March 25, 2012

March 25, 2012

Dear Family and Friends,

Monday I was still in California.  It was a quiet day.  We ran a few errands and got some projects done (altering some of my pants) and I thought it was nice and relaxing.  I had all my stuff packed and ready for my flight that night.  M and the boys had a tree cutting party for FHE.  They cut down a big evergreen that was on the corner of our house.  It was too big for the spot that it was in, and I wanted it gone.  It was a surprise for me though.   That night M’ dad took me to the airport.  The flight went really smoothly.  I had tried to be really prepared so that I could sleep as much as possible on the “red eye” flight.  Two things were snags in my plan; one was that somehow I forgot earplugs.  We have a million, but somehow they weren’t in my stuff.  The second was that I was seated right smack in the middle of fifty middle school kids on a school trip.  I was so worried.  Despite those setbacks I did manage to get some sleep.  I was either sleeping, or trying to sleep the whole flight, and I think that helped a lot. 

Tuesday M had to go to work.  We had a woman we know come over and watch the kids in the morning and then come and pick me up at the airport.  The boys were really happy to see me, and I was super happy to see them.  I was tired, but we just got going back into our normal lives.  It was a long day though…  We were all happy when M got home that night.  M has a new schedule at work, and so he is working much different hours.  I hated last week.  He would get home at 6:30 pm which meant we were all starving and waiting for him to eat, plus then the kids only got to see him for a few minutes before bed.  We all survived….

Wednesday was more of the same.  I had to get to the grocery store so that we could eat something fresh, and I worked on unpacking.  That night M had mutual.  They chopped wood for a sister in our ward to add to her woodpile.

Thursday was a slow day.  I can’t remember much.  We played outside and tried to enjoy the good weather that we were having.  That night once the boys were in bed M and I worked on some projects in our yard.  We had to work quickly because it was so late.  I was working on planting a bush, and he was working on cutting off the branches of the tree so that we could get the tree out of our yard.  We both finished before it was too dark.

First attempt at a Sunday picture.

Friday I went to a friend’s house in the morning and then stayed for lunch.  The weather was perfect and the kids had a blast playing outside in their backyard.  They have a sandbox, and RM loved being able to just sit and play with the trucks in the sand.  If we had a sandbox he would love it.  I am not sure I would love all the sand that would make its way inside our house though…  I then came home so the boys could get naps.  After school that day the boys played at a house nearby.  They have a “pipe stem” next to their house (basically a really long driveway to houses behind them) and the boys loved playing on all their various bikes and wheeled toys.  Eventually M came home and we had a simple dinner.  Really just RM, J, and I ate because B-man and M were doing a guys night with a bunch of friends.  Actually the same house I had been at earlier.  They took hot dogs and roasted them in their fire pit, and had a good time.  When B-man got home he told me he had fun, and that he had “a lot of soda.”  He loves soda, and he never gets it at our house.  One time B-man told me that he loves soda more than cake!

J's attempt to "help" RM in the picture.

Maybe the best shot.  They thought of it as the start to a race down the driveway.

Saturday was a very busy day.  M had to be up and gone early to help deliver mulch.  The youth in our ward had sold bagged mulch to help raise money for Scout/Girls’ camp.  Saturday was the day to deliver all the orders.  It was rainy pretty much all day, making for wet work, but at least it was a warm rain.  I got a babysitter and then took B-man with me to a basketball game.  We won easily and I rushed home to get the sitter home.  We had a fairly quiet rest of the morning, and we were thrilled when M was home shortly after lunch.  They weren’t done, but they had run out of workers for various reasons.  M got cleaned up and then we went back to the church for another basketball game.  My team played for the Stake Championship, and we won!  It was not a very close game, but it was fun.  We ended up staying and watching the next two games because both the Young Men and the Young Women were playing for the championship as well.  Sadly both teams lost their games.  We then came home and had pancakes for dinner, and got all of our tired boys in bed.

B-man trying to stay out of the pictures.

Sunday was quiet.  M had meetings in the morning. We made it to church on time, but then I realized that I had forgotten some things for Primary.  So I had to make a quick exit after the Sacrament to get them.  It’s a good thing we live so close!  The rest of church went well and then I brought the kids home.  M had more meetings, and I knew it was going to be a while until he got home.  I fed the kids and then got them to bed for their naps.  B-man and I had a good time while they were sleeping, and I tried to work on dinner some too.  After M got home our home teachers came by.  They always bring a book to read to the kids, usually a very cool pop-up book.  Today was no exception, and the boys loved it.   After they left we finished getting ready for dinner, and spontaneously invited over some friends.  Luckily they hadn’t started dinner yet, and were able to come.  After a great dinner the boys got in bed, and M and I were able to catch up on our days.

We love you all!

The Clark Crew

March 12, 2012

March 11, 2012

Dear Family and Friends,

We’ve survived another week without M.  Most days we are just fine, but there are a few moments in each day where I want to pull out my hair, or go hide in my room.  (Or both!)  Monday night a friend (The Nielsens) invited us over for dinner and FHE.  Her husband travels every week, and is gone most of the week.  So she understands what it’s like not having any back up around.   The dinner was great and the boys were relatively calm for FHE, so it was mostly a success. 

Tuesday was a slower day.  Not much happening.  We’ve all been sick, so we are just trying to stay comfortable and happy.  Wednesday I took J to an allergist to get him tested for food allergies.  We were theorizing that maybe he has some allergies to food and that is causing a state of constant inflammation in his sinuses and ears leading to being sick a lot.  It was a really good theory.  And actually we have had him off of several foods for several months.  But it was really hard to tell if it was helping.  The allergist did a skin test (mostly only because I forced it) and took a thorough history.  The skin test was negative to everything, which is really good in the long run.  She suggested we start slowing reintroducing the foods we have been avoiding.  She also thought he had been too sick, but she thinks he might have an adenoid issue.  So she gave us a nasal spray and wanted us to get some x-rays of the sinuses to see if that is what is causing all the problems.  J was a trooper for the skin test.  He did not love it, but when they put a big box of “prizes” on the floor he immediately grabbed a stuffed panda bear.  He knew exactly what he wanted.  The rest of the day was pretty quiet after all that excitement.

Thursday I decided would be a good day to go get the x-rays.  We had to drive a little to get there, and my van had a dead battery.  So I decided this would be a good time to jump it, and drive it.  Normally I only drive five minutes at a time.  I was not sure I could do it by myself, but I got out the cables, got the hoods up on both cars, and got everything connected.  (I made sure to buckle in the kids first so that they wouldn’t be running around while I tried to do this little project.)  I was so happy when I tried the ignition on the van and it worked!  Hurrah!  I even called my dad to tell him my success.  Sometimes having M gone is good, because it forces me to do things like jump cars, and kill spiders.    We then drove to get the x-rays.  I wasn’t in the room while they were taken, but I didn’t hear any screaming, so I figured that was a good sign.  No word on what the x-rays showed.  We are still waiting to hear back from the doctor on that…

Friday we ran to the grocery store, and had a relatively quiet morning.  After naps a friend came over with her children and we were able to let the kids play while we chatted.  It was a good way to make the day go faster.  (That’s my main goal when I know M isn’t coming home.)  That night for our family party we had pizza and then watched a video from our collection.  I spent the night with my sewing machine working on drapes for our room.  I am very excited, and trying to be very meticulous in my work so that they don’t look like I made them.  They are going to be lined and everything.  So far so good, I just wish I had more time in one chunk to work on them and get them done.

For some reason this purple soccer ball is the favorite of everyone.

Saturday was a busy day.  I had a basketball game in the morning.  I got a babysitter for J and RM and then took B-man with me.  We played my old ward.  Both teams have two women that are six feet or more.  It was the battle of the posts!  We ended up winning by a lot, but the game felt much more competitive.  I had to really work for all of my points and rebounds.  It was actually really fun.  After the game we came home and had a little break before we got ready for B-man’s game.  I got a different babysitter to stay with the little boys while they took a nap and I went to the game.  It was B-man’s last game.  He really wanted to score a basket, but he didn’t quite get a chance.  He had a pretty good attitude about it.  He was more bothered by the fact that they lost.  Immediately after the game the team had a five minute party (short and sweet!) and then we rushed over to take him to some flag football evaluations.  We missed the time for his age group, but they were really nice and let him do the evaluations quickly before they started with the older boys.  It was all over in about ten minutes.  We then went home and took the sitter home.  We ran a few errands and then spent the rest of the afternoon outside.  The boys played in the yard and the cul-de-sac while I worked on getting a spot ready next to the foundation of the house for a new lilac bush.  I took out a bunch of grass, and then planted the bush.  It’s really more of a twig.  In fact it is so small that when I stand on the sidewalk I can’t see it.  It is hidden by the grass.  I hope it grows quickly!  I look forward to smelling lilacs out my study windows!  We’ve had some nice weather this week, and it has been so nice to have a yard for the boys.  We have been in the back kicking soccer balls around and it makes me so happy.  I love having space to kick and throw a ball!  That night I worked more on the drapes.

Today has been a good day.  I was happy we made it to church on time even with the time change.  Sacrament Meeting went a little better.  I had some new things, (and some emergency fruit snacks) and they really just made it manageable.  I still need to figure out how to get my children to whisper.  That will help a lot too…  After church we had a relaxing afternoon and then went to dinner at the Palmer’s.  The weather was nice enough that the kids all ate outside while the parents were inside.  I made a cake for dessert, and somehow the adults all got some but not the kids.  They were too busy playing.  We left from their house to take some friends to the airport and then came home for a long walk around the neighborhood.  I’m grateful the weather was nice enough to do that!  We had a big snack/treat when we got home.  This is what J and RM had as their snack; (eaten in this order) ice cream, banana, toast, beans.  It was a very backwards snack, but it worked.  Now the boys are in bed.  I hope they sleep past seven.  It’s the one advantage to this time change.

Love you all!

The C Crew

B-man had a little "fort."

These pictures are not from the week.  I had no pictures.  That's what happens when M travels.  But they are from about a week later when he chopped down a tree.

March 4, 2012

March 4, 2012

Dear Family and Friends,

Monday morning we got the week off to a running start by taking both of the boys in to the doctor.  J to make sure his ears were clear (they were) and RM for his well baby check-up.  I had to rehearse several times with J that RM was getting shots, but not J.  The doctor was only going to look in his ears, and no shots.  It helped the appointment go much smoother because he knew exactly what to expect.  Turned out that RM had a nasty ear infection (he had no symptoms other than pulling on his ear) and so no shots for him.  That slightly distressed J for a minute since we were diverging from the plan.  Thankfully he recovered.  After the doctor we went straight to Costco for the prescription and groceries.  Then home for lunch and naps.  That night we had FHE.  We talked about the story of Jesus calling His apostles to the ministry.

Tuesday was a slow day.  That night we went to dinner at the Palmer’s some friends.  We were all without our husbands for various reasons so we decided to eat together.  It was nice to have some adult conversation.  I talked her ear off and realized later it was probably because I have been talking to children all day for several days.  B-man got picked up from their house for basketball, and we made it back home just minutes before he got back from practice.  It worked out very well.

J always chews the corner of his blanket.  Is that normal?

Wednesday was super rainy.  I took the little boys to the library for story time.  They had a blast.  I think I will try to make it more of a regular thing when they are healthy.  I was supposed to have a piano delivered that day, but because of all the rain it got pushed back a day.  I was actually happy about that.

For a while RM really like two pacifiers.  One for the mouth, and one for the hands.

Thursday was a busy morning.  I started bread, ran to the grocery store, and then when I got back home I realized that I had forgotten about lunch at the Palmers.  (J calls it the Palmer House.)  So we ran over for a yummy lunch with friends.  Then we ran back home so that I could get the boys in bed before the piano arrived.  The piano arrived and was in the house in less than five minutes.  I thought it would take a lot longer, but they were fast.  I’m still trying to figure out if the piano is in the final spot I want it.  I sure am excited to have a piano.  Now if I could get some music, and some time without the boys trying to do a duet with me…  So far the boys love the piano, and they fight to play it.  M’ comment was “Hopefully they will always fight over who gets to practice first…”  We can hope right?  The rest of the day was filled with homework, playing, and trying to make it through the day. 

Friday is a bit of a blur.  I can’t remember much.  The weather was really nice so we went to the park after school.  On the way home I had RM on my shoulders.  When I went to open the door he flung his body backwards.  I then did some sort of maneuver to try to keep him from slamming his head on the concrete.  It was not pretty, and it was very scary, but I saved his head from the pavement.  I did manage to hurt my neck in the process, but that’s better than the alternative.  The rest of the day I took it pretty easy because I was so sore.   That night we had pizza and watched “Dinosaur Train” for our family party.

Saturday morning was nice and relaxed.  We did eventually get organized and went to the baptism of Connelly Ware, the son of a friend of ours.  The meeting was packed, and I was ill prepared for my little group of ruffians.  But B-man did great, and is getting excited for his own baptism later this year.  So I guess the craziness was worth it.  We rushed home after the baptism to eat lunch and get the boys in bed.  A babysitter got dropped off, and then I took B-man to his basketball game while she stayed with the sleeping boys.  B-man’s game was very exciting.  He played so hard and they ended up tied at the end of the game.  The other team was coached by his soccer coach, and rumor has it that they had not lost a game yet.  After getting that babysitter home we played at the park and then came home for a simple dinner.  That night I worked on a project before heading to bed.

Today has been a crazy day.  We made it to church on time, and then things started to disintegrate.  I had debated about even going because all of us are fighting colds in various stages.   But it’s really hard to find someone to do my calling at the last minute.  I decided just to go for it…  J and RM were both having off days.  They both need pretty much constant attention during church, and sadly I can’t offer that by myself.  Then to make it worse the meeting went LONG!  It was a painful last ten minutes…  You know it was a bad day when like four people see if they can help you somehow after the meeting is over.  Oh well, I think we’ll have someone to sit with us next week, so that will be great.  Primary went well, and thankfully I had people willing to help with RM while I did singing time.  After church we have just been trying to make it through the day with our sanity.  The boys haven’t been sleeping well, and we are all just tired.  But we made it, we had a great visit with M, and everybody ate their dinner.  So the day ended well.

We love you all!

The C Crew