Some of our Adventures in Fort Worth

We have been trying to keep busy and make the best of our time while we are here in Fort Worth. We found this cute little museum that talked about the history of Fort Worth. It was really tiny and no body was there, not even any staff. After that we went to the Sid Richardson Art Museum that was across the street. The lady at the front desk was so accomodating and sweet!! She had a scavenger hunt prepared for children that visited the museum. The scavenger hunt consisted of a sheet with a small portion of the different paintings throughout the museum. At the end they all got sticker books. The girls have been asking to go there again since. I don't even think they appreciated the art--they just want another sticker book!

 We also visited the Botanical Garden of Fort Worth. We visited a little late in the season to see all the flowering plants, but there was still a lot of beauty to admire. The girls enjoyed looking for bugs. Kelsey even found a catepiller and a stick bug.

Wouldn't this make a great family pic!

In case you have been wondering what we have been doing for school for Kelsey, well she gets to stay home with me!! We have our off days and even weeks!! Mostly the problems that we have are me! It's a lot of work to plan out our days every day! In the picture above we are having our scripture study. We start with this every morning (at least that is the goal). This day we are learning about the Book of Mormon being the keystone of our faith. We were making arches with playdough. Every where we go our girls will pick out all the keystones they see.

 Here are some pictures from our Thanksgiving unit. I can always get my girls motivated to do Mommy School when it involves something crafty.

Making Indian Vests

Our homemade tee-pee cupcakes

We live within walking distance of a Chick-fila and during the month of November you got a free entree if you wore purple on Friday (in honor of TCU). Needless to say, we had Chick-fila every Friday in November. The girls love their chicken nuggets!

 At church Lanaea has a little twin. You seriously can't tell them apart from the back. The other little girl is just 4 months older.

We Move to Fort Worth, Texas

On Halloween of all days we moved to Fort Worth, Texas for Blake to complete his Orthopedic Pediatric Surgery training at Cook Children's Hospital. We will be living here for the next four months in an apartment rented out by the Ortho Department in a nice area 3 miles away. This rotation is new for the program because the pediatric orthopedist is retiring in Lubbock. One resident came here before us and was put up in what was an appartently awful yet furnished apartment so we were the first ones to test out this new apartment. It is nice and I don't have any complaints about the apartment itself other then maybe that it was unfurnished. The attending doctors willingly donated their old furniture and kitchen items for us to use. These items were stored in a storage unit until the day of our move. Blake loaded everything up onto a Uhaul while me and the girls left earlier in the day to arrive before the office closed so we could get keys to our apartment. When Blake arrived I had no idea what to expect when he opened the trailer. Everything is in usable, but very worn condition. We acquired a couch, kitchen table with 6 chairs, a desk, a coffee table, 4 end tables, a full-sized bed, two lamps, two tv's (which don't work by the way), a small entertainment center that is currently being used as storage for our homeschooling supplies, and some kitchen supplies. We had to bring some things from home, but not too much.

  





It's been a new experience living with people above us again. Overall though, those above and around us are very friendly and quiet. We are probably the loud ones. My biggest erk is that I have to go to the laundry mat once a week because we weren't able to acquire a washer and dryer and didn't have a way to get ours back home if we brought it. I'll be EXTRA grateful for my washer and dryer when I get home!

The city is wonderful, with many things to do and some really neat parks. The weather here is so much more mild then Lubbock too, most days needing nothing more then a jacket if that. Across the street is Central Market, which our girls call the grocery store palace because essentially that is what it feels like. I've never seen a grocery store so elaborate as that one. It's totally overpriced though, so I don't do my shopping there. Occassionally though I'll take the girls over to get free samples throughout the store and play at their playground outside their store. Next to the grocery store are a bunch of boutiques and restaurants and World Market. Just South of us is a really nice park that the girls and I walk to often.

Our home in Lubbock currently sits vacant while friends and neighbors keep an eye on it for us. Hopefully it stays quite there!

A Lubbock DUST STORM!!

 On October 17, 2011 this is what rolled into Lubbock, Texas!!! The girls were outside playing and came running in saying, "Mom, how come the sky is all orange?" I responded saying, "Oh it's probably just the sun setting." That's what I thought until I came and looked out the window!! I quickly whisked my children back inside and couldn't believe what I was seeing. I had never seen anything like this before. Luckily our home went unharmed, just dusty! When you walked in the grass after the storm a big plumb of dust would rise up. When we mowed later that week, our bag was mostly filled with dust--it was a nasty job!

This is looking from our backdoor window.

This is a video our friends took of the storm approaching.

Utah Vacation Day 7 and 8

Blake and I with our future Cougar!

On Saturday Blake took his nephews to go shooting up the canyon and me and the girls went to a boutique. The boutique was fun and I found the most amazing coat and would have bought it had the price been right. We also got a family picture taken of the Clifton Clan and one for ourselves.

The Chuck and Joyce Clifton Family (minus Trent, Emily and their 2 kids)

Clifton Grandkids minus 2

Kelsey (6.5), Lanaea (22 months), Mylee (4)

We had to get a picture in of the kid brigade at meal time!

Later the evening I took Mylee and Lanaea over to my sister Megan's house while Blake, Kelsey and I went to the BYU football game. I had more fun watching Kelsey get so excited and into the game then watching what was going on. She was cheering and yelling and had the best time.  I think Blake was pretty proud to share this experience with his daughter. I had made some hair bows before we left for Utah for this very day and event.

That evening, we picked our kids up at Megan's and went home to get some good R&R for our long trip to Utah the next day. Yes, we traveled the full 15 hours in one day, phew!! We made it though thanks to our DVD player and a lot to talk about after all of our adventures we had had at home. Blake woke up bright and early the next morning for work. Luckily Kelsey didn't have to go to school the next day due to some school holiday--yea!! It was a good day to recuperate.

Utah Vacation Day 5 and 6

 The rest of our time while in Utah was spent at Blake's parents' house in Mapleton. Some neighbors had let us borrow their horses to ride so we took advantage. Unfortunately we missed getting pictures with Kelsey on the horse, but I'll tell you this, she LOVED it!!! Mylee didn't like it so much at first as you can see in the picture above, but with a little prodding from Blake, she warmed up to the idea and in the end enjoyed it!

 Lanaea stayed true to herself and had no fear what so ever. She loved every minute of her horse ride.

Me and Lanaea watching everyone ride the horses in the rain. Like my pink umbrella?!!

 The next morning we woke up to snow!! Crazy!! Good thing Blake and I had gone bike riding at the beginning of the week. We had a couple of more bike rides scheduled, but we ended up canceling them due to the weather. Instead we visited with family around the house and went bowling Friday morning with the whole Clifton crew. My mom and Roland showed up for a short time to say hi and goodbye to their grandkids.

 Blake treated our kids to a few games of speed ball and they all enjoyed a game of bowling. It's always so cute to see kids try to bowl.

Later that evening Blake's Grandma and Grandpa Ray showed up from Arizona to host their annual Homecoming Party. Every year at homecoming they have all their family gather together to visit and Grandpa always gives a devotional and he treats the grandkids and their spouses to BYU homecoming tickets. The whole event was wonderful. It was nice to visit with Blake's family and see some faces we hadn't seen in years. The devotional was wonderful and uplifting. Grandpa and Grandma Ray are two of the most wonderful people I have ever had the privilege of meeting.  They live the Christ-like life and are therefore such good people. Their kids did a tribute to them and their life together. I learned that no one is exempt from trials, we all get them. It's all a matter of whether or not we turn to Christ to help lift us up. The evening was so chaotic and crazy I didn't manage to get any pictures :(.

Utah Vacation Day 4

 On Tuesday we went to Cornbellys to play with the kiddos. Blake's siblings showed up with their kiddos too. The kids had such a wonderful time. There were all sorts of activities for the kids to do. We were there for a couple of hours.

Grammy Joyce with all her grandchildren except 5 (I think?)

Blake with 4 of his cute sisters. Awww, they love him too!!

Grandpa and Grandma Brown with their grandchildren minus 3



My little princesses!

 Later that evening we continued to spend the day with my Dad and Step-mom. My step-sister came over with her family and we had a wonderful visit. The kids had so much fun playing with each other and it was so nice to visit with my family. I miss them so much! Kelsey got some special treatment from Grandma too and did some beading with her. Kelsey was in heaven!!!

Utah Vacation Day 3

 On Monday morning we went bike riding up American Fork Canyon with my Dad and Step-mom and Brother-in-law Aaron. It was SO beautiful with all the fall leaves and it felt so good to get out and enjoy the outdoors. The recreation and family are the main reasons we love Utah so much. The weather was just perfect too.

Me and my cute hubby!!



Color didn't turn out great, but here we are, nearly 8 years married!



Look at that handsome fellow!



Well, I said the bike ride was enjoyable and IT WAS, but we didn't leave without injury. Blake, Aaron and I were pretty far ahead of my parents near the end of the trail. When we reached the bottom we were surprised it was taking my parents so long!!! (We should have brought walk talkies!). Eventually they showed up and above is what my dad looked like. He had fallen down a cliff after losing his balance. Luckily he ran into a tree, stopping his fall. He had a nice hole in his shirt and some battle wounds to show for it too. We were so thankful he didn't get hurt worse!

 That evening all of my family, both on my dad's side and mom's side showed up at a park to celebrate me and Mylee's birthday. The weather turned cold and a little rainy, but we still had a great time. It was nice to see some family I hadn't seen in years.

Utah Vacation Day 2



Mylee coloring in her General Conference Activity Book

  The next day was Sunday and General Conference weekend so we went up to Temple Square to listen to the prophets! We met up with some of Blake's family there. For most of the time we sat on the lawn near the Tabernacle on temple square and listened. When our kids behaved we took them into the tabernacle to listen and watch on a big screen. That afternoon Blake and I had tickets so we left our kiddos with family and enjoyed a wonderful session together. It was especially exciting for me because I had never attended General Conference before in the Conference Center. It was a neat and special experience.

 My favorite talk of the whole conference was probably the talk given by Neil A. Anderson appropriately titled, "Children". It talked about the blessing children are in our lives and that it is a woman's highest honor to bear and rear children. Here are some quotes from this talk that I enjoyed:

Many voices in the world today marginalize the importance of having children or suggest delaying or limiting children in a family. My daughters recently referred me to a blog written by a Christian mother (not of our faith) with five children. She commented: “[Growing] up in this culture, it is very hard to get a biblical perspective on motherhood. … Children rank way below college. Below world travel for sure. Below the ability to go out at night at your leisure. Below honing your body at the gym. Below any job you may have or hope to get.” She then adds: “Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling. You do not collect children because you find them cuter than stamps. It is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in. It is what God gave you time for.”7

This story particularly touched and helped me feel good that Blake and I had made the right choice to not wait to have a family. It definitely has NOT been easy, but is has been SO worth it!!

Elder Mason had another experience just weeks after his marriage that helped him prioritize his family responsibilities. He said:


“Marie and I had rationalized that to get me through medical school it would be necessary for her to remain in the workplace. Although this was not what we [wanted] to do, children would have to come later. [While looking at a Church magazine at my parents’ home,] I saw an article by Elder Spencer W. Kimball, then of the Quorum of the Twelve, [highlighting] responsibilities associated with marriage. According to Elder Kimball, one sacred responsibility was to multiply and replenish the earth. My parents’ home was [close to] the Church Administration Building. I immediately walked to the offices, and 30 minutes after reading his article, I found myself sitting across the desk from Elder Spencer W. Kimball.” (This wouldn’t be so easy today.)

“I explained that I wanted to become a doctor. There was no alternative but to postpone having our family. Elder Kimball listened patiently and then responded in a soft voice, ‘Brother Mason, would the Lord want you to break one of his important commandments in order for you to become a doctor? With the help of the Lord, you can have your family and still become a doctor. Where is your faith?’”

Elder Mason continued: “Our first child was born less than a year later. Marie and I worked hard, and the Lord opened the windows of heaven.” The Masons were blessed with two more children before he graduated from medical school four years later.9

Daddy and his baby girl Lanaea

They'll go there someday

Daddy with his two oldest girls, SOOO CUTE!!

Later that evening we enjoyed spending time with my mom's family along with my step-dad Roland's family that was there visiting. I wish I had gotten some pictures of our time there. It was a pretty full house and I must have been distracted :(. We were able to get this family picture that evening too. It turned out nice.




Left to Right: Lanaea, Blake, Cami, Kelsey, Mylee, Spencer, Mary, Abby, Roland (Dad), Polly (Mom), Lizzy, Megan, Aaron, and Brighton.

 

Vacation to Utah Day 1

 In the fall time we travelled to Utah for a family vacation. The first day of our travels we stopped in Farmington, New Mexico and stayed with my Grandpa and Grandma McGee. We had a wonderful time visiting and even got to watch a BYU football game with them, which was a real treat!! My Grandpa and Grandma are MEGA fans!! The next morning we set off for Utah and stopped in Moab along the way to take a hike to some dinosaur footprints. Blake and I biked this trail shortly after we were married and we thought it would be fun to take our family. Looking back it was fun, and actually getting to the footprints was fun, but it was MUCH farther away then we remembered!! I guess it goes a lot quicker when you are on a bike! The girls did great though and we managed.

That night we stayed at my mom's house and had a girl party making wreaths out of coffee filters with my sisters, Grandma Astorga and Johnson and, Aunts. We had a great time!