Dear Sun

Dear Sun,

Thank you for shining this evening after hiding your face for the past week. I really needed to see you today, and I hope that you will stick around for a few days. I know that your good friends cloud and rain are also important to all of us, but today I really needed to see you. Your bright rays have made my day more cheerful and happier. So thank you for visiting, you are welcome anytime.

Sincerely,
Caroline

Being a Mum

Something you've heard before, but cannot explain is that becoming a Mom is a wonderful, slightly scary, and amazing adventure. Our little Sarah Ann Clark was born to us last week, a week and one day early! What a surprise, a wonderful surprise. I kept having the feeling that she would be early, but I brushed it off knowing every pregnant women hopes to have her baby early. Especially those nights when you really want to eat dessert, but just know your belly will explode open if you do; or when your ribs just feel like someone has been giving you a boars tusk (a move NH taught me years ago - basically taking a thumb and jambing it into someones ribs, for their comfort) to the ribs all day long, which of course is a cute little foot just trying to stretch out.

We also learned that having a baby bonds you and your spouse in a way you didn't imagine. Somehow you feel closer and more connected to each other. It is fantastic. And I have realized even more what an amazing husband I have. He was able to help keep me calm during labor and delivery, getting an epidural, and IV, having blood drawn, being stitched, helping me in and out of bed, getting me a drink, and whatever else I could possible need.

I've learned that snuggling with a little baby really is as awesome as people tell you. And suddenly you really don't mind changing diapers, having a baby cry in your ear, pull on your hair, scratch your chest, and wake you up in the middle of the night, again and again. I've also realized that suddenly I can hardly stand to watch violence on television, and that I have dreams about her getting hurt that just break my heart. Perhaps this is just the extreme change in my hormones; but somehow I now understand that a mother will always worry about her children, she will never not worry about her children, they are a part of her.

We feel so blessed to have Sarah here with us, she has already changed my life for the better.

We know she is beautiful, just like every other parent knows their child is beautiful - which of course is just how it should be. We think she is perfect and can't believe that she is ours and we are now parents. So to sum up, let the adventure begin!

A family of 3

For those of you who don't know and perhaps are looking here, we have a new addition to our family. She was born on May 5 at 4:00pm, weighing 8 pounds 1 ounce, 21 inches, with lots of dark brown/black hair, a beautiful face, and 8 days early. I will post more pictures, but here is one of me and the baby shortly after she was born. We are still deciding on her name.

Generosity...in gifts and belly

So this past month I was blessed to have two baby showers. One was with my book club. I love this book club and each of the women who are in it with me. I have been in this book club for 4 or 4+ years and I love it more each month. Each girl brings a new perspective on the book we read and on life in general. We all agree that we have a special group.

My sister also hosted another baby shower for me in which I was able to see several cousins, friends, and family members. It was fantastic. Lots of good food and an overabundance of generous gifts. I feel very fortunate to be having this sweet little baby girl and to have so many people giving me gifts to help bring her into the world. So a big thank you to everyone who participated in my baby showers, I loved seeing each of you.

Another great thing that happened this month, my nephew was born to my younger brother NH and his wife Ashley. This is my...let's see 18th nephew, but we are always glad to have another one. And we were so glad to get to go to the hospital and see him the day after he was born. He is adorable, makes fantastic cooing noises, and made me all the more excited for my own baby.

So here I am on Easter Sunday, 37 weeks pregnant and looking every day of it. And if you could see my the bottom of my legs where by ankles once used to live you would understand that I truly am 37 weeks pregnant. Baby Clark is due to be born on May 13th, which happens to be Friday the 13th, so cross your fingers and hope that I have her that day...she will be my lucky baby. And while you are here looking go ahead and take a good look at my very handsome husband who rubs my aching back for me whenever I ask, helps me off the couch, picks things up off the floor for me, and is always willing to wait for me to use the bathroom one more time before we leave the house.

 

8 months

I can hardly believe it myself, but I am 8 months pregnant today! It is amazing how time flies, and also how it seems so long ago that I first found out I was pregnant. I am going to celebrate by going to the San Diego temple with Brad, going to the beach and looking for dolphins, and enjoying the warmth of Southern Califormia. Yes, we are in San Diego at the moment, it is our last day here. I will post some pictures when we get back.

February Projects

When Brad and I moved into our new house I came up with a list of several projects that I wanted to do. I am slowly getting to them and even getting some of them done. The truth is I love having projects to work on that make our home a little nicer and a little more "homey", especially when it doesn't require much money, or much talent for that matter. So, here are a couple of things I have been working on, besides growing a baby.

So one of the things I wanted to do was repaint our table. It has been a dark green color since we have had it. It is a nice green, but it doesn't match anything, and I have often wished it were a different color. After lot's of time spent on the floor (I covered the red rug below with a big sheet of plastic), a lot of sanding while wearing a mask, a lot of clean up and a can of black paint, I have finally finished repainting the 4 chairs and table.

I have learned a few things throughout this project. First, that wearing a mask, so that you don't inhale dust from sanding and fumes from paint, is a good idea; however, those masks do not smell good and they make your face itch. Fortunately, as you can see from above, you look very glamorous while wearing one! I also learned that the farther along in the pregnancy I get the harder it gets to crawl around on the floor and the tighter my "painting" clothes got. Third, completing this kind of project is very rewarding. My only wish now is that our table was bigger, as this one is very small and won't last us too much longer as a dining room table. Oh well, we can enjoy it while we have it.

Maybe I Am Back

Clearly I am not very good at blogging, at least on this personal blog. While I regularly post on mine and Kelly's cooking blog Two Little Chefs it has been a while since I (or Brad I might mention) have posted here. Excuses? Who needs one, there are just other things occupying my time, things like: growing a baby, teaching, eating, sleeping, reading, lounging, living, etc etc.

However, I have been continuing to read other people's blogs and always appreciate when they update their blogs, so I have been considering rejoining the lovely blogging world.

So here is my first post in a while with a little story. Brad and I moved back to Provo, not too far from where we used to live, in January. We moved into this great old house just off of Center Street. At first it was a disaster as our plumbing was frozen thanks to the early January chill. However, our plumbing finally thawed, we hung a few pictures, purchased a few rugs, and have made our house more into a home. It is still a work in progress, but I feel safe saying that we are now enjoying were we live...

...and we are enjoying our new neighbors, the 6 deer that are regularly grazing in the back and sometimes front yard. Deer, in Provo? Yes, that is right. We don't live particularly close to the mountain, but in our yard these deer have found a haven. I greatly enjoy seeing them out there, it has made the move from Midway less harsh, as I had to give up seeing many creatures each day moving from the mountains to the valley. However, I do wonder if I will enjoy them as much this Spring as I am cleaning up their droppings. My guess is no, but I still think it is worth having them as winter guests.

Cheers! Caroline

And the winner is?

(Canyonlands with the Shims and K-Stone)This is a pregression of my feelings about the end of my 'summer'. I now have 35 students in one class who don't believe that I WILL make them do junmping-jacks if they even consider yawning infront of me...(the bloody toe...I decided not to post the close-up Kelly took, it is a bit bloody for the blog)

Hugger-Mugger

Just a little something...dictionary.com word of the day April 1

hugger-mugger \HUH-guhr-muh-guhr\,

noun:1. A disorderly jumble; muddle; confusion.2. Secrecy; concealment.
adjective:1. Confused; muddled; disorderly.2. Secret.
adverb:1. In a muddle or confusion.2. Secretly.
transitive verb:1. To keep secret.
intransitive verb:1. To act in a secretive manner.

From here on in, it's all about security clearances, undercover surveillance, computers, microphones hidden in coat buttons and so much technical hugger-mugger you'd have to be a hacker to decipher it.-- Rex Reed, "On The Town With Rex Reed", New York Observer, February 3, 2003

Student Ratings

So I just read my student ratings from last semester. I have been waiting for a day when I feel good, not too emotional, and like I can handle the berating from some upset students. What I decided to do, after reading reviews from my first class, was read the "Suggestions" aka "what I hated about my teacher" section first, and then read the positive remarks second. Overall, the comments were helpful, there was some good feedback, and of course, the "I hate Mrs. Clark because...comments". I find the feedback useful, but emotionally stressful, mostly because any insecurities that I have teaching (which there are) are pointed out in a straight forward, there you have it way. Truth be told, I still haven't figured out how to write a good test...any teachers out there, I will gladly take suggestions; my voice is quiet...no matter how hard I try to speak loud and clear, it just doesn't carry well (so sit in the front of the class, not the back); and sometimes I am not as confident as I should be, but I know that has improved. But, I disagree with students who think I grade too hard on papers! What...is expecting good sentence structure, clear cohesive sentences and paragraphs, and giving credit where credit is due (i.e. so I copied this out of the textbook, do I really have to give the author of the book credit?) too much to ask? People, I teach COMMUNICATIONS!! Yes, you must be able to write well in my class, funny that a communications teacher would want clear writing! Ahh! It is interesting too how some students love the slides I provide, the video clips, the discussions, the examples, etc. etc. ...others hate it and find my classes terribly boring.

What I have learned is, I can't please every student, because each student learns in a different way. I have learned that many students find it terribly strict that I take attendance each day, but I do! And I have learned that I really enjoy teaching. I can't please them all, but I can help some of them learn and I can learn from them too. I have learned that I can provide an opportunity to get their brains thinking about subjects in a different way and get them to interact with each other.

And if all else fails, I will show them all my sweet jump in the snow from New Year's eve and challenge them to do better! Ha ha...kidding, it isn't sweet at all really, I just wanted to post a picture along with my rantings!

Huge Carbon Feet

I'll give you my steak when you take it from my cold, dead hands!

My brother-in-law, Jamie, began a website a few weeks back, it is called Huge Carbon Feet. For anyone that isn't quite buying the propaganda of the Green Movement, I think you will enjoy his site. If you are into global warming, population control, and giving up eating meat in order to save the planet, this site is not for you.

Check it out...Huge Carbon Feet

SEMA

Caroline and I went to SEMA in Las Vegas last week. It is a huge car show for after market products, but most of the major manufactures bring custom cars too. One of the major events of the show was the North American debut of the 2010 Lexus LFA. I never thought I would see the day when lexus made a $375,000 sportscar with a V10.

Pirelli always brings something extra special. Last year it was the Lamborghini Reventon (there were only 20 made) and this year they brought a Pagani Zonda Cinque (there were only 5 made).

This is the 2010 Porsche Panamera, which is a very polarizing car. Porsches are supposed to be rear engine coupes and this beast (it's huge) is a front engine sedan. So far though, every hater who has actually driven one has changed their tune.

The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro was probably the most commonly tuned car at the show, which was great because I think they look awesome. There were all sorts of cool and crazy versions. I liked this one because it make me think of an evil KITT.

Honda's display was quite disappointing. A Civic is a tuner boy's best friend and yet they didn't bother to tune any cars. They debuted the 2010 Accord Crosstour (a very ugly crossover) and brought some classic cars, which were cool.

I love Bentleys. Did I ever mention that I love Bentleys. Not their limo sized sedans mind you, but their coupes. This one was fitted with an agressive looking body kit and it might have been my favorite car of the whole show.

This another Camaro that was brought by GM. It was styled similarly to the Lamborghini Reventon, which is a good thing.

Products of every kind were on display throughtout the conference center. Caroline saw this tire and thought we might get some for Rafa.
Three years ago Michelin invented an airless tire they called the tweel. They indicated that it would be ready for production in a couple years, but other than being on a NASA Rover Concept it has seen any action yet. This airless tire, which looks surprising similar, is manufactured by another company and being marketed as a good option for the military.

Ken Block, owner of DC Shoes and a Subaru rally race driver, took one of his Impreza rally cars and put it on tracks. It came complete with a tow kit and a sleigh. I think Rudolph might be out of a job.

If you are interested in seeing more cars from SEMA (or just more cars) go to www.carpictures.com and search SEMA.

Chocolate Pumpkin Halloween Cake

Mmm...mmmm...good. I love halloween!

The Stalker

Our dear friend Matt went all out this year for Halloween. Moustache, mullet, outfit, the full deal. At least he said it was a costume.

P.S. - this is the full res version, so click on it, save it, and enjoy it whenever you need a smile.

BYU Women's Soccer

Caroline and I went to the BYU Women's soccer game tonight (thanks Grant and Kelly). It was fun and BYU crushed New Mexico 3-0. About a 1/3 of the way into the game, Cosmo (the mascot) threw a mini soccer ball into the crowd near where we were. To the dismay of the guys behind us I stood up and caught it. In fact, the two guys behind us were so eager to catch it that they both basically fell on me. One used me to catch his balance, while the other fell to the side and caught himself on the railing. It was pretty funny and we joked with them about it afterwards.