Christmas Morning & Cinnamon Rolls

Here is Easton having a cinnamon roll and blowing out his candles. Cinnamon rolls for birthday's are a Van Cleave tradition. This one is fresh out of the oven, just the way Easton likes it.

Easton making Momma and Dadda laugh!

Here is a video of Easton saying cheese for the camera. It is so funny! Anytime we have the camera out this is the face we get! Enjoy!

Easton's 2nd Birthday Party

Here are a few shots from Easton's birthday bash! We had so much fun. We have such great friends! We are so blessed!

Visit with Kate

Here is a picture of my cousin Kate and I. With the weather over the holidays being not so great to travel, I missed out on getting to spend a day with her at my Grandma's house. I met her before she flew out so we could see each other for about an hour before she left! I am hoping in the next few years to get out and see her!

Big Boy Bed

Here is a picture of Easton spending the 1st night in his big boy bed. We found the headboard, footboard and rails at Goodwill. I used a little murphy's oil to make it sparkle and then we called Easton up and surprised him with a new bed for his birthday! He was so excited. The following day he was jumping and went head first into the footboard! I new it was going to happen sooner or later....just not on day 2 of having it!

Here is a picture of Easton on his "Horsey Horsey" he got for Christmas. He loves it and even let Marlee on for a little ride. She loved it!

I'm Back!

It's been too long....I am back to officially blog more about our family. It has been crazy having 2 babies, under the age of 2! I am hoping to get things rolling again in the blogging world! Sorry I've been away....let me get started, because there is a lot to catch you up to speed on!

Easton Brushing His Shoulder Off

Fast Feet in Water!

Splash Park Fun!

Here is Easton at the Splash park while Marlee chills out sleeping in the shade! He absolutely loves going. I always pack a lunch and we spend a good hour or two getting fresh air and enjoying the shade!

Easton Breaking out the moves!

Here is Easton showing a few of his moves! He loves to dance it up wherever possible! HOW CUTE IS MY LITTLE MAN!

Hey There!

Ahhh! These two had me at hello!

My baby is turning into a little boy!

Here is Easton at 18 months! He is growing and changing with each day! He has been such a wonderful addition to Caleb and my life! He has brought so much joy to our lives! He is such a wonderful little guy with a great personality! I love you Big E!

Music in The Park!

Here is Easton in his monkey shirt! Our friends the Jorgensen's and there 2 kids went to a park in Ames where they play music and have a beer tent and food every Friday night. It was really fun! Easton would walk up to strangers and pull his shirt out and make a monkey sound! It was hilarious! He was stealing the show. We had so many people
come up and say stuff to us about how cute he is. He also was a dancing
machine! We had a really good time being outside and enjoying the tunes!

I'm 2 Months!

Marlee has reached the 2 months already! She weighs 14lbs and has grown 2 1/2 inches in length! It is crazy how much she has changed! She is really quite and expressive little girl! She smiles all the time and has already stared laughing! The doctor says she is ahead of the game in that department! She is also starting to make noises and mimic the sounds that I make! One thing I have been doing since she was 6 weeks old was reading to her 3 times a day! (What can I say....I'm a teacher!) She is such a blessing to our family and big brother gives her lots of TLC! We love you Marlee!

Our Wonderful Daddy!

Here are some shots of Easton, Marlee, and Daddy hanging out! It is so fun seeing Caleb be Daddy! He is adored by Marlee and Easton! Easton has really started to be Caleb's little shadow! Thanks Caleb for being a wonderful Daddy to our little babies!

Horses!

We took Easton to the horse track for a barn tour and a chance to see the horses work out on the track! He was sooo excited! I think he made the horse sound for at least 5 hours after we left! It was so fun to see the look on his face when he was able to see and feel the horses! I wish you could have seen his eyeballs.

New Windows

I'm 2 Months!

Aren't smiles contagious!

Moving and Talking!

Marlee is working it out! She really gets her legs going when she is on the floor! Her head goes from side to side checking everything out!

Smiles All Around!

Here is a video of Miss Marlee smiling! She has been really showing us some good ones! Marlee has also been super interested already in what Easton is doing! (Big Brother has been super interested in her too!) He shows her his big brother love whenever he gets a chance! Kids are such a blessing! I'm so excited to be home all summer! I am soaking each wonderful day in!

Easton and Brenna being silly!

Splashing Around

Easton loves the water! It's going to be a fun summer at the pool, splash park, and cabin! Summer fun in the sun.....here we come!

Yum.....but cold!

Easton enjoying a cool, refreshing snack before bed!

This picture takes my breath away! Caleb is so good with Easton and Marlee! I'm a pretty lucky gal to have such an amazing hubby!

Easton chillin on the couch watching his favorite movie Racing Stripes!

Brenna over for a play date chilling in Easton's big boy chair!

Marlee Braelyn turned one month yesterday! I can't believe it! She is starting to really study our faces and has flashed a few smiles! She is so fun and Easton shows her big brother loving everyday!

DVD Trouble

Easton decided to get into a little trouble the other day when I was feeding Marlee. What you see in the picture are Caleb's "other babies" I thought it was funny and had to capture it on film. Caleb didn't find it so amusing!

Easton has loved eating apples lately. It is one of the items I pull out when I'm nursing. It keeps him entertained for hours. He really does a great job eating almost all of it! I think yesterday he ate the stem! I'm still waiting for that to exit! I'll keep you posted!

5 years of Marriage!

I meant to post this closer to our Anniversary however my computer had crashed and burned. Looking back on 5 years of Marriage.....

Walks at Night

Movies and popcorn with M&M's (even though Caleb doesn't like this combo!)

Chicago Trip

Baby Making!

Ice Storm.....(we filled our time up just fine with no power)

Buying and fixing up our first home together and all Caleb's injuries!

Watching movies in the theater room (i.e. the cave)

Drifting off to sleep as my hubby serenades me with the sounds of snoring!

The birth of our son and seeing Caleb as a daddy for the first time.

Throwing around the idea to start a landscaping business with our expertise....j/k

Finishing the basement.

Hanging out with friends and having fires.

Conserving Water

Playing at least 1000 games of uno, phase 10, scrabble, and monopoly combined and letting Caleb win maybe 20 of them.

Camping in the middle of a tornado.

Water fights.

Grilling out. (Caleb grills with the best of them)

Honeymooning in Mexico and speedoes and toplessness

The birth of our Little Miss Marlee! Caleb has a little girl that will adore his every move!

Trips with Friends (Cabo here we come in Aug!)

Texting sweet nothings to each other

Minnesota Trip



Here are just a few memories that have come to mind! Thanks Caleb for all the years and memories that are so vivid in my mind. You are an amazing man that I love! Thanks for your hard work to provide for our family and the love you show our kids and me daily! Let's plan on many more years and hopefully Hawaii in a few!

Bubbles!

Big Brother Love!

Here is Easton giving Marlee some loving! I think he gave her at least 15 kisses and a few squeezes! He was having so much fun with her! Way to go Big Bro!

Introducing.......Marlee Braelyn Van Cleave

Here is our little girl! She takes my breath away very time I look at her! She was born Friday April 17th 7:48 am. She weighed 9 lbs 2 oz. and was 20 inches long. I asked Caleb what he wanted to say about her and all he could say is that she is beautiful.

The story behind her name.

Caleb and I struggled trying to come up with a name that we liked. It's hard being a teacher and trying to find a name that doesn't remind you of any past students, so that added to the complexity of finding a name.

I really wanted to find a name that we could combine the letters of both Caleb and my name. (my name is a combo of my parents names. (Marsha and Randy) Marlee is a combo of using (Mar) from my name, and (le) from Caleb's name, to form her name.

I wanted a middle name that began with a "B" because that is Easton's middle intial. I found the name Braelyn, not intending too. It is the feminime form of my madien name Braden.

Feel free to stop by to meet our little bundle whenever! She is truely a gift from God and we feel so blessed to be parents to another amazing gift!

Strength and Courage

Here I am only three days away from giving birth to our baby girl. I can't really go anywhere without someone asking, WOW when are you due. How are you feeling? Are you ready? What are you going to name her? Are you getting sleep?

I have had a rush of thoughts and emotions that are flooding my every thought. It's as if my mind cannot stay focused for more then five minutes. (Yes that includes at night too!) I could list the emotoions and feelings I have felt just from this morning and fill half of the page!

The only thing that is getting me through these last few days is knowing that God is by my side through everything. Even though I am about to have major surgery and have a another living being be taken out of my body and placed into this world for me to care and love, I have peace knowing that it is all in God's hands.

I have found a few verses that I have been drawn to these past few weeks. They have given me the peace, strength, and courage I need to face what lies ahead. Thanks to all of you who have kept me in your prayers and thoughts! Thanks to all of you that have encouraged me throughout this pregnancy! God has placed me in a church community that I feel loved and surrounded by many amazing women that at anytime I can turn too, a wonderful family that loves me, and a loving husband that is by my side and has been amazingly understanding and supportive of my thoughts and feelings. He gets the best and the worst side of me and I love him for all that he does to encourage me and keep me my feet firmly planted. I cannot wait to see him hold our little girl and see him model what an amazing husband and father looks like.

Here are the verses that have given me strength and courage these last few weeks! I have written them on note cards and placed them in various places as a constent reminder to put my strength in him.

Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Psalm 27:1
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.