Fall Fun

We have been having some fall fun around our house the past few weeks. We started with painting pumpkins since it was very rainy and cold and going outside was not going to happen. The boys did great painting their pumpkins and even managed to stay relatively clean. A few days later we ventured out and did jack-o-lanterns this year. This is the first year we have actually carved pumpkins because Gabe has been asking. In the years past he had no idea that you could do that but this year he specifically asked if we could do it so we did. He wasn't super crazy about getting his hands in the pumpkin goo but he would use a spoon and help scoop out. Ty didn't like the goo at all but once his pumpkin had a face he loved sticking his fingers in the holes and looking at it. We decided to "help" daddy out the other day and raked the leaves in our backyard. Gabe liked to help with his little rake but the real fun was jumping into our big leaf pile. Ty enjoyed this part too and got to help rake a little once Gabe got to use the big rake. Callie continues to grow. Her big brothers dote on her(as does her Daddy!) Gabe likes to keep her company on the floor when she has play time, she loves listening to him talk and calms down when she is fussy when she hears his voice. She also loves Daddy and listens intently when he reads to her. She will be a month old on Monday already! Time to start over with the big chair pictures:) We are looking forward to trick or treating this weekend!

What's in a Name?

Over the last 3 weeks I have had lots and lots of people ask about where Callie's name comes from(and how to spell it:) so I thought I'd inform my vast blogging audience(ha) about where exactly her name comes from.

Callaghan-shortly after Ty was born I was cruising baby websites and came across the name section of one. Always ready to look at baby names I started searching different origins of names. I really like celtic and Irish names so I did a search for names of that origin and low and behold up pops Callaghan. I had never heard of that name before and actually only found it on one website and have not found it on any other. When I saw it I loved it, it was pretty and unique and best of all it was a name we could shorten to a nickname we really liked as well(since Gabriel and Titus are better known as Gabe and Ty, I kind of wanted to stick with that tradition) Callaghan actually is derived from an Irish last name meaning strife, which doesn't sound so pleasant but Callie (according to this one website, I'm sure there are other origins and meanings since they all seem to be different) is greek meaning beautiful which all tied in nicely with her middle name.

Grayce-first off was my great grandma Haucks name. I remember her fondly when she was still here. I remember going to her appartment at the UR Home Apartments right outside of Burt and getting oatmeal raisin cookies, always a little chewy. I remember giving her a kiss on the cheek and thinking that she felt a lot like kissing my grandma Marj. Apparently she added the y to her name when she became an adult, which we didn't know. We assumed her name was always spelled with a y until Grandma Marj told us:) Anyway Grayce means of Grace of God or lovely. Looking at the meanings of all the names I thought it was appropriate that her first name means strife but her nick name means beautiful all tied together with her middle name of grace. It really signifies our walk with Christ. We all face strife and sin but by God's beautiful grace we are forgiven of that sin if we only accept him as our lord and savior and ask for his forgiveness.

So there you have it...her name and why we chose it. Yes it is unique and different but that is what we loved about it. She will probably forever be asked how do you spell that but hey my names Hollie and I have to spell my name out everytime too:) I leave you with a picture of our beautiful Callaghan Grayce.

Spirits in the Garden and Newborn Pics

We enjoyed the end of last week with some stay home Daddy days! My mom needed to log some hours the end of the week so Carl took a few days off to finish off our 2 weeks(I wasn't supposed to lift or drive for 2 weeks after the c-section) We had lots of fun even though the weather wasn't super cooperative Thursday or Friday. While mom was off she also brought my grandma down for a nice visit, I think she was very pleased to get in some baby time while she was here. Friday we had Callie's 2 week doctor appointment she is doing great and is already weighing in at 8 lbs. 8 oz.(1 lb. 1 oz. more then her birth weight) Saturday morning my parents watched the boys and we took Callie on her first trip to Portrait Innovations to get her newborn pictures taken. She did a great job and had her eyes open for most of them, it is amazing how much easier it is to get newborn pictures taken as opposed to 2 and 4 year old pictures. After pictures we were able to cruise the mall a little while we were waiting, it is still so much fun to be able to go into the girl section of stores! Saturday night we helped Brenna celebrate her 2nd birthday. Sunday the weather was a little nicer so after a nice visit with the Monsons(my aunt, uncle and cousins) from Council Bluffs we took the boys to Spirits in the Garden. There were all kinds of mascots there handing out candy. Ty was not too sure about then but once he figured out they had candy in their buckets he would gain enough courage to go get one and then tell them bye( I am waiting to post costume pics until after trick or treat) After we visited all the characters we put the boys in their matching outfits and attempted a few fall pictures of them and a few with all 3. I think they turned out pretty well. Callie did great the whole time we were gone. This is our first week on our own with no one here to help us out. So far today has gone very well so hopefully our transition will go smoothly. We are continually thankful to God for all 3 of our beautiful blessings!

All the Little Pumpkins

Saturday we made a trip out to the garden to pick out our pumpkins. We had lots of pick from as our pumpkin crop was abundant this year. Callie got to spend some quality time with Grandma and Grandpa since it was chilly and windy. When we got there we found the pumpkin pile and let the boys pick out their pumpkins. After careful deliberation they each found one they liked and worked on rolling it out of the pile and close to the van. Gabe of course picked the biggest, ugliest one of them all but loves it! We also had the boys pick out a pumpkin for Baby Callie. Here is Gabe posing with his and Callie's pumpkin. They also had the responsibility of picking out some pumpkins to take to Grandma. Gabe had lots of fun picking out several he knew Grandma would just love. We have been doing well at home. Callie is adjusting well to home and her big brothers, luckily she sleeps well through all the noise and chaos. I even managed to get them all in one spot this weekend to snap a few pictures. Here are all our little pumpkins!
and Callie with Big Brother #2

More Callie

Just a few more pictures of our new baby girl! Gabe is such a proud big brother!
Callie sporting the cyclone hat Grandma Nancy brought her...too bad the cyclones didn't win:(

We came home from the hospital early Monday afternoon...Callie was not crazy about her first trip in her car seat.
On Wednesday Gabe had the sharing bag for preschool and they were supposed to bring a family picture to share with the class, we didn't have one of all 5 of us yet so this is our attempt from Tuesday night.
Our first night home was rough but since has gotten better each day, big brothers are adjusting fairly well to their new baby sister:)

We Have a Winner

We have a guest blogger today. It is the author of the tremendous clarkumentary blog, and proud papa of a beautiful baby girl. That is right, a girl. We have added a princess to go with our two knights.

A month ago there was a little competition on the blog for all to guess the sex and weight of the new baby Clark. Well, believe it or not we have a winner. Stephanie has won with a dead on guess of a girl weighing in at 7lbs 7ounces. Callaghan Grayce Clark was born on October 2, 2009 at 12:26 PM. Flip-flop Mama came in a very close second with a guess of 7lbs 6 ounces. We haven't decided what the winner is to receive, but below are few photos of the new babe. Who 'da thunk, a girl. We are incredibly blessed, and thank you for all your prayers.

Mom with baby in the recovery room after the c-section.

The boys meet their new sister.


Gabe is a proud big brother and keeper of the clan.


Ty is elated!

Hard to Believe

that tomorrow this goofy guy
will be a big brother for the first time! And this one

will be a big brother again!

We are scheduled to arrive at the hospital at 10 with our c-section scheduled for noon. Specific prayers requests are that an IV can be started easily and in a good location(I had lots of IV trouble with Gabe and an IV in a less then ideal location with Ty), that the surgery goes smoothly with no complications, that the baby be born healthy, and that everyone adjusts well(especially my red-head who seems to enjoy the title of baby and whose world will be drastically different soon:) We appreciate everyone's prayers!