Luke's 4th Birthday Celebration

Before the boys and I headed off to Utah for a get-away, we celebrated Luke's birthday. Matt would miss his actual birthday, since we were gone, so he wanted to have a birthday-day for him before. 

Matt was home sleeping off this long night at the hospital, and we went to our favorite place with some of Luke's friends. Chick-fil-a, we're a bit obsessed, mostly because they have an indoor playplace (the only one around) and real chicken nuggets.

Gage, Corbin, Luke and Emmett.

Luke really wanted to go ice skating for some reason, but it was freezing cold and we didn't really want to take both boys out to do something that Devin couldn't do, and Luke would probably fall a hundred times doing...so we talked him into bowling! We found a great bowling alley out in Solon. It was lots of fun.

And Matt is like my 3rd child, he loves arcades. Haha. We spent $5 and there was a broken game that would not stop spitting out tickets. We won about 700 tickets. Awesomeness.

These pics are terrible, but I don't really care. 

So, we scored big time at the goodie counter with those tickets!

Then we opened presents at home. He got just what he wanted (bows for his bow&arrow, and a sonic the hedge hog toy) and more.

Matt got him some fun games for the Playstation. They teach math, colors, shapes, etc. And he has to jump around the whole time. He thinks it's pretty cool.

And all he wanted for dessert was chocolate cupcakes.

Devin was so excited.

We had a super birthday bash for Lukey is Utah....that's coming up next!

Goodbye Fay

Over the weekend we went to clean out our good ole van and to say our final good-byes. Sniff, sniff. 

Oh how I loved Fay.

Poor Fay is definitely totaled. Thankfully, the guy at fault has car insurance (apparently 60% of Cleveland does not have car insurance...we were a bit nervous for a while there). We should hear back on payment, etc sometime this week. Hopefully it won't be long before we are shopping for a new van.

Fay, you were so good to us for almost 2 years. We had so many great memories together.

We will never forget you, even when we replace you with your twin. 

Loves, 

The Clarks

The Ultimatum

While I was home in Utah, I laid down the final ultimatum to my family. I told them, I refused to move back to Utah until SOMEONE (besides my lovely parents) comes to visit me. I have lived in Cleveland for 5 years and not once have I had a family member from my side of the family, besides my own parents, visit us. They've never seen how gorgeous Ohio can be throughout the year (aside from winter). They've never been to my house or seen where my husband works. From the moment I married Matt, almost 5 years ago, they have never seen how/where/what OUR life is like, other than our travels to Utah. 

I know that Ohio is far away and can be expensive to travel to, but it probably won't be long before we don't live here anymore and you're chance is gone. I am so used to hearing "We're planning a trip out there....oh wait, we're going somewhere else instead," or "We want to come...but..." And then the typical..."give me some good reasons why I should come out there?" Ummm....maybe because you're little sister and her family lives there, is a start?

Anyway, I've decided I'm going to start blogging a little bit about reasons why my family needs to visit us, or rather, all the things there are to do if you come out here.

Aside from the most important reason why you should come, that WE live here and you should want to see us, there are so many church sites and they aren't all that far away.

First of all, I am in the Kirtland Stake, therefore I don't live very far from Kirtland (about 20 mins). What's so important about Kirtland? Well, here are just a few reasons: the church was organized in Kirtland, the Kirtland Temple was the first temple built in this dispensation, the Lord appeared (more than once) to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple, accepting His house. Priesthood keys were then restored through three ancient prophets: Moses, the keys to the gathering of Israel; Elias, the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham; and Elijah, the sealing keys. And other prophets appeared there. During the weeks surrounding the dedication of the Kirtland Temple, the Saints experienced an outpouring of heavenly manifestations, which included the appearance of angels and the Saints seeing visions, uttering prophecies, and speaking in tongues.

Down the road from the temple is Historic Kirtland. Where the Newel K. Whitney Store, home, Inn and Mill are. It's all restored to the time period and missionaries are there to give tours. There is a great spirit felt there. And it's neat to see just how it was when the Saints lived there, while they were building the temple. 

Also, the John Johnson Farm is near by. That is where Joseph Smith lived for some time, receiving revelations that are written in the Doctrine and Covenants. That is where he was also tarred and feathered.

Those are the 2 big historical church sites that we hear about often when we study church history. I strongly believe that these places, along with the other church sites across the United States (esp. Palmyra, NY and Nauvoo, IL) need to be seen at least once in your life. We can learn so much from the early saints of our church. I have a love and appreciate for the sacrifices they made because of their faith.

Utah Christmas Vacay Part 2

I'm trying to play catch up on a whole lot of blogging. The rest of Christmas, Utah trip again and Luke's birthday...Here are bits and pieces, some of the highlights of our Christmas trip-and not really in order!

Clark Sibs.

All the cousins were there and it was so much fun!

We started the first ever, annual Clark Christmas Eve Party, which includes a talent show. It was mostly, playing the piano, some singing, trumpet playing, rhyme reciting, the bells and this awesome dance by Cameron and Adrienne.

Every Christmas Eve the Clark's also read/act out the nativity.

Christmas Morn.

Cameron asked for a girlfriend...and so it happened! haha

One thing you may not know about my cute husband is that he has a thing for collections....seriously, I won't even tell you all of the collections he has. Among the many, he has a hat collection. Doesn't he look like the husband on sister-wives? haha. 

And poor Devin had infections in his eyes....

 The Clark Fam in Sunday best.

 The loot from G&G Johnson's.

 And four wheeling up in the mountains, and sledding in the snow!!! Ahhh, how I miss the mountains.

 We got a 3 generation pic here.

Clark in every day attire....not an easy feat to do two family photos of this size! (Too lazy to organize these better!!)

The day after Cmas Daddy had to take off and go back to Cleveland (story of our lives..sniff, sniff). After that we went with the Clarks to Temple Square in SLC. And then I spent most of the last couple of days with my family...which isn't really pictured because I was tired of taking photos at this point. :)

  I did get to have brunch with some of my besties!

 Matt's bro Cam really is the man, he always plays with all the grandkids, especially the ones that are daddy deprived! Thanks Cam!

It was a great and unexpected trip home for Christmas this year!

A run of bad luck

-2.5 weeks ago our water heater started leaking (it was 30 years old after all). Thankfully, Matt had it replaced before I got back from our vacation! :)

-Devin got a double ear infection while we were on vacation and it probably peaked the night I left him at my in-laws (sorry!). Thankfully, my Father-in-law quickly started him on some antibiotics for me. Oh and the same night, there was an earthquake not far from my in-law's house. Weird!

-Then, low and behold, Luke got the flu, which I really should start expecting because it happens pretty much every time we visit Utah. Thankfully, it didn't last longer than a night. 

And the one that takes the cake....

-After all very long day of traveling from SLC to CLE, and complete pat-down, search through every single bag, item, child and stroller I was traveling (all because they don't have "one of those fancy machines that costs like a bijillion dollars(according to the TSA girl)" to search unopened baby food! Which I have traveled with several times and never had a problem), we finally arrived in Cleveland.We called daddy as we were taxiing in and he was on his way to pick us up. We jumped off the plane and the dreadful phone call came from an unknown phone number that Matt had been in a car accident. Luckily it was his voice I was hearing on the other end, so I knew he was okay enough to call me. All he said was, "I got in a car wreck call the Kiene's (our heros! Oh why do they have to move! sniff, sniff) to pick you up." Thankfully, Marilyn picked up and soon enough she rescued me from the airport. Thank you Marilyn!!!!!! A hundred times!!!

Well, Matt was going under the speed limit, not texting or talking on the phone, driving straight through a green light when pretty much out of no where an oncoming car turns left right in front of him. He didn't have enough time to stop and smashed into them, lost control and hit a pole. And the car that turned in front of him, spun and smashed into another car that was stopped at the stop light going the opposite direction. The airbags deployed and Matt has suffered from some whiplash and bruises. We are so grateful that he is okay! 

Our van is totaled and right now we are living on a prayer, hoping that the guy who was at fault has car insurance. 

It was a long day, but it never felt so good to be back together as a family Friday night.

Here's a picture Matt snapped with his ipod. He said that even inside car the dash board was cracked.

And since he's been a hardcore soccer player all of his life he doesn't think this bruise is anything special, but I think it's huge, purple and disgusting! The picture doesn't serve it justice.

Oh and then the next day I had the flu. 

Booo!

We're ready and waiting for some good things to come our way now.....any day now.... :)