Summer Fun On the Mountain

A week on the mountain is just what these two ordered for summer vacation. After spending a week at our house for "choir camp", Grandma and Papa loaded up the bigs and took them back to Arkansas for the week. 

They had a lot of fun playing in the backyard pool, swimming at the community pool in Poteau (after lunch at the hospital cafeteria) and playing various games at the house. Despite its political incorrectness, Matching Faces is usually one of the first picks for game time. 

And what would visiting Grandparents be without treats that turn your tongue green? I was assured that vegetables were consumed during the week but I am positive that this tongue was not the result of spinach or broccoli. 

Thanksgiving 2013

Marshuka, bowling and card games  - what a fun long weekend with the Leitner clan. 

Lyla got a backstage pass to Eleanor's weekend performances. She got to watch the girls put on make up and do their hair. Then we all watched the performance and it was really good. Of all the costume changes my favorite was a forest green costume that flowed so beautifully when the girls danced.

Closing Day 2014

In Classic Clark fashion we ended the Royals home season with a bang!

Tommy started the weekend with a guys night out in the Diamond Club with a co-worker - it sure is nice when you work at a place that has the same name as the team's stadium. The boys in blue played terrible that night. 

Saturday Tommy and Lyla went to the afternoon game. It was a frustrating game due to a challenged call on Salvador Perez's missed tag up at Third and Ned Yost's poor decision in putting Raul Ibanez in to pinch hit at the bottom of the ninth.

But closing day, closing day was fun for all! We tailgated with friends and watched a winning game, finally. Chloe was even a great sport and took Asa around the bases for the Fun Run!

Steven is Seven

My oldest is Seven and I am not lamenting him growing older ... It always seems like moms get sappy around their children's birthdays because they don't want them to grow older. I feel the opposite. I love the person Steven is growing up to be and I can't wait to see what he does this year!

For his birthday we went to the Royals game. We stayed out much too late but he was having too much fun to make him leave. Then on Saturday he got to have two friends over to go to Power Play and sleepover. Despite not going to school together anymore, Steven and Kaden don't skip a beat when they get together. And Rhys fit in pretty good, too!

We "tailgated" in the parking lot with Minsky's Pizza and cupcakes!

Cinnamon Rolls for breakfast rather than a birthday cake!

Why couldn't I have invented Pokemon? For almost 20 years these silly cards have captured the attention of young boys. I'd be rich!

Royals Closing Weekend

This year's baseball season has been a good one, for both the Kansas City Royals and the Clark family.  Steven and Lyla have enjoyed their trips to Kauffman Stadium, so much so that they have been upset when the Royals are out of town over the weekend.  The last homestand was a particularly busy time with back to back games Saturday night and Sunday morning.  

The Saturday night game was a typical Royals game, good pitching with a snoozing offense.  Unlike the Royals hitters Steven had a very exciting night when he pulled out a front tooth during the middle of an inning.  Bloody mouth and all Steven set through the rest of the game with a smile on his face and a tooth in his hand.  The Royals lost 3-1.

Sunday's game was a bit more exciting for both the Royals and the Clarks.  Steven's friend Fletcher and his family attended the game; the two were quite the pair and watched the game like old pros.

Asa also enjoyed himself at the game.  Although he did not find the action on the field particularly interesting, the floor of the upper deck concourse and access ramps were very entertaining.

Our daughter is a force of nature and sometimes all you can do is shake your head at what she says.  Earlier this summer she announced that when she has a baby girl her name will be Cutie Cat and that her baby boy's name will be Eric Hosmer.  That's right, the Royals first baseman.  What makes it a bit troubling is that Eric Hosmer is both the baby and the daddy according to Lyla.  To top the season off on the next to last game of the season she found an Eric Hosmer doll at the team store, so now Eric Hosmer (both names must always be used) can be with her at all times.

Game note, the Royals won Sunday's game on a 2-out grand slam in the 10th inning; nothing too exciting.

Labor Day Camping

Camping has become a big event for our family, even if we haven't been able to go as much as we'd like this summer.  Our Labor Day excursion to Longview Lake with the Van Doren's was a big time for kids with goggle napping, campfires, and piling onto Mom's side of the camper.  Hopefully we'll be able to go again before it get's too cold, maybe minus the goggles.

Working Man

Between school, camp, and time at the Homestead, Steven has had a busy summer, but that doesn't mean he hasn't had time for work.  Over the last couple of weeks Steven has spent quite a bit of time at each or our offices and he's become very comfortable.  

During a staff meeting at Tommy's office he even felt comfortable enough to let Tommy's boss know that it was time to go to lunch when she asked if everyone wanted to adjourn for lunch or stay for an additional 30 minutes to finish the meeting.  No one spoke up, Steven decided it was time for lunch, and lunch it was.  Good work buddy.