All Things Big And Small

Remember When....

2012-01-12T14:43:00.000-05:00

Remember that one time I had a blog. And I wrote on it all the time. And took cute pictures of my sweet babies, and posted them on the blog.

That was awesome.

Then, remember that other time I had a baby... and everything else in my life went to pot.

Ugh.

I feel so utterly overwhelmed and behind on everything. I can't do anything anymore but stay on top of the very essential things, like feeding, and cleaning the kids.

From driving Harry to therapy three to four times a week, school for the both the boys (at different times during the day), and keeping Charlie plumpy and happy I am spent, physically and emotionally.

No time for reading, working out, quilting, cleaning (up to my standards), taking pictures...or lastly blogging.

I don't know how other people do it. I am tired all the time.

But rest assured I have a plan. I am working on getting caught up, and sharing again.

Charlie is here!

2011-10-08T22:46:00.015-04:00

Charlotte Lynn Marie
Born September 17, 2011
20 inches, 7.6 lbs

Here is the birthday video that Jason made for Charlotte, as is now tradition in our family. I can't believe it has taken so long to get anything up online, we have been so busy getting used to having three kids, and having a baby in the house again... it's definitely a big adjustment ;)

She is such a pleasure to have. I adore her tiny little-ness, and her coos and squeaks. I forgot how much I love newborns, especially when they are mine. The birth and delivery went fast and smooth, and is a good story to tell...which I will soon. Her two middle names are after my sisters and my grandma, Laura Lynn, Emma Marie, and my Granny- Marie Deimler. I have loved the name Charlotte since I was a young girl and read a book called Charlie, and I am so happy Jason loved the name as much as I did. She is perfect, and so far really healthy. I have loved every minute I have spent getting to know her, and these past three weeks have flown by so fast. The only sad thing about finally having her here is now my baby boys seem so big and old. I swear Harry aged three years over night, he's not so little anymore.

Charlie is just over a little three weeks old, the time is already slipping through my fingers. She is growing longer, and plumping up a little. I am so so sad I haven't taken as many pictures of her as I did with the boys. I missed a lot of her teeny tiny newborn-ness (it makes me cry just thinking of it -hormones probably- I will never get those days back).

I am just so happy she is finally here, and I am so glad to have a girl in the house. She is a blessing. She is a good baby, sleeps well and eats well, and so far loves me the most :)

I have been truly blessed as a Mother, I am so LUCKY.

Thank you to Jason, for making this sweet video.

He is such a good and proud Daddy, and he loves his new little girl.

Clark Talks

2011-09-26T09:58:00.000-04:00

After posting something funny that Clark said, on Facebook, a friend of mine said, "Make sure you are writing all these things down so you don't forget". So here I am, hoping to remember to make a post every now and then of Clark's silliness.

A couple weeks ago there was definitely one for the books. Clark spent the entire evening trying to convince us to put up the "trist-mis tree" so Santa could come. He was reminding us where we had it up last year, and trying to get me to go in the garage to get it. Looks like someone is getting present hungry. I told him we have to have Halloween and Thanksgiving first... to which he replied, "oh, oooooooo kaaaaay Mom".

Lately whenever the door bell rings he thinks it is Baby Sister coming to visit. He will run to the door, shouting " Baby Sisser is heeeerrrreeee". It seems he is getting just as anxious as the rest of us, wondering when she is going to get here. (Obviously this was before Baby Sister was actually here...but now she is.)

Jason thinks it is so funny when Clark, after not getting his way, balls up his little fists and stomps away saying, "I'm So mad". I think it is bratty, and a little dramatic.... okay, and I guess a little funny too.

Clark loves to pray, at meals and bed time he has to go first. He prays for everything, what he did that day, what he wants to do the next day... sometimes he just names the things around the room. The other night before dinner he was praying, after blessing his friend A-yori (Allori) and making some sort of bargain with God about picking up his toys and playing his video game (it was kinda hard to follow), he prayed for the food, "please bless the water and the ice, but not this yucky dinner". We were having lasagna. Apparently he did not like it, haha. I love listening to him pray. We don't prompt him as much as we used to, and I love it when he remembers to bless his family and friends. It is very sweet.

A day or so after we came home from the hospital, with baby sister, Clark walked in on my breast feeding the baby. After a little giggle he said, "Oh, is Charlie drinking the water?" And I said no, its milk. He thought about it for awhile, giggled again, and then asked me for chocolate milk.

Back To School Night

2011-09-16T15:19:00.000-04:00

Last night was back to school night at the boys school. I was anxious to go and hear how they were both adjusting. It has been a hectic two weeks, and I think we are all mostly adjusted to our new schedule, but I wanted to make sure the boys were doing okay at school too.
Clark was so excited to go show me his class, and his teacher. I was so surprised at how well behaved he was in his class, a totally different Clark. His teacher, Ms. Molly, said he is good at school (shocking). He listens, and follows directions very well. I honestly couldn't believe it. I can't get him to listen to me at all, and it takes me forever to get him to do the simplest thing at home. I guess if he is going to be good, and kind, the best place for him to do it is at school. She also commented on how smart he is. He can figure things out so fast, and is far above the other kids in his class. She also doesn't seem to notice any issues with him focusing on things, or paying attention.... something I worry about all the time. Sometimes I suspect he has ADD, just like his Dad did growing up (Clark and Jason are exactly the same sometimes), but his teacher said she hasn't noticed any red flags yet. I am so happy he is doing so well... and a little relieved.
Harry's teacher, Ms. Jeni, is the sweetest. She said Harry has his good days and bad days. For one day of him being happy and not crying, and even participating a little, there are two or three days of tantrums, and head banging...and him just being miserable. He seems to be happy on the bus (except for today he was really upset to leave), but as soon as he gets to school he gets upset. She, Ms. Jeni, is so good with him. I can tell she just wants him to be happy and safe. She has been trying so many different things with him, and is really getting the other therapists in the school involved. She has the Occupational Therapist come in every day, to hold him and work with him. She was telling me how the other day he spent all morning crying, and she was trying a new game with the kids that got Harry to laugh, and that she said was worth it all. I was so touched, not something I would expect a teacher to say. I am hoping in a couple more weeks Harry will be used to his new routine, and maybe be on a better sleep schedule.
I am so happy the boys are doing well, or as well as can be expected. I am so happy with the school, and teachers this year, much more than last year. Harry's teacher sends me notes home everyday, and I really feel like they care about my whole family.

First Day of School!

2011-09-09T13:02:00.005-04:00

We were all very nervous for the first day of school, well everyone but Clark. I was worried for Harry, and worried Baby Sister would come and I would miss it. Harry was just plain nervous about everything, it was all too new for him. And Jason was worried about everyone, but mostly about Harry. The Friday before school started was meet your teacher day; Clark loved his new teacher and classroom and showed off his mad Lego building skills, Harry screamed, tried to bite us and wanted nothing to do with it. I cried the whole time... not because I didn't want them to go to school, but don't want Harry to miserable and sad all day. And I didn't want people to be mean to him, or not like him...because he was the bad kid who cries and bites. Oy! I was a mess. (Very embarrassing.)

I don't think anyone slept the night before school, well except Clark, he is such a good boy.

Daddy and Harry.

I like this picture, because you can't see or hear how bad Harry was crying.

So many tears.

I think he was mostly just mad to be away from his morning routine. Things were too new, and Harry has such a hard time with transitions. Also, I don't think he liked wearing his back-pack.

This is how we had to drop him off. We just handed him to the teacher, and sort of ran away.

Nothing we could do.

I was sick to my stomach.

Harry was crying, I was crying... and even Clark was crying,

because he didn't understand that he was going to afternoon school and had to wait a few more hours.

It was a very stressful morning, poor Jason did a good job holding us altogether.

Clark very smiley and excited for school. I love his enthusiasm and love of learning.

He waited all morning by the door, with his back-pack on.

Jason gave him a watch to keep track of time, and he knew when the little hand got to 11 that it was time to go.

I'm so proud of him! I think he is going to get so much from pre-school this year. He has been learning so much lately, and retains the information better. His talking has improved a 100 times, and I know the routine of school will only help. There are still a lot of things he still needs to work on, like being understood when he talks. His little mind moves so fast I think it is hard for him to get the words out fast enough to keep up, it makes him hard to understand (most of the time). I also hope he learns how to listen and follow directions better. We worked on it all summer, but I wasn't very successful.

This picture makes me laugh so so much.

For some reason this summer he has forgotten how to smile. It's always this weird cheesy fake smile.

((This picture reminds me of that episode of Friends when Chandler has to take engagement pictures with Monica and can't smile.))

There is my handsome BIG boy!

Praying for another good year at school.

Clark and Mommy waiting to pick up Harry, and for Clark's turn for school.

The bus system we so messed up the first day, so we opted to just take the boys to school,

and have them start the bus when things got more organized.

Is that a hint of a smile??? I think so.

The second day of school start out much better than the first.

He even seemed a little happy waiting for the bus.

Cute little nugget waiting for his bus.

Watching the bus approach. He was so curious.

He was tugging on my hand like he was scared and nervous, and I could tell the noise of the bus was really bothering him... BUT he got on the bus, on his own (mostly) without any crying. I was afraid he would lose it when I didn't get in the bus with him, but he did a very very well. And his teacher even told me he wasn't crying when he got off the bus! Succsess!

My big boy on the bus. Not happy or excited, yet, but we will get there.

We survived the first week of school.

I really like the boys teachers a lot!

Harry's teacher, Ms. Jeni, writes me a note everyday telling me how he did.

There has been less and less crying and head banging. She said he likes computer time a lot,

and doesn't seemed bothered being seat-belted in the chair for circle time.

Even though it is such a crazy schedule, having the boys coming and going at different times (I see the bus driver 4 times a day!), I like that I get to have alone time with each of them during the day. It is so good for Clark, and for Harry, to have that one on one time with Mommy,

and time to de-stress without them bothering each other.

It is going to be so busy when Baby Sister comes,

I am glad she let us have the first week to get used to things :)

But she is welcome to come anytime now.

((For reals baby, GET OUT!))

Wordless Wednesday-Funny Faces

2011-09-07T16:26:00.001-04:00

August 23, 2011

Mommy and Clark

Mommy

Excited Mommy, and a slightly happy Harry.

Warrior Games

2011-09-07T13:25:00.001-04:00

Jason made this video from when he volunteered at the Warrior Games in Colorado earlier this year.

He loved going and volunteering, he talked about it for weeks and weeks after wards. I know he is looking forward to going again next year. He likes that the job he is doing now allows him to help out with Navy Safe Harbor, they are such a good group that do good for a lot of people. I am proud of all the work he does for our family, he is such a good Dad and husband,
and I am thankful that he can even enjoy some of it from time to time.

All the pictures and video he took came from he cell phone. Cool huh?

Oh! The cuteness of Harry.

2011-09-03T16:37:00.037-04:00

Sweet little Harry.

He is the cutest!

He is still cute, even when he cries.

Striking a pose by the car. Looking so grown-up, and handsome.

Looking cute all ready for church, with his spiky hair -which by the way, he hates.

I love you little nugget.

Evacu-cation

2011-09-02T16:35:00.012-04:00

Last weekend the Bosko Family had ourselves a little evacuation-vacation. With hurricane Irene heading our way, a feisty baby who won't stop giving me contractions, and the potential of Jason having to leave for work any minute, we decided it would be safer to get out of town. Thankfully Jason's work let him come with us... sometimes it's nice to have the pregnancy card to play :)
We drove north-west, to Harrisonburg, VA, with some of our friends
and had a nice little weekend away.

Daddy and Clark chilling in the motel, Motel 6 that is. Good thing we found a vacancy. So many hotels were booked with other people escaping the storm (one of the reasons we had to travel so far out). Almost everyone in our hotel was from the Hampton Roads area, except our neighbors, the traveling Mariachi band from Indiana.

Harry reading his books.
Harry doesn't always do well with new situations, but he seemed good this time around. I don't know if it was because we didn't spend a lot of time in the room, or if its because we went with some friends too, but he seemed happier. The funny thing is, earlier that week we snuck along with Jason on a work trip to DC. Harry had a miserable time in that hotel (and it was much much nicer). Maybe since we already had a practice run, he realized that we weren't going to be gone too long, and we would be home soon.

Clark has really started to enjoying drawing. I love to watch him concentrate, and he is pretty good. He certainly has his Dad's imagination and artistic abilities (since I have none, haha).

Hiding in the shelf.

Jumping on the bed!!!

The next day, when the storm was scheduled to hit Virginia Beach, we took the kids to the local Children's Museum. We had planned to go swimming, but it was a bit stormy outside.

I am sure all of Harrisonburg was delighted with all the extra business.

The people at the Children's Museum said it had never been so busy.

Harry enjoyed exploring things and different toys, and playing with Thomas the Train.

Clark had fun making an art project, running around like a crazy person, and milking Bessie the cow.

(Papa Deimler would be so proud.)

Towards the evening we started losing power in certain parts of town, as the storm got close, but we were safe, and having lots of fun.

Harry enjoying the ride home, watching Daddy's iPod.
We had to stop at six different lunch places on the way home, before we could find one with power, but luckily enough our house had power when we got home. There was no damage at all, just a messy yard with twigs and leaves all around. The sun was shining so bright, you couldn't even tell it had rained the day before. We were very fortunate the storm wasn't stronger and there wasn't more damage where we lived... and also that I didn't have the baby early in a strange town during a storm.
Our first real hurricane, and evacu-cation.

Baby Sister

2011-09-01T15:09:00.001-04:00

Remember that one time I blogged that I was going to have an ultrasound to find out the sex of the baby??? Then I never blogged about it.

I am so forgetful and lazy, haha.

Well, the suspense is over, it's a GIRL!

(I am sure most of you know that by now.)

To be honest I wasn't super thrilled about scanning the pictures to download and share, since they weren't very good. The technician that did my ultrasound was in such a hurry. But she did get a cute little foot, and a pretty decent profile pic. I also didn't want to share her crotch shot, but Daddy scanned the pictures (that is also why two are upside down) and I am too tired to figure out how to fix it.

So, there you go... pictures our our baby girl, only about 16 weeks late.

Today I am exactly 37 weeks. Technically the baby can come any day now. Harry came when I was 37 weeks, and 5 days, so maybe she will be a little early too. This baby has been giving me a lot of contractions, or braxton hicks, almost everyday. In fact the day before the hurricane came I was up all night long with contractions... and if this wasn't my third baby (and I knew better) I would've gone to the hospital a couple of times by now sure she was coming. Good thing this isn't my first...

She is growing very nicely. I'm measuring just like I am supposed to, and at every appointment I have they say she has a good strong heart beat. She feels very long to me, sometimes when she stretches, I can feel her pushing the limits of her little home.

I am still as moody as ever, she really makes me stress about every little thing... I don't like that. With the boys I felt more relaxed and happy about everything, with this baby I feel on edge all the time. Not many weird cravings, except for fast food hamburgers and Mexican food. I have to get a Sonic or Wendy's hamburger at least 3 or 4 times a week or I feel like I am going to die. And all I want is Tex-Mex, Mexican food. I almost cried with the other day when we went up to DC and I got to stop at my two favorite Mexican places, Chevy's and Cafe Rio. My Cafe Rio salad never, ever, tasted so good.

I haven't gained any weight yet, at all. Well... I've gained 3 pounds... but if you count the 18+ pounds I lost at the beginning, I am still 15 pounds ahead. Not bad for my last (well, so far...) pregnancy. Hopefully by the time she comes I will still be ahead of the curve, and I will weigh less when she is born than when I got pregnant...not very many people can say that. I am so confused as to why I haven't gained much weight, they assure me she is growing on schedule, and I eat, ALL THE TIME.

But I am not going to complain.

Daddy and Clark painting the baby's room.

After 3 coats of paint, and a lot organizing and assembling, the baby's room is done... and it is very girly.

I never really got to decorate a baby room for Clark and Harry, so this was a lot of fun for me.

The room was a baby blue color (painted by the owners before) so it took a lot of paint to cover it.

We went with pale yellow color, like butter. I love it so much.

She also has her own closet! Clark and Harry never did, since in Hawaii we only had one closet, haha.

I loved organizing it and hanging up her dresses and clothes (I know I am a dork).

Baby's crib, and the rocking chair Jason got me for Mother's day.

Guest bed and cute pictures Auntie Carol got for the baby.

I love the way the light looks in the room, so bright and airy.

And it is so fun to have girly things in the house.

(Boy! I am really praying she is still a little girl in there!)

I feel like I am all ready for her to come. The hospital bag is backed, I have baby-sitters lined up for the boys (God, I hope Harry can handle that!) The house is as clean as it is ever going to get, with my three messy boys. And my uterus has had about as much as it can take.

I just hope she waits for the boys to get started in school next week!

I am so excited to meet her, and hold her, and bring her home. I am so done being pregnant, all the heart-burn and waddling are wearing me down. I'm excited to start our new life and routine, and get my body back (and hopefully a healthier body this time around).

I pray she is healthy, and whole, and strong.

The other day Jason and I were talking baby things, and I was telling him how disconnected I felt with this pregnancy, more so than I did with Clark and Harry. I don't know if it is because I was so sick at the beginning -and like it or not, I do tend to hold grudges- or if I am so busy and consumed with the boys that I don't think about it as much as I did the first couple times. It is such a weird feeling. I've been more overwhelmed with the thought of having three kids, than I have been excited about it.

But nevertheless, I am dying to meet her!

Not so excited about the labor and delivery part (since Harry's birth was such a nightmare)

but I want to see her tiny little face.

It is a good thing we knew and agreed at the right time, that there was another baby waiting for us :)

This is a sweet little picture of Harry saying hello to the baby sister.

(Or curious of all that extra blubber on Mommy's tummy.)

Harry has not been too interested in all things baby, and mostly he is annoyed there is less and less room on my lap for him to sit and bounce. I was glad he took a minute to gently say hello, maybe he knows she is coming. I hope he is happy to meet her.

Clark, on the other hand, is very excited. He is always asking me when she is coming, and when we are going to get her. In fact when we were driving home the other day, from our evacu-cation, he kept saying we were going to get baby sister.

He talks and sings to my tummy all the time, and he thinks it is hilarious when she moves.

I am excited to introduce her to her big brothers.

We have already chosen a name, in fact we've had it in the back of our minds for a few years, and even though I am 98% its her name, its hard for me to say for sure...only because there are so many cute girl names I want to use... and most likely this will be our last baby.

Also, I am afraid if I announce the name, more than I already have,

I will jinx it and she will be a boy, haha.

This will be my last pre-baby blog. Unless I can get my act together and take some pregnancy photos.

We are ready for her!

Are you????

I hope we can be a good family for her, and give her all she needs.

I pray the delivery goes smoothly, and no complications...

and hopefully a good strong epidural :)

Wish us luck!

A Mini Jason

2011-09-01T11:59:00.002-04:00

Sometimes I am astounded how much Clark is like me, and Jason. I don't really see it in his looks, although everyone says he looks like Jason. But I do see it in his expressions, and his especially his personality and attitude.
He is all me when it comes to his attitude, temper, and moodiness.

We (Clark and I) don't like to be told what to do, or when to do it. Just like his Momma, he can sleep in all day, today he didn't even get up til 11am. When he is mad, he is mad and there is nothing you can do to change his mind.

But like his Daddy, he is easy to laugh, and loves to joke around, always thinking everything is a game. He can go all day long, as long as we are doing something fun. Such a sense of adventure. He is eager to please and happy, just like Jason too. And he loves to be around people.

He is just a cute little mini Jason, with a dash of his Mom's orneriness.

Wordless Wednesday-Red Doors

2011-08-31T16:30:00.001-04:00

August 27, 2001

Gorgeous red doors we found on a Catholic church in Harrisonburg, VA.

On the street outside.

So pretty.

Someday I'm going to have red doors like that.

When I buy my castle.

In Scotland.

Sports???

2011-08-29T16:17:00.000-04:00

The other day Clark had a doctor appointment, to get some vaccinations for school.

This is a real conversation that happend between Clark and the doctor.

Dr: Do you like to play sports?

Clark: Yes

Dr: What do you like to play?

Clark: Star Wars.

Dr: Oh really. (giggle) Who do you play with?

Clark: With my light saber.

Dr: (Just laghing now, and I'm sure wonering what kind of parents we are).

Looks like we need to play ball a little more often.

Watch this. Now.

2011-08-28T12:28:00.014-04:00

So moving.

I really feel like I can identify with this fathers message.

Word for word.

This may be his story, about his daughter...

but in a way it is my story too,

and every one who has an Autistic child.

I find it so perplexing, with how common it is these days... that it still feels so isolating.
Maybe because each child on the spectrum is so different, every parent feels like they have it harder.
I don't know.
I sometimes feel so alone in the struggle, like no one understands how hard it is, for me... and especially for Harry. BUT there are so many parents (just like Lou in the video above) who feel the exact same way. It is comforting to know I am not alone, not that I ever really thought I was, but it is nice to know there are other people out there who feel the way I do.
It doesn't make the day to day things easier, but it helps.

I am thankful for the tremendous family support I have, and understanding from my friends.

.

Wordless Wednesday-Big Scary Spider

2011-08-24T17:02:00.000-04:00

August 7, 2011

Look what we found in our backyard.

Needless to say, Jason had a slight panic attack.

I kinda is pretty, you know... for a spider.

I am hoping this encourages Jason to do the yard work more often.

I don't know what kind it is, but Jason was sure it was going to kill us all in our sleep.

Either way. It's dead. And Jason has sprayed the house 3 times since.

Now, if I could get rid of all the ants we have.

Different, but not less.

2011-08-12T14:04:00.001-04:00

The past couple weeks I have been reading the book, Thinking In Pictures by Temple Grandin. It is probably one of the most fascinating and insightful books I have ever read. Every night when I would read another passage, I would feel as if my eyes were opened a little more. Even though much of the information wasn't new to me, the way she explained it, made it easier for me to take in, and apply it in my life... and in Harry's life. I can not express how much reading this book had changed my view, on a lot of things. This book opened my eyes, to all of the possibles out there (and also not just for Harry or others with Autism, but certainly more so)... not that I didn't know they were there before, but sometimes when you are down in the trenches, it is hard to see the silver lining.
I admire Ms. Grandin, and her passion. The book explains how she thinks, and how other individuals with Autism may or may not think. It also documents how the unique way she thinks propelled her career, and allowed her to see things from another view, a cow's eye view.
Since last summer I have had her HBO movie on my dvr. I have stopped and started it many many times. Most of the time to overwhelmed by how close it hit to home to finish it. Today I finally finished it, and I am so glad I did (I am also just as glad I read the book before watched it). I thought it was nothing short of brilliant. It showed perfectly the way she thinks, and how much she fought to be heard, and understood. Going through her many symbolic doors, to a new world and new challenges. It is very inspiring, not just for those with Autism, but us "normal" folk as well.

I have spend the better part of this last year coming to terms with Harry's Autism diagnosis. Then, even when I thought I came to terms, and I embraced it, and I decided to fight for and help Harry, I still had to come to terms with the fact that he may never be able to express the genius that is hidden inside of him. He may never speak, or be able to explain to me how he sees things, or what his hidden passions will be. He may never get past his sensory issues enough to be a part of everyday life, school, colleges, relationships. This time next year Harry could be talking in sentences, asking me for things, laughing at jokes, singing songs... or he could be exactly the same. Seeking comfort in his blankets, and being alone, and hardly ever participating with the family. This has been something that I have really struggled with. I can get over the little every day things, if I know where we are going to end up, but it is so hard not knowing. I have to believe it will be something more, something great...even something "normal". And just as much as I have to believe that, I think I also need to be okay with the fact that he may not be those things. He may always live with us, or maybe a group home. He may never go to college, or even a main stream school, he may never serve a mission. We don't know. And I think now I am okay with that. It took awhile to get there, and some days are better than others, but we are all okay with it now.

I am really so excited for this next year. It is going to be scary, stressful, nerve racking, and hard for all of us, BUT it also holds so much hope. I'm excited to see how Harry is going to do it school. I am excited to start his ABA therapy (just as soon as I find someone, I am thinking October). I am praying for positive change, and a better understanding of my little guy. I am excited to learn new ways to teach and help him (and hopefully more energy to do so after I have the baby). I feel like I understand now, more than I did before, how important it is to introduce my children to as many opportunities as possible. Different ways to look at the world around them. It seems like such a simple concept, and it was something I already knew, but I feel more ready and able to do it. (It is so hard to explain). I pray, whole-heartedly, that I can be the Mother that my children need, meet their different needs.

So in conclusion, read the book. Whether you know someone who is Autistic or not, whether you think you know all about it or not... I think it will change the way you see things.

Sorry Mom, Sorry.

2011-08-02T21:13:00.002-04:00

So Clark has this new thing that he does, all the time, that is really cute...

and also really annoying.

He apologizes, for everything... everything.
You must think I am crazy for saying that is annoying, but just you listen and decide for yourself.

I can't even look cross eyed at him without him apologizing profusely at me.

"Sorry Mom, sorry." In this whiny manipulating voice. "Be happy Mom, I'm sorry, BE HAPPY."

And the way he says it, with this overly apologetic tone, so dramatic... I have no idea where he learned how to act like that. Also, I have no idea where this "be happy" thing came from. But I have to be happy and smiling all the time. If not, then we start the "I'm sorry and be happy" speech all over again.

It makes me feel like such a monster.
Like I am so mean to him all the time,
and he feels the need to just constantly walk around saying he is sorry.

The other day he spilled a drink in the car. I didn't say anything. I wasn't even mad. I didn't even sigh in exasperation. I just said oh well. And he went on and on, "I'm sorry Mom, be happy, I'm sorry Mom, be happy". Until I lost it, and I yelled, with the huge fake smile on my face, "I am happy, now shut up".

Nice one Mom. Geez. I just can't win. I wasn't even mad...

This new phase makes disciplining him so hard. Because instead of listening to me, he is so concerned that I am smiling and happy, that I can't even be stern or lecture him about something.

I really don't know where any of this came from, or why it started. I feel like I am happy a lot. I am way lenient with him, and I hardly discipline him like I should. We are a loud family, so I do yell probably more than I should, but most of the time it is not out of anger... I am just trying to be heard over all the noise.
I have been trying to check myself more lately, so I guess that is good, I try to not get as frustrated, and be calmer. I just hate the feeling that I am being manipulated by a 4 year old.

Oy. I'm just hoping this phase passes quickly. I am tired of trying to reassure him that I am happy all the time. And I really wish I could just give him a time out with it becoming such a huge production.

Harry vs. The Babysitters

2011-08-01T07:55:00.001-04:00

Apparently we can not leave Harry with a baby sitter any more.

He used to be so good when we would drop him off at places,

mostly cause we only use our friends and people the boys are comfortable with.

However, the last couple of times we took Harry to a babysitter, he would scream the whole time. When I went to Harry Potter a few weeks ago he spent the entire time by my friends door, screaming and banging his head on the floor. I mostly thought he didn't like where we were taking him. Maybe there were too many kids, or some strange thing was setting him off. But then other day I dropped him off at my girl friends house, someone he likes a lot and sees multiple times a week, and he still cried and yelled the whole time. He has never done that before at their house, not so much fun for them.

There is really nothing you can do when Harry decides he doesn't like something, nothing at all. Sometimes you can bribe him with food or a change of scene, but most of the time you just have to ride the tantrum out. And the tantrums are never pretty. There is screaming and wailing, and gnashing of teeth.

It can be scary, and I have the bruises to prove it.

I wonder what the change has been.

It started sometime this summer, he never had issues with sitters before.

I wonder.... maybe he is just missing me! Do you think???

Is it possible that he actually likes me??

You would think, and I hope, that he would acknowledge that he likes me when I am actually around, rather than giving me a cold shoulder all the time.

I guess he would just rather wait, and torture the kind people who watch him, to show me his love.

Oh well.

We don't go out that much anyway, and soon even less than we already do when the little baby comes.

Maybe we can look for a new sitter that will come to the house,

and maybe that will help him not be so angry when we leave.

But for know I will just be happy to know that he likes me, even if it's just a little.

Happy Birthday to ME!

2011-07-24T14:30:00.002-04:00

A couple years ago I made a Bucket List. Since it was my birthday a few days ago I decided to re-visit that list, see how far I've come, change what I wanted, add some new ones.

There is no better time than on your birthday to re-evaluate where you have been,
and where you are headed.

Here is the old one, June 2009:

"Travel Europe...Scotland, Germany, Italy, England.

Sing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir...like join it, you know.

Learn to knit, and make my family matching hats and scarves.

Run a marathon. I would like my first one to be the Honolulu Marathon, but I am not that picky. I just want to be a runner.

Write a book.

Write another book, that doesn't suck.

Make quilts, I want to be a quilter.

Swim with the sharks.

Own a home...our own home.

Learn to speak another language...Spanish, French, I am not to sure yet?

Visit and attend as many Temples as possible, all over the world (right now I have 6 different ones under my belt, in three different states).

Go sky diving.

Get a Masters Degree in anything.

Go to Africa.

Be debt free, and financially secure.

Have a big family...maybe 4 or 5 kids. (Ahh, did I just say that out loud!?)

Be a guest judge on the Iron Chef America.

Road Trip across America."

Most of them are still the same. Some of them I have no interest in anymore.

Some I accomplished!!!
I have become a quilter, I think. I am not super good, but practice makes perfect. I have made 3 quilts so far. And I am even in a quilting club that meets once a month. It is something I really enjoy, and when I have time, I love to see a project to come together. Right now I am working on my first real quilt, that has a pattern, not just squares, and I'm starting a block of the month project next month. So goal accomplished, I say :)
I don't really care about swimming with the sharks or learning a new language anymore. It would be cool, but there is other things I would rather spend my time on.
Also, we did kinda travel across America last summer, we hit 19 states!
I'm going to take a lot of the travel goals off, cause really I just want to travel as much as possible, I don't care where. We also saw a lot a temples on our way across country, but I would like to keep that goal forever. We are no where closer to being debt free, but I did finally make a new plane, a 3 year plan, with Jason last week. And we are working on the big family thing ;) Our newest addition will be here in about 8 weeks!

Here is my new one, July 2011:

Travel Europe...Scotland, Italy, France, Greece.

Join the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Learn to knit and crochet.

Run a marathon, or even a half marathon.

Write a book, that doesn't suck.

Visit and attend as many temples as possible, all over the world.

Get a Masters Degree.

Be debt free!

Be a published photographer, I don't care where, but my blog doesn't count :)

Be a guest judge on Iron Chef America.
Watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, in NYC.
Go sky diving.
Be a size 10. (Weight loss goals are going to consume my next year.)
Read more, 75 books by my next birthday.
I would like to have my own business. Some way to make my own money, something creative. It doesn't have to be big, just something I can do on the side of my family life.

There you go, my new bucket list. A lot to work on.

It is so weird to me to be 31. It seems so old, but I don't feel any different.

I had such a nice birthday. Jason surprised me with a beautiful bouquet of roses, and some fun gift cards. My awesome friends came over to help me paint the baby's room, and we had a pizza party. And for a big surprise, Jason got me a new phone! I wasn't expecting any other gifts since he gave me the flowers in the morning. But after he got home from work he had Clark give it to me. Clark was so sweet, he was hiding it behind his back and said, "Mommy, I have a prize for you" all bashful and quiet like. I was half asleep on the couch and I thought he was just going to give me a toy, or a picture he drew. Then he threw my new phone at me, and laughed. It was funny, and I was confused, and so surprised.

Jay is always so thoughtful when it comes to holidays and gifts, I am pretty lucky.
It may take him 4 weeks to mow the lawn, that has grown past our ankles. And his half of the bedroom may look like he is competing to be the next subject on an episode of Hoarders. And he never, EVER, listens to me.

BUT he is thoughtful, and kind, and he really always tries to spoil me... even when we are supposed to be saving money. He is a good man, and a good Dad, and I am happy.

We also had a nice little dinner with some friends. Fajitas and guacamole! My friend Trisha surprised me, and made me favorite cake in the world, Granny's Apple Cake! She even called my Mom to get the recipe. (She spoils me to no end, and I am thankful to have such a sweet friend.) The kids played in the pool outside, and we just enjoyed each others company. Simple, laid back, and fun.

The only thing missing was my sisters, and family other members.

A great birthday!

Last night as I was falling asleep,
I was thinking that next year on my birthday I will have 3 kids.

Crazy.

Baby Shower!

2011-07-22T14:00:00.000-04:00

Last weekend my bestie Trisha (and her sister), threw me a Baby Shower!

It was so unbelieveably sweet, girlie, pretty, and fun.

Me and Trisha

Super cute diaper cake and decorations.

They had made a little clothesline, and pinned baby clothes on it, that I got to take home!

Trisha always makes tasty food, but these cupcakes were one of her best!

Salted carmel, chocolate cupcakes, with little Heath Bar candies on top... to die for.

After I ate all the guacamole, and we played some fun games, I opened presents.

Look! A cool video monitor, so I can watch the babe while she sleeps.

I got a lot of cute clothes, a quilt from my friends in my Quilting Club, and some very useful items.

It was so fun, and I am so thankful for my friends.

I really never thought I would have another baby shower (after Clark's), so it was a nice surprise.

I felt so spoiled.

And I am really overwhelmed with graditude for my friends.

The End of an Era

2011-07-21T17:41:00.000-04:00

Well, it's over.

This past weekend Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 came out, the last Harry Potter movie. The end of an era. I've spent the last decade waiting for some sort of Harry Potter thing to come out, whether it was the books or the movies... I was always anxiously waiting.

It is so sad to say goodbye.

You may notice that this picture is very old. It is from when the 6th movie came out. Someone -named Jason the Meany- was so so late coming back from a work trip that he missed dressing up in our matching Deathly Hallows shirts and waiting in line with me :( I'm still kinda sad about it. He did make right in the knick of time, so I didn't have to watch any of the movie alone (that would've been a disaster), but I'm still kinda sad we didn't take the traditional shirt picture.

(Maybe we will take a pretend one later...)

Wearing our shirts for "Harry Potter Night" (take 2). Do you know it took me 6 movies before I could convince Jay to wear a matching shirt with me... he is such a good sport.

The movie was amazing, brilliant, and everything I ever hoped it would be...except a little short (I would've like an extra 20-30 minutes to maybe give the other characters a chance to say good bye, proper death scenes, and so on). It followed the book so well, much better than some of the other movies. Even though I knew everything that was going to happen I was overcome with the emotion and excitement of the ride. This last week I was re-watching (for probably the 500th time) the first movie with Clark. I was amazed at how far the three actors have come (Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint), from cute little 11 years olds, raw with talent and so new, to these amazing young adults. During the movie I could hear other audience members crying and getting caught up in the story, the last time I remember that happening during a movie was when the last Lord of the Rings came out.

I left the theater feeling a little hollow. Sad because it was over. Sad because it was such a heavy movie. And sad because I don't know how I am ever going to find something else that I love as much as Harry Potter. I'm feeling rather forced to grow up and move on...

I went through my pictures to try and find an harry Potter related ones. You would be surprised at how many I don't have. Why didn't I take more pictured over the years????

Here are my babies, being forced to be little Potters. Clark on the left, and Harry on the right with his own little wand. I am so glad that I have my boys (and my sweet little girl on the way) to share the books with again. I can't wait for the day Clark is ready to start reading the books!

Then Harry. Then the new babe.

After that I'm sure the panic will set in again,

and I will have to find some other way to keep Harry Potter alive in my life.

(Do I sound properly crazy yet???)

Here is Auntie Laura and Clark the night the last book came out, July 21, 2007.

Since we went to the midnight release party I like to think that it actually came out on my birthday.

That night hanging around the book store was my birthday party, and oh so much fun.

I was happy I could share it with my sister and my baby boy.

Here is the only picture I took of that night, with me in it.

(Why don't I take more pictures????)

I hate that it is blurry, but it is all we got.

Jason has gone to almost all the movies with me on opening night, the older we got and more kids we had we stopped going to the midnight showing, but we still made it to opening night every time. I remember some summers making all my friends go with me over and over again. I remember staying up well past my bedtime reading my books, over and over again. I remember how excited I was when my Grandpa decided to read the books, and then he dressed up for Harry Potter for Halloween :)

Isn't he the best!

So many fun memories over the years.

It has been an amazing ride. I'm sad to say goodbye.

Potty Training For The Win!

2011-07-19T15:48:00.052-04:00

We did it!!!

I don't want to get too cocky, or I have a feeling this thing I going to turn around and bite me in the butt, but I really think we have gotten over the worst of it. I think it is safe to say, that for the most part,

Clark is POTTY TRAINED!!!

We had a few really bad days. We had to completely take him off of his video games, which he was really sad about. And for awhile there I was so ready to give up and try again next year, I just didn't think he was getting it. Then one day it clicked, and he went, all by himself actually. In fact most of the time he would rather go alone, without telling me. I think he hated me nagging him all the time, and it was embarrassing for him. We have been accident free for 5 days now!!!

He acts like such a big boy now. Every time I see him go to the bathroom I get so proud of him. I don't even have to fake the excitement and joy that I show during the "Hooray You Went Potty Dance" that we do every time he is done.

We still keep him in pull-ups at night, only because me (and a couple of my brothers or sisters) were long time bed wetters, and I am 7 months pregnant, I don't want to climb to the top bunk and change the sheets everyday. If he can wake up dry for a few weeks in a row, then I will stop putting him in pull-ups, but for now it works.

And I couldn't be happier.

Here Clark is doing one of his new Star Wars puzzles.

He would get a prize every time he went pooh in the potty. That was the biggest hurdle for us. He was really afraid and nervous to go. Most of the literature I read, to prepared myself for training him, said not to bribe him with toys or treats to make him go. I could give him a prize after, but I wasn't to say "If you go, you get this...". Well, let me tell you. That is what actually worked. He wanted his army guys and Star Wars puzzle really really bad, so he finally went pooh (NOT in his underwear). Shame, disappointment and bribery... that is what finally worked for us. I tried days and days of positive reinforcement (and trying not to get upset when he peed on the floor for the 30th time), he had nothing to work for if I was already happy.

Regardless of the how or why, we did it. And I am so very proud of my big boy!

Mom's First Haircut

2011-07-18T15:40:00.001-04:00

I cut Clark's hair for the first time!

I got bored the other day, and decided I was tired of looking at Clark's unmanageable fluff and frizz, so I gave him a haircut. He sat really well, and it was much easier than I thought. I didn't really have a plan going into it... I just cut. I love his fake smiles, and the fact that he can hardly ever keep his eyes open in a picture.

Here is the the after picture :)

It is a little uneven in the back, but barely noticeable since his hair has so much body and curl.

Here is a little better picture after it had dried some.

I like his hair shorter here, since it is not as curly as it was in Hawaii.

He is such a cutie.

Harry's Turn

2011-07-17T11:49:00.026-04:00

(I am almost all caught up on blogging. Now, if I can just manage to not get behind again, I will be a super star.)

Harrison, my big boy. My sweet boy. Really, he is larger than life. He is turning 3 in just couple months, and he is as big as a 4 year old. He weighs more than Clark by almost 10 pounds, and just a couple more inches and they would be the same height. I adore his big bluish-green eyes, and my heart melts whenever he looks at me. He is always so curious, and thoughtful.

Just the other night, Harry came to sleep in my bed, and we fell asleep holding hands. I don't know if he knew I needed it, or he needed it... but it was so unbelievably sweet. He can be so tender at times, and I really cherish those moments when he lets me in.

Sometimes, as awful as it sounds, I have a hard time thinking of good things to say about Harry. Not because I don't love him with every single fiber of my being, or because he is a bad kid. But I think I spend so much time concentrating on what he is and isn't doing, trying to keep him from the next tantrum, and trying to recover from all the late nights... that I forget to let him alone, and just be Harry.

He can be so challenging, but I know he has a good heart, and he is a good kid.

He is so smart, we just haven't figured out how to help him express himself yet.

Harry has grown a lot this year already. He is much more affectionate, not really with hugs and kisses, but he will cuddle up on our laps, lay his head on us, hold our hands, and give us loves in his own special way. He has gotten a lot better around friends, and other children. There is still the occasional biting incident, but it is not as bad as it used to be. It has taken about six months, but he is comfortable in nursery now, and doesn't scream every time we go to church. And there is a small group of people (besides me and Jason) that he actually really likes, and recognizes. He makes eye contact more readily, and sometimes I really feel like he is listening to us, and participating with family activities.

He can be so funny when we go out. Last month when we went to DC we were walking around one of the museums, he saw this guys holding a map, and without a thought in his head he just walked up and took it. The guy didn't even know what to say. I was embarrassed, but I also couldn't stop laughing. Harry just thinks everyone around him is there for his enjoyment and pleasure. He has no shame or boundaries. If you have something that he wants, he thinks you should give it to him :)

His joy and happiness can be so infectious. I love when he hops around because he is excited, or he shrieks with glee when he is surprised. I love how happy he is when he wakes up in the morning (even if it 3am, it is still cute). I would like to think that he is happier here in Virginia, he seems so to me, and I think he has really settled into our home and community. He has become more independent in some ways, better at asking us and telling us what he needs (even if he isn't using any words yet). I think we have finally started figuring out Harry more... I know when he is starting to get stressed and I can help him before he losses it all and the whole day is ruined. Also, I am starting to understand a lot of his sensory issues, and how to help him.

One of the biggest discoveries we made earlier this year was his aversion to milk and dairy. We took him off of milk for two reasons; one, he was hopelessly addicted, it ruled his whole day and I couldn't get him to eat any real food, and two, we thought maybe it would help with his sensory issues and Autism (there has been a lot of debate whether some children with Autism, are really only showing symptoms to some sort of a food allergy). We took him off the milk, and started giving him almond milk. I never saw any changes in his behavior, so after a few weeks I just put him back on regular milk...and that is when all hell broke lose. He had diarrhea, vomiting, crying all night long, more tantrums than ever... and really he just seems uncomfortable, and in pain. We took him straight off again, and he was back to normal. So, didn't not cure his Autism (not that I ever actually thought it would, but there was always that hope in the back of my mind), but we did seem to make him happier. I'm not sure if it is a full blown allergy, since he does eat small amounts of cheese and cream from time to time, and he seems fine... maybe just lactose intolerant. I feel so bad it took so long for us to figure it out. He always seemed to have bowel issues, and was sick a lot (especially when he was stressed)... I just never realized how much pain he was in. We have been trying to get him into a better pediatrician to help us out with his diet, and maybe figure out more of whats going on... but for now we are happy, that he seems a little more happy, and he is eating better.

Harry has about two more months left in the Early Intervention Program, before he STARTS SCHOOL.

It is so hard for me to believe he is starting school. He seems much too young to me. I am more nervous than I ever was when Clark was starting school, but I know Harry needs it a hundred times more too. His therapy sessions have been going well. It is so nice to have people to help me out with Harry, and give me ideas on ways to help and teach him. He doesn't say any words yet, but he is so so close to signing, and I really believe if he wasn't so stubborn he might be a little closer :) After six months he has also, finally, started enjoying his sessions a little more, which makes the learning process that much easier, I think. Also, GREAT NEWS, we finally got approved for a new program that will help us pay for ABA therapy. All I have to do now is start interviewing people and we will be ready to go. I really believe that this is going to be so good for Harry, and I am so excited to start.

The other day I was talking to one of his new case managers (for the Echo program) and she asked me what my hopes and goals for Harry were. And for some reason I was totally stumped. I am sure she meant short term, over the next year or something...but I didn't know what to say. Goals?? There are a million things I wish he could and would do, same goes for Clark.... and Jason too.

Sure, it would be awesome if he could eat with a fork, or sit for longer than 3 minutes (currently one of his goals in sitting for 3 minutes to participate in a group activity, hahaha, he can maybe last maybe 90 seconds). I would love it if he didn't bang his head on the floor, or smack his head every time he was upset. I would be thrilled beyond all reason if he slept for longer than five hours every night, and didn't get up at 3 am every morning. I knew she meant something small like that, something that she could track and document, but for some reason I couldn't think of one single thing.

How can I narrow down all the things I want for Harry to just a simple answer like that?

My hopes for Harry are so much more. I hope he feels safe and secure. That he can find something he can, and wants to do. I hope that he will never feel limited by a diagnosis that he gets, or what other people tell him. Selfishly, I hope his love for books continues to grow, I would to have a reading buddy to share all my books and thoughts with. I want to be able to have a conversation with my son, whether is is talking, signing, or even writing... I want to know him, and what's going on in his head.

My greatest hope for Harry is that he will be happy, truly happy.

And really isn't that what we all want for our kids.

I am so thankful that he was sent to our family. As challenging as his personality can be, the tantrums, and the staying up all night long, I couldn't imagine my life without him... nor would I ever want to.

I pray everyday that I can be the mother that he needs.

NYC Girls Weekend

2011-07-14T11:51:00.001-04:00

A couple weekends ago, me and a couple of my girl friends took a trip up to NYC!

My friend Sharon found an awesome deal on a room (in a nice nice hotel) and the whole weekend only cost $100. Super savings! (Well, that is not counting food, and tickets to a show.)

The bus ride up was uneventful, and I had butterflies in my stomach the whole time, I was so excited.

Brooklyn Bridge

The first day we did a lot of walking around, a lot. We went down to the pier, Fulton Market, for lunch and the tastiest frozen yogurt I have ever, ever had. (Seriously, forget any other fancy fro-yo place you have heard of. Even Pink Berry is total crap compared to the heavenly goodness of Strawberry Fields.)

I didn't take nearly enough pictures, even though I felt like I had my camera out like a geeky tourist the whole time.

I was taking a picture of the comic store, when I noticed right underneath was a L&L Barbecue.

A little piece of Hawaii, all the way in the Big Apple.

A pretty lamp light.

Wendi, Sharon, Trisha, and me and the little babe.

Outside our hotel, ready for a night on the town :)

Dear NY Public Library,

Next time, me and you, we are gonna spend a whole day together.

Love, April

That's one lucky door.

This is how I was feeling all weekend... Lucky. Very lucky.

I somehow managed to get away from my kids for the weekend, with my besties, and a new friend. Went to NYC, of all the places. Somehow convinced my friends to buy tickets to the show I wanted to see. Didn't even spend much money at all. AND, got to take home some really fun memories. Lucky.

Al Hirschfeild Theater.

How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying.

Starring DANIEL RADCLIFFE!!!!

I've seen my fair share of shows, in lots of different cities. But this was my first Broadway show in New York. A total dream come true! A dream that has been 30 years in the making.

The best birthday present I could ever ask for.

It only takes a moment... me and Daniel sneaking in a little private time.

I felt so giddy with joy, like I was a 13 year old girl again.

My cheeks were aching by the end of the night with all the smiling I was doing.

My Harry Potter, in real life.... And he was brilliant!

Singing, dancing, putting on a great show, he was amazing.

I was a little nervous that I wouldn't like it, and my memory would forever be marred by a crappy show, but it was perfect. John Larroquette was funny, the show was funny, the big numbers were great, and Daniel (we are on a first name basis now) was simply perfect.

It was such a wonderful night, it still seems a little surreal to me.

(Okay, I am done gushing.)

Me and Sharon outside the show.

Thanks for cooking up this weekend.

You are always a lady with grand ideas, and I love you for it.

The next day I was EXHAUSTED.

With all the walking we did the day before, I went to bed trying to calm the contractions I was having.

(A whole hour of contractions. I never had contractions with the boys until after my water broke, and I was in labor. A totally new experience for me.)

I was scared for a little while that I was actually going to have the little babe in NYC.

The next day I just tried to take it as easy as I could. Me and Trisha took the Staten Island ferry, to Staten Island... we didn't want to wait in line for tickets to the Statue of Liberty.

We ate, we walked, we got stalked by a cute pedi-cab driver, and we took the Subway a lot.

It was such a nice weekend, and it went by entirely too fast.

One of the things that surprised me the most was how much I actually missed my family. I missed the boys, a lot. Not that I would've wanted them to come with me, it wouldn't have been as fun or easy... but I did miss them. Jason is already busy planning my next trip (he thinks we are going to be able to go before the baby comes, I think he is crazy).

He was a little sad he missed out on taking me to things this time around.

As much as I miss the west coast, and I long to move closer to my family... it will be hard to leave the east coast. I'm glad we have a couple more years here, and I hope we can cram all the things we want to do into that short amount of time.

Camping Trip To Cherry Stone

2011-07-13T12:31:00.002-04:00

June 24-26

The last weekend in June we joined some of our friends for a camping trip.

We went north, only about 50 miles, to a camp spot called Cherry Stone.

I was really nervous since it was Harry's first camping trip, and the last time we tried to take Clark camping it was a bit of a disaster. The weekend turned out to be great. Harry didn't run away once, and even slept through the night, both nights (not even I was able to do that).

Clark has a blast with all the kids, and it was just fun being together as a family.

Harry couldn't keep away from this little moldy creek.

He took a swim more than once. Dirtied all the clothes I brought for him on the first day.

Shortly after taking a dip in the creek.

June 24 was Jason's 10 year anniversary in the Coast Guard.

Trisha kindly bought him a cake to celebrate with.

I am so proud of all the hard work and time he has put in to care for our family, and further his career.

10 more years to go, and it is retirement time! Then Jason can do what he really wants to do.

(And don't ask me what that is, cause it changes a few times a year.)

Taking some much needed quiet time.

I'm so happy Harry slept through the night.

He really does have some sleep issues, and I was worried we were going to have to cut our trip short.

Cutie Clark

Something is stinky Mom...

Happy Harry

Paddle boat time.

Clark was so so very excited to get on the paddle boats. He insisted on only riding in the orange one (really it was gold). He nearly had a panic attack waiting for Daddy to get back from the restroom so he could have a turn.

Even Mr. Harry got in on the fun.

(Mommy was feeling too nervous to go, so Auntie Trisha helped out.)

Clark

Daddy and Clark going for a ride in a kayak.

Camping is such hard work.

Trying to catch some crabs.

More crabbing.

Clark was so excited to catch a "rab", but it wasn't very easy going. The little fish they were sharing the water with were very aggressive. We did manage to get a tub full of little fish, and one pretty good size crab (that died the next morning).

Wayne and the kids, more crabbing.

We let Harry watch the dvd player when we were packing up.

After two days with no tv he was in heaven.

Clark and Port knocking around the Pinata.

Trisha made the funniest eye ball pinatas, so before we all left we the kids had a go at them.

Clark's candy stash... that was all gone before we even got home.

Such a fun trip.

I forgot how much I liked to go camping. Cooking out dinner in a camp fire,

relaxing with the family, quiet time by the fire early in the morning.

Next time I would like to go when it is a little more cooler out, and I am a little less pregnant :)

I'm so proud of how well the boys did, and I really look forward to when they are a little older and they can do more. I see more and more camping trips in our future.

Wordless Wednesday- Umbrella

2011-07-13T11:57:00.001-04:00

I long to be lying under this umbrella,

on a beach somewhere (preferably in Hawaii),

cool breeze blowing across my skin,

and no kids in sight.

Flashback Friday-Cell Phone Pics

2011-07-08T17:52:00.000-04:00

I found some old cell phone pictures on my computer, and I wanted to share.

I miss my tiny little babies.

Harry in Nana's bathtub.

Clark, and his sun glasses fetish.

Newly born baby Clark.

Baby Harry, always so serious.

Squishy sleepy Harry. I miss his chubby baby face.

My boys.

Harry's first Halloween.

Again with the sun glasses...silly Clark.

Happy Harry

Pouty Harry.

Noisy boys. I love this picture of them.

Naked time... at church????

2011-07-05T11:40:00.000-04:00

Has your son ever stripped down to his nothingness, and paraded around the church building???

Well, mine has!

Clark Michael, in all his glory, decided that he wanted to go pee pee in the potty (like a his bestest friend Porter) the other night at Relief Society. So, instead of coming to ask me for help, or anyone for help, he just stripped naked and went. Then he didn't even bother to get redressed. Luckily I got to him before too many people saw, and the building was pretty quiet that night.

I did get pretty mad at him, before I understood the whole situation, and then (like always) I felt bad.

Now, looking back, it was really, really funny. My baby boy, forever the streaker.

I guess it is time to start with the potty training. I have been putting it off until school was out, and now that it is out I don't really have any more excuses. So, hopefully, prayerfully, by this time next month he will be all potty trained. And I will only have one baby in diapers!

Well, for a few weeks, until the Princess comes to stay.

Wordless Wednesday- My Sleepy Boys

2011-06-29T09:15:00.000-04:00

June 3, 2011

My babies, passed out after a long day.

Just Tark

2011-06-28T15:24:00.006-04:00

I've been so behind on blogging lately, every now and then I can find a few minutes to put up some pictures, and give the typical run down, but no real journaling about the boys and how they are doing. So, I will "try" to play catch up for the first have of this year... Clark first.

Clark is out of school for the summer! So far he hasn't really noticed. As much as he loved school, I think he is happy he doesn't have to get up early in the morning anymore (just like his Mama).

He did really well in school this year, learning so much. I loved when he would come home and I would ask him what he learned at school, and he was would tell me this long long story. Sometimes I could figure it out, sometimes I couldn't. One day he took 10 minutes to tell me the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, it was the best thing I ever heard (I have never wanted a video camera more in my whole life).
His talking is getting so much better too! He is still a little hard to understand when he gets too excited (he stopped using his bottom lip a little when he got his stitches and still doesn't from time to time), or he tries to say too long of a sentence/story, but he has come so far from where he was last year at this time. I wish I knew how well he did in school, but the communication between his teachers and I was not very good (something I am going to work on more next year... being sick so much the first half of the year really put me behind, and out of place). Anyway, the few times I did talk with them, they would always tell me how well he was doing, you know "no news, is good news".

He is doing really well with his letters and numbers. He can recognize and say all of the alphabet, and he can spell his name. In fact he is really into spelling lately, he likes to tell me how everything is spelled (not from memory, but reading it to me). And he has started trying to write his name, he gets most of the letters down pretty good too.

Clark loves to sing songs. Old McDonald, nursery songs, primary songs, songs from the radio, anything. We learn a new song every week. It is so much fun to hear him singing along to himself when he is playing. The other day when he was playing video games he was singing,
"do as I'm doing, e-i-e-i-o", a mix of Old McDonald and Do As I'm Doing.
I love it when he sings the theme songs to Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Harry Potter.
He will say, "Mom, we watch Harry Potter, do-do-dododo-do..." and hum me the entire theme song.
Sometimes he will ask me to rub his back while I hum a song for him,
always mostly Harry Potter or Star Wars.
It is my very favorite.

He is quite the bossy pants. I don't know if he means to be, or its just his nature of being the oldest,
and pretty spoiled (again, just like his Mama).
Whenever I tell him he is a being a bossy pants, he says "NO, just Tark!"
(Tark is how he says his name.)
If I call him Tuna, or any other sill nickname we have for him, he says "NO, just Tark".
The other night we were watching some Superman cartoons, and he (finally) made the connection that Superman's name is Clark too. He said, "Oh, Tark, like me. Superman is Tark." It was so sweet, and I swear I saw a little twinkle in his eye. I was starting to worry that his growing obsession with Batman would get in the way of his true destiny. (Kidding, kind-of.)

He is really looking forward to having a baby sister. He feels my stomach all the time. Sometimes he likes to push out his stomach and tell me about the baby sister he has in there, silly boy. I'm never sure how much he really understands, but there is always excitement there. I am really looking forward to him meeting his baby sister, I know he is going to be a good big brother.

(It's so hard to play catch up when you are so far behind.)

He loves his friends so much. He is always talking about Porter, and all the things he wants to do with him (play trains, chase, go camping...). One evening, after having dinner and a play date with our friends, Clark cried the whole way home because he needed his own Thomas to take home (Thomas was the name of one of the boys, a couple years older than him). I always say that Clark was born in the wrong order, he should've been our baby, with older brothers and sister.
He just loves to be around people.
He is a total video game addict! From sun up, to sun down, all he wants (and asks me) to do is play video games. Lego Indiana Jones, and Lego Star Wars are his two favorites. And he does pretty well on his own, never asks for mine or Jason's help, and he can pass his own levels.

I am having trouble with him understanding things from time to time. I can say something to him 1,000 times, and he will just look at me like I am speaking a different language. I don't know if it is a boy/male thing (sometimes Jason can be the same way), or if it is a Clark thing. It is maddening. And disipline is still a total disaster. When I stick him in time out he just cries and cries, apolgizes over and over (he seems really sincere), and panics until I let him out. The reason for the actual time out NEVER sticks, never, and the lesson is never learned. It has gotten to the point that I can't even threaten time out with out him freaking out. Whenever I try to correct him, his face will fall and he begs me to "be happy Mom, happy please", which makes me feel horrible.

I don't even feel like I am as strict or stern with him as I should be.

Something, somewhere in our communication is getting jumbled up, and we are not understanding each other.

It is something we are going to work on very hard time summer, along with the potty training.

(Yes, my 4 year old is STILL not potty trained, but we are working on it.)

I am mostly just astounded how much Clark is growing up. Sure he is getting taller and looking more and more like a little boy, and the young man he will soon grow into. But he is also getting more mature (Clark has always been a little on the immature side). He catches onto things so fast, and is so willing to learn. He sleeps in his own bed, all night now (that took us 4 years to accomplish!). He wants to do his own things, and he wants to help out. He wants to be a big kid.

I love to see him grow and learn, even with all the challenges of his -sometimes crazy- personality, he is a delight to be around, and I thank God for him everyday.

Flashback Friday-Family Pictures

2011-06-24T15:47:00.000-04:00

These pictures are from when we went home to visit. LAST YEAR!

Can you believe it has taken me this long to get them up online.
July 10, 2010

My whole family. We are a pretty good lookin' bunch, if I must say so myself.
I long for the days that we can all be together, joking around, hanging out.
I miss them so much!
((It makes me kinda sad that Harry would rather bite his hand than smile for the camera,
I guess some things never change, LOL.))

The Bosko Family
I think it is funny that the boys look so pissed.

The Grandbabies

Clark, Harry, Reese

Me and Jay.

See.... we do like each other sometimes ;)

Another Bosko family picture.

Funny that Harry looks so mad, again.

My brothers and sisters,

BJ, Laura, Me, Emma and Cody.

I've been kinda sad that we won't make it home this year... and next year is not looking too good either. Even though we are back on the "mainland" (when do I have to stop talking like I am from Hawaii, LOL) it is still as hard as ever to get home, just as expensive and far. Maybe soon. Until then I am always hoping, and waiting for visitors.

Wordless Wednesday- Baby Bunny

2011-06-22T10:00:00.000-04:00

The little baby bunny that has been living in our back yard.

He is so hard to catch on camera.

Weekend Get-A-Way

2011-06-06T12:55:00.005-04:00

The weekend before Memorial Day we decided to take a quick trip up to DC to see our favorite NorVa friends, and visit a few sites. Its so nice that we live within driving distance of DC. As much as I complain about being on the east coast -and SO far from home- we really have the best of two worlds here. I'm going to try and appreciate it more,
for the precious time we have left, because I know there will be a lot of things I miss.

One of the stops we made -and rather unplanned- was to the Pentagon 9-11 Memorial. I am so glad we did stop, and take a look around. I was so moved, and touched... it was surprisingly emotional. We listened to one of the volunteers explain the meaning and significance behind the lay out of the benches, and the grounds. The thought and heart that the architects put into every little detail is amazing, and a true tribute to the victims of that day.

Once again, I am so glad we stopped, and I look forward to going back again.

Clark and his little friend Taryn.

The next stop we made was to the Space and Air Museum.

Clark was so excited to go inside, once he spotted the planes through the window, he kept telling us to "hurry up and follow me". Clark is having a hard time smiling in the picture, because he was in total awe of the rockets and planes hanging from the ceiling.

For sure the best part of his day.

Harry flying in the plane.

I was surprised he sat for the 20 seconds it took for me to focus and snap the picture, good job baby.

We couldn't get Clark out of the plane, he wanted to stay and explore all the buttons and levers.

I think he has found a new love.

Daddy and the boys.

Once again, I couldn't even get Clark to look at the camera, he was so focused on the rocket.

The boys, outside our next stop, the Native Indian Museum.

The kids were pretty tired (and mostly hungry) by then, so we didn't explore things too much,

but they did have lots of fun running around the giant foyer.

I am thankful we have such good friends that are willing to do the "DC thing" with us when we come out, even though it is hot and and somewhat tiring. I am also more thankful that they put up with my naughty kids, and let us trash their house every time we stay.

Thanks for the good food, and fun memories.

The next day, before we drove home, we took a trip up to the Washington DC Temple.

I want so much for the kids to have memories of going to the temple, even though they can't go inside yet. I really hope in our next area we live a lot closer to a temple, 4 hours is way to far away for me.

Jay and the boys.

I really love this picture with all of my heart, honestly.

If there was any single shot that I could take, that could sum up my days with Clark and Harry, this would be it! It shows their personalities so much. Clark with his attitude, bored of having to follow all my dumb directions. Harry whining at me, for making him sit, and sit next to his brother at that -oh the torture-. It makes me laugh every time I see it.

There is a happy, sweet Harry.

Look! We are all looking, and smiling, at the same time!

It is a miracle! Thank you little babies, for one good picture.

Our little family of five.

I get to say five now, because I am fat enough now that you can see I am pregnant.

(Speaking of that, here is a little public service announcement; if you can't tell I am pregnant, don't tell me that. Because either you think I am pregnant, or you just think I am fat. I don't mind looking pregnant. I do mind if you tell me I don't look pregnant, because I am chubby and it makes me feel fatter. Also, its not cool to tell me I waddle. I know I do. My back HURTS, all the time, I can't help it. Just tell me I am beautiful, skinny, and I look exactly 6 months pregnant... and I will be happy. Thanks.)

Isn't Clark's new fake smile simply hilarious.

We also made a quick stop in Old Town Alexandria, to visit some old friends, and see their fabulous new apartment. I had forgotten how much I LOVED Old Town. I am mad at myself for not taking more pictures, but it was hard to chat and catch up, and keep and eye on Clark, and try to take pictures at the same time. Next time for sure!

Such a nice, relaxing, and fun filled weekend, and we didn't even hit any traffic on the way home... perfect. Can't wait to do it again, soon.

Flashback Friday-Little Clark

2011-06-03T10:16:00.001-04:00

July 30, 2007

I was going through some old pictures online today, and I stumbled across this oldish picture of Clark.

What a chubby little Tuna he was. What I love the most about this picture is, he still makes this same exact face, although its less chubby. I love that pouty lip. He really was such a good baby, always active, but a good good boy. I am glad I am having another baby, I miss this stage of tininess, before they learn to talk back and yell at me, and the messes aren't quite so big.

I've been having a hard week. Nothing bad, just a really tired Mommy and very challenging kids. It's nice to be able to look back and remind myself that not everyday was such a pain in my *ahem- behind. As hard, messy, and tiring as it can be, I am so glad I made the decision to be a Mom. I am thankful that we were able to have children. I am thankful that I am able to stay home with them ...although I am sure if someone would've offered me a job this week -outside the home- I would've taken it in a heartbeat.

I love my boys, and I am so happy we are finally going to have a little girl...

maybe now I won't feel so out numbered.

Wordless Wednesday-That is sure a funny way to sleep, Harry.

2011-06-01T15:11:00.001-04:00

April 28, 2011

Who needs a bed???

Apparently, not Harry.

Stitches

2011-05-31T16:36:00.003-04:00

Clark got his first stitches while Daddy was away. Why do these types of things always happen while Dad is away??? Needless to say, I think I did a good job handling it on my own.
We have not been immune to the occasional trip to the ER, or staple in the head, but this was our first case of stitches,
and boy oh boy was it scary.
We were having a nice peaceful afternoon when my girlfriend called and needed help getting to the ER (thankfully she is doing okay too!). As I was rushing the kids out of the house, to drop them at the babysitters, Clark tripped and landed right on the bookshelf. He actually hit the bookshelf so hard he cracked the edge! It was hard for me to see the wound right away, because there was so much blood, and I had to sit there for a few minutes consoling Clark before I could even decide what we needed to do. I have never seen so much blood in my life... and I grew up with two very active brothers who seemed to bleed all over things on a daily basis. Since I was already headed to the ER, I just took Clark along. His cut bled the entire time we were driving in the car, I was starting to get afraid he was gonna pass out, or go into shock, but we were being watched over, and he did really well.
This picture was taken on my camera phone, about 30 minutes after the accident, while we were waiting in the ER. Clark was such a brave boy, he cried a lot at first, but as soon as we got to the ER he was calm, and thankfully the wound stopped bleeding. We had to have Clark strapped down in a little papoose thingy, to keep him still while he was getting fixed up, he was pretty excited to be wrapped up like a cocoon. However, once the needles came out, and the pulling and tugging of the stitches started, he was a nightmare, and really I don't blame him one bit. He was hysterical, I think mostly from being scared, rather from the pain. He kept on spitting on the doctor, and telling him to go away. About 15 minutes, and 4 stitches, later we were done. He couldn't get out of the place fast enough, he was practically running to the car.

This was taken the next morning, thankfully most of the swelling he had from the day before had gone down. He did however pick out two of the stitches, either when the numbing was wearing off, or in his sleep. Thankfully they were the ones inside his lip, and not as important. He only a had a little trouble eating, and of course he stopped using his bottom lip to talk... which was actually pretty cute.

A couple days after...

I know it is hard to tell in this picture, but he had the grossest black scab on his lip. Blech, it was so gross to look at. After a few hours in the pool though it fell right off, and almost instantly he started looking like normal Clark.

I actually can't believe how fast it healed, kids can be so resilient.

Ten days after. All healed, except for one little stubborn white stitch that refused to come out.

(He did however finally get it out later that night.)

I am so glad he healed fast, and rather painlessly. I am thankful for my friends that helped out when I had to take him to the ER, and Wayne who gave him a blessing. And it is vain to say/think that I am thankful his lip healed normally, rather than having some huge scar, or deformity... he is my cute little baby boy after all. I really am proud of how brave he acted, he is growing up so fast.

An early start on summer.

2011-05-31T11:35:00.001-04:00

We still have two weeks of school left here,
but we are getting an early start on all the summer fun anyway.

Building "sand tassels" at the beach.
I let Clark skip school for this beach day. He had been talking about building sand castles with his friend Porter for days, I didn't have the heart to send him to school.
We tried a new beach, away from the ocean front with all the tourists and hotels, it was much nicer...
although the water was a little more brown than we are used to ;)
(I am such a beach snob.)

My little beach bum.
Harry likes to get nice and toasty hot before he is ready to venture into the water.

While Daddy was away in Colorado, for work, I took the boys to the park, a lot.
Harry still loves swinging in the baby swings, although he can hardly fit in them anymore.
It takes two people to get him out of the seat, or at least one person with longer arms than mine.

Clark testing out the climbing wall.

A rare shot of the boys actually playing together,
it didn't last very long.

I don't know why, but my boys are determined to NEVER give me a nice picture of them together.
This was the best shot out of 50, honestly.
If I can get Harry to sit still and look, Clark insists on being a punk. If Clark is being smiley and cute, Harry is off in lala land looking everywhere besides the camera.
I just can't win.

Here was another try.
They did have fun running and playing on the pier, even if i didn't get a picture to prove it.

Clark, trying to explain to me why he NEEDS to go fishing.
The pier we were on had a special spot reserved for the fishermen, and Clark just had to go there.
Maybe next time...

The boys swimming in their little outside pool.

We probably go swimming everyday now.

Its nice to have the nice warm weather back. I don't know what I was thinking when I used to say I hated summer time, I was obviously crazy. It's so much nicer to be able to be outside, rather than cooped up in the house. I'm looking forward to school being out for a couple months, and all the fun things we have planned this summer.

Planting the garden.

2011-05-28T15:45:00.002-04:00

May 2, 2011

For family home evening the other night we (finally) got our garden planted.

Clark was so excited to help out.
I am hoping he has the same enthusiasm when it is time to eat the veggies from the garden.

Clark spreading the dirt around in the boxes.
Jason did such a good job building our garden boxes!
(And thanks to Dan who helped him finish them.)

Clark, and his "werm".
He found it in the grass, and put it inside the garden to help the plants.

So far all our plants are growing really well! Apparently I can grow veggies, just not flowers.
I took this picture a couple weeks ago, already the plants are twice as tall and full... any day now we will have some food.
We planted green beans, zucchini, squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, and some jalapenos and peppers.

Just look at those pretty tomato plants!
I can't wait to eat them.

Lines.

2011-05-27T15:14:00.002-04:00

Harry playing outside in the puddles.

He sure can be a really happy boy when he wants to be, I love when he shows off his personality.

Lately he likes to line up things, everywhere... it is kinda funny.

Lining up the magnets on the fridge. He was really mad he couldn't fit the alien one on the right way,

he ended up throwing them all on the floor.

Lining up his toy magnets from Nana.

You can always tell where Harry has been in the house, the evidence is in the lines... of things.

All his animals in a row.

Lining up his books.

There is always, always, a line of books somewhere near his room.

We don't even pick them up anymore.

Lining up his dvds... and Jason wonders why they don't play without skipping, LOL.

I mentioned this to his therapist the other day, not that I see it as a problem or anything... mostly just curious. And she said that since Harry has such a hard time processing the things around him, organizing his toys or the little things around the house, helps him make sense of things, and calm him down when maybe he might be feeling stressed or over stimulated. This might also be the reason he likes books so much, all those letters and words, organized in nice little rows.

Well Harry, whatever works little dude, whatever makes you happy.

Hopefully someday we can find a way to help him with all his sensory issues, but until then I just want him to be happy, and feel safe and secure in his home.

Busch Gardens

2011-05-27T09:58:00.001-04:00

April 30, 2011
Last month Jason got some free tickets, from his work, for us to go to Busch Gardens.

It was the first time me and the boys have gone, and I have to say for someone (like me) who doesn't really like amusement parks, it was pretty fun. I like how they had something for everyone.

Clark and Daddy watching the animal show. They had dogs, cats, birds, and even some rats, preforming little tricks. Clark really loved it. Ever since we saw the show he talks about dogs and cats, he really wants a "cat-dog". At first I thought that meant he wanted some kind of cat-dog hybrid, but he finally explained that he really wants "a cat AND a dog, you know Mom, cat-dog".

Clark petting the snake. He was a little a little nervous at first, but his curiosity won out.

My sweet little cute Harry, giving me a rare smile for the camera.

Harry and I did a lot of standing around, waiting for Daddy and Clark, while they rode the rides.

I don't really like riding rides (and I am pregnant anyway) and Harry was too little for most of them.

He was so good and patient, and I think he enjoyed all the sight seeing, and treat eating.

Clark and Jason- They are like two peas in a pod.
Clark was so into riding the rides, all of them. He was quite heartbroken that he couldn't get on the giant roller coasters. Jason was so excited to finally have someone to ride the rides with, since I NEVER get on them.

This was Clark's favorite ride. He was so sad they couldn't go on it over and over.

Riding the train around the park.

Dinner for 4??? No wonder we are all so chubby and round.
The food wasn't too bad, for an amusement park, although it was very expensive.

Overall it was a super fun family day. I would definitely rather go to Busch Gardens, than any of the other parks.

Easter Weekend

2011-05-26T14:44:00.002-04:00

Easter Weekend April 23-24, 2011

The Saturday before Easter we had a nice little party, and Easter Egg Hunt, at our house for our friends. But before we could stuff the eggs with candy, and eat the tasty BBQ pork I made, we had to get Harry back from the cops. Yep, you heard me right. He ran away again, or rather, this time he was let out the house (by Clark) and wandered down the street. This is the third time he has wandered off, but by far the scariest, cause we had no idea he was ever gone. With our guest showing up, and kids running around in the back yard, I had no idea Clark even opened up the front door for Harry. Luckily people were out and about, and some neighbors got to Harry before he went into the busy intersection. Since they didn't know which house Harry came from, they called the cops... and well the cops finally came to us. I was/am mortified, embarrassed, angry.... and relieved that he was okay, and nothing more serious happened. The cops were really understanding, once they understood the situation, and the rest of the afternoon went off without a hitch. The cop did make some ridiculous comment about how Harry didn't recognize him as a police officer and a person of authority, and I laughed and said, "Well, I'm sorry. But Harry doesn't even really recognize me as his Mother... so I can't really help you there... nor do I care".

Since then Clark has let Harry out the yard one other time, out the side gate I didn't even know he could open. Harry does pretty well not wandering away, as long as we can keep Clark from letting him out, so we are now locked down like a prison, bolts and locks on everything.

Everyday I think about how bad both those situations could've ended, someone could've taken Harry, he could've wandered into the busy intersection...my whole life could've been over in a matter of seconds. I am thankful someone was watching out for my family, and protecting my child, when I couldn't...or didn't. We have definitely have learned our lesson. Also, we are now"that family" on the block, all my neighbors think I am a crap Mom, and talk over the fence to each other about it...ugh, they suck.

Anyway, back to our awesome Easter weekend.

After a rather tasty lunch, the Dads hid all the eggs around the yard for the kiddies to find.

Harry found a few eggs, but mostly just wanted to open them up and eat the candy inside.

Clark had a lot of fun finding the eggs, but just like Harry, he wanted to open each one to see what was inside before he would go find another one.

Cute little Porter, Clark's best friend.

I'm so glad we have such nice friends, and enough friends to have a fun party for our kids, we are so lucky. It is so wonderful to live in an area where we really feel like we belong,

and we have a "far away from home family".

Clark finding his basket Easter morning. He was super excited about his Star Wars eggs.

Harry was only interested in the books in his Easter basket,

I think it is safe to say he had a pretty good morning.

Clark was THRILLED to get a little Star Wars Lego kit, to build planes.

He loved building them with his Dad, he was in heaven.

Enjoying his book, so serious.

The finished plane.

I wish I had a nice little picture of us dressed up in our Sunday clothes, but alas my babies do not like looking anywhere near a camera, and I didn't want to be late for church....maybe next year.

Holidays are much more meaningful to me, now that I have a family. I hope I did a good job teaching and explaining to the boys the real significance of Easter. I am so thankful for the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, my brother. And I am thankful for the knowledge and testimony that I have, that my family can be together forever.

I love Easter time!

Somethings you just get right.

2011-05-24T16:25:00.001-04:00

"Look Mom!" he says, "I'm Harry Potter."

It's not easy teaching kids right from wrong, manners,

or how you are supposed to eat all your veggies.

It breaks my heart every time Clark talks about Batman, when clearly we are a SUPERMAN family.

We make a lot of mistakes, as parents, and I'm always

hoping that something sticks after all the lectures, time-outs and "teaching moments".

Its never easy...

but somethings you just get right.

Fluffy Tats

2011-05-20T13:04:00.001-04:00

Every time this commercial comes on tv, Clark screams, runs to me, and says,

"Mom, I neeeeeee dat tat! I neeee a tat, and a dog. Pease mom, peeeeeease...a fatty tat".

Everytime. He went on and on about it for an hour the other night.

Well Clark, I need that cat too, I need it too.

Spring Break Shenanigans

2011-05-20T12:07:00.001-04:00

Just some highlights of our spring break :)

April 19, 2011

Coloring Easter Eggs, for our upcoming Easter Egg Hunt.

This is the first time I ever attempted to do this with the boys. Harry did not care at all, and actually kept trying to spill the dye everywhere (so he was banned from the table). Clark had a lot of fun! I had found little face stickers, with funny eyes and mouths, and he loved turning all his eggs into funny monsters.

Porter (Clark's BFF) and his blue fingers...
I think we all ended up with our fair share of dye on our hands.

April 20, 2011
The next day, my friend and I, packed the kids up and took a day trip to Chicoteague (which is only about a 100 minute drive from my house). I love a little road trip now and then, especially if it is out to the country or the beach.
Before we got to the beach we stopped to stretch our legs, and let the kids feed these ponies.
Why oh why is it so hard to get my kids to take a proper picture!?!
Here Clark is "helping" Harry stand still and look at the camera, which obviously -to Clark- translated to "choke your brother until he cries". Brothers...

Almost at the beach. The weather was warm, but overcast, and very windy.
A different kind of beach day, but delightful none of the less.

The water was still too cold ( for me) so the kids didn't go swimming,
but there was plenty of "sand-tassle" building, as Clark says.

Harry was so happy to be at the beach. He loves to dig and play in the sand.
Here he is cuddling up with Allori, and digging himself a little hole.

Wild ponies at Chicoteague.

April 21, 2011
Jay even took off a day of work so we could have a family zoo day!
Clark begged and begged for two days to go see the "am-nimals". He has been learning all about farms and animals at preschool, and I think he wanted to show off all his knowledge. The morning we were going to leave he woke us up at 6 am saying,
"time to go see am-nimals, dit up fasssssss!"
Even Harry was excited to be there. It always takes Harry a few times to warm up to a place, enough to get comfortable and have fun, and thanks to Auntie Carol (and Uncle Eddie) we have a year zoo pass so we can go as often as we want. It always makes the day extra fun when Harry has a good time too.

Clark ran around, crazy like, trying to name and see all the animals he could. Then he hung from the bars, like a proper little monkey. Harry quietly took it all in, and got in as much reading as he could :)

I had such a nice spring break week with my boys. I love spending time with them, and as a family, and with our friends. I am really looking forward to summer, and a lot of beach days, some more zoo days, and a fun road trip or two.

Trampoline!!

2011-05-19T14:21:00.000-04:00

The boys' favorite part of April was when we got a trampoline!

We had been saving a little money to take a weekend trip away for our 10th wedding anniversary, but I decided the money would be better spent on the boys, and a tramp.

Of-course, Jason and the boys agreed with me wholeheartedly!

(By the way... Happy 10 years to us! No pictures, because I am a slacker. But Jason did take me to a very nice dinner, and a movie. I can't believe we've been married for 10 years!!!!!)

Harry loves jumping so much, I have never seen him more happy.

He can jump for hours.

Clark and Harry

It is so nice to finally find something Harry enjoys, besides reading his books, and watching tv.

It is a good release for him too, when he is feeling stressed and needs to calm down.

It's also a nice place to lay, and soak up some sun.
Clark likes to lay and look up at the sky, watching for planes or birds.

JUMPING!

I took these pictures right after we first set it up. Since then Jason has set up the netting around the tramp, so the boys don't accidentally fall off. Clark managed to stay on, but Harry would get lost in his bouncing, and jump right off a couple times... but that didn't stop him from getting right back up to jump again. I'm glad we decided to get a tramp for the boys, rather than go away for the weekend, money well spent.

It's going to be a fun summer with our new tramp.

Wordless Wednesday-Bath Time for Little Pirates

2011-05-18T12:00:00.003-04:00

April 3, 2011
Clark
No words necessary for a cute little pirate taking a bath.

Jamestown

2011-05-17T15:32:00.000-04:00

Months ago, in March,
(I have REALLY been sucking in the picture/blogging department)
I had the opportunity to meet my Aunt, Uncle, and cousins in Jamestown for the afternoon.
I hadn't seen them for over 7 years!
It was so fun to catch up, spend some time together, and introduce them to Clark and Harry.

March 25, 2011

Clark had a lot of fun running around and exploring, and he was actually really well behaved (well, for Clark, hehehe). He was not bashful at all, and took to Shane and Stephanie like he has known them forever. I love how friendly and social Clark is, he truly loves everyone.

Harry was a bit reserved, he was happy to just sit in his stroller and be pushed around all day.
He's not big on new places, and new people, but he enjoyed being outside and looking around.

Clark, and cousin Stephanie.
We went to Jamestown Settlement, which had a nice size museum, and a big outdoor living area, with replicas of an Indian village, and replicas of the boats that the settlers came over from England on. It was such a nice day, a little chilly, but sunny and warm for me.

Clark grinding up corn to make cornmeal in the Indian village.

Also, one of the tour guides skinning a squirrel to show us how the Indians would've cooked it. Clark was quite traumatized by the dead squirrel, and he kept on saying "oh no, poor whirl is sad, what happened"... I tired to explain it to him the best I could, but I'm not sure he was ready for that life lesson. Every now and then when he sees a live squirrel in our backyard he makes sure to tell me that, that squirrel looks happy, and not red and sad.

Clark's favorite part of the afternoon was the giant boats, or pirate boats, as Clark called them. He was thrilled that we could get on them, and he ran around crazy exploring things. He kept on telling me he was looking for treasure... I really do love his imagination.

Cousin Shane trying to carry Harry around the boat :)

Auntie Bon, me and the boys (who can never look nice for the camera), Uncle Jim, and Stephanie.

Me and the boys on the boat.
I thought this knight's head statue was interesting. The boats were made as an exact replica of the real ones, and there was so many cool facts about them. Funny enough there is no record of why they used knight heads on the pulley boxes, they were always used on the boats at that time, we just don't know the significance... Cool, I thought.

Tuna trying on some amour.

Clark and my sweet cousins.
I'm glad we had a nice day to visit with family.
It can be so hard being so far from home, and the people you love,
it is nice to get together every now and then.

The One That Might Be A Girl

2011-05-01T21:04:00.003-04:00

These ultrasound pictures are from March when I was about 13 weeks along.

(I've been so lazy in getting things scanned and on the computer.)

The doctor had been a little worried that I was so sick, and wanted to check things out.

I was just excited to get an unplanned ultrasound, and see my tiny little baby.

The doctor said everything looks great, and in all the right places.

Strong healthy heartbeat, and very long legs.

She commented several times about how long SHE looked.

She???

"Yes" she said, "it looks like a girl to me".

When I didn't immediately get excited (she knew we wanted a girl). She continued to try and convince me, see this, and this, and then the 'I've been doing this a long time sweetheart, I know' speech.

She was very optimistic about it. And I left being just as excited.

Whether it is a girl or not we won't be sure until, TOMORROW.

But this pregnancy has been so very different from both of the boys, I can't help but agree with the doc.

I've been much more weepy and moody. Almost everything makes me cry.

I never cried with the boys, at least not often...but I was very crabby and bitchy.

I've been craving the weirdest things, like candy.

I never eat candy. I like a small piece of chocolate now and then, but not candy.

All I want to eat some days is Gummy Bears, and Smarties.

I haven't been growing as fast as I did with the boys either. I still feel like I don't have a tummy at all, and I'm sure I won't "pop" until next month. I haven't felt the baby kick yet, when I was pregnant with Harry he was already jumping on my bladder at this point.

Some days I don't even feel pregnant. I don't know if it is because I was so sick at the beginning, and I am having a harder time bonding with the baby... or the fact that it is actually a baby, and not a parasite trying to kill me. I just feel so different.

So, maybe, just maybe this might be a little girl.

It is what we have suspected from the beginning, I'm just too afraid to get my hopes up.

I just pray all is well, and the babe is healthy. We are all very excited to find out what the sex is.

Clark said he wants a baby sister. In fact he has been calling the baby a sister from day one... without any prompting from me or Jason.

Until tomorrow...

Weekend With The Pomer-roos.

2011-04-12T11:03:00.000-04:00

That's not really their name... but its how Clark says it.

Our super awesome friends came down for the weekend (last month),

so Sharon could run her race. 8k!

I was supposed to run with her, but someone had to go and get knocked up.

Way to go Sharon!! Definitely inspired me to want to start training again... next year.

After Sharon's race, the kiddies got to play on the beach for a little while.

I'm so glad the weather cooperated, just a little chilly and overcast.

Sweet little Meg :)

Virginia Beach is not all that bad,
when you don't see all the ugly hotels, and there is not hundred people around.
Our time on the west coast, and in Hawaii, certainly turned me into a HUGE beach snob.
But I am still so thankful that I get to live near the beach, it makes me so happy.

The always thoughtful, and quiet Harry.
Try as I may, there was no way I could get him to smile.

The always crazy, and silly Clark.

The boys were so happy to play on the beach, Clark misses the waves and playing in the surf.
We are looking forward to summer, so much!

Eating Cupcakes

2011-04-11T10:37:00.002-04:00

How do you eat a cupcake?

Harry has his own special method, its quite messy, but he seems to like it, and it works for him.

First he likes to get to know the cupcake,

mushing is around in his hands, taking it apart, smelling it,

deconstructing it bit by bit.

He takes special care in eating the icing.

Slowly, savoring each lick and bite.

Finally, after the cupcake is gone, he licks all his fingers,

making sure no crumb gets left behind.

It may take awhile, but he knows how to get the job done.

Flashback Friday-Deimler Family

2011-04-08T13:00:00.015-04:00

Deimler Family 1998

What cute little family we were... and still are.
My brothers look so young and innocent with their sweet little smiles.

I love how mine and Emma's hair look exactly the same, I don't think we had our own hair styles until we were in our teens, people used to always think we were twins. And little baby Laura, going bald, you would never believe how much hair she has now.

I sure do love and miss my family!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

2011-04-05T13:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday Old Man!

I can't believe you are 35! So old...

Sorry you had kind-of a crappy birthday. I will make it up to you next year, promise.

The boys had so much fun eating cake with you, and it was fun hanging out as a family.

I love you so much. Thank you for being an awesome husband, and a thoughtful and loving father.

Being Dr. Jones

2011-04-04T13:44:00.000-04:00

Clark loves Indiana Jones.

A few weeks ago Jason found this old hat in the garage, from his mission, and gave it to Clark.

The first thing Clark said was, "Oh! Dr. Jones hat. Thanks Daddy, thank you so much". It was pretty sweet. He loves dressing up as Dr. Jones, with this hat and one of Jason's belts used as a whip.

He has the best little imagination.

I'm not too sure when his Indiana Jones obsession started, or why he calls him Dr. Jones instead of Indiana, but most days it is all he can talk about. I think it is because he loves the Indiana Jones Lego games (for the Wii), he begs to play them everyday, all day long. We've let him watch a couple of the movies, only certain parts -cause he is still too young for them, and he loves every minute of it. We had a Indiana Jones marathon night a few weeks ago, and it was so much fun, he had the best time and was much too excited to go to bed that night.

He wears his hat to church, out to dinner, and even in the bath (that didn't end to well, and now the hat has a sad, weird shape to it). He thinks any guy he sees wearing a hat is Dr. Jones. He pretends to be scared of snakes, and he is always looking for a treasure. Sometimes when we play Indiana Jones he calls me Marion, Marion is apparently his favorite girl :) I think it is so sweet.

I love this fun stage with Clark and the imagination he has.

Happy 4th Birthday Clark!

2011-04-02T13:08:00.000-04:00

Hey Clark, you got a little something on your face....

Clark's birthday was over a month ago, but since I was so sick I never got around to doing my annual happy birthday blog. I feel sad I hardly took any pictures on his birthday, but we did have a nice little celebration. The day of his birthday we went out to dinner, and played some arcade games. Then we stayed up super late eating ice cream and watching Star Wars. The next day we took him to Toys R Us to choose his birthday presents, and spend some of his birthday money. All he wanted was a new Lego Indiana Jones video game, we ended up buying him a new train table as well (his old one was broken, and too big for their room). He also spent some of his birthday money getting some new Star Wars movies. I was kind of surprised by the gifts he choose to get himself, I was sure he was going to want a hundred trains or a new light saber.

Clark really has such a great personality, he is growing into himself, and his sense of humor, more and more everyday. He surprises me daily with new things he is saying or learning to do. He loves going to school so much. We have him going to pre-school at the local elementary school near our house, and we took him out of head start (both classes were just too much for him, and me). He is so happy to get up everyday and go to school, and when he gets home he loves to show me any papers he made. He has been learning about farms at school, and farm animals, he loves to sing Old McDonald Has A Farm, and he tells me all about the animals. He goes to bed at night much easier than he used to, once we figured out he was afraid of the dark. For months he would cry every night when it was time for bed, cry for hours, then finally one night he asked us to turn the light on and it clicked... now he goes right to bed, and I get to save myself one giant headache. I am so thankful, and very proud of him, that he talks more... I love to hear him say his little prayers, and sing a song, or even just ask me for something.

Clark a little overwhelmed with his birthday cake, and candles on fire.

The weekend after his birthday we had Clark's best friend Porter, and his family, over for cake and ice cream. Clark loves his friend so much, I think it is so sweet that he calls him MY Porter... not just any ones Porter, Clark's. He is such a happy and social little boy, he makes friends where ever he goes. He is always ready for a party and a good time. He gets excited anytime the door bell rings, so sure that someone has come over to play with him. I love that about him, so carefree and happy, so full of life. I can't help but smile whenever I am around... unless he is being mischievous and naughty, which he is a lot as well, but always in good fun.

Clark blowing out his birthday candles.

Clark loved his (very small and low key) Star Wars party.

To my Clark,

Happy 4th birthday son. I am so happy you were born, I am so happy you are MY Clark. I couldn't live without you, and your laughter and bright shining face. I love how happy you are to go to church, and sing songs about Jesus... please don't ever grow out of that. I love that you love to eat ketchup sandwiches, even though they are really really gross. I love watching Star Wars with you, and listening to you try to sing along to the music. I feel like you grew up so much this year. You experienced your first move (and probably not your last), your first real winter, going to school, and making new friends. You are so brave, and confident. I love when you say "thank you Mommy" and "I love you too".
Sometimes it is sad watching you grow up, and become less dependent on me, knowing that someday you won't need me at all... or *gasp* even like me very much.
Just you remember you will always be my baby, always.

Love Mommy.

Flashback Friday- Clark's Curly Mullet, and a Little Fatty Nugget

2011-04-01T10:19:00.000-04:00

Today I am mourning the fact that my cute little baby boys are growing up...

way too fast.

Clark is all boy, a terror of a little boy, causing mischief and messes where ever he goes. And Harry is a mean little toddler, who is always ripping up my books and waking me up at 4am every morning.

Where did all the sweetness go???

I miss Clark's curly little mullet. All those sweet little curls and ringlets. His hair isn't very curly here in Virginia, and I think it is one of the things I miss the most about living in Hawaii.

I felt like his curls were so much apart of his personality.

Maybe this summer when the heat and humidity comes back, so will his curls.

Here he is blowing out some bubbles. His hair was so long, I never wanted to cut it or trim it.

We used to tease him that he looked like Richard Simmons.

Here is my chubilicious Harry, he is about 4 1/2 months here.

He was the biggest and cuddliest baby ever.

He is still very large and in charge, but all those cute chubby rolls are missing. I remember he was so heavy to carry around, I could only hold him for short periods at a time before my arms would feel like they were going to fall off.

Clapping is so boring Mom.

I miss my favorite little fatty nugget.

They grow up way too fast. Good thing I am having another.

I hope the next one has really curly hair, or is deliciously cubby.

The One That Is Trying To Kill Me

2011-03-31T09:20:00.000-04:00

We are having a baby!

A really mean and sadistic baby, that is trying to slowly kill me.

I know I've already made the big announcement, so much of this post will be anti-climatic.
Mostly just a little journaling for me, and my growing family.

I found out I was pregnant at the end of January. It was not too big of a surprise, since we had talked it over for some time and knew we wanted to try to have a baby in 2011. I just didn't think Heavenly Father would take that date so literally.... I am pretty sure we conceived January 1. (Is that to much information??? Ha ha ha.) Jason was out of town in Utah when I found out, and even though I was dying to tell him, I had to wait and tell him face to face. I told him I was pregnant with Clark over the phone, and regretted it ever since.

Clark and I drew this little sign to take to the airport and surprise him. Clark was so excited to tell him about the new baby, although I suspect much of the actual meaning of the surprise was over his little curly head. As our luck would have it Jason's plane arrived early, and instead of ambushing him inside, he was waiting for us. Which meant he had to read the sign in the dark car, and completely missed what it said. I had to redirect him to it twice, and tell him to read it all, carefully. He was so happy and excited. A little shocked, and then of course he couldn't hide his manly pride of having made another baby. Jason stated immediately that it was a girl, he was sure of it this time. However, I like to remind him that he thought both Clark and Harry were girls, even though I told him over and over Harry was a boy (I knew right away with that one).

I was sick almost immediately. With Clark and Harry I had a few bad days, mostly through the 2nd and 3rd months. I don't remember it ever being as bad as this pregnancy has been. Starting around week 5, I couldn't eat anything, and if I did, I just barfed it up. Everything. After a while I couldn't even drink anymore. It would take me an hour to gag down a glass of water, only to barf it up minutes later. I tried sipping soda, cold tea, ice water... anything and everything, and nothing would stay down. I was sure it was all in my mind, and I was embarrassed for feeling so sick, so soon. Finally one day, when I was about 7 weeks along, Jason dragged me to the doctor. She told me leave and go straight to the ER, I was severely dehydrated. I spent the next several hours being pumped full of fluids and meds. They checked the baby while I was there, and much to my relief it was doing fine, heart beat and all. They sent me home and I was great for about a week. They gave me Zofran and Phenergan, and even though I didn't like the side effects, at least I could eat and drink again. Then slowly I started getting sicker and sicker. Dizzy, headaches, unable to eat anything again, then drink anything. I tried to get into the doctors again, but the wait was so long for my Ob-Gyn. I kept on thinking I was crazy, how could I honestly be THIS sick, it must all be in my head. We were canceling everything, school, Harry's therapy appointments, church, playgroups. I just laid on the couch, trying not to move, trying not to barf... trying not to cry. I had lost about 18 lbs by this point -which is not that outstanding considering how over weight I am. It wasn't long before Jason forced me to go to the ER again. Once again, severely dehydrated. I was sure they were going to tell me I lost the baby, positive they weren't going to find a heartbeat. But everything was normal, she was growing quite nicely, and the heartbeat was really strong. The doctor did diagnose me with Hyperemesis Gravidarum, which is just a fancy word for "pregnant lady who can't stop barfing". Ok, so I wasn't totally crazy, and this wasn't normal "morning sickness"... but I still needed to be able to take care of myself, my family, and the tiny mean baby growing inside of me.

I got more meds, and the ER doctor helped me to get into my Ob-Gyn sooner. My new doctor is fantastic. Best one I have ever gone to. She did a really thorough exam, gave me more than enough meds and help. I'm starting to feel more like my normal self, albeit pregnant and tired... but thankfully not barfing. As of now, I am 15 weeks, and I haven't had to take any medicine in 3 whole days, and I am still eating, and drinking. This baby has sure done quite a number on me. We don't call her anything but Mean Baby... and yes you heard that right, I do think it is a HER this time (even though I am trying not to get my hopes up). We are going to have to think of another nickname, since I am sure she won't appreciate being called Mean Baby :)
I'm so thankful the baby is healthy, and I'm glad we have made it this far. These past 10 weeks have been really rough on me, and the whole family. I pray everyday that everything with the baby will turn out fine and normal, and that I don't get sick again... I read that most women who suffer from Hypermesis Gravidarum will be sick off and on through out their entire pregnancy, I hope I am part of the other half who doesn't. I will never take my health for granted ever again.

I'm so excited to be having another baby, so excited and nervous!!

Wordless Wednesday, with a few words- Spring is coming!

2011-03-30T13:00:00.004-04:00

Spring is coming... or at least it is trying to.

The weather here has been such a roller coaster, 80's one day, 30's the next.
It even almost snowed a little yesterday.

I took these pictures in Jamestown last week (March 25). I love seeing the trees and flowers start to bloom. It is such a refreshing view, from the dead and bare trees, and brown ground everywhere.

This winter has been pretty rough on all of us... It was fun and so different at the beginning, but we were definitely spoiled after our time and Hawaii, and the lack of sun is getting us down.

But, Spring is coming, or at least it's trying to... it's right around the corner. This week it should get in the 60's again, and hopefully next week it will be even warmer.

Vegetables!

2011-03-29T10:58:00.001-04:00

January 18, 2011- Months and months ago, I've been lazy.

Harry covered in pasta sauce.

Harry making a huge mess...

Totally worth it though, since the pasta I made was filled with veggies, and he ate them all!

Every single one! And the sausage along with it.

Harry is my pickiest eater, for months all I could get him to eat was pretzels and nuggets. Lately he has been doing much better. He will eat chicken, even if it is not deep fried in batter, as long as I smother it in barbecue sauce. He eats veggies if I cook them in pasta or baked ziti. He eats hot dogs, and sometimes even cheese. Still not the most balanced diet, but we are getting there. Last night he ate every single thing on his plate, homemade mac and cheese, baked chicken and a roll (he never! eats bread). I'm not sure what has changed. Maybe it's because I don't let him snack as much, and I do feed him much smaller portions of his favorite foods. We have also switched him from drinking whole milk to skim milk, and now even to Almond milk (to see if maybe it would help with some of his sensory issues, and Autism- its not really). Not sure... maybe it is just time, and continually putting food in front of his face. Either way I am happy with the change, however small, and I hope and pray he keeps it up.

He makes me laugh, he has the cutest expressions sometimes.

Flashback Friday- Jason in the Honor Guard

2011-03-04T12:00:00.001-05:00

What??? She's blogging again? I AM!

Well, I am trying, and I figure I gotta start somewhere.

Why not start with some cool old pictures from when Jason was in the Honor Guard,

the first time we lived in Virginia 2001-2004.

This is Jason marching in some parade (I don't remember which). We were down in Ocean City, Maryland. I remember it was so hot, and I felt so bad that he had to wear his big stuffy uniform.

Right after the parade, I was making the boys pose for pictures.

This one is from Jason's friend. I'm not sure when it was taken, but they are at Arlington Cemetery for a funeral. I think he looks so serious in this picture. It must have been hard to be at the funerals, to not show any emotion, I heard some were pretty sad and emotional.

I know Jay loved that he got to serve in the Honor Guard. It was such a fun and special experience for both of us, a great way to start our Coast Guard lives.

Toddlers

2011-03-01T18:12:00.000-05:00

We're genetically wired to think everything our toddlers do is amazing;

otherwise we wouldn't want to keep them.

This is my life right now. Busy and stressful.

Not to mention a new baby that we are expecting,

that I suspect is trying to kill me.

I promise to get back to blogging soon, I have so much to share.

All of it very interesting...well to me, and the Grandmas :)

Flashback Friday- I miss Hawaii

2011-01-21T12:35:00.004-05:00

January 22, 2010

Can you believe this is where we were a year ago today?

Walking the beaches, in the winter, just because we could.

I wish we had a couple grand lying around so we could hop on a plane with the boys,

and enjoy the beach again. Enjoy the bright sun, and warm breeze.

I know they would both be so excited. Clark doesn't talk about it, but I know he misses certain things about Hawaii. Sometimes when he gets on his bus for school, he seems disappointed, looking for his other school friends. And he always get so excited when he sees the ocean, he is my little water baby.

As much as I am loving having a real winter here in Virginia, with snow and cold rain,

it is hard being stuck inside so much. We are not used to it.

I never thought I would be one of those people begging for Summer to come, and complaining about the cold weather, but I am counting down the days until Spring.

So we can go back to the beach.

The Ribbon

2011-01-15T13:03:00.001-05:00

Right before New Years our friends from Northern Virginia came down to spend the weekend.

We love hanging out with the Pomeroy's, and Clark adores their oldest Taryn.

It was a fun night of Rockband, and the kids running around playing. We always have so much fun, and get so busy talking, that I never remember to take pictures :(

When they were loading up to leave the next day, Clark was heartbroken and crying.

He ran to the car window to say goodbye to Taryn, and being the little sweetie that she is, she gave him this little blue ribbon. At first Clark didn't know what to do with it, so he just carried it around talking about his friend, and his "bee-yu" (which is what he called the blue ribbon). Finally, I tied it around his wrist so it wouldn't get lost. He cried when it got wet in the shower. He cried when his sleeves were too long, and he could see it, or show it off properly. He loved his "bee-yu" ribbon. I finally convinced him to take it off, 4 days later, and now it is safety tucked away with his favorite R2D2.

What a tender little heart he has. He can be so sentimental sometimes. I love watching his eyes tears up during a sad part in a movie, or when he notices someone is sad. I love that he is not all boy, wild and crazy all the time, I love his sensitive side. My favorite time with Clark is hanging out in our big chair, reading a book or watching a show, he always leans his head against my shoulder and links his arm through mine. Very tender indeed. It's these quiet, sweet, tender moments with Clark that help me get through the days when he pees on the floor -just cause he feels like it, or flicks a spoonful of mac and cheese on the wall.

I sure love my Big Tuna.

Flashback Friday- Deimler Family

2011-01-14T12:40:00.001-05:00

Yesterday my Gramps emailed me some old family pictures. Aren't they great?!

I think they were taken around 1987.

This was our old house in Goodyear, Arizona.

I loved our little twin palm trees. By the time our family move away, in 1994, they were so tall.

I can't get over how much BJ reminds me of Harry, all chubby and cute.

I love this picture. Left to right, Emma, BJ and April (Me).

If I was guessing, I would say Emma is pouting because she was sad Gramps and Granny were leaving. It was (and still is) always so hard to say goodbye to our grandparents. I still cry when we leave their house after a vacation, and I am 30 years old. BJ is so huge, and once again totally reminds me so much of Harry, especially the no pants part, lol. And there is my always cheesy smile, that never went away did it :)

Freedom!!

2011-01-13T12:00:00.002-05:00

We are pacifier free!!!

Harry has been without his for 2 whole days now.

The last couple nights have been a little rough, it takes him so much longer to go to sleep now.

(But, he pretty much has insomnia 80% of the time anyways, so I am used to it.)

I am proud of my little guy. He is growing up so fast.

Wordless Wednesday-Quiet Time With Harry

2011-01-12T13:00:00.003-05:00

This is why I love Harry.

2011-01-11T14:40:00.001-05:00

You know that moment of terror, when you realize the kids are being too quiet...

When you try to remember the last time they stormed through the room, or you asked you for something.

I hate those moments.

They are normally followed by me sending Clark to time out,
and cleaning up some ridiculous mess, while silently crying to myself.

But NOT with Harry!

He is never doing anything naughty. Never.

He is such a good little boy.

Sure, he does bad things, like biting kids in nursery, or trying to climb on the stove to take all the burners apart. But never those crazy type Clark messes, like poop on the walls, or baby powder everywhere.

Mostly I just find him quietly reading his books.

Today after my workout (yes, you heard that right, a workout) I found that he put himself to sleep, in his bed, all cuddled up with his blankies.

Sometimes it makes me sad that he is so independent, he hardly acts like he needs me -or even likes me. Its just his age, I guess. I mean, I know he needs me, who else is going to wash his sippy cup, and reach the pretzels for him. I just can't wait for him to love me, or even just like me a lot.

But how cute is it that he just loves to read all day.

I love that he loves to read, I love it so much!!!

ps. Oh, I forgot. Harry does like to do one very naughty thing. He pulls all my books from the shelf, and bends the pages. Two shelves of paperback books, all over the floor, 499 times a day. Some days I don't even bother picking them up, because I know in 30 seconds he is just going to do it all again. Bad Harry!

Cookie Robots

2011-01-10T17:37:00.000-05:00

Making Cookie Robots with Clark.

We've been watching a lot of Despicable Me lately, thanks to Daddy.
I don't mind, it is a really cute movie, and I needed a break from the sob-fest that is Toy Story 3.
(You would think I could stop crying, after the 12th viewing, but that movie gets me every time. Every. Time.)
In the movie -Despicable Me, Gru makes cookie robots, so he can break into Vector's house.
Well, as you can imagine, Clark is all about cookie robots. They are two of his favorite things, cookies plus robots, how can it get better than that. He was so excited to make cookie robots with me.

(Here is where someone would normally post the picture of the finished cookies, but I am so forgetful lately.)
They turned out very tasty, if I must say so myself.

How to make Cookie Robots:
-Follow the Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip cookie recipe.
We like to use mini chocolate chips instead of the regular size, and sometimes mini m&ms too.
-Make A LOT of boo-bop and beeping sounds when you are adding the ingredients, and doing the mixing.
-Pretend to throw in some screws and bolts, or any other mechanical looking things.
-Bake at 375, for about 10 minutes.
And there you have it, Cookie Robots.

If I was a really good Mom (read- NOT lazy), I am sure I could find something that really looked like little cookie robots, and Clark and I could make those together. But this was good enough for now, he and I had a lot of fun, and that's all I care about.

Let it snow!

2011-01-04T13:24:00.003-05:00

Before and during the holidays we had a few (super-awesome-fun) snow days.

Some days had more snow than others :)
December 16th we woke up to a snow day. Clark's school was canceled, and Jason had a day off of work. So imagine my surprise when I opened the blinds to find not a speck of snow on the ground, no ice, no rain, nothing. I never laughed so hard in my life. I remember growing up in Utah and still having to got to school when we got a couple feet of snow,
in fact I don't remember getting any snow days during high school.

The snow did come later that same day, but I don't think we got more than an inch, and the road were still pretty clear. Clark and Harry decided to follow me out in the snow for pictures, can you believe they didn't have any shoes on! Clark loves the snow, as long as he is looking at it from inside the house, he still isn't too sure of playing in it.
Harry, on the other hand, hates everything about it...and really who can blame him.

The day after Christmas is snowed all day, it was amazing. I forgot how much I loved to watch the snow fall. I really think it is so beautiful, and as long as I don't have to drive in it, I am happy. They canceled church for the day, and most places were closed the next day as well. I think our grand total at the end of the day was somewhere between 10-12 inches.

I love how you can see the buried lights under the snow, and how the curb completely disappears.

See, it's so pretty.

I love how bright the sky looks when it is snowing, it lights everything up. I took this pictures close to 11:00 pm,

it should've been pitch black outside, but the sky was so bright.

I wonder when the winter wonder-lust will wear off...

Everyone pretty much thinks I am crazy, but I am finding all this snow, magical.

After the snow stopped we tried to take the boys out to play. Clark got off a few snowballs, but he wasn't into it nearly as much as I thought he would be. Harry was fine as long as no snow touched him, but his poor little hands did get cold after awhile. We need to get some mittens before the next storm :)

I love Harry's look here, like he is trying to be happy and enjoy it, but he is still kinda confused and cold.

Can you believe this is what we were doing this time last year???
Making sand-men, half naked, at the beach.
The boys grew so much this last year.
(And yes, that is snot dripping down Harry's face, ew.)

Clark and I had a lot fun making a snow angels!

Here is our first family SNOWMAN! Or more like a snow-ballerina.
We are definitely going to have to work on our snowman making skills.

2010 Top 10, and 2011 Resolutions.

2011-01-03T13:07:00.003-05:00

We loved 2010!

So much changed, and we got to experience a lot of fun stuff.

We (or rather I, cause I do the blogging) decided to make a top 10 list of our favorite things.

In no particular order, and with a little something from everyone.

1. Going to Nauvoo and Palmyra. I could very well say our whole summer road trip, but these two stops were the most meaningful. This summer was a dream come true in many aspects, for all of us. Clark and Harry got to ride on a REAL train, we got to spend so much time with family, and we made some really memorable stops along the way.
We traveled 6,000 miles this year, from sea to shining sea. Amazing.

2. Our 2 weeks (almost free) vacation in Waikiki, or as I tenderly refer to it, the Long Goodbye. It was so fun to say goodbye to all our favorite places, and spend our last few days in Hawaii laid back, sun tanning, and swimming all day. I miss living Hawaii so much, like I'm sure I always will, but I will treasure those two weeks the most. It was a happy time for our family, even though we were sad, and a little scared for all the changes coming, we had so much fun together.

3. We loved seeing our nieces and nephews this summer, and my Grandparents. Clark LOVED being with his cousins, he still talks about them all the time. We don't get to spend time with our extended family nearly enough.

4. Clark starting school, twice. He loves school so much, and I am sure this was probably one of the highlights of his year.

5. Jason (finally) got promoted to 1st Class this year. It was a big surprise, even though he had been on the list for awhile. I was, and continue to be, so proud of him and all the hard work he does for our family.

6. In April we got a visit from my brother and sister, and both their spouses. It was quite a houseful, for our tiny little two bedroom in Hawaii. But, I loved every minute of it, and so did the boys. I will miss people coming to visit us in Hawaii, it seems no one cares to much for the Boskos in Virginia (I'm joking). We did get a fun visit from our dear friends Carol and Eddie, during Thanksgiving, it was so nice to see them after a long year apart.

7. Harry's Autism diagnosis, while not a sun-shiny happy highlight, was a big part of our year. It really helped us understand a lot of the things that were going on with Harry, and put us on a better path to help him. My eyes were opened, and he changed the way I think about everything. Some days I still wish he didn't have Autism, most days really.... I wish that he was just like the other little boys his age. But as easy and ideal as that sounds, I love him so much, just the way he is, and I would take him anyway I could get him.

8. A new car for Mommy, and new couches!!!! It is so nice to finally have my own vehicle, so I can do my own things during the day. It was such a blessing that we were actually able to find one we could afford.

9. I turned 30! I am glad I got to spend my birthday with my family this year, I wish I could every year. Just the other day I had a 20 year old someone, tell me that I don't look 30 at all... I look more like 27, or 28, you know not "THAT" old.
I never really felt old until that instant, LOL.

10. This was a fun year for movies! My favorite movie of the year, Harry Potter 7 Part 1. I loved it, and I am DYING for the next one. Harry and Clark loved How To Train Your Dragon, Toy Story 3 and Despicable Me. Jason loved Knight and Day, and The Other Guys. Also, Jason and I both really liked Inception. (I know what you are thinking, and no we don't watch too much tv, that is all in your imagination.)
11. (And one more just for kicks.) Meeting Diana Gabaldon in September. What a surreal experience. There is nothing like meeting some one you admire, and look up to so much, a "famous" person. It is like standing outside your body, you can see yourself acting like a total dork, but you can't stop it. She was gracious, kind, and a delight to meet. I hope to see her again someday, maybe when the next Outlander book comes out.

We really were tremendously blessed last year. And I am looking forward to another amazing year with my little family. Jason and I have been talking about some of the goals we would like to work on as a family for this coming year. Most importantly, and at the top of our list, is getting out of debt and working towards financial freedom. We have tossed around the idea of me getting a part time job to help with the bills, so I will start looking and see what I can find. We also are going to continue to attend church more faithfully, and every Sunday. We've been doing so well lately, and I want to make sure we stay on the right path. We are going to start reading scriptures as a family, and make sure we continue having Family Home Evening on a regular basis. I also want to make sure we have dinner every night as a family, gathered around the dinner table. It gets too easy to eat in shifts, and most of the time in front of the tv. I really believe, and have FAITH, that if we do these things, we will grow closer as a family, and closer to the Lord. Which is all I could ever want for my children and family.
I love the feeling of a New Year, and all the possibilities that it offers us. A clean slate to work with, a chance to start over and do better. Better ourselves, better our family.
It's exciting. Happy New Year!

Primary Bound

2011-01-03T12:34:00.001-05:00

Today I was going to write a long sad post about Clark's first Sunday in Primary, as a Sunbeam. I was going to lament about my little baby growing up too fast, and how I am going to miss him every Sunday in nursery (even though I probably won't). BUT, due to some changes in our Primary presidency, everything was a bit disorganized, and it looks like I will have him (and the other kids his age) back in nursery for a few weeks. (They honestly marched the new kids OUT of primary, back into nursery!!!) It makes me sad. I was really looking forward to taking him to his new class, and we've been talking up singing time and Primary for months. He was so ready. I know it is not a big deal, but it was a meaningful step that I had been looking forward too. I will be the first to admit that I am overly sentimental, but he is my first baby after all. Clark and I have been talking about being a Sunbeam a lot lately. He loves to sing Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam over and over when I give him a bath, besides the Alphabet song, it is his favorite. I can't wait for him to start learning all the primary songs, and I just know he is going to enjoy his time there so much. Next Sunday will be better, I know it will all work out, and I am not too worried about it. I'm just disappointed things didn't go my way... as they always should right, LOL. (Maybe I need to add, NOT being such a control freak to my New Years resolutions.)

Harry is doing so well in nursery. Sure, he steals every ones snacks, and he bit a kid today, but it is a great big improvement from what it was last year. He actually plays along side the other children now, and doesn't whine and cry the whole time. We still can't get him to sit through Sacrament Meeting.... he immediately starts to cry as soon as we enter the chapel. I don't know what it is, but every Sunday it is the same thing. If I am lucky enough to get him to sit with me, he will cry during every song. He really hates it when we all sing as a congregation, it would make me laugh if it wasn't so annoying.

It makes me happy that my boys like to go to church. Clark squealed with glee today as we pulled into the church parking lot, "I found it, Mom!, I found it". I didn't know we lost it. I guess it had been a couple weeks since we went to church, since last Sunday was a snow day (for reals). I don't want him to ever grow out of his excitement for church, and learning about Jesus Christ.

Our Happy Christmas 2010!

2010-12-31T12:00:00.012-05:00

You want to know one of the things I love the most about Christmas morning in our house...
Jason always gets up first. He is so excited. Not for his presents, but to see me open mine, and the boys open theirs. He has always been that way, such a good gift giver, so into the giving spirit. It makes me so happy, and it is really sweet. Clark woke up happy, and asked immediately where Santa was, I don't think he realized that Santa was going to bring presents too... he was in for a big surprise.

Harry was a little grumpy at first... but once he got his milkies and opened his special Christmas pretzels, he was a happy baby. We couldn't get him to open any of the presents, but he enjoyed the festivities anyway.

Clark was so into opening presents this year, he tore through all of his so fast, and since Harry didn't care one bit about opening his, we just let Clark open them all.
After every gift Clark opened he would ohhh and ahhh, genuinely thrilled about what was inside.

Jason made me this really sweet Keepsake Chest, it was such a thoughtful gift, and I really really love it.
He and Clark worked on it for weeks, and Jay even took a few pictures of Clark staining it.
I am surprised I never guessed what he was doing all this time.
Now I just need to figure out what I am going to put in it...

Clark was SUPER thrilled when he opened his new Star Wars video game,

I think it was his favorite gift.

He was hugging it, and jumping up and down, mumbling something excitedly about R2D2 and robots.

After all the gifts were opened, Harry kicked back and did some reading.

He examined all the dvds, and read the little books we got him (which he loved).

This is the cute little present Clark got, and wrapped for me. So sweet! Jason promised he wrapped it all by himself. It was a new Harry Potter Lego game, for our Wii. I can honestly say Clark was more excited to play it than I was, I think it is his favorite game... after Mario and Star Wars of-course.

Jason also got me a bubble machine for Christmas too, which the boys LOVED.

Harry could sit and watch the bubbles for hours. It is such a fun idea, and I can't wait to show my nursery kids at church (which is why Jay said he got it for me).

We had our delicious Christmas breakfast, with lots of bacon and hash browns. We played video games and watched movies all day...the boys and I loved Despicable Me. We snuggled on the couch, in our pajamas. We played Star Wars, and trains, and with Daddies new remote control helicopter.

We had a fun day! My favorite kind of day.

Sweet little Harry fell asleep a little early, so tired from his busy day.
We didn't even have time to wipe the chocolate off his face before he passed out.

And as a last Christmas surprise, it started snowing!!! We got our white Christmas after all! I was/am so so happy. A perfect ending to a perfect day, I love the snow.
I hope all of you, my dear family and friends, had a special and fun Christmas.
Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve 2010

2010-12-30T13:00:00.002-05:00

December 24, 2010
Our annual Christmas Eve picture in our pjs.
(I am so glad I figured out how to set the timer on my camera.)

Harry was so confused over the beeping noise, but at least it helped him look in the right direction.

I love my cute little family, and our pj tradition.

Happy Christmas!

Harry checking out his stocking.

I love our Granny stockings, they are one of my favorite things I put out every year.

Granny is so sweet, and nice to make one for everyone in our whole Deimler family.

(She really is the best!)

The boys, not cooperating for picture time.

Clark and Harry

Clark loves putting his arm around Harry, poor Harry really hates it.

Aren't their Christmas pjs so cute?? I got them at Carters, both for $15.

And to think I was going to make our pjs this year, Christmas fabric is way expensive,

and they would've never turned out as cute.

Maybe next year I will try and make them... although I do say that every year.

Harry giving Clark a little Christmas nibble,

he got tired of Clark trying to hug and kiss him... poor Clark.

This year we decided to leave out a treat for the Santa's Reindeer, to help them find our house.

We got a little gift from a friend, with the "reindeer treats", and cute little poem about the treats helping the reindeer find our house (the bag had oatmeal, and candy sugar).

Such a fun idea, and Clark was really into it.

I tried to tell him to just throw the "treats" on the lawn, but he somehow got the idea into his head that we were supposed to be feeding our reindeer lights.

So he made sure all the lighted reindeer got a handful of "rist-mist treats" as he called it (translation=Christmas treats).

Daddy and Harry putting some treats up on the roof for the reindeer.

Our little Christmas tree, after Santa's visit.

A Week In Our Life December 19- December 25

2010-12-30T10:12:00.002-05:00

Sunday night (December 19th), we went Christmas caroling with some friends from church. It was so fun, albeit super super cold. It was nice to be able to spread some Christmasy cheer, and spirit, with our neighbors and ward members. I haven't gone caroling in ages, since I was a teenager, and I quite enjoyed it. Clark and Jason wore their Santa hats, and Clark was really well behaved, he even tried to sing along to a few of the songs. Can't wait to go again next year.

Jason and the boys, waiting to see Santa.

(Thank goodness for camera phones.)

For Family Home Evening Monday night (December 20th), we decided to finally take the boys to the mall to see Santa. Clark was such a good boy, and so excited to see the big man. He waited in line with me for an hour! Jason tried to ask him if he wanted to go and play, but Clark was very insistent on waiting to see SANTA. The mall we went to had a little area the kids could play in before they saw Santa, where it fake snowed. Harry loved it, he rolled in it, tried to catch it in his hands, and just and watched it fall (it was a long long Santa line). Clark, per his usual, was bashful and quiet when it was his turn to meet Santa, and Harry, again-like always, was screamy and mad. We didn't get a cd this year to post our pictures online, but maybe if I remember, I will scan off the picture to share before it 2011.

Harry loving the fake snow!!!

For play group on Wednesday (December 22nd) we decorated Christmas cookies. Or at least tried too. Harry and the kids were much more interested in eating the sprinkles and icing, than decorating the cookies. It was so fun, albeit a little messy :)

Porter helping Clark with the sprinkles.

Harry contemplating the green icing, and whether or not he wants to lick it off his fingers.

Clark needed a bigger spoon, and a cookie to go along with all the icing he ate.

BFFs wearing their Santa hats.

The rest of the week was a blur of Christmasy fun. Late night shopping trips for me and Jason, without the boys (so thankful that we have a couple babysitters here!!!). And an even later night shopping trip for Mom, remind me never to go to Walmart the day before Christmas Eve again, I waited in line for 75 minutes, not fun.

This is my favorite time of year, with my family. We have so many little traditions, and new ones we start every year. Watching National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, and Elf at least a million times. Baking Jason's favorite candied ham on Christmas Eve, and our big (read, lots of bacon) Christmas breakfast the next morning. Wrapping all the kids presents (from Santa) late into the night on Christmas Eve. Driving around looking at Christmas lights, making cookies, and eating copious amounts of Christmas candy (I think Clark enjoyed this part the best). It really is so much fun. This year we even had the pleasant surprise of some Christmas snow!!! I love how happy Jason is around Christmas, he tires so hard to make everything so special for me and the boys. He is such a good Dad. We were definitely blessed this year, in the present department, and we surprised Clark with a Wii (even though it is more for the whole family). We did a lot of talking with the boys this year, about the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of our brother Jesus Christ. We talked about the baby Jesus being born in a manger, and the shepherds following the Christmas star to welcome him. Clark was very interested in it, and spent a whole day asking me when baby Jesus was going to come. I love that he is becoming more teachable. I feel overwhelmed with gratitude for all that I have, temporally and spiritually, my family, my children, my home, my friends. I am so blessed. I am so thankful for this Christmas season, when we can gather together as a family and celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas!

Wordless Wednesday- I love it when it snows.

2010-12-29T13:59:00.000-05:00

December 16, 2010

Just a little snow.

Check out other Wordless Wednesdays here.

Santa!

2010-12-29T13:43:00.001-05:00

Dec. 15, 2010
A couple weeks ago Clark's school had a little Christmas party for the kids, and parents.
It was nice to meet the other parents, and kids, and both boys had a great time.
Even Harry, who sometimes has a hard time with crowds and new situations, had a lot of fun.
We even got a surprise visit from Santa!

Hiding from Santa???

I am not sure why Clark was so shy of Santa, he talks about him constantly,

and never seems shy or afraid of anything.

It took a lot of coaxing, but we finally got him on Santa's lap.

This is his "okay Mom, I am sitting on his lap, are you happy??? and where is my candy" look.

He did manage to whisper to Santa, something about wanting a Star Wars game.

He was very very excited when Santa gave him some new cars. He still calls them his Santa cars.

This is as good as it got for Harry. He had no interest what-so-ever in sitting on some weird guys lap,

especially when there was a room full of toys and treats from him to explore and eat.

I felt bad for this slim little Santa, having to wrestle with 42 pounds of chunky Harry.

Clark so exited to eat his candy cane. My cute little sugar-aholic.

Wordless Wednesday- I love my family.

2010-12-22T14:47:00.005-05:00

November 24, 2010

I love my family.

A Week In Our Life December 12- December 18

2010-12-21T12:04:00.004-05:00

December 18- Jason had a meeting at church today, a meeting I have been hoping and praying for. I am thrilled for the possibilities and blessings this could bring our family. I am proud of Jason for making a good decision! That's pretty much all I want to share now, but I am thankful.... okay, cryptic talk over ;)

Since Clark is starting school tomorrow, he got his special Father's Blessing tonight. Growing up, my Dad gave me, and my brothers and sisters, a special Father's Blessing before the start of every school year. It meant a lot to me growing up, and I know it helped me through my rough times. I am so glad this is a tradition that we can pass on to Clark (and our other kids, to come...), and I know it will help him with his struggles and changes in the next coming weeks and months. I am so proud of the little -BIG- boy he is becoming. He has fallen asleep the past couple nights, with his back-pack and shoes on, just so excited for school to start. He is going to be a very happy boy tomorrow.

We have been thinking more and more about the school Jason was offered, at work. It is still 50/50. We both think the school is a wonderful idea, for his career, and we really want to do it. But so many things are telling us to stay here, at least for now. Things just seem to be falling into place too perfectly to ignore, Clark's school, Harry's therapy classes, church things, friend things... I don't want to mess with a good thing. So unless something (BIG) changes in the next couple weeks, I think we are going to hold off on the school for now, maybe still do it in a year or so, but most likely not in March. (I realized as I type this, I could be eating my words very soon...but that's how life always works out huh???)

Monday morning we woke up to it snowing! Big fluffy white snowflakes. I loved it. And Clark was so excited. He came running into my bedroom, shrieking about a ho-ho show, and Santa, I thought he was asking me to put on a Christmas movie, when he pulled open the blinds and said, "see Mom ho ho snow, Santa snow." He must think Snow and Santa go together, as they should. It really feels wintry with the snow. He was also really excited to go to school. He had no problem getting on the bus, and was very happy when he came home from school. I did wish he would talk a little more, so he could answer all my questions about school. Harry and I enjoyed our first afternoon together, we had a nice quiet lunch, ran some errands and played Lego's. I can't tell if he misses Clark or not, he doesn't seem to care either way. Now that Clark is in school I am going to find a reading group for Harry and me to go to, at the public library.
For FHE tonight we went to see the Christmas lights on the broad walk. They have the board walk at the beach decorated with big light displays. It was fun driving up, and laughing as a family, looking at all the lights. It was dark out, but I do think I saw a little remains of that mornings snow, ON THE BEACH. Snow on the beach, something about that doesn't sound right. Next time it snows I wanna go to the beach :)

Tuesday morning Clark got up so early, asking to go to school. After talking for a bit, I finally convinced him to fall back asleep for an hour. Before falling asleep I asked him if he as excited to ride the bus again, to which he replied, "no bus, sailboat please." "What? You want to ride a sailboat to school?" I was trying hard not to laugh at him. "Yes, a sailboat, night." Then he fell right back asleep, and of course when he woke up he didn't remember the conversation at all, because when I asked him if he wanted to ride a sailboat to school, he looked at me like I was a nut.

Harry that is sure a funny way to sleep!

Harry has been having a hard time sleeping. Late nights, really early morning...tired Mama unable to keep up, you know the drill. He must be going through a growth spurt, although I don't know how much bigger he can get. He already looks like 3 year old, and is bigger than Clark -except in height.

It's been a busy week getting ready for Christmas and keeping up with the boys. We had a fun party, with a visit from Santa, at Clark's new school. Thursday we had an unexpected snow day, with actually very little snow, but it was fun to have Jason and Clark home all day to laze about and have fun. I have been trying to finish my Christmas cards all day, and I will be lucky if I can get them out by this weekend. I don't do anything fancy, so I don't know why it takes me so long every year... maybe it is all the extra little hands trying to "help". Next year I swear I am starting in October to save myself the
stress.

Busy, busy, busy... things here have been so busy, and it is strangely wonderful. I used to get so depressed for days and weeks and months at a time. It was maddening. But here I am so busy I never have time to sit and think about those types of things, dwell over the things I can't change, mope about the things I don't like. (It also helps finally having my own car, and the boys being older.) Today I didn't have a minute to sit still; babysitting for a friend, a hundred errands to run, school things, shopping things, dinner for the missionaries, chores... it is 11:00 pm and I still have to get the boys ready for bed. I didn't have a minute to myself today, and you know what, I am happy. Now, I can't do this everyday, it would kill me, but it is nice to have a busy day. A happy, busy life. Who knew that I would have to leave paradise (Hawaii) to find happiness, and some peace of mind. I still have a few hard days, but they are less frequent, and it is much easier to step out of the fog. By the way, Clark loved having the missionaries over for dinner tonight, the rest of the night he told me he wanted to go on a mission, my heart swelled with joy.

Daddy and Clark fixing my broken garbage disposal. Clark loves helping Jason.

He gets so excited every time Jason gets out his tools to do a project.

On Saturday (December 18th) my friend Trisha came over and we made little Christmas tree ornaments for our playgroup/girls club friends. Aren't they so cute??? It took a couple hours of prep work, and another couple of hours deciding what direction we wanted to take, but I think the end result turned out really cute. I am proud of myself for taking more crafty steps... who knew I had it in me :) I also had so much fun getting to know a new friend.
The longer we are are here and the more people we get to to know, the more I see why we were sent here to Virgina Beach. This was truly an answer to my prayers, only I guess I didn't realize it until now.
I am so thankful for Trisha, for helping me feel welcomed and included. I now help her out with all the Girls Group activities, which include the playgroup, a book club, and girls night outs and more. This was something I never knew how much I needed, and it has helped me get over my shyness, and all the anxiety I feel whenever I go out. Another awesome thing about Trisha (besides her sparkling personality), is her son Porter, Clark's best friend. They love each other, honestly. They are a pair of adorable little trouble makers, and they play so well. Clark really looks up to him, he gets so excited whenever he sees Porter, and asks for him constantly.

Clark and Porter, best friends, making their silly faces.

It makes me so happy the Clark had a special friend too.

Last Night

2010-12-20T14:00:00.000-05:00

I dreamt of Hawaii last night.

It was so vivid. I swear I could feel the warm breeze on my skin while I was standing in our old backyard, looking at the bright colors of the trees. In my dream I was taking people around, giving directions, showing off. I don't know if I was living there, or if I was vacationing, but it felt so nice and calm. Seeing the beautiful ocean and hearing the crash of the waves again... I loved it.

The feeling of home, warm, sunny, breezy, home sweet home.

I am not saying I don't feel at home here, I do... it is taking time, and it is so different.

I woke up cold, really cold, and a little sad.

The novelty of all the cold winter weather here is getting old.

I miss being warm, and tan, and going to the beach.