MY WONDERFUL HUSBAND!

For Christmas (a few days late) Ethan made me a coupon book. It was the sweetest gift he has almost ever given me (except my kids and materialistically my engagement ring, which is lost), he has only ever made me a couple other things for example: my entertainment center which I love, and my kitchen table top which is also great. None of which have been anything like this. So here are the things that are in it:

1 Free 30 Min, Hair playing with session ( I have already used this one)
Free fold the Laundry coupon (I am going to wait for a big week) hee hee
1 hour of uninterupted bath time (what an uninterupted bath, I don't even know what that means, but I think I might like it)
1 Free 20 min. back massage (that sounds great, I love back massages)
Free clean out the Fridge coupon (This is a must, I love it)
1 Free manicure (I love a good manicure, ahh beautiful nails)
Free clean the bathroom coupon (Let's be honest the mess is 51% his, and 48 1/2% my kids, and 1/2% mine)Do I exagerate, mostly no!
1 Free 20 min. hand massage coupon (He gives the best hand massages)
1 Free eyebrow waxing (seriously if you knew how bad I need this and how often you would appreciate it a ton too)
1 Free 20 min. leg massage coupon (he is the best at this too, you truly can not even imagine unless you have been treated to one of his leg massages. I'm sorry that it won't ever happen for you)
Free wash the dishes coupon (I am the dish washer at my house, so this offer of a load off is great, and much appreciated.)
Free wash the kitchen floor coupon (I didn't even know that he knew how to do this until a couple months ago, when he just busted out a floor cleaning, and I watched in absolute amazement, with my jaw hanging down)
Free vacuum the house coupon (he actually will do this for me every once in a while, and I love, it, because that is one less thing to have to do.)
Free make a dessert coupon (He is pretty good in the kitchen, and so this is nice, that I can get a free dessert)
1 hour of uninterupted reading (there are few things in my life that I cherish when it comes to hobbies and time to do them and this is a big one.) thanks sweetie!
Free make whatever you want for dinner coupon (now I love this, because well because it is a free dinner in the sense that I don't have to do anything for it. I do love being in the kitchen but it is nice to have a break sometimes)
20 min. back tickle (I already used this one too, and loved every minute of it. I actually think that you still owe me 4 minutes. hee, hee)

Overall this is the most thoughtful thing he has ever done for me and I love it.

This is a little tribute to him, here is goes. He is such a great husband and father. He makes sure that he plays with the boys and is teaching them boy stuff. He will hold Enza from the minute he gets home until she is in bed for the night. (for those of you who know how fussy and hard my girl has been you would understand the sweetness behind this.)
He works so hard to provide for our family, and works long hours. He is so inovative when it comes to marketing ideas at work. He will come up with things out of nowhere to generate business. If anyone can make his own business work it is him. He has such a great work ethic and I am so thankful that he works so hard so I can stay home with my kiddos. I love him and thank him for that. Even though he is gone a lot at night, he makes sure that if the kids are still awake, or just got in bed he always goes in and reads to them or tells them a story. That means so much to me and to them. They love him so much and so do I. He always is asking me what he can do to help make it easier on me when he works late. I appreciate that he knows it is hard, and wants to do something nice for me. He jumps right in and insitgates FHE which I appreciate. One of us does the lesson and the other does the treat. It is nice to feel like we are in a partnership.
Also, he always lets me be creative and compliments me on the endless things I create. He knows that crafting, sewing and reading are my ways to have a little break. He also has put aside his morning workout time so that I can make sure and have a set time every morning. I love him for all of the many ways that he loves me and our kids. It means everything to me. I love you more than you will ever know Ethan!!! ~ Love, Me

Ethan sells insurance, and he would love to give you a quote so check out his website and you can call to set up an appointment. He can almost always save you money! http://ethanclinger.fbfs.com

New Year!

Well I think it is time to put my resolutions on my blog. Maybe that will remind me better than in my journal. So here it goes.

First I want to make sure that I enjoy my little minutes with my kids. All I ever wanted to be growing up was a mom, and now that I am I find myself wishing some of my days away. SO I am going to write in my journal each night something that happened that day that was positive with each member of my family. I know one thing doesn't sound like that much, but I really want to be making an effort to interact kindly and positively with my family.

Second I want to be able to train to do a triathalon in a year. That may not sound like a big deal to some of you, but it is to me. Next year we may try to get a team together for the Wasatch Back Relay too. So if you want o be a part of our team, let me know. Ethan got an invite to be on a team this year, but we are going to be out of town that weekend, so he couldn't do it.

Third I want to make sure that I am dead on with all of the little things that make up the big picture when it comes to spirituality. I find that I do good for a while, and then something small knocks me off the track, so I am going to make a real concerted effort to not get knocked off. And if I do, then I will leap back on instead of letting it go for a while.

Those are the main ones, and I think that will be a good start for this year. I have other smaller ones, but I will keep some of those to myself.

Christmas Weekend in Star Valley

Last post of the day. I can't believe I have had peace and quiet for this long in one day. On Christmas day we went up to Star Valley to visit with Ethan's parents and his Brother Nathaniel and his wife Julie and their two kids who were also up there. It was so fun being with his family. They live in one of the prettiest places I have ever seen. It is so peaceful and quiet up there. So we got there and Renae and Melvin needed to open their gifts from us. We had gone in on a gift for Renae so they waited for us to get there for her to open it. We got her a digital camera (Julie's idea) you are all welcome Clingers out there. Now maybe there might be some decent pictures of people because she can see what they look like before she prints them. (we love you Renae, just not always your photography.) That was fun having her play with it all weekend.
We went sledding on the hill across from their house with the kiddos. Melvin and Renae kept an eye on Enza so we could both go out with the boys. That is the first time that we have both been able to go out and do something up there with the kids. (I am usually pregnant, or have a new little baby and there are too many kids around to just leave.) It was so fun.
Later that day we went for a drive to go to the Elk observatories, but there wasn't enough snow so they were all too far away to see. It was such a nice drive though, and it gave our kids a chance to get a nap. Yeah! We took a bunch of pics of the canyon on the way up the canyon towards Jackson Hole. It was overall relaxing and nice to spend time with Ethan's family, because it doesn't happen often enough.

Enza's first set of pigtails! Thanks to Julie who did them for me, because I have been too nervous to do them myself. I didn't want to hurt her. They were so adorable. And yes, I did try them when I got home and yes I did hurt her by pulling her hair. So I had reason to fear.

Ethan and I on the side of the road above the Snake River. It was pretty and as usual our pictures didn't do it justice.

Ethan and I in front of his parent's house.

Our little family out sledding. (which if I may interject Cruze hated the whole time)

Renae snuggling Enza after she fell asleep while we were sledding.

Gauge on his sled lovin it, he is so laid back and fun. He goes along with whatever.

Cruze lovin it too, while we were on the flat part. He is so funny!

Cruze, Spencer, Jaicee, and Gauge on Grandma's lounger in the TV room.

Last but not least Melvin holding Enza so we could eat some warm dinner. Thanks Melvin!