Goodbye Cribs!!!

Today is a really sad day for me personally - we are officially saying goodgye to the cribs. Another new chapter of our lives yet a sad milestone in a way. The name "Camp Clark" developed because of the way we had their cribs set up in their room. They were placed in a U-shape so they could all see and communicate with one another easily and feel close, like one big happy camp. Now today, we are sending those cribs out the door with other parents-to-be so they may develop new memories of their own. The above photos were the last ones we took of them in their cribs (with Zoe).

To top off the sorrow, LTD have left with their grandparents to spend time in North Dakota for a little over a week while Dave and I begin a home remodeling project. It is SO quiet here and we miss our kiddos badly. Sog, Sob, Sob!!

OK, I need to pull myself together. On the bright side, Dylan is graduating to his very own room, complete with a BIG bed and a fun "cars & trucks" theme. He will LOVE it, or so we hope. They have always shared a room together and we don't want him to feel left out or lonely. But truthfully, the girls chatter alot (rock stars) and end up disrupting his sleep which he tends to need more of. We call him Little Cat, after his dad, Big Cat (likes his sleep and naps). Plus, we want to personalize things more for him (and the girls) versus the unisex theme we have in their room now. Everybody gets their own big beds and we are really playing that up to get them excited about it all. When we all return from ND (we leave a week from today), they will come home to their new rooms and beds.

BUT, Camp Clark lives on, just not technically. Our home will always be one big, happy AND loud camp!!! We wouldn't want it any other way.

Puppy & Prayers

Camp Clark was in high heaven last week as we were asked to watch a dear friend's dog while they travelled for a week. I don't know who was more excited, me or the children. Her name is Zoe and she is such a sweetie pie and was so good with LTD. She never once snipped at them and she doesn't shed so Dave was pretty pleased too (no watery eyes or constant sneezing as in the old Shaq days). The kiddos had so much fun taking her on walks and to the park, feeding her, cuddling her and playing with all her toys. They especially liked when we gave her a bath and she ran around the house afterwards with LOTS of energy and excitment. There were a few bodies knocked over and run down but it was all harmless. The video above captures some of those moments as well as some goofy times and time for prayer at the end of the night. There is something very precious about hearing a child pray and we always savor those moments.

LTD have really been developing some creative imaginations. They are always pretending to be some character like Arial, Flounder, Cinderella, Belle, a fire truck or police car, a naughty black rat, Madeline, cats, dogs, fish, etc. Taylor can carry on conversations with her imaginative friends for hours while Lindsey gives orders on who everybody should be. Dylan is the joker and is always trying to get laughs by doing silly things. It works! We laugh at him all the time. In fact, we have our own comedy show daily. Check out these latest sayings:

Lindsey - "Quiet Mom. Dad's trying to drive" (as I give directions to Dave when driving); "Go on and get! (to her siblings in a joking manner - see video); "Oh my goodness sakes, Dilly!" (to Dylan as he's goofing around); "mom, I need to go to the hop-i-stal, I'm really sick (for "hospital" as she scratches a few mosquito bites)

Taylor - "I like sales" (when I mentioned there was a sale going on); "I want just a baby bit of beer!" (when Dave refuses to give her a chug of his beer); "No, I gotta eat!" (as she bites into her pizza when asked to sing with Dylan and Lindsey at the dinner table); "I have a pocket right here in my underwear" (to slip her quarters in - she's wearing Dylan's boy underwear with the flap in front)

Dylan - "That's scusting!" (for "disgusting"); "No way, Jose" (when Taylor asks for his ball); "I'm growing up now" (as we put big boy underwear on for a trial run); "al-bu-lance!" (for "ambulance" when one speeds by and he shouts at the top of his lungs)

Constant laughs!! Everyday it seems there is always something new coming out of their mouths which is why we really need to watch what we say and do and front of them. Little eyes are upon us and they catch it ALL, little stinkers!!

Gymnastics Spring Celebration

Earlier in June, LTD had their very first gymnastics performance at the Spring Celebration to close out the season until fall. It was SO cute but they were the youngest kiddos there and I think they got a little intimidated by the very large crowd of spectators and all the comotion going on. Regardless, we managed to capture a few fun moments although Dave thinks I am the least talented camera person alive: he's right and I apologize for the unsteady shots :) They were each awarded a gold medal and treat bags full of candy (Sugar Police was NOT happy) and the girls won McDonald's gift certificates which will come in handy for ice cream cones this summer. It was a really fun experience and we look forward to alot more performances in the future, at least for the girls but Dylan really likes it too for now. We suppose that may change as he gets opportunities to try other things like soccer which he absolutely LOVES. His little legs move about 100mph and he can kick that ball super hard and high. It's hilarious. He's also a big fan of basketball, t-ball and football. Oh boy, so much ahead of us!!

Swim Lessons

Lindsey, Taylor & Dylan started a new swim class this week, every day M-Th, for two weeks. It is called "Guppies"; how very appropriate!! It is really nice since Dave and I don't have to get in the pool with them, in fact, we are not even allowed in the pool area except on observation days (Th). They even get to wear their goggles into the pool which is perfect since they turn into fish whenever they put them on. It is SO cute when they get done - I meet them at the entrance into the pool waiting with their warm towels since they are totally shivering. They really like their instructor, Ms. Colleen and talk about swimming constantly. They scoop, kick and go under "all by themselves" and are so very proud!! When they are done, we rush into the locker room and take toasty warm showers which they LOVE. All was great this morning until Lindsey decided to pee in the drain while she was showering. I told her we use the potty for that and she said "Daddy told me it's ok to pee in the drain". Funny thing is, he DID tell her that, in the "private" family shower room at our health club, where nobody else can see us. Mom had to set the record straight today - no more peeing in the shower! What is so funny is that we are typically the entertainment of the morning. Moms just stare and say things like, "oh you poor thing" or "you wear me out just watching you" or "how do you do it?" or the best one today "oh, you're still here - I guess it takes you longer, huh?" You think? Honestly, I answered with a smile and said, "God blessed us with three so we could take more time to enjoy the moments - there are 3x more moments!". Our hectic days of running here, there & everywhere all while trying to beat the clock really makes me stop and think - live in the moment and enjoy each and every one of them we are given! We are never guaranteed tomorrow. So I do!! God is really good.

Adios to May!

Blast from the past; a day on the river

LTD are gearing up for a trip in June to North Dakota to see their grandparents and spend a few weeks there. They keep asking when they get to go to "Elks Pool" and go on "the boat", two of their favorite memories from last summer (2007). SO, I just had to pull up a video clip from that trip to share with them (and you). It was a day on the river in Bismarck and we had Papa & Grandma Clark's boat for the day. Grandma Good got to join in on the fun that day too and taught the kiddos how to play hopscotch on the sand.

May was a great month. The kids finished up their first year of Kids Peace Time (really mom's peace time is what it should be called - 4-1/2 hrs to myself for the week!) and we all looked forward to Mondays because of it. We also finished up CMF (Christian Mom's Fellowship) which I served as Director for the year. I thoroughly enjoyed serving and have grown immensely in my Christian walk because of it. LTD always enjoyed going every Wednesday due to the fun children's program and their teachers (Ms. Pam is in our prayers alot). We also finished up Sunday School until next September; we finished up our ECFE Marvelous Multiples class and plan to try some new classes in the fall instead, and started swimming lessons (Dave and I go in the pool with them for now). Gymnastics ended for the summer the first week in June and we will make sure to post some photos from their "pageant". BUT, most importantly, we made lots of time just to have fun and spent of time outdoors on their trikes (they are just starting to dabble with their big kid bikes with training wheels), had lots of picnics and days at the park, went on a fun family overnight trip to the waterpark, planted flowers and a vegetable garden (yes, they helped and it got a bit messy), spent an afternoon on Lake Harriett and got caught in a horrible rain/hail storm, and spent time with friends (like the 4th birthday party of their friends, Aimee, Ella and Kendrick). Check out the link on this blog page to our KodakGallery site for May's photos to see lots of fun photos.

Cute sayings that happened to come out of the mouths of our babes this month include:

Lindsey - "Mom, that's just diculous! (for ridiculous); "Not a good idea! (when I accidentally left the windows open and it rained)

Taylor - "I'm going to work" (as she gets in Dave's truck and shuts the door and starts steering); constantly sings, "Wa la, my scar, wa la, my scar" (from her new favorite video, Madeline)

Dylan - "Can you believe another red light?" (as we approach our 5th or 6th red light on Cty Rd 42), "I want to bring my cars in my back-cack" (for backpack)

Those are just a few of the ones I actually remember but there are ALOT more - I just don't always write them down and my memory is lacking these days. I hope someday my mom-brain goes away and I get my memory back. God bless and have a fantastic summer!!