We want to invite everyone who reads our blog to join The Advent Conspiracy with us. Please watch the video. I've watched the video about 7 times and every time I watch it, I tear up. After having visited Haiti and Belize our perspective on life has really changed. We love the US and thank God for having placed us here, but there are some things that need to be re-evaluated here. The Lord has provided for us and our children with everything that we could ever need. So we would love for anyone who feels the need to buy us presents to not and donate anything you would've spent on us to further His Kingdom. We aren't against gift giving and there are few things that make me happier than suprising Audrey with anything that has princesses on it, but there are many other people with needs far greater than ours. Let's make a difference and give something to someone who needs to know that God loves them. Worship Fully. Spend Less. Give More. Love All.

Here's some of our favorite charities:

Hope Pregnancy Center -Bell County

Compassion International

Living Water - partnered with Advent Conspiracy

My little manimal.

This morning I left Clark alone while I got dressed. I heard an awful banging sound and when I came to investigate, Clark was in the laundry room with the broom banging it on the freezer, washer, walls, everything--trying to get it out. I thought, how funny. I wonder why he wants to use the broom.

Then I walked into the kitchen and I wondered no more.



I started sweeping it up my $3.47 worth of Fruity Cheerios (I'm not bitter--I promise), but thought I should take a picture to show Josh. Also notice how he lovingly takes his banana slices off his plate so he can eat directly from the table.

Seeing Santa

Here are the little cuties with Santa this year. Audrey has suddenly turned over a new leaf and hugged both Bruiser and Santa in one week, but assures us that she "will still be freaking out at the Easter Bunny." Audrey was the perfect big sister and when Santa asked her what she wanted, she told Santa that "my little brudder wants dogs and balls."

PS. Seriously, Santa? An Aggie ring?

Christmas Tree

We have a tradition of getting the kids an ornament at every place they go on vacation. With Clark we have slowed down our travel and they only had ornaments from San Francisco. No this wasn't taken with a cell phone. Our camera's flash isn't working right now.

Audrey-isms

Here are a couple of funny things Audrey has said lately.

Today when watching Dora (yuck!), Dora asked the audience, "What was your favorite part of the trip?" Audrey started saying, "Um my my my favorite part of the trip, my favorite part of the trip was..." Then Dora said, "Great! I liked that part too!" Audrey was outraged, "Mom, she didn't let me finish! Mom she has poor manners! She is not being very patient."


Yesterday Audrey was playing with her Disney Princess Write and Learn book and Clark kept trying to climb on top of it and take it away. Audrey started shouting, "Clark, no learning!! no learning, you hear me?!"

A clarification

Many of you have asked "Who is Black Sarah and why is she called that?"

We have lots of Sarahs/Saras that we love and Audrey started referring to them by their hair color about a year ago. So Sarah Bales became "black-haired Sarah," Sarah Billman was known as "that Sarah with the blonde hair" and Sara Oliver is "brown-haired Sara that speaks Spanish." About six months ago she randomly abbreviated everything so now Sarah is Black Sarah. I have not heard her call her anything but black Sarah in forever. It's kind of catching on, but can be a little awkward in public when Audrey shouts across Hancock's, "ooh i think black Sarah would like this!" I loudly respond, "Yes, Sarah with black hair would!"

The Morrison Family band

We got Guitar Hero and decided to start a family band. If you've been around Clark lately, you know he does his own thing. He didn't even bother to cover up like the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He just likes to let loose when he drums.

Homecoming Weekend

Last weekend was our favorite fall weekend-- Baylor homecoming! The whole crew made it!

Friday night was costume night and dinner at Doug and Lacy's house. Lacy cooked a delicious meal and they were so courageous to host everyone!

Here's Clark the astronaut and Maddox the knight.



Doug and Lacy, their dog Campbell with all the kids (l to r, Ashley Brunson, Clark, Ella Grace Richardson, Maddox Billman, Elie Brunson, and Audrey). Doesn't Doug look ready for sextuplets?



David and Audrey showing us their best "Sic 'em."


After dinner came the bonfire...




Mr. President in chainmail.


The next day we actually made it to the parade where we ran into Anna, Solomon, and Asa.



Then tailgating...




Then the game...so close, yet so far. This was taken right before we got our hearts broken.



Audrey on the way home...



back at the house where black Sarah had made us chili and cornbread!


Can't wait util 2009!

Fun Weekend

We had a busy fun weekend. Molly came to stay with us while Brigid and Joey did their premarital counseling in Salado, and Gigi and Da-da came too. Jacob, Kalan, and Kalan's brothers came by for a couple hours on Sunday.

Saturday we went with friends to the fall festival at Audrey's school.

My little Stacy London.

Audrey said today, "Mom, I love your white shirt, your big bracelet, your jeans, and your giraffe shoes. I think you didn't look weird, I think you look definitely awesome."

Clark in love

This weekend we went to Houston and met Teddy, Lauren and Katherine's new puppy. Clark went crazy and kept kissing him and hugging him and sharing toys with him. At one point they even French kissed and I held off from throwing up long enough to break it up. Audrey kept bragging about how much she liked Teddy too, but she kind of gave herself away by shrieking and scrambling up to a chair every time he came in the room.

Prizefighter update 3

Clark's eye is getting much better. It's pretty ugly and has turned yellow and green and spread to his left eye, but the swelling is reduced and he can open it about halfway now. His forehead has no bump left and is just yellow all over.

Debbie Downer in the Making

Tonight after dinner I was heading out for a run, and Audrey as usual was asking me a ton of questions.

"Mom, you have shoes on--are you going running?"

"Yes."

"Well are you going running in Temple, Texas so you won't get lost?"

"Yes."

"Well, okay, bye! I hope you don't get hit by a car!"

"Um, me too. Thanks."



PS. Happy birthday Brigetta.

Prizefighter update

Clark two days later. Yes, I have looked at his eye and let some of the specialists that I work with look at him. It'll get better.

our little prizefighter...

poor guy cannot catch a break. Left black eye is from Tuesday's jump out of the crib and right swollen eye is from tonight's falling out of the car.

Never Boring

One thing about parenting is that we don't experience many dull moments when the kids are awake. Last night, Clark threw himself out of Shannon's arms during a fit and scraped the tip of his nose. The tip of his nose gushed blood for 6 hours. There was nothing that would stop it. We had to wake him a couple times as the dried blood accumulated around his nostrils. Here he is with his band-aid on and wrapped in a towel so he won't rip the bandage off. So we didn't get much sleep worrying about him all night. Then when he decided to wake up at 6:30, I found Audrey asleep like this on the stairs. We're still not sure what happened here.

If you're happy and you know it

then your face will surely show it.

touchdown

Here's the newest word Clark has learned. It's actually a little new to all of us but we have had the good fortune of saying "touchdown" 19 times alreaday this season!

Happy birthday Molly!

The cutest niece in the world is 2 today! We love you so much Molly!

Baseball

I always joked that my first son would have to love baseball and be left handed so he could be a pitcher. Looks like I may have gotten my wish.

The Human Race

Shannon ran a 10K at Nike's Human Race in Austin. Audrey, Clark, and I are really proud of her and everything that she's accomplished.

Not exactly what I meant...

Today my friend Colleen watched the kids while I went to the dentist. They must have had a good time, because went I got home Audrey started whining, saying,

"No, thanks, Mom! Go back to the store!"

I gave her "the look" and said, "Audrey, I won't allow you to be rude to me."

She said, "Ok, Mom will you please go back to the store?"

David's Wedding

Pictures from Shannon's cousin, David's wedding. They had a really nice ceremony and a fantastic reception at the Austin Museum of Modern Art. I told Shannon it was like a reception that you see in movies with how beautiful it was. Audrey never had a shortage of dancing partners with all of her aunts and Molly.

Clark+Mosquitoes=Bad News

Here's why we couldn't move to Beaumont. This looks bad, but the mosquitoes are worse in Beaumont. Trust me.

First Day of School

Last Monday was a really hard day for Shannon and I as we sent Audrey to her first day of pre-school. We had to face the realization that she's not our Lil 'A anymore. She's so grown up and has real conversations with me. Today, Audrey and I were in the bedroom and she wanted some snuggling. She said "I think something's missing. I need your wife and my bestie (Clark)."

We went to Salado Creek again when my parents came in. Just like last time, Clark had the time of his life throwing rocks.

Please don't call Sally Struthers...

Here's a shot of our little skinny guy. When he lifts his arms over his head you can see every rib. Clark and Uncle Pat had a great time watering the lawn though Clark enjoyed spraying himself more than the plants.

It starts early...

I keep telling Clark no texting during dinner.

Creativity

Here's Audrey as Cinderella, complete with horse-drawn carriage. I guess necessity is the mother of invention. (Alston, I'm sure Henry didn't imagine this when he picked out the mega-bloks for Audrey.)