I'm bugged...

Sarah recently mentioned this and I gotta tell you, this really bothers me too. I usually prefer to blog about my family, but this is still getting buzz.

Darin always writes about "world-ly" issues, so now it's my turn.

September 11th...the worst day, arguably, in our history (I was not alive during Pearl Harbor, so cannot speak to that). One would think most of the media coverage would be about remembering what happened 6 years ago, or the servicemen (and women) over there - which currently includes one of my brothers. Between my brothers this is the 5th deployment to Iraq for my family...NOT including my cousins or cousin in law (also currently in Fallujah).

But, far and away the "story du jour" is Britney Spear's performance at the VMA's.

I did not watch the VMA's, but you cannot turn on the TV without seeing the clips of the show. It's no secret the girl is going through some major issues. BUT everyone has been negatively commenting on her weight...and while she does not look like she did at 16 (do you?) She did have 2 babies within 1 year of each other and I think looks pretty darn good...this pic to left is from the actual performance in question (stolen directly from Sarah's blog).

Do I think she's a role model...no.

Do I think she's a good singer...no.

Is she making good choices...clearly not.

I've never been a fan, but give the girl a break.

Criticize her performance...she lip synced, forgot the words, clearly hadn't practiced her routine. But it's out of line to criticize her weight.

This is the reason so many girls have self-image issues.

And the reason as a mom of 2 girls, I have to say, enough already.

And while I'm on the topic...what is with Entertainment Tonight's nightly reports about baby "Dannilyn's" upcoming 1st birthday. No disrespect, but does anyone really care? Did they follow Lisa Marie like that after Elvis died? I don't think so - and Anna Nicole was a playmate...not an American Icon. Give it a rest.

Just to sneak it in...in better news, Riley received her AWANA vest last night (which she had to earn for learning her bible verses). She lost her 1st soccer game (of which they don't keep "official" scores at her age, but you know all the parents keep a tally in their heads). They got creamed (like 16 to 3)...I guess 5 year olds don't have a "10-run" (or 10-goal in this case) rule. Although another mom and I were joking about how the other team was "funded". They all had matching shorts and socks (coach included). (Riley is the pig-tailed one in the white shirt)Cade is now not eating the crust on his sandwiches (the little booger)...but he is progressing with the potty-training. He goes to the potty about 80% of the time. He still wears a diaper for naps and bed-time. Brooke is becoming a little screamer (happy, mad, doesnt' matter) and very independent.

And I am getting away for the first time by myself. My scrapbook store has their annual retreat this weekend in Gore, Oklahoma (I am 1/2 working, 1/2 playing)...I will work a couple of hours each day (to pay my room and board) and will scrapbook the rest of the time. Woo Hoo!

Rocky Mountain High...and still coming down.

We went to Colorado over Labor Day this year. Emily was getting married (on Cade's Birthday to be exact) so we decided we'd take the kids and make a family vacation out of it.

(picture to left was taken at Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Forest)

Emily got married in Estes Park...talk about a beautiful place. Colorado is pretty, but there's something truly special about Estes Park. Emily got married outdooors, in front of Lake Estes (which is in front of the mountains)...and it was the perfect day, with an incredible backdrop.

We had an unbelievable trip. First, we spent a day in Colorado Springs and hiked all over the Garden of the Gods.

Spent a day in Denver and toured the Museum of Nature and Science. I'd never seen a real dinosaur skeleton before (and they had MANY)--they also had a whale skeleton-which was pretty crazy, if you haven't seen one. We were also able to spend some time with Wade's uncle while we were there too. Missed seeing Mimi (who just happened to be coming to Tulsa that weekend)...what are the odds?

Spent the next couple of days in Estes. We just ran from one thing to the next, we didn't really ever stop. One of the highlights was "playing" with the Elk that came right up to us in town. (Seriously, came right up to us. Wade thought he might stick his head in the stroller and take a nibble on our sweet Brooke).

Another highlight (and my favorite) was taking the "gondola" up in the Rockies.

Wade and I had a mini-argument over this. It went something like this:

I'm driving and he says, "we should turn here"

(I continue to drive past where he tells me to turn).

"Wade, that is not where we turn...that turn is for the tram that takes you up the mountain."

"Jenny, that IS where we are GOING".

"Wade, you said we said we were going to ride in a gondola".

Wade replies, "that is the gondola".

"What??? I was thinking we were going to a river, lake, etc..."

to which Wade replies..."Jenny, we are NOT in Venice."

Now that is silly to me, but I guess the Coloradoans call ski-lifts and this type of thing - gondolas. I guess, when in Colorado....

Now at the top they had a ton of chipmunks that were used to being fed. They'd crawl right up in your hand and stuff their little cheeks with as many peanuts as you'd give them.

This may have been the kids favorite thing (other than the pools at the hotels, which if you ask...they'll tell you was their favorite).

We looked at a little real estate while we were there. I swear Wade still wants to make an offer on one that we saw. I think I could live there (at least until the weather turns cold...then I'll be praying for Tulsa's winter again). I'm not a big fan of snow...

Maybe we need to vacation to Maui or St. Lucia again...now there is a place I'd never leave.

But Estes Park (and our other adventures in Colorado) sure were fun!

But now, I need a vacation from my vacation.

Birthdays and Births...

So much has happened since I last posted, So I'll break it up into a couple of posts...

Brooke and Cade had their Birthday Party.

We had a ton of fun. I attempted to make my mom's famous spaghetti (and I did alright), it did taste good...but it did not taste like my moms. I followed the recipe exactly...but she must improvise, which I didn't do this thyme (ha, get it?)


All the kids get their very own chair on their 1st birthday and Brooke is no exception... (although it still needs monogrammed). The chairs are so cute, but darn it, if they don't take up a lot of room. Oh well, she loved it and that's all that matters.




We have also been blessed with a new nephew, who was born on Wade's parents anniversary (pretty good gift)...His name is Clark and I do not have a picture yet, so I'll put up one of the kids with their Papa, now they have to share him. (For those wondering, he is not Clark Clark as some have thought...Katie does have a different last name now...)


Cade is 3 now, and the full-out potty-training has begun. Our doc recommended instead of rewards (which we have been using, with little success), to have it be a "rite of passage". (Is that spelled right? Should it be rite or right? Anyway... she had a talk with him and explained, "Cade, now that you are three, you GET to use the big boy potty". That tactic may work with some, but mine are a bit stubborn -- they must get that from their dad ;)

So we are now trying what worked with Riley, which we call the "bye bye diaper" method. (Which is much harder on the mom by the way...that is why I'm attempting it last). He has some fancy "Cars" undies (of which he only wants to wear the Lightning ones). "They" say that kids don't like to be dirty/wet so they will use the potty. Not Cade. Every 30 min to an hour I'll ask and take him to the potty and several times he has had wet undies. He even pooped it up big-time on a playdate (I mean...diarrhea style, 1/2runny 1/2 chunky...) and didn't tell anyone. We heard little Jack blame it on his sister, "Hannah! Did you go poo poo in your diaper...it's Stinky!" (which Nicole and I both heard and fooling ourselves into thinking it was "contained" in a diaper...we didn't bother to check right away)...

Oh the joys of motherhood...

367 days old

Brooke had her 1st Birthday on Wednesday. My baby is officially not a baby but a toddler now. Don't have a lot of time to post a new entry but wanted to get a few pics out of her big day.

Party is this weekend (Jointly with Cade, who turns 3 in a few days).






I DO NOT want to be a birthday princess right now!










What in the world is that? Hey guys, a little help?






What do you mean I have something on my face?

The Big Yellow Monster

Monday was hard. Very hard.

I felt like heart was ripped out of my chest.

Riley got on as if she'd been doing it for years...no fear, no looking back.

It was really rough on us, I had knots in my stomach all day. Cade kept asking for his "Wy-wee", which was hard. They are best buds...Mommy is not as good a playmate.

They like to rip off the sheets and make forts, mommy likes the beds to stay made...but just for today we did what we could to make it easier for both of us.

We made her cookies for when she got home. I know it would have been easier for me if I had taken and picked her up.
The bus didn't drop her off until 4:15!

Yesterday and today have been easier but I don't even think her going to kindergarten all day is the problem. We definitely stay busy...I think the bus is the hardest part.

Wedding Weekend

Heath and Pearl got married this past weekend!!!

Although a tad hot (expected in August), otherwise a Perfect day. They are really happy together. Everything turned out beautiful and the reception was a ton of fun. The kids danced the night away, and although we had all 3 there, we managed to close the party down.

("You've Lost that Lovin' Feeling" moment!)

Riley and Cade were both in the wedding (along with our niece Kate' and nephew Aiden) and I have to say, all the kids were adorable. I didn't really get any good ones with all the kids, there's always one that is looking away, crying, turned around, etc... Hopefully Lori or Annette captured one.

Although it is a bit sad. It's the last wedding, all the Wilson's are married off now. But I guess the kids will start a new round of weddings in about 20 years. In the meantime, Kindergarten awaits...

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.