Sacred Grove and Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls

Me and Brie at the falls

Our family at the falls

Lots of mist!! These pictures do not do the falls justice, simply amazing!!!!

Well Niagara Falls is just an hour and 20 minutes north west of Palmyra New York, so of coarse we had to go one more time. Clay had never seen the falls either so he was super excited! Riley thought that the waterfalls were cool, but more than anything he just wanted to RUN around. Car trips and 3 year olds, not always the best combo!!

Our family at the Sacred Grove
Riley, "Look what I can do" Simply gorgeous on a cold fall day
Path from the grove to the large family home


Our last hurrah in Northeast Pennsylvania. Clay (our nephew on Tyson's side) flew out to help us pack up and drive to Utah. We had been working very hard and knew that this would be our last chance to visit the church historical sites. So after our moving sale on Saturday October 27th we drove up to Palmyra New York and stayed at the Nauvoo Inn. It is a cute and quaint place in gorgeous Palmyra. We love that place! We got up in the morning and went to the Sacred Grove and walked through, Riley ran of coarse!! Clay took the tour of all of the homes on the Smith Farm while I fed Brie and Riley played outside with an umbrella (who needs toys!!)

We had a nice weekend, it was very quick though! Tyson had to be back to work on Monday, so we drove home late Sunday night!!

The things they do and say

Once again we had to go to Target and get new winter PJ's because Riley just keeps growing like a WEED! He was so excited to get "cool pajamas". He liked them for the feet and of coarse because they are like sister's!!

One day while I was trying to pack and get organized the house seemed a little too quite. So I started looking for Riley and this is what I found. He had climbed into her crib. When I gave him my look, he looked at me so innocently and said, "I just want to lay with her mom!" He loves his sister soooooo much! This is so why they will not be sharing a room any time soon! He just doesn't get that she needs her own space! I have gotta keep an eye on that kid!!!

Has it REALLY been a month?1?!!!

Helllo there friends and family! I cannot believe that it has been an entire month since my last post!! Let's see this is a list of what has happened over the last month:
1. Packed up our house in Pennsylvania
2. Packed up Penske Truck (Thank you to friends and family for the help)!!
3. The kids and I flew cross country
4. Tyson, Clay (nephew) and my mom DROVE CROSS COUNTRY!!! Thank you, we love you!
5. Unloaded Penske truck (again - thank you family)
6. Unpacked and set up home in Logan, Utah!!
7. Strep throat (me and Riley) Not fun!!
8. First Thanksgiving with family in about 3 years!!!!

Life has been crazy here, but it is starting to slow down to it's normal not so crazy pace! The kids have been great and Tyson is loving his Ortho rotation. We are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel and planning for the future!

Trip down memory lane

2005 - 17 months
2006 - 2 years + 5 months (bright sun in his eyes)
2007 - 3 years + 5 months (grew a TON)

We have gone to Roba's every year Riley has been old enough to go (walking). I found some pictures, cannot believe how fast time flies! I love my little man!

Playgroup

Not your typical boy, hates when his hands are dirty
Luke, Riley and Kaiya (distracted by the chickens behind them!!)
My precious little pumpkins!!!
He even makes a cute pig!!

Every Tuesday we have a playgroup and it has really helped Riley to interact and play better with other children (given that he was an only child for 3 years). He has grown so fond of his friends, expecially Luke Major! We are going to be sad to go! Last Tuesday we went to Roba's Family Farm. This year Riley loved the pig races, the giant jumping pillow, the huge tower of hay and slides, the animal area (he fed the goats and sheep this time). Above are pictures of all of the fun things that we did. He did not want to leave (of coarse) but we had fun and he was a good boy while we were there!

Grandmas and Great-Grandmas

Me, Brie and Ry with Grandma Jackman (my dad's mom)
Four generation photo: (left to right: My mom (Sherri Jackman), her mom (Earlene Freeman), Aubry and Me.
Grandma Marsha (Tyson's mom) holding little Brie

While we were in Utah looking for a place to live, we went to visit my Grandma Jackman and we took a four generation picture with my Grandma Freeman. Also, Tyson's mom came home from her mission while we were there, so we went to visit her! Riley so loved seeing grandmas and cousins and aunts and uncles! He really has missed that over the past couple of years being so far away from family!

The Beach Baby!!!

Matching beach outfits!!!
Chasing the waves, more like running away from them!
Uncle Mo and Ry - they are so cute together!!

We went to the beach with Uncle Matthew one day while we were in California. Matt and Ry had tons of fun chasing waves!! Brie and I were kicking it under the umbrella so we wouldn't get burned. It was a cool day and the water was freezing, we still had fun though! Thanks to Uncle Mo for going with us!

My son, the model

These pics were just so cute that I had to share them!!!

Aquarium of the Pacific

The birds loved the nector
They loved Ty's neck even more!
Ty's bite marks!!!

Tyson & Riley touching the reef sharks and rays, Riley wanted to swim with them.



Okay, it is time to get caught up before I get sooo...overwhelmed with packing and eventually have to pack up the computer. While we were in California early September we went to the Aquarium of the Pacific. It was really fun and Riley got to see a lot of animals and fish. My favorite was the bird section. This one parrot absolutely loved Tyson and kept biting him! Pretty funny!

Moving, not so fun!

I do not like packing!!! Moving accross the country is a real pain, you have to pack EVERYTHING!! Tyson had all of last week off, so we got some stuff done, not as much as we should have. Now it all falls upon ME! I have been sorting and packing everyday when Ry is calm or napping and Brie isn't hungry. I cannot wait until Christmas this year. We will be moved, settled nicely into Logan and have a wonderful Cluff side family Christmas. I will post pics and more stuff later. Riley is downstairs by himself doing who knows what!!!

New Hair

New hair cut!!!!
I just liked this pic of me and Ry and wanted to post it, I think he is starting to look like me just a tiny bit!?!?!?!?!

For the past three years (since moving to PA) I have been growing my hair out! I don't know why, my hair is THICK, frizzy and rather curly - long is not the best idea. I finally let go of it and cut it nice and short!!! Tyson actually told me that my looks great (first time in about...3 years)!! I am and always will be a short hair girl!!! The best part, it looks even better in Utah, thanks to that nice and DRY climate!! Lots of great hair days for me in the future!!!!

Mini Me (Mini Tyson)

Since Riley was born Tyson has referred to him as "mini me". I thought that his picture of Tys and his clone was one to share with everyone!! I love my boys!! I love that they are best buds, I love how much Riley adores his father and I especially love how much Tyson adores Riley. They share an awesome bond!

Blessing Day

Aubry Lynn Cluff September 9, 2007 in her blessing gown
Our little family, may no get much bigger!!!

Pretty Girl

We flew to Cali on Friday 9-7, Aubry was perfect on the flight and Riley was extremely well behaved considering he is 3, a boy, and on an airplane for close to 6 hours!!! Saturday we relaxed and Sunday we were actually on time to church!!!!! Tyson blessed Aubry and my dad, Justin, Randy and Tyson's brother David were in the circle as well!! It was nice to bless her with family in the same ward that we blessed Riley. We saw lots of friends and family, it was a wonderful day!!!

Tag, I'm it!

Well, Natalie Garces tagged me..so here it goes! (Just got back in town-things are crazy, will get caught up soon)!!!

Jobs I've Had:
1. Office Manager
2. Assistant Office Manager
3. Assistant Accounts Payable Manger
4. Snapple promotions (best summer job ever)

Places I Have Lived:
1. Pico Rivera, CA
2. Whittier, Rockne Ave.
3. Whittier, Enramada Ave.
4. Whittier, Cullen Street
5. Scranton, PA
6. Logan, UT (come November)

Foods I Love:
1. Cold Stone Strawberry Blonde
2. CPK BBQ salad
3. Smokey Bones BBQ chicken nachos (don't knock 'em 'til you've tried 'em)!!

Wesites I visit:
1. Kyani.net
2. Blogspot.com
3. stampinup.com
4. pncbank.com

Places I'd rather be
1. Oahu, Hawaii
2. Vacation (ANYWHERE)
3. My mom's house

Movies I Love
1. Sweet Home Alabama
2. Notting Hill
3. Wimbledon
4. Italian Job

TV shows I watch:
1. Grey's Anatomy
2. One Tree Hill
3. Desperate Housewives
4. Ellen Degeneres Show

People I Tag:
1. Marissa Jackman
2. Natalie Salo

Time to relax

This past Saturday was so nice!!! I went to the spa and got a full head of highlights and a nice short and cute cut for my trip to CALI!!!! It was so nice to get out of the house by myself and just talk to adults, good times. So, on Friday we leave for CALI and won't be back until Monday the 24th. Tyson will have to come home on Sunday the 9th though, we will miss him!!! We are going to bless Aubry in our old ward (Good old Colima Ward)! I am so excited to put her in her beautiful gown, I will be posting pics ASAP!! Riley and I are looking forward to the BEACH, COUSINS, the Long Beach Aquarium, AUNTS and UNCLES - we really miss our family. My mom is taking me and the kids to Logan to go house hunting for our move there in November!! Lots going on!!! Once I get home it will be time to pack up our home!!!

Happy Birthday to Me (OLD LADY)

Sorry to all those out there who may be older than me, but I cannot believe that I am 28 already? Where has all of the time gone? Well, Wednesday was my birthday and I was feeling sorry for myself - all of my fam is far away, all of my good friends were out of town and I knew Ty hadn't planned anything. Well, the day was NOT a total bust. Tyson came home on his lunch break and surprised me with flowers and my mom and dad sent me flowers to cheer me up!! Riley came in to my room that morning, gave me a sweet kiss and told me happy birthday, then he asked where his presents are? (Funny how kids think its all about them!!!) Riley got me the "auto cool" a fan that keeps your car cool while parked (cause he hates getting into a hot car). Tyson took me to dinner at La Trattoria Bella (my favorite nice restaraunt out here and it's smoke free) and gave me a Hello Kitty card with WRITING in it, big deal for TY! I also got a nice bag, LOVE IT!!! All of my brothers called or texted me and of course my mommy called me. Great way to start the 29th year of my life!

Frogs and Snails, is that what little boys are made of?

Saturday rolled around and I was pouting because Tyson didn't want to do what I wanted to, what else is new? When I am mad, I usually do chores. So, Ty was trying to get back into my good graces by taking out the upstairs trash that I had collected and bagged and he found a frog. He called Ry out to see the frog and of course he was thrilled. He told Ty, we have to show mommy!!!! Riley was so excited about this frog that I asked him if he wanted a pet frog (yes, I really don't think b4 I speak!). He jumped all over that one! So, we went to the pet store and found the cheapest and easiest to maintain frog we could find, an African dwarf frog. $15.00 later, we were at home getting Kermit's cage ready and putting Gary (the snail to clean up after Kermit - yes Ry likes Sponge Bob-Gary his Bob's snail). Well, it has been a couple of days, Gary died, we are on Gary the second. Last night, Kermit bit it too! Good thing we went and bought Gary the second yesterday and another XL African dwarf frog, whom Riley named Green. These are our pets, hopefully we can keep these alive longer. (Luckily, they are only 2 bucks a pop!!)

Is it Halloween yet mommy?

Let me start with this, last Halloween Riley was Chicken Little and it was a bit of a struggle to get him into his costume. So, this year, I thought that I would let him choose his costume to help him get pumped for the big night!!!! My how the boy has changed over the past year!!! He picked "Buzz Lightyeart" (Ry's language) and helped me order the costume online. That night Ry saw Ty on the competer (Ry talk again) and told his dad that he wanted his Buzz Lightyeart. Ty asked me what he wanted and I told him about the costume, so, Ty told Ry that is would come in the mail - mistake # 2!! For 5 days, every 10 minutes, before and after the mail man came all I heard was this, "Mama, where is my Buzz in the mail?!?" Finally, it came on Monday - take a guess as to how many times he has worn it already???? The magic number: 5, I have finally hid it!!!! Too funny.

My life, not so glamorous right now

Well, Riley is pretending to take a nap right now and Brie is cooing in her crib - so - I thought that I would upload the latest pics. So sad really, it is 1:30 in the pm, I have not showered yet, and my big plans for the day: grocery store (not fun with both kiddos) and dinner to the missionaries. Oh to have a glamorous life!!!! Actually, I am just lazy right now. Brie is starting to sleep through the night, 'bout time!!! I am still so tired though. Well, these pictures are just some that I think are dang cute!! Aubry's brown hair bow, she has a ton (too many), her in a couple of her outfits, she has more (a couple pages in her scrapbook devoted to all of the outfits I love to put her in), Brie sleeping with Ty (this was also Riley's favorite place to sleep) and finally, Riley with a stinky morning face!!! He, just like his mommy, is sooo not an AM person! Well, time to go and read everyone's blogs!! To anyone reading this out there, how do you list your blogging buddies on your blog???? Thanks!