Schedules

Today in the bath instead of relaxing and enjoying the 5 minutes to myself this was my thought pattern;
Monday: Kumon (connor's advanced math tutoring), Homework, Practice Piano
Tuesday: Kumon homework, school homework, Practice Piano
Wednesday: Kumon, Piano, Homework
Thursday: Kumon homework, Piano, Homework
Friday: Kumon homework, Piano (drive to the mountains for ski weekend)
Saturday: Basketball, Kumon, Piano

Ahhh we are too busy! Good thing I have a day planner. Ahhh this our "down season" when soccer starts up (in march) we will have soccer 4 days a week for Connor on top of Piano, Teniss & Kumon. Ryan will have tennis 2 days a week.

I think I'm running all these things in my head as "too much" from the mere fact that we had a wonderfully lazy and family oriented 3 week off over Christmas time. The lack of hustle and bustle is THE BEST!


CHRISTMAS PHOTOS:

 We got to hang with Sawyer for a whole week!

 Heather's wrapping job was AMAZING! Goals for next year!

 We got a quick day trip to Cleveland in (Emma Clare is running away from me in this picture) Aunt Kerry got the boys "boy journals that lock" that was a huge hit!

 Let's fly home. **On our flight out Ray & I got upgraded to first class with 98 Degrees singer Justin Jeffe

 Christmas Eve picture (thanks to the tripod) 

 Ryan's hair is going through an awkward phase as we grow out a bad haircut

Connor with his first love. These two are getting so old. Look at Izzy rocking a chocker, lol!

Piano With Connor

ConnorRita has been filling the house with holiday music this season. 

Christmas Time

Yay it is almost Christmas! Both boys had Holiday class parties this week, we had our big white elephant party a few weeks ago, our holiday lights outside are THE BOMB.COM, Christmas Jammies for the boys have been purchased, Christmas Cards went out and we are READY to fly out to Ohio on Christmas Eve to see baby Sawyer and drive up to Cleveland to see Jordan and Emma Clare.

 Ryan making a gingerbread house

 Made the nativity scene because it was 68 degrees out and I wanted to stain a piece of wood in the sun

 took two girlfriends to see Bad Mom's Christmas while the kids were at school

 Easy and cheap little gifts for school staff

Sawyer all set for Christmas

Sawyer John

My adorable newest nephew was born on November 28th, 2017. The night before he was born I read his parents, Travis & Cynthia this delightful and festive rendition of twas the night before Christmas that I had written.

Twas the Night Before Sawyer

The onesies were hung in the nursery with care

In hopes that Baby Clark would soon be there

Ezra was nestled warm in her bed

While visions of night feedings danced in Cindy’s head

And Cindy in her nursing top 

and Trav in his Apres Cap,

Had just settled their thoughts for a quick nap

When down in Cind’s lap their was a loud splash

Trav asked what that was, then took out the trash

What to their wondering eyes should appear, 

but a pile of water and a look of fear

I knew in a moment Baby Clark was to be born

Contractions had started and to Trav she had sworn

More rapid than Braxton Hicks they came, 

and Trav shouted out the list of 3 names;

Bartholomew, Sawyer, or Hudson

To the top of the parking garage,

to the top of the hospital floor

Dash Cindy up 

Dash Cindy up

3 pushes more

As the baby crowned and came rather quick

Cindy was happy the epidural she did pick

With the nurse’s arms full with the Baby

I heard in the hall 

the cheering of Grandparents and many a phone call

As Cindy drew her head down to look at her Boy

her mind and her heart were over come with joy

he was dressed in a swaddle

from his head to his toe

and his clothes were only a blanket no girly bow

His eyes how they twinkled, his dimples so cute

his cheeks were all rosey, his mouth it did root

His drool-ey little mouth was drawn up like a bow

His chin covered in spit up as white as snow

Baby Clark spoke not a word, but went straight to work
And filled his little belly, then turned with a jerk

Then laying his finger on his Mom’s boob

they circumcised him and added some lube

He sprang to his incubator, to the medical team gave a toot

then away the team flew, Aunt Heather had given them the boot

I heard the Doctor exclaim as he walked out of sight,

Don’t worry Travis I sewed her up tight!

Ray & I travel back to Ohio for a quick 24 hrs for a work holiday party, but in reality mostly to meet the newest Clark!

Future Self

Today for school you had to "dress as your future self" and do a little presentation on what you will be when you grow up. If you know me at all then you probably know that all our feel good memories come from the summer at the lake. No surprise to anyone Ryan wants to be a fishing guide when he grows up.

9 years

I can't believe I've been doing this blog for 9 years! My memory has never been very good so it is so fun to look back and actually have some facts on a few things. Cynthia (Travis' wife) is 37w6d today! My water broke when I was that day and we had Con at 38W weighing in at 6lbs 2oz, so I'm excited for Cynthia to have made it farther than I did, and hopefully with a bigger baby!

Did you see on snapchat that I posted we are adding an addition to our family? Not the adopted or fostered child that I have been relentlessly asking Ray for for the last 5 years, but a PUPPY none the less. A poodle and a sheep dog are going to make us a baby; a Sheepa-doodle I believe is what they call it. Ray has been wanting a BIG dog for his mountain man ways and I finally caved in a moment of weakness. Big poop, big appetite and big energy are all I keep envisioning. Pup will be here probably when we get back from summering in Okoboji.

 Fall travel soccer ended on Saturday

 Winter indoor soccer started on Tuesday. Mama needs a break man! Connor is doing an advanced math class 2 days a week, piano one day a week and indoor soccer one day a week. Aka I am in the carpool lane ALL THE TIME

 We started a new novel, we are hoping it takes us until Christmas week to finish. Holes. We plan to end with the movie (which the kids don't know exists, so don't ruin it)

 Chopped my hair off

 Hopefully our puppy is as adorable and irresistible as this Sheepadoodle

I had an empty frame that was begging for art work. Ryan accommodated. 

My two front teeth

Ryan lost his second tooth last night.

He wiggled it out while watching TV. He asked me that night while putting it under his pillow if the tooth fairy was real. I just couldn't bring myself to say No. He is my baby and I need him to still believe.

Piano

We got Connor a keyboard with a stand and bench for his birthday. Let the music concerts begin! Lessons start with an elementary school music teacher on November 1st.

Soccer

For as much as soccer consumes our lives, hopefully it doesn't consume all our blog posts. Connor had a 4 game tournament this weekend. Team EXTREME dominated only allowing one goal for the whole weekend.
I wasn't feel great, but watching Con play soccer is one of my favorite things so I went to 3 out of 4 of the games. Probably shouldn't have, now I feel like I have the flu and want to die.

 Luca, Diego, Kevin, Connor, Gabe (Camden behind) Arnav, Own, Nick, O'Malley

Coach Alfredo and Carlos

Lindsay & Dan

So glad we got to go see Dan & Lindsay tie the knot!

We so rarely get all fancy, can't believe this is our one and only picture of the 4 of us.
Who would have thought for a wedding at the end of September in Columbus it would be 91 degrees and super humid. These westerner's were not prepared for that type of weather or the mosquitos. Lindsay was a beautiful bride and she had a great ceremony. They did this wine box thing which was a really cool idea I had never heard of. Both the bride and groom have their own key and they both have to put it in the box and turn the key at the same time to get it to open. When opened their are letters inside from each other and couples who have been married a very long time with advice on marriage, love and fighting fairly.  We wish you a life time of love and happiness!