The World According To Clark

Happy Birthday, Emma!

My dear dear Emma,

I cannot believe that you are ten years old.  We're talking double digits now!  I'm asking myself where the past ten years have gone.  I can instantly go back to the day you were born and never did I imagine then what you have become now.

You are demure.  You truly have no idea how beautiful you are.  You blush at the mere mention of it.  I think you try to hide it.  But the beauty is not all on the outside for you show yourself to be thoughtful, considerate and highly imaginative.  If there is one thing I can point out this year that is most distinctive about you is the choice of words you sometimes use.  You pepper your vocabulary with insightful words sometimes and it's surprising.  You've unleashed a creative writing side of you that I couldn't be more proud of.   I can't wait to read more.

I also have to add how silly you are.  You guffaw.  You try to act cooler when your friends are around.  You linger sometimes too long it truly tries my patience.  I think you should eat more.  You love Dr. Pepper.  I still catch you sucking your thumb.  You like to say "Snap!" when something goes awry.  You are cautious but willing to try new things.  You are a homebody.  I have to remind you to brush your hair.  You won't wear a dress unless you have to.  I love it that you can clean out the dishwasher now.  You like to dig in the dirt.  You like to experiement.  You like to make GAWD awful fruit salad.  I like your friends.  You eat your peas and like asparagus.   You love Harry Potter and you want to go to England, meet Danielle Radcliff and marry him.  You carry that Harry Potter magic wand EVERYWHERE and then sometimes I find that I'm holding it for you.  You dislike shopping for clothes.  I wish you'd let me paint your fingernails.  You still forget to flush.  You are a little anal about schoolwork, but that's a good thing.  You pick the pepperoni off your pizza --- sometimes you eat it, sometimes you don't.  I find long division as frustrating as you do.  You have beautiful freckles splashed across your nose.   You wish that the cats would let you hold them.   I had fun camping with you during Girl Scouts.  You get annoyed with your sisters but love them dearly. 

That's all that comes to mind now.  That and how lucky I am to have such a sweet girl like you. I love you.  Have a happy happy birthday.

Mom
 (Still wishing you called me Mommy)

Pumpkin Time!

The Clarks headed to the Fruit and Berry Patch for some pumpkin pickin' fun and fruit slushes.  Rob and I gobbled up fresh hot cherry pies.  It was cold out today.  Mr. Fox, the owner talked me into trying some Alfalfa honey.  I don't like honey.  But now I like Alfalfa honey.  Love. Mr. Fox.  Love his farm.

 
 
 
 

Camping

Emma and I went camping with her Girl Scout troop this past weekend.  I have to admit it wasn't something I was looking forward to.  After all, I had heard horror stories about ticks, bats and mice at the Tanasi Camp.  And then there was the prospect of rain, which I could handle better than the ticks, bats and mice, but still thought if it rained what kind of camping fun would we truly have?

Ellen, the best Girl Scout leader ever, thought ahead and switched from tents to a cabin.  This provided us to do all crafty artsy stuff, singing and eating under one roof.  (It also had a bathroom ---yeah!!!!)  Because of the rain we were unable to make a campfire and cook s'mores, but we cooked them in the oven instead.  Okay, so it wasn't camping camping like it should have been.  But what it truly came down to in the long run is that we all had fun.  And Emma and I had some good one on one time.  I love to watch her interact with all her friends.  I love to hear her laugh.

S'mores!

The next morning we headed home.  I was tired.  You would be too listening to all those girls giggling late into the night.  Anyway, one last shot before we headed home of Norris Lake:

Oh Dear...

This poor little blog.  It's been ignored.  Put on the bottom of the totem pole.  If only I'd take the time to write and update and post.  All I can do is promise to try.

And now I have the gall to start a new blog too.

http://sosnaphappy.wordpress.com/

I really should have my head examined.  As if I need something else to keep up with.  But taking pictures is sooooo much fun!

Cosby

Went hiking on a little nature trail today in Cosby, TN.  Packed lunch and headed out on a kind of spur of the moment plan.  Those always work best.  It was a about a mile loop which worked out great with Abby.  She was able to hold her own very well.  The girls had a blast.

 

 

 

 

Everything was lush and green and the weather was perfect.  After our hike we got in the van and on the way home stopped at an apple orchard/resturant.  What a nice surprise!  A candy/gift shop, a resturant, a barn full of fresh fruits and vegetables stocked with ripe stuff as well as canned goodies and fresh apple cider. It smelled applicious everywhere.  They sold hot apple pies, ice cream and fresh fruit slushies.

 

 

 

Was thinking how nice it's going to be in the fall with the changing of the leaves and cooler weather.   Because, I'm going back!

How I Love Thee Farmer's Market

I took the girls downtown to Market Square this morning to the Farmer's Market.  We usually go to the Farmer's Market at some church I don't know the name of, off of Kingston Pike on Tuesdays.   But the one on Market Square I think is better.  More to look at.  Like these two:

   

Yeah, they're amusing to look at.  But when you're a three year old Abby who's never seen a couple on stilts before, much less one who was wearing high-waters ---- well I hope she just doesn't have nightmares tonight.

There was also the Pepper Man at the Market.  I made up that name.  I don't know what his real name is.  But he was selling some funky hot peppers.

  

That's Abby's hand reaching for the hot stuff.  Fortunately she didn't rub her eyes right afterwards or she'd of had something to really cry about.  Emma had her camera that her Grandma Clark gave her and she took some pictures too.  The Pepper Man asked to see her pictures.  Turns out he used to be a professional photographer back in the day. 

We left full of some good eye candy and came home with some peaches, my favorite cheddar jalapeno cornbread, and cookies I had no business eating.

Match Point

Today was Abby's first tennis lesson.  I contemplated whether or not I should have her try.  But ever since Emma and Georgia went back to school it was obvious from the first day that Abby needed some extra curricular activity.    So I signed her up for Pee Wee's.

She is the youngest in the class of three, but the tallest.  At times she looked a little confused, but was a good listener and by the end of her first lesson she knew where to put her hands on the racquet.  She automatically kept her eyes on the ball and followed through on her little forehand swing.  She had a great time.

I have to admit that I love it when the girls get out there and try tennis.  Only because I love it so much.  I don't care if they stick with it or not, so long as they have fun doing whatever they pursue. 

First Day of School, Posted on Second Day of School

So I now am the proud parent of a 2nd grader and a 4th grader.  And a three year old who doesn't like it that she has to stay home from school while her she is left to the mundane entertainings of her mother.  Abby has been carrying around a backpack full of stuffed animals since yesterday every where she goes.

So here's my older baby girls ready for school:

  

They are looking at Abby who wants to be in the picture too.

Both Emma and Georgia are very excited about the new school year.  Emma is a little disappointed that her best friend Courtney isn't in her class this year.  I dare not explain to her that they like to split up kids every year if they seem to really get along with one another.  I don't know this for certain, but it seems the case year after year.

Georgia has Ms. Murphy for her teacher.  Emma had Ms. Murphy when she was in second grade.   I'm very relieved in that I know her and she knows me and we have the lines of communication already open.  The thing I love about Ms. Murphy is that she is innovative, on top of things and organized.  I'm just a little worried after Georgia's performance last year and wonder if their personalities will clash.  But last year was a bundle of confusion mixed with medication.  No more meds.  Ever.  Not going that route again regardless of what might be suggested by professionals. 

Off to entertain Abbycakes and ignore housework.

Back To School Shopping

This weekend is the tax free school shopping weekend.   To avoid the chaos and crowds that this causes, I decided to do my shopping early as I'm not a fan of the effect this has on the general public.  However, I brought my three darling cherubs along.  I'm not a fan of the effect that this has on me.

To start with there was the old conversation I have with Emma every year regarding her wardrobe.  Am I the only parent in the world with the child that poo-poos her suggestion for purchasing new clothes?  Who wouldn't want new clothes?!?!?!!?  Nothing I suggested looked good.  Everything she glanced over looked to her like it was covered in lye. She acted like I was torturing her. She does her chores around the house with more enthusiasm.  Georgia on the other hand was picking everything off the racks.

On to the school supplies.  I ignored the pleas to go look at toys (we were at Target).   The Icees I bought them to keep them from grabbing stuff off the shelf had run out and I was putting stuff back on the shelves just as fast as they were thrown in the buggy by the girls.  I had the list for what each girls needs for school.  But they don't care about the list.  They want everything that's not on the list.  The sprial notebook with the fuzzy kittens.  The calculator that was "JUST A DOLLAR!"  The sparkly pencil case.  The cheap plastic pencil sharpner that falls apart after you use if for the first time.

Okay, maybe it wasn't that bad.  They're excited about school starting.  And after today I'm looking forward to it too.

Home

So I left for home yesterday from a week long stay at Erika's house.  When I get to the boarding gate at the airport there is no where to sit so I am standing near the ticket counter when I realize the man in front of me was wearing handcuffs.  He had a jacket over his hands in front of him, but you can see the handcuffs peeking through.  Upon closer inspection he was saddled by two undercover agents.  I'm assuming they were undercover agents as they stuck with the guy the entire time and escorted him on the plane and sat with him on the plane and escorted him off the plane.  I didn't know if I felt safer on the plane knowing there were two men on board with guns or not.

My arrival at the airport was not greeted with the fanfare that I was anticipating.  I was expecting three little girls to tackle me when I walked out.  But it was quiet. There was no one.  Turns out the van pooped out on Alcoa Highway and my brood was stranded.  By the time I finished renting a rental car a taxi delivered Rob and the girls I got the greeting I was waiting for.  On the way home, even though I hated the thought of driving a rental car home, listening to the girls guffaw and laugh in the back seat made up for it.

Made a photo album of my trip as there are too many pictures to post.  Had fun using my new lens and getting out and exploring.  Back to the daily grind and spending giggle time with the girls.