Pork Chop

Millie and I got out-numbered. We went out to do a little shopping and when we came home, the other 4 family members had named the pup. When the boys told us the name, we were like, "no way!" We didn't like the name they chose at all. But then Quincy walked in the room and started petting him and said, "Hi Chop!"

So it was too late. They trumped us. So our cute little puppy is named "Pork Chop", or "Chops" for short. His dad's name is "Chopper" so I guess it is a little bit appropriate. But, really?

Lots

Lots Going On!
The last week of school is always so busy with activities:

"Kindy" 500
Will's kindergarten class cruised around the school in their homemade race cars. They drove to different stations and learned about the different American symbols. So cute.

Got/Gave buzz cuts
Sambo was not happy about getting his buzz this year. You can tell from his tears in the picture. Will wasn't too thrilled either, he is totally faking his smile in the picture. For the next 2 days, he wore a hoodie and put the hood on his head all day at school. Not sure where their dislike for buzz cuts came from?
Annual Dance Festival
The boys in Will's grade did a way cool Polynesian dance called the "Haka"
You know, where they yell and slap their legs and pull mean faces. He was really good at it, I
wish I could post the video!



Sam's grade danced to a pumped-up version of "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Da"
Of course he had his heart melting smile on the entire time. I'm glad he wasn't "too cool" to dance. I know that comes soon with the boys. Here he is before the dance:


Millie's grade danced to "Eye of the Tiger"
Who doesn't love that song? :) They got to tie-dye their own shirts at school orange and black


Here's Quin and I cheering from the sideline.
She was giving me lots of kisses! So yummy.


Quincy and I were at the school 2 other days this week helping with Field Day and the
4th grade Rendezvous. I couldn't stand to pull out my camera so I have no pictures of these
fun events.

Last Day of School!

I had to take a picture of the gifts we made their teachers - mostly just so I can remember (down the road) when I need a good idea.


Sambo and Wilbur were invited to a sleep-over to celebrate the last day of school! Their friends are 2 brothers who are the same ages and have been in the same class. It was Will's first-ever sleep-over at a friend's house. They had a great time!!!

Millie invited 2 of her friends to celebrate at our house. Quincy even had a little friend over for little while! After playing, making cookies, and and going to get ice cream, I helped them make fizzy bath bombs, bath salts, (smelled so good) and SLIME! They had fun picking out their colors and mixing all of the stuff together. They ended up playing with the slime forever!


School's Out!!!! YAY!
Welcome Summer.
I. Love. Summer.

Clark Family Relatives

Uncle William

Cousin Bobby

Uncle Kyle

Aunt Martha

Snoop

Osama Bin Quin

Cousin Walt

Grandpa James


{BS loves his new iPhone}

Famous

If you ask them, Millie and Quincy would tell you they are famous.
They were on TV!
They were darling models on Studio 5, wearing Hotch Potch clothing.
Alixann and Baylee were so cute too.
Once Quin saw herself on the screen she started acting silly and for some reason, started acting like a tiger, with her paws clawing the air. Silly girl. But so cute.

Watch them here.

Iron Pigs

The boy's sport of choice for Spring 2010 is baseball. Machine pitch baseball.
We went with a Highland League and it has been nice to drive down the south side for the games versus the north side. Because BS is the awesomest dad, he is coaching their team. When he went to the coach's meeting he got first pick of which team he wanted and he picked the "Iron Pigs."
Iron Pigs, really?
They are a Triple A league from Philadelphia, which feeds into the Phillies.
Anyway, the Iron Pigs are playing so tough. They had a bit of a slow start, but at tonight's game and the last couple games they have played great!
It's been really fun watching both boys play (despite cold and windy weather at most of the games so far). I love that they are on the same team. When they are both out on the field with their baseball caps on, they are actually hard to tell apart. They look so much alike, and that is something that I have never thought before.
It is also fun to watch how different they are on the field. Sambo is all business and Wilbur really does just love being out there mixing it up with the big boys. Over the first 7 games he was batting 1.000 for strikeouts, which in baseball speak is striking out everytime. After a session at the batting cage, he ended up hitting everytime up to the plate tonight, and even out hit his brother.
Wilbur we are so proud of you!!! Sambo is intense, tries so hard, and he just gets it. BS has never really worked with him with baseball and he is awesome! I think BS has more fun coaching the boys then they have playing. We love you pigs, you make us proud.

Goodbye Puppies!

The pups are 8 weeks today. And they are gone. It is bittersweet.

From the beginning, 3 were claimed right away. Our neighbor girl bought Gold (nail polish), the fluffy girl. Our other neighbors bought Green and Purple. Green was the fluffier curious boy, and Purple was the mellow boy. Those 3 were taken last Friday.

On Monday, BS put an ad in KSL. Within 6 minutes, Black was sold. And then 8 minutes later, 2 more! That was easy. Who knew that these puppies were in such high demand? Even mixed breed ones.

So today, a cute Grandpa and his cute grand-daughter (named Quincie) came to claim Pink and Bully. Pink was a sweet little male, and Bully the biggest and gold colored male. He is going to be huge. He was one of my favorites. We feel really good about the homes all the dogs are going to so far.

So now we are down to big Red and Black. Black is getting picked-up tomorrow. She is a mini-Daisy. The lightest color girl and a real sweetheart. I will be sad to see her go.


We are going to keep Red, a blocky light colored male. Out of all of the pups, he is the one who seems to have chosen us. He is always the one to run up to us first and follows us everywhere. Daisy will be happy to have some company, especially when we travel.

When the first puppy left, Millie (being the sensitive soul she is) started crying, saying that she feels really bad for Daisy. She was really worried about how sad Daisy was to see her babies leaving.


This has been an amazing experience for our family. The kids have loved every single second. Quincy calls them her "babies." BS and I are so glad our family has had this opportunity. Looking back at the last 8 weeks, only the last 2 weeks have been a bit inconvenient with 7 rowdy pups - keeping them contained, fed, entertained, and clean. But the timing was perfect because the weather was warm enough for them to be outside on the back patio. The As they grew and mastered how to escape, it was okay because they didn't stray far from their mom, and Daisy kept them in our backyard. She has been an awesome mama. I hope they all inherit her sweet demeanor.

Oh yeah, have I talked about the "stud" of this litter? His name is Chopper and he is a big, nice, cute Golden Retriever from the neighborhood. Turns out he got to Daisy first, the day before we took her to breed with the other Lab. But he is papered and cost $600.00. It's a good mix. We are excited to see how Red turns out. But first we need to give him a proper name...

Happy Mom

Mother's Day...so good.
Much needed.
I woke up at 9:45 am to my darlings serving me a huge homemade Belgian waffle with homemade buttermilk syrup, fresh strawberries, and real whipped cream. YUM.
I can't remember the last time I got to sleep-in that late. The house was much quieter because Sambo and Will were at Grandma's for a sleep-over. Saturday Grandpa Tom picked them up because he needed some buddies to help him ride the lawn mower and build at the cabin.
After more lying around, we went to church then headed straight up to the cabin for a Mother's Day BBQ. We took Daisy and the 4 pups that were left. It was perfect weather and the most delicious dinner I've had in a long time. The guys in the family did all of the planning and work so the girls just hung-out and relax. Big thanks to the men!
Nobody wanted to leave. We didn't until 10:00 pm, which put us home at 11:00. Oh well, so worth it.
The cards and gifts the kids made me were so sweet and funny. I always love to read what they write about me in the cards they make at school. They make me feel like the best mom ever.

BS gave me my gift early - on Friday he gave me a new bike helmet and some new shoes for my road bike. He gave them to me so I would have them for the "Goldilocks" ride on Saturday.

Goldilocks was fun, despite my lack of training and time on my bike. I didn't go to spin classes all winter and had only been on my bike a few times because of the weather and my crazy life. I was a little concerned if I would be able to ride the entire 63 miles. But I did. Luckily there were lots of friends who did it too so we were able to have a good time and finish. Here are a few of us:After a big long week with Hotch Potch, work, and such, I was totally sleep deprived by Saturday. I was so tired and sore. So it is an understatement to say that I really, really, really enjoyed Mother's Day. I enjoy being a mom more. It's the best ever.