Fishy Fishy

Fishy Fishy in a brook (aka Lake Louise)

Daddy catch it with a hook

Mommy fry it in a pan

Tanner, Cherylyn, and Bonna eat it like a man!

Tanner caught the first fish for the birdhouse tonight! After seeing two birds fly away from the lake with HUGE fish in their mouths, we decided it was our turn! Tanner and I went to Wal-Mart and actually learned something! We purchased a fishing pole, sinkers and bobbers, and even nightcrawlers for bait! After we got home, Tanner struggled putting the fishing pole together, so he went back to Wal-Mart, and a customer in the fishing section put it together for him! Then Tanner, Clark, and myself walked down to the shore, Tanner threw out the line, and it didn't take but a few moments until he caught our first fish! We did the research and found that it is a Green Sunfish and that it is edible (we didn't listen to Papa who said we shouldn't eat it, but should throw it back in the lake). So we cleaned it and grilled it, and we all decided it was pretty darn good, we just would like a bigger one next time....stay tuned...

P.S. Tanner says his next stop is...SURVIVOR.

Fifty Nifty

Fifty Nifty United States from thirteen original colonies, Fifty Nifty stars in the flag that billows so beautifully in the breeze. Each individual state contributes a quality that is great. Each individual state deserves a bow: We salute them now!

On Wednesday Dad, Clark, and I attended Brianna's awards day in her class. It has been a while since I have been around this age group of kids, especially in a classroom setting. They were so cute as they received their awards from their teacher, and at the end when she started to cry talking about how much she loved her students, the children responded "Please don't cry Mrs. Desourdy!". I must admit the whole experience was very nostalgic for me, and made me think back to my elementary school days...half of which were spent in England. While I could go on and on about all the cool and amazing experiences I had in England, I have at times since our return to the U.S. felt a little shafted because of some of the classic childhood American school experiences I missed. One of these was learning about the United States in 4th grade. Brianna's class performed the United States song and it was the cutest thing in the whole world...and I actually KNEW the song! Like so many other things, my awesome sisters had taught it to me as they had both learned it before we moved to England...I guess I didn't miss out on everything! Personally, I think my sisters are pretty nifty!!
P.S. In my calm objective opinion FLORIDA is the Best of all the Fifty Nifty United States from thirteen original colonies!

Food, Glorious Food!

Tonight we started Clark on rice cereal. I can't decide what he loves more, the fact that he is eating the way he has seen us eat over the past 6 months or that he is getting more food, but either way, he is a happy guy!

He was really good at eating it, and the only time it would come back out was when he smiled to let us know that he is a big boy!

New Doo

I have my mother's hair. We both admit it is not the best hair in the world to have because it is so thin and so fine. I have kept it relatively long for most of my life, and the times when I have cut it short I have just let it grow back out again. Since Clark was born, my hair has been coming out in gobbs, and like I said, I don't have much to begin with. As a result, I have come to the realization that I just need to have short hair for good. Yesterday, I got my new doo, and I love it. There was so much hair she cut off, but my mom said it looked like I had ten times more hair on my head afterward. The baby-doo finally got a good doo!
Note: The picture above is after I did it all by myself this morning. It took me less than 2 minutes to dry and less than 5 minutes to style. That is my kind of hairstyle!

My New Best Friend

One of Clark's new favorite things is sitting on the porch with Nana listening and laughing at the birds. He loves the wind blowing in his face too. But most of all, he loves when Shooter comes around to play. They were immediate friends. He likes to touch his nose, and put his fingers in his mouth and eyes. Shooter loves the attention. Wet wipes are my best friend for disinfecting Clark afterwards. I know that dogs are clean animals, but I didn't grow up with any animals and am not quite used to them (blame my parents who claimed they were allergic), so for now, Clark gets a wet wipe bath afterward.

First Day

Monday was Tanner's first day at work! He had a great time meeting new people and getting to know the team he will be working with during the next 3 months. He was particularly excited to find out that they have basketball every Thursday night after work. Hey, I am just excited that he is bringing home the bacon! I am working on memorizing the name of the firm, although most people just refer to it as Lowndes (thank goodness). Below is a link to the law firm if you care to check it out.

http://www.lowndes-law.com/

Mother's Day and a Birthday!

Sunday was my first official Mother's Day! It was also Tanner's birthday so it was just an all around great day for celebration! My husband and Clark gave me a rose and a gift certificate to a spa...and even just the thought of it made me happy. Clark even signed the card too!

For Tanner's birthday, I gave him clothes and Nana and Papa gave him a waterski boot (to replace the one he broke on the last trip out here) and the book "Life in the Law" which, to quote from my Dad is to "help keep you straight during your career" (as if there is anything to worry about, but is that classic Dad or what?). We have actually heard great things about the book, so we are happy to have it in our collection. Tanner also received an awesome ipod from his parents so he can rock out on his way to and from work and while exercising. Tanner is the ripe old age of 27!

Fun with Friends

Our friends' Dave and Jen came and spent the week with us in Florida. We did two days at Universal....



and spent the rest of the time waterskiing and having ping pong tournaments (Tanner and I dominated :-) .



On Mother's Day, we went and took a stroll along the lake in Mt. Dora so they would not leave Florida without seeing a gator...it did not disappoint. Although we missed taking the picture, he opened his mouth and yawned very big while we were watching him. We estimated that he is probably between 5-7 feet long.



We had so much fun with them...and so did Clark!

I can roll...wait I'm stuck!

So, apparently Clark was just waiting to roll over until we got to Florida...I am not quite sure if it was the change in scenery or what, but this is what I found when I went to go get him from his nap the first day here! He seemed so pleased with himself, but he has now also realized that he doesn't know how to roll back yet, so there have been a few times, where he has gotten himself 'stuck' on his back. As a result, a new cry has emerged, which I call the "I've rolled over and I can't get back!" cry. His parents are very proud though...way to go Clark!

We've arrived!

We began our 12 hour trip down to Florida and the Birdhouse at 7am today. We took both the Monte and the Saturn, and Tanner and I compromised with him driving the Monte (with no cd player) and I in the Saturn with Clark (with the possibility of numerous hours of crying). It was a great day to drive, and Clark was an angel. It rained for about half the drive, but I was happy because it managed to keep Clark entertained and happy for hours. We arrived at the beautiful birdhouse at 7pm, and happy to be finally there!

We were all very tired...
















and within the next 24 hours, I had already received my church calling for the summer....




















We are so excited for the fun times to come this summer!

Swing Stoppage

A few weeks ago, I was having a conversation with my sister Tricia, and I was saying that Clark had just started to figure out the swing and that he would touch the side bar every once in a while. Tricia said "Well, just wait until he grabs the side and stops himself, then it's over..no more swing".

It's over.

The Ninety-Ninth and the Cheerio

Since we will be leaving for Florida on monday, Clark had his 6 month well child check-up today even though he is not quite 5 1/2 months old. Yep, you guessed it...he was in the 99th percentile for BOTH height and weight! The official results are as follows:

Weight: 22 pounds
Height: 29 inches

In other related news, last night when we were at the old branch president's house for a last hurrah, they convinced us to try to give Clark a cheerio. It was his first piece of solid food ever, and it was pretty funny. He spit it out first, and then decided he didn't mind it afterall. He did swallow it in the end. We are looking forward to more fun with food with Nana and Papa in Florida this summer!!

Bittersweet Release

This past Sunday, Tanner was released from his calling as the 1st counselor in the Young Single Adult Branch Presidency, and I was released as the Enrichment Leader and Marriage Preparation Teacher. We knew that this was coming since we will be in Florida for the next 3 1/2 months. Admittedly, Tanner and I were a little excited leading up to the releasing at the prospect of being able to be back in a family ward with our law student friends for the last year here. However, I don't think either one of us realized what we were going to feel on Sunday.

I knew that we would both bear our testimonies, and although this has not been a difficult thing for me to do in the past, I thought about it all week and had a few sleepless nights. It was my last opportunity, and I knew what I should say, just not how to say it. I think Tanner struggled as well in thinking about what to say. During the sacrament, I looked up and him and knew that he was struggling to keep his emotions under control. This experience can only be described as a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows as we observed the singles and choices they are making in their lives. One of my favorite moments in the branch was when we blessed Clark. It was a special moment for us, and even more so because of the outpouring of love toward our son by the members of the branch.

I began my testimony by telling the singles that I thought all week about what they had to look forward to in their lives, and that I believe the most important thing they need to do in their life at this time is to keep themselves morally clean and to demand that respect from those they date. I talked about my patriarchal blessing and how important this subject was to me while I was in school in deciding who to date and who to marry. I honestly feel that their adherance to this commandment makes them or breaks them at this point in life in respect to their future activity in the church and ultimate happiness in marriage and life.

Tanner got up after me and he was the most emotional I have ever seen him since we have been married. He expressed his gratitude for the experience and also told the members to stay vigilant and to make good choices in their life. He also talked about how he felt similar to when he came to the end of his mission and the gratitude that he felt for what he had learned and the experiences he had (Elder Wilkey, one of our branch missionaries who goes home in a few weeks completely lost it in the 5th row). We have loved serving with the other members of the branch presidency and we will miss it, but we are so grateful for the experience and look forward to whatever comes next.