Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day from my little loves...

Bye Bye Crib!

We moved William out of the crib and into a big boy bed this afternoon. In many ways today is a celebration, but it's sad, too. That crib has served our family so well for the last 5 1/2 years and watching it come down, probably forever, broke my heart. I have such vivid, happy memories of the days I spent researching cribs and driving all over Colorado to find the perfect bed for my baby-to-be. Steve and I were so proud when we brought it home, set it up, and decorated the nursery with love. Truthfully I'm really happy with our life with "older" little kids, but it just amazes me that this phase of my life is over. I think back on those nervous, excited parents 5 years ago and I can't believe we aren't them anymore. I don't really want to go back, but I sure wish we could visit once in awhile.

Here are some of my favorite pictures of our babies and their crib. Can you believe how teeny Caroline is in this first one?



Caroline and her playgroup besties, Sarah, Leah, and Noah. This is a very early Erin Cobb Photography shot. :)



William and his sock monkey, again taken by Ms. Erin.

Thank you crib, for keeping my babies safe and comfortable. I'll miss sneaking in every night to peer inside at a footie-pajama clad baby.

On the other hand, the Big Boy is THRILLED with his new bed. Pictures to come later this week!

Back to the Beach

January is killing me, readers. I'm looking through my front window at 4 feet of snow on the ground. The mounds around our driveway are taller than I am, two cars can't pass each other safely on most streets, and nearly half of my friends are dealing with water or ice damage to their homes. Every body's vehicles are banged up from playing bumper cars with with the huge, frozen piles of snow lining every street and driveway. My friends and family in Chicago got hit hard with a storm yesterday, and I had no sympathy at all - we were on our 5th major storm and 4th snow day from school. I attacked the first few snow days with snowman pancakes, craft projects, and baking, but the fun has worn off and we're all completely stir crazy. It has been a long, cold, snowy winter, and guess what? We're expected to get another 6 inches Saturday, followed by another storm Tuesday. I'm beginning to think that sometime soon we may just have to stay in our house until the snow melts - there is literally nowhere else to put it.

Sigh. Sorry for the complaining. Anyway, a perfect way to take my mind off this miserable winter? Planning our joint Clark/Cobb/Shertzer family vacation to the fabulous Isle of Palms. We booked our house (same as last year) today, and we are so, so, so, excited. In less than 6 months, there will be this...

And a little bit of this....

Maybe a mud massage....

And of course, a whole lot of these crazy fools...

Photos courtesy of Amy Shertzer Photography!

Snow Day(s)!

My advice for happy snow days: have neighbors next door that you love. Nearly 2 feet of snow dumped down on us yesterday, resulting in two straight days of canceled school. Turning it into a 6-day weekend, people. With no daddy for the storm. We'll see if I'm still sane by Tuesday morning. :)

Fortunately we have the best neighbors ever next door, and what could have been a long, lonely day was a whole lot of fun. We drank coffee all morning, the big girls watched a movie during little people nap time, and we all played outside and shoveled in the afternoon. Mary Helen was husband-less as well, so we both looked pathetic when our 16 year old neighbor with a snow blower was outside. Good thing he comes from a nice family, too. :) Oh, and MH and I may have decided all that shoveling entitled us to an entire pitcher of cocktails to enjoy with my (awesome) bolognese, but if so I'm not telling. :) Let's just say the 10 foot-ish walk home was a little...slippery.

Getaway

Just yesterday, I was somewhere lovely, lying in the sun with my favorite man. Best.weekend.ever.

PS - I only called my sister and sang Will Smith's "Miami" three times, which I think shows tremendous restraint and improved maturity on my part. :)

Strike!!!

Bowling on a Wednesday night???? Clark family gone crazy!!!

PS - Caroline only nearly beat me because she had bumpers and I did not.

Happy 2011!

Happy New Year!

For New Year's Eve we expanded our Friday afternoon wine playdate to include champagne and toasts. Yummy snacks, 8 kids running around in various degrees of jammies, and daddies wandering in after work happy to see their relaxed wives were standard fare. :) I think I'm really well suited to motherhood because I personally thought this was a perfect way to spend New Year's Eve - and Steve and I were even home in bed watching Glee by 8:00! Heaven.




William toasting his number 2 girlfriend...shh...don't tell Little C!



When I served the kids their sparkling cider one of the little ones looked and me very seriously and said "I'm not allowed to drink wine." Too funny.

We are ringing in the New Year this evening by hosting our favorite neighbors for a dinner. 2011 is off to a great start!