Gingerbread Cookies - November 2009

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.

Kayla Left Home

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!

Blake Comes Home 8.28.09

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.

Kayla Graduates! June 11, 2009

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?!!!

Kayla Turns 18. June 13, 2009

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!

The Campbells Come to Visit June 2009

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.

Kansas Trip 2009

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.

Steven and Kim's Wedding 3.28.09

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.

CHS and Mack and Woodbury MS Pre-Festival Concert

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.

Kim's Bridal Shower - February 21, 2009

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.