Why do we spend money?

I had an irrational moment in December. Just one.


I follow all kinds of coupon and mommy blogs on Facebook and one of them alerted me to a fantastic sale on stainless steel cookware at Kohl's one weekend. I just had to have them, my Christmas present to myself. I justified it by saying that the Teflon and unknown coating on half our pots and pans was chipping off and it would be so much safer for our family to have this cookware. Plus, I got Kohl's cash so we could turn around and get Steven some much needed cozy (sweat) pants since his were turning into high waders.


So, the box came before Christmas and I just left it under the tree unopened. It was a reminder to myself during the remainder of the holiday season, to not allow myself to succumb to my hormones. 


When we came back from Arkansas I got them out, washed them and was utterly dumbfounded that they were packed in three boxes. An exterior shipping box, another box with the fancy Wolfgang Puck logo stamped all over it and finally and interior box holding all the pots and pans. 


A little excessive, I think. Until the children got a hold of them!

I guess the moral of the story is, let your hormones go crazy shopping because it will give your children something to do for an entire afternoon!

Crazy time with Grandma

What is it with California? Even a four year old is claiming that crazies come from there!

Merry Christmas 2011

The cousins on Christmas Eve waiting for Santa to arrive!

Our family reindeer photo, the "normal" photos were terrible.

Christmas Playtime

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Playing Santa and Reindeer

Making noodles

Ereaders and Internet shopping, Old John Clark would never have dreamed of such things on the mountain.

Soccer with Uncle Ringo, I think Steven has the edge

Spin me, Spin me

Catching butterflies

More butterflies

Winding down on Grandma

Help, Help Superman!

A List for Santa

Steven's writing skills are improving everyday, however, he is improving even faster in drawing. He used to like to "scribble scrabble" but now is much more interested in developing actual pictures that have meaning, and if I do say so myself, he's pretty good!


He and Tommy spent an afternoon coming up with a list and drawing up pictures to go along with each item he wanted to ask Santa to bring. He had Ratchet the transformer, a computer (!), a jet like Jack had, a watch and a few other things. 

He proudly folded it, stuffed the envelope and wrote Santa on the front. Oh, and we didn't forget to tell Santa we were going to be in Arkansas so he didn't forget to bring the presents there!

Christmas Memories 2011

Once again we picked out our tree at the boy scout lot at Lyla's preschool. There's nothing better than picking a tree out of a parking lot to get you in the holiday spirit!

Steven spent a day home from school because he was sick. He was feeling pretty good most of the day so I needed activities to keep him occupied while I got a little work done. Unfortunately I couldn't find our Elmer's white glue so I went hunting and found some wood glue. Aunt Tracy called me resourceful, I like that. He glued more cotton balls on paper that I've ever used for any other purpose. I hope all that received an art project in the mail enjoyed the product, he sure was excited to make them!

Every year the kids come home with some kind of candy or sweet. I should have remembered this one from Steven last year, I guess once they have a good project a preschool they just hit repeat the next year.

Lyla was a gift bearer at this year's Christmas Program. It was pretty cute to see her up there with the older kids. She isn't much of a girly girl but she was sooooo excited to put her red dress on and look all cute for the program. And tights, oh man, tights are the best thing ever.

Do you Pin? My creative juices were flowing this Christmas season all because of the hours of wasted time surfing pinboards and pinning new ideas. One of my favorite holiday treat (I guess I shouldn't blame the preschool so much) was chocolate covered marshmallow reindeer. Tommy and I spent an evening dipping marshmallows and shoving pretzels into their heads. I had the hardest time finding lollipop sticks so I ended up cutting straws in half. It was really fun and let me try out different settings on my camera to get the blurry effect I love so much. I'm still working on it but I'm getting better.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good chocolate-covered marshmallow reindeer!

The fix to a broken zipper

The zipper on Lyla's winter coat is broken. I told her that I would try and fix it. She asked, "with eye drops?"

I guess we've had pink eye one too many times this year.

Visiting Santa

Where else but at the zoo would the Clark Family visit Santa?

Fairy Princess

Who ever thought that Fairy Princesses should be a part of holiday celebrations? Well, I guess a smart department store advertising executive in the 1930s was on to something when they hired a girl to sit on a throne and push a button to deliver presents down a chute to children who visited her.

Not being a Kansas City native, I never knew there was a Fairy Princess tradition. I even asked some natives and they had no idea either but when I saw a free event at the Kansas City Museum on a night that Tommy was working, I decided we'd try it out.

We attended the opening reception of the Fairy Princesses. The had carolers, food and a grand arrival of the four princesses. We didn't get to see them in the throne room but that is just as well because Steven didn't even want to go near them and Lyla had to be coaxed to go stand next to a princess to get a picture.

My co-worker Jeff and his wife Carrie brought their 2-year old daughter Katelynn. She's a doll and insisted that the princesses go to their throne. She was unsuccessful but did get to be interviewed by the local news station. She loved the microphone!

Prince Steven, he was mad his crown wasn't pink but when we told him it was gold he was much happier.

Be sure to monitor the two year old when food on a stick is present.



Lyla wanted nothing to do with her crown and she wasn't too sure about the Fairy Princess, either.