More Wedding Pictures...

Bobby's cousin, Lori, emailed me some of the pictures her professional photographer took at the wedding reception back in May (can you remember that far back?)  Tracy Cavallari did an excellent job.  To bad she doesn't live around here or I'd get her to take some family photos.

Here are my three favorites:

That would be chocolate on Hannah's face.  There was a candy bar within easy reach of little fingers.

Do I not have the cutest son in the world?!

In other news, I've decided to start an A-Z Reading Challenge.  I've seen this on several blogs and it looks interesting... and challenging.  Basically you read a book for each letter of the alphabet.  With 'X' in can be a letter anywhere in the title instead of the first letter of the title.

Here's my list...
A - Atlas Shrugged
B - The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver
C - The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
D -
E - Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer (Thanks Claudia!)
F - Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
G -
H - The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
I - The Iliad by Homer
J -
K -
L - Lord of the Flies by William Golding
M - A Monk Swimming by Malachy McCourt (I loved his brother Frank McCourt so I'm giving him a try.)
N -
O - Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
P -
Q -
R -
S - Silas Marner by George Eliot
T - Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
U - Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
V -
X -
Y -
Z -

Italic books are books I've read forever ago and can't remember exactly how they end.  Clearly I have some gaps in my list...do you have any recommendations?  I don't like any self-help or Christian books (unless it's Corrie ten Boom, etc.)  And other than Of Mice and Men I don't like Steinbeck or Faulkner.  Otherwise I'm open for suggestions!

By the way, if you have a list I highly recommend Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns.

An Important Announcement!

My husband brings it to my attention on a daily basis (just about) that I have been a slacker with my blog.  Grudgingly I admit that he's right.

So I'll catch you up on what's been going on in the Clark household...

On November 21st we found out that we would be adding a new little baby to our family!!  The official due date is July 12, 2012 but that's subject to change when the dating ultrasound takes place.  And the actual delivery date will be about two weeks prior to my due date since I will have a scheduled c-section.  We'll be returning to St. Francis Women's with the same OB/GYN group that delivered Hannah & Samuel. 
Hannah & Sam are very excited about the idea of a new baby brother/sister.  Sammy wants a brother while Hannah wants a "healthy baby."  Secretly she wants a sister.  We were looking at baby stuff in Toys R Us and she oohed and aahhhed over the girl bibs, blankets and towels. 

So far I've been feeling okay, other than staying exhausted.  I often find myself hungry but can't think of a single thing I want to eat.  That's rather frustrating.  My ob/gyn recommended 150mg of Zantac twice a day to help with morning sickness and it certainly has worked.  For some reason your body produces extra acid when you're pregnant and the Zantac helps to neutralize it.  Though it certainly doesn't help with sights/smells that make me queasy I feel less nauseated and have been able to eat more.

So, that's the biggest and best news that we have to share!  In other areas:  Hannah's home school is going great, Bobby is still enjoying his job & classes at Clemson , and our household is still running smoothly.

I'll leave you with pictures of the kids taken at the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, SC (Columbia's only redeeming quality if you ask me.  It's hard for true blue Clemson fans to visit Columbia but Bobby had work there so the kids and I tagged along to keep him company.)

Halloween '11

Halloween this year was spent with Darth Vader and Princess Peach from Mario.  Hannah really wanted to be Smurfette but even though Mr. Clark searched every possible store, we couldn't find one in her size (and the costumes online were way too expensive.) 

We went to Trunk or Treat at Wal Mart, the local library, my Granny James' house, the Walhalla Depot and then finished at Rob & Cindy Lou's.  Let me just say that I will be heading to the depot every year now, they gave both kids two big hand fulls of the good candy (Milky Way's, Kit Kats, Twix, etc.)  

Once at the Padgett's, Hannah seated herself on the top porch step with Olivia so they could hand out candy.  I think she would have rather done that than go Trick or Treating herself!

What is up with Hannah's facial expressions lately?!

Sphinx Run Fest '11

This year my darling Mr. Clark only ran the half marathon at the Sphinx Run Fest.  I say only but really, I'm unbelievably impressed.  It takes me the better part of an hour to run a 5K so I can't imagine running 13 + miles in a little over an hour.  

At 8:30am the kids and I were stationed in the stands at Fluor Field, anxiously waiting for Bobby.  It had rained the night before so everything was wet and it was freezing cold.  We didn't care though.  The kids made the cutest signs for him and were determined to support him, even if it meant getting up ridiculously early and getting frostbite to do so.  I am so incredibly proud as Bobby ran toward the finish line and the kids started jumping up and down, holding up their signs (Hannah had hers upside down) and yelling encouragement for him.  This is my beautiful family!

Official finish time:  1:38:43

Pace:  7:32

Finish:  76th out of 1269 runners (not too shabby babe!)

I would probably look a whole lot worse if I just ran 13.2 miles.  I probably wouldn't even be breathing :-)

The Joys of Oktoberfest

German Food...Rides...Funnel Cakes...Crafts...Fresh Squeezed Lemonade...Running into Old Friends...German Music + Dancing...and did I mention the German Food?

You can't go to the Oktoberfest and not get a funnel cake.

Yes, most of my pictures are of rides or food.  But I did manage to get one of the guy playing the humongous horn!  I was too busy stuffing my face or talking to take more...

Darth Vader & Pinkelicous

Last month our local library hosted two very fun parties for children:  a Pinkelicious party and a Star Wars Party.  Both were equally fun and exciting for Hannah & Samuel.  

Sunday afternoon Hannah dressed head to toe in her favorite pink outfit + accessories as instructed by the invite.  I had never read the Pinkelicious books before so I wasn't sure what to expect but I can't imagine it being any different now.  The decorations were super cute and it was fun listening as several workers read a few of the books.

The Pinkelicious party included:

face painting

crafts -a  cupcake necklace and a felt cupcake

games - pin the cherry on the cupcake & if you successfully put your cherry on the cupcake you could choose a wand of your choice

snacks - pink cupcakes, pink lemonade and pink marshmallows

* * * * * *

The following evening we returned to the library with Darth Vader and Princess Leia in towe.  Sammy had planned to be Darth Vader for Halloween so we already had his costume on hand.  Hannah wanted to be Princess Leia but insisted on wearing her pink outfit again.  At least I managed to get her hair up in the braided buns!

This time the party room was decorated with Star Wars books, which were available to be checked out.  They were playing one of the movies (don't ask me which) in the background.  

The Star Wars party included:

crafts - painting rocks to look like Star Wars characters and making a Chewbacca tissue box cover

games - Star Wars trivia which we won!  We received a Star Wars tin canister full of popcorn

snacks - Wookie Cookies, Yoda juice (green Hawaiian punch),  Bosch brownies

I didn't get as many pictures of this party b/c I was slightly preoccupied painting my rock and sewing the tissue box cover.  Bobby was busy winning the trivia for us :-)

All in a Week - Cousins

Sunday the 9th:

Bobby's cousin Ryan and his family arrived (wife Bethany & daughter Naomi).  Ryan's friend, Justin, also arrived.  Justin came because he was interested in Bobby's bio-diesel  project and ended up buying all of Bobby's equipment.  We eat supper together, the kids are bathed and put to bed, then the adults stay up until 1am catching up. 

Monday the 10th:

Bobby cooks a big delicious breakfast for everyone.  The guys then leave for Clemson while Bethany and I hang out together.  I always have fun chatting with her because we have so much in common.  In between chatting, I managed to wash some loads of laundry in preperation for our upcoming trips.  That evening the guys grill out while Bethany & I play with the kids.

The kids loved playing in the clothes basket while I was doing laundry!

Miss Naomi Rae

She loved Sammy.

Tuesday the 11th: (a very chilly rainy day)

Justin leaves early in the morning, Bobby heads to school and the kids head to my parents for the day.  Ryan, Bethany and Naomi plan to go shopping and out for lunch.  I get ready and go to Tots & Teens to spend the afternoon working (I work about two days a week tagging clothes, cleaning, etc. and I get paid in store credit).  

Ryan and Bethany were so sweet to finish cooking supper for us since Bobby & I were a little late in getting home.  They are such sweethearts!  It was sad that this was our last evening together - until we go up to IN in July next year.  I'm glad that their little family was able to come down and visit and that we had the opportunity to be host to them :-)

Wednesday the 12th:  

Everyone goes in different directions.  Bobby leaves early for his SCUBA trip in FL.  Then the kids and I head to NC to visit Dave, Karen and the twins.  Later in the afternoon Ryan & Bethany begin their trip home to IN.  

After a 7 hour trip that should have taken six at the most (we were in a 40 minute traffic jam due to a wreck) we arrive in Durham.  Dave had to work late but we were able to spend the evening with Karen and the girls.  I have to say that I have the cutest nieces in the world!!!

Thursday the 13th:

Dave & Karen both head to work early in the morning.  The kids and I wake up and spend some time playing with Catherine and Samantha + getting to know their nanny.  I then worked on putting away the girl's summer clothes, and washing & sorting their winter clothes.  

Bobby calls me in the afternoon to say he's heading home b/c his SCUBA trip was canceled again!  I decide that we'll head home early too because Sammy is homesick and misses his Daddy.

That evening Karen and I take the kids to a local fro yo store.  It was delicious!!  There are so many different flavors and the toppings included a fresh fruit bar, traditional toppings and various cereals.  Poor Karen was asked to try Hannah's and got a mouthful of coconut ice cream, gummi bears, and Rice Krispies.  Yuck!!  

Friday the 14th:

The kids and I spend the morning with Dave and the twins.  We play with the girls and Dave makes us lunch.  Hannah was sad when it was time to leave but Sam was ready to go.  I know he'll enjoy a visit with his cousins when Bobby is with us and he's not so homesick and overwhelmed. 

We leave at 1pm and arrive in Anderson by 6pm.  The kids slept and played so well that we only stopped once for a potty break.  We stop at the Cracker Barrel in Anderson and Bobby surprised the kids by meeting us there.

I hate that our visit with the Lefler's and the NC Clark's was so short.  It was definitely a crazy week but we made it through.

I love Catherine & Samantha so much and can't wait to see them again!  Hannah especially had so much fun playing with the girls.  She & Sam were constantly handing them their books and toys and giving suggestions on what might make them happy.

I had the opportunity to feed both girls and I have to say that Samantha was much easier to feed.  She is very interested in her food while Catherine is more interested in her surroundings.  Samantha was fussy due to teething so I spent a little more time playing with Catherine - who was Sammy's favorite for some reason.  She loved when I would sit on the floor, stand her on my knees and sing 'The Grand Ol' Duke of York'.  I would "march" my legs up and then down while singing.  She would smile every time and it is the sweetest little smile!!  I managed to get Samantha to smile a few times and felt a great sense of accomplishment...she's very serious like our own Sam!

This wasn't even the end of our week of fun.  On Sunday I took Hannah to our local library for a Pinkalicious party and then we all went back on Monday for the Star War's party (I'll post pictures of this party next.)  Whew!  Now it's time to rest!

The Forrests

...have moved back to Clemson after living in New York for three years!!

We first met Sam when he and Bobby worked together at Clemson University.  Even when Bobby stopped working at the university for a brief period, we remained close friends with Sam.  We were sad (to say the least) when Sam & Christine moved to New York.  We were only able to visit them once after they left so we are unbelievably excited that they're back and we'll be seeing them more often.

Before they left, they stored some of their belongings in our cabin/storage shed.  This means they've been at our house on several times to collect their things.  They end up staying for supper, which is great, because we have a lot of catching up to do!  Plus they have an adorable eight month old son, Joshua, who is so sweet and fun to entertain!  

September was reunion month for us for sure - first the Job's and then the Forrest's.  What a blessing to have the opportunity to catch up with our old friends.

Here are a few pictures I took of the Forrest's while they were here a few weeks ago...

Such a sweet little family!!  (our Sammy wanted to be in the picture but was a little shy around Sam & Christine.)

He finally crept over to join the picture...Sam & Christine kept trying to coax him into getting closer.

The British are Coming!

Actually the British are already here...
Our dear friends, the Job's, are back in America for their second trip.  They come in the spring and the fall and travel all over the U.S. for Beresford's biblical church ministry.  We were blessed with the opportunity to meet them last week in Helen, GA for supper at a quaint little Mexican restaurant.

It turned into an adventure due to the fact that there are two La Cabana restaurants in Helen.  And they're at opposite ends of the town.  Can you say bizarre?  I'm sure you've already figured out what happened to us.  We were sitting at one waiting for the Job's and they were sitting at the other waiting for us!  Finally, a waiter at their restaurant had the good sense to suggest they call and see if we had ended up at the other.  It was too funny!

It was a perfect evening spent outside in the cool fall air.  Helen, GA is a beautiful little German town and I can't believe we've never been there before.  The Job's were there for a night or two to relax a little before moving on to their next destination.  When our food arrived I don't see how we managed to eat because we talked non-stop!  When you only see a family twice a year you tend to have a lot to say.    I love hearing about their travels and the families they meet along the way.  The chilly night air and the late hour forced us to part.  Still we lingered and lingered but finally said our good-byes.  At least we will be able to see them when they return in the spring.

                        Beresford, Bethany and Belinda (Bobby calls them the Killer B's!)                      

                                                                                                   

Belinda wanted to get a picture of our little family but Hannah kept following Beresford instead!  So we had to get a picture of them together!

Simply Sammy & the Snack in a Box

This picture has nothing to do with Sammy eating his snack while cramming himself into a box.  I just think it's a cute picture of my little mister...

I love his little baseball pajamas!