Beach Vacation 2010

Isn’t it wonderful to make family memories? We sure made a lot over spring break! We actually took a vacation! Unheard of, I know! To clarify, we have not had a real vacation since our honeymoon almost nine years ago. Sure, we’ve been to the zoo and to the aquarium, but we have not had a real, five night or longer vacation. We always like to pay bills and get ahead. We paid off our first brand new vehicle within two years, and I am perfectly happy and willing to drive that payment-free vehicle for several more years! But we decided we had earned a vacation, and what’s more, Kennedy and Case deserved a vacation.

We did not tell Kennedy that we were going away for spring break, and Case kept it a secret too! J I packed late at night, after she had fallen asleep, and she didn’t even seem to notice the luggage in the study. All she wanted for spring break was to go out to eat everyday, so I assured her that we would do just that.

I was almost finished packing Friday evening when Matt came home sick, with a temperature over 101 degrees! What?!?! He felt just terrible. I was praying so hard for him. At one point, I asked if I needed to call and cancel the vacation. He told me no, not to do it, but I was close. Matt went to bed early, and Kennedy would catch me at the foot of the bed praying for him. She would get down there right beside me and pray for him too. She didn’t even know about the trip. She is such a sweetie and a wonderful prayer. I finally finished packing and had to go to Wal-Mart at 11 pm. When I got home, Matt was still HOT, so I slept in the recliner. Case woke me up around 5:30 Saturday morning. About an hour later, Matt came into the living room and praise the Lord, his fever had broken, and he was feeling better! So, the vacation was on!

We loaded up around 5:30 pm. Kennedy got in the car and saw the luggage in the back. She was very curious, but we told her nothing. About two hours down the road (of a 14 hour trip), she really started asking questions. We stopped for a bite to eat and Case fell asleep in the car. YEAH! We had hoped they would sleep all night. Kennedy began panicking, begging us to take her home. We counted that she asked us to take her home 39 times. We finally convinced her to go to sleep. Thank goodness! I don’t know how many more times we could have avoided her questions.

We were close to Daytona Beach, headed to Cocoa Beach, when the sun began to rise the next morning, and the kids woke up. Kennedy finally realized that we were in Florida when we had her to take a close look at a map at the rest stop. Two hours after that we arrived in Cocoa Beach.

Kennedy had been telling us how badly she wanted to visit the beach, so when we finally saw the ocean from afar, we had a little fun with her. Matt asked her how she liked her big surprise: seeing the ocean. Then he told her he guessed we could drive home now. Kennedy’s response: “You drove all the way here, and I don’t even get to touch it or go to the beach? This is the worst spring break ever!” Matt and I nearly died laughing.

Quick Backstory

I have loved the beach since my parents first took me in 1986, the summer before I turned six. The beach is my favorite place to visit. I have SO MANY memories of going to the beach; precious memories that bring tears to my eyes and joy to my heart. The beach will always be special to me. Matt even proposed on the beach! Though Matt has grown to love the beach, he did not grow up visiting the beach like me, so he doesn’t have quite the same love affair as I do. He had warned me that he did not think Kennedy was going to like it as much as I hoped she would.

Back to Beach Vacation 2010

Then we got to the beach, and she was the absolute happiest little girl who has ever walked this earth, which made me the absolute happiest momma who has ever walked this earth! As Kennedy and Matt played in the water and I held Case’s little hand while he enjoyed the water around his feet, I looked out over the ocean, at one of God’s greatest and most beautiful creations, and I cried tears of happiness, so thankful that Kennedy loved the beach as much as I do.

But I also cried tears of remembrance. I cried remembering how far out in the ocean Jamie D (the younger of my two older brothers), my cousin Shane, and I would swim, all the while with my sister, Lark, yelling for us to come back in. I cried thinking about my last family trip to the beach when I was sixteen and how much fun I had had with my parents. I cried thinking about my cousin whose family had almost always been on our beach vacations; a cousin who left this world much too early. Then I thought about his wonderful father, my favorite uncle, who is battling cancer, and who wants to take my aunt to the beach one last time. I must have hundreds of beach memories, and I cried tears of remembrance for each of them. Then I said a prayer, and I thanked God for everyone of those memories, even the painful ones, and I thanked him for the beach memories to come.

We played in the cold water, built pitiful sand castles, buried the children, collected seashells, and caught Case eating sand. Kennedy even picked up litter! We were sandy and tired, but so joyous! We only spent a few hours at the beach, but Kennedy, Case, Matt, and I had the best time, and we are definitely planning to head back to the beach next May for an extended stay there. We’re thinking Destin though, not Cocoa Beach.

What’s that? You want to know why we drove 14 hours just to visit the beach for a few hours? You see, the beach was just the beginning of Kennedy’s surprise. I’ll have to Blog about the other part later, but let’s just say it was magical.

Here Lately

I did not mean for a whole month to pass before I made another post. It just happened.

Here lately, I’ve been a bit busy. My typical day goes like this:

4:45: wake up and shower

5:20: get Case ready

5:35: fix my hair with Case in my lap, playing with my combs (I even bought more for his entertainment.)

6:00: get Case’s bag and Kennedy’s lunch ready

6:20: fix Kennedy’s hair

6:45: leave for work

7 - 4 or 5: teach (That’s HARD work. Try it! You just may appreciate your child’s teacher a bit more. J ) This is also planning time. Kennedy usually does her homework while in my classroom. She has Daisy Scouts twice a month and gymnastics weekly.

5: make dinner (sometimes with Case on my hip)

6: eat and play

7: baths

7:45: Case goes to sleep

7:45-8:30: read with Kennedy; Right now is our big 1^st grade reading program, so we’ve been doing a lot of reading!!

8:30: wash dishes, straighten house

9:15: try to workout a few nights a week

10: grade papers; check e-mail and other people’s blogs (try to forget that I have one that needs updating)

11 or 12: go to sleep

Are you exhausted? Me too!!! That doesn’t even include cleaning the house or going to church. We can hardly find time to go to the grocery store.

It’s important to note that Matt does help with my schedule. He’s wonderful, and I am blessed to have him as my hubby for almost 9 years!

Here lately, we’ve been sick, and I couldn’t seem to shake it. I wonder why (I type this as I look up at my typical day).

Here lately, Case has been taking the markers out of the drawer, handing them to me (as he ‘counts’ them), and then clapping for himself.

Here lately, we have enjoyed snow.

Here lately, Kennedy has been reading like a third grader!

Here lately, Matt and I have been watching Survivor (haven’t missed a season) and the Olympics.

Here lately, we have been getting ready for spring break. J One more week!

Here lately, Kennedy and Case have looked fabulous and have accomplished many amazing (okay, cute) feats, but I’ve been too tired to take pictures. I need to do better!

Here lately, I’ve been trying to pray for others and just be thankful for what we have. What we have may not look like a lot to others, but we would like to think that we are storing our treasures in Heaven. God has been entirely too good to us, but we won’t complain.

I hope you’ve been well here lately.

School Safety

These are a few of my most precious gifts.

In life, I want many things for them: a relationship with God, forever closeness to their parents, great friends, good work ethic, wonderful math skills, common sense, decency, love for nature, worthy spouses (is that possible, though?), happiness, safety, and so much more.

I spend a lot of time worrying about their safety. They can’t leave my sight when we’re out. I constantly even remind Matt to watch them, when I know he already is. The kids do not go out to play by themselves, and we have yet to even let anyone else take them swimming. Yes, we may be a bit overbearing on the safety side, but we feel it’s necessary.

Horrible things happen all too often. The most recent evidence: the school shooting at Discovery. My heart goes out to the families involved, to the students and faculty there, and even to the shooter. Somewhere along the line, someone failed that child, and he made a terrible decision that can never be undone. It’s such a shame. Another shame about this situation is the news media. I am appalled that the news stations have sounding boards on their websites that allow any content. I read comments about how the victim deserved it, how there is no God and prayer is never helpful, and how the teachers were all to blame. I understand that freedom of speech exists, but do we also have to have freedom of idiocy? God’s help and prayer are the only things that will somewhat soothe this situation. It will take time, of course, but without God’s strength, only more bad will come from this unfortunate incident. Every good gift and every perfect gift are from above. This shooting was neither good nor perfect; therefore, it did not come from above. But, I know a Man who can wipe away the tears and who can fill hearts with love when they are breaking, and that’s what I will be praying for.

The year I was a high school senior was when the shootings occurred at Columbine. It was such a sad time. Back then, my friends drove to school with loaded guns in their gun racks in the back windows of their trucks. I grew up in the country, and boys went hunting after school. After Columbine, the guns were not allowed on school grounds. Other precautions were made too, and yet we are really no closer to making our schools a safe environment. Don’t get me wrong, I am an advocate for public school. In fact, I would like to personally investigate all people who homeschool their children. Sidenote: Homeschooling can be done effectively, but not everyone doing it is doing it effectively. In fact, not everyone with a teaching degree is teaching effectively. Though I wish they were, because they are making us good teachers look real bad. As I was writing before the need to not offend you homeschoolers interrupted my thoughts, I believe public education is mostly good. I think most of the problem with public education is a lack of parenting skills (not in my classroom though J) at home.

But, the biggest problem I see in public schools that the schools can fix, is school safety. Can you believe there is a school close to me where there are at least ten portables being used as classrooms? These classrooms are totally vulnerable to intruders. Furthermore, doors leading to the outside can not be locked because students are coming and going through them all day. If they are locked, students may be left to stand and bang on them for five minutes or more, before someone opens the door for them. A lot can happen in five minutes.

When the issue of safety is brought up, there is never any money to help the problem. Well, money is going to be found when a huge lawsuit, following a violent attack, occurs, so why can’t we just find the money now? I would be willing to have my sales tax increased by half of a percent if the money was going towards equipping schools with safety devices, such as metal detectors and buzz in doors. I think I would have a difficult time finding a parent who wasn’t willing to do the same! We as parents are going to have to take a stand for our children and insist on safety devices being installed in ALL schools! I want to hear your comments on this, even if you disagree with me.

Like Mother, Like Daughter

A week or so before Christmas Kennedy had some of her Barbie dolls in the living room, and we were playing with them. When I looked at her, I had an image of my childhood to flood back to me. I remembered a picture of myself, around the age of six, playing with Barbie dolls in the living room. I knew I had the picture somewhere, and I just HAD to find it. So, I went on a treasure hunt in the attic, and luckily I found it rather quickly. It was just a bonus that the picture of me taken playing with Barbies was also near Christmas!

I am so blessed to have my sweet, precious Kennedy. I am so happy that she and I share common interests. Though she doesn’t have exactly the same personality as me, we are enough alike that I can understand her ideas and theories. And we are different enough that we will never drive each other crazy.

I remember when Kennedy was in my tummy. I just knew that she was a girl, and that we would be best friends. I was right on both counts. When days have been dark, I have been able to look at her face and know that our God has everything in His hands. Kennedy is one of His good and perfect gifts. I never want a day to pass that I don’t remind Kennedy (and myself) of this. She is a perfect gift! I thank our Savior every single day for Kennedy’s life and love. What do you thank Him for? I know we can all find plenty!

The Sleep Habits of Men

A few weeks ago, while at Target, Kennedy saw this tin with Papa Smurf on it. If you look closely, you can see that the black sticker reads ‘Men’s Sleep Short.” As in, there are men’s sleep shorts inside. Kennedy read the black sticker as ‘Men Sleep Short.’ Then she looked at me, and said, “No they don’t!!!” HAHA! Too funny! Can you tell she is the daughter of a man who likes his sleep!?!?

I just threw in the picture below of Kennedy because she's so cute in her camouflage pants. She was four in this picture. How time flies...

Bootball

The other day Case was playing with Kennedy’s bouncy ball, when the ball accidentally landed in Matt’s boot. Thus was born the great Clark Family pastime of Bootball. Case couldn’t get enough of the game, and soon Kennedy joined in too. So, if you’re ever in the neighborhood, just drop by for a friendly game of Bootball. We’ll tell Case to take it easy on all of you rookies.

It's Been Looking a Lot Like Christmas

December has been so much fun. We have enjoyed MANY activities. However, all of these fun activities have definitely limited my Blogging time. In fact, I am trying to stay off of the computer (except to check e-mail when I first get home) until the kids are asleep. Then, by that time, I am either too sleepy or too busy to even get on the computer. I wanted to share some December highlights though, so here goes the first 23 days of December in pictures and long captions! ENJOY!!!

We have had a few Daisy Scout activities. This past weekend we went caroling at a nursing home, and the girls did a fantastic job! A few weeks ago we attended the Festival of Trees at the GS office, and then we headed to the Christmas Parade. We found a spot with plenty of sunshine, so the parade was nice. I wish I could say the same for the outdoor pictures we tried to have taken of the kids after the parade. For the record, outside pictures and 40 degrees do NOT like each other. Thanks for trying, Sandi. We’ll try again in the spring!

~Sidenote~ Please see us for all of your Girl Scout cookie needs. We are currently taking orders. J

We played in the snow! Yes, Case is wearing his sleeper. I know, genius of me to think f it, right? They loved the snow. Case did not know what to think of it at first, but then he began throwing it, and that was a ton of fun! Kennedy made a gorgeous snow angel. Case tried to wipe the snow off of HIS slide. They were too cute. We’re praying for more snow soon. Maybe next time Matt will even get out of bed…

Case has really taken a liking to Kennedy’s robot dog lucky. Case drags Lucky all over the house, usually to give him to me so that I can awaken Lucky and give him commands. Case hugs, kisses, and pets Lucky. He also gives Lucky noggin (bumping foreheads).

We’ve been going to church (though not as much as we would like to).

Our beautiful Christmas tree is up and decorated. Kennedy was a big help this year. We finally convinced her that all of the ornaments do not have to hang on the same bottom branch of the tree. Case does NOT like the tree. In fact, the only time he has touched it was when a friend was over, and I was trying to show her how much Case couldn’t stand it. Then he began trying to touch it, but he hasn’t since then. Go figure!

We had our Christmas play at church. Unfortunately, I didn’t get any good pictures. Case went home before presents were even handed out. Case is ILL after 7:30 pm!

We’ve been watching Christmas movies. That is one of our favorite December activities. We do not let the kids watch Christmas movies out of season (even though we have them on DVD), so these movies are always a BIG deal!!!

Case loves to drink. While drinking his sippy, he found his morning bottle in the fridge, so he had to have both. He walked around this way for a good twenty minutes! No diaper can contain him at night! I wonder why!?!?

We went to Santa’s Village last week. I would like to lodge a formal complaint that the line to see Santa was WAY too long when there is a sixteen month old with an already runny nose in the mix. We did not see Santa. In fact, we left very disappointed after about 35 minutes. We have always loved Santa’s Village, but this year it was somehow different. Perhaps it was the before-mentioned sixteen month old with the runny nose??? We are hopeful that next year the Village will again live up to our expectations.

Tonight our neighbor came over for Christmas. We had a traditional Christmas meal of spicy baked chicken, baked potatoes, broccoli and cheese, and slightly overcooked rolls. Oh, that’s not traditional? Well, we enjoyed it anyways! Have I ever mentioned that we have the BEST neighbor in the world? Mr. Dana is a wonderful person. He is helpful, giving, and loving towards everyone. He is wonderful with both of our kids, even though he doesn’t have nay of his own, and he always buys them very thoughtful gifts! Mr. Dana gave Kennedy markers, a giant book of Dora coloring pages, and a Tinkerbell ColorWonder book. He gave Case a puppy that talks.