She's a walkin'

So our biggest news is that Brooke is walking. Well, she's not really walking yet, but she has taken her 1st steps. She takes about 4 steps before she tumbles. It's so much fun to watch that. I love when they start walking...she gets so excited with herself that she forgets what she's doing, throws her hands in the air and falls face down on the ground...then lifts her head up with the hugest grin.






Grandpa got a finch feeder for Father's Day...but because he is a half a world away, we are using it until his return to the states. The kids love watching the birds eat upside down.










These pictures are from SuperHero night at Chick-fil-A. Riley doesn't really have a proper costume, so she went as Tinkerbell, and I'm not sure who Brooke is supposed to be, but we got this baby mask there, and we couldn't stop laughing at her in it. (It was much funnier in person)

Evolution of a house

Our house when we left in 2004



July 9th...coming down

July 16th...gone




July 18th...framing



July 23rd...completly framed, decked

The old SC gang

We went to St. Charles after celebrating the 4th in Tulsa. Our last trip home was cut short and we wanted to hang out with the family some more & Christy was coming in from Boston so we planned our visit to coincide with hers.
We got some of the old gang together one night at TrailHead and just like the "good old days" had the best time together. Partied like Rockstars. I truly have the greatest friends.
I don't know where the time goes when we go back, we run from one thing to the next and I never get to see everyone. Guess we'll have to go back again real soon.
(Me and my sweetie)

Here's a pic of me and the kids on the tram at Grant's Farm. (Had to sneak the kids into the blog, of course.)

Our 4th

The 4th is always fun, and after 21 straight days of rain (not constantly, but everyday at least had a little) the sun came out and the rain stayed away. Our neighborhood always has a parade (led by a city firetruck) followed by a cookout at the pool. This year the fire truck hooked up to a hydrant and let the kids play, it was so cool...the kids had a blast. During safety breaks at the pool the bouncy was full of soaked and slippery kids. That night we did fireworks in our driveway.
Had a hard time narrowing down the pictures so here's a brief slide show of the festivities....

Uncle Heath

Uncle Heath came to visit 2 weekends ago. He's lived in Oklahoma for what, 4 months and we've seen him twice. Once as he was moving down and stayed with us while en route to "the City". Again as he realized his time was nearly over and he better make another visit before he moves to KC (which is happening today).

I often think about what it would be like if we moved back to St. Louis...would I see my friends all the time? Truth is, I'd probably see them just as much or less than I see them now. Everyone is busy. Everyone has their own things going on. Many of my friends are still single or married w/o kids...very few have multiple kids...just Christine (I think). Jess-you don't count since you're in Jefferson City.

Had intended on updating with 4th of July pics and the old SC gang -- but Mom duties are calling as one has been screaming at me since I fired the computer up a few minutes ago. Gotta run.

Magic Solution

Would you pay $90 for this...


What's in it you might ask? I can hear my dad saying, "It better be gold". No, but the #1 most useful product to a mom of 3. Cleaning solution. A salesman came to the door and showed me a jillion uses for it. He cleaned rust off the driveway, a spot out of the carpet, the sides of my tennis shoes... It can be used as windex, laundry detergent, stainless steel cleaner, you name it. You dilute a small portion (40-1) with water and you have a truly all purpose cleaner. But what sold me on it was that he took out a sharpie, drew a line on a towel, sprayed the cleaner on and it came out. Hopefully, I'll be set on cleaning products for the next several years.

Getaway weekend

We've been busy. Take it from me, when a house burns down, there's lots of (for lack of a better word) crap that has to be taken care of. They are starting demolition today. They are now taking it down to the slab and rebuilding. That's good, I wouldn't buy a house that had a fire, now it will be a new build.

Our friends, Adonis (yes, that is his real name) and Hayli, got married this weekend.

So we left all the kids (1st time we've left Brooke overnight) and drove to Table Rock Lake for the wedding. Hayli was the most beautiful bride, it was a wonderful wedding plus we got to hang out with all our old friends from school.

Luckily Timmy married within my circle so I had a friend there too, but even if I didn't these guys are always fun and don't "censor" their stories or actions in front of me. I can take it...I did grow up with 3 brothers. Walking through the hotel the first night there, we got chased down from someone who thought Wade was Wes...which is not uncommon. I don't know, I just don't see it (other than their both shorter than the other guys, same build, bald, etc...).

Just for them

I was feeling like I had been neglecting the kids a bit with everything that has been going on so I decided they needed some special attention. I was pretty concerned about how Brooke would do, but I took all THREE to a movie. We have this theater in Jenks that plays 2nd run movies (matinees) for moms/caregivers and their children. We saw Ice Age and surprisingly we got to stay for the whole movie. I had told the kids that if Brooke acted up we'd have to leave, but she did great. We had a couple of cries, but the great thing about it is that this movie is filled with little kids and the theater is never quiet and nobody minds if there is a little talking/fussing. Brooke is such an angel...so laid back and content, just an angel baby.

The next day I took all THREE to the pool. Now, I'm dreading every minute of this. Riley and Cade are used to the big pool. But I explain before we go, we have to stay in the baby pool because I don't have enough arms to hold everyone in the big pool. We had a blast. Cade and Riley played tug-of-war with Brooke in her inner tube. Riley had her mission to pick up every rollie pollie and try to unroll them (poor things). They wanted in the big pool, but they were very good about not whining about it.

I guess its just like anything...you have to just do it. I used to wonder how I'd go to the grocery store with 2 kids...you just do it. Same with three. You don't have any other choice. You just get it done.

Saturday I devoted completely to the kids. I didn't pay bills, run errands, clean house, check email or any other normal day task. I did call my best friend Christy, but it was her birthday and I called during the kid's naps...but that is the only thing I did for myself all day (and I took pictures to scrapbook later, so I guess I did a couple things for me) . We just hung out and played together all day. Wade was in "the City" (Oklahoma City for those non-Okies) for Adonis's bachelor party so it was just me and the kids. We ate donuts, played in the sprinkler, rented movies, ate popcorn, went to Pizza Hut for dinner. Not the most nutritious day...but a day they will remember.

FYI...Riley lost another tooth, Brooke got another one (both in the same spots that Riley lost hers in...kinda eerie.) Riley and Cade started gymnastics...not sure there's anything much cuter than a little curly headed girl in a leotard, except maybe a bunch of little girls in their leotards.

One more picture from the Lou...

One more picture from the Riverboat. Not the greatest picture, especially the 3 squinty ones in the back. But Mommy photographer is rarely in any photos, so we decided to buy this one from the dock. And the 2 little ones in front just looked too darn cute.

Whirlwind couple of weeks

Lots has happened at the Clark homestead the last 2 weeks both good and bad. So I'll just dive right in...
We decided to go to St. Louis for Memorial day and Wade was able to get Friday off, so we left late Thursday night and thought we'd have a nice solid 3 days there as opposed to leaving Tulsa Friday, have Saturday there, come back home Sunday which we've done a hundred times. Anyway, Friday morning we head down to the Arch and took a riverboat cruise on the Mighty Mississippi on an old paddle wheel boat (The Tom Sawyer)...you know, the ones we used ride when it was Field Trip day (or Tiger Timeouts...for my SC Friends reading this). Then after naps and met up with my niece Kate' and Annette and took the kids to see Shrek 3. About 20 minutes into it Wade stepped out of the theater never to return. Come to find out, one of our rental houses back in Tulsa was on fire. It was actually our old house, our 1st house, where 2 of our kids were born. It was 6:00 on a Friday of a holiday weekend so there's not much that could be done til Tuesday. So, that night we met my friends out in St. Charles and tried to forget about what was waiting for us when we got back to Tulsa. Had a great time with my friends...a little too much fun--proving once again you can take the girl out of St. Chuck, but you can't take St. Chuck out of the girl. Went to bed feeling fine, spent the next day wishing I had just one less drink. Our trip was cut short and we had to return to Tulsa much early than expected. By the way, the house is a total loss.

Other notables this past 2 weeks...Riley lost her 1st tooth! What a big girl...cannot believe it. But Brooke must have found it cause she's got her 1st tooth now! Cade got his summer haircut, which will hopefully grow out in time for Uncle Heath's wedding. Riley had her last day of school, the pool opened...how do you take 3 kids that don't know how to swim to the pool at the same time? I taken Riley and Cade so far, which I can manage, but I need pointers with the 3rd, I only have 2 arms. We started bathing all the kids at the same time. Brooke has until this point bathed solo, for her own protection...although crowded and a bit too rowdy for her at times, she loves every second of it. We all went to visit the famous "Big Blue Whale" which is a Route 66 landmark and about 10 minutes away from church. At church on Sunday, Riley and Cade learned about Jonah and the Whale so we though it'd be a great time to go visit (and in my 12 years here, I had only seen it one other time a few months ago on my way to the Claremore scrapbook store).I'm typing all of this beneath 2 beady eyes of Wade's latest hunt which is now mounted above my shoulder. It's kind of amazing to me that I have had 2 sconces that I have wanted hung for at least 4 months now and they are still not on the wall, but the very night this deer comes home it gets hung up. Hmmm? Reminds me of one of my favorite commercials which I am going to try to post here...

Today I ran over a turtle. I have seen more turtles on the road this spring than in the last 5 years combined. Today, last minute, I saw the turtle crossing the road and in an effort to miss him, I tried to swerve to have him between my tires when I crushed the bejesus out of him. I heard his poor little shell crush beneath me, I felt so bad about it I almost cried. And while my hand is still over my mouth in shock that I killed this turtle, Bohemian Rhapsody comes on the radio... "Momma, just killed a man, put a gun against his head...pulled the trigger now he's dead"...fitting song in that moment. Just enough to make me feel worse, until I remember karaoking that song with my friends back at 3 Frogs in college. Which really is a great song to karaoke due to audience participation.
Anyway, I digress...Hope everyone is enjoying their last few days of spring. It's hot here...but it is Oklahoma...that is what we expect here.

Kids say the darndest things...

Last night, I was cleaning out one of our drawers, it had this weird keychain thing that Wade bought me when I was pregnant. It's this pregnant woman with a baby floating in her belly, he thought it might help the kids understand how Brooke was in mommy's belly. So, last night Riley got a hold of it and really excitedly asks, "Mommy, can you get that for me when I'm pregnack (which is how she says pregnant)". Laughing I said "yes". Looking up at me she adds, "if your're still alive".

Gosh, thanks Riley...nice thought!

Breakfast in the Bathroom

I had such a lovely Mother's Day, it had to be the best one yet. Riley's school had a program called "Muffins with Mom" where all the moms came up to the school and had muffins (which I made) and the kids sang a few songs (imagine Bingo song here: "I love her and she loves me, and mommy is her name-o...M--O--M-M-Y...) and she made me a book (hand drawn illustrations) of what her and mom do together and the staple handprint butterfly. My favorite is the picture inside my card...our family...diapers on the 2 youngest and all!

Saturday we went to Rooster Days, parade in the morning, went home for the kids to nap, grabbed dinner, and back to the fair. I'm glad we ate before we got there, a) because the food is super fatty and b) is extremely overpriced. Cotton candy was $4.00 (which I had to buy anyway, because who can pass up cotton candy) but jeez, it's air & sugar.

On Sunday, Wade and the kids made me breakfast in the bathroom. I think it was supposed to be breakfast in bed, but that's what happens when you're up before your kids. So as I'm getting ready for church they brought me in some freshly baked blueberry muffins. They also splurged and got me a beautiful pair of earrings. After church, we met Wade's parents, aunt and uncle, grandma and grandpa out at the Golf Club of Oklahoma for brunch.

It was a gorgeous day, nice and relaxing. I had tennis that evening (we lost) but I got seated as the #2 on my team, so I was pretty thrilled with that. I guess growing up with nothing but boys made me pretty tough and sporty. (I can hear Wade laughing...and Chad, and Todd, and Heath).

May Day!

So I joined the tennis league at church and we started this past Sunday. We didn't play a single match...just ran through drills and got a sense on how to match people up (talent wise). It's now Tuesday and I am SO sore. I haven't touched my racquet since I was on the tennis team in high school. I gave it up after my sophomore year so I'm estimating that is about 15 years ago. Wow, I'm rusty.

For those that log on just to see my kiddos, I won't disappoint...
How cute are they?

Brooke is completely crawling now. Up on all fours... and getting quick.
Happy May Day!

Better Late than Never Update

Lots has happened since I last got on to update. Quick version is everyone has been sick. Most noteably Riley who had to spend a couple days in the hospital hooked up to an IV for dehydration. Of course this would all happen when Wade is out of town--just our luck. But crisis is over, she is well again - although still complains that her stomach hurts about once a day. But as a girl I always had tummy aches so maybe its a genetic thing.

Our big news...Brooke is Crawling. Which is a huge milestone in the life of a baby. Her first sign of independence. She's not very good at it yet...thank goodness. It is really hard to baby-proof a house when you have small children. Cade's favorite toys are his little cars (which have little parts/tires that could obstruct an airway). Brooke's crawl is more of a scooch anyway. She'll be on her belly and stretch her little arms as far out in front of her as they'll go, then she scooches her little butt up to meet them...she looks like a little inch worm. Its way cute.

Here's one of my favorite pictures of the girls:

Other noteable sibling news in our world: Heath and Pearl have set a wedding date (August 4th) which dad will make it home for. Todd and Lori have found the perfect house in Ohio and close at the end of the month. Katie and Wesley just found out they are going to have a little boy (yea!)

I will once again try to resume updating the blog once a week (that is if everyone can stay healthy)...cuz it's rough on mom when everyone is sick.

Joke of the Day

My friend Christine sent out a cute email and this was one little joke from it.
Thought you might enjoy, it made me laugh (of course I can totally see Riley as this little girl)...

"Dear Lord," the preacher began with arms extended and a rapturous look on his upturned face, "without you we are but dust..."
He would have continued, but at that moment one very obedient little girl (who was listening carefully) leaned over to her mother and asked quite audibly in her shrill little girl voice, "Mommy, WHAT is butt dust?"

Church was pretty much over at that point.

She's Five!

Riley turned 5 on Friday. On Friday we had our little family celebration. She got a brand new "big girl" bike.

We had her party on Saturday. Her party started at 4 and about 3 0'clock she says to me, "I NEVER want to have a birthday party like this again! It is WAY too long." Translation: party earlier in the day next time-ok Riley, mental note taken. It turned out to be a gorgeous day, we had invited all her little friends from school, so we spent most of the party outdoors.

Riley had a blast!!!

I did not realize Cade was doing this...(until I saw these pictures, but there are several of him licking and chomping on the cake like this...rotten little dude). Hope I didn't get that piece.

Uncle Heath (living so close) was able to make it up just for the party-which was way fun too. Cade did not want to take his picture so this is his best fake smile. I swear he might be the funniest kid ever.

We had a wonderful day. Riley is still talking about her party. Five years old...what a big milestone. It's flown by. Soon we'll be planning the wedding...wonder if she's gonna want a bouncy at that too! :)

A snapshot of Beantown!

It's been a week since we've been back from Boston. Life got in the way of me updating the blog, but I got a few minutes (thanks to the Wiggles) and thought I'd put out a few pics from our trip. Man, it was fun. We had a "late season Nor-Easter" roll through our first "full" day there.

We're lucky we flew in the night before. But it dumped about 10 inches of snow on us that day...just happened to be the day we had slated for "touring" the city. We did walk around the Common area and saw some famous sites. But because Brooke was with us the bitter cold and heavy snow led us to do a great "driving" tour of some other spots (Harvard Square in Cambridge, Fenway Park, Beacon Hill etc...).

(US in front of the Green Monster)

How lucky were we to have a native Bostonian to navigate around the city. TJ was awesome, he knew how to get EVERYWHERE. I'm from St. Louis and you get me in the "city" and I have no idea how to get anywhere unless it's right off of 70. We had lunch in little Italy. Before we left, we were told we had to have cannolis at "Mike's Pastries" in Little Italy. Our Boston friends said the same thing...so we bought a couple of cannolis and a WHOLE Boston Creme Pie. (Keep in mind this was my 3rd Boston Cream Pie of the trip (including a Boston Creme Donut) and we just arrived yesterday afternoon).
That night we were snowed in and it was absolutely our favorite night of the whole trip. We stopped by James Hook on our way out of the city and picked up some (as TJ would say) LOBSTAHS. Check out the size of this creature...

It is the biggest Lobster I have ever seen. His claws are bigger than my head. His tail is curling up a bit, so you cant see exactly how long he is, but he was HUGE! It weighs as much as Brooke!

I probably have more pictures of this night than any other. Lots of pictures like this... Letting the lobsters have a bit more fun in their short life left.

(How an Okie eats a lobster...sandwich)

We had a blast. Taylor and Brooke liked each other...but aren't at the age where they really interacted a whole lot...except to steal each other's binkys (right out of the mouth).

And St. Patty's Day...good lordy. Claire (TJ's step mom) watched the girls for us so we had a "free pass" to get a little crazy. We started off by touring the Samuel Adams Brewery

(which is in no way even close to the Anheuser Busch tour)

but the "sampling" at the end was far better than Busch's tasting. It was really cool. Then we had to visit some Irish Pubs...it IS St. Patrick's Day, right?

Kate Bosworth was at the booth behind us. You may be asking "who is that?"...we didn't know either-but she's an actress that was in the last Superman movie and I guess she dated Orlando Bloom. She's actually very pretty. The bouncer rattled off a few other films but I didn't recognize many of them.

We ended up at the legendary Cheers...which I really just had to see (and which looks nothing like the 'set' of Cheers from the inside).

Us doing Cheers! in Cheers... And Wade and I with the gang:

We spent our last night in Providence, RI. We spent some time at Providence Place and toured some of the old homes (we're talking early 1800's here)...the kind of history you dont get in the mid-west (or southwest depending on your opinion of where Oklahoma is). We drove the harbor and got out to look at a lighthouse. We really wanted to do a lighthouse tour while we were there but the weather and time of year just didn't cooperate. Guess we'll just have to go back in the summer.

Beacon Street and Legal Seafood are a must if you ever go to Boston. Legal (hands down) had the best Boston Creme pie...I should know, I gained 5 pounds in my quest to find it.

Great trip, great food, great friends, great fun...

Dedicated to Heath and Pearl

Heath and Pearl came through Tulsa on their way back to Kansas City (from San Antonio) this past weekend. They complained about their "lack of mention" in the blog so here is an entire entry dedicated soley to them. No more complaining now...

We really had a great time. Last night we went to see Sugarland at that Brady Theater. This was part of my b-day present from Wade and (bonus) Heath and Pearl went with us. Although they were not as "familiar" with their music, it was a great show.

We also took them to the "Center of the Universe"---which yes, is in downtown Tulsa... and some of you thought Tulsa didnt have anything to offer.

Other highlights of the trip were the kids getting to spend quality time with Uncle Heath and the soon to be Aunt "Puulll". Riley is getting better with the name. Last time we were with them she was "Perch" so she is improving. We ate at this German restaurant we've been wanting to try for a while now, & we all got different things so we could taste a bunch of different stuff. I can't pronounce what Pearl got, but we all agreed hers was the best. Heath got the best dessert...German Chocolate Cake (even though the waitress tried to talk him out of ordering it).

Again, I beat everyone at Risk...but what's new there? I AM Grand Master Champion after all, even though I'm the only one in the family that HASN'T been through military training. Even Pearl is in the National Guard...but we'll give her (this one time) a free pass since it was her first time playing.

We're leaving Wednesday to drop off Riley and Cade with Grammy. They are going to have so much fun with her and their cousins Aiden, Kate', & Kelsey (their aunts and uncles too). Brooke is going with us to Boston. I'll let you know how Boston is....Lets pray for some unseasonalby warm weather there.

See you soon Christy!