Growing Pains

Hockey Player introduced us to the world of growing pains about 8 years ago. Middle of night tears, sobs more like it. Legs that hurt. We eventually went to get him checked out by a doctor to make sure all was okay.
We were told that Hockey Player could be growing up to a 1/4 of an inch a day!
During the day, all was good but when he relaxed at night, ligaments and tendons would be stretched. Pain reliever and warm baths before bed would help.
Every once in a while Flutter Nutter has similar pains.
But most recently his growing pains are located on his brow. Now that he is getting taller, his head is the perfect height to catch door knobs, kitchen counters, and other perfectly placed hard spots around our home.
Tonight, he nailed the door knob coming into the house.
Mom: "It's tough getting taller isn't it?"
FN: "I don't want to get taller!"
Unfortunately, getting taller is the only cure for his current growing pains.

From Daddy's Buddy to Big-O-Daddy-O

Another one of those spring moments.....

There's A Spring in Their Spring!

One of my favorite things in the early spring before the pollen count gets to high is to crack the patio door and listen to the kiddos play. I love to hear the laughter, giggles and plan making. Love to hear my kids play as best friends to one another.

What's in a Name? ? ?

So it is a common occurence for me to round up the troops with, "If your last name is Clark then...."
So it seemed only practical this past Sunday when I wanted to give hunt instructions to the kids, I called out, "If your last name is Clark, please, be quiet." The next thing I knew the room of 15 people became VERY quiet.
Why? Because the family I married into is one of boys. Everyone's last name is Clark. Wow, I never knew how to silence this rowdy bunch, but now I do!
They are a great bunch, and celebrating Easter with was a blessing to this rowdy branch of Clarks.
The only thing missing was the other half of the Clark clan. We missed all of you!
Thanks to Fun Mom for taking the pictures.

The Egg Hunt at Grandpa's ! !

Grandpa has lots of room to run at his place!
Lots of places to hide eggs!
Perfect for 5 grandkids and 2 great-grandkids to split up and hunt and try to get more than the rest.
Missed you Big-O-Daddy-O,

Happy Easter from the Crew!

This year was better for pictures! Last year the crew would not cooperate. Would not let me have pictures. This year, they showed some love to their momma!

Exploration Place part 2

Mr. Potato Head is visiting Exploration Place!
The younger ones enjoyed creating their own personalities. Some of the olders were like, "weird." But there was something for all. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for the membership!

Please Nothing More....

So whenever the Big-O-Daddy-O has one of those work things that last FOREVERRRR, or so it seems, the kind where I can't call him, cause he is in up to his neck, so I must figure it out and deal with it on my own and let him do what must be done, the kind of work things that leads inevitably to a something horrible or at least incredibly yucky catastrophe for me to deal with on my own.

So I have developed a tremendous sense of humor about the whole thing when it happens. I take on the detour to teach my kids how to deal, cope and tend to the problems of life! Yeah, right ! Whatever. It sounds good, all sugar coated like that. They actually take advantage to get away from school work and mess around. 3 boys hopping around the house. Cars being raced on the walls. Pictures being colored, hair being primped and fluffed. Mom cleaning and plunging. No teaching taking place except Fun MOm teaching Hockey Player how to text friends/family. Maybe that falls under the catagory of communications.

Well I am done and begging for nothing more for the remainder of this season! An overflowed toilet that drained to the basement, courtesy of Flutter Nutter who in all innocence was trying to help, was what greeted me this morning. Fortunately, we found the pull-up and I did not have to snake the toilet. One of life's lessons I really didn't want to learn to do.

Here's hoping my desperate call to the store I ordered a dryer from will put a positive spin on things. They know that I now have every towel in my house needing to be washed and dried. The dryer came in over a week ago, but a forklift hit the side of it and damaged it to the point of un-usable. So they had to re-order my dryer. They were going to expedite the order for us. But for some crazy reason expediting the order now means it takes 2 weeks to get the dryer. When a normal order takes a week! WHAT ?!?!?!

But alas, where BigODaddyO would have gone "ARGH ! ! !" really loud, I managed to laugh and be really glad he didn't have to confront this morning with another toilet fishing expedition. Things like this, I tend to laugh and/or shoulder slump when they happen! What else can one do???? Off to get myself a Pepsi, I think I am going to need one!

What to do with a bored 4 year old!

I tried, oh how I tried to entertain him. I thought I had him occupied and I went to clean out my closet. Then I heard Fun Mom exclaiming, "Oh Flutter Nutter ! Oh! You are definitely 4 years old! You are 4 years old! Oh my!"
Not words I really wanted to hear.
I wasn't in a hurry to see what happened.
I could tell it couldn't be good. I knew he wasn't in danger, but I REALLY DIDN'T want to know.
But Fun Mom felt I must...
He found the scissors...
Flutter Nutter told me, "I didn't like the spiky hairs" His bangs and how they laid on his forhead...
We are now 5 for 5 on this wonderful experience of parenthood.

Exploration Place Apr. 2010 part 1

So we went to Exploration Place a couple of days ago with friends.
There will be more photos to share, but for this post, 8 kids and 1 tornado simulation tube equals more laughter and giggles than could be imagined!
We had to pry their fingers from the door so some of the other visitors could experience being blown away.