The Clarke Family News

-- 29 January 2007 [Monday] Normal workday. Not near the stress as last week. Spent most of the day working on my yearly review which is due. UGGGH, I hate doing these things. I mean I really, really dislike it. It seems so political and unimportant in the scheme of life, but is a necessary evil, so I can hopefully get my 3% raise as the company did not have a good year and I expect no more. Hopefully no less either. Amanda has a ladies night out tonight that I hope she goes to with the wives from Carson's class. -- 28 January 2007 [Sunday] Carson went to a birthday party for Holden from his class. Amanda took him to it at Pump-It-Up. He had a great time. Meanwhile, Keegan, Ian and I played at home. We started with a clay art project. Keegan built a neat little snow man with a fireplace. Really a great job he did!!! Ian just played with the clay but had fun. While that was baking we went on a nice bicycle ride around the neighborhood and then played in the front yard just as Amanda...

-- 12 January 2007 [Friday] This week has just flown by, so I'm not going to try to go back and update the past days, as I won't remember. I have a headache right now from work, today has been that bad. It's the last day of our QA cycle, and of course a bug was found, so we are scrambling. We had a lot of people resign from work this week. Mike Stocks, Doug Jones and Mary Thorn. All shocking as they have all been here a long time and were good people. The cutest thing I recall from this week, is on Thursday when my phone rang at work, and it was Keegan - 'Dad, why did you put butter on my sweet roll? I don't like butter on my sweet roll?' I had the biggest smile on my face. That morning I had packed his lunch and as a treat I thought I would put a little bit of real butter on his Hawain Roll that the kids love so much. But apparently those are the ONLY bread type things he doesn't like butter on, as that night he ate bread and butter with dinner. It was very...

-- 04 January 2007 [Thursday] Nothing major to report these past few days. Just back in the routine of work and home and playing with the kids. I sure do miss being home with them all day! Keegan just called me from home and wants me to build a fort when I get home. That sounds good to me! -- 03 January 2007 [Wednesday] Worked from home today as usual. Slow day at work so it was well. Amanda did not have to work either. I picked Keegan up at the bus stop which is always fun. I enjoy the short walk home with him. He's always in a good mood and the conversation is fun until he gets into the house and goes wild with Carson and Ian. After the kids went to bed, Amanda and I played several card games of Skip Bo, Rummy and then a board game which I can't recall the name of here. Something she doesn't care for, but I like it once in awhile. The card games were especially fun. It was nice having no sounds in the house except for us playing cards and talking on the ...

-- 02 Janurary 2007 [Monday] It's a NEW YEAR ! Yippeee.... I'm back at work after 11 days off which I really enjoyed. The kids were all home the entire time as well and we had no travel plans so it was very relaxing most of the time. Of course there were the occasional stressful moments but overall a great relaxing time off. There's no way I'll remember all the details of the past 11 days. I did not want to use the computer if I didn't really have to, so I chose not to update at all until back at work today. Christmas was great and the kids had a great time of course. They really believe in Santa Claus which is just a great fun memory for me. I really enjoy watching their reactions and answering their questions "Dad, how does Santa fit down that little hole in our chimney?", or "What if we have a fire in the fireplace, how will Santa come down?". On Christmas eve night the kids left the usual plate of cookies, carrots and coffee th...

-- 22 December 2006 [Friday] I'm heading home for my 11 days off! They let us go early! Going to stop at Radio Shack on the way home to try to pick up some LED lights for the train station I got for Keegan last night for Christmas. Afterall, he did ask Santa that it be lit! :) I picked up 4 freight cars (Amanda and I assembled them last night - was actually fun, and they are 1/2 the cost of the pre-assembled ones). I also got him four more pieces of curved track and four pieces of straight, so he should be good to go. I stopped at Borders and got my Dad a $25 gift card as he likes to go there and have coffee and thumb through magazines. I'll try to update this once during the holidays, but it may be hard! Take care everyone and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

-- 21 December 2006 [Thursday] Getting ready to leave work now. Been a pretty easy day as things are winding down and the RMS 4.6.0 release I have been working on comes to a close tomorrow hopefully. Going to try to go to Tom's Train store on the way home to exchange the railroad track I bought for Keegan for a little lesss track, but then add a car and a lighted house (which he asked Santa for). I still have to buy my dad something, but I have no idea what. I'll probably get him a Borders gift certificate as he stops there a lot for coffee and to read magazines if I remember correctly. Today is Keegan's last day of school before Christmas break. He is very excited of course. After his recess they are watching a Polar Express short video and having snacks and a book read to them, so I'm sure he'll of had fun. -- 20 December 2006 [Wednesday] Worked from home today. Amanda ended up working all day which is good money wise as she does not work the next t...

-- 18 December 2006 [Monday] I'm only working 1/2 day today as we have Carson's school birthday party at 2pm at Pump-It-Up. We couldn't get the Saturday reservation as they were booked months in advance. ugh. Now we know better for next time if we want to have it there again. I'll leave at Noon, and then go pick Keegan up from school. -- 17 December 2006 [Sunday] Grandma Starr had to go home tonight. She works tomorrow and unfortunately can't take a lot of time off as she does not have paid vacation. I feel very bad for the kids because of this, but not much we can do unless we move back..which I have thought of but Amanda does not want to. Kids still had a great time today with her. Beautiful weather - 72F! They played outside all day and we had a nice lunch on the deck and then some more playing. Carson was so worn out from the last two days that he fell asleep at 4pm, and woke just in time to say bye to Grandma as Amanda, Keegan and Ian were taki...