Meet The Clark's

Happy Birthday Grandma

2010-09-14T21:16:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday Grandma! Morgan was so proud of the card she made Grandma for her birthday. To celebrate we all went out to eat dinner at Ruby's Dinner tonight. What a great night.

So excited we had to wait outside for Grandma.

Picked a flower for Grandma.

Yummy Dinner. Morgan loves watching the train go round and round.

Playing at the Park.

A Rainy Day Activity

2010-09-14T12:05:00.000-07:00

A Liquid or A Solid? Or Something Else?

Morgan loves playing in the kitchen, so today we turned off the cartoons and tried an experiment. All you need is Cornstarch and water. Morgan mixed the ingredients together, added her color of choice (Blue) and... PRESTO! She could not beleive her eyes and could not stop playing with the funny mixture. It looked and acts like a liquid but as soon as she touch it, it was solid. A fun and easy indoor activity.

What you need:

1 cup cornstarch
ABOUT 1/2 cup water
food coloring

Directions:

Empty 1 cup of cornstarch into a large bowl.
Stir while you add water SLOWLY -- don't add all of it if you don't need to.

You need the consistency of thick pancake batter and better to add too little water than too much.

Add a few drops of food coloring.
Stick your hands in the mixture and play in it.

What does it feels like?
What happens when you try to roll some into a ball and then leave it alone?
Pour the water into another bowl or pie plate
smack it with your hand

What Happened: When we talk about "states" of matter, we usually talk about the three types: solid (like a rock), liquid (like water) and gas (like the air we breath).A mixture of cornstarch and water make what is known as a suspension. When you squeeze a Cornstarch Suspension it really feels like a solid because its molecules line up. But it looks like a liquid and acts like a liquid when no one is pressing on it because the molecules relax. This is another state of matter, called a suspension (It can act like a liquid, or, when pressed like a solid.).

Yo Ho Ho, it's a Pirate's Life for Me!

2010-08-20T18:39:00.000-07:00

Shiver me timbers! It's Captain Morgan & her First Mate Alexander.

My Little Sweet Potato

2010-08-19T22:16:00.000-07:00

Morgan is sure a mommy's little helper. She was watching a movie when she overheard that I was going to feed Alexander for the first time. She came running over, yelling, "I help, I help feed Bubba". So we picked some Sweet Potato to start. Why not? Alex did great, although I'm not sure exactly how much he actually ate. But he seemed to do OK with it all. Morgan needs to learn to be a little more careful with the spoon but Alex survived. He is officially eating solid food now. Way to go Alexander and good work Big Sis.

And we are back online.

2010-08-17T16:39:00.000-07:00

The Google team emailed me today...

We apologize for any inconvenience you may have
experienced.The issue you described should
now be resolved.

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop?

2010-08-06T19:18:00.000-07:00

For Morgan...

one...

two...

three...

three.

Look the center of the Tootsie Roll Pop!

I did it!!!

How do you know when your baby's bathtub is too small for your baby?

2010-08-04T14:01:00.000-07:00

1. Baby's feet hang out of the tub.

2. Baby's head is over the top of the tub

3. Baby can turn off and on the water by himself

4. There is more water is on the floor than in the bathtub.

Yep. I think it's time to move on to the big boy tub.

Mr. Johnny Jumper

2010-08-03T13:28:00.000-07:00

Alexander Clark will be 16 weeks tomorrow and is the happiest little BIG guy. His face lights up when you look at him. He has the biggest smile and love to laugh and talk. It's the cutest thing. Morgan did not smiled much as a baby, so it's extra special to see Alex grinning from ear to ear whenever you look at him. Also, Alex cried a lot as a newborn so we are so happy to see him grow out that. He has such a loving personality and the sweetest eyes and... only 16 weeks.

He his new thing is the Johnny Jumper, that a friend let us borrow. He jumps a little but mostly he runs around in circles smiling and laughing. His smiles and laughs makes up for all the sleepless nights.

GRAND I AM.. as a WHALE that is

2010-07-27T19:35:00.000-07:00

Today was a momentous day. At 15 weeks, Alexander floated around in Beaver Lake for the first time. He loved the water. He sat up in his baby floaty and scooted around as if he had been doing it all summer. He loved the freedom of being able to walk around or maybe he just liked being in the nude. Morgan and Alex even played a little game of bumper boats. It looks like we might have another water baby on our hands.
After their evening swim both kids had a date with Mr. Bubbles. It was Morgan and Alex's first bath together. Bye bye baby tub, hello master bath. I think these two will be good friends if I can get Morgan to stop feeding Alex sand! Yikes, Morgan gave him a mouthful today. PS Thank you Grandma Clark for all your help tonight.

Earlier in the day... This sand is about to go straight into Alex's Mouth. Thanks big sister.

Precious Moments

2010-06-30T18:53:00.000-07:00

I’m feeling overwhelmed these days. The lack of sleep and the demands of a new born baby and a two-year-old is catching up with me. I'm so use-to doing what I want, when I want it. Being a new mom again is a reality check. There are no more quick trips to the grocery store, relaxing play dates, long drives in the car, afternoon naps for mom, sit-down dinners or longs talks in the phone. But as hard and difficult as this time is, I have to remind myself how precious each moment is and how fast it will go. Exhausted from the week and with a pounding headache, I canceled my afternoon plans with my sister and I tried to relax and be in the moment, with no expectations or goals for the rest of the day. Morgan was asleep so I took some Tylenol and managed to get a short cat nap with Alex before Morgan was up. After nap, I was happy to see a little sunshine. So we put our shoes and went down to play at the lake. Here are a few of our precious moments from the afternoon. I didn't even mind when Collin texted to say he had to work late.

Growing BIG Together

2010-06-29T13:04:00.000-07:00

Geana and I found out we were pregnant together and first came the girls... Morgan and Josephine

Next came the Boys...
Martin and Alexander

Before Pictures

Happy Birthday Grandpa (Papa)

2010-06-18T08:25:00.001-07:00

We love you Grandpa Clark!!! Wishing you a very Happy Birthday.
Collin and Ashley
Morgan & Alex

I'm A Big Girl Now

2010-06-09T02:32:00.000-07:00

This has been a BIG week for Morgan. She has really started to become a BIG GIRL... no more Baby Morgan. Here are a few of the milestones that ALL happened this WEEK.
(On July 4th Morgan will be 2.5 years old)

Wants to wear her own backpack stuffed with little goodies.

Started potty training! Morgan went to the potty own her own this week. Even carried her little potty all the way upstairs before taking off her diaper to go with no assistance from mom. I guess she is ready?!?

Loves wearing sunglasses and hats. I have never been able to get her to wear sunglasses before. Now I can't get her to take them off!

She loves dressing up in her ballerina outfit. Last Halloween she screamed when I tried to put a tutu on her. Mom still has to help her put it on but no screaming this time.

Walking in flip flops. She also started putting on her own shoes this week. Most of the time she gets them on the correct foot.

Sleeping in her BIG GIRL bed! Each night she brings all her babies to bed with her. She wraps them up in little blanket and sleeps with them all. It's so cute.

Way to go Morgan!!! It is crazy what one week can do.
Mom and Papa are very proud of you.

We are still working on Morgan saying her own name. It's funny but she has yet to say her name out loud. She can say other people's names but not her own.
The other thing is saying goodbye to the nini (pacifier) . The harder we try to take it away the more she wants it. However she keeps biting through them and "breaking" it, so soon she will have any "working" ones. Maybe then she will give up the nini.

A Night Owl Nursery

2010-06-08T08:15:00.001-07:00

It's a tiny room (or cubbyhole) but it's home to Alexander's night owl nursery. Morgan finally moved into her big girl bed so we could move Alex upstairs to the "kid’s loft". The bedding is called Alphabet Soup from PBK. It's from years ago but I love it. We got it when I was pregnant the first time and before we knew the gender, with the goal to reuse it with each child. So far so good. I love it as much as I did when we first ordered it.

The transition upstairs has been great. Alex is on a regular schedule so feedings are predicable. Bed time is at 11PM, feeding 3:30 AM and 6:30 AM. It's almost clock work. He takes 3 naps a day, first one around 8 AM (just as sister is getting up) and another nap short nap around 3PM and again at 7PM. Between Morgan and Alex someone is always feeding or sleeping with lots of diaper changes in-between. So mom and the video monitor are getting a workout. But with Alex out of our room, mom and dad are getting a lot more sleep and that is always a good thing.

Big sister also loves having her brother upstairs with her. Morgan is a heavy sleeper so when Alex cries at night she almost always sleeps through it. Once I found her at the crib saying, "don't cry buddy, it's OK." It was so cute.

(it really is a small room. Note: the little t.v. is not for Alex. It's for Morgan to play her old VHS Disney movies.)

Big Sister, Little Brother

2010-06-01T19:25:00.000-07:00

It's bath time for little brother and big sister is more than happy to help. She adores her baby brother and he seems to adore her too! It's so fun to watch.

But not "little" for long. Alexander is already getting very good at holding his head up. This 7 week old has some serious strength.

Side-by-side

2010-05-28T11:26:00.000-07:00

Morgan and Alexander Clark

Morgan 7.1 pounds & Alexander 9.11 pounds

Week 1

Week 3 - My First Chair

Week 6 - No love for the Camera

Baby Stroller

Growing Leaps and Bounds

2010-05-25T15:49:00.000-07:00

Bubba Alex is growing like crazy. Four weeks ago Alex was down to 8 pounds, last week he weighed in at 12+ pounds and measured 24 inches long. He remains off the charts for growth and height. He has out grown his newborn clothes and is starting to wear 3-6 month outfits. So much for the preemie clothes.

Morgan & Her Little Buddy Alex

2010-05-20T17:22:00.000-07:00

Alex 5 weeks old

1 Month - and my PickySticky's

2010-05-12T18:39:00.000-07:00

Alexander is 4 weeks old today... He has spent most of his life in my arms, eating and sleeping. He continues to grow bigger and bigger each day. This week he has outgrown his newborn clothes and has moved on to 0-3 Months and size 1 diapers. But he also developed a bad case of baby acne this week. Hopefully it will not last long. We are still struggling with sleep. He sleeps ALL the time but needs to be held and cuddled to sleep. And at night he has refused to sleep in his co-sleeper so he sleeps in bed with mom and dad. It’s not ideal but it works. Tonight we are going to move him out of our bed and into his own crib across the room. Hopefully this will help everyone sleep a little better.

Morgan is doing very well adjusting to her little brother. Today Morgan refused to get in the car because she was worried I had forgotten Alex. I had set his car seat on the ground so I could help Morgan into the car. Morgan started to fight me screaming “baby, baby”. She ran over to Alex and would not move until I put him in the car first.

The first 4 weeks have gone by so fast. You would think with the lack of sleep the time would be dragging but its the opposite, time is flying by.

Dear Tisha - Thank you for my PickySticky (http://www.etsy.com/shop/pickysticky). You are so creative and sweet. We are so behind in opening the mail, the other day I found your package and I was so surprised. We have got to get together soon. I miss you guys!

Catching Butterflies

2010-05-08T10:10:00.000-07:00

Kelsey Creek

2010-05-07T15:23:00.000-07:00

Today we ventured out to Kelsey Creek Farm on our first play date with two. Morgan loved getting out of the house to see her friends and the animals were a bonus. The hardest part was keeping her hands out of her mouth. Alex was a champ and slept through the whole thing. After the farm tour we all enjoyed a picnic lunch in the grass. It was a beautiful day.

Here Piggy..

Feeding the Cows

Morgan pretending to be a chicken.

Morgan - Hands out of your mouth.

Catching Butterflies.

Monkeys and Penguins

2010-05-06T12:25:00.001-07:00

I loves these two crazy animals!

Love at First Sight

2010-05-05T13:59:00.000-07:00

A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for. -- Anonymous

Cousins come to Visit

2010-05-04T13:14:00.000-07:00

The Beebe cousin's come to visit Alex. Oliver, Maddy and little Lilly checking out the new arrival.

Rub-a-dub-dub Little Guy in the Tub

2010-05-03T16:45:00.000-07:00

With a little help from big sister, Alex finally got a much needed bath today.

What's all the BUZZ about???

2010-05-03T15:04:00.001-07:00

It's LEANNE AND TERRI'S Baby Joint Bay-BEE Shower!

This weekend we hosted a baby shower for our good friends Leanne and Terri. Unfortunately Terri was admitted to the hospital and was unable to attend the shower…. So we surprised her the next day and re-hosted the Bay-BEE Shower in her hospital room.

Congratulations Mothers to Bee!

The next day....

Visit from Grandpa Smith

2010-04-30T10:20:00.000-07:00

Last night we had a surprise visit from snow bird Grandpa Smith. Morgan could not have been happier to have some company to play with. We let her stay up extra late to hangout with grandpa. She dragged him all around the house. She would grab his hand and tell him exactly what she wanted him to do. They made ice cream out of play-dough, danced to Lady Gaga, traced they hands and colored hearts, did puzzles and watched re-runs of Bugs Bunny. Collin and I just sat back and watched and laughed.

14 Days Old

2010-04-26T15:07:00.000-07:00

Dear Alex,
You are 2 weeks old today. You are such a happy baby and a delight for your dad and me. We love you so much! You are a little cuddle bug and love to be held and rocked in the glider. For the first week you would not let me put you down. I had to sleep in the glider holding you all night long, so you would sleep. When you're not sleeping you are eating. You LOVE to eat. In one sitting you can polish off a 4+oz bottle. So good work! Your pediatrician said an average baby drinks 2-3oz. The first week you were home you lost a lot of weight (down to 8.5 pounds), so I had to start pumping and bottle feeding you. I was amazed at how much you could eat. Mom has not caught up with you yet, so we have to supplement with formula. Since then you have gained some weight back and are much happier baby. You will be 10 pounds before you know it. Now that you have gained some weight, you sleep on your own in the co-sleeper and now I can get some sleep too. We go to bed around 11-12PM and by 3-4 AM you are ready for an early breakfast. But after a bottle you are back down for another 3.5 hours. Thank you for letting me get a little sleep, mom needs it!

Like most babies, you do NOT like getting dress or having your diaper changed. You go from 0 -10 in 3 seconds when we try to change you. And you have already peed all over your dad and me several times.

For only being 14 days old you are very loved. Your big sister is fascinated with you. When she walks in the room the first thing she wants to do is come see baby “Alec”. Her favorite thing to do is pat your head and count your toes. She also loves to cuddle up with you and mom in the glider. We barely fit but we all squeeze in and cuddle together. When you start crying she will come over and says “Oh Buddy” and pats you head. It’s so cute. I have a feeling you two will be good friends. Your grandparents love you very much too. Grandma Clark comes over every Wednesday to help out when papa is at night school. She loves to hold you and brings you cute little outfits and goodies for you. Grandpa Clark wants to come see you every weekend. He is so excited for a grandson. Your middle name is named after him. Grandpa and Grandma Swartz are building you and Morgan a tree house in the back yard. I know you will love it as you get bigger. Your aunt Isolde has come to see you several times and was there to witnessed your first breath. She has 3 kids, your big cousins, that are so excited to play with you when you get a little bigger.

We are all looking forward to watching you grow and develop into a little man. Last week you started to open your eyes and you looked around the room in amazement. I wonder how much you can see at this point and what you are thinking about. I'm curious about what your personality will be. What does your voice sound like and what will your passion and hobbies will be?

With lots of Love,
Your Mom

Pizza Pleeasse

2010-04-23T11:00:00.000-07:00

Tonight the Nanakul's came over for a pizza making night. This is always a big hit. Morgan likes to help "make" food in the kitchen. We have found if she "helps" make the food she is much more likely to eat it... and that's always a good thing. And after dinner the kids put on a little dance show. A night at the Clark's would not be complete without a dance from Lady Gaga. Thank you Leanne for bringing the ingredients over and all the baby goodies!

Alexander Michael Clark has Arrived!

2010-04-15T15:47:00.000-07:00

Weighing in at 9 pounds and 11 ounces, Alexander Michael Clark was born April 14th, 2010. We were admitted to the hospital at 5am and Alex was born around 2PM. He was a little more work to get out than his big sister but it went well overall. The epidural was not distributed evenly so I could feel every contraction from start to finish. No rest for mom. However, the pain may have helped push this big guy out. A big thank you to wonderful husband for is always there for me, my aunt Kelli for helping me through labor, my sister Isolde for helping document Alex's birth, my dad for intimidating the hospital staff and making sure I get the best care and Grandma and Grandpa Clark for watching Morgan when we were in the hospital and bring us dinner so we did not have to eat the hospital food. I love you all!

Welcome to the world big guy!

h

And dear great grandma... no it was not twins.

Could it be Twins?

2010-04-13T15:30:00.000-07:00

My grandma keeps telling me she thinks I'm having twins. Not the best thing to tell a pregnant mom.
It's been 9 months and 40 weeks (in my book) and I'm ready for this baby to be born. This pregnancy has not been the easiest. I am on blood thinners (daily shot of Lovenox), diagnosed with shortened cervix and was threatened with bed rest at 24 weeks, constant labor contractions, painful sciatic pain and bad carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands. Not to mention the all the weight gain.
Due to blood thinners, I have a planed induction tomorrow at 5AM. They say Alex is only 38 weeks but at the ultra sound today he weighed in at 9.4 pounds and 41 weeks by growth. That puts him over 95% for size. With that said, I am a little anxious for labor tomorrow. And yes, they promised there is only 1 baby in there.

Shooby Dooby Down to Ruby's

2010-02-26T13:22:00.000-08:00

After a Redmond play date with friends we Shooby Dooby Down to Ruby's for a hot dog eating contest with our best friends Matthew and Leanne. The kids had a blast playing with their 3-D glasses, coloring and watching the train go around and around. Morgan must have enjoyed lunch because after she finished her meal, she let out the loudest belch I have ever heard! The whole restaurant turned and looked at our table. It even startled her!

We left with full bellies and sleepy kids. It was a good day.

Enjoying the Simple Things

2010-02-24T21:06:00.000-08:00

Breakfast for dinner has never been so much fun. Morgan decided she wanted to do a little cooking tonight and I guess pancakes were on the menu. She demanded a bowl, spoon & apron and went to work. The funniest part is, we never did cook the pancakes. She just ate the batter right out of the bowl. I love this girl so much! She knows how to cheer me up after a hard day.

GO FISH!

2010-02-20T14:00:00.000-08:00

Who would have guess it, mid-February and 65 degrees and sunny in Seattle. So we packed up the kiddos and hubbies and went to GO see the FISH at the Seattle Aquarium. We topped the day off with lunch outside at Ivar's Seafood. But beware the birds do attack!

It's Not Delivery, It's Morgan

2010-02-19T21:20:00.000-08:00

Friday night has turned into make your own pizza night... with a little help from Trader Joes. Morgan likes to eat the pizza but loves to help make it, that's the best part. That's Amore!

Hut! Hut! Hike!

2010-02-19T20:52:00.000-08:00

It's time for a friendly game of Pee Wee Football... two year old style. Hut! Hut! Hike!

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T19:09:00.000-08:00

I Heart You!

2010-02-12T13:18:00.000-08:00

Today we celebrated Valentine’s Day with a little play date with some Issaquah Mom’s. The kids had fun coloring and making little heart Valentine’s. Morgan’s favorite shape is a heart and each time she spots one she points it out and says “Heart, Heart”.

Hot Diggity Dog

2010-02-10T13:23:00.000-08:00

The best shared lunch for $1.64... Costco Polish hotdog and Diet Coke (for mom). The question is will Morgan share her hot dog?

HOOOOOOOray

2009-11-29T14:07:00.000-08:00

Morgan's BIG GIRL room is all done! With a lot of help from family we painted the walls, assembled the furniture and put the bedding together. Morgan's room is a large loft with a view of a forest, so we thought a woodland's theme would be perfect. I love the colors and vintage fabric. Because we only have one kids bedroom we got 2 beds with the anticipation for baby number two to grow into it. If it's a boy, I hope he's OK with pink! We moved the crib and made a small nursery in the cubby area.

It's Starting to Look a lot Like Christmas

2009-11-27T21:20:00.000-08:00

The Christmas tree is up and holiday music fills the air. I love this time of year. But what a day!
A BIG Thank You to grandma and grandpa for watching Morgan. I can't wait for her to come home tomorrow and see the Christmas cheer.

All About MEme Monday: Mission Impossiable

2009-11-16T21:21:00.000-08:00

with MommyBrain and SupahMommy

MY MISSIONS...

Complete Morgan's BIG GIRL room. Need to finish painting the room. Half the room is done but still need to paint entryway/stairs with an 18 feet wall (still not sure how to do this). Paint and decorate the reading cubby, as a woodlands mushroom house. Setup 2nd twin bed. Finish Bathroom and organize closet.
Find “a place” for the new baby to sleep... need an empty wall (any room will do) just needs to fit a crib. This is when I wished we had moved to a bigger house. Looks like we will use the Family Room for a nursery again.

Finish Christmas shopping before Thanksgiving. With Morgan in school 3 days a week, I should be able to complete this but easier said than done. I love Etsy for gifts this year. They have so much great stuff!

It's an Ice Cream Sundae Party. December is too crazy to find time to plan an early January Birthday Party, so I have to have everything done before Thanksgiving. The house is going to be transformed into an old fashion ice cream parlor with all fixings for a yummy ice cream sundae.

Not gaining 60 pounds this pregnancy. However my carving for donuts and eggnog will not go away. The eggnog drinking has become out-of-control. I did get to the gym today for a short workout but not sure it will make a dent in the gallon of eggnog I drank today.

MY MISSION IMPOSSIABLE....

Sad Goodbye to our best friend "Nini" (or Binky) forever! This week we are only getting Nini in bed. So far so good but goodbye forever is another story.

Transition Morgan to a BIG GIRL bed by April. May need to get a second crib.

Not waiting in line for the H1N1 vaccine… forget it!

A clean yard and roof. We do live in a forest of pine trees. There is not much we can do about that but the wind storms are not helping. There are pine needles and leaves everywhere. Collin and his dad worked this weekend to clean things up and the next day we have another BIG wind storm. I guess I should be happy as long as a tree does not fall on us.

Finding comfortable (yet flattering) maternity clothes. I am dreading dressing up for the holidays. Why do maternity clothes look so awful? And shoes… not a lot of options here. That’s why I am hosting a pajama party for Christmas.

Madeline’s Mad Hatter's Tea Party

2009-11-13T13:50:00.000-08:00

Madeline celebrated her 3rd birthday with a crazy mad hatter's tea party. Aunt Isolde’s Birthday Parties are always fun and over-the-top. This year’s the Mad Hatter tea party was a delightful with a crazy decorations, a sideways cake and circle time with Mother Goose for a little story telling. Oh, did I mention there was a harp player there too! Happy 3rd Birthday Maddy!

Stay Away Piggy!

2009-11-12T14:07:00.000-08:00

Well we did it. Morgan got her H1N1vaccine, still need a booster but hopefully 1 will be better than nothing. The doctor's office said "no promises" that they will have the required booster for her. But at least we did not have to wait in a 4 hour line to get it. I'm not so lucky. My OB at Evergreen still does not have any vaccines (month over due), so this pregnant lady is going to have to wait a few more week.

Knock Knock

2009-11-02T08:11:00.001-08:00

Wonder Woman made her appearance on Halloween Night. Thank you Aunt Izzy for letting us borrow it, it was a winner! Morgan was so excited to wear the costume (no tears) and she had this burst of energy when she put it on.

Mom and Dad decided we should start the night off trick or treating around Beaver Lake. We thought it would be fun to meet some of our neighbors for the first time. (We have only lived here 4 years!) I thought it would be a good surprise too, since we have never had a trick or treater come to the house. The first house had a long driveway but it was all lighted and they had lots of fun Halloween decorations. Now normally Morgan is shy around new people and places but not Wonder Woman. No, Wonder Woman RUNS down the driveway and starts knocking on the door before we could get there. After a long wait, a lady opens the door. She looks at us in utter disbelief and says, ”we have never had a trick or treater here. And ummm….. we do not get any candy this year.” Just then, Wonder Woman takes off and runs inside the house. She is not leaving without her treat. As we try to get Wonder Woman to come back outside the neighbor realizes she might have a leftover candy bar and scurries off to the kitchen to look. She comes back with a full size candy bar and Wonder Woman could not have been more excited. We decided at that point we better surprise any more neighbors. We headed off to O’s toddler Halloween Party for night of trick or treating, fun toddler play and yummy Halloween treats. On the way over to the party Wonder Woman ate the whole candy bar with a BIG chocolate smile on her face. Morgan LOVED Halloween. She ran house to house and got lots of candy. She can not say "Trick or Trick" yet but she did know how to "knock, knock" and look cute for some candy. I think this might be her favorite holiday for years to come.

What a Hoot!

2009-10-31T14:26:00.000-07:00

This week we setup Morgan's big girl bed. Well Collin set up the bed when I was out of town but it’s all done and it looks adorable. I love it! It was a fun surprise to come home to after a few days away. It’s a twin bed, cottage style, with colorful trees and owl bedding. Morgan’s room is like a tree house loft, so it fits perfectly. The only problem is I seem to be the only one sleeping in the bed. At least it's comfortable! Morgan is getting up at 6AM these days and mom cannot seem to get moving that early. I go up stairs to get her and end up crawling into her bed, as she watching morning cartoons and makes pretend breakfast.

Our Little Ballerina

2009-10-23T18:52:00.000-07:00

It looks like Little Red Riding Hood will NOT make an appearance this Halloween. After a lot of crying and tears I think we are done with the Red Dress and hood. But mom found a backup costume in the closet and it looks like a winner. Morgan even put on a little ballet show for us.

My Favorite Things To Do

2009-10-23T18:47:00.000-07:00

... Color, Color, Color

Pumpkin Carving Party: Friends from the Issy Mom's Group

2009-10-19T15:08:00.000-07:00

Despite our crazy weather on Saturday, the Pumpkin Party was a success. The house was busting at the seams and NOT a lot of pumpkin carving got done but it was a good Saturday night. The plan was to have everyone carve their pumpkins outside but the blowing rain and lighting and thunder was a bit of a deterrent. However the food was delicious and I can say that because I did not make any of it. (I can't cook, especially being pregnant) But my wonderful husband made 3 crock pots of beef stew and my amazing mother-in-law made homemade corn bread and apple crisp and 2 pumpkin pies. It was really tasty... I had several helping and gained a good 5lbs.
But the best part was catching up with my fellow mommies and watching all the kids play together. I joined the Issy Mom's Group when Morgan was 10 weeks old and now these moms are my best friends. We have watched our babies grow up together. I am so thankful for my amazing mommy friends! And for my Mother-in-law who was a huge help at the party.

I hope the Pumpkin Carving Party will become a tradition for many years to come.

Morgan and Riley. BFF's

The Miami 5 Girls (2 down, 3 to go )

The Pumpkin Carving in the dark

The kidos... Take 10 The Color Table
PJ time with Dora

All About MEme Monday: I've Never

2009-10-19T11:32:00.000-07:00

Joining the mayhem.... my first time to play along. MEme Monday!

I've NEVER ... 5 Things (or more or less)
that distinguish YOU from the crowd.

(join the fun with MommyBrain and SupahMommy )

I've Never...

1. I've Never... had a tattoo and have never had a desire to get one. But I have pierced my eyebrow & bellybutton. The eyebrow thing did not last long but wanted to try somthing different in college.

2. I've Never... watched a scary movie, well not the whole movie. I always plug my ears and cover my eyes during the scary part. I can't watch it.

3. I've Never... ate a Dick's Hamburger. I really want to... but I do not like the taste of ketchup, mustard, relish and mayonnaise, it just makes me want to gag. I've been like this forever. I was the only kid that hated McDonald's because they could not make a hamburgers without the condiments. But I love Dick's french fries and chocolate milkshakes!

4. I've Never... been able to dance. I tried but I have No rhythm. You will never see me out on the dance floor (unless a lot of drinking is involved). I was even in ballet for 10 years... and hated every minute of it. One day I told my ballet teacher how much I hated it and she kicked me out of class. That was the best day of my "young" life. After that I joined every sport team I could find.

5. I've Never...been able to sing. Singing is just not my thing. I have no tone, no rhythm and I my tongue is too big. Also can't stand up for that long, I get dizzy singing and feel like I'm going to faint.

It's now your turn :) What have you never done???

Pumpkin Fun

2009-10-16T16:46:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow we are hosting the 1st Annual Clark's Pumpkin Carving Party with some friends from the Issy Mom's Group. Morgan and I are going to roast some pumpkin seeds for the party, so we're getting ahead start on our pumpkin. We have 14 toddlers and 25 adults coming over to carve and/or paint pumpkins, Oh and serving dinner too. I think I'm crazy....I know I'm crazy.

Miss Marika’s Music Class

2009-10-09T13:35:00.001-07:00

Festival of Salmon

2009-10-04T16:12:00.000-07:00

Today we enjoyed our first Salmon Days in Historic Issaquah. Apparently this is a VERY popular event. We ran into lots of friends and it was no surprise because I think everyone in Sammamish/Issaquah area was there today. Tons of kids and PREGNANT woman everywhere! Maybe I just notice pregnant people now but they sure seemed to be out in full force today. First we went to watch the salmon swimming in the river, then we ate some well done egg rolls but the highlight for Morgan was the free train ride around the parking lot! Good toddler fun. Wish we had more time to explore but nap time was calling.

Farewell to Summer Tea Party

2009-09-21T14:43:00.001-07:00

Happy 60th Birthday Grandma!

2009-09-20T10:28:00.000-07:00

Brownie Pops

2009-09-17T17:42:00.000-07:00

Morgan and Mom are baking some yummy treat for Grandma's 60th Birthday party this weekend. Morgan approves! Thanks Nova for the great idea. The finished pictures will be posted in a few days.

Guess who is going to be a BIG SIS soon?

2009-09-15T07:33:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's true. Morgan is going to be a big sister in April. We have a long road ahead of us but we are so excited.

Last days of Summer on Beaver Lake

2009-09-13T07:37:00.000-07:00

Jaguar (Panthera onca)

2009-08-27T08:42:00.002-07:00

http://www.zoo.org/factsheets/facts.html

PJs, Popcorn and a Projector

2009-08-23T08:41:00.001-07:00

Yesterday the sun surprised us with a beautiful afternoon so we invited a few friends over for a movie under the stars. This year we did it with the kids! We setup a tent for the little ones to play in and let the kids stay up past dark for a Disney classic. The kids danced the night away in their Pjs, eating popcorn as they watched Aladdin. After bedtime the adults stayed up to see aliens attack in the cheesy scifi Independence Day. I am going to miss summer!

Sea Mist

2009-08-09T22:35:00.000-07:00

BeaverFest 2009

2009-08-02T12:49:00.000-07:00

Last night was the annual neighborhood BeaverFest on the Lake. One of the neighbors hosts a big potluck and live music under the stars for the lake folk. We decided did not got to the potluck but enjoyed listening to the music as we floated by in our inflatable rafts. A few friends came over and we did the PARK to CLARK float. Where you float from Beaver Lake Park back to our house. It took about an hour with a cooler of Bud Light in tow.

Ahoy Mate!

2009-08-02T12:41:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Lilly! My sister out did herself again with an under the sea party for Lillian's 1st Birthday. The cake looked just like a sandcastle and the decor was great!

Party Barge on Lake Union

2009-08-02T12:27:00.000-07:00

Issaquah mom's left the kids and the East side for a boat ride around Lake Union. About 30 people (3 boats) floated around "Little Lake" for a 3 hour tour. It was a great way to beat the heat and hangout with my favorite mommy friends.

Beating the Heat

2009-07-30T16:05:00.000-07:00

With all this HEAT we needed to get out of the oven (our house) and cool down a little. We decided to meet at the Bellevue Club for a dip in the pool and dinner with friends. Morgan was less interested in the pool and more interested in the water fountains. Apparently we were not the only one with that idea. As we waited for a table for 8 we hit the basket ball courts and let the kids around. The AC felt so good, I did not want to leave. And it must have worked because Morgan went right to sleep when we got home and the house did not feel soooo HOT that night.

Crazy Cousins

2009-07-28T15:29:00.000-07:00

Our crazy FUN cousins came over to visit and play in the lake. After a morning swim we went to see the bubble man at Beaver Lake Park. It was 98' degrees outside. Morgan was hungry and tired, not a good combo for mom.

Quick picture with me and Mom

Seattle Heat Wave

2009-07-27T18:27:00.001-07:00

We hit the lake today to try and stay cool in this Heat Wave. Morgan is starting to like the lake more. But was not a big fan of floating out on the raft with mom. But she loved the water slide!

Black and White

2009-07-27T18:25:00.000-07:00

Got to LOVE summer time. Sun, Sand and playing in the water.

Banana Pancakes

2009-07-27T18:12:00.001-07:00

Today we got early and made Morgan's favorite breakfast, banana pancakes with mini chocolate chips. This time Morgan got to help mom mix the batter. Quick Clean up!

It's a Hoedown!

2009-07-26T21:44:00.000-07:00

This weekend we hosted a Wild Wild West Party for a good friend's Birthday. We had so much fun planning the party and it was a BLAST!