Spencer's sister and her beautiful family stayed with us recently. They were making their way up North to visit more family, and stopped for a night at our place. We had so much fun with them. The only bummer was that our babysitter fell through, so our nice quiet evening at a restaurant became a circus of an evening with two boys who didn't understand the term: sit. (Let's just say Hudson not so much Simon) But all in all we had a great time with them and love them endlessly. They are such good people. We laughed a lot, ate some good food and then went to S.F. with them to dinner again, the next day.
Hudson loved having his cousin here; someone to play with that wasn't Spencer or me. He was a bit bummed to realize they had gone after waking from his nap - but hopefully we will see them very soon!

Trashy sister thats me. Let me explain (rachael) I didn't forget Rachael's birthday, I just forgot to post it. I realized that when I was going through my posts, so here is to you little Rachie.

Rachael is one of the most free-spirited gals I will probably have the great opportunity of knowing. I love how she really is easy going, and just "rolls" with whatever is going on. Unless that means getting up at a decent hour in the morning. She is the 4th girl of my family, and came out as bleached blond as you could get... and still is. She has beautiful blue eyes that sparkle and knows it too. Ha! She is a complete social butterfly and loves her friends as family; which her family does get a little jealous at times - but who could blame us!??!
Rachael just finished High School and is venturing out to college, which she will rock. Hopefully. (remember rachael college isn't free... have to get passing grades = fyi) :) Rachael talks in her sleep a lot, and walks around in her sleep. We have had many late night laughing fits while she has entertained us. And the best part, she has no idea what she had said of did the next day. Only if she knew. She is always willing to listen, and is like a vault with secrets. She is easy to love and laugh with.
I hope that she knows how much we love her and we wish her an amazing year. Happy Happy 18th!

I have always been a fan of the shoe department of any department store - but really fond of Nordstrom's. (Did I mention we bought our car?!?)
We have these awesome friends, the Crocketts, who just let us borrow their car (I know I have said that a thousand times in previous blogs) so when we finally purchased our SWEET car. - I really like it. We decided it was time to take back their car. So when we walked in Ben asked if he could take it for a whirl. Well of course!
Later that night Spencer mentioned that when Ben opened the door to the new car he looked at Spencer and said, "It smells like Nordstrom!" And that it does my friends. I have thought about that line a couple of times, mainly when I get into the car, and just laugh. For two facts: 1.) that Ben, as well as my husband, relates any smell of Leather to Nordstrom 2.) It really does smell like Nordstrom. What more could a girl want?

Side note: About the "white" color of the CR-V. They actually don't make tan interior with white CR-Vs, I was really mis-informed. They only make gray interior; it would have been the closest I would have gotten to tan. So I had a major problem Friday, nice to just have problems like that. I went with the Tan interior and black CR-V. I am sick of gray. I have had gray with my Camry and it is almost a depressing color to look at all the time. I figure that I will be looking at the inside of the car a lot more then the outside... so tan it is!

* Couldn't find an image of a black cr-v.

My sister Aarean turns 22 today (Along with Lisa Quinn.... not 22, but still happy happy birthday!!!! I am thinking of you too!)

She is this amazing woman who is spicy all around. She is dedicated to everything she does, has more ambition and creativity in her bones then I could dream of. She just finished her bach. degree in Advertising - creative track and a minor is Graphic Design. Smart smart. She just got married to her "missionary" Joshua Orme Jergensen (whom is Spencer's cousin... that is how we like it - keeping it in the family! HA!! They actually met at our wedding dinner) in Dec.

She likes to cut hair (ever since her 3rd birthday - and no she hasn't gone to school to do that, but is thinking about it. I think she should!) She loves shoes, purses and accessories. She has this big, addictive smile and a cute giggle. She doesn't mess around and gets things done, I would say she is both an A and B personality; is that possible?

She is celebrating in N.Y City right now, and visiting the sites and aunt Lynne with Josh. Not a bad gift!

I love her so much and am so proud to be her sister.

Sorry - I get into this funk where I am to tired to actually blog anything about us - I just like to read others. I know lame; because everyone is so interested in us! KIDDING!! Nothing really new to report as of right this min. We have been looking for cars and have decided that we are going to get a new Honda CR-V, they have a great body and get close to 30 miles per gallon... can't really beat that one. The body isn't going to change until around 2011 or 12, so we could resale it in a couple of years if needed. Anyway, that is pretty big news in a way I guess. I am leaning towards the white. We are getting the tan leather interior... I wanted black but have started to notice that black (not hard to realize) is hard to keep clean; so... that is about it in the car area. Our car that "blew" up (rip: '97 Toyota Camry) would have, the guy estimated, cost us a whoppin' 5,000$ or more. So we donated it to a charity and hope to get a few thousand out of it... hope hope hope. One advantage with donating it (other than tax deduction) is that the charities are so competitive for the cars that they are willing to offer nice little incentives. Spencer was thrilled to find that the charity we donated to is offering us, we will see, a three night vacation somewhere. We have our options. I think two of them are Mexico and California, southern somewhere. So that is nice, considering we aren't getting 5 grand back. Oh well.

Spencer and I went with some friends last night to a Giants and Cubs game in S.F. It was a lot of fun to get out of town and do something different. We sat about 10 rows back from third base and ate all the good food a ball park could/can offer. Even famous Gilroy Garlic Fries... yum. Good form of birth control - garlic + Spencer. No, but seriously I think that if he just smells garlic I can tell that night or the next morning it is funny. We laugh about it. Back to the game, I am not the biggest baseball fan, but this was a good time. The game was close - thank goodness... but the Cubs won - not that I really cared. It actually seemed that there were more Cub fans then Giants. I will say that I do like the city of Chicago (hometown for Cubs) more than the city of San Fran. Is that aloud? I know I live like 30 min. away from S.F. but I really don't like it as well... if at all. I guess I really am not a city girl. It is fun every blue moon.

Hudson has started his twos officailly... in that he is developing hard core tantrum antics and laughs when I tell him no, or if he is put in "quiet time/timeout". Which in turn makes me laugh. Why doesn't this surprise me... me laughing when I am trying to discipline? I always thought I would be better at disciplining... but I seem to have to practice that one a bit more. He is so dang cute! Although, I was beside myself the other day when he leaned over and BIT his buddy! I about died!!! He has never done that; I decided that he seriously needs to learn a few phrases or to talk - either would help in these situations. But honestly... he gets like this when he is bored or tired, probably like 95% of kids out there. Maybe I should figure out some activities to keep him busy a bit more, probably a good idea. Any ideas?!?

I have to run, I have this (I should say LOADS) load of laundry waiting to be folded on my bed (for the last three days) that I haven't consciously gotten to. Who really wants to fold clothes?!?!

Below are some pictures. Some of Spencer's birthday, and just random ones.

And then there were presents.... that is due to the grandparents. Spencer and I want to thank them for allowing us to save a little this birthday - only kidding, kind of.
Hudson woke up to a bag pack he is obsessed about - yes it is patent - leather and yellow... (it is a duck)... he had to wear it around until he ate breakfast . Hudson, feeling a little down then wanted to just read books in our bed so it is what we did! He didn't want to open any presents yet. He then went bird watching with Spencer and a good friend of ours, Ben and his son William. Which by the way Spencer saw a golden eagle, which is rare around here... so the real excitement started there. Ummm, not so much for Hudson, but Spencer yes was beyond happy to have spotted that little feathered friend. Hudson was a bit tired so went down for a nap before church and this is when the fun began. Spencer left a little early to get us a seat - because I can not get to church on time it seems. And then about 10 min. later in walks Spencer. He looked a little upset. I asked him if he was okay and he continued to tell me that his engine/CAR blew! Yep - sad to report that Spencer's '97 Camry is a goner. It will cost us 3,000$+ to fix, so we are going to donate it to get a tax write-off (we will be able to get full bluebook price for it). Anyway it stinks. Stinks for the fact that we have to now fork out some (a lot) of money for a new car which we were thinking of buying sometime soon... but still. Never easy to let go of thousands of $ in savings for something like a car... maybe because it will about deplete our savings. Thus we are a one car family for a bit (don't worry a friend with three cars has loaned us one... thank you Crocketts). I was not about to want to get up every morning, yanking Hudson from bed to drive Spencer to work. So we are beyond GRATEFUL to the Crocketts.

Back to the Birthday business:
We had some friends come over in the evening for dessert (Lime Ice Cream - home-made, see recipe below. And my mom's famous brownies.) All the kids (8 of them) played outside with the new basketball hoop - thanks Nana, and chased around some of the willing dads. It was fabulous! The ladies sat inside and talked a little... and listened to all the kids laugh their heads off at each other. When it came time to blow out candles Hudson was on cloud nine. He was so intense, but a quite intense. He just stood there and waited for the candles to come. He sat and watched everyone gather around and thought he was the best thing since sliced bread - he knew they were all watching him and he loved every moment of it. The candles were lit and we began to sing happy birthday to him, which he just seemed overflowing with happiness... it was one of the cutest moments to watch. He just looked at everyone singing to him and swayed a little to the song. When the song was over he looked straight at me and gave me one of those goofy buck teeth grins and blew out the candles, which he was so proud of himself he started clapping and then climbed up his high chair and demolished the brownie and ice-cream. He was so prepared for it all. Almost like we had been practicing for weeks. So great! Anyway - sorry this was so long, I just know that there are a few family members that relish in details. It was a perfect little evening for a perfect little two year old.

Lime Ice cream:
2 cups whip cream
4 cups sugar
1 cup fresh lime juice (about 6 limes - if doing by hand)
1/4 tsp. salt
green food coloring

*fill up the rest of the container with whole milk or 1/2 n 1/2, fill until you hit the line (about 2-3 inched from top, there should be a line) For creamier ice cream alternate the ice and salt frequently around the ice-cream machine. SO thin layers! Enjoy it is one of the better ones! Promise. Spencer could eat it for breakfast, seriously!

Hudson has officially turned two today! We can not believe that it has been two years. It is a strange feeling to have him older than one. It makes me think what will life be like when he is five, I will probably fall over... and that is scary considering one day he will be 18 and on his way to college - hopefully!
We are so grateful for his sweet spirit and humorous ways which make us laugh constantly every day. He is such a beautiful child inside and out that both Spencer and I will sit there at night and talk about "what we did" (which by the way we have no idea) to have him in our family. I am sure every parent thinks the same. And like all parents, he has become - 2 years ago today - the light of our lives. Happy Birthday sweet little Hudson.

Things he loves or does:

• gallops, everywhere!
• flirts - really well... we will have to tame him soon
• smiles so his little "buck" teeth protrude out of his mouth... which we can't get enough of
• LOVES every ball that has ever been made.
• says "hot" to everything... trying to teach him what cold and warm mean... it will come!
• takes his shoes off and on, loves his crocks.
• hits a baseball like no other 2 year old we know; after hitting the ball he runs to other side of the room and back, doesn't know why but he still runs.
• gives kisses freely
• wakes you up with a small kiss and then covers you up with a blanket
• enjoys prayers - for now.
  
• can eat 2 or more pancakes (spencer eats three)
  
• loves to be sung to when going to sleep
• cuddles in the morning, and likes it - I hope he never out grows this
• doesn't like to drink anything but water, milk and rootbeer
• loves oatmeal, really all breakfast except eggs lately
• will finally "allow" me, without force, to change his diaper
  
• likes to vacuum
  
• loves the movie cars and popcorn after his nap (about 15-20 min worth)
• is starting to hate to shop - so sad for me...
  
• LOVES music, instruments and to DANCE

Those are just a few things, didn't want to go to far... love you Hudson and we hope you have an magical birthday!!!

Clegg reunions are always so.... what is the word.... interesting?!!? No! I am kidding. I love my father's family... they are some of the most amazing people I will ever know. Let me just say that next time we have one of these reunions; take note, we should have it somewhere inside or maybe just for the evening. It was a killer! 100 degree or more, we were (sorry - I was) sweating like a pig, no joke. First of all, I am not a good "hot" person. I hate that kind of heat. Love the family - hate the heat. I get light headed (I know drink more water) and really really irritable. But then again, I think we were all looking forward to the air-conditioning car ride "home".
It was a good time getting to see the Clegg side. They are a game family, and make it humorous and educational (regarding our ancestors) at the same time. There are always good stories to be told; and then there is the awkward moments when you really don't know about 3/4th of the people there and you TRY to have a conversation with them and it is like a balloon deflating. Those are not my favorite moments. Of course, what else are family reunions for?!?


Hudson had a blast playing on the play-ground across the park with all of us (we rotated). But I think his favorite for the day (maybe even the week... okay one of his favorites) was his new Uncle Josh. Josh was the only one of us who actually "played" on the playground with Hudson.
There were two women who came in to paint faces and whatever other part (minds clean) you wanted. Hudson was not going to go for the face, so we held him down for the first few seconds; until he knew she wasn't going to hurt him, and he got his arm painted on. We loved his Tiger! It was pretty cute. I got a heart painted on my arm with Hudson's name in it. Such love. Ha!
Nope, Spencer wasn't jealous... he had no idea. He stayed home to work while Hudson and I flew out a few days early for the 4th. (Utah, the reunion(s) were in Utah.) We missed him, and wished he could have come... maybe next time!?!?

4 jobs I have had:
1. Some pizza place, so sad I can't remember the name? Seriously. But is was a popular place to work.... only reason why I worked there for about 4 months. That about did it for me.
2. Nordstrom, BP sales. Hated it, and the girls who worked there.
3. Brick Oven, Provo Utah. All that needs to be said is : CHEAP. (tippers and pay included ) The people I worked with rocked.
4. Natural Resource Center at U of M, not too fun
5. Career Center at U of M business school.... loved Abbi. Not really into the job. I surfed the net way too much and should have worked harder - oh well.
6. Dental Assistant at Wennersten Dental in Ann Arbor, good dentist HATED the job! What was Jana talking about... she loved it - dental assisting. She needs her head examined!!! Spencer and I still to this day call it Wiener-sten. Maybe if I wasn't his maid and an actual assistant that would have worked out better. What we do when we are dead poor!
(I know 2 over, but I was on a roll)

4 movies I could watch over and over again:
1. Princess Bride
2. Dumb and Dumber (classy I know)
3. Goonies (Disney in General... Disney did that one right?)
4. Sound of Music

4 favorite movies: (Favorite is a big word... how about movies I really enjoyed)
1. Braveheart
2. The Prestige
3. Wizard of OZ
3. Sweet Home Alabama, that is a good romantic one... had to balance it all out

4 places I have lived:
1. Murrieta, CA
2. Provo, Ut (school)
3. Ann Arbor, MI (miss it and the friends)
4. San Ramon, CA

4 favorite TV shows:
1. So you think you can dance (I think I liked last season better... who knows?)
2. Design Star - HGTV (really anything on that channel)
3. Grey's Anatomy/Desperate Housewives
4. HEROS - LOVE IT LOVE IT
5. 24 (not past season... but Sutherland is still strong with me...)
6. maybe I should stop here....

4 favorite reality TV shows:
1. So You Think You Can Dance
2. Project Runway
3. Design Star
4. those are really my favorites, that is it.

4 of my favorite places I have been:
1. South Africa (more interesting than Favorite)
2. Jamaica - with Spencer (mind you he did come in 2nd in the dance contest at our resort. Think: little old ladies dropping dollar bills down his pants and it wasn't even that kid of "dance-off" - memories)
3. Montage resort and spa (nothing better, NOTHING)
4. Maui, Hawaii - here we come (Sept.)
5. Chicago... love that city.

4 favorite foods:
1. American Grill
2. Mexican
3. Fresh Fruit... PEACHES (peach pie)
4. cinnamon rolls

4 websites I check daily:
1. blogs, EVERYONES!!
2. email
3. google... searching for something always
4. organizing pictures... not a website... but still takes up way too much time!

4 hobbies:
1. reading
2. playing with Hudson... mainly running after balls
3. jogging/exercising
4. cooking. I love to cook and bake. I love new recipes!

4 friends I would like to tag:
1. Liz
2. Abbi
3. Heidi
4. Ellis Family (Kristin and Abram... max too!) - by the way - how did the tacos turn out? (would "tag" more but ya'll have been tagged or have completed it)