Texas Diaries

Flying Day...

We flew to Texas on Sunday in Papaw's airplane... It was a very looooong day! Papaw was so kind to fly us back with him. :) Because of the weight of all our luggage and 6 passengers, we could only carry a little bit of fuel... so we had to make three stops on the way home. THe kids did absolutely incredible sitting in the airplane ALL day!

Halee was reaallly nervous but she was working so hard to be brave... I told her that it was ok to feel scared but it wasn't ok to scream... and that she could hold my hand whenever she felt scared...
So she did... When we the flight got bumpy and when we were landing and taking off she would grab my hand and hold it super tight... It was actually real sweet.

But by the end of the day I think Josiah had had enough. We unloaded the plane and got into Papaw's car and just after we pulled out of the airport I heard Siah in the back see crying and saying, "Mama, I spitting, I spitting." It took me a few seconds but then I realized that he was throwing up. Bummer... I cleaned it up and we made it home... When we got to Papaw's house, Siah got out of the car and went inside to see Granny DeeDee and before I could get upstairs I heard him throwing up all over their leather couch. Big Bummer! Then he woke up the next morning with diarhea!!! Absolutely Mega Bummer!

Siah loves the plane...

For Hal the ride was a VERY serious event!

Day One... the kids slept in ... we had breakfast around 10am then I got to go back to bed while Granny and Papaw watched all the kids... It was such a treat!!
Siah spent the afternoon with Papaw riding the mule around the ranch looking at the hay... .

My sweet Halee...

I Had A Moment With Halee

Halee hung out with me while Papaw and Siah were together... In Papaw's "back yard" (He lives on several hundred acres so it feels funny to call his back yard a "back yard") he has a tire swing... Halee swung on it for awhile and then asked me if I could swing on it with her... So I sat down and put her on my lap... We just swung quietly for a little bit... then I started singing "Jesus loves me" to her... but not to the usual tune... My mom used to sing that same song with me to a different tune... So I was singing it to Halee and tears started streaming down my face as I was singing... I don't think I was really sad... I think I was just thinking of how wonderful it would have been if my mom could see me now.... see me with all my kiddos... if she could look in on "my moments" with them... It would bless my heart so much for her to see how wonderful they are... I like to think that even with all my faults, insecurities and doubts that she would smile at me...

It was a sweet moment...

Day 2... We drove down to Aunt Jennifer's house in Waco... Skyler had a rough day (check out skylerreese@blogspot.com for details on that :)... we played with cousin Hannah all afternoon... The kids were freaked out of the dog... the day ended with me asking the urgent care doctor if he would want to take Skyler for the night (since he was going to be up anyways :) so that I could get some rest...

Story Of The Day

On the drive down we stopped at a Sonic cuz Skyler was screaming in the back seat and the older kids were hungry... We don't have Sonic in CA so I didn't know how the whole thing worked... So I sat in my car for almost 20 minutes waiting for some one to come out and take my order when I realized that there was a button at the bottom of the menu that you're supposed to push when you're ready to order :) (lovely:) We finally got our food and then Siah had to go to the bathroom... SO I unloaded all the kids and found the bathroom... Then I realized I needed to go to but I had no where to set Skyler down so I just held her... I sat her on my lap and three seconds later she threw up all over my underwear and my shoe... (lovely again :) We made it back out to the car and twenty minutes later I had all three kids buckled in and ready to finish up the drive... (why does it take me so long, I'm not sure :) It felt like a huge accomplishment making it to Aunt Jen's house...


Day 3... We went to the children's museum in Waco... Our cousin Billy Ann came down to visit for a few hours and had dinner with us... CONGRATULATIONS Billy Ann on your pregnancy!!! We are so excited for you!!!

Siah dressed up as a fireman

Hal dressed up as an artist (is this a sign of the future??? who knows :)

We tried to play twinkle little star on the giant piano... we weren't really that successful :)

The giant water table...

We rode our cars around the "mini city"...

Day 4... We drove back to Papaw's house... on the way we stopped to visit Great Grandmother Ann... She made chicken and dumplings and enjoyed playing with all her grand kids... We are so glad that we were able to visit with you for awhile Grandmother... we sure do love you...

Day 5... Our cousin Ava came to Papaw's house... Jen, Amy, and I got to take the afternoon off from our kiddos... Papaw and Granny DeeDee watched all 5 grandkids... It was such treat to get out... we went to Starbucks and Braums ice cream... I got a DOUBLE scoop!!!! Yes I did.. and it was delicious... Papaw got a picture of all 5 of the grandchildren and all the kids piled into Papaw and Granny's giant bath tub...

Papaw has a bounce house in the basement and all the kids played in it... SOOO FUN for them!!!!
Siah and I rode in the mule around the ranch... Siah rode on Papaw's tractor with him... Halee and Hannah played with their baby dolls...

All five of Granny DeeDee and Papaw's grand kids... What a special day :)

All the kids (except Skyler :) piled into Granny and Papaw's mega bath tub!

Siah and Papaw riding around the ranch...

Day 6... Skyler and I had a long night so Granny DeeDee and Jen took over the kids for me and I took a long morning nap... Then Great Papaw and Mamaw came up for lunch and to meet Skyler for the first time. We spent the afternoon watching college football and talking in the living room... That night we grabbed Taco Casa (So wonderful... if you've never had it you should try it on your next visit to Texas) and headed to the park in downtwon Gainesville. The kids enjoyed themselves...

The tire swing...

Mama and Skyler enjoying the shade of the giant trees in the back yard...

Day 7... Church... Aunt Amy and Uncle Todd came up with cousin Ava and we celebrated Ava'a first birthday... She had her first piece of cake... Sooooooo cute!!!!!!!
We did a lot of resting today :)

Day 8... Skyler did much better last night... I woke up rested, feeling joyful and grateful (It's amazing how the small things make me feel so blessed!) Then this morning we got to watch deer running around in Papaw's front yard. They were chasing each other and frolicking (I love that word... "frolic":) just having a good old time and we got to watch the whole thing :0... It was really cool to watch my kids so enthralled with what they saw... That's one of the things that I love about coming out here... The kids get to see and do things that they don't get to experience back at home... Driving tractors to the hay; watching deer in the front yard; and today, Papaw took them to the airport to wash the airplane. I love how Papaw just includes them in the things that he's doing... He loves to teach them new things and they're all things that he loves, so he teaches them with such enthusiasim and joy... It really blesses my heart.

This afternoon I spent some time on the tire swing with Siah and Hal... we talked about the things of life... Siah was telling me how when he got big he was going to drive Papa's Scion... He told me some other things that he was going to do when he "got big", and he said to me, "Mama, when me's going to get small again like Skyler?" Then we were talking about his birthday (it's one of his favorite topics these days :) and how he's going to be four years old... He told me that Papa turned really old on his birthday. So I asked him how old Papa was and he said, "three." It's fun hearing all the things that are going on in his little mind...

In all honesty it has been a challenging week for me in some ways... I have missed Joey like crazy; I think I have had tears almost everyday thinking about how much I love him and miss him (I feel like a silly teenager crying over her boyfriend going away for the summer or something :)... It has been hard to be away from home with a new born; her sleeping, her schedule, her demenor, have all seemed out of wack...
But even with the challenges It was so worth it to bring the kids out and to be with family and to introduce Skyler to so many new people, to just enjoy being together, and to make more memories with my kids... Thank you Papaw for flying us out and flying us home and thank you Granny DeeDee for taking care of us and feeding us and letting me take naps when I was soo tired... And thank you both for loving on our kiddos and just cherishing them... Our time in Texas this year was a real treat!!!!

Day 9... We went to see Dorothy and Daniel today at their house in Keller... Sweet Dorothy made us a delicious lunch... While Daniel soaked up time with ALL THREE kiddos!!! My thought is... They sooooo need to have some kids!!! Daniel was awesome... He played soccer and baseball with the older kids and tired with all his might to keep Skyler awake (None of us were successful in that :) oh well).... Our time with them was short but super sweet... I love the friendship that God has given me in Dorothy... We don't see each other all that often but whenever I get together with her I feel as if no time has passed... She is so obviously passionate about her Savior and she loves her husband so much... Her life, the way she lives her life, is a testimony to so many!!! Thanks for being my friend Dorothy... I sure do love ya!!!

Siah was using all his might to try and hold up that bat :)Daniel playing baseball with the kiddos.....

Dorothy and very tired Skyler

Tomorrow we are on our way home... what a great summer with Papaw and Granny DeeDee!!

PS.... a funny little moment on the way home...
We stopped at a restaurant at one of the airports and everyone had gotten up from the table to use the restroom except for Hal and I... I guess she hadn't noticed that everyone was gone until a few minutes after the fact cuz she looked around the table and then at me and asked, "Where did all my "peeps" go? (Like we were rappers or something and often referred to our friends as "peeps") It was hilarious! :) I think she meant to say " my people" which still would have been funny.. I don't know where she got the phrase but she was sure cute wondering where everyone had gone. :)


If you read all the way to the bottom of this blog you are a very sweet friend cuz I think this just might be the longest blog EVER!!
Toodles for now :)

Happy 8th Anniversary

Good Morning my love, I am in Texas and you are in California today on our 8th anniversary and I am so wishing you were here! I just really like you...

Our verse for our marriage when we got married was

Hebrews 10:24...

"Let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing but let us encourage one another all the more as we see the day approaching."

I really feel like God has been faithful in making this verse true in our marriage over the past eight years... You have truly challenged me towards the Christ and I know that He uses you in so many ways in my life to grow me and move me forward in my relationship with Him...

Thank you babe for the past eight wonderful years! You rock! And I sure do love you!
Happy Anniversary!

Surprise!!!!

We actually did it!! We have been planning a surprise party for Joey for over six months... and I have worked sooooo hard to keep it a secret... and we actually did it!!! Joey usually figures out everything and he genuinely had NO clue! It was the best day ever!!!

We got up Saturday morning and went to Pipes (a little breakfast joint that we take the kids to every Saturday morning)... Then Granny and Gramps came and picked up the kids... We packed Siah and Hal's bikes in the back of the suburban so that they could take them on the river walk by their house... But really they were heading straight over to our friends Jim and Monique's house. It was great... He packed up the whole car and put sunscreen on the kids and everything!
THen Joey and I got to ready to meet Jim and Mo at their house for some "birthday fun." I told Joey that I couldn't tel him where we were going or what we were doing... but that it would take us a little while to drive there after we picked up Jim and Mo... So on the way to their house he insisted that we stop at Radio Shack and buy a cable for his ipod so that we could listen to music on the ride out to where ever we were going. So we stopped... little did he know that we weren't going ANYWHERE ! :)

Then we got to the front door... rang the door bell... waited for what seemed like eternity but it was maybe only 30 seconds... the door opened slowly... then... everybody yelled SURPRISE!!!!! And Joey... well... He just stood there in shock... dumbfounded... a tear even welled up in his eyes!!!! IT WAS SOO COOL!!!!!! WE actually did it!!

All our friends were soo awesome! Aunt Mindy did what she does best and set up everything for that morning with the help of several other wonderful friends. When we got there all the food was ready, the meat was all cooked up. Our friend Jim started us off with some prayer for the birthday man... We ate and caught up with some old friends... (A few friends came from Northern CA and Joey's dad and sister came out from Texas :)...
Then we had a time of toasting... thank you to all those who shared stories and memories of ways that Joey has blessed you, or encouraged you, or challenged you, or made you laugh (Cubbie :), It was such a sweet time to see soo many of our friends and family standing in front of us, there celebrating the life of the man that I love!! It was just a testimony of the millions of reasons why I love being married this man!

Talking to everyone right after "the surprise"

He totally blew out all 30 candles!!!

The party was awesome but it was just the beginning... Jen, Joey's sister and our friend Alair spent the night with the kids and we got to go to the Hilton Torrey Pines for the night... Our friend Mary blessed us with a night away... Before we made it to the hotel we went to "Forever Fondue," a most delicious restaurant in La Jolla. You don't just go there to eat, you go there to have an experience! :) It took us almost two hours to get through all the courses... It was so fun talking about the party and the about the ladies next to us who were celebrating someones 50th birthday. Joey so hilariously observed that they were probably not a bunch of ladies from La Jolla or Del Mar... I won't tell you what he said but just know that it was stinkin hilarious!!!

Then we ended the night sleeping all night long without waking up to feed the baby... I can't even tell you how wonderful that was... I thought that I would have trouble sleeping because I constantly hear the kids in my head whether they are with me or not, but I must have been tired because I slept for eight hours straight!!!
It was one of the best days of my life! Thank you Lord for the sweet times of joy and celebration in our lives! I truly am blessed by all that you have put into my life!!!

Happy 30th Birthday To My Man

Ten things I love about Joseph Ryan Clark...
(pictures to come)

10. He's hilarious! The boy makes me laugh EVERY DAY

9. He's the hardest worker I know. Thank you for working so hard to provide for our little family

8. He has a tremendous amount of faith. throughout our whole marriage we have had to trust God in our finances. I have spent many unnecessary hours worrying while my amazing husband reminds me gently of God's faithfulness in always providing. (Ask me sometime and I will give you testimony after testimony of times that Joey has had great faith in God's promises :)

7. He is so steadfast... He's no where near the emotional roller coaster that I am. He's solid and consistent... with him I always know what I'm gonna get.

6. He's extremley generous. He loves to give of his time to others.

5. He's totally selfless... about the big things and the little things... He always ask me where I want to go when we go out to eat(may not sound like a big deal but it blesses me), he makes sure that I have time to myself to be refreshed and renewed so that I can be a better wife and mommy.

4. He's not afraid to speak truth into my life... he helps me to be a better woman.

3. He can fix anything and solve any problem. (He's the everything man at our home... when ever something gets broken, before I can even say anything, the kids tell me, "don't worry mama, papa can fix it when he gets home." or if I can't answer a question the kids tell me, "Me's ask Papa when he come home." They know that Papa can do anything... and if he doesn't know how to do it right away he'll figure it out so quickly that you never would have known that he didn't know how to do it.

2. He's an amazing Papa... all I can say is WOW my kids are so blessed!

1. And the number one thing that I love about Joey is that he is MY husband and no one else's (thank goodness for that, huh?)!!

I love you my most amazing husband!!! Happy Happy Happy Birthday!!!!!!!

Self Sufficient Problem Solvers

This morning when Siah and Hal woke up, Hal had no shirt on and low and behold (is that the right expression?) Siah was wearing Hal's shirt... So Joey asked them what happened and Halee said, "I hot Papa, I shir by self" (translation... She was hot and took her shirt off all by herself). Then Siah said, "Me's was cold, I put Halee's shirt on (to stay warm:)."

Here's Siah in Hal's PJ top... Aunt Alair gave Skyler this teddy bear but some how is has become one of Siah's favorite things... he sleeps with it every night and brings it to breakfast every morning... :)

Way to go guys you took care of yourselves in the night without any help from Mommy or Papa!!! Way to work together!!!

I Couldn't Help But Laugh

I was at the mall today with all three kids by myself and we were eating lunch in the food court... We had just gotten our food and I was feeding Skyler when Josiah suddenly grabs his bottom and shouts in a panic, "I need to go poopoo!" (A little background info... for some reason over the past few weeks he has been holding it until he has to go so bad that he can't quite hold it all in until he gets to the bathroom. So I know I need to get him to the bathroom QUICK!) I'm trying to think fast and come up with a plan as to how I am going to continue feeding Skyler, push the stroller, carry our lunch, convince Halee to run fast enough to keep up with us (she's kind of my lolly gagger), and get Siah to the bathroom that just happens to be on the complete other side of the food court... I could have just put Skyler in the stroller but of course I didn't think of that... so I am carrying her while trying to keep her bottle in her mouth with my chin, Halee is holding onto my leg and asking me over and over again, "Siah go poopoo? Siah go poopoo?" The lunch is in the stroller and I'm chasing Siah who is running towards the bathroom holding his bum, and shouting repeatedly to himself, but loud enough for everyone that we pass to hear, "Poop, don't come out! Poop, don't come out!"

We made it to the bathroom and as I am trying to open the door with my bum and drag the stroller in and direct Halee to walk in before the door closes on her, Siah is pleading with me, "Hurry Mama, it's coming! Hurry Mama, It's coming now!

I couldn't help but laugh!!! Way to go little buddy, you made it across the food court and into the potty!!!

I took these pictures when we got home from our big adventure today....

I love all their expressions in this photo...

This is what Skyler looks like most of the time... Not a lot of emotion in this girl... She's very steadfast :)

This is the epitome of Halee's personality... She is a total goof ball and she's hilarious!!!

Thank you guys for bringing so much joy into my life and for making me laugh so hard!!! I sure do love you!!!!!

Sweet Treasure Chest

I feel like the Lord has given my kiddos a treasure chest full of fabulous friends!!!! This week we soaked up some sweet time with so many precious little people...

This is Cadence... She is one of Siah and Hal's favorite friends to be around... They pray for her each night before they go to sleep... they are a funny threesome... Halee calls Cadence her favorite friend; Cadence likes Siah the best; and Siah seems to like both girls the same. :)
Cadence and her little sister Haven came over a couple times this week and played in our back yard.

We traced the kids on the fence with chalk... cadence asked if I would draw her with really long hair... Siah wanted "Sparkly hair"... Halee wanted "Tongue out"... Siah said that Haven should be bald :) Haven has way more hair than Siah does but I guess in his mind she doesn't have enough hair to have it drawn on her chalk picture :)

The Fabulous Five together again...

Our little monkey...

The girls were "making muffins" in the back yard...

Yesterday our friends Adam and Luke had a "Grand Reopening Patio Party" for all the neighbors. They have the most fun patio on the block but they had to shut it down a few weeks ago cuz of a minor rodent problemo...But now everything is A-OK. :)
All the neighbors brought their blow up pools and we set them all up on the green belt right next to the patio... it was our own mini water park ;)

Who wouldn't have fun here????

Remember slip and slides???? Check out Siah trying to get down on his bum! :)
What sweet times with the sweet treasures in our lives!
Blessing upon Blessing!!!

Wild Times

I asked Joey if he wanted to take the kids to the Wild animal park this past weekend... With a totally straight face he said, "Yeah, let's go, I haven't had heat stroke in awhile... sounds fun." I started to chuckle and he just kept going... "hopefully I can sweat enough to loose some weight." ... "I have an idea, let's bring the back packs and carry the kids all over the park, then maybe we can sweat some more."... "I just love sweating don't you?"... The more he talked, the harder I laughed... (If you know Joey well, can't you picture the whole thing? :) He makes things so fun and funny...
All this to say, we packed up all the kids in our little Scion XB and headed out to the Wild Animal Park in the heat... And we actually had a really good time... The older kids walked the whole time and hardly even complained... We all danced under the misters scattered throughout the park at any chance we got... We had a picnic at the playground and I ate way to many carmel corn nuggets (from Henry's Marketplace... if you have never had them, beware, they are TOTALLY addicting :) Needless to say, I had a little tummy ache after lunch... :)
We ended the day on the carousel... Halee got a little nervous once it started moving so Papa hopped on the zebra with her and she enjoyed the rest of the ride in Papa's arms with her head on his shoulder... Papa's make lots of unbearable things bearable, huh?

Clark Girls

Papa trying to convince Halee to pet the deer in the petting zoo...

Hi Hal

Siah lovin on Hal at the playground...

Another sweet day with our little fam...
Blessing upon blessing :)

Learning To Ride

This summer Siah has been practicing riding his big boy bike... A few weeks ago we got him a helmet and some knee pads and elbow pads... He actually likes to wear them around the house more so than he does when he rides his bike. But last Sunday Siah went out in our culdesac with Papa and Gramps and practiced... He's actually getting pretty good.

Check you out little buddy...

Beautified

Hal got herself ready for church this Sunday... Siah and Halee are both into picking out their own clothes these days... What I love about Halee is that she is never fully dressed until she has ALL of her accessories... glasses, purse, baby, hair tie, the right shoes... She's so fun!!

Ready for church...

Grandma came to town this past weekend... it was such a treat... thank you Grandma for yummy meals, all the help around the house, for reading soo many books and for just hanging out with us... We love you... :)

I Think They Just Might Be Good Friends

Cutee ClarksI love Halee's face in this picture...

Halee is enthralled with Skyler... It's a sweet treat to watch her take care of her sister... whenever Skyler cries, Halee brings her a blanket and SHOVES her pacifier in her mouth... And then she says, "SHH, SHH, SHH." It kinda makes Skyler more mad... but it's a sweet gesture. :)

Beauty Queens

Hi Pretty Lady :)

Loving on my sister...

Love You Skyler Reese