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.

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?

"just kidding... i just want to be a veterinarian."

Tonight over our (very fancy) dinner of TJ's Fish Nuggets and Bell Pepper slices, Brent asked the children (8, 4 and 2) what they wanted to accomplish this summer.

This led to a conversation about their future goals.

Mercedes wants to go to BYU (UT).  During her time in high school and college, she'll work as a cashier and earn money to buy a mini-cooper or a mercedes.  Then she'd like to be a veterinarian or do hair and be a mom.

Cooper wants to go to USC.  He'll drive a big blue truck.  First, he wanted to be a train engineer after college (because he'll be too young in high school).  Then, he decided that he wants to be a veterinarian and a dad.

Once Brent illustrated the joys of being a Father - namely cleaning up barf and poop - Cooper said:

"Just kidding.  I don't want to be a dad.  I just want to be a veterinarian.

Smart boy.

today i don't feel like doing anything

It was VERY hard to get up this morning.  We've been sick for the past week, and this morning the head-cold hit hard.

At one point I got up to get Cooper some cereal.  And then I went back to bed.

Then I got up to change Lincoln's diaper.  And went back to bed.

The kids (who I rationalize are also under the weather and need to just rest) have taken turns picking shows/movies to watch.  I've let them watch as much as they want today.

I let the kids eat whatever they wanted.  Granola Bars?  Sure.  Goldfish?  Sure.  Cookies?  Sure.

I finally got out of bed for good some time after 9 am.

The downstairs floor is covered with granola bar and goldfish and pretzels.  And water.  And I don't care.

My wonderful husband doesn't care either; isn't that nice?  He's downstairs heating up some soup and pizza for the kids so that they get some nourishment today.  He understands how bad I feel because he's the one who gave me this cold.  And he loves me.

A cold in summer?  Really?

Except it doesn't quite feel like summer today, what with all of the rain and the temperature below 70 degrees.  But I sure do prefer this weather to the 90 degrees my dad says he's been experiencing in Utah.  We don't have air conditioning.

Hopefully I'll feel more like myself tomorrow.