Zea in a Nutshell

Here is Zea wearing the snow boots he has been wearing since it snowed here in December. He wears the EVERYWHERE except church (only because I won't let him). Doesn't matter the weather (as you can tell with the shorts and short sleeve shirt) or what we are doing (park, library, store...you name it). The face is pretty classic now a days as well!


This is a leash we found in the garage the other day. It is a long rope with a clip on both ends that he hooks to everything in the house. It is rather cool, actually. My favorite is when he hooks things to it and goes "fishing" over the landing from the first floor to the second. He really is very creative and inventive. What a fun boy to have in our family. Certainly keeps things interesting. I sure love him!

Zea's artistic ability

After telling him 'No' numerous times to not play with our camera; he snatched it right when I walked out of the room and took as many pictures as he could. He really didn't have much time before I was back and he was in trouble but when I looked at what he shot I have to admit I was pretty impressed. Everything was pretty focused and centered and he knew what he was aiming at. These are his parents love birds.

This is "Lilly" the family dog, not mine...his parents! She is a great dog though, just smelly!

The fireplace.

The pantry. Nathan, but a nice shot of the room as well. My talented son at work. Who knows...maybe he has a future with National Geographics...that would actually fit his personality quite well.

New tooth/Old tooth

We finally got a pictures of Nathan's first tooth. He got is just under a month ago but we finally got a picture of it.

Taft on the other hand just lost his first tooth, tonight. We tried before but it wasn't ready. He was freaked to try again but it was just hanging there, so, after bribing him with money, stickers for his sticker chart and then the winner...an hour on the Wii tomorrow (why I didn't think of that first I don't know) he consented to let us try. One quick pull and that baby was out. He was so excited and even more excited because it didn't hurt "at all"! Pretty exciting night in the Clayton household...now we just need them to calm down so they can go to sleep.

Here is the cutie with the new hole in his mouth. He is so excited!!!! We also have this really cute tiny treasure chest from some their action figures (thanks again Aunt Julie) that we are using to store his tooth for the tooth fairy...pretty cool to use a pirate treasure chest if you ask me. Now the big question...how much do tooth fairies pay nowadays...? I guess we'll find out tomorrow.

Guy's Ski Trip

Brett, his Dad, and two of his brothers (Shane & Justin) along with Shane's 2 oldest girls (who can already ski) were gone for 3 days after Christmas for a ski trip up to Brianhead, Utah. They had a GREAT time together and are really looking forward to going again some time this year (except Justin who lives in Texas...sorry Justin). We missed Dad but I was really excited for him to have this time with the guys.

This is Brett with his twin, Justin...isn't it obvious. ;0)

Brett, Justin, and Shane (who looks more like his brothers twin).

Boys update

Taft is loosing his first tooth...crazy! We tried to take it out during dinner because he was complaining about not being able to eat but it was to traumatic so we quite and will either try again later or just let it come out on his own...I just hope he doesn't choke on it during the night or swallow it.

Our awesome Aunt Julie and Uncle Mike sent the boys a Batman and Siperman outfit for their Build-a-Bears (that they also got for them). The boys LOVED them, except for the mask on Zea's. He liked it at first but then decided it was too much for him and preferred his bear without it. I think it was a bit scary for him. Taft on the other hand has renamed his bear from "Webber" to "Batbear" (at least while in costume, which has yet to be removed).

Taft in a nutshell right now. He LOVES video games on the computer. It makes me nervous how quickly he picks up on how to work the internet and how to play these games. He is one smart kid. That and I am one slow Mom when it comes to the computer/internet which many of you could attest for.

Now this is sad. Zea feel asleep in the car. We were trying to get him to wake up so he would still take a nap, so, we had him walk in the house. Only to come around the corner and find him asleep on the stairs like this. It didn't last long but was pretty funny/sad regardless. I am just glad the camera was downstairs so I could catch a picture of it.

Playdough time with Dad. Let's be honest...they are both really into it...I love that I married a man as young at heart as I am (in the good ways that is). Zea was showing me the two playdough circles that he made if you didn't pick up on that in the picture.

Nathan is always so happy when he sees you after his naps. I heard him playing around in his crib, so, I grabbed the camera and caught the adorable look on his face when he finally sees you and knows you are going to be picking him up. He does get pretty ticked if you look at him and then walk away...understandably so.

Yes...I was doing dishes and didn't notice how quiet he had become until I turned around and he was out cold. It was so cute and sad at the same time.

He loves his Daddy and his Daddy is quite the sucker for him as well. I caught them while that were hanging out in the morning. Pretty cute!

This is a picture of him with his cousin, Collin, who was born 3 days earlier than him and to top it off it is the son of Brett's twin, Justin. Pretty cool huh!

He is just so cute! I just love that smile. He makes the whole family happy when he looks at us like this. What a blessing to have this little man in our family.

Christmas update...Okay, I know I am really late on this one but here you go!

4 of the 6 brothers came over for Christmas Eve. We had a wonderful dinner and then, of course, the Nativity. They went all out this year with homemade costumes (thanks Merrily and Jenn) and even added Samuel the Lamanite (from the Book of Mormon) which I wouldn't suggest because the kids totally lost focus when they got to throw rocks (ball of foil) at Samuel (uncle Shane). It was fun regardless and everyone enjoyed themselves.

Here is one of the few attempts made to capture all of the grandchildren together at once.

Santa came and visited on Christmas eve as well giving all the children one of their presents for the season. He was going to have a busy night so he stopped by early (so cool). Everyone was SO excited and taken back at the same time. ;0)

To top off the night, Zea ended up with strep throat. He was up all night (as were we) and was pretty miserable for a couple of days. Needless to say that Christmas day was a bit more relaxed and we ended up having Christmas dinner with the family a few days later instead.

Zea got a really cool helicopter that he loved and was so into that he wouldn't look up for the picture (that says a lot for Zea). Well, that and he was feeling pretty cruddy with the strep throat and all...poor guy!

Taft LOVED his 'human torch' costume in case you couldn't tell. I thought it was pretty fun to watch him. He has no idea where it comes from he just really thought it was cool to be a "flame man" and wanted it for Halloween, so, after Halloween sales we picked it up and I am pretty sure you will see it again in October. ;0)

Nathan was pretty excited about his one of two presents (the other a teether). He enjoyed having the guys pop up at him....he is so cute!!! Thanks for the present Grandma & Grandpa.

Okay, so, I think Brett was the most excited this year of all. He and all his brothers got these crazy Nerf guns for Christmas. This is a picture of him and his twin, Justin. They opened them together and I swear they were both 12 again...pretty cute I must say!!!

Turn of events

Okay, so besides being sick for another week (I hope this doesn't become a yearly thing for me) things have been good. We have had a turn of events though. Brett is still working for the Orthopedic surgeon part-time but they aren't giving him anymore hours right now. We need a full-time job. Well, a week ago his "part-time" job with EmCare (the ER company...they hire out contracted P.A.'s to 5 different ER's). He was going to work 1-4 shifts a month. They told him that they have lost 3 full-time P.A.'s and they want to hire him but they first want him to work full time shifts for a month or two before they actually hire him...fine with us! He will still get the hours and work just not the benefits until he hired as full-time. By then we will know what is really happening with the Ortho group and will have a full time & part time job until then. Although that won't start until March we are so grateful that, once again, the Lord is making this work out for us. He did say to be patient and we have had to be but now that it is starting it is all coming together. He did his orientation for the ER yesterday and really enjoyed it. He said it was a lot more orgainzed and clean then the one he worked at in Philly...what a shocker! ;0) That was a hospital right in the middle of a horrible area that was overworked and run down. If you have lived there you would know what I am talking about. They have some of the best hospitals around and some...not so much. I love Philly but that didn't surprise me...it did Brett a little which I thought was funny. I guess he just felt that all hospitals should be fairly similar in those things. Anyhow...it has been another turn but a good one. Not to mention that the ER job pays more...always a bonus. We really have been so blessed!!