Sledding

Matt is working a terrible, awful, horrible, stinky rotation.

Did I mention that it stinks?

So, we rarely see this hunky bearded man these days. 

Well, let me just make a little shout out to my main squeeze.

Yesterday he came home to a very sick (and very dramatic) wife.

I had come down with the flu. Not the stomach flu, but the flu flu.

The one year I forget a flu shot and BAMB! I get the flu.
(Trust me, the shot is worth it).

Well, he had just worked all night long. He came home and saw that I was on what I thought, was my death bed, and came to my rescue. He called the pharmacy and went and got me some meds. He came home, took care of the two big rugrats (Luke was also sick). Then he saw that the Devinator peed in his bed, so he started a load of laundry. He helped make me comfortable. Once James went down for his morning nap he made me go take a nap...and then he finally went to bed. 

Wait, the goodness doesn't end there. 

He then woke up early (because he had to return to work at night again) to spend time with the boys, so that I could get another nap in. Meanwhile...(can you believe there's more?) he and the boys made me chicken noodle soup and bread (from scratch!)!!!

Yes. I know you're jealous. 

He is amazing.

And he's all mine.

Thanks babe.

-------------------------------------

Now onto the sledding....

Luke was better and returned to school.

After school Matt wanted to play with the kids in the snow.

I looked out the window and the sun was shining (miraculously) beautifully! 

It was a photo opportunity I couldn't pass up.

 Devin chose to wear my hat and it covered his eyes almost the entire time. Funny kid!

 I love Devin's little arms sticking out. This boy is our fearless one.

 Notice Devin?

Grandma and Grandpa Clark, notice the beanies? They are the warmest 

ever and we all wear them everywhere!!

After I ran back inside, I looked out again and sure enough, Matt couldn't resist a turn. 

And just for funzies...this is what James was doing during all the snow fun.

He is our happy little guy!

Thanksgiving!!!

For Thanksgiving this year we had visitors!!!

Sarah came.

Cameron came, and brought his girlfriend Whitney.

Then Doug, Katie and Paige.

And then, Dave, Meg, McKelle and Scottie.

It was fabulous!

But...we definitely missed our missionaries, the Allens and McArthurs. 

Auntie Sarah is the best.

 This was my first real Thanksgiving I hosted. 

(Meaning, I actually had to plan and cook and whatnot).

I had a turkey, that really was, out of this world. 

Okay, maybe not, but it was dang good.

We brined it and injected that bad boy. It tasted so yummy!

 Anne, be proud of this photo...all the Clark boys serving everyone.

Such gentlemen!

 Sarah and I were twinners this day. :) 

 We went bowling, black friday shopping, the guys played in a turkey bowl in the snow, 

the girls did a little more shopping, ice cream and girls chick flick, the art museum, Little Italy, Bspot...

It was just awesome. 

We had SO much fun having everyone here.
It's always sad when they all leave.

Thank you for coming everyone!!!

5 Months!

Little Jimmy is already 5 months old!

He is such a sweet boy.

He loves his mama.

Hates his daddy's current beard.

Loves to watch his brothers be little rascals.

Rolls all over the place.

Scooting a bit too.

Loves toys.

Started rice cereal (today) and loved it.

Eats like a bear.

Blows bubbles. 

Plays with his feet.

Likes to sleep on his belly (even though, I put him on his back!).

Love you little James!

October/November Recap

 Our boys love bowling...so we go...often. 

 And one day, my friend kept Dev for a few hours while we worked on 

our basement, and when he returned...well.

He had spilled sprite all over his clothes, so he had to borrow Jane's clothes. 

And they had spent some of that time at a birthday party, with face painting.

 I went with Luke on a class field trip to the zoo. 

It was fun with my 3 kids, which wrangling 5 other kindergarteners! (It was exhausting).

But really, I'm glad I got to go.

 This year we decided to make a Thankful tree. 

And then it began. 

The Apples.

They are still coming out our ears a month later.

An orchard nearby had an abundance of apples. They opened it up to $25 per car, all you can pick.

Matt was off that morning and well, we figure we got about 400-500 POUNDS!!!!!!!

 It was freezing.

 We made 67 quarts of applesauce. IN. ONE. DAY.

It was also exhausting!

Then 24 quarts of apple pie filling.

(And since then, we've been dehydrating apples like crazy and making

fruit leather too...and we seriously have 2 boxes left).

We randomly had a week where I took Dev to 3 museums in one week (unintentionally).

 Cleveland Museum of Art

 The Western Reserve Society with some friends from school

(which we JUST discovered, and it's really awesome!).

And then the Natural History Museum.

 My grandparents celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this year and my sister made a sweet video of their lives together. I couldn't be there for the big celebration, but my parents mailed me a copy of the video. I saw some really awesome (and embarrassing) photos of my mom's family that I'd never seen and then this one came up at the end. It's not a great copy, since I snapped it off my tv, and I'm not 100% sure it's even me-BUT I think this baby looks SO much like my little James.