Happy Birthday, Matt!

Today is the 31st birthday of my brother, Matt. It is the brief period of time when he is only two years younder than big brother.

I hope that you found this last year better than the previous and wish you bigger blessing in the future.

Happy Birthday, Bro.

I'm a Cowboy man, and that ain't no lie

Matthew really likes his new cowboy hat- he stomps around in his hat and boots, saying "I'm a cowboy man, and that ain't no lie."

The Story of Thanksgiving

A little something I saw and thought I'd share with you this Thanksgiving:

The Real Story of the First Thanksgiving
By Benjamin Franklin (1785)

“There is a tradition that in the planting of New England, the first settlers met with many difficulties and hardships, as is generally the case when a civiliz’d people attempt to establish themselves in a wilderness country. Being so piously dispos’d, they sought relief from heaven by laying their wants and distresses before the Lord in frequent set days of fasting and prayer. Constant meditation and discourse on these subjects kept their minds gloomy and discontented, and like the children of Israel there were many dispos’d to return to the Egypt which persecution had induc’d them to abandon.

“At length, when it was proposed in the Assembly to proclaim another fast, a farmer of plain sense rose and remark’d that the inconveniences they suffer’d, and concerning which they had so often weary’d heaven with their complaints, were not so great as they might have expected, and were diminishing every day as the colony strengthen’d; that the earth began to reward their labour and furnish liberally for their subsistence; that their seas and rivers were full of fish, the air sweet, the climate healthy, and above all, they were in the full enjoyment of liberty, civil and religious.

“He therefore thought that reflecting and conversing on these subjects would be more comfortable and lead more to make them contented with their situation; and that it would be more becoming the gratitude they ow’d to the divine being, if instead of a fast they should proclaim a thanksgiving. His advice was taken, and from that day to this, they have in every year observ’d circumstances of public felicity sufficient to furnish employment for a Thanksgiving Day, which is therefore constantly ordered and religiously observed.”

Matthew's Birthday

We finally had Matthew's birthday party Wednesday night. He had been asking for a baseball cake for his birthday for the past six months; he seemed to like the one I made for him. We all had a great time, and he is really enjoying all his presents.

Jumping in the Leaves

Ok, so we were supposed to be cleaning the house for grandparents to visit. . .but grandparents will forgive a less than perfect house; the weather was beautiful and the leaves were falling.

Matthew's Birthday

Matthew turns 3 today. We aren't actually having a party until Wednesday night, because Duane has to work tonight and tomorrow night, and that way John and Julie will also be able to be here. However, we wanted to post some pictures of him, say that we're looking forward to the next year with him, and hope that today truly marks the end of the "terrible twos." If it doesn't, and his mood and behaviors don't improve, we're sending him to live with Grandma.

What Children Inherit from Their Parents

Children inherit many things from their parents genetically. Our children have all inherited Sara's blue eyes. Some say Matthew looks like Sara, some say Anna looks like me, some say Cora looks like Anna. But on another level, do children inherit interests and hobbies? As a child, I really enjoyed drawing. So did my brother John. We would draw all the time. Anna, it seems, has also found this passion. Below is an example of her art.




Notice the block head, inproportionate size of the cranium in comparision to normal humans. The huge, smiling mouth. Stern furrowed brow, yet dull look in the eyes. She has inherited the rest of the Clark family's passion for mocking my dome, it seems, as well.

But at least she's got my sense of humor.

Halloween

Anna and Matthew really enjoyed dressing up for Halloween this year. Cora wasn't as excited, but at least she didn't scream non-stop about wearing her costume, like Anna did the year she was the lion. Trick-or-treating was good for about 45 minutes, and then we had tired and cold little legs. Heading back to grandma's for hot chocolate was a must. Now, two days later, the end of the candy is already in sight (who says you can't have Reese's cups for breakfast? As long as they're paired with milk and a banana, it's considered nutritious!) . Anyway, it was a good time, although Duane needs to learn to walk slower and take shorter steps. . .the rest of us just can't keep up!

Beginning the Transformation of the Yard

Last Tuesday, Duane tilled a large portion of the front yard and turned it into flowerbeds. The plan is to turn it into a cottage garden. We have planted iris, daffodils, and have hyacinths yet to plant, and will add many more plants in the spring. The iris are re-located from a huge bed in the backyard. . .we dug up 562 iris bulbs last Friday, and have planted about 120 so far. Amazingly enough, there are still at least that many spread across the hill approaching the house.

Eventually, we plan to build a white picket fence along the driveway, with an arbor at the beginning of the sidewalk leading up to the front door on the east side. We also plan to cut down the two large elms on the east side, and extend the porch to wrap around that side of the house. Big plans. . .

Duane's Kids

Irrefutable proof that these are indeed Duane's kids. . .

Willa Corrinne should be on here too, the other day she was standing at the side of the couch, banging her head against it just to hear Anna laugh. However, that's hard to tell in a picture, and I don't know how to put video on here, or if it's even possible.

Kids in Pajamas

Anna stayed home sick from school today, and everyone stayed in their pajamas until after lunch. We just bummed around, watching movies, eating and laughing. Of course, she later vomited all over herself, but by then Duane was awake to clean her up.

This picture portrays Anna's increasingly negative attitude and behaviors since beginning preschool. Although she loves school and her teachers say that she is very well-behaved there, her behaviors at home have taken a dramatic turn for the worse. She talks back, is rude to everyone in the family, and is mean to Matthew and Cora. I have spoken with several other mothers whose children attend the same school, and they have complained about similar problems with their children, who are not in the same grade as Anna. I'm wondering if this is typical of all schools, or just ours. Anna has always been so sweet and loving, it breaks my heart to see her act this way.

Cora's First Birthday

 


This pic pretty much sums up Cora's attitude at both birthday parties. No messy birthday cake faces or eager present opening. Just a general tiredness with it all.

Oh well, I'm sure next year will be different.

P.S. Sorry it took me until today to put up pics from the 15th. 

Getting Ready for the Next Growing Season

I finally began getting ready for the next growing season. I hooked the tractor up to the plow and plowed the soil up where Sara and I plan to garden next year. Unfortunately, I ran out of gas and will have to finish plowing on Tuesday.

While I was plowing, Matthew was out in the garden throwing rocks. Sara caught a couple of pics while he was out there. I really like this one. I thought, "He looks like he is really contemplating something profound there. That's a great picture."

When Matthew saw it, he said simply, "That's when I was peeing my pants."

A Day at the Park

Yesterday, Sara said wanted to start taking pictures of the kids instead of taking them to professionals on their birthdays. I thought this was a great idea, so yesterday, we took Cora, because the other two were in Iowa at a parade. Here are some of my favorites from yesterday.









Just 'cause I can, here are my favorite pics of the other two:







Maybe I'm biased, but these are good lookin' kids.

Here we go!

Well, I said I was gonna do this, so let's get it on.