised their family in Orem and Pleasant Grove, and in recent years moved to Lindon.

She was happily active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints serving in many roles. She earned the Golden Gleaner Award in the Mutual Improvement Association, helped produce road shows for her stake as drama director, worked in both the Provo and Mt. Timpanogos Temples, and served as a missionary in the Seoul Korea Temple with her husband.

She will be sorely missed for her bright personality, unselfish nature, and sincere friendships. She made family gatherings a joy and paid special attention to holidays and birthdays. Her outgoing personality will be missed and remembered fondly by all who knew her.

She is survived by her husband Douglas William Clayson and their six children Janelle (John) Durrant, Kyle (Vicky) Clayson, Scott (Becki) Clayson, Karla (Craig) Peeples, Marilee (Nolan) Jepsen, Brett (Annie) Clayson. She had 24 grandchildren and 12 great-grand children. She is also survived by her brothers John (Jeanine) Mayberry, Rulon (Daryl) Mayberry, David (Patti) Mayberry, and her sisters Marilyn (Robert) Lund, and Lynette (Christopher) Mershon.

She was preceded in death by her sister Laura (Ariel) Benson and her parents.

Funeral Services will be held Friday, December 12, 2014 at 11:00 am at the Lindon 1st Ward, 56 East 600 North, Lindon, UT. Viewings will be held at the same location on Thursday, December 11th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm and Friday morning prior to services from 9:30 am to 10:30 am. Interment in Santaquin City Cemetery.

18 Month Abby

Abby is 18 months.  How did that happen!?  Especially in the blogging world.  No updates on this babe until now.

Abby's 1st birthday.  What a doll.

 Abby loved the water and splash pad this summer.  She was certainly braver than Megan at the splash pad.

 Abby LOVES her binky.  And it will probably be with us a while longer because when we've tried to take it away she sucks her finger or thumb.  She is also a stinker and will start sucking her finger when I ask Megan to take her thumb out of her mouth.

We went to Stake Lagoon Day and Abby loved the rides she could ride with Megan.  She wants to be just like her big sis.

She's a mischievous baby for sure!   Always seems to have something brewing in her little head.

 She loves dressing up and dancing with her sister.  They have danced to Shake It Off so many times that even Abby comes to the computer yelling "bad" when it is the part I mute.

Other things about this munchkin:

• She loves stuffed animals.  She wants pretty much every stuffed animal we see at the store.
• She climbs climbs climbs.  And she always want her foot up on something.
• She has gone to nursery a couple times and done great.  No hesitation.  The leaders have said she doesn't take crap from any of the kids which doesn't surprise me.  She doesn't take it from her sister either.
• Her favorite song of the moment is Popcorn.
• Abby has always been pretty quiet.  She was slow to start saying words.  When we went to her 18 month check-up the doctor said 50 words was normal.  She maybe had 4.  But then over the next 2 or 3 days all sorts of words started coming out.  Patrick and I sat down and counted and she was easily over 50 only 3 days later.  Silly.  Some of her favorite words are "no no" and "mine" and "bo" for book and "eyes."  Our favorites are "cheese please" and "I doh know" and "hiya."  She still doesn't talk much around other people, but she will say words to herself while wandering around the house.  And if she's in the right mood she will make an attempt at saying almost anything you ask her to.  She still doesn't have a word for Megan that I've noticed.  She does say "ma ma" for me, "da da" for Patrick and "ma" for grandma.  She has also said "curse" for my brother Curtis.
• She doesn't have much interest in watching tv or movies, but she loves Curious George.  She makes the monkey sound and gets excited whenever she sees him.
• She is a short and chubby little thing.  Such a different body shape from her sister up to this point.  Her stats at her 18 month appointment were
• Height:  30.39 inches -> 16th percentile
• Weight:  26 lbs 14 oz -> 83rd percentile
• Head Cir.:  46.1 cm -> 37th percentile

Camping Trip

Blogging is definitely taking a backseat these days.  But I want to do what I can since I'm not into scrapbooking or journaling.

We took a camping trip at the beginning of the summer.  Megan really liked it.  As soon as we got out of the car she said, "Camping is soooo fun!  I love it!"  It didn't take much to sell her.  Abby is not the best age for camping, but she survived and so did we.  :)

We had some tent troubles and ended up setting up 3 tents.  Third times the charm!  We went fishing which was incredibly unsuccessful and took a little canoe ride.  All in all it was a good time!

Grandma and Abby.  Abby is eating if you can believe it!  She hardly ever likes to do that.  ;)

Megan with Chad and Amber.  Amber is pretty much her favorite person at the moment.

 Megan's hair looked like this after sleeping.  She said she needed one side of her hair taken out to go to bed, but then wouldn't let me put it back in when we woke up.  Crazy girl!

Our peaceful little canoe ride.

St. George Getaway

We had a nice little getaway to St. George in February with my family.  It was nice to escape to the 60's and it was actually in the 60's when we got back, so we had almost a full week of good outdoor weather!  Just what we needed after this....

We played raquetball, ping pong, air hockey, mini golf, basketball, swam (which was freezing!), pickelball, went on a little hike, watched some BYU basketball, and played games.  It was a good getaway!

And here is the nice weather we enjoyed when we got back!  Playing in the sandbox at grandma's.

We'll Miss You

Goodbye white car!  You will be missed.  We were a little sad when the tow truck came to take you away.

We loved you for your reliability, even at 14 years old and over 200,000 miles.  We loved you for your passenger door handle that didn't work.  We loved you for your windshield cracks that miraculously didn't block the drivers view.  We loved you for your dashboard lights that didn't work; we could never see what time it was or which radio station we were on.  We loved the way you would violently shake when we went over 60mph.  We loved your air which so faithfully worked on high, but nothing less.  We loved you for the check engine light that came off and on and off and on but somehow never made us fail inspection.  We loved your giant black spot above the exhaust (definitely not an environmentally friendly car).  We loved the little game we had to play in order to get your hood to close.  Thanks for getting us through our first 5 years of marriage!

Best Morning Ever...

Isn't being a mother great...this was my morning this morning.

Wake up.  Get baby out of bed.  Hear toddler shatter "candy cane" full of M&M's all over.  Shut baby in her room.  Shut dog in my room.  Clean up shattered M&M's with toddler.  Go into baby's room to find poop all over her and her pajamas and the carpet.  Wipe baby down.  Lock dog, toddler, and baby out of baby's room and clean up poop.  In the process toddler gets her own cereal (luckily no accidents there), but baby finds a pen and draws all over herself.  Take baby into bathroom to give her a bath.  Hear toddler somehow face plant off her stool.  Go to comfort toddler (don't worry, baby is not in the bath yet).  While comforting toddler, hear baby stand up to toilet and fall and bonk her head.  Comfort her.  Get baby in bath.  Toddler wants to help.  Toddler falls in tub.  Now two kids in the bath and one mom who is done for the day!

Megan is 3!

Happy third birthday Megan!  I can't believe I have a 3 year old.  So fun!  I love pictures...so it's picture overload of Megan here today.  I picked one picture or video from each month since she turned 2.  I'm actually proud I had at least one picture from each month.  I can't believe how much she changed in a year!  Sorry it's so many, but I love watching her grow up before my eyes!  :)

 October 2012

 November

December

 

January

February

 March

 April

May

 June

July

August

September

October 2013

She went from being a homeless, barney loving 2-year old to a 3-year old princess!  Here are some facts about my girl at 3--beware, it's long.

• Megan loves pink and princess.  She is 100% girl!  She loves the pink dress pictured in July.  She would wear it everyday if we let her.  She also likes getting married.  If she puts on a pretty dress she wants to marry somebody.  This usually involves the "boy" twirling her around.  I usually get changed into a boy.
• It is imagine everything with this girl.  We are rarely mom and Megan.  We are usually Mulan and Shang or Tangled and Eugene or Timon and Pumba and etc.
• She is obsessed with Mulan at the moment!  And Daniel (she says Thaniel) Tiger's Neighborhood.
• She can count to 14 reliably and is decent to 20.
• She can say the ABC's and identify some letters, but I couldn't tell you which ones.  She will sometimes just point them out on signs.  She doesn't like to sit down and identify them with me.
• We tried potty training before Abby was born.  Fail.  She was scared of pooping on the potty.  We are going to try it again as soon as we run out of the diapers we have.  But I'm afraid it's going to be a battle.  She is perfectly potty trained on days she chooses to be.  But if I suggest she go to the bathroom or ask that she go it's a no way.  She'd rather pee her pants then follow what mommy says!
• She now sleeps in a big girl bed.  It was rough at first, but she's doing great now.  We had a few obstacles (falling off, serious increase in nightmares/monster fears, and a growth spurt that required eating in the middle of the night), but once we got past those she has done fine.  We have switched from nap time to quiet time, but it luckily ends in sleeping the majority of the time.
• She is really good with names (she can name most of the kids in her nursery and most anyone that Patrick or I talk to at church).
• She loves puzzles and I think she does really well with them for her age.
• She is a total goof and loves to be the star of the show!  She usually isn't afraid to sing or dance or tell stories for people.
• She is still tall, but not as tall.  I knew it had to slow down sometime!
• Height:  38.25 inches --> 80th percentile
• Weight:  31 lbs 6 oz --> 60th percentile