HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY, CLAYTON!

Clayton turned 4 on March 6, 2011. It is hard to believe that my little one that started out at 4 lbs. 9 oz. is already 4! We celebrated with family on Friday night. I took a little time to share with Clayton about his birth. At one point I told him that Daddy and I got to meet our little baby. He then says, "now you have a kid?" Yes, it is sad but true, he is no longer my baby but my kid! We are so grateful for his life and he brings us so much joy! We love you, Clayton!

Coleton, Clayton, Grandpa T. and Papa Elgard

Clayton on his 3rd birthday

Daddy & Clayton at 2nd birthday

Daddy, Mommy & Clayton on 1st birthday

Clayton newborn

Where does the time go?

New Wood Flooring!

Before Christmas we decided to tackle to project of tearing up our laminate flooring in the kitchen and half bath and the carpet in our eating area and entry way. You see for almost 5 years we have had carpet in the eating area and that doesn't work the greatest with 2 little boy's. We found a good deal on hard wood flooring and took on the very long project of installing it. Even I got trained in and I actually enjoyed it! Here are some pictures:

My brothers, Tanner & Jon, helped David with the tear out and a couple of days with the installing.

Our eager little boy's who always love helping Daddy! The boy's and I were gone most day's. We went to Mom & Dad Tiemann's to bake Christmas cookies one day, Chase and Sarah's to care for Sarina another day and to my parent's twice and made more Christmas cookies (which explains why we STILL have cookies in our freezer!)

Grandpa (Mark) was a huge help and the boy's loved trying to "help" him :D

Here is my new hard wood flooring in the kitchen! I just love the fact that I can sweep it or wipe up spills so much easier! Plus isn't it BEAUTIFUL!

My Dad, Jon, Wyatt & David - being goofy!

Others that helped that aren't pictured: Chase & Peter. Derek loaned us his tools which was a huge help. We couldn't have done any of this without you all! Thank you for your help! Now I just need to do more entertaining!

Christmas Time Fun!

We have had a tradition of going over to David's parents house to cut down a Christmas tree for the past 3 years. This year we all bundled up and went to choose the tree together as a family. In the past the boys and I usually stay in the truck or David just picks one out.

Here are the boys standing in the back of the suburban on our way back to the trees. This was quite the treat!

Family picture in front of the tree we picked.

Connor helping Daddy put the star that my Dad made on top of the tree.

Decorating the tree this year was so much fun, the boy's really got into it and understand that once the ornament is on the tree, there is no touching :D

My 3 Guys!

FARMYARD

When the guy's (David, my Dad and brothers) went scouting this year, my Mom had the idea to go to the Amazen Farmyard in Eden Valley.

You could purchase baby bottles with milk to feed the baby goats. This was so hilarious! I think this was my favorite thing to watch!

Clayton's 1st pony ride, he loved it! Connor wasn't so sure but before we left he decided he liked it!

Connor is in heaven if there is a tractor to sit on, he can spot one a mile away!

Connor, Aunti Lydia & Clayton going for a train ride.

It is hard to see us in this picture, but they had this huge slide that you can go down. It was so much fun! We all went down (including Maime) it was a blast!

NEVER GIVE-UP!

When I was growing up, "Never Give-Up" was our family motto. In the past months I have felt like giving up many times, mainly in the area of child training. I just seems so hard and unrewarding at times. I know that I shouldn't give-up but I have been feeling like I am fighting a losing battle at times.

A couple days ago I found a note that David had written to me a while back. I had saved it because of the good reminder. It says...."And let us not be weary in well doing: for in DUE SEASON we SHALL REAP if we FAINT NOT. Gal. 6:9 Keep up the good fight, my love" :D Well, I decided I needed to put this somewhere where I could see it everyday to remind me to not be weary and not to faint! I was pondering where I could put this golden piece of advice and it came to me. I hung the note on my 2-year olds door! I have to say that he has given me a run for my money, and I thought I was stubborn! (Yes, Mom & Dad, I'm sure you can smile at this :)

Yesterday was a trying day. I was so discouraged and wondered if things will ever get better. Last night I asked the Lord for wisdom in how to raise my boy's. That he would grant me patience and remind me that I am to be a good example to them, to speak in a kind and loving tone. I also asked my Mom if she could have everyone pray for us. Well, this morning both boy's slept until after 7:30 and they were so happy! They had been getting up at 6:00 and being horribly crabby! I was just reading in a little devotional book (Grace for the Moment by Max Lucado) and today's reading hit me like a Mack Truck. Here is what it said...

November 4th

Run The Race

"Let us run the race that is before us and never give up. Heb. 12:1

"The word race is from the Greek, agon, from which we get the word agony. The Christian's race is not a jog but rather a demanding and grueling, sometimes agonizing race. It takes massive effort to finish strong.

Likely you've noticed that many don't? Surely you've observed there are many on the side of the trail? They used to be running. There was a time when they kept the pace. But then weariness set in. They didn't think the run would be this tough...

By contrast, Jesus' best work was his final work, and his strongest step was his last step. Our Master is the classic example of one who endured....He could have quit the race. But he didn't."

Just Like Jesus

I just wanted to share what the Lord is doing in my life. He is refining me and teaching me things that are hard to learn but He is always by my side even when I fail or feel like giving up! I had Bible Study the other night and the teaching was on Prayer: Leaving A Legacy. She shared 5 attributes of God.

1. He's Always There - Hebrews 10:5

2. He Always Answers - Psalm 34:9

3. He Always Understands - Psalm 103:14 & 139:13

4. He Always Forgives - 1 John 1:9

5. He Always Loves - Jeremiah 31:3

I want to memorize these along with the verses and then teach them to my boy's.

I am grateful for the opportunity to be a mom and that I am daily asked to give of myself. Otherwise, I don't think that I would! I am grateful for my boy's and that the Lord entrusted them to me, it is a job that I don't want to take lightly!

4-Wheeling, Cabin & Campfire Fun

We had another opportunity to get-away to my Aunt and Uncle's Cabin this fall. Here are some pictures from our time there....

Momma & Clayton

The fall colors were just gorgeous so we tried to get a family picture to use for Christmas! David snapped this one of Clayton and me, I love it!

Daddy & Connor

Say Cheese!

Connor, Momma & Clayton hauling firewood.

We did a lot of 4-wheeling. We all enjoy it soo much and it is a beautiful place to be.

Clayton & Connor eating Campfire Donuts. We made all of our meals over the campfire, it was so fun! We did hot dogs, campfire pizza's, omelets in a bag, campfire donuts (a must) and s'mores. It was a great adventure and everything turned out!

Here is our rig in front of the cabin. David strapped the boy's Tonka trucks on the trailer behind the 4-wheelers. We got a lot of double takes from people when we drove by!

As always it was a fun, relaxing and recharging weekend! Thanks Again, Dan & Brenda!

Summertime Memories!

I know I haven't been very consistent with blogging! So here are some pictures of our favorite summertime memories :D

David and my brother, Jon, built this sandbox for the boy's. After it was built, I asked Clayton who made the sandbox, he replies, "Uncle Jon." Poor Daddy!

I had to take this picture....You know you're a country boy when you wear mud boots with shorts!

I had my wisdom teeth out in August and was down for about a week. David took the boy's to the Wright County Fair. They met Great-Grandma & Grandpa Tiemann there. They were in heaven with all the tractors to sit on.

We welcomed our nephew, Aurick Benjamin, into the Tiemann family.

(I am still fairly swollen and bruised from my surgery.)

David took a whole week off of work so we could have some time together as a couple and as a family. We stayed in the cities for a few days and went to a Twins game. The Twins game was his birthday gift which was back in June, we weren't able to get tickets until September. It was fun to see the new stadium and they even pulled off a win! We had a great time together and are so grateful to my Mom for caring for our boy's so we could get-away!

We took the boy's to the Minnesota Zoo, while David was off of work. It was a lot of fun, David had never been there before! Here's me and my boy's riding a Timber Wolf.