Happy Holidays

This month has been great! Business was booming and Christmas was coming. I was ill prepared for it all. I went to Delta one day to make candy with Mom and Porche. It was a great success and hopefully a new tradition. We spent the weekend before Christmas at mom and dad's in Delta. Church in Delta was incredible with music you couldn't believe. There are some super voices from the young people there. Portia and I worked in the wood shop with dad doing last minute crafts while Neil, Mike and the boys went duck hunting.
They were only gone a short time when they returned with a whole lot of ducks, carrying a whole lot of ducks. Then the "Clayton Family Party" began with the traditional movie, dinner, story, and presents. The weather was real stormy when Mike and I headed back home so that Santa could find the kids at their own house. We made it slowly but safely. Oaklee had the time of her life with 2 gift certificates from "Build a Bear Workshop". She said she had waited her whole life for such a prize.( All 7 years). The boys received muzzle loader guns, girls cameras and scrap booking and Mike and I were as happy as punch to have it over. I am always amazed at the stress we as parents go through to have a successful event. Seems a little crazy to me. May we all remember the true meaning of Christmas, have love and peace in our hearts, and most of all love for the Savior.

Time Flies

I have been so busy lately with Christmas Crafts, gifts, etc, that I have not updated my blog. Boy do I feel bad. Thanksgiving was great! My family was here and we had a full house. My microwave started on fire in October and we hadn't replaced it because I wanted one that goes over my stove. i really did need the counter space, but on Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and after being made fun of because I was like Laura Ingills (you know- The Little House on the Prairie) Mike came home from work early and we got a new microwave. He installed it before the rush of making Thanksgiving Dinner. Mom, Portia, and Penny Jo came down early to help cook and make their food assignments. Chloe had made name tags for the tables and it was set beautifully. Food was especially good and plenty of it. Then was time for our annual shopping all night adventure. Last year I didn't get to go and had a real hard time getting in the spirit. This year I was determined!! The girls left at about 8:00 pm Thursday night and stayed out and awake until Friday at about 5:30pm. Portia and I almost feel asleep eating our lunch at 3:00 pm Friday. The things we do for fun. We have to stand in line all night to make sure that we are the first ones in the door at the store. It isn't as fun if you aren't first. Then the race is on. This year Penny Jo and Portia were in and out of JCPenneys in 11 minutes with arms full of loot!! Can you just imagine them running through the store grabbing the things they want? It is a fun tradition for us and the men think we have all lost our minds. Pictures will be posted as soon as I get 5 seconds!! I have been super busy with my vinyl stuff so everthing else has had to be put on hold.

November Traditions

November begins and it's time to start planning on Thanksgiving Dinner, Shopping with the girls, lots of Holiday Boutiques and decorating. This year we will be having Thanksgiving Dinner at our house.
I sent out these invitations on Friday and everyone will soon be getting them with there food assignment on them. This week I have a boutique for Christmas stuff. When I quit my job, I bought a vinyl machine and now enjoy my spare time crafting. It seems like I sell alot during the Holidays and I am very grateful for that. If you see anything you like here, email me. I would love to help you with your shopping!! Today at church the youth had a combined speaker. She did a great job and talked on Gratitude. She gave all of them gratitude journals and encouraged them to write down things that they are grateful for. It has been proven that people who write down things in their life that has made them happy, touched their hearts, or grateful for, they are in general a happier people. She read a couple of stories and it was just what I needed today. I think she was speaking to me personally. I am going to challenge everyone that reads this to do the same thing. Then set 3 goals that you can do this week to help make someone else happy. This is my favorite time of the year!!!

Trunk or Treat

Our Ward had Trunk or Treat for Halloween. Usually everyone just sits by their trunk and hands out candy. We decided that if we were going to do it, we would do it up good. We made a curtain out of old black material, the kids had cute it to make it look ripped, hung it at the back of my Yukon and turned on scarry sounds. Mont then was behind the curtain with dracula type hands and the kids would have to ask "The Hand" for candy. Mike was dracula, I was a witch (It didn't take much for me to get ready) and we had dry ice bubbling were the kids would get their candy. It was so much fun. The best part was the ones that were to scared to get the candy. All the kids love Mont and he would say to them, "Come here buddy. It's just me Mont". At that point, they would keep coming back. My friend Malesa and her family were right by us and she was the "Mad Scientist". She made them feel yucky stuff, like the inside of a pumpkin, spaghetti noodles, etc, before they could get their candy. We think that it would be great if everyone would do the trunk or treat with a little more fun themes. I usually do not let my kids trick or treat, but this year they definetly got plenty. Oaklee was a fairy, Morgan and Chloe were Salt and Pepper, and the rest of us were something different at each party. This was with no doubt the most fun Halloween we have ever had.

Halloween Family Night Party

Our Halloween Family Night Party went so great. Our guests each brought a Halloween Creepy dish and dinner was great with Cattails, Fingers dipped in Ear Wax, Spiderweb dip, Brains & Dem Bones Breadsticks, Eyeballs, Witches Brew & Kitty Litter Dessert. Costumes were recommended!! Most were good sports but a few were "Party Poopers". We had scary stories, sounds, and of course Pumpkin Carving. I really do not like Halloween and carving pumpkins is way to messy for me! Not so fun but I tried my hardest to be a good sport. I think everyone had fun and I have the pictures of the year. Mark this one on the calendar, even Mike dressed up. His mother has a neighbor who suffers from "Shell Shock". We are always amazed at his dress. Sometimes he has his front stuffed, a wig on, and even a dress on occasion. Mike is now known as "Duane".

Girls Weekend Out

The Clayton girls had the weekend to share with each other. We had decided to surprise Mom by taking her to "Good Things Utah" TV show. She loves the show and doesn't like to miss it ever. She always tell us about cute crafts they do and recipes they have on there. She was so surprised when we showed up at ABC4. It was not until then she realized that we were going to be on TV. We had a blast! Pictures were taken with the girls from the show and with Mike McKay, food was eaten and the weekend progressed. We had lunch, went shopping, shopping, shopping, and then onto Gardners Village for Witches Night Out. I have never seen so many adult women dressed up. We then went to Tepanyaki for dinner. We learned how to say "I love you in Japanese! It is "Eye-shetemasu". Of course Portia had to make a smart comment that made us all laugh and we have shared with all. It was one of the best weekends ever and I hope to have many more!

Haircut Day

Tuesday was haircut day. We had friends and family show up this time but the most dramatic was Chloe, who has been growing her hair longer for a quite some time, decided last as she sat in the chair to cut it off short in the cutest A-line bob ever. This has always been my favorite haircut on her. It fits her personality, attitude and face. Besides that, why would her and Morgan ever have hair that was even close to the same. They are about as different as salt and pepper. On this particular haircut day I only did 6 cuts. Seemed like a vacation! I only wish that I could take my head off, set it on the chair, and do my own. I guess I am a little picky and no one ever seems to see the same picture that I see!! Am I the only one that this happens too?

October Begins

October started with our 14th anniversary. Then of course Mike and the boys went Elk Hunting for a week. They were unsuccessful, darn! The girls went to Gardener Village for the witch fest. What a way to get in the mood for Halloween. I think Oaklee ate it up. She has always loved to have her picture taken and kissing the witch was the best.