Howdy Partner!

Well, here he is!! Thanks to Yana for letting us borrow her camera. I know that many of you have been waiting to see some updated pics!! After bathtime the other night, daddy and G had their usual time of play before bed. This night, G decided to be the cowboy, complete with wearing daddy's hat and saying "potner" meaning partner for 'howdy partner!' It's really cute to hear him pronounce words right now. In fact, yesterday while visiting New Salem World Outreach Church where our friends Ben & Kathy Davis help lead worship, Garrett heard the preacher talking about partnership and said, "potner." I couldn't help but giggle - kids really do hear EVERYTHING you say, don't they?!!

Garrett and I had a great time visiting The Lanes! Thanks to Kathy for two wonderful meals - I loved the yummy vegetable pita and the grilled chicken salad was scrumptous!!! Macey Kate, age 4, and Stone, age 2, were Garrett's idols for the weekend. They played so well with him. It's hard to believe that Garrett will be 2 in Dec.!! I had to borrow some pics from Kathy b/c I forgot to get pics of them with G. They were too busy playing!!!

Ben is in the middle playing guitar and Kathy is in blue.

Garrett and I also got to go to Christie McCullough's baby shower in Franklin, TN on Friday. It was so great to see her and her family! Benjamin Parker is due to arrive in just 4 weeks.

Drawing!!

or shall I say, "dawling" as G says. This was our $5 purchase from Target last Wednesday. It proved to be a trustworthy toy for G on the way back to Sewanee from Jackson. He gets so excited and likes to tell the viewer of his masterpiece that he is "dawling!" He will shout it until the viewer acknowledges it! Too cute! And as you can see from the photo, he awoke earlier Thurs. morning to "dawl" while daddy is still sleeping.

Just an update....

We are settled in at Sewanee in our sweet cabin on South Carolina Ave. It has officially been one week since we arrived....five more weeks to go - wow, how times flies!! The weather is perfect. Mommy and daddy have enjoyed several runs through the hills with me leading in the jogger, quiet nights reading, lunch and dinner at our favorite local eateries, The Blue Chair, Shennanigan's and Mountain Breeze and time relaxing and playing together. Daddy has been one busy bee and continues to stay afloat with a very rigorous and challenging course load. He is doing great! Mommy and I are having fun vacationing....hopefully daddy can do that after his courses end in mid July. We hope everyone is well and having a great summer so far. We love you all.

Got to get to work and help mommy get ready to meet with a client!!!

p.s. no pics this year.....camera is still pooped.

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you that our address is 100 South Carolina Ave. Sewanee, TN 37375

We are voting for you, Alyson!!

Great job last night on Nashville Star. We are so proud of you, Alyson. Keep it up!

Everyone, you can vote for Allyson after watching Nashville Star on Mondays at 8pm on NBC. www. nbc.com/Nashville_Star/

http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080610/NEWS01/806100311&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL

http://www.alysongilbert.com/

from Indiana and Alabama....

Whew....where to begin? The past 2 weeks have been filled with a lot of traveling blessed with much loving!! Onward to the Indiana plains, our usual 5 hour trip turned into 8!! G slept wonderfully well the first the 3 hours. We stopped for our traditional steak & biscuit dinner at Cracker Barrel and to get some necessities in Wal-Mart for about 1 1/2 hours!! Just as we got back in the car, G decided he wanted "ooouuutt." Tears, tears, tears- oh my! Poor little guy!

We finally arrived exhausted around 1:30 AM to Nana's where Nana and Justice patiently awaited our arrival. The week was filled with lots of playtime with cousins Bailey, Ben, Delaney, and Drew at Nana's. Bailey and Delaney impressed us with their basketball and dancing skills at their weekly camps/ rehearsals. Ben smothered us with hugs and kisses and Drew won our affections as we celebrated his successes in speech and motor skills since we last saw him in March. He got his boot off his leg while we were there - yeah!! He is really amazing to watch grow and learn!!! We also got to see Chloe briefly at the hospital on Thurs. when we all traveled to Danville to see Todd & Janna and to meet baby Caden. He is so beautiful!! We are so thankful to blessed with so many cousins, aunts and uncles!!

Memorial Day was a blast celebrating with Grandpa Clark, Gayle and the extended Clark family in Pleasantville,IN where Grandpa was reared. The town is named after one of our relatives. We enjoyed burgers, salads, watermelon and desserts Indiana style. Grandpa took us on "the tour" of the quaint town and told us stories of when he and the late Grandma Clark "took up house-keeping" here. Softballs soared into the sky as we each took a turn at the bat. Ben was by far the cutest!!!! And the Ravelette boys kept mommy's ears hot as they told her all about their summer trips, school, animals, etc.!!!

We ended our trip to IN with dinner Friday night in Median, TN (just outside of Jackson) at one of our favorite friend's: The Roney's!!! Jenni and Doug had fresh homemade guacamole and salsa ready for us to munch on while the boys sipped their beers and the gals sipped on mint...??? vodka?? something good!! G enjoyed his "wa" and almond butter sandwich. Dillon (age 9) was at the river with friends, but G go to play with his other two favorite buddies, Reed (age 7) and Grant (age 5). We just love this family - they are so full of life, love, and are the most genuine people you'll meet. Truly God's gift to us!!! An added bonus is that they parent like us.....naturally....AP!!! How exciting to be able to just be ourselves without any pressure from the large scheduled based Ezzo following or the dominating Pearls here. We cherish their friendship. They also served us exquisite baja fajitas and homemade cinnamon/ maple ice cream...yummy!!

Sat. was a fun filled day with more baby showers for Jen G. & Mary Catherine Gatlin and our community party that evening. We were back on the road after church Sunday. It was mommy's last day to sing before we go to Sewanee for the summer.

Riding to Guntersville State Park was a pleasant drive. We were greeted with a wonderful fresh summer meal of Aunt Linda's freshly baked and sliced turkey, fresh salad complete with Uncle Tom's home grown lettuce & tomatoes, fresh green beans from Mimi & Granddaddy's garden and Mimi's home-made rolls. But the best gift of all was YANA!! What a wonderful place to relax and enjoy good food and good company.

WELCOME, CADEN!!!!

We are so excited to announce the birth of cousin #7, Caden Wesley Clark!!!

He was born May 27 @ 11:56 pm weighing 9 lb.s 6 oz. and is 21 7/8 inches. Whew, what a baby!! Way to go, Janna!!! We are currently in Indiana and look forward to meeting him while we are here this week. Check back in a couple of days for photos!!
Proud parents, Todd & Janna Clark with sweet Caden!!!!

Caden, we are excited to meet you!

Garrett is soooooo much fun!!

I'm sorry I don't have updated pics....I need to get our camera fixed! Garrett is growing....well, he's not getting any taller as he still wears 12 month clothing and,well, some 9 month too, but he amazes us with his fine motor skills and his speech. He is currently refilling the bag of blocks at his leisure. I love to watch him play. I think one of his favorite things to play this Spring is baseball. We went to as many games as we could to watch daddy coach. Oh, how he entertained the crowd with his impersonation of the pitchers throwing the ball and the batters swinging the bat. His little mimics are too cute!! He also has a great arm throwing the "bay-ball" hard and long. He also entertained the crowd dancing to the music played in b/t innings and stole everyone's hearts with his bright conversations complete with hand motions! ....sometimes using the correct sign for the word.

Oh, just after the season ended, we noticed Garrett standing with his legs spread wide while holding his bat or the ball. He even shakes his little rump....looks like he picked up on more than we thought at all those "bay-ball games."

On nights that we stayed home due to late naps and away games, Garrett and I enjoyed watching Dancing with the Stars. Yes, we danced to all the music- so fun!!

I regret that I don't have any of him and daddy at the games this year....Maybe we will get a camera sometime soon. I miss not having lots and lots of pics of him!!!!!

Guess you could say.....

that I'm getting really good at taking breaks from the computer!! My last blog was Feb. 12 ....that's almost 2 months ago! Well, a lot has happened since then.
Let's see, mommy turned the big 30. She had a wonderful day with daddy and me. We took her to Lowe's to shop for some paint for the living room and then ate lunch at Lenny's Subs. After coming home and taking a shower, mommy came into the living room where, none other than -Yana- was playing with me. She handed mommy a card from daddy that gave her several options for her birthday evening out with just him!! They had a great time going out to eat in Memphis at Lolo's Table., listening to blues at The Center for Southern Folklore where daddy interned one summer while still in college at Depauw and just being together!!! They didn't get home 'til 1 am !!! yikes!
I had a good time with Yana. We played and played and ate and played and slept and played!!! Thanks, Yana, for treating mommy to a day long date with daddy and for being with me!! I love you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DADDY!!!....AND AUNT CARA!!

My daddy and his twin, Aunt Cara, turned 31 today!!!

You guys are officially "in" your 30's!! Congrats - way to make it!!! We are so thankful to have you in our lives. Daddy, you are the BEST DADDY in the world! Thank you for loving me so well and for loving mommy so well!! I love to say your name, 'da da da.' I love it when you come home from work and I run into your arms. I love it when you tickle ('tick tick') me, when you chase me down the hallway, when you play blocks, cars, baseball, and swing me in the hammock. I love it when you play the guitar and teach me too. I love it when you make me giggle, when you teach me new signs, when you roar like a lion or any other animal. I have so much fun with you, Daddy!! I also love it when you cuddle me, give me kisses and hugs. Oh, and I love playing basketball at bath-time. Thank you for loving me. I love you! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Mommy is....

30 years old today!!!!I am so excited that you are my mommy. I enjoy spending every day with you at my side.