Wednesday, July 20, 2011

ride the ducks

Brent's parents gave him the best birthday present ever this year - a visit!

Here are a few shots of our fun weekend:

Brent took his parents to the base...
Space Needle


I'm not sure?


Riding the Duck - a WWII amphibious landing craft, which took us on a tour of Seattle and Lake Union.






Seeing a plane land on Lake Union was a highlight for Coop and Linc.



After our fun tour (a HAVE TO if you ever visit Seattle) we spent some time looking at ships and searching for the Pike's Place Market before enjoying a super-delicious Italian dinner.  We were all so worn out the next day that we just stayed home and relaxed.

i am going to be an aunt!!!

Well, I guess I am already an aunt.  And it's so much fun to BE an aunt.

But this time, I will be an aunt to someone with whom I will share a special bond.  Something that just the two of us have in common (at least pertaining to my immediate family).  We will both share the "maiden" name of CLARK.

Congrats to Annemarie and Kevin who are having a....

GIRL!!!!!!

Mercedes is ecstatic to have another girl cousin (she's only got one right now).  The Bethers clan is awesome at making boys.  But we're excited to add some more estrogen to the mix.  

This will also be the first cousin born on the Clark side.  I'm sure that my parents are doing cartwheels.  They live for the grandkids.  Grandkids are their favorite hobby.  And now they'll have one living just down the road.  

I just wish I could move in on their street.  And be the best baby-sitter ever.  I probably won't get too many chances to baby-sit, though, since 13 hours is a bit far to drive...  darn it.

Monday, July 11, 2011

my whole life is ruined?



What a great day.  Seriously.  It was great.

Mercedes was invited by our neighbor to attend a church camp every morning this week.  She was THRILLED to have some "big girl" time away from her "pesky" little brothers.

Cooper, who thinks that Mercedes is the best thing since sliced bread, is not Mercedes favorite person of late.  I feel so bad for him!  I think that the age gap between them is getting bigger.  She enjoys her brothers more when she's not around them all day.  Such is life, right?

The boys and I had a very relaxing morning: Cooper had the house to himself while Lincoln napped.  I got about 5 loads of laundry done.

All three were extremely well behaved during my doctor's visit.  I was so happy (and shocked and relieved) that I told them we'd get icees on the way home.  I'd forgotten that it's July 11th.  7/11.  Meaning that 7-11 is giving out free slurpees today.  It was a madhouse!  But the slurpees were free!

When we got home Mercedes, her friend Grace and the two boys played in the rain on the trampoline.  They had a blast.  After they came in soaked, the girls went to Grace's house for dinner.  The boys and I read scriptures (and the kids actually listened!) while they ate dinosaur chicken nuggets and Rainier cherries.  We talked about the Temple being Jesus's house.  Cooper said, "I want to go see Jesus in his house!"  I told him that he needs to be a very good boy so that he can go to the temple when he's old enough.

No fighting.  No complaining.  A very peaceful and fun dinner.  What a gift.

Then the 8-year-old got home.

 I asked her to take a shower, because it was already her bed-time.  She whined, "do I have to right now?"

I said, "yes, you do.  It's bedtime."

She said, "But I'm thirsty!"

I said, "Well, there's a cup in the bathroom.  Get a drink!"

She complained about not liking the upstairs water, and then I heard her crying over and over:

"MY WHOLE LIFE IS RUINED!!!!"

I just need to know: When does school start again?