"The fundamental mission of motherhood now is the same as it always was: to nurture, protect, and instruct children, to create a home environment that enables them to learn and grow, to help them develop a heart for God and his purposes, and to send them out into the world prepared to live both fully and meaningfully."

-Sally Clarkson from the Mission of Motherhood

Friday, May 21, 2010

Enjoying Spring

Just a few snapshots from our activities this spring. It's been a busy one!
Having a tea party with Gigi (and Samantha)Clark went to the zoo with his buddies Griffin and Mase to celebrate Mase's first birthday!! We had such a fun outing just with the boys!
Thanks to Mrs. Kimberly for snapping some pics for us!
Sweetheart...
It was extremely humid that day. Clarky had perfect ringlets! :)
Mama and son
AnnMarie had her first choir performance at church.
It was pretty low key since it was the first year (three year olds). She seems so "old" to me when we're at home, but when I look at this picture, they all look so young!
Now wouldn't this be a cute rehearsal dinner picture??? I would be just fine with this match up. :)

AnnMarie and Charley
We went to Midland and celebrated Sean's birthday with the SvobodasWe went to cousin Madison's dance recital. Scary costume? Yes, but it was a dance to Thriller!
(AnnMarie was a little nervous about being near her favorite cousin looking this way!)
(Iphone pic--sorry) Clarky tried to drive the golf cart with sweet big sister helping.
And the fun continues!

Sean's birthday

We celebrated Sean's birthday with a shrimp boil this year. (his request!---I felt kind of bad that he had to make his own birthday dinner, but he's the seafood chef at our house!) :)
Here's the feast:The bubbas played
Happy Birthday, Daddy Sean! We love you SO much. There isn't a better husband or daddy on the planet. Thank you for all you do for us!!!
And his other request? Clown cones.


(well, maybe not a "request", but just a mention in passing that I remembered!---and they were really easy to pick up) :)

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Mother's Day

This Mother's Day I was treated to a special breakfast ("Muffins with Mom") with my sweet firstborn.
She gave me a beautiful rose and a most treasured homemade gift.
So sweet! I love carrying it every day. She told me she put lots of green because it's my favorite color. It's true!
She is such a darling girl! I thank the Lord everyday for such a precious angel.
And why was this Mother's Day especially special?
Because I had another chickie to add to my nest...

And there's never been a cuter, better baby! I just can't get enough snuggle time. :)

Thank you, Lord, for my two perfect blessings. Being a mother is what I'm most proud of!

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Luke's wedding


Where to even BEGIN? The pictures will tell the story, but Luke and Caroline got married in one of the most BEAUTIFUL places I have ever been. Camp Waldemar (in Hunt, TX) is set on the Guadalupe river. We couldn't have asked for better weather!

I apologize that the pictures are in random order. By the time I got all the pictures wrangled from my camera, Dad's, Julia's, and other family members (THANK YOU so much!), it got a little out of control. I was so glad everyone else took such great pictures because I wasn't able to take as many as I'd liked.

Annnnnnnnnnnnyway...here we go:
We kicked off the weekend by rolling in just in time (well, actually a little late) for the Bridesmaids' luncheon on Friday at lunchtime. Caroline gave AnnMarie this shirt which she did not want to take off the entire weekend!!

The rehearsal dinner was so much fun. A BBQ outside. Here is Liz (Caroline's younger sister--and our wonderful babysitter!) with their new nephew, Hubbard.
Mom and Dad


Gramps, my aunt Beverly, and Mimi


My sweet Jurgensen cousins, Cathleen, Cassie, and Carrie
(p.s. No, we did not plan our corral-y pink dresses!) :)


Friday and Saturday before our events we had some time to play in the river---it was FREEZING at first, so you just had to jump in!


And we kayaked...


Interesting fact...my grandfather's middle name is...WALDEMAR (I think it means woods by the sea in German?)


Cousin Alex and AM at the softball game


The happy couple at the rehearsal dinner


My cousin Jude canoeing



Cousin Tatum and AM

The three babies of the wedding! Brooks and Julia, Hubbard and Sarah (Caroline's oldest sister), and us

little darlins

like i said, out of order! presenting Mr. and Mrs. Luke Jurgensen!

AnnMarie did such a great job standing with us for the whole wedding. (although we did have a few moments when I was wondering if her patience would last...:)

My mom and her siblings at the game (the traditional birth order pic)

Deborah, Bev, Janie, Susie, Marvin, Julianne

The three Maries!

Mrs. Dianne worked her magic to get Clarky to sleep!

The beautimous cake! I thought it echoed the look of her dress.

Check out the cute grooms cake. Perfect for Waldemar!

Dad caught this special moment===the groomsmen praying over LJ. love it!

Beautiful Caroline! Ready and waiting!

(btw--her dress and veil were her mom's---so neat!)

Mama and her little flower girl

Serene!

Love this family of four pic! Thanks, Dad!

First dance!

...and off to Turks and Caicos they went!

Love you, Luke and Line! We're so thankful for you!!

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Ten month old bubba

No, we're not going to put that on his first grade nametag, it's just what we affectionately call him. :)
We've had a busy month!

I got to play with cousin Brooks at Uncle Lukey's wedding.
If you look closely, you can see my 7th tooth coming in (bottom left)
At the rehearsal dinner, my great uncle Marvin gave me a rib bone to chew on, and of course I LOVED it.
The day of the wedding I was on my first softball team.
I went for my first "swim" in the backyard!
This is how Mommy finds me after my naps these days:
I want whatever YOU have...
I'm still cute as a button
But I'm getting into eVeRyThInG, Mommy says
I can't believe we're only two months away from his first bday party!!! what??? How did that happen?
*Said his first words this month (besides dada and mmmmmA): ("nigh nigh"--night night and "uck! uck!"--duck)
*Has officially said goodbye to baby food and is eating ALL table food. yay! so much easier!
*still taking three naps for the most part
*crawling/pulling up everywhere
*schedule:
6:30-7:00 wake up/bottle
8:00ish breakfast
9:00ish nap
11:00 bottle
12:00ish lunch
1:00ish nap
3:00 bottle
5:00ish mini nap
5:30 dinner
7:00-7:30 bath/bottle/bed