New School Year at a New School

Kids went back to school this week. We were all VERY ready for the school year to begin. For one, the kids just need to meet some new kids, make some new friends. But we thrive on routine in this house and with the new move, we needed some sort of order in the house.

Brand New Shiny Kindergartner.

So happy to be going to school, riding the school bus, and making new friends. Of course he's had 2 years of Pre-K under his belt. He'll be one of the oldest in his class since we decided to hold him out a year. Loved every bit of school. Favorite part of school: recess.

Big Exciting 3rd Grader. This one is most looking forward to learning to write cursive. (Although she's been "writing" cursive for a year now in her own way). A little upset that she cant wear flip flops to school, but school policy for PE and recess. Had a great first day, met another little girl at the bus stop who is her new best friend....also a 3rd grader, also named Riley!

Think it's going to be a good year!

The Final Days in Tulsa

“What I’ve experienced is that I can’t know the future. I can’t know if anything that I do will change what happens tomorrow. I can’t know with certainty, but what I do know is if I do nothing, nothing will change.” —James Orbinski (1960-); Former President Of Doctors Without Borders

Where to begin?
Big Summer for us Clarks. Haven't had time to document half of what I wanted but here's a start. Of course lots of big changes...

Of course, the biggest change is our move from Tulsa to St. Louis.

I thought I'd put a few pictures out of our last few weeks in Tulsa. Maybe when I have time to scrapbook again, this can help me remember the final weeks so I can document it all. Our social calendar was booked solid (at times overlapping) for the last 3 weeks.
We had several different send-offs. After as many years as we've been there, we have lots of different groups of friends and family to say goodbye to.

My farewell DDD Dinner Club. The girls loaded me up with a ton of Tulsa gear for our new place, including the "I Heart Tulsa" shirt I'm wearing. REALLY gonna miss these gals and our "Girls Night Outs". I just wish I would have thought to grab a group picture.

Wade and some of our oldest TU friends

I've been a part of the most fabulous book club for the last couple of years. Our group sponsored the 50th Anniversary of To Kill a Mockingbird event at the Circle Cinema in Tulsa, just before we left.

Saw Eclipse (back to back nights on opening weekend with one of my besties...Jennifer). Saw it one night with our men, then next night with another girlfriend of ours. Loved it both times. Would have gone back for a third if we just had the time. Jen snuck some wine into the theater, which we drank from sippy cups. We may both be moms now, but we still have some crazy fun nights together, just like back in the day. We stayed out way too late that night, really felt it the next morning.

Nicole and I met the day before school started when our oldest were entering kindergarten. We live close enough that we share a bus stop and for 3 years we've been watching out for each others kids. Lucky for us our husbands really get along too (they even got matching "his and his" handguns together). This night we went to the gun range and out for margaritas at one of our favorite places.

I've been taking guitar lessons for the past few months and Mary and I gave an impromptu John Denver performance, there's even a video floating around on-line. Mary is a fabulous teacher, we're hoping to continue via skype once we get settled. The stars were aligned just right...Brad had 2 guitars, the girls were goading us into playing, and the wine was plentiful.

(My book club...like English Class, but with wine) (a few not pictured)

Squeaked in a whirlwind trip to Columbus, OH for a family reunion. Got to spend a few nights with my brother Todd and his family.

Me with my nephews. Garrett did NOT want to be held, but Aiden couldn't have been more loving. He and JP got along like peas and carrots.

Our final morning in Tulsa, we had a donut feast with our family before taking off on for the next chapter in our story.

No one I'd rather be on this journey with.

“There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” —Nelson Mandela (1918-); Former President Of South Africa