Clara Lately

Clara. This girl has so much personality. And more of her personality comes out all the time. She's as flexible as ever. She is starting to love hats. It's so cute. She will wear hats around the house now. But she will only wear them if she puts them on herself. It has to be her idea. Ha. Clara adores Ruby. Adores is actually an understatement. She gasps with excitement when she realizes Ruby is out of her crib. She wants to kiss Ruby and hold her and give her all the love that is in her heart. It's so sweet. And also a little too much for Ruby at times. Ha. I'm so glad these sisters have each other.

Clara still loves to talk to herself in the mirror at the bottom of the stairs. It's still cute, too. ;) She loves selfies. My sister Ashley entertains Clara by letting her look at herself in the phone camera almost every time we are together. Clara loves it. So cute.

Insta Post: "Clara's preferred sitting position lately. It usually happens when she's in her carseat and her heels are usually BEHIND her ears. Kind of funny. Like she's trying to scratch her head with the bottom of her feet? Who knows. Also, this expression. 😂 Clara has so much sass lately. (FlexibleSuperPowers) (CrazyClara) (Sassafras)" May 4, 2016

It was hard for me to capture this moment of Clara and Emily Preston (our cute neighbor) loving on Ruby. I couldn't quite capture the whole scene. But I had to try because it was the sweetest thing. My view with Ruby on my lap and both of their faces leaning in to talk sweetly to the cute baby was adorable.

We recently purchased a Signing Time video called, "Potty Time." Clara now knows the sign for potty and what the toilet is. She likes to sit on the toilet and say, "Potty! Potty!" I don't think she really knows what that means yet, but we are on the right path. Clara gets so excited when she learns new things.

Clara was having so much fun putting her head over the air conditioning unit one day. Troy captured these photos with her hair flying everywhere. She was talking into it too. I think she liked the way it made her voice sound. Cute girl.

Jackson's Hike with Troy and Grandpa

Insta Post: "My dad and Troy took Jackson on a hike on Saturday. Jackson had been looking forward to it for weeks. "How many more days until I go on the hike with Grandpa??" Jackson looved it. He got to break in his walking stick (a find from the Bountiful farmer's market last summer) and added ten new rocks to his collection. Turns out the views weren't bad either. I love beautiful Utah! Thanks for planning the fun activity@mcbarneck ( 📷 credit: @troyjb1 ) «5.14.16»"

I love these pictures of Jackson with my Dad. I can tell Jackson was asking Grandpa something and my Dad is explaining it in depth. He is so patient with answering Jackson's questions. I can tell by Jackson's head tilt he is deep in thought about what Grandpa is telling him.

Insta Post: "This 7 year old, and his walking stick, and his enthusiasm for EVERYTHING is my favorite. «5.14.16»"

Jackson's Spring Soccer Season

Jackson had another great soccer season this year. It's always fun to watch him play. He loves his buddy Jens Larsen too. We are sad that Jens will be moving to Minnesota this summer so he won't be on our team next year. Jackson received a medal at the end of his soccer season and he was THRILLED about that. He has always wanted to have is very own medal that he earned. It was just perfect watching his face light up when he saw they were getting medals instead of trophies. He is so cute.

Insta Post: "Honest mom moment: Troy had to work today, it was kind of cold, and the thought of taking my entourage to Jackson's soccer game on my own was a little daunting. I was trying to give myself a pep talk as I pulled in. I could do this without losing anyone, right?? 😳 And then as if he knew just what I was thinking, my Dad pulled up a few parking spots away. He helped me unload the kids, and is basically the reason we survived the game. (Because Clara was either on the field or trying to join another family the entire time. 🙈) Thank you Dad, love you! ❤ Another testimony Heavenly Father is aware of us and our worries, even if they are just a little soccer game. And turns out earthly fathers are pretty aware of our needs too. ❤ In other news, look at this little goalie! So proud of our Jackson boy. @mcbarneck" May 7, 2016

Clara and Gray frequented these old dilapidated bleachers during Jackson's soccer games. Sometimes Clara would drop her snacks in the dirt and eat them even though they were laying among bits of flaking paint. Awesome. Ha.

Insta Post: "Jackson with his soccer buddy Jens Larson. (Who is moving! So sad.) Jackson had his last soccer game over memorial day weekend. He could hardly contain himself when he realized they were getting medals instead of trophies. He was THRILLED. He has always wanted to earn his very own medal. Dreams come true. Ha. Now, on to baseball! «5.28.16»"

A Much Needed Date Night

We hadn't been on many dates since Ruby was born. After a new baby it always gets a little crazy figuring out a babysitter that can handle the new babe, etc. etc. right? That's what I had been telling Troy anyway. We had been doing stay at home dates where we got take out and rented a movie. We still had fun but they weren't quite the same. Finally Troy put his foot down, we HAD to go OUT that weekend. Ha. So we did. And it was just what we needed. I just can't express how big of a difference date nights make for us. I feel so much closer to Troy. I'm glad we brought it back to the top of the priority list. Love you, babe.

Insta Post, May 20, 2016: "Tonight, Troy and I went on a real live date! {With Ruby} ;) It's amazing how getting out of the house makes you feel like a real human. Also, not making dinner is a plus. Parkstone for the win!"

Clara's Echo

Clara hadn't had an Echocardiogram since we lived in Arizona. So three years. We have been visiting the cardiologist yearly. At our last visit they suggested an Echo at our next appointment. We were hoping that after a year she would be better at holding still. Ha! I was under the impression that her echo would be sedated. And it wasn't. So it was kind of like a circus getting her to hold still. I had that ultra sound gel smeared all over me by the end. But, we got all the images they needed! Phew. Clara danced around watching Elsa in our little exam room while we waited for the Cardiologist to come in. All in all a good appointment day. Even though it was stressful, it worked out great. I just love the Primary Children's Outpatient Center.

Insta Post: "Clara had a check up with Cardiology yesterday, and her first echo in 3 years. The echo was supposed to be sedated. Through a series of miscommunications, it wasn't. Clara kind of hates exam rooms, particularly the beds, so I was pretty skeptical. I held her on my lap, and stroked her legs while an extra tech kept Clara occupied with Frozen (fast forwarding so she only watched the songs), giving her a sucker, and blowing bubbles. By the end, I had sucker and ultrasound gel all over me and a few bubbles got in my eye. BUT, they got all the images they needed. Miracle! AND her echo showed there are still no residual leaks through the patch she received 4 years ago. It was so nice to hear that again. We are very grateful for Clara and all the medical professionals that help us keep her healthy. ❤" May 12, 2016

Cabela's Visit

Sometime in May we went to check out the new Cabela's in Farmington. I had to pick up an online order. (I found kids sleeping bags for a great deal.) Gray loooved it. He kept pointing to all the animals and saying, "Oooo scary!" Ha. He loved watching the fish and pushing ALL the buttons on the interactive displays. So funny. Clara and Ruby weren't thrilled about being stuck in the stroller, but we made it work. This was one of my first outings with the three younger kids on my own. It worked out alright. Maybe because that awesome parking spot for young families put me in a great mood when I pulled in. ;) We will have to go again when Jackson can go. I hear Grandpa Mabey loves this store too, so we should probably make it an outing. ;)

Ruby 3 Months

Just like that and our angel girl turned 3 months. It's pretty hard to imagine our lives with out her. She is beloved by all her siblings. And she melts right into me when I hold her. It is the BEST. See below for some of my Instagram posts, and more Ruby pics. Because there can never be too many pictures. :)