How cute are we?

Ok, I know a girl who takes amazing photographs. My sister-in-law is Kara Layne. Two hours with this girl and my family looks adorable. We walked through the park holding hands and convincing Tyler he wanted to smile and sit still. We bribed him with tigers and toys and McDonald's. In the end, we got some really great shots!

Click here and see our photo session: http://www.karalayneblog.com/journal/2009/12/29/phoenix-family-photographer-the-clark-family.html

I have to explain to you that both my boys have had horrible colds with disgusting noses and dry rosy cheeks. Kara's photo editing skills are great and we all look like we have crystal clear skin and bright eyes. I mean, I wish I could say I always look this good, but with a little bit of Kara Layne, I could convince you that I'm a model.

Thanks so much Kara for sharing your talent with us. One of my 2010 resolutions is to have family photos in my home. Now I can fill my empty picture frames with the ones I love most in this world.

Why I'm excited for Tuesday

1. Because hopefully by then my cold will be gone.

2. Because that is the day I get on an airplane (and you know how much I love airplanes. Especially with kids. I get nauseous. I've had to use the barf bags. More than once.)

3. Because I will get to re-meet my brother-in-law who I have really only met twice. The first time I was really sick and he was strategically keeping his distance. The second time was the wedding and for some reason he was paying way more attention to my little sister than me.

4. Because I just bought this game and I am excited. I LOVE playing games with my family.

5. Because on Tuesday I will get to body slam my mom and dad, and of course, my little sister and new brother. Can't wait!!

8 more days...

Raking Leaves

The other day we decided to pay attention to our yard and rake the 5 billion leaves...

If we had known it would be this much fun, we would have done it sooner.

Tyler got his own "rake" and "helped"

And then we jumped in the pile and took a nap.

We've been so good this week that Santa brought a reindeer for us to play with!

More Tyler Funnies

Today for lunch, I made Tyler a quesadilla. He was pulling it apart to only eat the pieces of tortilla with lots of cheese. I heard him say to himself, "Cheese on this one. No cheese on this one. Why not? I don't know." It was so funny, just the way he was pointing to each piece and then finished the conversation off with I don't know, in a very cute, so sad that he didn't know sort of way.

Lately when I put Tyler to bed, he keeps calling for me and asks for something different every time. Apple juice, a different colored binky, his shark book, and even the "mommy tiger" that he asked Santa for. I haven't been able to figure out a way to get him to stop calling for me. Tonight, I was so tired when I put him to bed that I just gave him apple juice. Then I figured we'd brush his teeth the first time he called for me. So I told him to call me when he's ready to brush his teeth. I haven't heard a peep out of him all night.

Today we went to Target for a couple gifts and some groceries. I had a lot of time to look around, so for fun we started in the toy section. We made our way around the isles and he insisted on walking and not being in the cart. {Which was fine with me, because Jackson now knows how to wiggle right out of the seat buckle in the front of the cart, so I had the kind with the extra 2 seats facing the cart-- you know what kind I'm talking about? So, I had Jackson strapped in one and of course, the bag of Target popcorn strapped in the other seat. I should have taken a picture, my cart was a pretty funny sight. Jackson is hardly tall enough to see the top of his head above the seat and he'd put his hand across to grab a handful of popcorn. ok I'm getting off subject...} Anyway, so we make our way to the bike isle and Tyler finds a nice tricycle that looks like it needs a test drive. I peacefully completed my shopping with a baby eating popcorn and an almost 3 year old driving behind me in a green John Deere trike. What a sight to see. I LOVE my target trips!!

Just in case you haven't been to Target with 2-3+ children lately, here is the latest invention:

which I think is so smart since, evidently this isn't allowed.

What's up with that?

My babies

Some days I am so overwhelmed with how much I love my babies that it makes me cry. Just randomly, in the middle of the day, I start getting teary-eyed {so of course, I have to tackle one of them so I can laugh instead}. This week I have been hearing so many tragic stories of loosing a family member and I don't know what I would do without any of my boys. These stories make me realize that I have to take every single moment and appreciate that we are together as a family.

I am so grateful to a loving Heavenly Father who gave me two healthy, happy children. I know that their spirits were meant to come to me and to Jeff. They make me a better person, more kind and gentle, more patient and loving. More aware of the small miracles and the simple joys. I love them. They are ours. I am so grateful that I get to be a mom and a wife.

Clark Thanksgiving Top Ten:

10.Riding the scooter around and around in Grandma and Grandpa's garage.

9. Taking a trip up to the mountains "that way" as Tyler would say, and point to the mountains that are visible from inside the house. I don't think he's ever seen mountains that he can remember!

8. Jackson naked except for the turkey bib for Thanksgiving dinner.

7. Gamma and Gappa: aren't they just the cutest grandparents ever?

6. Having my parents all to myself. Sorry siblings, it was MY turn!! :)

5. My boys. Love love love them.

4. Hoodie Parties. Mom, put your hood back on!

3. The fish that made Tyler scream like a little girl. Why is he holding his mouth, you ask? Probably because his dad just said "kiss it!"

2. Having enough free time to be silly.

1. Beating everyone {except my mom} at Banana Grams. Great game, by the way if you are looking for a good present- mix between scrabble and a crossword puzzle. So fun!

I never take enough pictures on vacation. Between the craziness of the kids and the chance to veg-out, I just don't!

A couple other highlights that are picture-less:

• My grandparent's home full of people I love and a beautifully delicious Thanksgiving dinner!
• Turkey avocado sandwiches at Wolfe's Market
• A day at Disneyland (pictures to come from my mom's camera!)
• Hot tubbing in my parent's gorgeous backyard
• Sleeping on my sister's very comfortable bed :)
• The fact that we will be back in 18 days {but who's counting?}