Simple Joys

We had a FABULOUS weekend! Lots going on between sledding, soccer, swimming, a dance performance, sunday school/Bible study/church, birthday parties, mom & daughter spa date for a pedicure, birthday party at Lifetime, play date at a Kindergarten friend's home and last but definitely not least..........notes from children.

LTD love to read, write and color. Between activities, you can always find them at our kitchen island or in my office/schoolroom creating "something" which we really need to post more pictures of. Dave and I get such a kick out of the notes we receive and the lovely art masterpieces. They all put so much of their hearts into each creation which have completely taken over our fridge and our walls/doors. Here are just a few:

Lindsey dreaming of another trip to DisneyWorld

Ready for our trip to TX

Taylor's birthday card to Vanilla (her stuffed dog)

Inside the card

Dylan's rules on his bedroom door

#1 - No babes coming in my room with diapers

#2 - I can ???

#3 - No whining in my bedroom

A note on his door after a small quarrel

Taylor, I am mad at you and you too, Lindsey

I don't invite you in my bedroom

No people allowed

Camp Clark Conversations

This weekend as we got to share some relaxing, quality family time together, we realized that we have really slacked off in keeping our blog updated and keeping up with recent videos and photos. Shame on us!!! So I made a personal pact to snap out of it and MAKE the time. What better way to recharge than to recap some of the sayings around Camp Clark we have heard over the last month or so. We are including a few photos from our lovely fall to help inspire us that warm weather is indeed around the corner. At least it will be when we head to Texas in a few weeks to visit Papa and Grandma Clark!

We love our daddy...

...and our mama too!
Camp Clark posing outdoors

Lindsey

As mom is trying to get them all to try oysters on crackers and Dylan is NOT interested, Lindsey says, "come on Dylan, live on the edge!"

I pointed out where I used to live as we were driving by one day. Lindsey asked "did you know dad yet?" and I said no, that it was before I met him. She candidly replied "oh, so dad was just another guy with curly hair back then."

"When you cut onions, they make my eyes soggy."

"I don't want pancakes anymore. There is too much wheat gluten in them."

"Taylor, you should listen to me because I am bigger and I know better."

At bedtime, Lindsey is stroking Taylor's hair as we pray. She leans over and kisses her on the cheek and says, "ok little girl, let's get you to bed. Say goodnight to your children."

"I can't help it mom, my butt keeps fartin' today."

Dad instructs them to clean their playroom and sets the timer. Lindsey says, "stop doing this to us. Stop the timer now!"

Taylor

In a public restroom, I asked Taylor if she had gone bathroom yet. She said loudly, "yah, but not a bad poop, mom. It actually looks like a hot dog."

One morning as I give her a kiss good morning, she lights up and says "mom, I am SO full of love today....here feel (as she places my hand on her heart)."

"I don't want pancakes today because they make Lindsey fart."

One morning at breakfast Taylor says "I think I'm allergic to liberals." Lindsey adds, "I don't think Obama knows God." Dylan chimes in "Yah, I don't think Obama will be going to heaven."

Dad asks who Taylor wants to pray for tonight and she says, "I wanna pray that Obama gets outta here."

"Oh, I just LOVE all my children. I am SUCH a good mommy, aren't I."

"Mom, will you sleep with me? Just until my eyes close ever so slightly?"

Dylan

"Know why all the girls at school like me? They like my face."

"Dad, you look sassy today!" (as dad is dressed in a suit to usher for church)

"I got a bad paper cut at school. It bled really bad, like a red rain storm."

Dad was telling them about the history of Pearl Harbor . Dylan said "I'd like to bomb bad people but I don't fly a plane."

"Dad, I want to shovel a bunch of driveways so I can buy a snowmobile, a car hood to pull the girls and a 4-more wheeler OR a 6-more wheeler!" (meaning a 4-wheeler)

"When you die, dad, I'll take your boat and go fishin' at the cabin up north and then take it to Texas to fish with Grandpa."

As dad gives them their allowance one Sunday morning and helps them count it Dylan says, "money makes me sneeze."

"We need to love one another, Lindsey!" (she didn't want to play with him at that moment)

"Mom, you look really pretty today, like an angel."

Playing in the fall leaves

Trio of Angels

Perfoming & Powder

Saturday was a full day indeed! Dad is now volunteering to coach Dylan's indoor soccer team so they headed over to the school for his first soccer game of the season. In the meantime, the girls had another dance performance so off the girls and I went to a different school so they could shine. The girls did a great job and had fun with their girlfriends which is all that matters.

After all the action, we headed over to our neighborhood sledding hill to take in the best powder of the season. It was a perfect day for sledding and we were out there for 2 hours. Dylan met some fun new friends (daredevil boys) and mom and the girls perfected our triple belly whopper (me on my belly on the sled, then Lindsey stacked on top, then Taylor on top of her). We only had one major wipeout with a minor head consussion but we're all good. Just kidding! Seriously, Taylor got whipped off a few times but no tears.

We just picked up a new sled and snowboard today and the kiddos are super anxious to try them out on Monday since they don't have school. Stay tuned....hopefully no broken body limbs to report on!

Christmas 2010

I cannot believe it has been almost one month since we have taken the time to update our blog. Time flies when you are having FUN! Our Christmas season is over and gone but the countless memories live on. Thank you from the depths of our hearts to our family and friends for helping make this Christmas one of our best yet. We spent 9 whole days back in Bismarck over Christmas and New Years' and it was such a welcome break.

We have prepared a slideshow of a few Christmas traditions including creating gingerbread houses, baking and decorating cut-out cookies, Papa's Polar Patch in Bismarck and Christmas Eve at Papa and Grandma Good's. But first, a summary of all the special moments we shared back home in North Dakota over Christmas:

Watching The Sound of Music (thus the slideshow song)

Sledding

Papa's Polar Patch and ATV Sled Rides

Sliding on sleds on the ice

Bonfire complete with hot cocoa and S'mores

Dinner and a movie to celebrate Dave's birthday

Tangled in 3D

Rollerskating

Listening to Christmas music

Singing Christmas carols

Devouring Papa and Grandma's baked goods

Snuggling and reading with Grandma Good

Slumber party with cousin Eastynn

Hugging Uncle Ken and playing with cousins Sarah & Jordan

Painting at Papa & Grandma Kemmet's

Joking around with Papa Kemmet

Celebrating Baby Jesus' birthday

Cocktails and socializing with friends (mom and dad)

Chocolate shakes with Grandma (LTD)

Christmas celebration with Aunt Helen's family

Happy hour at Grandma's

Pizza burgers flying style, fries, gravy and Hot-N-Tot from Big Boy

LTD sleeping by the fireplace waiting for Santa

Eyes filled with wonder when cookies & milk were gone the next AM

Hugs, smiles and giggles from happy children

Dylan building a Lego village with Dad

The girls playing with their new dolls

Papa Good's infamous breakfasts

Watching children's eyes light up opening presents

Talking to my brother Bruce on the phone (in Arkansas)

New Years Eve with fun friends despite blizzard conditions

Surrounded by love and forever grateful