Swim Lessons!!

Kelsey started swim lessons on Monday and LOVES it!! It is every day for two weeks. She's becoming more and more brave; however, much to Blake's chagrin, I think she has part of my curse of fear of water. She refuses to put her face in the water and is very timid when it comes to water. She has a sweet teacher though that plays with her very well and pushes her a little bit. Kelsey's favorite thing is to swim with a noodle wrapped around her waist--I had never considered this before. She just lights up swimming around the pool. The video is the first time she did it by herself. Poor Mylee wants to join in. I have to chase her around the pool and grab her before falling in--she doesn't fear water. She's like "Wha-hoo, throw me in!" She'll even put her face in the water and blow bubbles and we can't get Kelsey to do it. Go figure.

Recipes Anyone?

Many of you know that Blake has had health problems. When we were in Utah for a couple of weeks he was able to get some testing to find out what he was allergic to and nutrients he was lacking etc. His dad had this same test done and found out he was allergic to many things and since following his prescribed diet doesn't suffer from his arthritis anymore!! Well we are hoping this will be the case with Blake with his medical conditions. From the test we found out that he is allergic to:

Milk and milk products including cheese, butter, etc.
Caesin
Garlic
Eggs
Mustard
A few others that weren't as severe

Let me tell you that it has been a HUGE shock to our eating habits. Garlic surprisingly is in almost everything, salad dressings, speghetti sauce, grilling spices, marinades, etc. In fact it seems like the things that don't have milk or eggs has either mustard or garlic. I am coming to terms now that I will have to make all my sauces and dressings from scratch and I bought some egg substitute that I can substitute in recipes.

I am calling for any recipes that you may have that don't include these ingredients, or if you have a recipe that could be left without something. I'm starting to compile my own list and may even start a blog of recipes/foods we are eating to help others who may be in the same position or for those who want some healthy recipes. If you have any recipes you would like to share with us, you can email them to me at cami_clifton12@hotmail.com

A Discussion

Cami: Kelsey please stop picking your ouchys (ie: scabs)

Kelsey: But Mom, it's my favorite part


Another day...


Kelsey: Mom, how old are you?

Cami: 26

Kelsey: Mom, when I am 26 I won't pick my ouchys anymore

Humm, Mascara or This?

We have a PROBLEM!! So the mascara was bad, but I'm thinking this next thing is worse because it happens nearly every day!! BED WETTING!! Kelsey you're thinking right? WRONG--Mylee! Confused? Well Mylee has this habit of taking off her diaper ALL the time. It mostly happens when I put her in her bed for a nap or bedtime, but she has been known to do it during the day--especially if she is on her own for a while. Should I try to potty train her? What should I do? Any suggestions?

The Joys of Motherhood

Mascara, need I say more?

4th of July Festivities

We started the morning off early, leaving our house at about 8:20 A.M to go to the city parade downtown. We went with our new friends and next door neighbors. We had a great time. Kelsey LOVED it. It took some warming up for Mylee, but she eventually got the hang of it and was clapping and waving and having a grand ol' time. We met up with some other friends and went with them after the parade to check out the fair where the supposedly had some great food. The food smelled great, but we didn't end up buying anything and didn't stay long because it was pretty hot. People are BBQ happy out here!! The whole town smelled like BBQ yesterday!! They go all out with the smookers and and everything. Hearlded as some of the best food are their fried turkey legs, yes I said fried. I've heard their fried pies aren't too shabby either.

Just chillin' in my stroller Mom!

Mylee waving
Kelsey enjoying the parade

Me and my girls :)

Kelsey thinking this is SO great!!

Later that evening we went to our neighbor's for a BBQ and had some really yummy steaks and sides. Then around 9:00 P.M. we gathered our girls and went searching for some fireworks. We came to a great little place off the side of the road with some green grass to sit on and enjoyed watching the fireworks. Here in Lubbock, they don't really have any restrictions on fireworks, so people were setting them off EVERYWHERE!! It was great! Who needs to buy fireworks! Mylee wasn't too impressed though. After every load boom she would cry. Eventually she found her way into Dad's arms and covered her ears with his arms and the blanket.

We sat next to this family and shared our glow sticks with them. They were thrilled and Kelsey quickly made some new friends. What's funny is this morning at church we realized they are in our ward!! Ha ha, who knew?

Visitors!!

Well we have to give props to three families now, Logan and Tanya and Matt and Dionne who visited us in Vermont and now Matt and Monica who just visited us on Lubbock. We were so thrilled to have visitors and it was so great in being able to accomodate our guests with more space. Matt and Monica arrived late Monday left Wednesday morning last week. Tuesday we packed a lunch and went to go see the temple here in Lubbock--Beautiful of course!! Then we found a really neat park where we ate lunch and let the kids play for a while. The kids had a great time and it was practically perfect weather for the park--not too hot, not too cold, a little windy though. Blake then showed them around the hospital where he will be working. Later that night we just enjoyed visiting and enjoyed watching our kids play together.

Kelsey pushing Blake in the swing
Mylee eating her applesauce on the move--typical
Oakley hanging out eating his sandwich
Blake, Matt and Monica just chillin'

The Beginnings....

Well, Blake started his first official day of residency today. He woke up at 4:30 A.M and was out of the house at 5 A.M. I don't expect him home until 7 PM or thereafter. We feel so blessed that he has a job and that he is doing what he wants to do--Orthopaedics; however these feelings are mixed with, ahhh, how am I going to do this? How is he (he's amazing, he'll do it without complaint)?

I'm comforted by the scripture found in Moses Chapter 6:56 that reads: "...and they taste the bitter, that they may know to prize the good." Yes, these five years will be hard, but when he has time off or when things aren't as busy, I will learn to cherish those times and appreciate them so much better. I also find comfort in the fact that there are other wives in the program with kids that are making it through. I asked a second year Ortho resident wife how the intern year was and she said, "Oh just fine, nothing worse then med school." We'll see if I say the same.

Another adventure begins....