Clark Talks

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.

A Mini Jason

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.

Sports???

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.

Sorry Mom, Sorry.

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. 

Potty Training For The Win!

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

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.

Naked time... at church????

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.

Just Tark

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-Little Clark

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.

Stitches

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.

Easter Weekend

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.

"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

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.

Wordless Wednesday-Bath Time for Little Pirates

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

Being Dr. Jones

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!

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- I miss Hawaii

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

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.

Cookie Robots

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.

Primary Bound

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.