August 21, 2011




We found out this spring that we will stay here in Cincinnati for an additional year (finishing in June 2013) for David’s fellowship in clinical neurophysiology. David feels like he will really enjoy the program here, and we are happy to enjoy Cincinnati a little longer. In July he began his final year of neurology residency. He manages to make the time to help out with the boys and enjoys playing with them, even with his busy schedule. Emily has enjoyed keeping the boys busy, as well as making blackberry jam and canning pickles with the cucumbers from the garden.


This summer we’ve tried to make the most of the time before William starts school. We’ve enjoyed swimming frequently at the city pool. We also went to the zoo several times, exploring something a little different each time. Emily and the boys also went on some short hikes and picnics, picked blackberries, and planted a small garden of cucumbers. We have also enjoyed having a couple neighbor families over for dinner this summer.







In July we enjoyed a week-long visit from David’s parents. Building a bunk bed for William and Neil was one of the main activities for David and his dad. It was a big job, but we are very pleased with how it turned out. The boys love the beds and sharing a room now—maybe a little too much. It was extremely hot the week David’s parents visited, so some of our planned activities had to be changed, but we did enjoy going to Jungle Jim’s, a large international grocery store; exploring Loveland Castle, built by a single (crazy) man over the course of fifty years; and going to Sawyer Point, a riverside park downtown. David’s parents were really nice to watch the boys for two days while David and Emily got away to Columbus and then to Hocking Hills state park where we did some hiking. We had a great time, and so did the boys with their grandparents.







William turned five the end of March and had a fun dinosaur-themed party with some of his friends. He finished up another year of preschool in April, which he has really enjoyed. This summer he took swimming lessons for the first time and made some good progress. William is also reading fairly well. He began kindergarten this week at Sands Montessori School and is really enjoying it. It is very different at home with William gone. The rest of us really miss him.





Neil is now 2 ½ and able to play more constructively. William and Neil have increasingly gotten to be great friends. They love to play together with Legos, build train tracks, and otherwise just run around. To our great surprise, Neil made a leap forward in potty training this week. He had four accidents the first day, but none since…. We’ll see how that holds up.




Curtis has turned into a big eater. Although not yet one and only having two teeth, he manages to eat sandwiches, pulled pork, enchiladas, broccoli, and even an unparceled piece of pizza. Curtis really cruises around the house while holding on to furniture and walls, but is not quite walking.



We feel very blessed in many ways, and are enjoying this fun time of life with these energetic, sweet boys.

It has been too long since we updated our blog, and it’s almost more difficult to know what to say when it’s been 6 or more months! The biggest news since we last wrote is that Curtis Wayne Clark was born August 25, weighing 9 lbs, 9.5 oz. We have been so happy to have this new addition to our family. He is a sweet, easygoing baby, and very loved by his big brothers. We’ve managed to cram three car seats into our sedan, so we don’t have to get a van yet.

We had a nice Thanksgiving here in our home with a few local friends. We also enjoyed a quiet Christmas with our little family. We also had a great time spending the last few days of December in Texas with David’s family. It was fun to finally introduce Curtis to some of his extended family.

Since Neil learned how to climb out of his crib in January, we’ve changed the boys’ sleeping arrangements. After a few weeks of Neil’s crib mattress on the floor in his room, we moved him into William’s twin bed, and put a bed rail up. We moved William up to the queen bed we’ve used for guests, and Curtis is now in the real crib instead of the portable crib. Everyone is thrilled with the new arrangement and is sleeping well. William was so excited about sleeping in his new bed that he was “tired” and wanted to go to bed right after dinner.

We’ve enjoyed some trips to the Cincinnati Children’s Museum and Natural History Museum, taking a break for a picnic lunch in the cafeteria.

David is now in a three-month stint at the children’s hospital here. It has helped remind him why he chose to do adult neurology. He is also in the midst of applying for fellowship.

Emily has a new calling in the ward: Primary teacher. She teaches the 4- and 5- year-olds, and is learning a lot. David keeps her from pulling her hair out every Sunday afternoon. In addition, the last few months she has enjoyed participating in a monthly book club with a group of women in the ward.



William enjoyed listening to Emily read Charlotte’s Web and The Trumpet of the Swan to him this past month. He continues to practice writing one letter and one number each day. William has also shown renewed interest in learning to read. He is a good helper, and is really growing up!

Neil turned two the beginning of the year. He is the family hugger, and always wants to hug each of us—especially Curtis. The past few weeks he has been able to open door knobs, and although we now have child locks on most doors, he can get into the pantry due to a glitch in the door. Neil frequently opens the pantry and gets out a package of cereal or crackers and rips it open. He seems to have an endless appetite.

Curtis (six months) really grabs things now. He reaches for anything remotely close to him and tries to get it in his mouth. Curtis can now sit up, and loves to “stand up” whenever he can. Emily is thrilled that he has finally figured out how to go to bed at 7:00 p.m.