HOLIDAY CARD

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE CLINGERS!!

We have been very blessed this year with health, work, a home, and most importantly, each other.
We hope this finds everyone well and that your holidays are filled with joy. love, peace, and all that good stuff.

Love,
Matt & Brynn
Samantha 4, Eston 3, Logan 1, and Lucy 1

our new contact information is:
243 E. 1200 S.
Centerville, Utah 84014
801-558-4972

Tony and Ashley's wedding

The week before Thanksgiving we were excited to be able to celebrate the marriage of Matt's brother Tony. We love having Ashley as part of the Clinger Clan and she fits right in with everyone. The weekend was not void of surprises and excitement.



The night before the wedding, we headed up to Logan to spend the night so we would be ready for the wedding the next day. It was a long night having 6 of us in one hotel room. With small kids it got a little crowded in there. The next morning we took the 3 youngest to my friend Amy's house, and headed off for the Logan temple. It was a nice ceremony. Sammie loved being at the temple and seeing Ashley in her white wedding dress. This is the Clinger families sign for I love you.



We picked Eston and the twins up and headed over to the luncheon. The food was great and it was fun to see family that we don't get to often be with. While at the luncheon Logan started feeling crumby and came down with a big fever.



By the time we got back to Centerville to get ready for the reception, Logan had a 102 degree fever and Eston had joined in with a 101 degree fever. With a lot of calling around my parents came to the rescue and watched the boys for the night so that Matt and I along with the two girls could be at the reception for pictures. The next morning the boys fevers had gone down some so we headed out to the reception in Idaho. It was nice to finally get a picture of the 6 of us.



Logan went to bed shortly after the reception began but Eston was happy to get to stay at the party. You can see in his eyes that he still didn't feel too well.



After the weekend of wedding fun we stuck around in Idaho for Thanksgiving. We really enjoyed our time up in Idaho and look forward to our next trip there.

My girls

We have had a lot going on for the Thanksgiving holidays. Matt's brother got married and obviously we had Thanksgiving. However I have no pictures from these yet so I will post later on them.

These are just some fun or funny things that we have been doing. I tried curlers for the first time on Sammie's hair. We had a lot of fun and it turned into a major curly fro. Sammie's natural curl boosted with curlers is out of control. I should have taken an after picture.



Lucy is everywhere. She figured out how to get in and out of the kids dresser. She loves to play peek a boo inside of it.



We tried a wig on Lucy and she looks like a completely different baby.



We had fun with Sammie when Sammie was about 6 months old. It is weird to see how close in looks these two girls have.



This is what things look like when I am muli tasking on the go. I thought this was funny.



Have I mentioned that Lucy is into and onto everything? She loves to climb on, in, out, and through things. She keeps us pretty busy.

Halloween 2009

I was excited to celebrate Halloween with my whole family this year. Last year we were still in the hospital with the Twins and Sammie and Eston were in Idaho with their Grandparents. We had a lot of fun this year for Halloween. We were able to go trick or treating in our own neighborhood which was really nice. We kept things low key this year. I took the kids trick-or-treating at a Retirement home about 1 mile from our house on Friday and then just around the neighborhood Halloween night. I ended up spending a total of $1.25 on all of my kids costumes. We either borrowed or used what we had at our house.



Sammie wanted to be a witch this year. We borrowed the hat and dress from her Nana, and aquired her tights and broom from some of her aunts. Sammie would cackle as we went up to the houses and as she walked away.



Eston told me about two months before Halloween that he wanted to be Handy Manny. I helped him keep that idea since all I would have to acquire for it would be a tool belt and yellow gloves. I thought that his costume was a stretch, but apparently the lady at the retirement center thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread, and had to get her sons picture taken with Eston. Go Us!! Eston kept putting his candy in his took belt. Eventually the belt was so full it would fall off and we would have to empty the stash in Sammie's sack and start over again.



Logan was the Green Monster. This costume was used by my nephews and nieces of The Ohio for the past 8 years. It made it's way to Utah and has begin another long line of Halloween use. When we first stuck Logan in it he just kept laughing at himself and thought he was hot stuff. We had to roll up the arms and legs, but it just means that he will be able to wear it again next year. We stuck Logan on the grass and he blended in with the colors.



Lucy was our pretty butterfly. We borrowed this from Matt's little cousin Ellie. Lucy hated the hat, but thought the wings were pretty fun when they would flit behind her.



We almost had Lucy be a Japanese girl and Logan was going to be a piece of Sushi, but I didn't want to have to make the orange pillow needed for it.

I took the kids up and down our street while Matt stayed behind with trick or treaters. Matt said that growing up his parents would have to drive them from House to House and that it was weird to see kids just walking around. Next year I will have to send him with the kids so he can have that experience for once.

Double the Trouble, Double Our Fun

Our TWINS are ONE today!! I can't believe that one year has already gone by. It went by too fast. I can't imagine what life was like before them. It has been quite the adventure, but also quite the party with them. I can't thank everyone enough for all the help that we have received over the last year. It has been a group effort. I feel like this is a celebration for more than just us.

I can't believe I was that big.



Logan James is my tender hearted boy. He is quite the mamma's boy. Logan loves to cuddle and just watch what is going on around him. The kid will smile at anyone that acknowledges his presence. He is very friendly and laughs all the time. Logan is very cautious about what he will try around him.
Logan can crawl pretty fast. He isn't walking yet, but could if he would just let go of my finger. He loves food and sleep. As long as those come on time, he is usually pretty happy. Logan also loves his pacifier, snugly, and any cars that he can find.



The stats for the twins one year check-up is:

Logan
20.4 lbs.
30 1/2 inches

Lucy
20 lbs
29 1/2 inches

Lucy Mae is my thrill seeker, mischievous child. Not much slows her down and she is into everything she can see. The girl is the biggest DADDY'S GIRL that you will find. The second Matt walks into a room or Lucy hears his voice, her eyes light up and she starts jabbering fast. She takes off towards him. When Lucy meets new people she has to analyze the situation before she will smile or talk with them.
Lucy is walking everywhere. She has been walking for about two months. Lucy loves kissing babies (alive or pretend), talking on anything that might look like a phone, and playing with her brothers and sister.



We celebrated their birthday with family a few days early. They opened up a few gifts and then we gave them cupcakes.



Logan was very careful not to miss a morsel.



Lucy just stuffed it in her mouth and crumbled it in her hands.



This morning Sammie and Eston woke up the babies by singing Happy Birthday. We gave them a birthday breakfast of Formula and opened presents. They received a table and chair set from IKEA that they have been playing with all day. Lucy got two babies, Logan got a drum and music radio.



It has been a fun day and tonight we are going to have a quiet family party at home.

RYLA 2009

About two years ago, Matt and I had the opportunity to be Facilitators for a Rotary Program called RYLA. WE LOVED IT!! We were so excited to do it the following year, but had to good reasons why we couldn't attend, TWINS!! This year we both planned on being apart of RYLA again, but due to weddings, family, moving, and other things, I stayed behind.

Matt went and had a great time. He had a group of 7 kids that he was responsible for. For three days he lived the life of a teenager. Living off of 4 or 5 hours of sleep, eating like they do, playing their games, and cheering for everything.

His group had to dress him up as a specific person and see if other groups could guess what he was. He was the Hunchback of Notre Dame.



These are a few of his kids.



I was said that I couldn't attend RYLA this year so I took an afternoon and drove up to hang out for a while. I brought the twins along.



We picked the right day. It was all about games that afternoon.



We are already planning on participating next year. We love working with youth and hope to be able to for many years.

It just keeps going . . .out of control

We have had a lot going on this month. WE HAVE MOVED!! This makes 5 moves in the 5 1/2 years we have been married. Hopefully we will be here for a while, or at least until we can buy a house. We have moved to Centerville. We are in a Twin Home the is A LOT more room for less money. It is awesome. Our new ward has 6 sets of TWINS under the age of 4. It's crazy.

Some of the things that we have been doing this month are:

Birthday parties/Cape making:

I decided that I wanted to try my hand at Super Hero Capes. I made one for both of my kids and thought I would make some for upcoming birthday parties.

We went to a party for one of Sammie's friends and got to take pictures of all the girls in their capes. This is as super as they get.



They were pretty excited to have matching attire.



Logan and Lucy have been learning a lot of new things as well this month.

Logan loves to ROAR at us, and is learning how to stand on his own. If he would just let go of our finger I am sure he could be walking by now. He is a really cautious, and takes his time.



Lucy is walking and has been for about 3 weeks. She walks everywhere. I never thought I would be excited for the day that I child was this mobile, but when you have twins not having to carry two toddlers around is nice. She talks ALL the time and loves babies.



These guys were pretty patient while we were packing up the house and would help each other out. Logan has been teething and Sammie was great to give him the love he needed so I could get some work done.



The twins climb everywhere. They have learned to climb up and over the couches. They have found a fun perch in the window ledge behind the couch.



Too bad this little hid away didn't last long.



We were also able to visit Gardner Village this year with some of their cousins. We had a lot of fun trying to spot the witches.



Hopefully things will slow down a little bit so I can enjoy some of things a little bit more.

First offering of Tithes . . .

Sammie really wanted to have the new Hannah Montana movie. I told her that she had some money in her piggy bank and that if she really wanted it she could earn the rest. It took Sammie two weeks to earn the money for this movie. She was really patient and worked hard.

Matt and I decided that this would be a good time to teach her the importance of tithing and why we pay it. So not only did she earn the money for her movie she earned the extra money it would take to pay her tithing.

Sammie was really excited to be able to fill out the envelope, put her money in, seal it, and give it to the Bishop. Matt helped her spell her last name and feel out the slip that goes in the envelope. He added translation just in case her handing writing was unreadable.

For your own translation this says "Samantha Clinger." She wanted to write her long name out for the Bishop.



I think my daughter was more excited to pay her tithing than she was to actually get the movie she had earned. I am really proud of her. She is already on to the next item that she wants to work for, and yes, Sammie has already asked how much she needs extra for tithing. I love her so much.

We have had a Santa sighting . . .

We went to COSTCO the other day, and saw this cute old man walking around. We stopped to eat before leaving the store and the kids saw Santa eating a yogurt. So obviously they had to go and say hi.

Santa was nice enough to stop and tell the kids that he came to check up on them and that he was glad they were being good.



After my kids left, he had about 8 other kids stop him. The poor man probably had to eat his yogurt melted.

Photo shoot

The photo shoot all started with Sammie having to wear something yellow to Preschool. I decided to attempt to make her a cute top to wear and after finishing it, decided that I did such an awesome job (this is my personal opinion since I didn't have any pattern to follow) that i wanted to take a cute picture of her. Matt and I had decided a couple of years ago to stop going to Kiddie Kandids or other professional photography places and to just start taking our own pictures. We have talked about taking Sammie's picture since she turned four almost 5 months ago. So why not kill two birds with one stone.

I snapped a couple shots of Sammie outside of her preschool. They could be better but I am an amateur. Sammie has this fake smile that she gives for pictures. It involves her shoulders slightly shrugged and a painted smile.



You can tell it is fake because when she is really smiling her eyes just light up like the picture below.



After we dropped Sammie off I decided that Eston needed his 3 year old pictures done as well since he has been 3 for a month now. We went back to her preschool and snapped a few shoots of Eston before school got out.



This little man is one of the happiest kids I know. One of the only things that makes this kid sad is knowing that someone is mad at him. He is very sensitive to others feelings. I have enjoyed spending time with Eston when Sammie is in school.



Both kids wanted to take silly pictures when we were done. Eston pulls the same face every time and happens to throw "the look" into the mix sometimes.



You never know what pose Sammie has come up with to share with you. I call this one, "Dancer meets Baboon"



I love my silly kids. Maybe I need to get a head start on the twins 1 year old pictures so I don't fall behind. I'll just put that on my to do list.

We've been to the fair again . . .

Every year my family goes to the Utah State Fair together. This year was a little crazier because Matt and I had doubled our kid load. The first thing that the kids saw when they walked in was the big tractor by the front gate. They made a chair out of the wheel because it was just their height.



Eston was so curious and running all over. Matt was pretty sure that he might get lost while we were there so he stuck a business card in his back pocket with our cell phone numbers and told Eston that if you couldn't see mom or dad to give that card to someone. Luckily we never did lose him but that boy has a lot of energy and took 3 adults at times to keep tabs on him.



We went on the Big Yellow Slide again this year. Sammie the entire day up until the minute we got to the top of the slide kept telling me that she wanted to ride alone this year. The second we got to the top she backed out and sat on Lindsay's lap. Eston however sat down on his own next to me and held on to my hand and happily went down sitting by himself. At the bottom Sammie said she was ready to go herself now. I had to break the news to her that we were only going once. Sammie loves to strike poses and looks like she had grown up tons in just the last week.



We went and rode the ponies, we saw the livestock area. Logan would just start laughing the minute he saw any animals. He is like his brother. By the end of the night Sammie was so tired from her long day, she crashed in the stroller. The younger three were still going strong.



We had a lot of fun and ran into a lot of friends while we were there.