Easter 2013 ~

We did Easter a bit different this year. 

Hubby and I talked to the Easter Bunny and asked for something a bit different~

Baskets! 

 

Normally, there is a chocolate bunny and jelly beans on the table for each kiddo..

 

The Easter Bunny always comes while we are at church.

 

Starting when we had just one wee one,

Easter Bunny would always leave spring/summer fun behind

instead of candy.

Sidewalk chalk

Bubbles

Water balloons

Pool toys

 

He decided to fill baskets/buckets for the kids.

He respected my desire for just a "little" candy.

 

Each bucket had favorite snacks...

Cheez-its,
Pringles,
personal favorite sweets
Oreos,

the required Chocolate Bunny,
a couple of the kiddos received sidewalk chalk tattoos,

and they all received
Water Balloons!


 

Now I know only 4 children are pictured. 

 And if you are a very observant aunt, this might bother you...

Hockey Player was not left out.

He was working at the church nursery this Sunday while we were at home getting ready

for the big day with Hubby's family. 

We picked him up and joined the family celebration and protected his bucket till we could

present it to him.

 

Early Easter Fun!

Being slowed down has sometimes left me feeling like "less" than a mom.  I rest a lot and haven't been able to do all the mom things I used to do.  However, there are moments that are truly "INSPIRED" by God.  Like the Thursday before Easter.  Feeling like I kind of have let the kids down and not feeling too holiday like, I came upon some magazines that were sitting around waiting to be read.  INSPIRED.  Headed home with The Man and announced we were going to blow eggs.  He knew what I was talking about.  He was interested and excited to give it a try.

 

He was Awesome at the task!

 

He finished 2 eggs before I had one half way done. 
He had my half way egg done about the time I got part way into a new one and broke the shell blowing!

3 for my 1 broken. 

He has discovered a new talent.

 

Then the rest of the kids arrived home and
wanted to give it a try.....

 

Fun Girl had great success and did a couple.

Fun Girl worked hard like I did.
She succeeded in her mother's footsteps and blew so hard
she broke her egg too.
She tried another egg and succumbed to the lack of oxygen.

 

 

Hockey Player felt the need to share
his fashion skills with hair accessories
and his sense of humor.



 

And then he decided to prove he was as full of hot air as The Man.

 

Honestly, I don't know what happened to a picture of Dad's Bud. 

 

We ended up with enough eggs to make "Breakfast" burritos for lunch

and

enough eggs for each of the kids to dye a couple of eggs each the next day.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

We are a family that gets into the wearing o' the green.
My Grandpa McCaffrey was first generation born out of Ireland.
I kinda like that little bit of heritage.
This year we are keeping it simple.
Colds and allergies and various other chores to do...we won't have potato soup.
But we are all sporting green.
Dad's Bud even made sure Gus was included in the family tradition.

See the leaves from one of our bushes tucked into his collar.
Memories being made!

New Years 2012!

This is what I was up to this past weekend. 
Cause I didn't take pictures, and my camera is with my daughter this weekend.  As well as her computer with copies of all the pictures on my camera....   I will just be a teeny bit lazy and share the link to my sister's blog entry.  6 days of a lot of firsts.  6 days of great memories. 

Amazon and SwagBucks !

I am so stinking excited.  Christmas shopping is starting around here.
I was reading my email and learned that Amazon had the Pink Lego Bricks on sale for $15.




We happen to have a very creative princess.  She wanted some pink lego bricks for her birthday.  BigODaddyO didn't believe she would really get into them. But there was an Auntie willing to take the chance.  She doesn't create as much lately cause her hands are busy knitting.  A whole other story there.  One that includes 26 hats and 26 scarves, all before Christmas.  But I think after Christmas she just might want a break from knitting for a while!!!
 
Then I checked my swagbuck gift cards for Amazon and I had enough accumulated to only have to pay tax on these beauties! !
Hush all you readers.  No telling my secrets. :) 
If you are not using Swagbucks to do your online searching, you really should give it a try.  If you fill so inclined, please sign up under me, by clicking on the link below.  I get matching Swagbucks up to your first 1000. 

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,

Mother ? Daughter ? Awana Fun!

Tonight was our last night of Awana for the year.
The leaders were really brave and ventured on in to the church.
Store Night + Red and Green night and all the Christmas Spirit could only mean one thing.... Worn out leaders. SO worn out they all came down with the pre-season sickness. MEASLES.
I had no idea it was so contagious. A leader need only to walk into a room where there was children and they immediately became ill. Fortunately, we were told we would quickly feel better once we went home. What caused this church wide outbreak among the adults. Verses! Not viruses! Verses! For every verse a clubber said to a leader, they would break out in a new spot.
Fun Mom said 16 verses and this is what happened to her leader!



I walked into a room to only say hi to Little Princess and I immediately had two spots appear on my nose!

Then I was asked, if I was really Little Princess' mom. I said yes. Then this sweet little girl asked Little Princess if I was really her mom. Fortunately, for me, Little Princess claimed me as her mom! So nice to know that she still thinks it is okay for me to be her Mom! This sweet little girl shook her head, and said, "You don't look anything alike?"
"We don't?" Couldn't she tell we share the same antlers?

All I could do is shrug and say, "I know." "They all look like their Daddy."
That is okay, at least there is no question on paternity! And we don't even have to be sheep in Ireland to figure that one out! LOL

It is the end of the night and what does a leader do when she has a half bag of candy left. She zeroes in on the last littlest kid left in the church. Smiles sweetly and says, "This is for you! Be sure to give it to Daddy when he gets home."
Daddy doesn't get home till after bedtime! Then this darling leader, smiles sweetly at mom and says, "Oops, I am on the naughty list!

Hockey and Holidays....

December 5th, we had "Friendship games" scheduled.
Papa just laughs at the name...
"Friendship, BAH! Its a game. A game is a game."
"Time to knock them on their rears!"
Can you tell Papa is a coach?
I got some great shots of the team.
But some even better pictures of Big-O-Daddy-O and why he couldn't wait for Christmas.
Why St. Nicholas Day became his favorite day of the season, hockey season that is.

Anyone know these guys?

My favorite New Year's Eve picture ! Aren't they a crazy bunch. Good news, for the New Year I have managed to fix the date on my camera. Pictures will dated correctly for now on! Yeah!

Grandpa has a valuable Christmas job!

The boys got transformers. Following the instructions proved to be difficult. The motorcycle transformed into a robot and liked being a robot. When we thought we had it, we were informed by N the ever so smart 4 yr. old it wasn't right. Robot it will be!

Christmas morning

Not a lot of pictures taken this morning. Too much action to stop for photos.

Christmas Eve

Time with Grandmama always includes stories. As soon as Grandmama sat down Christmas Eve D was in her lap ready for a story.

My Big New Years Night!

So dear husband works tonight. I had grandiose plans I tell you. The 2 oldest were doing homework. I know what an evil thing this momma did, but before you trash my blog. It was not my fault they were a whole month behind in school when Christmas break started. No siree, all my warnings didn't seem to phase them. So guess what? ! ? They lost Christmas break. Bet they won't do that again. So the three youngin's watched Shrek. All of a sudden the cell phone rang and it was the Burpin' Cousin ! She is so much fun.

The kids had to show her the trampoline. They had to jump with her as well. They froze in the process. One was even in a night gown already.

But they jumped and had lots of fun.

Her she is...The burping queen! She wasn't here long before she had to go about exciting New Year's Eve plans... come to find out they were knitting! Too young to be a grandma on New's Year Eve but alas wait for the rest of the story.
I ushered the littlest 2 off to bed and it is an hour and a half after bedtime. But they will be up on time and inevitably cranky tomorrow. The other 3 delayed and squirmed and tried to get me to let them stay up.... The Burpin' Cousin showed me how to delete songs of their MP3 players so they convinced me to complete the task. Then off to bed with giggles and laughter. A the dear that she is, asked, "Do you want me to get the dishes done?" Why, yes sweetheart and then to bed.

Never quite willing to give up she asked for a game of....

THe answer was almost yes, until the phone rang. A call from California. Our beloved Aunt Wendy needs our help. Lost and on her way to a party. Please can we read her email and google map directions for her.
We talked for an hour.... and I played

while chatting with her. Intermittenly, giving her additional directions. She even took me into her party with her. I got to go to a GROWN -UP NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY !!! In California no less. At a beautiful home, according to the descriptions she gave me. She didn't introduce me around though. Suddenly, I was asked to leave, because after 2 hours in the car driving my friend needed to "freshen up" and said good-bye.

So Happy New Year's! I think I will go watch a movie now. I asked dear husband to let me sleep in tomorrow...(between you and me, I don't think the kids will let it happen. BUT, they are all going to Grandpa's house and I am staying home. Can anyone say NAPTIME!!! LOL.) Hmmm, maybe I will just go to bed and watch the movie tomorrow.

Happy New Year !

The Day after...

The children are coming off their Christmas fever.
They are showing signs of being tired and bicker a little more than usual.
BUT THE GREAT NEWS IS THE TEMPERATURE HIT AT LEAST 67 DEGREES HERE!
Amazing. The sliding glass door was left open through the late morning and afternoon.
Dad and Uncle Terry assembled the trampoline with only a few little instruction narrations from me. Occassionally, reading the instructions helps when constructing something bigger than you.
The kids jumped, and jumped and jumped.
I puttered through the house and enjoyed the quiet.
Big-o-Daddy-o and I slipped off to do a few errands.
I bought a micro memory card at Office Max with Christmas. The whole kit and kaboodle for $15. AT-T wanted to charge me almost $50 for! Now I can get the pictures off my phone.
We were able to find the camera case A wanted to buy with her Christmas money.
We bought the batteries for the all the gizmos the kids received Christmas morning. Oops, the elves forgot batteries were key in getting some of those presents to work.
I learned a little more about MP3 players.
I never thought I would feel so behind my kids in all the technology but I do. I tried to play with my bil's blackberry and my eldest said, "here mom let me show you how to text." She almost seemed embarrassed that I struggled to "get it".
We went to see Uncle and Aunt Texas for a bit tonight.
On the way home I noticed the thermostat said 62 degrees. At 10 p.m. EVEN! !
I hope the weather is this beautiful tomorrow.
Tomorrow we celebrate my father-in-law's 80th birthday!
Now time to go snuggle dear sweet husband and watch the movie he has been so patiently waiting for.
So hopefully in a day or two I will be able to include pictures from Christmas and the party.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Thanks Grandma! Could you have called in 2 days instead of today!

So Grandmama called first thing this morning. She has a way of connecting with the kiddies!
To each one she asked, "Do you know what today is?" and "What does that mean?"
She got a varied replies. But they all guessed Christmas EVE!
From there the excitement has exploded.
They came for the late afternoon and evening.
Pizza for dinner, MacGyver reruns from the library.
Help with making carmel rolls.
They slip off to Grandpa's "big city loft".
The kids are so excited....
It is 9:30 and the littlest keeps sneeking out of bed and sent back to bed.
So now I hear the wails of "you're such a meanie!" And growls that make me wonder if there really is a T-Rex in the room.
But it has been 9 minutes and still no reappearance.
However, kind hearted S has brought me a pillow he found in his room (one that should be in my room.) He is presently asking me if I want anything to eat!
A is quietly waiting in her room to finish her sister's present. Sister has to be asleep first. She is in her room because I told her she couldn't hover and lurk and follow me around trying to learn secrets.
Now S has to go to the bathroom. The only one who went to bed and has stayed is M. Maybe I will give her extra sweets tomorrow!

Red and Green Night with the WIGGLES!

So it is Red and Green night at Awana!

Even Mom gets into the spirit of things.

I pinned Candy Canes on my clothes.

Then I kinda forgot at times during the night and couldn't figure out why

the kids wanted me to come to them...and then I would remember.

Smack those hands, jump back and hurry back to my spot in the kitchen!

It is incredibly hard to get pictures of children during the holiday season.

They just can't seem to hold still for long.

If you have more than one posing then pictures tend to look like this:

or even like this one

or you might even find yourself missing a child in the picture!