Trips and Doctor

The past few weeks have been crazy. I took the girls out of town to El Paso to see Clay's family. I was really excited because I got to go to my sister in laws Baby Shower. I flew with the girls and that was just as crazy as driving 10 hours. Halfway into the flight Elyse said that she needed to go the bathroom. I looked at her and said that she needed to hold it. What a bad mom I am. I felt bad. I saw that the flight attendant was coming towards us and I asked him how I could take both of the girls to the bathroom. He said that he would hold the baby for me! What a relief! She is afraid of any stranger and she actually sat with him for the few minutes that I was helping Elyse! Clay met us about a week later and we went up to Ruidoso, New Mexico for his brother's senior graduation. We than drove home on this past Monday. The usual ten hour trip took us almost 13 hours with all the stops that we had to make. Torture! Looking back flying is definately something I am going to push a little more often!!!
Today I had to take Elyse to the Ear Nose and Throat Specialist. She has been getting ear infections like crazy! (About once a month since December.) We went to Presby Allen and as we were driving up to park this is the conversation that we had.

Me: Elyse, this is the hospital that you and Madyson were born. Do you remember last year when Mommy had Madyson and you came to see us?

Elyse: (nod of the head and silence)

I proceed to take her out of the car.

Elyse: But Mommy... I don't have a baby in my tummy why are we coming here?

I started laughing it was the cutest thing she has said in a while that I can actually remember.

Needless to say...she is getting tubes in her ears on June 11th. She also had ANOTHER ear infection. I am ready for the tubes. I missed a lot of school and work this sememster. I want her to feel better as well. Speaking of feeling better I had better get off and go pick up her medicine!

Kenny Chesney Here We Come!

Clay and I went to the Kenny Chesney concert in Frisco on Saturday for my early Birthday present! What a great present! I love watching Kenny. He is way cute! I will post some pictures as soon as I take Elyse to preschool. The songs were great! Clay even asked me to dance so we went up top and danced! How romantic!! It was outside at Pizza Hut Park! It was a great night! A little chilly as the night progressed. We also heard Leann Rimes and Brooks & Dunn. Kenny Chesney was definately the best! We have been wanting to go to his concert since Clay and I were dating. Speaking of dating... I can't believe how fast these past 5 years have gone since we started dating! We have almost been married for 4 years!

I suppose it is time for an update on school! I have been crazy busy. My first semester of student teaching is FINALLY finished!!! It is official...I am graduating in December! And I have the whole summer off! Which I have not had since I began this long long journey 6 years ago. I didn't realize how difficult going to school is with kids. I had my only final yesterday. We drove all the way to Fort Worth to go to the Science Museum for my science final. The museum was cool, but the final took all the fun away from the museum.

Our Sweet One Year Old!

Madyson Lee Hooten

Born: April 19, 2007

Happy 1st Birthday!

Our Precious baby girl!

I thought that I would show a picture of Mady when she was born. She just turned a year last Saturday the 19th of April. We had a small family party. It was nice to have family to come and celebrate with us. We are sad that some of our family were unable to make it. Mady is a pure delight to our family. She is the happiest baby! She went through a time where she screamed a lot! Now she really doesn't scream anymore she talks! She has the cutest baby babble. Mady took her first step about 2 weeks ago! She is stumbling along now. I am sure it is only a matter of weeks before she will really be walking! My favorite moment of this past year was that Mady said "Mama" for her first word! I was excited! Elyse said "Dada" first so I thought it was great that Mady said Mama. She just learned to say "dog." Sylvia Holegate has been watching Mady during the day. Sylvia does a wonderful job with her! They have dogs in the backyard and she said Mady likes to watch them through the window. She now also says "woof." I am going to have to give Sylvia or the dogs credit for that one. We love Madyson. She brings a special spirit of happiness into our home!

Time Out For Women

Mercy River

My Mom and I at TOFW




I am so excited! I finally had the opportunity to attend Time Out For Women. For those of you who are not familiar with Time Out For Women it is a 2 day spiritual event for women. It is a time of laughter and learning! I had so much fun with my mom! It was so nice to go and spend a day and a half with her. We left on Friday afternoon and drove to Oklahoma City. The drive was beautiful. There were so many colorful flowers. At time out for women their was a new group who just came out with their first CD. Their name is Mercy River. They sound great together! They are a group of 3 women. The first night was a lot of fun! Micheal McLean preformed and spoke! He is a great man and performer!


I learned so much both nights. The theme this year was a Joyful Life. I really needed this weekend more than I think I will ever know. I want to thank my Mom for thinking of me. We had such a nice time. It was nice to reconnect with my Mom. I would definately suggest this time for anyone who might need a break and some spiritual enlightenment. A big, extra big thanks to my sweetheart for taking the girls for me!

Swing Set

We have a swing set!!!

This thing is great for the girls. I think this will be my saving grace this summer. Now our trips down to the community park won't be as many. Well maybe it will since the pool is down there, too. I imagine we will see our fair share of the pool!

Here are a couple pictures of the girls on their new swing set!

As for me with school....when will it end? I have three weeks left and looking forward to being finished! I only wish that I had the diploma to go with being finished for the semester. Not quite. One more semester! As many of you know I am studying to be a teacher. This has been a long process, but looking back I feel that I will benefit in so many ways!

Clay is still working for Newport Homes. He has been there since last August. I have heard many homeowners say how happy they were with the quality of his work! This is a great job for him. Although the commute is crazy! I guess most of us (or our husbands) have long commutes.

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday dear Elyse Bryanne,
Happy Birthday to you!

On April 1st Elyse Bryanne had her 3rd Birthday!

We are so proud of the accomplishments Elyse has made this past year. She is talking so well now. In fact sometimes it is hard to get her to stop talking. She loves to play Princess and she has been saying that she is getting ready to go to the "Ball." This past year she has learned to count to 10. She recognizes her numbers as well. She knows her colors and some she even knows in Spanish. She is learning the sounds to the letters of the alphabet. She is still working on them, but is doing very well! A funny moment from this past year was just the other week. Elyse said that she was going to the ball and I asked her who was taking her. She said, "a prince." I then proceeded to ask her what her princes name was and she said, "Mommy, Daddy is my prince. I am going to marry daddy when I grow up." It was the cutest thing I had ever heard. I then told her that Mommy already married Daddy, but Daddy could be her prince until she found her own prince. She did the same thing to Clay yesterday. So Daddy had a talk with Elyse about getting married and the importance of marrying in the temple. When Clay came home and told me this my first thought was "Not this talk already. She's only three." I got to thinking of how important a temple marriage is and if we talk about it now she will have no questions of where she will be married in 20 years from now.

Texas Winter

This past week was crazy! We had a weird weather week last week. One day it was 80 degrees the next day it was snowing. We had two snow storms last week. Elyse loved playing in the snow! On Thursday during the snow storm she and I went outside and made a snowman. We had a lot of fun. Madyson was inside taking her nap so she missed all of the fun. I really enjoyed spending time with Elyse. I have been so busy lately that sometimes I fail to give her my full attention. It is so hard going to school and being the mom that I should and want to be. Hopefully when school is finished I might be able to stay at home with the kids for a while. Hopefully Heavenly Father will bless our family so that I might be able to do that.