The Clark Boys

2010-12-17T07:13:00.000-08:00

Haven't blogged in while. I miss that Florida house and those great people!

The Kids First School Dance

2009-09-13T11:42:00.000-07:00

A family that studies togther..stays together...

2009-09-13T11:39:00.001-07:00

Brotherly Love

2009-07-04T05:25:00.001-07:00

This morning at 7:15, Brandon looked at me and said "Mommy, have I told you what I don't like about my life"? I replied "no". He said "Jake". That Brandon. He loves his brother. He has been saying the funniest things lately.

These photos are from a few weeks ago when Jake was in bed with the "VBS Funk", and had a 102 degree temperature. Brandon was trying the cheer him up. Poor Jake was stuck in bed the first few days Katie was here visiting.

My Crazy Boys

2009-07-04T05:20:00.000-07:00

I took these pictures because I figured it would be good blackmail when they are teenagers. They raided my panty drawer. Brandon was "Tarzan" and Jake was "Captain Underpants". We had a lot of giggles over this!

Baby Philip!

2009-06-19T17:22:00.000-07:00

We are watching Philip while the rest of the Kerr's are at Arigato's. He is watching Baby Einstein and eating pizza with the boys. He refuses to take his hat and shoes off!

Summer Fun!

2009-06-19T17:13:00.000-07:00

We are having fun this summer!

Dear Mom and Dad,

2009-06-06T14:34:00.000-07:00

Today, I have some long overdue apologies. The list will lengthen, as my days with these sweet boys remind me of you guys. Stay tuned for more apologies. But for now...

I am sorry for touching the walls.

I am sorry for barging in your room. I understand why we weren't allowed in your hallway, much less your bedroom, on Monterey.

I am sorry for talking during a part of the news that you actually wanted to hear. I now understand why there was "no talking during Paul Harvey".

I am sorry for all of the unnecessary laundry.

I am sorry for leaving crap (toys & trash) in your car.

I am sorry for not putting my shoes where they belong. And my socks. And my toys. And my book bag. ETC. ANYTHING. REALLY SORRY!!!!!!

If I ever wrote on furniture...I am sorry for that too.

I am sorry for borrowing your scissors, tape, glue, pens, etc and not putting it back. Seriously..I am experiencing paybacks on this one at least three times a day. I am sorry.

I am sorry for not wiping off the faucets after a shower. OMG...the water is SO hard in Florida.

That's it for today...well for now anyways. The boys will be awake for another two hours....

Love, Traci

Hmmmmm...

2009-05-24T04:23:00.000-07:00

Brandon asked me yesterday "Mom, do people with beige skin marry people with brown skin"?

BRANDON

2009-05-21T14:09:00.000-07:00

JAKE

2009-05-21T14:01:00.000-07:00

A list of "Needs" and "Wants" by Jake

2009-05-03T15:39:00.000-07:00

Needs:
fence
grass
paint our house brown
another baby
pig
self defense
my dad needs hair

Wants:
new shoes
pool
book
cat
fish
hamster
bird
dog
money
toyd
movies
elevator

Poetry by Jake

2009-05-03T15:38:00.000-07:00

My grama is fun.
She's cool.
My grama.

Poetry by Jake

2009-05-03T15:37:00.001-07:00

I have a cousin thst is sweet,
smart, awesome, cool, beautiful.
When I go to Alabama,
I wish I lived there,
and I am so happy when I see her.
Oh how I wish I could go there today!

Poetry by Jake

2009-05-03T15:36:00.000-07:00

My cousin is beautiful,
she's fun.
My cousin,
we play catch,
then we jump rope.

Poetry by Jake

2009-05-03T15:34:00.000-07:00

My dad is stong and fast.
My dadis crazy and cool.
My dad is weird and loco,
rough and tough,
awesome,
is a hard working man.

Kookie Coconut.

2009-04-11T03:37:00.000-07:00

Jake has a mean Kick. Brandon has a straight leg kick!

2009-04-11T03:34:00.000-07:00

My little Alabama man stuck in Florida

2009-04-11T03:30:00.000-07:00

Valentine's Day 2009

2009-02-16T17:11:00.000-08:00

Learnin' Em Early

2009-02-16T17:08:00.000-08:00

My Gamers

2008-12-29T12:05:00.001-08:00

They are finally tired of candy!

2008-12-27T17:20:00.000-08:00

My boys are tired. Greg and I are feeling a bit more human tonight. I managed to wash our bed sheets and a load of clothes so I can have clean jammies. The kids were great today. It's 80+ outside...not good weather to have when you are sick and have the windows open.

OMG. I feel like a squished tomato in that bull run in Mexico.

2008-12-25T14:15:00.000-08:00

Do you know what I am talking about? I am going to take a 3 year old painkiller from my boob job. Hope it works. God help me.

Why should just 1/2 the Clark family have strep on Christmas?

2008-12-25T05:03:00.000-08:00

Looking for a Dr open this AM. Jake and I woke up with sore throats. I am hoping mine is sinus. Jake is pretty puny. He is so puny is he laying on the couch staring at his Guitar Hero. He loves all of his gifts from Santa, as does Brandon. Greg has gone back to bed and I am here alone trying to figure out all of these video games that Greg wanted the boys to have. I don't like video games...probably because I am not good at them. This is a true test of my patience.

Fun times ahead in their fort (their bedroom closet)

2008-12-24T19:45:00.001-08:00

A Charlie Brown Christmas tree always makes the gift pile look big!

2008-12-24T19:38:00.001-08:00

Can you hand me that blanket please?

2008-12-24T19:35:00.000-08:00

Strep...Strap...Smep...Smap.

2008-12-24T12:22:00.000-08:00

Greg has strep too (and an ear infection). While he was in bed, I took the boys to the beach (strep...rashy booty and all)! It was about 80 degrees...maybe warmer. :) Afterwards, we came home and showered, ate dinner, and headed out to look at Christmas lights. The only way I was able to talk Brandon into going was if I allowed him to eat Cheezit's in the car (he was tired and just wanted to go to bed...you'd think he had strep or something). We drove through a few neighborhoods in Seminole. Mommy of the year here let them hang out of the sunroof. They had fun and Brandon was glad he made the trek.

Only Brandon....

2008-12-24T09:03:00.000-08:00

The Strep throat booty rash...

YUMMY TO MY TUMMY!

2008-12-24T08:57:00.001-08:00

The excitement of the Air Hog Cars

2008-12-23T10:29:00.000-08:00

Thanks Auntie Teen! (don't think your computer audio isn't working...it's my 1997 technology that doesn't have audio).

Big Man

2008-12-10T16:49:00.001-08:00

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

my fav

2008-12-07T12:31:00.001-08:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Jake, Mrs. Warren & elf

2008-12-07T12:26:00.001-08:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Brandon, Mrs. bennett, and a frog

2008-12-07T12:25:00.001-08:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Getn' Jiggy

2008-12-07T12:23:00.001-08:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

She didn't even apologize...

2008-11-18T02:35:00.000-08:00

I was rearended in carline yesterday. The stupid b**ch didn't even get out of her car. Florida crackheads.

JAKE'S 7th birthday party pictures!

2008-11-18T02:33:00.000-08:00

There are none. My camera died.

Dracula's Son & Iron Man

2008-11-18T02:31:00.001-08:00

Jake's Journal Entry

2008-09-28T14:53:00.000-07:00

my mom is crase. my dad poopes like crase. i love katie vare much. win my bruthr poops it is stece. katie is brudfl. mom slepps u lot. my grame is fun. pope has the best videogams. the wun i like the much is the gtrgame. i like wake football. my dog brcs u lot. i like alubama. sno dus dad. i am good at pusls. skulle is fun. i like anumls. i am triing to red. i like photics. i have a grfid. i have a club hus. i like prlaing bascitboll with my frens.

TRANSLATION:
My mom is crazy. My dad poops like crazy. I love Katie very much. When my brother poops it is stinky. Katie is beautiful. Mom sleeps a lot. My grandma is fun. Popi has the best video games. The one I like the most is the guitar game. I like watching football. My dog barks a lot. I like Alabama. So does my dad. I am good at puzzles. School is fun. I like animals. I am trying to read. I like projects. I have a girlfriend. I have a club house. I like playing basketball with my friends.

We need a lil' more progesterone in here...

2008-09-23T16:59:00.000-07:00

The F Word

2008-09-23T16:49:00.000-07:00

Fever...he's had one since Saturday. It's 102.5 at the moment.

The doctor said it was a fever virus that is "going around".

This picture makes me want to cry. Look how much he has grown.

Meet the Street Cleaner

2008-09-18T06:50:00.001-07:00

Jake's teacher sent home a "meet me" bag, kind of like a "show and tell" type thing. He was thrilled about this, and spent quite a bit of time rehearsing what he was going to say about each item he put in his bag.

The bag contained:

An Alabama football - "because I like to play football and watch Alabama football with my daddy"

Basketball trophy from YMCA - "this is from when I played basketball in Alabama"

Dead spider in a clear plastic cube from Denise's trip to Afghanistan - "because I like to look at bugs"

His latest McDonald's toy - "from when I went to McDonald's"

He also had a questionnaire to fill out:

The thing I do best is "play football".

I like to "play basketball" with my friends.

My favorite meal is "fish sticks".

I want to be a "street cleaner" when I grow up.

He is turning into his father quickly with his passion for football and sports. He prefers to watch football on TV over cartoons. He and Greg have been throwing the football to each other at night and Jake is getting pretty good at it. He also has a skateboard which he has picked up rather quickly.

It was nice to see him so excited about school this morning. The "Meet Me" bag really helped. Greg and I are worried about him. He says he plays by himself at school. We find that hard to believe (he is the king of white lies). I am going to email his teacher today just in case....we want to make sure he is adjusting to the new school.

Branners

2008-09-18T06:50:00.000-07:00

Why oh why is my sweet kindergartner crying when I drop him off at school?

click on my wordle!

2008-09-15T06:47:00.001-07:00

My Weekend with Jakester

2008-09-14T15:23:00.000-07:00

While Brandon and Greg were driving Papa to Alabama, Jake and I had plenty of special moments together. If only Jake could remember them. He keeps crying (much like a 2-year old) that we are supposed to be on a "special date". It honestly is breaking my heart. We were home bound all day today due to gastrointestinal issues (which has lead to lots of laundry). Other than that, we have been on the go ever since I picked him up from school Friday.

When I picked Jake up at school on Friday, from the carline, I could see him crying with the biggest crocodile tears I have ever seen. The principal was standing over him, and then talking in her walkie talkie. I am thinking "Oh Lord. What has he done now"? I shouted out the window "What is wrong? Is everything ok". (I didn't get out of Greg's truck because I didn't want to get scolded by the car line Nazi, and they couldn't hear me screaming over the dual exhaust.) Brandon's teacher appeared, and she sent Jake to the truck. She leaned in and said Jake was crying because he was looking for Brandon. Jake had forgotten Brandon didn't go to school Friday. It was sweet, but at the same time so very heart breaking. Jake and Brandon have really been watching out for each other lately.

We had dinner at Joan's Friday night, and then the two of us went to a concert in the park in Seminole. The band could have very well been the worst I have ever heard, but the memories of Jake dancing in the grass will never be forgotten. He would instruct me to dance "apart" and then "together".

Saturday we went to Sharon's house for a jewelry party. All the ladies were smitten with Jake. Afterwards, we shopped for our dinner guests, Hannah and Abby. Jake picked the menu of popcorn shrimp, bowtie noodles, and green beans. We played outside, and inside, and outside again. At one point, a game of hide and seek turned into them playing dress-up in my closet. (Does this mean my clothes look like costumes? or they just have mature taste?) We then bathed and watched Beauty and the Beast, eating lots of popcorn, bananas and pineapple. At one point when I had the TV on, I asked Hannah if she was allowed to watch Sponge Bob. Her reply was "only if my mom doesn't see me watching it". I was on the phone with Christine when she said that. We both laughed hysterically! We had a great night with the girls. Rachael (who looked drop dead gorgeous) and Michael picked them up at 9:30. Rachael and I are trading babysitting like Erin and I did. Her girls are easy. I hope my boys behave for her.

I will spare you of today's details. Brandon and Greg are due home at 8pm. We missed them.

The Cycle of Life..in Blue

2008-09-14T14:11:00.001-07:00

I have been hearing this term quit a bit lately. Seeing former Jazzercise students, and them commenting on "the cycle of life". I am married now, have two kids, and a little more grown up than the last time I saw some of these ladies. It makes me realize I have come along way. I am proud of myself and my life.

Lipstick. It's my American Express. I have always carried it with me, whether in my pocket or my purse. Unfortunately for my mom, dad and sister, they had the displeasure of wearing my lipstick on various articles of clothing. Being the forgetful person I was (and still am) I would leave it in my pocket and when my mom did the laundry...voila! Revlon for all! I think I always felt worse for my dad when his underwear would come out of the dryer with big pink splotches on them. A woman can play off a pink blob on their clothes, but not a man. Despite many threats, I still did it, accidentally of course. I still do. Some things never change.

So back to "the cycle"... I opened my dryer to find blue splotches all over the place. Who in their right mind would have put a blue crayon in their pocket? Hmmm. Jake said it was Brandon. Brandon is out of town. (I really think it was Brandon.) I have bright blue spots on more articles of clothing than I have time to list.

Paybacks...in blue.

fate

2008-09-12T08:28:00.000-07:00

I wasn't offered the "diaper changing" job. The most horrendous message was left on my voicemail relaying the news. If anyone knows how to transfer a land line voice message to the Internet, please email the instructions to jazzerville@tampabay.rr.com. The world needs to hear the insensitive message, all while chuckling at me.

PS: He is gone. It's time to dry out.

asleep at the wheel

2008-09-10T14:11:00.001-07:00

the sweet smell of boys

2008-09-10T12:14:00.000-07:00

How can they be so sweet looking...and SO stinky?!?!

Coming soon to a city near you....

2008-09-09T03:56:00.000-07:00

Brandon is riding with Greg to take Papa home. They are driving halfway Thursday after work and the rest Friday...not sure when they are leaving to come back to FL. I am going to have a big date weekend with my Jake!

I am taking my drawers back.

2008-09-07T13:07:00.000-07:00

I was complaining to Christine this morning about all the little "projects" Jake and Brandon have going on all over the house. It occurred to me they needed a designated area to use their scissors, boxes, tape, glue, string..whatever they conjure up to make a "project". So I cleaned and rearranged their room...and then went to Kmart to shop. Aside from the fact that some lady that probably didn't have a green card almost ran over my wonderful sweet boys, it was a successful shopping trip. (I called her a f'*ing bitch..hope the kids don't remember that one). They had a card table and four chairs, and a 6 drawer plastic organizer all on sale. We loaded it up and came home and put the room together. It is really organized..thepictures don't do my hard work justice. The good news is my coffee table and end table drawers are no longer stuffed with crayons, markers, and Spiderman coloring books.

Football Widow

2008-09-06T17:15:00.000-07:00

I am drinking alone. I hate football season. There MUST be some type of medical diagnosis for people that scream at the TV when watching football. Greg needs to take a few Xanax before these Alabama games. Wait. I need a few Xanax before listening to him watch football.

mommy's butt

2008-09-05T17:08:00.000-07:00

Brandon and I were having a "shake off". He said he could never shake his booty like me because my butt was "loose". Greg and I laughed so hard! Unfortunately we laughed in front of him...and because now he likes to remind me of my "loose booty" just to get a laugh out of me. It works.

He isn't fibbing.

2008-08-26T11:08:00.000-07:00

I emailed Jake's teacher today because Jake keeps complaining he is getting lost. It took him complaining everyday for me to realize he wasn't fibbing. He now has an escort to and from the lunchroom, which is the holding area for kids that are car riders. The school is atleast twice the size of his where he was in Huntsville. I can't blame him. Brandon already knows how to get to everything. It irritates Jake.