A few more stories from the Starks:

As I was kissing clay goodnight he looked up at me (half asleep) and said, "momma, don't put me in a nursing home"...haha...given the fact I mentioned their bathroom smelled like a nursing home and had to explain the old people in nursing homes pee their pants and thus it smells like their bathroom did....he's so funny

....Myles was arguing with me this morning over shorts or pants..it went like this..."mom, I don't want to wear pants cause I have PE"...."ok, wear shorts"..."I can't wear shorts cause Ms. Rahlman said it was chilly today"...."ok, so wear pants"..."but mom, I don't want to cause I have PE"....Clayton interject...ed.."Myles, you're confusing to me!"....my thoughts exactly...........

Clayton informed me "if these stupid birds don't stop poopin on our car I'm gonna start deer huntin them!!"

Just overheard my 4yr tell my 5yr old while in the tub together.."If you don't give me the shampoo I will hit you in the elbows"...5y/o "huh"....4y/o "your private elbows"...my 5y/o laughing..."Clay you are such a preschooler..they're not your elbows retard..there your tenticals." hahahah....I love being a mom!!

3/24/10: Happy 6th Anniversary to us!! I came home to a filthy house and a beautiful bouquet of tulips sitting in my chair...Jared style!!


Man....I love being a mother and a wife!!

What else do you say?

So...I was sitting here laughing at Clay and figured I should post a few of his words of wisdom:

Mom: Clayton, go put your shoes that are in the laundry room in your bedroom
Clay: Woman, those are my laundry shoes, not my closet shoes!
Mom: ok...(what else do you say?)


Mom: move it dog (as it was wiggling at 5am under MY feet in MY bed)
Dog: no response, kept wiggling
Mom: swat...(kicked at it)
Dog: no response, laid on top of my feet
Mom: swoosh...dog in the floor...
Dog: ow Mom that hurt (aka Clayton)
Mom: hehahehaheha (what else do you say?)

Clay: Momma, why does the sun shine?
Mom: because God made it that way.
Clay: Why do frogs make noises?
Mom: because God made it that way.
Clay: Why do we like God?
Mom: because he sent us his son Jesus, who died on the cross for our sins.
Clay: Why do I keep asking you questions.
Mom: because God made you that way.
Clay: Why did God make you fat?
Mom: mmmm....I don't know. (what else do you say?)


Mom: Clay, who do you want to babysit you this friday? Jordan or Brittany?
Clay: Tori
Mom: No, she's working...jordan or brittany?
Clay: memaw
Mom: No, she can't. Which one jordan or brittany?
Clay: They're both dumb. I will babysit myself.
Mom: Clayton don't say that....and you can't watch your self.
Clay: yep I can...watch... (he puts his arms out and stares at them) See I just watched myself.
Mom: ok....you can! (what else do you say?)


Mom: Clayton, are you finished with your breakfast?
Clayton: yep (as he runs to the living room)
Mom: well then put your plate up.
Clayton: I can't
Mom: well maybe you should ask God to help you be able.
Clayton: (stops, sits at the table and begins to pray) God, could you please put my plate in the sink? Amen.......(he opens his eyes, looks at his plate still on the table and states) Mom, God must not be working today, you will have to help me!
Mom:..................(what else do you say?)



Clay: (in the backseat on the way home from church) Mommy...
Mom: yes, buddy
Clay: Molly's my girlfriend and I'm gonna grow up and marry her and then you have to take care of us....okay
Mom: ok (what else do you say?)

I've come to realize....

I've come to realize....
1. I've come to realize my job...
is exactly where God wants me to be!

2. I've come to realize that when I'm driving...
I shouldn't text!

3. I've come to realize that I need...
to take a breath, relax and purely trust God...he's right 100% of the time.

4. I've come to realize that I have lost...
everything...a time or two!

5. I've come to realize that I hate it when...
I lose my patience!

6. I've come to realize that if I'm pissy...
everyone else in the house will become pissy too!

7. I've come to realize that money...
is not everything nor will it buy you anything that will make you TRULY happy!

8. I've come to realize that certain people...
are better being in my life from a distance!

9. I've come to realize that I'll always...
have everything I need because that is how God works!

10. I've come to realize that my attitude...
shapes everyone's behavior around me!

11. I've come to realize that my mom...
did the best she could with what God gave her...and it ended up being more than she could ask for!

12. I've come to realize that my cell phone...
is a habit and not a necessity.

13. I've come to realize that when I woke up this morning...
my baby was officially "school age"...

14. I've come to realize that my dad...
was the greatest man in the whole world

15. I've come to realize that today...
is simply another day of choices. And I'm responsible for my actions, reactions and emotions-no one but me!

16. I've come to realize that tomorrow...
is a new day...and hope God grants me the privilege of seeing it

17. I've come to realize that I really want to...
finish school and get a job working NORMAL hours

18. I've come to realize that my friends...
are few and far between

19. I've come to realize that this year...
has brought me close to the people who really care about me and I have weeded out the ones who want to be reckless with my heart!

20. I've come to realize that my family...
is the one thing that brings PURE joy in my life!

21. I've come to realize that maybe I should...
try to live a healthier life...

22. I've come to realize that I love...
my husband because of who he is...who he is not....who he is morphing into...and who he will never be.

23. I've come to realize that I don't understand...
why 99% of people who come to the emergency room don't just stay home.

24. I've come to realize my past...
is why I am me.

25. I've come to realize that I'm totally terrified...
of being stagnant and not living this life given to me to the FULLEST

26. I've come to realize that my life...
is better than I deserve!

Alabama!!

ahhhh.....So we're officially back from the vacation at Grampa and Gramdee's. Had a wonderful week filled with pool, fun and sun! I honestly believe I have an extra five pounds to show for the wonderful food we enjoyed. The child God allowed for wonderful trips to and from Alabama as well. We were able to take the kids to a japanese grill, which was hillarious with the boys. Clay is now master of "chapsticks" (otherwise known as chop-sticks). Myles was tormented and stung at least 6 times by a pesty wasp at bass pro, not to mention the swimmer's ear from hours in the pool. He learned to swim, dive, tread water and eat crablegs-all in one day. As we returned home I realized we have exactly three weeks until school, which has sent me into overdrive! Tons of stuff to obtain prior to school, so I will start that this week. Anyways, thanks again to the best in-laws a girl could ask for! Many times people wouldn't enjoy spending a week with the in-laws, in my case.....I have october open!

Kleenex, Clorox and Summer

Well, vacation time is officially here for the Stark Family! Myles has hit the road back to Alabama with his Grandpa, very exciting! Jared is leaving as well this weekend, headin up to TableRock with the gang for a weekend of diving. Clay and I are lounging around the homefront, cleanin, packin and lazin until Monday morning. Then we are all headin south to Alabama for a week of lazy with Grandpa and Gramdee! We expect nothing more than daily picnics and pool parties all week! As well we will be hitting our local fave's for delicious cuisine! I can't believe summer is on the downhill spiral as we speak.
I stopped at Walmart, which I rarely do-mainly due to my total disgust and hatred toward that place, and picked up the "Back To School List". This year I had to get two and that was sad enough, let alone realizing I have to buy two boxes of Kleenex per kid. I'm not sure about the rest of you, but this time of year makes me ask myself one question, "Just exactly what do my $400.00 per year school taxes go toward?" Neither of my kids need two boxes of kleenex, maybe a few extra shirtsleeves, but two boxes-NEVER. Yet every year I purchase enough Clorox wipes and Kleenex for the class and my kids still get sent home with runny noses and a cough! Soooo...my point...this year I am rebelling! I know, not a good influence on the kiddo's, but who cares. I am purchasing the following...a 6 pack of germ-x individual size bottles to fit in the boys' backpacks, a 12 pack of individual size kleenex, once again to fit in the backpacks and a bottle of airborne! I am done suppling the school's snotty faced little kids with kleenex and clorox! I spoke with the teacher this past year and she said it was appreciated because a lot of the kid's parents can't afford them and so the supply dwindles. Excuse me, did I hear you right? Can't afford it? Who-total price $8.00? Who can't afford that? I understand being on a budget and maybe one or two kids-total, in the entire school-can't afford eight dollars. But, are you serious. My reply, "Stop smoking for two days and you take over the Kleenex/Clorox fund!" Maybe, "Get a J-O-B" or "Stop cheating the system, then I would have an abundance of monetary influx and then I wouldn't mind buying a few extra kleenex. Anyway, just thought I would share! -Stacey

Questions from the Stall

Hey everyone! I'm heading BACK to work after 3 wonderful days OFF! Nothing really happened on my days off, except I got to spend them with my boys, which is always exciting. I realized my little Clayburn has a mind like no other. Here's why:
~ While at the water park, like usual, he decided he needed to go potty. (poop, of course!) So as I was standing in the stall, looking at those big blue eyes looking at me, here was our conversation. Note the chuckles from the older ladies in the room as well. "Mommy, do you like cats?" "yes, clay I like cats." "I don't, they have claws. Mommy do you like trumpets?" "Yes, Clay I like trumpets." "What about paxaphones." "Saxaphones? Yes I like saxaphones." "Do you like flip-flops?" "Yes, you know I like flip-flops." "Did you wear flip-flops to your wedding?" "Yes I wore flip-flops to my wedding." "Will I ever have a step-dad?" "Nope, not in my plans." "Do mommies poop?" "Yes Clay, we do. Are you done yet?" "No. Do old ladies poop?" "Yes clay they do. Hurry up" (chuckles louder now) "Mommy do you like frogs?" "Yes Clay, I like frogs. Are you almost finished?" "Well, I've done a baby pooper and a mommy pooper, but you'll have to wait on the daddy one." "Thanks Clay!" "Mommy why do you like your swimsuit?" "Because it hides the fat you and your brother caused me!~" "Yeah and it hides the cake you had for breakfast!" "You're done, come on!" CHUCKLES ALL AROUND!

What I NEED for Christmas!

Looking back over the last three years, I know that I am the culprit to my own exhaustion. I am the enabler to my sleepless nights, but he is so darn cute! I'm speaking of Clayton. He has been invading my bed now, every night, for three years. In the beginning stages it was because he was a preemie. After we got home from our stay at St. Louis Children's Hospital, it was because he was sick. Once I got him sleeping, with his brother, in their own bed and he would sneak into my room at night it was because he was scared. After age two I chalked it up to, "but he's my baby", because he is such a momma's boy and I love it. But now he's three and there is no excuse! I attempted a strange, yet just-my-mothering-style tactic two weeks ago. When he would get in my bed, I would waller him, elbow him, hang my leg over on him and push him until he had had enough. Instead of going back to his bed or moving to the pallet that is by my bed, he got up-walked to dad's side of the bed-and snuggled in. Jared loved it, the whole crossing-over moment and this cycle has started again! I realized the other night I should just move to the couch when he enters my bed....but his sniffer realized I was gone and FOLLOWED me to the couch, "mommy, why'd you leave me!" Yes, it was true. Now I was on the couch and in the dog house! I've prayed, I've screamed, I've cried and I've thought of giving him up for nighttime adoption. In the end-I think I'll ask Santa for a King size bed.