Catching up with the Clarks

I just realized it's been a couple of weeks since I last posted on the blog. I figured I should probably give everyone an update.

We had a goof Thanksgiving despite sick kids. Hunter had a stomach bug and then Anna got it. Lizzie never got it, which was really surprising. I went to see the movie Twilight with a bunch of friends the night before Thanksgiving, so Rich got to deal with the brunt of Anna throwing up. Thanks Rich!!!

Rich has been working hard. The Dallas office moved to a new building and he had a big part in making sure the move went smoothly. He was gone for a few days just working on the move, but it all went well.

Anna is potty trained!! YIPPY!!! She still wears a diaper at night, but she's good to go during the day. 2 years ago I was thinking that I would never stop changing diapers. I guess all good things must come to an end. Hehe!

Hunter hit a big boy milestone on Thanksgiving. I was in the kitchen cooking and he came running in, "Mom, I went pee with my pants on. I used the hole in my underwear." I told my friend about it and apparently that is a big deal once you get into elementary school.

I asked Lizzie what she wanted for Christmas the other day. She said, "I want makeup with nail polish and a new girl phone." When did she turn 13?

We're all decorated for Christmas. I actually have a place to put up my Christmas village in our new house. The problem, the kids can reach it and they've already broken 7 pieces, mostly the little people. It doesn't help that Hunter thinks it's great fun to drive his construction trucks through it and shovel the snow.

We decided to buy a Wii for Christmas, although we never wrapped it up and we've been playing with it since we got it. It's really great. We just have the sports game and Hunter loves the boxing and golf and it's very funny to watch him play it.I'll take a video and post it. Rich and I like to bowl. It makes Rich mad because I don't bowl right, but I usually beat him. Even Anna likes can play it. For those who don't know, you don't use a joy stick or buttons, you actually move to make your characters move. One of the reasons we bought it is for exercise. There is a Wii fit program that we will be investing in soon. If you're thinking about getting one, I highly recommend it.

So, I joined the Biggest Looser club online. I'm liking the diet, but there are some days I don't do so well. I've been on it a month and I've lost 14 lbs, so I guess I'm doing ok. There is tons of support and we even do challenges. The challenges are mostly things like how many crunches can you do in one day. They are really fun and we post our results on the message boards. I really hope I can stick with this. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Well, that's about it. I'm going to go beat Rich at bowling and then put the kids to bed.

Our little tape recorder

Last night we were at our Bishop's office for tithing settlement. Lizzie saw a picture of a cornucopia and she busts out with this bit of info.

"Cornucoopias (not copias) are horn shaped baskets filled with the things we are thankful for."

She learned it from watching TV.

What a kid!

Where's Anna?

Here's a little puzzle. Can you find Anna is this picture?

No pics

YET!

But I did figure out how to customize the background. I'm not giving up on the slide show, so keep your eyes open. If anyone knows how to do a slide show and would like to tell me how, please feel free to.

Halloween, Halloween, trick or treat

We had a fabulous Halloween. We started on Thursday with a Fall Festival at preschool. Elizabeth dresses up as a ballerina, real make up and all, which was a big deal to her. Hunter went as the Dallas Cowboys quarterback, Tony Romo. We even wrapped up his pinkie finger on his right hand (for those normal people who don't eat, sleep and breath football, Tony Romo is out because he broke his pinkie finger on his throwing hand). Hunter was very proud of his "broken hankie" and he got quite a reaction from everyone when his teacher asked what he'd done to his finger and he told her that he was Tony Romo for Halloween. He had an extra big smile on his face for the rest of the day.



Halloween night was great. Some friends invited us over to go trick or treating with them. They live on a cul-de-sac with 3 houses and we know 2 of the 3 families in the cul-de-sac. We set up picnic tables and had a chili dinner. The dads took all the kids trick or treating and the moms stayed behind to hand out candy. The weather was perfect (in the 70's) and we didn't have to add any layers to the kids. We ended up sitting outside talking until about 10 when the kids came down off their sugar high and started to get really whiny. We had a fun time and the kids had so much fun trick or treating with their friends. We're hoping this becomes a Halloween tradition.

I'm going to try a slide show of Halloween pictures. I think I've got it, but my head hurts now.

P.S. Anna and I were in the car today and she said to me "Momma, are you speaking to me?"

Old ladies make my day

We stopped at Arby's for lunch today. As we were sitting eating our lunch, 3 moms came in with their kids and the moms were all skinny and dressed fashionably. I was watching them thinking how much better they looked than I did and was just kind of feeling bad about myself. I felt a little tap on my shoulder and I turned around to see an older woman with a big smile on her face. She said that she just had to compliment me on how well my children were behaving and how cute they were. She said it was so nice to see such nice kids in this day and age. I just have to say that that woman totally turned my day around. I would so rather have someone compliment me on my parenting skills than on how great I look. I've actually gotten quite a few compliments on my kids over the last 4 years. I've even gotten a few compliments on how well I'm handling them when they're throwing fits. The twins preschool teach accused me of having mommy guilt the other day during parent/teacher conference. She assured me that my kids were normal and were doing great in school (Elizabeth does have problems sharing her new bff, Alexis). So I guess I'm (I should probably include Rich in the parenting success, even if he does teach Hunter such phrases as "sucka fool" which he uses to infuriate Lizzie. Thanks Rich) doing ok on the parenting front and with any luck our children will grow up to be productive, responsible members of society.

Rich and the kids

I came out Saturday night and found Rich dragging Hunter around using the border off his blanket as a rope. There's no denying they're father and son. Goofy boys!













Rich is watching Monday night football, the kids are demanding his attention.