All I want for Christmas is...

A Little Green Bissell (or a vomit sucker)! I know that is a strange thing for a wish list, but baby, it's at the top of my list after last night! Last night Jeff and I were at Alli's play "America On Parade," enjoying the patriotic music performed by cute elementary school aged kids when we got a mysterious phone call from home. Lauren was calling to ask me what she should do, Lindsay had just thrown-up all over the playroom. So imagine if you will, all she had been eating was red punch and crackers! So, you know what that means--yup, red vomit in the white berber carpet! When we got home from the play (Alli did a beautiful job by the way--she even had a solo in one of the songs!), I spent the next half hour or so with a shop vac, carpet cleaner, a rag and water! Good times! Needless to say, I did laundry until bed-time (Lindsay also threw-up in bed a little while later). All was well until around 1:30am when Calvin came downstairs to tell us he just threw-up. This time it was all over him, his bed, and his white berber carpet in his room, and various other spots along his path to our room--and yes, Calvin had red punch at dinner, too, Yippee! We were able to clean it all up again, thanks to the trusty shop vac, but I'm thinking it's about time for a Little Green Bissell! If this is the way the journey is going to be...I'm thinking it would come in handy!

Cute Little Things

Lindsay was cute today. I had her in tow delivering Reflections entries to our school this afternoon. I had some boxes of drawings and photographs and had to go back and forth between the school and our car about three different times. (I am so glad I can open and close the back hatch of my car by pressing a button!) This always scares me because we have to pass through a little parking lot, and today it was just before school let out so cars were starting to line up to pick up kids. I didn't have a hand to carry Lindsay, so I told her to hold onto the leg of my pants. This was something new and she played along beautifully. I was wearing gauchos so my pant legs were loose and she held on to the outside edge as we walked along. On our way back to the car I heard her saying to her baby doll, "Hold my dress baby," and she put her baby's hand on her skirt as they walked through the parking lot to our car! Funny. She likes to be a little Mommy. The next stop we took was to Lauren's LED conference (some derivative of Parent Teacher Conference). As Lauren and I looked through her file and discussed her work, Lindsay was helping her baby draw. She was holding the baby's hand with a pencil in it and drawing with the baby. Then I heard her say, "Good job, Baby Diego!" Sometimes I have to just laugh at how cute she is! It was fun to slow down a little today and notice the cute little things my kids do. Now that's how to enjoy the journey!

What's for Lunch?

The only explanation I can come up with is this--I was spoiled growing up. Everything we ate was made from scratch and it was delicious! Yup...bread, cookies, pies, rolls...all of it! We had eleven kids, so maybe that was part of it, but now I cannot pass up homemade cookies. I love them! I can eat several without even realizing it.

So now that you understand where I am coming from, I have a confession to make. I just had ummmm....around 6 chocolate chip cookies for lunch. Oh, and a glass of milk (duh!). I just got home from the DownEast Blowout Sale at Thanksgiving Point and put Lindsay on the potty while I made her standard crackers, cheese and raisins lunch. As I was in the pantry I noticed a bag of chocolate chip cookies that Lauren made for Family Night last night. I had one, I'll eat it before lunch instead of after--I can, I'm the Mom! Of course, as I ate that one I noticed how soft and delicious it was. Those semi-sweet and special dark chips were still soft! Yum! I grabbed another. Then I checked on Lindsay, still crying and not done yet, back to the kitchen. I got out the bread to make me a peanut butter sandwich and I thought to myself....What's the difference between a peanut butter sandwich and a cookie? Not much.... Another cookie. Now Lindsay's done, good girl. I should pour myself a glass of milk to wash down those cookies. Now that I have milk...I should dip a cookie...that would be good. Yup! It was. So I had another and drank all my milk. Putting away the bag of cookies I thought...One more for the road! What is up with that? I'm a wreck!

So now that I've OD'd, I'm telling myself that we take this journey one day at a time and tomorrow I'll be better. I am doubtful though...I did practically the same thing last night as the cookies were coming out of the oven, and then later on when they were cooled. I need help!

"We're going to see George!"

We just got back from a fun weekend in St George! We had a great time. Lindsay was so cute, the morning before we left she can running into our room and said, "I'm going to see George!" It's so funny how kids can get excited about something they have no idea about! The first day, Jeff sent Lauren, Alli and me to Tuachan to see "Les Miserables."

It was amazing! We had never been to Tuachan before and were really impressed with it. It was so cool to be out there right against that red rock! Wow! We loved it and felt spoiled that Daddy would stay home with the little kids so we could have a big girl outing. The next day we went to the Visitor's Center at the Temple and had a wonderful time. It was so well done and we got to see a brand new Church film about obedience.

What a beautiful temple!

After the temple, we headed to the pool to chill for the afternoon!

Oh, Daddy! That's scary!

Where did she learn to steal cookies? Like mother, like daughter! She kept going back for snacks! It was pretty funny!

Calvin pre-cannon ball!

Funny Lindsay put Alli's goggles on and was ready for swimming!

There's nothing like chillin' at the pool on vacation.

The hot tub was a big hit, too!

Lindsay spent a lot of time with just her feet in the water, so Mommy got to hang out with her most of the time.

I think the folks back home were chilly in a whole different way while we were enjoying the warmth of the St George sun. Somehow, that made it even sweeter to know we had escaped! Saturday was cooler, but it didn't stop us from doing some rock climbing!

We all were awesome at it! Okay, so our rock climbing was on a little rock wall at this really cool park friends directed us to.

Great park!

The long and short of it was that we had a great family weekend. It was fun to take the journey South and see George! By the way, he's doing just fine!

Tagged again!

My sister sent me this tag. It was really fun to read her responses (these things always give a little insight into personalities) but, I am not feeling confident about how I will do. Here goes...
I am...an optimist. Jeff always laughs at me for making up stories about people. (Maybe he has a crock pot full of beans in the back of his car--that's why he's driving so slowly!) I miss...being able to eat anything I want and not paying for it later (in inches)! I think...babies are soo cute! I love...my husband. I know...that my Heavenly Father loves me. I want...to be the kind of mother my Mother was--patient, always happy to see me, fun to be around. I search...for fun, cheap things to do with my kids. I wish...I had a chocolate dipped caramel apple tree in my backyard. I hate...having to pay for car repairs! I am scared...of big spiders and cockroaches--the kind we had in Hawaii! Uggh! They still freak me out! I fear...nothing. I am always...thinking about food. Okay, not always, but most of the time! I love...reading in my bed and falling asleep for a nap. I feel...cozy in my sweater and warm socks. I hear...Lindsay watching Caillou and playing in the other room--how do you think I find time to blog? I smell...my pumpkin pie candle--yum! I don't always...floss. Sorry Ash, and Traci. I wonder...what I'll have for my afternoon snack, it's almost time for that. I care...too much about what people think. I have always been a "people pleaser", but I am getting better about that. I regret...that Calvin doesn't have a brother. He has been a pretty good sport about it, but every now and then he talks about next time I have a baby and how it would be great if it was a boy. I am not afraid...for the future. Which is saying a lot right now! I believe...that everything will work out. We have to enjoy the journey! I dance...like a goof-bot in the car to make Jeff laugh. My kids laugh too, but they are doing it out of shame and disgust. I'm sure Jeff laughs because he thinks I'm soo cute! I write...in print mainly. It sort of looks like my sister, Wendy's handwriting, but not as cute. I win...points when I have hot cookies for the kids when they come home from school. I still remember how awesome that was when I was a kid. Cookies are always a great surprise! I lose...my keys in my purse all the time! I hate that about purses! You can never find anything! I'm starting to think that purse light/organizer you see late at night on infomercials is looking good! I never...make chicken and rice right! You know that casserole with the chicken, rice, cream of mushroom, etc? I think I've made it right once in my life! The sad thing is it's Jeff's favorite recipe and I hardly ever make it because the rice isn't cooked, or too crispy, or it's too dry. The funny thing is it's not that difficult of a recipe and I'm a decent cook. What is the deal? I listen...for the sound of the school bus driving down our street. I love to hear the kids coming home from school for the day. I think Lindsay listens for it, too! Mom isn't as fun as Calvin and Alli. I can be found...at home most days. I am sort of a homebody. I love being able to be home with my kids. Thanks, Jeff. I read...anything engaging and uplifting. I love to read, but these days it has to be worthwhile--so not as much fluff as I used to read.
Wow! That was a lot. Sorry everyone! I hope you realize by now that my blog is largely for my journaling purposes. I hope I didn't bore you. And now, tag--Ashli, Angelle, Lindy, Traci, Val, Victoria, Ipo, Talia and anyone else that reads this blog--you're turn!

Picture Tag

I've never heard of this before, but my cute Sister-in-Law, Ashli tagged me. So this is how it goes...you go to My Pictures and then you go to the fourth folder, fourth picture and pull it into your blog and explain it...is that right, Ash? So here's our awesome picture! This is my only boy--Calvin. Alli (my ten year old) took this picture of him. Alli loves to take pictures! Calvin is apparently squished between two mailboxes in our neighborhood. I didn't even realize she had taken this picture, but it is followed by pictures of her school friends, so my guess is this is from the last day of school last year when we let her take a camera to school. Aren't kids fun? It is really neat as a Mom to watch them grow-up and develop into real people. I love my kids!

So I guess now each of you reading this are tagged! Now you get to find some mysterious picture of your own and share it with the world! No cheating! Thanks for helping to make the journey interesting, Ash.

Follow the Prophet!

Conference was great! I am anxious to get the Ensign so we can read the talks again. I don't know what it is about reading it, but for me I really get a lot out of the print version. Also, it's fun to highlight! We had so much fun visiting with family between sessions and eating together, too this weekend!

We did a lot of the eating! We had our annual Clarke family Priesthood Pie Extravaganza after Priesthood Conference (obviously). For the uninitiated, each family brings a couple of pies and when we are all combined we have at least a dozen pies to try. We had pie coming out of our ears by the night's end! But it actually began with homemade pizza--thanks Grandma! Grandma and Aunt Wendy had made pizza for the moms and kids as we waited at Grandma and Grandpa's for Priesthood Conference to end. I think we ate so much pizza that it was difficult to eat as much pie as we wanted! Sunday we followed that by having lasagna out our ears at Grandpa and Grandma Barrett's. Of course the lasagna was followed by pie and ice-cream, too! (I'm not going to mention the pumpkin pancakes with buttermilk syrup for breakfast on Saturday and the cinnamon rolls for brunch on Sunday! So if I don't mention them, hopefully they don't count?)

With all the Spiritual Feasting as well as the physical type, it was a very enjoyable weekend, but we are committed again this week to exercise every day and eat healthy! We've got to make up for the damage done this weekend! Let's hope it works!

BTW--I hope you all heard President Monson validate our motto--Enjoy the Journey!

First Haircut

I made a big decision today.  I took Lindsay to get her haircut!

I haven't wanted to cut it yet because it was so cute and curly, but lately we've been consistently having a bad hair day.  The real problem is that she likes to take out any pony tails or clippys that we put in, so not long into the day, the cute hair has become "not so much."  So I've finally given in to the rest of the family's urgings that Lindsay needs a hair cut!  So here she is!  Doesn't she look big?

It turns out to be great timing--her bangs are hiding a nice purple bruise she got just this morning as she was excitedly running to the car to go get her hair cut and then play with friends!  Lindsay is learning that the journey can be bumpy--especially when we run in the house!