And They're Off!

Courtney is brace free! Granted, I am out SEVERAL dollars, but just look below to see the results that made it all worthwhile.

I think may have been wise to keep this cute girl in glasses and braces for much much longer. As I sit here typing she is at the stake dance flashing those pearly whites at awkward teenage boys. Who am I kidding? She couldn't be ugly if she tried.

It's A......

We didn't even dare dream.............

and we are over the moon!!!

Some Halloween Ideas

I am Bowen's room mom this year, so that puts me in charge of the Halloween party at school. Can I just tell you how delighted I am that Halloween is on a Saturday this year? We don't have to mush all the school, church, home activities into one day. Any way, I wanted to do something a little different this year so here are a few ideas I have come up with so far. I thought it may be a help for other mom out there.

I want to do a mad scientist theme this year. The moms wear lab coats and black glasses. Gross apothecary jars, fun science experiments( I have found kids of all ages LOVE science experiments).

A few years ago at our school carnival we had a Sandy Candy booth- you know the one with the sour candy that looks like sand that you layer in straws. The kids went wild, especially mine. We have seen it since at candy stores and Thanksgiving Point etc.

I looked online to see if I could find it cheaper, as it is fairly expensive. I couldn't, so I decided to make it on my own. It worked perfectly. I ordered plastic test tubes with lids here. I am going to pour the candy in little clear ketchup- like bottles so the kids can layer their candy any way they want, each flavor being a different color. I found some labels here. I thought that I would print them on sticker paper and stick them on the tubes. My kids are wild about these. Here is the recipe:

1 Packet Kool Aide

1 Cup Sugar

Blend in blender, you can add any color of food coloring you like. Hard recipe right?

We will also be making slime, which we did last year. There are lost of different recipes online.

I think that I will do a scary story about body parts and pass around the spaghetti for brains and peeled grapes for eyeballs etc. We all did this when we were little, but did you ever forget it-not me.

Now all I need is a mad scientist treat and maybe a game. Any ideas?

PS Tomorrow we find out the gender of baby #5! Stay tuned for details.

First Day of School

I know I am a little slow in posting these pictures, but I am incubating, give me a break. I was ready to send these kiddos off to school this year, it was a long, hot and busy summer. Most of which I spent trying to find ways to calm my raging stomach. Now that they are gone--I miss them terribly, although my house stays clean for 6 whole hours. Imagine that.

There is one slight problem though. They are all in different schools this year. Different departure times. Different arrival times. Yes I feel like an airport. And baggage is definitely a problem here.

Leaving at approx. 7:30 am to catch the school bus is Courtney. Courtney is in 9th grade. You heard me. 9th Grade. Can I just tell you that I remember 9th grade as if I were there yesterday. EVERYTHING about it. Desert Hills Middle Schools is her school this year. The middle school houses the 8th and 9th graders, so she is the oldest which is great. There has already been a dance (she danced-whew!). She was so excited about starting seminary this year and she has three honors classes. She makes me look like a good mom. Deceiving, very deceiving.

Leaving at 7:00 am is Jackson. Jackson started 6th grade, a big deal down here in sunny St. George. 6th graders move up to intermediate school, which is 6th and 7th grades. So basically Jr. High. He loves it and stays very organized with his modern day Trapper Keeper. No loud Velcro rips for him, just a sleek snap. Technology.

Leaving at 8:30 am Bowen is our lone Elementary school goer this year. He started the 2nd grade with the teacher that we all hoped and prayed for. She is the teacher everyone wants so we were ecstatic! He loves going on his own and having his independence. He is thriving as usual and loves school.

Leaving at 12:15 on Tuesdays and Thursdays is our little man Cooper. He missed the deadline for kindergarten this year so he is in his second year of preschool this year. He is much more confident this year and feels like an old pro, showing all the kids around the school. I am so glad to have him around for another year, he is my lunch partner, my chore do-er and my side kick.

So there you have it. Our complicated school schedule. Now I have to go because they are starting to arrive home now in half hour intervals.

Summer 2009 Rewind

I didn't post much over the summer so I thought I woul do a quick overview of a few things we did this summer. I haven't been feeling well since June so we stayed close to home. The boys golfed at least twice a week all summer long. They are getting to be awesome golfers. My mom and dad bought a second home in the neighborhood and so they were here often this summer. It was so much fun to see them all summer long. One of the highlights was my grandma Richards 99th birthday party. She is one of the most incredible people I know and a huge influence on my life. She is graceful, positive, bright, full of faith and she is full of wisdom.

Look at her!!! Does she look 99 to you?

Grandma's posterity

Hiking Timpanogas Cave with aunt Ashley....


at the cave

Grandpa Bowen was always WAY ahead (of course)



The car show in Cedar



Lots of baking (cream cheese tarts for the 4th of July)




Roadrunner baseball games



Money being dropeed from a helicopter at the game




Jackie and Keiths wedding





Lots of baseball games (Jackson pitching)





Jackson catching




Bowen at bat



Bowen at short stop




Brian Reagan show with Jackie and Keith





We had such a fun summer even though we didn't make any special trips. My kids are always happy to stay home and hang outside with friends. I am looking forward to cooler weather, but I am sad to say goodbye to my pals for another school year.

Courtney is 14!

Courtney on her 14th birthday

Courtney at 9 Months Old

Courtney actually turned fourteen last Sunday the 23rd of August, but we decided to celebrate in true Cluff style and drag it out for a whole week! This girl is the most special fourteen year old on the planet, so I think she deserved a week packed with special Courtney days.

She picked out this present and still is this excited!

The festivities started last Friday when grandpa and grandma came into town to take care of some "house business". They took Courtney out to the Brick Oven which just opened here in St. George. Delicious. On Saturday Carter and I took Courtney shopping and to a little Japanese bistro. We met up with grandma for a late night movie-Julie and Julia. Although I had to cover Courts eyes and ears a couple of times, I just need to say that I am in LOVE with the movie. It is SO up my ally and I plan on baking my way through a cookbook starting any day now. Oh and I am going to go to France too. Mark my words.

We kept the celebration rolling into Sunday(her actual birthday) with a BBQ with the grandparents and and ice cream cake from Dairy Queen. My kids are tired of my baked goods and frankly, so am I.

The rest of the week was spent preparing for the grand finale-and what a grand finale it was. We had several giggly, hyper, silly fourteen year old girls over for a carnival. Games were played, prizes were won, food was consumed and pictures were taken. It was a success and I am beat. Good thing we only do parties every other year. The next one for Courtney is the big 16!!! Lets not talk about it okay? I'm serious don't ever talk to me about it.

The Birthday Banner

The Girls

The Dart Throw (Jack liked working the booths for the ladies)

Everyone got tickets to spend


Courtney at the Fishing Pond

Homemade Fries(we had nachos, burgers and hotdogs too)

Cotton Candy and Popcorn Booth

The Photo Booth




Photo Booth Pictures

Now for a few words about the birthday girl. If you know her, I don't need to tell you. But I have too. She is the light of our world. She is happy, HILARIOUS, and good. Just plain good. i have been proud of Courtney since the day she was born. She is not perfect, but she tries and she tries hard. She looks for the underdog and she genuinely loves everyone. I haven't done a thing to make this girl so amazing, she was born good. Just plain good. With our you Courtney my life would be much harder, not so bright and who would make me laugh until my insides ache? Courtney-"You are the bread to my butter, and the breath to my life." Please bless she stays as wonderful as she is now. Why am I so blessed? Oh well, I'll take it.