It's A BOY!!! Tucker Leland Clark!

Introducing our precious little boy.
Tucker Leland Clark was welcomed into this world 11 hours after we arrived at Toledo Hospital.

Born June 30th, 2012
7lbs. 8oz.
21"

We cannot wait for Stella to meet her brother...she is going to adore him.

First Ballet & Tap Class - PRECIOUS!

Our hearts seriously MELTED when Justin & I watched our little girl at her Very First Ballet/Tap Class.  She's taking a 4-week Summer Session to see how she likes it and she absolutely loved it.  They do it right too with this age:  10 min. Ballet, 10 min. Tap, then 10 Min. Tumble....ending it with a sucker!

 THESE VIDEOS ARE SHORT BUT SO SWEET! 

 She's the smallest one (2nd from the right) - and watch when she gets off her square marker how she makes sure to get back on it, awwwww

TAP DANCE

BALLET DANCE

CHOO-CHOO TRAIN

Prepping At Home Just Before Class

Anxiously Awaiting Her First Class

Peaking In On Another One

 Look at Stella in the mirror, awwwww

She was being such a good listener and little ballerina

 I just love the ever so confident, almost really experienced stance Stella has going on here - as if she's like, yep, been here done this and I'm really into making sure I accomplish what you are about to throw my way.

Someone Spotted Daddy Looking Through The View Window

She was all about making sure Justin knew she knew she saw him looking at her

making goofy faces at him

 This class has a Tumble section at the end - but honestly Stella is way farther advanced motor skill-wise then what they were doing - I know she was really hoping to do some somersaults - hopefully next time!

 And she spots us again

Go Toledo Mud Hens! June 2012

Papa & Jeamma have weekeend season tix to The Toledo Mud Hens (they are one of dad's clients) so we all went Friday night.  Although this was not Stella's first time at a Mud Hens game, it has been awhile as she was just 9-months old the last time she went where she cheered for Toledo's local America Idol Runner Up Crystal Bowersox at the Stadium in May 2010.  See link below for that adorable blog post!

Aunt "Ahh-mee" (Amy) and Todd joined us tonight too - which it's always good to spend some time with them - this is such a crazy busy time in their lives with Amy's ever growing letter press biz and Todd's 2-year dedication to his Anesthetist Program.

SIDE NOTE:  Ter-Bear has been changed to "Papa" all on Stella's accord.  That's just what she started calling him and I have no idea where it came from as we never say Papa - but it's pretty cute!

Crystal Bowersox post from 2010:
http://stellarstellaj.blogspot.com/2010/05/stella-cheers-for-local-crystal.html

And all pooped out from a big night out in downtown Toledo!  This was taken just before NOON on Saturday - and mommy was right next to her till then ;)  I needed the sleep too!

Grandpa Shorty, Stella's Great Grandpa

My Grandpa Shorty 

1917 - 2012

Grandpa passed away today on June 14, 2012 with my dad and my aunt Deb by his side in Toledo, Ohio.  He was 94 yrs. old and SHARP AS A TAC & FULL OF PERSONALITY which anyone would attest to.

He married my grandma Stella - whom our Stella is named after - and was happily married for 60 yrs.  Stella passed away several years ago, about 14 yrs. ago - so Grandpa now is reunited with the love of his life.

Grandpa is was the last to pass away out of 14 siblings.

I am so very grateful for all the wonderful memories I have of my Grandpa.

Love you Grandpa - you sure were one of a kind and will be so so missed

xoxoxoxox  Jen, Justin, "your little angel" as you always called her, Stella Jane.

 Shorty & Stella

1940's 

Grandma Stella & Me

The day I graduated Univ. of Toledo

My sister took this photo - love it

Great Grandpa Shorty with his "little angel" Stella - his one and only Great Grandchild.  I am very sad he will not be here to meet Baby #2 who will be arriving within a week or two.  But am SO grateful for all the time he and Stella had with each other as I know it's very unique and special.

4-Generations

STELLA'S 1st BIRTHDAY PARTY

AUGUST 21, 2010

 Aunt Deb, Me & Grandpa

 Look at 1-year old Stella looking at her Great Grandpa here, ha!

Grandpa with his neighbor Autumn

A COLLECTION OF OUR MANY VISITS WITH GRANDPA THROUGH THE YEARS

HE WAS ALWAYS SO HAPPY TO SEE HIS LITTLE ANGEL

If you look at the sheet of music behind Stella on the piano here - you'll see it's for the song 

"Stella By Starlight"

Grandpa told me about this song when Stella was born and so I got it sheet music.

The Toledo Zoo
Aunt Deb & Grandpa met us for a playdate there last summer 2011

A friend of mine told me years ago how my Grandpa Shorty looked just like the guy from UP.  I had not ever seen the movie until Stella was 2 yrs old - and then I saw it about a MILLION TIMES.  It was her favorite movie during the summer of 2011.
Here is a photo of Grandpa enjoying the movie for the first time while at our house for Stella's 2nd bday party.
And here is a fun photo my friend made.

HALLOWEEN 2012

Celebrating Great Grandpa's 94th Birthday

November 2011

May 2012

Just a week or so before Grandpa went to the hospital to have surgery on his leg

Although in alot of pain he was still all smiles to see little Stella

I was driving down Central Ave. parked a red light when i just happen to glance over down Grandpa's street and What Do You Know....There he was!  Many friends and family enjoyed seeing Shorty on the corner here with his Golden Retriever - I would get messages from friends saying "Just drove by and saw Shorty on the corner!"

VIDEO COLLECTION of SHORTY 

Celebrating his 90th

He was a hoot

Scooter Rides with Stella, Part 1

Scooter Rides with Stella, Part 2

Great Grandpa Plays The Harmonica For Baby Stella
October 2009

Grandpa we will miss you so much.

WE LOVE YOU

The Magic Bullet - if you don't got it, get it!

Ok so the sound of that I know...."Magic Bullet"... what kind of X Rated blog is this!  The Magic Bullet is a small food processing blender that i bought from a TV Infomercial about 7 years ago when hunkered up in a hotel in Vancouver, B.C. with Justin one night - and I've been using it ever since, and love it!

Strawberry Picking with Jeamma

Whittaker's Berry Farm

Ida, MI

My mom picked 10 lbs. worth and I picked 6 lbs.

After eating about 3 cups worth of fresh strawberries during on my new breakfast menu item at home (Oatmeal, Brown Sugar, Roasted Pecans Crumbled Up (I roast a week's worth), and fresh strawberries) I "pitted" the rest and bagged in 2 Cup Portions and put those baggies in a large freezer bag and Froze to be used for making the following:
• Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
• Strawberry Shortcake with Homemade Shortcakes (not those pre-made angel food cake shortcakes!)
• Shoney's Strawberry Pie - a cooled dessert that I'm anxious to try out
• Freezer Jam (have yet to try this because I love Real Strawberry Fruit Spread)
• Strawberry Pineapple Cake

 The Magic Bullet - if you don't got it GET IT! 

 One of the things it comes with are 4 cute cups that the one of two blade attachments can screw onto for blending a shake right in you cup - when done blending unscrew the blade and replace with a decorative cup lip/edge (which they give you 4 different colors for each of the four mugs so you know whose is whose). 

In addition to the shake mugs, you get the standard large & small blending cups that come with attachment lids to use for sprinkling fresh blended/grated parmasean cheese or lids that simply enclose your blended food to keep fresh in the blended cup while in the fridge.  Oh and it also comes with a large blender that you can blend in.  

I used this for blending my herbs that I grew the year Stella was a baby and when I was making her baby food - if I didn't do that in BeBe Cooker.

~Not-So-Fancy But Yummy Strawberry Vanilla Shakes~

Kroger Brand:  Vanilla Artisan Vanilla Ice Cream.  1 Cup

Fresh Strawberries.  About 5-8 Med. Size Berries

Organic Vanilla.  1 TBSP

Whole Milk (or any kind).  1/2 Cup - 2/3 Cup