I know! I know! It's been awhile since I've blogged. I've had a lot going on in the last few months.

In the last few months I've come to know heartbreak on a whole new level. You just cruise through life and swing at the curveballs as they come to you, but nothing could have prepared our family for the curveball we were thrown in April. As most people know my brother Joseph and his sweet wife Chana lost their baby boy Freddie in April. He was born 17 weeks early and he just wasn't strong enough to fight that battle. He lived a week and then went on to a much better place, I know it! He was so sweet, so perfect. I've never in my life felt that kind of pain and I'm just the Aunt! Freddie's parents handled it with great strength and grace. I love them both! I miss them, I wish I lived closer to them so that we could play all the time! They are wonderful parents and I know that Little Freddie is up there instructing his younger siblings and telling them all about their wonderful parents waiting for them! I'm so grateful for our eternal family and I know that we will get to hold and squeeze and kiss that sweet boy one day! Here's a picture of the sweet guy and his parents.




I'm so thankful for my family and glad that I was able to be out there to meet Freddie and kiss and touch him. To spend time with him at his bedside in the hospital was truly amazing. He was such a cute little guy. He had huge feet and hands and the cutest nose. Anyone who knows me knows I love my babies! I was so looking forward to spoiling him and had already made a headstart! So I'm sure there will be a fight when we get to see him again b/c I'll have some making up to do! :o) I love you Little Freddie!!!! Your FAVORITE AUNT Mandy!

About 2 weeks after our emergency trip out to AZ, we had a trip already planned out there for Josephs graduation. Congrats to him! He is now a graduated golf pro! How exciting is that! So we were able to go back out for that and also attend Freddies graveside service. It was beautiful. Wonderful words were expressed, we released balloons for him and cried yet again for this sweet baby.

A few weeks after we got back from Josephs graduation, Christina had her baby! I know. I told you it's been a crazy few months! Christina had an adorable little girl on May 18th! Madilyn Lea Clark is sooo cute! She is the first girl after 5 boys! So you know she will be and is spoiled! I might have gone a little overboard on the hairbows and tutu's and cute outfits, but hey! It's just too fun! I can't help myself! Here is a cute picture of her...




Isn't that adorable? I haven't got to officially meet her yet and I'm going a little bonkers over that. I have got to Skype with her. Christina likes to tease me by saying isn't she cute? Don't you wish you could hold her? Isn't she so tiny? blah! blah! blah! So we are leaving in July for a week so that I can hold her until my hearts content. And then I will try to sneak her in my luggage home. I'm sure they won't miss her at all! Right?


The other exciting thing that has happened in the last few months is that....Matt FINALLY got a teaching and coaching job! It's even at his alma mater so he is in heaven! So now we can get on with life and stop wondering what we should do if we he didn't get a job this year. I'm so proud of him and I know he will be great! He will show them what they missed out on 3 years ago when they didn't hire him the first time! As for me, I'm just adjusting to being alone more! He will be so busy with basketball and possibly soccer that I'll hardly see him. It's a good thing I love sports and don't mind to watch! I can handle it, he's happy and that's all that matters to me! I know, I know, I'm such a good wife! :o) But, feel free to tell me you think so too! ha!

Well, that about catches you up. I'm ready for summer and getting my tan on. YES!!!!

Sometimes life is hard.....

Today I wish I could just run away and lay on the beach and watch the sun set. And let all my worries wash away with the waves.....

Pin Up Calendar Photo

Ever wonder what I'd look like as a Pin Up Girl? Well, wonder no more! We had a photo shoot for derby and made a calendar that we sell at bouts and local retailers. It was a lot of fun to get all dressed up. I don't like photo shoots much at all. I'm so not photogenic, but we got a few shots that weren't horrible. So enjoy!

"Don't say that word!" ....Lukas

I know that boys think potty humor is funny and they probably always will. While I myself love a good poop and don't mind talking about it, I think I might have reached a gross out point. Like a icky-gross stop saying that kinda grossed out. You know like certain words that gross people out. I've always been severely grossed out by the word UDDER. It sickens me. I don't like looking at them, talking about them, hearing the word, etc.

I think I might have a new one that makes me shudder. Kadence came home from school earlier this week talking about DEFECATION and how it means POOP. Of course, Kourtland thought it was terribly funny and they started thinking of all the ways they could work it into a sentence. Sure they had my Mom and I laughing, but it kinda got old after awhile. But, you know that isn't the end of that story, right?

THEN came the song!!!!! They worked that word into a song and continued to sing about POOP. I'm pretty sure I've never giggled and wanted to hurl at the same time until that point.

I love my BOYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love that they have such great personalities. I know sometimes they say things that make me and others cringe, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I love the free spirits that they are. It's fun to see them start to grow into young men and more and more they remind me of Matt and all his friends when they were kids.

New Year! Same Me????

2011, huh?

i'm not the kind of person who usually sets resolutions/goals b/c when my life gets too busy and hectic and i don't accomplish them i feel like a failure and i don't like feeling like a failure.

but, i have been thinking a lot lately about ME. you know the usual stuff, what could i be doing better, what could i do to improve the lives of my family, etc.

i don't think i've failed at life by any means, but there are some things i definitely need to get better at and quick. i'm just not too fond of change. i'm comfortable in my little daily routines, however hectic they may be. change is hard. change requires effort and participation from others.

so in my thinking the last few days a few things came to mind.

1. i'm an out of sight out of mind kinda person. i want to change this. like with friends and family that live out of state. my life is so hectic that i just march along to my own little beat and realize it's been days, months, years since i've chatted on the phone with one of them. sure i think about them all the time, but with time differences, jobs, church, kids, etc making that phone call always gets pushed aside. this especially makes me sad about my sweet little nephews that are now in alaska. i don't want to this to happen with them. i miss them so. it also makes me sad for future nieces/nephews b/c i know they will be so far away. i know i'm not the only person like this b/c many of the folks i wish i kept in touch with better don't pick up the phone and call either. life is busy, hard, crazy and i know we all get so wrapped up in our own. i'm just going to try and make a better effort. so if you've been missing a phone call from me, hopefully i'll actually do this and you'll be talking to me soon!
2. i'm bossy. ok, so i've always known this one. but, it's a perk from being the oldest of 4 siblings, right? that's the excuse i use anyways. i have this ever so wonderful friend who told me the other day that i wear the pants in my marriage. i totally argued with her and said she was wrong that matt and i just agree on most things and i don't always win. she wasn't convinced. so i went home and i asked matt. he laughed. didn't deny it. then pretty much told me i did, but why was i letting it bother me b/c i've never cared what anyone thought of me. (true) but, for some reason it made me feel like i was doing something wrong like denying matt of his manhood. i'm over it now. i'm just very self-conscious of the decisions i make now. or when i ask him a question i make sure to ask if he's answering for him or just letting me have the upper hand. the point i'm trying to make here is i personally think we each wear a leg of those pants i guess my legs are just fatter than his! we're a good team and that's all i care about!

anyways, while i work on those few things i will also once again try to stay committed to losing weight. i am going to run a 5k mud run in may. i'm scared. but, i already paid for it. so i need to get busy.

an unrelated note to this post. matt has been asked to help coach and his alma mater. he's in heaven. we really hope his lovely face being there everyday will land him a paying job this coming school year. too bad i can't use my bossy skills and make someone hire him! ha!

well, this was another lovely vomit blog post from me. just needed to update and this is all i had. work with me here people. i'm sure the very few people that read this will understand.

Christmas in Orlando

This year for Christmas we didn't do presents. We spent the money (and slightly more) that we would have spent and went to Orlando Florida. We had the best time. The boys had a great time and we are already planning our trip for this Christmas. It was so fun getting to make memories with my family. We all 4 love roller coasters and theme parks so we had a great time.

We went to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventures for 4 days. The weather was so great. It was only chilly one day. Matt and I actually got a sunburn from the beach one day. We went to 2 differnet beaches. We also went on an airboat ride and we all looooved that. I love alligators so I especially enjoyed getting to see them in their natural habitat. Kourt and I held a baby gator. I really wanted to keep him! :o)

Here are a few pictures from our trip. Enjoy!

Happy Halloween 2010!