Baby Jay came into this world on Tuesday, February 7, 2012. Almost Grandpa Clark's birthday! Brad and I went to San Diego to be there for the birth. Everyone thought he would arrive on February 6th but he waited until February 7th to make his debut. Since he came out a little later than we expected we only got to spend about an hour with him and his parents before we had to head back home. We were running on very little sleep because we had stayed up so late the night before anxious that he might come! I am positive his parents were much more tired than we were since they had been in the hospital since Sunday night and had very little sleep themselves. I hated to leave him but I went back two weeks later for four wonderful days. The pictures above are from that visit. I even got to be there for his first trip to the beach! I love baby Jay!
I know it has been a long time since I have posted so I thought I would start up again with my birthday. Brad and I decided to take a trip and go to Disneyland for my birthday. We had a fun time and it's the first time I have been there during the holidays. We loved the Nightmare Before Christmas haunted mansion and It's a Small World too. The fireworks were spectacular as well. I couldn't believe how gorgeous the castle is all lit up with icicles. I had a wonderful day. The next day we headed down the coast to see Steven and Kim. We had a nice visit and went to church with them on Sunday then headed back home. It was a great birthday.
Matt returned from his mission on December 13, 2010. He was supposed to arrive in the early afternoon but when his flight arrived he wasn't on it! Fortunately, another missionary was coming home at the same time and his folks had found out that due to some bad weather they had not gotten on the plane on time in Spokane. I had only checked on the Salt Lake leg of the trip and saw that that flight was on time and I didn't realize he wouldn't be on it. The other family knew which flight they got on and let us know that it would be a couple more hours before they arrived. Everybody took a break and found food and drink and we reassembled near the escalators he would be coming down. While we waited we all sang Christmas carols to pass the time. The moment finally came when the flight had landed and the other missionary that returned at the same time came down the escalator. But there was no Matthew! They decided to come down separately so each family could greet them. We were so excited when he finally got here. It was so good to see him. We took him to President Warren's house for him to be released and then went to Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner. After that we took Steven back to the airport to catch his flight back to San Diego. It was so good to have the four kids back together again - even if for only a little while! We are so proud of Matt and his service in the Spokane Washingon Mission. Yay!
The most glorious wonderful thing happened on 10.10.2009. Brad and I were sealed in the Las Vegas, Nevada Temple for time and all eternity. All of Brad's kids were there—James, Heather and her husband Quinn, Candee and her husband Derek and Blake, and two of mine—Stephanie and Steven along with their spouses, Jeremiah and Kim. Candee and Derek did not come in the Temple with us but watched all the kids - Braxton, Rykker and Derringer and brought them to the Temple afterwards for pictures. We took lots of pictures at the Temple and after at the dinner/party we had at the Church. Many of our friends were there with us and it was a great time. The Penns did the food and Stephanie made cupcakes and we were so happy to have so many of our loved ones there to share our special day. It was a day I had been waiting for for a very long time. Together Forever! What a blessing it is.
For some reason I did not take many pictures for Christmas 2009. I have put them into this movie (click the link above) set to the beautiful violin music of Jenny Oaks Baker and her version of Stille Nacht. We had a nice Christmas. Kayla came home from Maui for a short visit. It was good to see her. After exchanging gifts and eating wonderful cinnamon rolls made by mom we went to see the movie "The Princess and the Frog" and really enjoyed it. Steven and Kim came on Christmas Day just in time for dinner. Dinner was wonderful as usual!
Before Thanksgiving Stephanie and I made Gingerbread cookies using Heather's delicious recipe. I think we doubled or tripled the recipe and made way too many but we wanted to send some to Matthew (Elder Kitchen) and Kayla (in Maui) and keep some for ourselves and to share. They turned out pretty cute and I guess they shipped ok. Kayla said some of hers had fallen apart but they tasted great just the same. Some were gingerbread men and some were cute gingerbread houses.
Well - she did it! Kayla left home to move to Maui on September 1, 2009. I can't believe the last of my children have left the nest. And Kayla has moved so far away. We are going to miss her and her funny laugh.
Here is a picture she took of her ticket to Maui. I cried and cried after leaving her at the airport. She made it there and will be living in my cousin Teri's house, renting a room from her. Bye Kayla - we miss you!
On August, 28. 2009, Blake came home from his mission to Des Moines, Iowa. He looked so good. We barely made it to the airport cause his flight was early. It was great to see him.
All his nephews and his niece were there. It was fun cause some of the kids were born while he was away so this was their first meeting.
We got together for pizza at Heather and Quinn's house that evening and had fun visiting. The next day we went shopping in St. George and Blake and James got new suits and Blake got new shoes. Later we had barbecue at Heather and Quinn's house and visited some more. We got to hear a few funny stories from Blake's mission.
Blake spoke in Church August 30th and did a very good job. Such an inspiration. We are proud of him.
It was an exciting day! Kayla - the last of the kids to graduate from High School - Graduated! Yay! I dropped her off at the Thomas and Mack Center and then met up with everybody for the ceremony. After the ceremony, we had food at Stephanie and Jeremiah's house. Stephanie made the cutest banner congratulating Kayla and the most adorable cake with cute candy graduation caps. We watched a video of Kayla's Spring Concert and visited. Kayla got some great graduations gifts. The Elmers were there and many of her friends from work. It was a great day!
Kayla ready to go!
Kayla singing The Star Spangled Banner at Graduation
Family and Friends
Cute Banner
This is the cake that Stephanie made. Aren't the graduation caps adorable?!!!
It is hard to believe it but my baby girl turned 18! We had a nice birthday dinner celebration at Grandmas house. DJ came. Kathy and Ruthy, Kenny and Kerry, Uncle Tim and of course Grandma!
Heather, Quinn, Braxton and Rykker all came for a visit. It was fun to see how much the boys have changed. I made this video of the pictures we took of them. The music in the background is from Inside Out's album Primary Colors.
On the evening of Thursday, February 26th, we headed for the airport to catch a plane to Kansas. Our plane was delayed because of runway repairs they were making at McCarran and planes were backed up coming in for lack of enough runways. But we finally were in the air and on our way. We got to the airport just before midnight Kansas time and called a taxi to take us to our hotel. In the morning we used the hotel shuttle to go back to the airport to rent a car and we drove into Lawrence with our GPS. When we got there Nyah was going to have lunch and take a nap but I played with her awhile in her room first. She had lots of fun stuff to show me! Shayna's Dad, Grandpa and Grandma were on their way and when they got there, Brad and I went to check into our hotel and then picked up Chinese food for dinner and took it back to James and Shayna's house. We enjoyed the dinner and then played Catch Phrase for a really good time and lots of laughs.
The next day we returned and just visited. There was snow on the ground and it was cold so we all stayed inside.
Sunday was the big event. Graham Blake Clark was blessed in Church. It was good to be there for that. We had early dinner after that. Shayna had made a really great dinner of salads like Costa Vida makes with pork, and black beans and a salad dressing that is sooooo yummy.
Monday we came by for one last visit and to say goodbye. Then we were off to the airport with a stop for lunch. It was our 8 year anniversary so that was our anniversary lunch! We returned the car and returned to Vegas with no problems. Our flight was only slightly delayed but we still made good time on the return. I crocheted the little sweater Nyah is wearing on the way there and while we were visting. She loved it but it was too small for her. Hope we can visit again soon.
On March 28, 2009, Steven and Kim got married! The pictures in this post were taken by Mollie Jane Photography.
On March 27th we all had a nice time meeting all the family on both sides at the Fish Market restaurant in Del Mar. It was good to meet Kim's brothers and father. I previously met her sister and mother at the bridal shower. We went to our hotel after and got settled in for the night. The next morning, Brad and I got ready to go to the Temple. Grandma and Kayla got ready a little later and Whitney, Sam and Noah picked them up on their way to the Temple.
The ceremony was wonderful. The temple sealer knew Steven from Steven's working in the Temple. It was fun to hear his comments as they were more personal in nature. After the ceremony we waited outside for the Bride and Groom and took pictures. Then we headed over to Whitney and Rob's place for some lunch. Brad and I then headed to Redlands to check in to the hotel we reserved for Steven and Kim's wedding night. It was a very nice hotel and we brought some snacks and sprinkled some rose petals throughout the room to welcome them when they got there. Then we went to the reception for more pictures and standing in line to greet all of the guests. Its such a small world because I met the daughter of some people I knew when I lived in Fontana. She was a friend of Kim's. I also met my old Bishop and his wife from when I lived in Fontana. They had moved to Redlands and had been in Kim's families ward. They said that when they got the wedding announcement they just knew it had to be our family because they remembered our names. Steven sang for Kim at Kim's mother's request. I was glad she asked him. He sang, "I'm Peanut Butter and You are Jelly" and everyone loved it.
We had some dancing, food, cutting of the cake and then when it was all over blew bubbles as the bride and groom drove away. They seemed very happy.
On March 10, 2009, Chaparral hosted Mack MS (Stephanie's school) choirs and Woodbury MS choirs to come and join them in a Pre-Festival Concert. Its practice for festival! The choirs sounded great and were ready for their upcoming festival.
On Friday, February 20, Kayla and I drove down to San Diego to attend Kim's bridal shower. We made a stop in Barstow for gas and to Burger King to get something to eat. That Burger King was understaffed and we took more time there than we wanted to. Then we hit a detour somewhere on the way where they had the freeway closed and we had to get off and take the detour before getting back on. We heard later from Kim that there was some kind of sink hole in the freeway. That took an extra half hour because of the slow down funneling everyone off. We finally got there and stopped to visit Whitney for a few minutes and firm up our plans for the next day's trip to Orange County to the shower. Then we got directions from our GPS to go to Kim's apartment (soon to be Steven and Kim's). We found it with a little help from Steven and spent some time visiting with them before going to bed. Kim had not been living in the apartment yet but was getting it all set up to move in. It is a nice little apartment and we slept well. The next day we got up and got ready and then headed to the spot where Kim said we should all meet. A park and ride near where she was currently living. Then I drove Kim, Melinda, Whitney, Kayla and me to the shower which was being given by Kim's aunt. It was a beautiful home on the hills overlooking the ocean.
We could see Catalina from there. The shower was fun with a nice lunch and Kim got lots of fun things. I got her some things from Zappos.com, of course. I got to meet her Grandma Lenore that knows Brad's Aunt Phyllis. It was fun to meet some of the women in Kim's family. Back to the apartment we changed our clothes then went to visit a little at Whitney's. Then Steven, Kim, Kayla and I went to this little hole in the wall Mexican Restaurant to eat. Afterward, we visited before going to bed. The next day Kayla and I met Steven at Perry's for some breakfast. Steven had a nice talk with Kayla and she and I drove home in time to get to Grandma's for dinner. The sad part was I got a speeding ticket - but not until I was all the way back to town. Boo hoo. All in all we had a very fun time.
On Friday, February 13th we headed up to Panaca with Brad's Brothers Regan and Greg to attend Auntie Audrey Roden's funeral on Saturday. We had a nice ride and got there with no problems. Brad and I had gone to Panaca the weekend before to visit Auntie and we were glad we got to see her. She passed away Monday after we had been there so we felt good that we had been able to go up and spend some time with her. Brad read to her and we visited and she told us a little about when she used to work for the government by watching for airplanes that flew over. I think she said they kept a log.
The funeral was lovely. I led the opening song, Brad said the opening prayer. Dennis, Debbie and Daniel spoke. Andrea, Tammy, Danny and another young lady from Panaca sang. Tawny would have sung but she had surgery on her sinuses and was not feeling well enough. Later in the service Andrea sang a solo and it was lovely. Greg gave the closing prayer and then we went to the cemetary for the dedication. Then it was back to the church to visit and to eat some food provided by the ladies from church. We had more food later that evening at Bev and Jack's house. Heather and Quinn came with the twins so it was fun to spend time with them. Kristy and her husband Nat were there too. Aunt Rosalee and Lawrence were there from New Mexico, too. Uncle Dean and Uncle Royal made the journey from Salt Lake and left that same day to return.
The next day we ate some breakfast and visited and then had to head back to Vegas around 1pm so that Regan could make his flight home. Greg missed his flight home (sort of Brad's fault)! Who knew that if you aren't there an hour before your flight they can sell your seat to someone else. Sorry Greg. He stayed overnight and caught another flight the next day. Poor guy spent the whole day traveling. Here are the pictures from the funeral day.
The day after Christmas Heather, Quinn, Braxton and Rykker came for a visit. They also brought the dogs, Jasmine, Cooper and Braveheart. We had a great visit. They got here Friday evening. On Saturday we went shopping to Nike at the Outlet Mall and then over to Bass Pro Shops so Brad could spend some of his Christmas present gift cards. Sunday we had dinner at Grandma's and visited. It was great to spend time with them and see the babies. They are changing so quickly. I hope we get to see them again soon! Here is a little video of the pictures we took!
This year for Christmas things were a little quieter, fewer gifts and a very nice feeling. This year we drew names for Christmas at Mom's. We did this for 2 reasons. Cut costs and just make it a nicer feeling - not all about gifts. It was also different not having Matt there. But he said he was enjoying the MTC and the spirit there and he would be thinking of us. We had our traditional homemade (by Grandma) cinnamon rolls - Yum - and an egg dish. We also started a new tradition. I brought a little white Christmas stocking for Jesus and those who wanted to put a note in it with their gift to Jesus. It could be anything from trying to be kinder or doing a good deed everyday, to something we wanted to do to improve ourselves or get closer to Jesus. I explained that the notes would stay confidential and inside the stocking until next year when we would get them out to review what we gifted to Jesus and make a new note for the next year. After I explained this new tradition we sang Silent Night and I reminded everyone that Matt said he would be thinking of us while we sang.
When we were all done opening presents we visited for awhile then went to see the movie, "Marley and Me". It was a great movie that made you laugh and cry. Then - back to Mom's for a delicious dinner and pie with whipped cream. I whipped the cream and made too much! Oops. Merry Christmas!
