The Demaris Family

mothers necklace

2012-01-20T09:24:00.001-08:00

i have to admit i am disenchanted with most mother's necklaces, but when i saw this one i feel in love! love the carved in names, love the different shapes to choose from...love that it doesn't look like an army tag type necklace...love it. check out the carved creations website at www.ccforlife.com

Our Christmas Eve Experience!

2011-12-30T22:18:00.001-08:00

Just wanted to share our awesome Christmas Eve experience/service opportunity we had. I love the "raw" service opportunity where you get to actually see where what you are donating is going, and to whom. It is so much more satisfying, that is why I loved the blessing bag idea. So I ran with it and with the help of Clint, and my sister-in-law, gathered together more blessing bags but put them in Trader Joes bags with a few other items (towels, cans of soups, etc) for the homeless shelter we planned to visit Christmas Eve morning. We also gathered shirts, pants, shoes, jackets, coats, blankets and Tyra prepared some wrapped presents for children. My sister-in-law Tyra already wrote about our experience and her feelings mirror mine so I will just share her story:

Our first stop was to "The Shepherds Door" and Shelter for women and their children trying to get back on their feet. We brought a bag filled with lotions, bodywash, and the wrapped gifts inside for children. There were no familys there to be seen, but the wonderful lady we talked to was so thankful and positive. She also let us know just what was needed for the next time we come. Clint and Aaron were driving and all the kids were piled into our cars, eating crakcers, and watching a movie. We were literally 2 miles from that shelter when Clint pulled over on the side of the road and Jen jumped out, motioning me to come and help. She popped the trunk while a man walked towards us. We handed him the bag and asked what else he needed, he took a pair of pants, shoes, hoodie, and jacket, and a water bottle. He was so thankful! He wasnt gready. I wanted to wrap my arms around him and hug him....I could hardly hold back the tears as I got back into the comfortable heated car, and resumed my handing out of crackers and jerky to our children. What an amazing contrast of life. It was so hard to understand. That man broke the ice for us. We made our way to the large Homeless shelter. Which is pretty much a sidewalk full of people. We pulled over to the curb behind Clint, Jen jumps out again, and so do I. I was a little apprehensive, since there were so many people. As soon as we opened the trunk people came, we were able to hand out all that we had, plus more (Jen and Clint gave stuff they had stored in their car, the coat off of Clints back) in about 5 minutes. There was one very tall, black man. In a long Black trench coat asking if I had anything for children. We didnt. I got all the information from him that I could and told him we would do our best to get it and come back. He said he would wait for us. So we went straight to the Goodwill right up the road from there. We were discusted at their prices!! Absolutly rediculous! ( I mean really, they should be ashamed). We found an outfit, shoes, socks, and a coat for 5,7, 9 year old boys and a 4 year old girl. We also found backpacks/duffle bags for each of them also. We had also got 4 more pairs of mens shoes, and a vest. We separated them all out into the bags and headed to the McDonalds. We bought 50 hamburgers (well clint bought some chicken sadwiches also, variety lol) and headed right back to the Shelter. Aaron and Clint jumped out with the bags of hot burgers, and other clothing items while Jen and I put on the packs and started looking for the two children inside, a 7 year old and a 4 year old, and the 2 boys that belonged to that kind eyed needy father who said he would wait for us. And we couldnt find them! Hamburgers were recieved with such gratitude, and again, there were so many of them looking out for eachother, not taking more than one. We were pointed in the direction of a "Gospel Mission" a block away where we might find the familys. We rang the bell and waited for someone to open the door. Hoping we would find them inside. When someone finally answered the door he said that there were no familys there.....what to do? We were so reluctant to leave the bags there. Even though we were assured they would get to those who needed them, we really had in our hearts this one family and their children....so we left them, with tags for what bag went to what age and sex. Walking out I felt a sence on frustration, and did not want to leave. We stood there talked for a minute, and finally got into our cars, accepting the fact that he wasnt going to be coming. As Aaron put the car into drive and checked the mirrors he says, "There he is!"...The man came walking around the corner with his wife and 2 sons. It was Him!!!!!We jumped out and ran to the door of the building we left the bags in. While waiting told the family what we had gotten for them. When we were finally able to hand the bags to each boy and tell them what was inside, they smiled like you wouldnt belive! The 9 year old said in disbelief "For me!?" Can you belive it, a set of clothes, shoes, and a coat, in a bag, his very own, he could not believe it. You would have thought we gave him a bag of toys and candy.......My heart broke. I felt relief that we had found them, a sence of fulfilling our commitment, and a shock and helplesseness at the inability I had to really do something, more. Couldnt we do more? I didnt want to leave, I had to tear myself from that corner and get in the car, but what esle was there for us to do right then? Well we did what we could, we planned the whole way home of what we are going to do next year. We talked the rest of the weekend, about whats most needed, how often and how to get it. ALthough I left reluctently, feeling I could have done more, the smile on the faces of those people, those children, was the most spiritually satisfying experience for me. An experience that changed our Christmas forever. How could we go back to what we did before, it would feel so meaningless. I look forward to ironing out some wrinkles in the plan, researching, and doing more this next year. And really being able to make a difference. Dont give your clothing items to The Goodwill! GIve them to the Homeless shelter in your area! Your would not believe the need.

I also want to express that if we could save our used items and donate them to a truly good cause (rather than Goodwill, whose CEO's salary was over $600,000 last year) they would get to the hands of those who really could use the clothing and other items. If I thought the prices at Goodwill were high then I can only imagine what a person in a worse circumstances would think. How can they afford it!? Isn't the point of Goodwill to be affordable? I thought Target is a better place to shop, I knew I could find the same prices there...but at least they are new!

Anyways, I would hope that any of you who have items to donate might save them to donate to the homeless or directly to others in need. Save them for a similar cause, because there was no better experience to be had than to give and see their faces! Especially on Christmas Eve. There was nothing more satisfying, fullfulling, and enjoyable we could have done that day!

john 3 months old

2011-10-06T22:29:00.000-07:00

my baby is 3 months old!

(or 3 1/2 months now), he is a baby with whom i have nothing to complain about. sleeps through the night, eats great (almost too good, fitting snugly into 6 months clothes), easy-going & chill personality, & has a smile and a laugh for me every day! i really love this boy & and just love having a boy around!

amy, my best girlfriend took these pics of him while during our girl's weekend in AZ...i did the editing and hope i did it justice. we had a great time in AZ, and clint was a sweetheart to let me go for 4 days and see amy for our annual get together to play, shop, & relax in the sun. it was great to have a mommy break, and just have my little boy with me. he is a great travel companion!

yes, he does this lizard thing...love it!

carly's 5th birthday!

2011-09-27T22:08:00.000-07:00

the cute birthday girl!

princess mask!

sassy sister!

the cake!

breakfast in bed...oops panties shot!

ready for the circus!

carly's 5th birthday was super fun...we had a princess tea party in our backyard with her friends a few day before her birthday...i made this teapot cake, from a cake i saw online and it turned out great! i did face painting for each kid, had to keep it simple and they each got a princess mask, except the few boys that were there, and we sipped tea, ate, and played games all dressed up in princess dresses. it was something i have always wanted to do for the girls, have a tea party all dressed up with real tea cups and everything...so carly's birthday was perfect for it...and carly LOVED it!
on the day of her birthday she got breakfast in bed, german pancakes, and fruit! and in the evening went to dinner with grandma donna and grandpa dave to rose's cafe and went to see the circus...the circus turns out to be perfect for a 5 year old, she was pretty much in heaven and the cotton candy disappeared pretty quick as well. she had an awesome birthday and i felt so special to have such an amazing girl as my daughter for 5 years now. she really is a light in my life and i feel so lucky to have this sweet thing!

carly learned to ride her bike!

2011-09-16T10:51:00.000-07:00

just about a week ago... it took about 5 minutes and carly was riding her bike without training wheels! we are so proud of her, she did it right before turning 5!

clint came home one day from work and took off the wheels. she just starting riding with hardly any help! now we can't get her off, meanwhile cierra is sporting the tricycle ;)

also, some more pics at the park in moses lake when visiting tyra!

loves of my life...

2011-09-16T10:34:00.000-07:00

john at 6 weeks weigh in! 11 lbs, 3.5oz.

john @ 2 months! these kids are the best things that have happened to me. seriously, i feel like the luckiest girl to have the best family. they are better than i ever dreamed my children would be, and i love waking up to them every day...

since the sun came out...

2011-09-16T10:23:00.000-07:00

felt like august when summer finally started in portland oregon...so we took advantage as much as possible and went camping on clint's parents ranch in prineville, went swimming as much as possible, and played. seems like we have spent alot of time with clint's sister tyra and the kids,we are not complaining. the girls are pretty much in love with their cousins!

july & 1 month old john

2011-09-16T09:33:00.000-07:00

john was blessed on july 3rd and would not cooperate with pictures, but i got at least one before we had a blow out or something. it was a great blessing day and we did a bbq with family and friends at the house afterwards.

we also took a trip to idaho and for clints grandmas funeral, we got to see him family and mine at the same time. it was a fun trip meeting up with everyone and wish i had more pics of the time spent with mine, but here are some of the kids when we were picking cherries at the great grandpas house.

also, here are some one month pics of john...we just love the little man of the house!

2011-06-24T19:35:00.000-07:00

john clinton demaris is here! he was born june 20th at 6:01 pm. 8 lbs. 11oz., & 20 1/4 inches. we did a home birth for the first time, and it went perfectly! labor time was only 5 hours and everything went smoothly! we love our new addition, and we are excited to have a boy around the house! the girls can't keep their hands off him, poor guy...he is perfect and couldn't be more loved!

ballet pics

2011-06-15T15:58:00.000-07:00

both the girls are taking ballet, which they love! pictures were taken in recital costumes...kinda wish they were without the big red cheeks...but cierra was not feeling well, i was lucky to get the first group picture with her class...which she pretty much ruined...kinda funny pic tho.

to stay busy

2011-06-12T11:41:00.000-07:00

to stay busy these last few weeks/month....we canned all our food storage! I finished up teaching my 2nd year of preschool, made baby blankets & ribbon blankets (and i NEVER sew), and went on a family hike...just a few of the things we have been up to!

38 weeks

2011-06-12T11:33:00.000-07:00

this is what 38 weeks looks like...this time...

the girls

2011-06-12T11:20:00.000-07:00

i am so grateful to have two sweet little princesses, both of them are all girl! they love their ballet classes, dressing up, and just love eachother!

cierra, now 2 1/2, has been potty training herself lately and is doing a great job...with hardly a word out of my mouth she makes sure she gets to the potty, wipes, and washes her hands. she wants to be a big girl pretty bad and i am dang proud of her!

carly, 4 1/4, just finished her 2nd year of preschool! she is my little poser in all her pics and is teaching cierra to follow after her..crack me up!

grandma foster is in town to help with the baby that we hope is born soon! i am just waiting and waiting...this one is harder because i am bigger than i have ever been and only just over 38 weeks now...

clint's project

2011-05-16T21:50:00.000-07:00

clint has been dying to make bunk beds...maybe wanted more "guy time" in the garage...don't blame him, he is surrounded by girls. but when it was finished the beds were awesome, heavy duty, and built to last! he made the girls some great bunk beds, we all love them! thanks hon, you're the best! i'm lucky to be married to someone who is not only mr. fix-it, but can build things as well!

Easter

2011-05-16T21:36:00.000-07:00

we are catching up on easter because the girls just loved it...the clouds parted on the day before easter and allowed for an easter egg hunt outside! the FIRST EVER since living here in portland (that would be 4 easters BTW, so you can imagine our excitement). girls had a blast coloring and dying eggs, and getting excited for the easter bunny. but best of all carly is now old enough to understand what easter is really all about..."easter is a celebration of jesus' resurrection" yes, a line straight from veggie tales.

spring time

2011-04-14T22:00:00.000-07:00

just had clint's sister tyra in town over general conference weekend, and of course the girls played dress-up non-stop, while the boys did what they do! the girls just love their cousins and we were just lucky enough to catch the rain stopping to catch a few pics outside...what posers! isn't the blossom tree in the backyard the best?...one of the perks of living in a rainy climate, we have awesome plants/trees/flowers! something has to make up for the rain right? ;) conference weekend was awesome to have family around, relax, take naps, be spiritually fed, and we had tons of fun with the kiddos! yes, even caught a pic of clint sleeping too...sorry hon!

preggy pics

2011-04-07T22:58:00.000-07:00

so of course not great pics, some were taken with my phone camera, but you get the picture. first picture is at 26 weeks, next two at 28. i'm getting bigger and feeling it!

baby john!

2011-02-24T16:47:00.000-08:00

a few weeks ago we went in for my sonogram and found out we are having a baby boy! the due date is june 24th! we plan on naming him john clinton demaris! we are so excited for a boy and all the blue!

we LOVE our girls, but the new dynamic will be so fun! the girls are pretty thrilled themselves. carly cant stop talking about her soon-to-be baby brother...4 more months to go!

major catchup

2011-02-24T16:45:00.001-08:00

so it has been MONTHS since i have updated this blog, but this is my quick attempt to do so! the following posts hopefully hit most of what has happened in the last 8 months!

a few pics from christmas

2011-02-24T16:43:00.000-08:00

we had christmas at our house this year, with clints family coming to share it with us...and of course santa came to visit on christmas eve!

fam pics

2011-02-24T16:30:00.000-08:00

my best friend amy came out to visit oregon in august and took our family pics, amy your the best...its always the best to have amy visit...we got in much needed girl time, shopping, pedicures, etc...thanks always amy!

july-october

2011-02-24T16:24:00.001-08:00

july-october

a lot happened, we moved to a new place in sherwood, my brother jared moved in with us (still with us), and clint recently moved into a new office space...a few pics of other things we did!

2nd half marathon...and the marathon of life!

2010-07-16T21:56:00.000-07:00

an entire month ago i did my 2nd half marathon with 2 of my girl friends and it went great!my time was 2 hrs. 17 min. not amazing, but i did it! i think i have run once since, i have been enjoying the break from running ;) however life has felt crazy since then, it really has been busy! here's a catchup:

clint moved into a new office in portland, something bigger and newly remodeled. we really love it! we also moved into a bigger house that will better accomodate the fam. we love our new place (still renting, portland area's housing market is terrible right now and we are waiting out buying anything). we also have my brother jared, 17 yrs old, who just moved in with us and will be with us through his senior year. (now i have 3 kids!) but its great having some extra help around here! no, really its great just having him...but he is helpful! mows the lawn, helps with the kids, clint and i go see late movies whenever we want now...love it! this weekend i have a face painting booth at our towns "Robin Hood Festival," Sherwood has one every year & it is a blast! so far so good, one more day to go! in the mean time clint is in san fransisco leaving me to deal on my own & jared is on a campout. i basically have my other facepainters running the booth while i play with the kids, not so bad!but now, hopefully we can just slow down & enjoy the summer! yes people the sun is finally out in oregon! more pics to come soon!

5-year-anniversary in mexico!

2010-06-11T16:12:00.000-07:00

clint and i took a 5-year-anniversary trip to puerto villarta, mexico & stayed at paradise village resort! same place we went on our honeymoon! it really was SO SO SO nice to have no kids, no obligations for 1 full week...and we ate that up for all it was worth! we played a lot, lounged a lot, and slept a lot... we swam in a swimming pool with trained dolphins, clint scuba dived for the first time, i snorkled, we visited FAD (more details below), ate at hole-in-the-wall taco stands (and helped make the food), lounged at the beach, lived it up at the spa, ate awesome dinners on the beach (where the big crabs almost got me), took a "rythms of the night" excursion, and enjoyed being together! after taking the first real vacation since our honeymoon, we are decided that we are buying a time share ASAP at paradise village! we love that place and mexico is our kind of place...the people, the language, the food, the energy, we just love it!

i really am the luckiest woman alive to be married to this wonderful man! clint, the last 5 years have truly been the best 5 years of my life. to make it even better you are my best friend! you have helped me grow in so many ways that i never thought possible. there is no one i trust more than you. i look up to you and admire you more than anyone i have met. my heart is dedicated to you and our lives together, for eternity. i can't believe it has been 5 years already...and i am so blessed to live such a rich, fulfilling life, with you...this is a life that is SO worth living...everyday in every way! I LOVE U!

scuba, snorkling, & dolphins!

2010-06-11T15:46:00.000-07:00

clint went snorkling for the first time in mexico! i snorkled, because i failed training...seriously, after 4 minutes under the water i jumped out ready to pass out & started balling...if you are clausterphobic you can't scuba, now i know!i was actually really relieved, because i really did not want to go...i was just doing it for clint!

so i snorkled, saw the MOST beautiful fish, (so did clint while scuba diving), we visited an untouched beach which was very pretty! the entertainment was great on the boat of course & on the way back we were surrounded by wild dolpins! hundreds of them surrounded our boat; they stopped so we could take pictures and see them. the dolphins were doing flips and just following out boat, like they were playing with us for about 15 minutes. they are super friendly things!

families of the dump

2010-06-11T15:23:00.000-07:00

while in mexico we visited families of the dump (FAD), they are literally families that live in the dump in puerto villarta! we were able to help the FAD organization one day by bringing water, breakfast, visiting, and clint was even able to adjust one woman who came into their office in pain that day. it was really a touching and eye-opening experience to see how bad off some live, but wonderful to see what FAD has done to help. i enjoyed visiting with the kids the most (love kids!) especially the preschool. those children were so sweet and hugged us the moment we walked in...we will be back to visit again! if anyone is interested, you can sponsor a child's education for $250/year, that is how they fund the school they have created; and the only way they recieved their education.

cierra 18 months

2010-06-11T14:21:00.001-07:00

cierra is 18 months! nursery, sleeping through the night (finally), and getting out of the "baby" phase...keeps me on my toes constantly..that has not changed! carly is the best big sister and loves to show cierra the ropes.

cirque de soleil: kooza

2010-05-25T21:39:00.000-07:00

clint's office took everyone out to see cirque de soleil: kooza, last wed night...our first show with cirque de soleil & it was awesome! i have to admit the "dumb" clowns also gave a good show, they were hillarious! can't wait to see another one!

the tulip fields

2010-05-25T21:31:00.000-07:00

every year there is a tulip festival, when the tulips are all out. this was our first year, and they were beautiful...the girls loved the flowers...while carly picked a few and admired their beauty, cierra crushed every one she could get her hand on & played in the mud! it looks like a great day but we caught the flowers in between rain & hail which was going on just a half hour before! we are learning in oregon (yes, it took some time) that life cant stop for the rain, just put on some rain boots and jackets and go anyways. glad we did!

carly is a "big girl"

2010-05-10T21:34:00.001-07:00

carly has been able to write & spell her name VERY well since january, yes i am a proud mommy! she does so well kinesthetically, with her writing, drawing etc... and she is very proud of herself as well!

she also got her "big girl bike" and loves riding it everywhere, even to the store and through target ;)

pink dresses

2010-05-10T21:28:00.000-07:00

whats cuter then cute spring dresses on your 2 little girls! i love these girls to death!

easter

2010-05-10T21:14:00.000-07:00

lets talk easter...conference was wonderful, & the easter bunny came & hid eggs around the house! the girls loved the easter egg hunt, the dresses grandma donna sent, and carly had a blast decorating eggs...as you can tell she does underwear all by herself!

we got a fun easter present for the family: a black sequoia toyota! we love the room and it fits up to 8! the girls are loving a dvd player in the car, not so sure i love that they love it SO much!

carly has her ears pierced!

2010-05-10T21:03:00.000-07:00

so the girls and i were randomly in the mall (march 25th), at claire's, when i jokingly suggested to carly that we should get her ears pierced. i have really been waiting for her to tell me that she wanted them pierced, i promised i would never impose it on her. she was all the sudden insistent that we pierce them as i had suggested. i tried to talk her out of it but i thought, "well, i have always said i would do it when she really wanted them." and she really wanted them! she cried when it happened, but if you ask her the sucker made it all better! she picked her birthstone (without knowing that it was) all by herself, which is random because she would NEVER pick blue anything...what a coincidence...

2 months later her ears are doing great and she is SO proud of them! she is so stinkin cute!

we love spring

2010-03-14T18:20:00.000-07:00

so lets skip forward since my last post (christmas) all the way to spring! we have been busy but lets not backtrack.

we have spring in oregon...blossom trees, flowers and all! its really the best to have a break from the rain (although it is always back)....we really have to take advantage of what sun we do get!

best christmas ever

2010-01-25T14:35:00.001-08:00

"tricia" face...we love to tease her about!

so at least i am getting around to posting about christmas (better late then never right?) well, we had one of the best christmas's ever! the whole family (with the exception of russ, khara's hubby) made it. tricia came home from her mission on the 29th, so we waited until the 30th for OUR christmas. it snowed on christmas (the 25th, the first time since 1920!) and then again on OUR christmas on the 30th...it was a white christmas! (of course it melted quickly.) it was amazing to be with everyone, and see tricia come home! we are SO proud of you tricia for all your hard work at the meza, AZ visitors center. you are an inspiration to all of us!

grandpa dressed up as santa on christmas eve, and the kids were beside themselves! it is so fun having carly old enough to get excited about it all, it makes christmas christmas. it was fun teaching her about baby jesus as well, and it became one of her favorite things about christmas this year, and it was a big focus for all of us!

more pics from Christmas!

2010-01-25T14:23:00.000-08:00

texas 4 christmas!

2009-12-23T12:00:00.001-08:00

couldnt be any better, tx for christmas with my entire family! tricia is coming home from her mission on the 29th(mesa, az... temple visitors center). can't wait!

also, our family pic sent out in our christmas cards, totally nerdy but fun! merry christmas everyone, love you!

winter horse rides

2009-12-23T11:51:00.000-08:00

videos! (mostly cierra)

2009-12-22T12:13:00.000-08:00

these were all too precious/hilarious, i have to share these memories!

a few pics

2009-12-09T21:41:00.000-08:00

<---what happens when i attempt putting something in cierra's hair....the result: "stinker" face as i call it...

some from thanksgiving

2009-12-09T21:37:00.001-08:00

<----BEST APPLE PIE EVER!!!!

just a few pics taken in moses lake over thanksgiving with tyra, aaron, and the kids....we love our cousins!

cierra 1 year

2009-12-06T21:49:00.001-08:00

i am way behind posting, especially since i haven't posted cierra's 1 year birthday! cierra turned 1 on Nov. 14th! my baby is 1! we kept it simple with a few close friends over for cake & ice cream.
cierra, mommy is so proud of you! you are walking, and into everything but such a fun girl, full of spunk! you are a hands on girl, who just has to keep up with the rest of us! cant wait to keep getting to know you better!

portland

2009-11-10T22:13:00.000-08:00

bear with me for a second!
so many times since moving to portland I have thought of posting about this rainy place i live in. but decided to take the higher road and think of the positive! that's what we should do, right? i mean there are just so many things to criticize and believe me I have, but really what's the point? but i had a REALLY hard time moving here and adjusting. it was all so different from anything i have ever really known, and with a slogan like "keep portland weird," you might understand why! i mean really? "keep portland weird?"
from the slow moving people, & traffic, to taxes, hippies, being too good for walmart, 2nd highest unemployment in the nation, and just the lack of common sense, the list could go on (not too mention their crazy liberal agendas)...i keep trying to be positive and push those frustrations aside, but yet they would eventually resurface..."find the good about portland, find the good about this place!" i tell myself, and i truly have found positives that i live off of, and now it is somehow home....
despite that fact i found a funny & true article that seemed to mirror my sentiments (almost exactly) and i had to laugh...while reading it to clint tonight he mostly just rolled his eyes at me (he always does when i go off on portland.) but it was all so true and i didn't even have to write it!!!!...read @ www.knick-knack.com/rants/places/portland-oregon-sucks.html

but then again, i came from texas, and you know what they say about texas people and our pride! how can anything really compare to the best place on earth! i know, so annoying! lol!
thanks for putting up with me tonight!

things they are doing!

2009-11-03T15:07:00.000-08:00

well, whats up with my girls? carly has to wear dresses almost everyday, and is becoming particular with everything! for example, yesterday i had to do her hair with 1 pig tail, and 1 braid! she really is a lot of fun!
cierra's first tooth is coming in! and she almost always is at my leg right now following me around, so i thought i might as well capture it for example! she is starting to walk and is doing so well! cant believe she will be 1 in a few weeks!

halloween: trunk or treat!

2009-11-03T14:19:00.000-08:00

typical fam pic!

this year we spent halloween day at lee farms. the cutest farm with petting animals, including baby chicks you can hold! (of course i forgot my camera for this!) with homemade pies, and donuts and a pumpkin patch, pony & hay rides and mazes. it was a cute farm! my cousin holly and husband jon and niece (what do you call your cousins kid? i will call her niece for now!) came along with us! then we went to our wards trunk or treat, and then out for dinner for BBQ...it was cierra's first halloween, and she was a cute pink ladybug, carly cinderella (of course) they had a great time at the trunk or treat! our friends the scarioni's showed as well, with 2 girls the same age as ours, perfect! we love halloween!

disney on ice

2009-10-24T23:19:00.000-07:00

this weekend just carly & i went to disney on ice with a few friends! it was a blast, and i couldn't help but take a bunch of pics...some of carly just sitting in her seat to excited to breath! of course she was sleeping beauty for the special occasion...girls are the best!

catching up!

2009-10-24T23:16:00.000-07:00

below are all my posts catching us up for the last few months! ya, i feel like i have been on the computer for way too long tonight! but i just can't not post our memories, this is our family journal!

tyra, clint, & kids

2009-10-24T23:14:00.001-07:00

had a lot of fun taking pics of tyra & clint...but i know them and they would want me to minimize what i post...so here they are!

pumpkin patch

2009-10-24T23:08:00.001-07:00

we came home with way too many pumpkins a few weeks ago...they are just sitting there on the front porch...

carly's 3rd b-day: "dress-up @ the park!"

2009-10-24T23:02:00.000-07:00

for carly's 3rd b-day we had friends over at the park for burgers and a "dress-up @ the park." carly had a blast with the pinata! can't believe my baby is 3!

the girls

2009-10-24T22:59:00.000-07:00

had to take these pic of cierra learning to stand, and carly by her side encouraging her as usual. she is s great big sis! had to post these, better late then never!

Oregon Coast

2009-10-24T22:56:00.001-07:00

Throughout this last summer we took several trips out to the coast. Either to camp, stay the night at a beach house, or just the day. We loved every "get away" to the coast. It's amazing how good it always feels. We made so many good memories this year! Love my fam!

smitten kitchen

2009-09-23T15:32:00.000-07:00

this is the best site for your new recipes...cause you know you need new ones...at least i do! made the BEST chocolate toffee cookies & will again right now. you have to check out this site and find a recipe you need. the author makes the recipes simple, but delicious! (not my pic, but mine looked the same, so will yours! how can you look and not want one?)
www.smittenkitchen.com

by the way i will be back later to catch up on my life, i promise!

preschool!

2009-09-13T22:24:00.000-07:00

just finished my first week of preschool! with 9 kids 3 years old (or almost there!) it is busy! so far i am loving it and am excited for this year. i love planning my own curriculum and using my degree for something; i am lucky to be able stay home with my children at the same time! i turned our extra room into a preschool and it is working out great! carly thinks preschool is heaven, it is so cute! it is from 9-11:30, tuesday & thursdays...here are my kids, they are my "little learners!" cute huh?
check out my preschool blog for more pics and info! www.jenslittlelearnerspreschool.blogspot.com/

one more pic with brimhalls!

2009-09-05T10:36:00.001-07:00

had to post one more pic of the brimhalls in front of moe's! love ya!

a few more!

2009-08-21T10:10:00.000-07:00

family pics

2009-08-18T21:21:00.001-07:00

our best friends amy, zeke, and chalet brimhall just came from new mexico for an annual visit for 5 days...& we had a blast! we went out to the coast and played, ate seafood, spent the night, and shopped the outlets...amy the amazing photographer that she is, took our fam pics! thanks amy, we love you and miss you guys tons already! come back soon!

carly melt my heart!

2009-07-12T22:36:00.000-07:00

lately carly will randomly say "i love you too mommy." then of course, i tell her i love her...melts my heart every time! conversations with my 2 year old are so fun & interesting!

half marathon!

2009-07-08T10:51:00.001-07:00

******i finished my first half-marathon early july 4th! it was an exhausting & great experience! yes, i had tears in my eyes when i crossed that finish line! i ran on sauvie island near portland with over 2,000 runners...my time wasn't all i wanted it to be...2 hrs 18 min...but i learned a lot (mostly what not to do when running that long). all i wanted to do was eat some of the strawberry shortcake afterwards! one mistake i made was not taking any goo during the race or eating enough beforehand. but i will for sure do another one...not sure about those full marathons yet though!

khara & mekenzie

2009-07-08T10:48:00.001-07:00

it was so nice to have my sister khara & my niece mekenzie, in town over 4th of july! they really are the best & i want them to know how much i love & miss & appreciate them! you guys are the best! love ya!

4th of july

2009-07-08T10:38:00.001-07:00

4th of july was eventful and fun this year! khara, my sister came into town for 5 days. i ran my half marathon in the morning and we watched fireworks and hung out in downtown portland on the riverfront...khara made this amazing cake with our fresh picked berries...we ended up giving half of it to a group of homeless people who loved it too!

strawberry pickin'

2009-06-29T22:00:00.001-07:00

one of the best things about sherwood, oregon are all the berry picking farms near by! it has become something we look forward to and carly loves it, and i am guessing cierra is too! they dove right on in...

tea house

2009-06-29T21:53:00.000-07:00

there is the cutest little tea house here in sherwood that carly and i love to go on "girl outings" for (herbal tea of course) called "the lavendar teahouse." carly loves "hot tea" but really its all the honey/sugar added to her hot "whatever" she is drinking! it is super cuteplace with nice china and fun hats for the girls to wear, and the BEST ever scones...the real reason i go!

carly's ballet recital

2009-06-29T21:22:00.000-07:00

carly had her first ballet recital a few weeks ago, and she was so adorable! she really enjoyed it, and her class actually had the dance mostly memorized! carly did awesome dancing...she wasn't so excited for the pics, and of course would NOT pose for me, i was denied that privilege...but these are what i got! cute anyways! but she loves her ballet!

{fun w/ face painting}

2009-06-24T23:36:00.000-07:00

we were practicing some face painting on carly today and i loved this one of her even though she is NOT smiling, i think she enjoyed it...

{she is: miss thang!}

2009-06-01T23:20:00.000-07:00

{carly hair cut}

2009-06-01T23:16:00.000-07:00

journal entry:

"Carly this last week, just cut her hair! She was cutting paper with her kid scissors and I went upstairs to put some things away and took longer than I should. I even thought, I should go downstairs and check on her with those scissors, she could be cutting her hair. Probably a prompting I didn't listen to. Carly came upstairs and told on herself, "Mommy, I cut my hair!" I was upset, "Oh no!" I acted devastated and she started crying. I wasn't mad just so sad and well, devastated! She felt so bad and then I had to fix what I did and calm her down. It could have been so much worse! It was only on the right side and most of her bangs are gone. She just doesnt have much hair to loose in the first place, and whatever precious hair she grows I want to keep there! We are now wearing a lot of hats!"

{trip to coast}

2009-06-01T23:00:00.001-07:00

we just took a little overnighter to the coast and really had a blast! we stayed in lincoln city at "D SANDS," played on the beach, flew a kite, ate seafood, shopped at the awesome outlet, and checked out newport and its amazing aquarium...it's only an 1 1/2 hrs away, but it really felt like a mini vacation. we need to get out to the water more often...we love it!

trip to idaho

2009-05-22T13:30:00.000-07:00

the girls and i took a two week trip to miridian, idaho in april to visit my sister khara, her hubby russ, & niece mekenzie. we swung by utah for a while too! here we are dedicating pictures to our sister tricia (on her mission). we call it the "tricia face." seems every pic she ever takes has this expression. we love you & miss you sister foster! you're too cute!

let us catch up....

2009-05-22T13:21:00.000-07:00

so to catch up on the last few months...were do i start? the girls are growing like crazy....
carly got the side taken off her bed (finally) a few months back and is now using a "big girl bed," i ran my first 10k beginning of march (my first half marathon coming in july!), pics of cierra at 4 months, and some @ yet another visit to multnoma with friends in town (dallas & abby, dan & jenny).

cierra 6 months!

2009-05-18T17:34:00.001-07:00

cierra is growing so fast! my little baby girl is already 6 months old (since last thursday) and is trying desperately to keep up with carly. the day she turned 6 months she surprised me by crawling, and is all over the floor now! (not that she wasn't already with army crawling before)...she is sitting, crawling, eating lots of solids, and going from crawl position to sitting. she is doing things faster than carly did so its a little surprising for me! this girl goes after what she wants, and she wants to move! she is showing so much personality and she is so much fun, and carly is loving her playmate!

MIA

2009-05-14T22:03:00.000-07:00

i know, i know, its been forever since i have posted!
well...here are my excuses: our computer crashed and it took 3 weeks to fix, i was out of town visiting family in UT & ID for 2 weeks, & then left my snap & shoot camera with all my recent pics in ID so i have no pics to share! i have some major catching up to do! but my camera is in the mail and soon as it gets here i will be posting like crazy, because i have to catch up on SO much, b/c so much has happened! i want to keep track of the events in our life on this blog and will soon print it all in a book (hopefully i get around to that). i ALSO lost have my journal in the computer crash...thank goodness i have this blog to fall back on!
cierra is 6 months old today and i do have pics taken with my new 10d that i will post while i am waiting for my other camera to come...but just not tonight...i just had to put something up here for now...until then...

feet

2009-02-23T18:26:00.000-08:00

a fun pic taken by joy, our midwife!

p90x

2009-02-13T22:44:00.001-08:00

go clint & tyra! so i guess everyone including these 2 are doing this workout...i've done a few videos too, they are hard! they are loving it and are just getting started...hope they don't hate me for posting this pic! we will see how this whole program pans out! anyone else doing it? good luck if you are; looks like you will need it! {i think i'll stick to running!}

visiting moses lake

2009-02-13T22:33:00.000-08:00

we go to moses lake, WA to visit tyra (clint's sister) often because we just love those guys! we just got back from a 5 day visit...we just have to get out of this rain whenever possible! they actually have sun there! lucky! carly loves playing with her cousins 24/7 & we love that too!

pink

2009-02-04T19:51:00.000-08:00

cierra will be 12 wks this friday! i cant believe how fast time has flown. just wanted to share a few pics!

gossip girl..totally addicting!

2009-01-31T01:52:00.000-08:00

i totally am addicted to this show and cannot miss an episode! (judge me if you want, that's fine!) i didn't mean to get this way, but one show leads to another...clint calls it my trash tv! all i have to say is...whatever, i LOVE it...anyone else too? can't wait until monday, last week's re-run was very LAME by the way!

cooing cierra & counting carly

2009-01-27T11:34:00.000-08:00

milestones for my 2 girls!

cousins

2009-01-04T23:32:00.000-08:00

since we didnt get to see tyra (clints sister) & the kids @ christmas they came for a week and hung out...we hit up chuck e cheese's, played, played, played, shopped, & celebrated new years, it really is a blast with these guys everytime!

christmas

2009-01-04T23:18:00.000-08:00

christmas we were snowed in! (like most of the NW was). we couldn't make it to moses lake, wa for christmas (clint's sister)...it was fun with just us, and we were able to get together with ward members/friends for christmas dinners and did a nativity play where cierra was the "live baby jesus" and carly was an angel...so cute! it was a great first christmas for cierra and so fun to have 2 daughters now to share it with! we are so blessed! (don't mind my terrible pics, i am working on getting a better camera!)

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-22T15:24:00.000-08:00

our Christmas card this year...just was not able to print it and get it out on time with all this snow that oregon can't handle! ok, not really, i just barely made it...love you all!

Merry Christmas!!!

Jen graduates with her Masters!

2008-12-22T11:00:00.000-08:00

At last Jen finished her student teaching to finally cap off what has been a few years of blood, sweat, and tears (Thats no joke)! She graduated from TWU with a Masters of Art in Teaching. We are very proud of her for her hard work and sacrifice. She did a great job with the 2nd graders (they loved her to death), and did it all while pregnant with Cierra! She worked up until the day she had the baby. She's definitely tougher than I am! Not only that but she had to fulfill requirements from the school here in Oregon and TWU in Texas. That made a lot more busy work for her. We're happy that she's done (the house was falling apart without mom!) and proud of her for her accomplishment! Since she wasn't in Texas at the time of graduation she didn't get to walk with the rest of her class, so it feels a little surreal to her. She certainly did what most wouldn't have done and we're very proud of her.
- Clint's first post on this blog -

first snow

2008-12-14T22:08:00.000-08:00

first snow of the year TODAY, and carly's first that she might ever remember!

1 month old

2008-12-14T22:04:00.000-08:00

so my rebel camera totally busted and all i have is a snap and shoot...i havent been taking much pics lately anyways, but here are a few of cierra at 1 month old! cant wait to get a new camera!

with cierra is baby lillie my good friend brittany's baby that is 3 weeks older than cierra...since she also has a daughter carly's age they see each other often!!!

cierra's blessing

2008-12-14T21:56:00.000-08:00

cierra was blessed last sunday @ 3 wks old! luckily my mom was in from tx to help out and be here for it. it was so good to have her here while i finish up student teaching as well...what would we do with out you mom!?

also, behind us is our christmas tree we cut down for $15!

carly & cierra

2008-12-03T22:16:00.000-08:00

cierra's 1st bath!

its so fun having 2 girls...everything is pink! (poor clint) i love being a mother of 2 beautiful girls, i feel so blessed!
i just started back yesterday to finish my student teaching with cierra @ 2 1/2 weeks old, thank goodness my mom is in town to help, & i am only there half days...but everything is going great, i'm tired but i love every minute!

cierra is here!

2008-11-16T12:37:00.000-08:00

just wanted to annouce that cierra ann demaris was born friday morning at 10:12 a.m., at 8lbs. 2.5 oz. & 20 3/4 inches long at andaluz water birth center! she was born just over two weeks early and is doing great! more pics later!

being grateful

2008-11-10T23:14:00.000-08:00

i just wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude to my Lord for all the things that i have been given. i sat down and started crying for what it seemed an unknown reason tonight (pregnancy?) but i think i know what it is. i don’t know if i have always been the most grateful person, but i think it a great sin not to be. especially when i have been so blessed. these last few months have really been tough. being in the last stretch of my pregnancy, doing my student teaching, finishing portfolios for my masters, and other projects for student teaching along with the lesson plans, and all the while trying to still be there for my 2 year old and my husband; has been strenuous and busy to say the least. i kept wishing for it to pass quickly and for it to be over asap. however, i realize i need to take "joy in the journey" as Pres. Monson put it during our last general conference. i want to be grateful for this experience and its opportunities, for my family, and the blessings this life has had to offer me. still i can't wait to relax and enjoy a new baby girl and my family, but when i am finally done in 3 weeks i want to have savored every moment that i have been blessed with throughout this time. that is one thing that i have really learned to do lately; to be grateful for it all. don't waste a single moment, wishing for another time. we are experiencing what we are supposed to for a reason, though it may be wonderful or difficult. my heart goes out to all those friends i have experiencing difficult trials at this time. i want you to know i am praying for you, i do care, and i hope you know who you are. i am here for you.

love, jen

halloween and belly pic

2008-11-02T18:54:00.001-08:00

halloween was super cute!

we went trick or treating at the ward trunk or treat (perfect for a 2 year old) and then clint took off hunting for the weekend. carly was the most darling princess ever, and was loving being one! its starting already! here is a pic of my belly a week ago (35 weeks) right after the baby dropped...but seriously i look bigger already!

twilight

2008-10-11T21:32:00.000-07:00

so another reason i haven't had time to blog lately (on top of student teaching and being tired, and prego) is i have just finished reading the AWESOME twilight series, i couldn't put those books down until i did! so i am of course dying for the movie to come out on 11/21 (9 days before im due)...hopefully i'll make it! anybody else excited? of course movies are never as good as its book, but i am hoping!!! i have to say i am questioning the bella character! see the new movie trailer @ http://www.myspace.com/trailerpark

(by the way the first two songs on my playlist are from the soundtrack)

30 weeks

2008-09-22T19:53:00.000-07:00

just so you all know how huge i am right now...

carly's 2nd birthday

2008-09-22T19:34:00.000-07:00

carly officially turned 2 last tuesday, september 16th, but we celebrated with a pink & brown themed birthday (of course) on saturday. it was a blast! we did a bbq with friends, did a pinata, face painted, and ate cake, made by mommy... it was so fun to see carly laughing and jumping up and down when we lit up her cake, for sure her favorite...presents were up there too! can't believe my baby is so big!

it's another girl!

2008-08-25T09:10:00.000-07:00

finally @ 6 1/2 months pregnant (26 weeks) we were able to do our first ultra sound! (due to insurance issues, of course!) clint and i guessed right, we are having another girl! it runs in the family to have more girls than boys so we weren't surprised. but we are so excited, and i'm glad i can keep going with my everything pink themes! poor clint totally out numbered!

we are torn between two names: Cierra or Che (shay) (I'm sticking with the C names). so please cast a vost on the side of this page, i need help...but i think i am leaning towards Cierra!!!

zoo & berries & friends

2008-08-18T00:10:00.000-07:00

a few things we have been up to in the last few weeks since we moved to sherwood...berry picking, hitting up the zoo, & hanging with new friends joel & brittany scarioni & their daughter maggie, just 6 months older than carly...brittany is 6 weeks ahead in her pregnancy than me & is delivering with the same midwife as me...we met at the park a month ago and hit it off instantly, so did the girls!

it has been terribly hot if you can believe it in oregon and we were dying at the zoo! as you can tell from carly's expressions!

ps carly only cares about the elephants at the zoo!

first haircut!

2008-08-17T22:50:00.000-07:00

my poor little girl, takes after her mom and has little to no hair! we really don't expect much until 3 years old...but, she got her first haircut ever a couple of weeks ago! i would have loved to save a lock of it, but there just wasn't enough hair even for that! sad! believe it or not she did need a trim though. so she got a GOOD one from roshan my hairdresser and it was just so cute!

my goal!

2008-08-07T21:46:00.001-07:00

**********************************************

i saw these french macaroons by paulette in instyle magazine. they're sold in LA, and i decided that i must learn how to make these, just like this! well, or close to it!

i have already made 4 batches, messed up a lot but i am trying again tonight. kinda of a crazy project, but how cool it would be to be able to make something that looks this good! its not easy! unless someone out there already does it, you have to let me know!

check out the website @ http://www.paulettemacarons.com/

visiting family

2008-07-26T10:07:00.000-07:00

everytime i go to utah it is so fun to be surrounded by family! family came up from texas, & idaho to see tricia off at the mtc. when i go to utah i realize that i forget how many cousins and relatives i've been so blessed with. we miss seeing everyone more often!

at the mtc...bye tricia!

2008-07-26T09:56:00.000-07:00

first of all, i just have to say how proud i am of my sister tricia for leaving on her mission! she was so excited to go and i know that she is loving every minute of it! when it was time to say good-bye khara, michelle, and i were all balling uncontrollably! (i blame most of it on being pregnant). tricia was all smiles and i know that she is exactly where the lord needs her right now (meza, AZ). she is truly amazing! it was a first time for me to visit the mtc, it really was an amazing experience to see her off.

silly girls!

2008-07-26T09:53:00.000-07:00

some of the fun pics from our trip!

5 months

2008-07-24T08:28:00.001-07:00

Ok so not an awesome pic but my sister Khara snapped this for me while in Utah, 21 weeks along! Im feeling great but still dont know what the sex is! Should know by now but we are waiting for insurance to kick in still! Cant you believe it?
Anyways, I have been a slacker at posting since we have moved and then went straight to Utah for a week and now I am working just getting out of boxes! So much more pics of Utah and Tricia leaving on her mission and all that stuff are coming!