1, 2, 3, 4... Exhaustion

Wow, I think that's all I can say.... okay, I suppose I can fill you in a little more than that. We had my mom's family reunion this past weekend (Thursday - Saturday), and I was 100% in charge. We didn't have the whole Clark Family there, but about half of us made it. My husband has forbidden me from ever planning this big of a reunion on my own again. I didn't feel too stressed out until we were there and things started going wrong.

On Wednesday the reunion officially began, but I couldn't make it up to Portland because Justin was at work. But the group went to the temple and then Sweet Tomatoes for dinner.

We went to the Oregon Coast, which I decided was a bad idea for such a large group because with the weather there you can't count on anything! Besides the fact it is well known amongst my mom and her siblings that they can be very picky and feisty about plans made, even plans they make themselves. So I knew this going in to it all, and did my best to grit and bear it all. It wasn't too bad and only had one real melt down. Not bad for three days of planning and such. We had to change plans a lot because it was extremely windy this weekend, even for the coast. The sun was nice and warm, but not warm enough for the harsh wind.

Thursday we had some lunch and then later tinfoil dinners at the beach with a fireside following. Before dinner Levi was playing with his cousins and did a face plant into the pavement. He had a nasty abrasion on his forehead to prove it! We also celebrated my Uncle Riley's birthday as a big group. I had bought a cake at CostCo for him, and not knowing I had, my cousin Maria made him a gorgeous cake. So needless to say there was ample amount of cake (which I am okay with). Maria's cake was actually my favorite cake in the world, so I ate as much of it as I could without being a pig. After that day we noticed we had a touch of sunburn. Most of us stayed at a motel in Newport that had inexpensive suites (kitchenettes included). We had a gorgeous view from our room, and we decided we should have stayed at this place instead of where we did on our honeymoon. Needless to say it was nice and we enjoyed our room a lot.

Friday started wonderful as we went walking on the beach outside our hotel and found some tidepools. The sun was out and the wind wasn't too bad. However when we headed back for the sandcastle contest, the wind was easily 15-20 mph, and we couldn't even keep up the windblock for the babies. So we opted to go to a park for lunch. On our way out for the day I bought Justin a hat (and totally spaced sunscreen for myself... don't worry my kids were protected), he must not have worn it much though because he was just as burnt as me if not worse by the end of the day. While playing Levi sustained a bite(that left bruises) from a cousin... reasons unknown. He also scraped up his back while sliding down a part of the structure that he shouldn't have slid down. Poor kid! After lunch the kids played some 'Olympic' games I came up with, and we then went out to Mo's for dinner. After dinner was the photo and then family trivia. While we were waiting to take the picture Levi found some guys on the pier crabbing. He was so excited! They even let him help pull up the rope once. We also sang our happy birthday's to my nephew Calvin, as it was his birthday.

Saturday we went to the Hatfield Marine Science Center where they were having their annual Sea Fest for the Kids! It was a blast and we got some free stuff out of it. From there was lunch back at the park (since the wind was still obnoxious) and then goodbyes to all. Sometime while at the park Levi banged his chin on the playground and ended up with a nasty bruise. Luckily he wasn't like his mom who split hers open five times growing up. But he's still young, right? We headed from there up to Lincoln City for the Kite Festival, but the crowds were awful and after letting Levi look for a bit we headed home.

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Sunday was my dad's birthday (not 55 yet!), so we had a big dinner at my parents to celebrate followed by left-over smores (we had way too many for the trip... but no one's complaining!) and cheesecake! So one reunion, two sunburns, three birthdays, and four injuries to Levi later... exhaustion!

Monday we tried to relax most of the day. We tried to go swimming in our complex pool but found out it was still closed (it had been since Wednesday). So we went to the public pool in town. Both Levi and Hazel had a blast!

That's all from us... see you next week!

Calm Before The Storm

So this will be brief and I apologize for the lack of pictures, especially of Hazel. I am prepping for my family reunion which I am in charge of, so I had to make this quick.

One story of Levi... the potty training took a downward spiral last week when he had a little bit of trauma to a private area. While Justin was shaving and taking care of Hazel, Levi was in the living room watching a show (naked as a jay bird since he just got out of the shower). He saw two Popsicle sticks on the coffee table, and for whatever reason stuck them up his rear. Well, he pulled them out and started screaming. Justin came in and tried to figure out what happened, all he knew was Levi was screaming and bleeding pretty bad from his rear. I was at garage sales, so he called me and I came right home. He had got him calmed down by then and finally figured out what he had done. I was able to look at him and do a decent inspection to determine that he had cut himself but not done any serious damage, and that nothing was still up there. I also had my brother-in-law (doctor in training) take a look at him and give me a similar assessment, but with some good instructions and things to look for. Luckily it was just a cut and nothing serious! I still can't fathom why he did it. Well, we were already having issue with him going #2 in the toilet, and now it is pretty much impossible. He is doing alright with the #1 in the toilet, and doing better about telling us too. Although he is still having a few accidents a day. But we are trying to be patient and not get too mad at him. I know the real struggle is getting him to go #2, and I keep waiting for signs that, that is a possibility.

Hazel is talking lots more lately and has learned to blow raspberries, which seems to be her favorite thing. She is still teething (going on two months now!) with no signs of teeth other than swollen gums, fussiness, and drooling. Levi had broken two teeth by now and had two more on the way, but I've known some kids who got them much later, so I am not worried. She is a sweetheart, but is definitely her momma and daddy's girl. She does warm up to others, but her favorite place is with her mom and dad. It is so cute when she has us both because she'll look at me then Justin, me then Justin... like she doesn't know who she wants more. It is adorable!

Well that is all this week, more to come after the reunion!

Potty Training Update

Well Levi seems to be doing as expecting with cold turkey potty training. Yesterday he asked to use the toilet five times! But then after he went to bed he pooped in his pants. I kind of expected that though, he has always been shy about going #2. He has had many accidents, and sometimes tells me he needs to go and promptly goes in his pants before we reach the toilet. All of which I have been told to expect. We do keep asking him if he needs to go, but every time the answer is no. At least I am getting him to think about it though!

Crawfish & Pasta

Well we had an eventful weekend with Mirinda returning on Thursday afternoon! Levi was thrilled to have his cousins back. They had a hay-day playing together, and we even enjoyed a wonderful BBQ at Alicen's house on Friday. Here are some pictures from that.

On Sunday we headed to Wilsonville to say goodbye to my Uncle who is leaving to Singapore for three years to be a Mission President for our church.

Monday Justin and I decided we needed to get into more of a routine from day to day. So, we all woke up with the kids at 6:30 AM, showered, ate breakfast, and relaxed a little before going to power-walk a mile. We brought Levi and Hazel with us, and Levi played around the field with his cousins and we pushed Hazel in the stroller. Everyone enjoyed themselves a lot! After that we came home and let Hazel take her nap, and got some things done around the house. Then we went on an adventure! We went up the Alsea river to about mile post 28 on Highway 34. There we found a good spot and started crawfishing with hot dogs and a net! Levi kept calling them lobsters, but he still had a blast! The water wasn't too chilly, and it was a nice enough day that we all had fun. Hazel even took a nap in towels on the shore. Towards the end my allergies flared up big time. My eyes, nose, and throat were all inflamed and mad at me. We had to stop in Alsea and get me some medicine. I don't usually take Benadryl because it knocks me out, but I was desperate, I couldn't hardly breathe. So once we got home I passed out for about two hours. Then for dinner we boiled the crawfish (we took home only ten), then shelled them and sauteed them in butter and garlic. As you can see by the pictures, ten crawfish yields very little meat. Next time we will have to catch twenty or thirty! We then added the sauteed crawfish to a marinara sauce and put that on some pasta. It was delicious! Wished there was more meat, but what can you do, right?

Later on Monday we went out for ice cream and then walked the riverfront here in town and let Levi and his cousins play in the riverfront fountains. He usually shies away from them because they are cold, but he was running through them with immense vigor! He loved every minute of it and of course screamed when we had to leave.

Today we started cold turkey potty training. So far... lots of wet pants. I just can't wait for the poopy ones! Yeah for me!

So we had a full weekend, and it looks like we have a full summer ahead!