The Clark Family

corners...

2010-04-15T21:17:00.000-07:00

I am posting this mainly because I dont want to forget this funny moment during scripture study tonight.. I am just about the worlds worst journaler (as you could have guessed) and typing this little story seems oh so much more appealing than handwriting it out.
Tonight as we opened our scriptures to read them Addy noticed one of her book markers had all the corners chewed off. She says, "Alright who chewed off all the corners of my book mark? Cole quickly replies "Not me, I didn't do it" .. A brief pause... Elle says "I did"
Addy says, "Okay,that is just gross, you chew all the corners off and then put it back in my scriptures?"
"oh wait".. (as she looks again) "you left one" (she noticed one corner remained untouched) "how nice" she said with a little bit of sarcasm in her voice.
Elle promptly replies in all seriousness, " oh yes- I didn't have enough time to chew that one off."

When all else fails...

2010-04-11T20:55:00.001-07:00

Go to Grammy and Papa's!
This is Elle living the life in Pasco. Grammy got her this little eye mask and she just LOVES it!

Basketbal season 2010

2010-04-11T20:33:00.000-07:00

This year Addy and Jackson played AAU basketball, which was what most of our weekends were spent doing. Luckily we didn't have too travel very far.
Addy and Jackson had so much fun with their teams this year. It was a great way for them to meet some new friends. Addy has grown to actually love basketball! And with her current height at 5'9 that's just nothing but a good thing!
This is a picture of Addy and her team having some fun times.

A new year.. a new start :) January 2010

2010-04-11T20:20:00.000-07:00

Nothing like looking at your sisters blog and seeing over to the side the link that says the last update you made was 1 year ago! That is pretty bad..
Our sweet Addy has agreed to give it a good effort and see if we can be better at this blog thing! Go Addy!!

Gotta love some good cabin fun when winter is in full swing. We love going to the cabin. We have all loved skiing at Spout Springs this year. Jackson and Jen tried snowboarding but are not sure when they will revisit that challenging sport. And stay tuned for a cute picture of Cole when we had some crazy weather on the slopes...

Tennessee Spring Break

2009-03-30T18:04:00.001-07:00

Yahoo! It has finally arrived.. we are on a plane bound for Nashville, Tennessee! We are excited to spend some fun times with Lesley. So far we are thinking the Zoo, the science center and just maybe, if time allows a trip to a cool YMCA that has a neat indoor aquatic center. Then we will be off to Knoxville to visit Brent's parents serving a mission. And of course, we are off to Dollywood while we are there!
We get to stay a full week so we will for certain make some great memories! In addition to our Tennessee pics stay tuned for a fun girls overnighter that Addy, my Mom and I took!!

Elle's Baptism

2009-03-15T22:09:00.000-07:00

So the learning continues on the blogging.. Had to put up a few pics from Elle's baptism weekend!
We snowmobiled, we sledded, we ice skated
and we celebrated this girl turning 8!

Couldn't resist adding this one of Nat and the Colbster. Notice little Coley in the background.. he is the one that "set the stage for this snapshot" He is pretty funny around these two. In fact he has been known to say, "why don't you two get comfy?"Is he on Colby's favorite list or what?

March 2009

2009-03-15T21:24:00.000-07:00

Wow talk about getting behind. Well if there was ever a reason to make a new post I have got it.
I discovered a new children's song as Jackson was preparing a talk for church. It is called "The Family is of God." click here to listen.
I am not sure how I missed this one but I just was so touched as I listened to it. That last verse just gets the waterworks going everytime. Wow.. what neat lyrics.

Our Father has a family. It’s me!
It’s you, all others too: we are His children.
He sent each one of us to earth, through birth,
To live and learn here in fam’lies.

God gave us families to help us become what He wants us to be—
This is how He shares His love, for the fam’ly is of God.

A father’s place is to preside, provide,
To love and teach the gospel to his children.
A father leads in fam’ly prayer to share
Their love for Father in Heaven.

God gave us families to help us become what He wants us to be—
This is how He shares His love, for the fam’ly is of God.

A mother’s purpose is to care, prepare,
To nurture and to strengthen all her children.
She teaches children to obey, to pray,
To love and serve in the fam’ly.

God gave us families to help us become what He wants us to be—
This is how He shares His love, for the fam’ly is of God.

I’ll love and serve my family and be
A good example to each fam’ly member.
And when I am a mom or dad, so glad,
I’ll help my fam’ly remember:

God gave us families to help us become what He wants us to be—
This is how He shares His love, for the fam’ly is of God.

Cole looking good!

2009-01-15T21:26:00.000-08:00

Just had to add this one of Cole as he was getting ready to go and sing at his preschool Christmas program. It was rescheduled in January due to all the snow we got here. And yes as of January 7th we still had the tree up! (minus decorations but still with lights) It is still so alive we just havent been able to get rid of it yet!

Ah that's right I deleted them!

2009-01-15T21:19:00.000-08:00

I learned a lesson the hard way... I was playing around with the camera one night on the way home from Tri-Cities as Brent was driving and thought "hey might as well make use of the time, I'll edit some pictures on the camera. Well long story short, I ended up "formatting" the little disc and erased every last picture!!
So long December!
We did have some great shots.. a few I remember included- Nataley's big graduation from BYU-I and our stay at Sun Valley, a couple of great shots of my Mom, Brent and me after we went to the temple on her birthday and then of course Christmas.
Guess I will have to be begging for some copies from the family!

December photos where are they?

2009-01-15T21:17:00.000-08:00

Jackson and a couple of our favorite people! His great friend, Campbell and his little sis Eme. This was after their Christmas program at school.

December 2008

2009-01-15T20:59:00.000-08:00

We started December with a surprise! Brent wanted to celebrate "his big bro's big birthday" with him. I am still amazed that it all worked out so great.. fun times! Thanks to Aunt Lesley for keeping track of A, J, E and C!

November wrap up

2009-01-15T20:32:00.000-08:00

We had a great time celebrating Lesley's 25th birthday with her! Brent totally went all out with a pinata! It was awesome! "Y'all really know how to treat a girl on her birthday!" (that was a direct quote) :) Needless to say the kids were loving every minute as well! Happy Birthday Sista!

Ahhh, Elle had a great time playing basketball at the Y on Saturdays. She is all about the fun.. Gotta love it!
Cole loved having Grammy, Papa and Aunt Lesley come over for his Thanksgiving program at Preschool. Cole did a great job, although he did have a shy little smile going for almost the entire time. :)
Thought this was a cute shot of Elle as she was waiting for the carpool one morning before school. She is always the first one to get up and dressed each morning. We can count on her to be ready for sure. She is a great "look-out" as the Jackson and Addy scurry around to do their few last things.
Poor Coley! This is why he is crying in the photo with A, J and E and our favorite babysitter, Katie. Right before we went to her home he had a bar stool fall on his toe!! What a tough guy!
Katie and the kiddos. Okay I can not believe we let Jackson's hair get so long!

The beginning of November took us to Post Falls, ID for our niece and cousins baptism. Rob and Nancy's daughter, Alicen turned 8!

More Halloween Fun!

2008-11-01T01:55:00.000-07:00

Jackson as Michael Phelps!
The kids had a great time out trick or treating and what a bonus having the Cornia kids with us on this fun night!

When the real fun begins!

Happy Halloween!

2008-11-01T01:46:00.000-07:00

Elle as a witch!
Cole as the red M&M!
Addy the Olympian
Love the upside down teeth on Coley!

The Best Month of the Year , October

2008-10-20T21:54:00.000-07:00

Just had to start the month off with this photo. It is actually from October 2006. It's a favorite of mine. Grammy brought the wax lips over for Halloween, and honestly don't they make for a great picture?

Now here is one from this October. Grammy and Papa came over for Jackson's football game or was it Addy's volleyball game? Either way we love having them and we snapped a great picture of them out with the pumpkins harvested from Cole's pumpkin patch.

Well here they are, all carved and ready for Halloween! We had a great family night with the Johnson's. We have a running tradition of an annual Halloween contest. Although the pumpkins are hard to see, Brent's and Addy's seem to be the favorites!

September Wrap

2008-10-20T21:38:00.000-07:00

Good times on the Utah trip! Brent and I enjoyed a long weekend in Utah. He went to meet up with some friends for Golfapalooza while I did some serious playing. I met up with two great girlfriends for dinner one night and then shopped, shopped, shopped with my favorite aunts! Here we are enjoying a Thai lunch break! (Whitney joined us too!)

While we were living the life in Utah my mom was not only holding down the fort in Walla Walla she was making memories and new blankets for the girls! Here they are in this picture. Aren't they the cutest!

And of course we have to mention that our favorite babysitter and best friend, Katie, got her mission call! She will enter in the MTC on November 12 and serve in the Cleveland, Ohio Mission!

Cole's Pumpkin Patch

2008-10-20T21:31:00.000-07:00

So had to post this pic from August as we have had our pumpkin harvest We had great luck with the garden this year, which by the way was grown all from seeds! Cole entered his pumpkin at the fair and got a red ribbon! Addy entered her watermelon and also got a second place ribbon. Elle and Jackson each had projects from school entered.

First day of school!

2008-09-17T21:26:00.000-07:00

Addy, Jackson, Elle and Cole are all ready to go as they begin a new school year.. Picture of Cole on his first day of preschool to follow. Believe it or not Addy is in 6th grade this year and officially a middle schooler! Jackson is in 3rd and Elle is in 2nd and again continuing in her Spanish classroom. They are all set for a great school year.

August.

2008-08-05T21:56:00.000-07:00

Just had to write a few funny things that this funny guy said today. A, J and E all go to swim team from 3-5 so it gives us some great time together. Today we went to the grocery store. As I was drving into the parking lot I went over a speed bump. Cole said, "Mom, oh my gosh! you just ran over the curve!"
Cole also is the number one seat belt nazi... when we got in the car to leave after shopping, I had not fastened my seat belt and he put his seat belt on he said "Mom, I hear one click" (he was giving me a little seat bet reminder I think.. :) on a side note I am really good about always wearing my seat belt. It is just not always the first thing I do when I get in the car..

2008-08-05T21:40:00.000-07:00

We had lots of fun at our ward camp out. We set up the tent and roasted marshmallows around the camp fire. After everyone left the next day we stayed around for another hour or so and played in a little creek. It made for some good laughs and a couple of funny photos but Jackson would not be too happy if I posted them! :)

2008-08-05T21:23:00.000-07:00

Couldn't resist posting these pics of all these handsome fellas!

Party Time

2008-08-05T21:15:00.000-07:00

We had lots of fun celebrating Grandpa's, Chyrl and Lois's birthdays! Talk about reasons to celebrate! It was so fun to see some of the Utah gang... and of course we missed those that weren't there.

"Semi-Pro"

2008-08-05T21:08:00.000-07:00

Okay so we have some great youth in our ward. They arranged a date where each couple had to come up with 2 challenges and funny prizes and most importantly make and wear matching tees.. Of course the Clarks are over achievers and couldn't help but go all out with a complete uniform. We were cracking up when we ran outside passing a football acting all psyched for the night.. I think they were mostly glad they didn't have to go any place out in public with us.
(We won those lollipops for winning one of the challenges. :)

Trolley buses and sunflowers

2008-08-05T21:01:00.000-07:00

Elle brought home a little seedling from at the end of the school
year and here we have it one month later.. a genuine sunflower!
Guess she's the one with the green thumb in the family!

We have had fun a time or two as we have hopped the trolley bus for a ride around town..

Family Visitors

2008-08-05T20:57:00.000-07:00

We had lots of fun with Taya and Chase! They stayed for the week while their mom and dad went to help with girls camp.. we went to the drive in one night and really did it up by sitting up on the top of the suburban!

July 2008

2008-08-05T20:48:00.000-07:00

a

The 4th of July was a great time for Elle and Cole.. We attended the Basin City parade with Grammy! You have never seen the likes of the amounts of candy they throw out... Elle and Cole were not too quick on figuring out how it all works but we all had fun. Addy, Jackson and Brent were up in Spokane for the day. We celebrated later that night as a family watching the Walla Walla fireworks with Grammy..

Whoa we have some catching up to do!

2008-08-05T20:43:00.001-07:00

June ended with some good times! Addy performed in the play Doo Wop Little Wed Widing Hood as a "Lady in Waiting" and I attended my 20 year high school reunion. Wow how did I get that old?!

Clarks Rock(ers)

2008-06-18T21:19:00.000-07:00

The rest of the weekend was filled with more fun with cousins.. and way too much "Rock Band".. This picture just cracks me up. They were all mesmerised. Needless to say, just confirms why we don't have one. :)

Cousins and more cousins!

2008-06-18T20:11:00.000-07:00

Talk about cousin heaven!! After attending Grandpa Zabransky's funeral, we got to have Jason and Jody's family here overnight for Jackson's all-star game.. And then Grandma Sandi, who Uncle Troy and Tanner and Cory came to watch on Saturday also! He felt pretty great about having so much family there cheering him on!! He had a great season and is still cherishing that mitt that Papa got him!!
Thanks Papa! Also a big thanks to Grammy and Papa coming over and cheering him on during the season. :)

And so the cousins graduating begins...from here on out looks like there will be at least one every year

We had a great weekend attending Chelsie's graduation in Ferndale, WA. She did a fabulous job speaking! What a neat event for our children to be there for!

Rounding out May.. doing a little catch up!

2008-06-18T19:53:00.000-07:00

Had to put in a few last highlights of May. We went and cheered on McKenzie at the State Track and Field Meet in Pasco. She did great in the 4x200 and they set a new school record and took 2nd place. We went for pizza afterward. Guess who didn't want to be in the picture? You guessed it Elle...

Had to put a pic in of Nataley and Trisha! We loved spending time with them. Thanks for making the long road trip! And we now have adopted Trisha's motto... "when in town, windows down..." You two are tops!

We really enjoyed a nice Memorial Day. We visited Uncle Rod, Grandma and Grandpa Clark, Aunt Suzie and Brent's best friend growing up, Tony Brown. I really want to make that effort each Memorial Day.. The cemeteries are beautiful and it gives us a special time to share memories of those that are no longer with us...

Happy Birthday Girl!

2008-06-18T15:10:00.000-07:00

And now for the blog tribute.... :)
A big happy Birthday to my Aunt Michelle!!
You are like a sister, aunt and cherished
friend all in one. Here's just a few things
I love about you.. You are organized
to a "T", you are the life of a party and
one of the few people I can think of that
can make me truly laugh and laugh....
Thanks for being such a neat influence
in my life! I love you!!

Back in the Day~

I ran across these and had to put them on! Just couldn't help but smile when I saw these great pics~ Gotta love the cousins! And a big shout out going to the guy in the bow tie for graduating!! Way to go Nate!
Taylor and Ashley they just don't come any cuter!

Nataley, Lesley and super bro, Anh Ca Tuan you are all the best siblings a sister could ever ask for!!

Pie Making

2008-05-28T10:58:00.000-07:00

Elle was in heaven making pies with John, Nat and John. The scouts were raising money for scout camp so they came over and we got cooking in the kitchen!
We made 2 sour cream lemon, 2 peanut butter chocolate and 2 chocolate chip lovers.... YUM! Afterwards the guys had worked up and appetite so I made them bacon, eggs and toast at their request... funny :)

Los Cabos

2008-05-19T14:23:00.000-07:00

Here is our lone picture from Cabo and it is thanks to our friends, the Bruses, we went with. I am not sure what I was thinking not having the camera.. That is top priority in the life of a blogger!
We went with 3 other couples this year.. (we were minus 3)
We had the perfect accomodations, perfect weather, and perfect company... lots of fun!

"Hollywood"

2008-05-18T21:35:00.000-07:00

So we couldn't resist dressing up to go and chaparone the youth church dance. The theme was Hollywood.
The best part was Addy. She was dying that Brent had styled his hair in "the swoop" and was wearing the white sunglasses. She tried again and again to tell her dad that he should not go out of the house looking like that.
We on the other hand were loving the look. And so were the youth. They were loving Brent. He also had some great dance moves to go with the look too! Although they didnt last the whole night because he was so sore from hiking earlier in the day.

Father and Sons overnighter

2008-05-18T21:29:00.000-07:00

Brent, Cole and Jackson had a great time roughing it at Teacum Timbers at the annual Father and Sons outing.. They were so so dirty when they pulled in the driveway but were all smiles and were happy to report they had hiked the nearby mountain.
Cole was the first to hop in the shower when they got home and right when he got out he fell asleep instantly! Talk about taking it out of a little guy!

Birthday smiles

2008-05-18T21:26:00.000-07:00

Everyone was all smiles as we sang to Brent on his 38th birthday.. His favorite cake (German chocoate) was made from scratch but honestly I am not sure it was worth it. Addy did the honors of frosting it.. and of course we had to give Dad the candles that you can't blow out!

This time of year brings the colors to Walla Walla

2008-05-18T21:20:00.000-07:00

Addy, Jackson, Elle and I got up early one morning during the balloon stampede and went and watched the balloons launch. Brent and Cole were recovering from their baseball injuries. (Cole got the bat and Brent got hit by a ball in the eye) The balloons launched at their elementary school so it makes for a fun, early morning. Luckily it was a no school day so we could go back home and enjoy a donut or two. :)

The Little Slugger in action

2008-05-07T19:47:00.000-07:00

Here's how we've been spending our afternoons! Just so you know this little guy loves playing ball and certainly wont let his little shiner slow him down! :)

Little Slugger

2008-05-07T19:35:00.000-07:00

So we knew this one was coming... baseball bats and boys equals stitches. Cole and his little friend were out playing baseball with Brent and some of the neighborhood boys. This little guy was tough and didnt even cry as he got stitched up by his Dad and Ryan (Brent's partner at the clinic.)

King Cole

2008-04-10T21:19:00.000-07:00

Cole just before the elementary school assembly. We helped come up with some props for a little skit the P.E. teachers did.. Thanks Papa for the life jackets and this bonus life saver ring!

THE SEAGLES

2008-04-10T21:14:00.000-07:00

Just when I thought I had gotten over the Seagles! Elle and Rae reunited for a little girl time while the rest of us (Mom, Nataley, Addy and Jen) went to the Saturday afternoon session of General Conference. A big thank you Ang! Everyone looked great. And what a complete bonus getting to see Katie (aka Lil'K) who was visiting from BYU-I..

2008-04-10T21:09:00.000-07:00

Addy snuck in for a great "photo opp" with this sweet little roadster and handsome superstar.. :) I love that we are all related to him now!

We loved meeting up with Rod for a sweet treat. Chyrl thanks for all the fun, fun times. Lunch at Brick Oven, Cafe Rio, the BYU Senior show and loads of french fries at The Training Table. What more can you ask for honestly?

Utah Road Trip

2008-04-10T21:06:00.000-07:00

Addy and Elle (as well as the rest of us from the "girls trip") LOVED visiting the Pitcher family! A big thank you to them for letting Addy and Elle spend some bonus time with them. And then Elle getting the "over time" and loving every minute of it! We had a great time visting "The Beehive State." A big thank you to Ellen for the wonderful accomodations! Other highlights were seeing American Fork's high school edition of Les Miserables. It was fabulous!
We also loved seeing sweet new Ella, the latest addition to the Cole and Jessie O'Neal family.

Great, Great

2008-04-10T20:55:00.000-07:00

Now here is one amazing lady. Brent's great-grandmother, Verda Matheney. She has had quite a few health concerns as of late, but she still has her quick wit and sharp memory. We took this photo visiting her for family night last week. It is so neat that our children have their great-great grandma here so close.

2008-04-10T20:47:00.000-07:00

We had lots of fun with the Barringtons when they came for a Spring Break visit! Of course the highlight would have to be the hotel swimming pool!

2008-03-31T09:58:00.000-07:00

After Cody's baptism (can you believe I didnt take one photo there?) we went out to eat with one of our favorite Elders. Elder Payne served in Walla Walla and now serves in Grandma and Grandpa's and the Evanson's ward. he will be returning home to Arizona in just 6 weeks so we were so glad to see him one last time.

He is a great missionary!

Wahington D.C.

2008-03-19T09:55:00.000-07:00

We had a great time in D.C. What an experience. This is definitely a trip we want to do again with the children once they are older. It was amazing to see the history of our nation. We visited the Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial as well as the memorials for the war veterans, also Arlington cemetery. Wow it was powerful to see all these remembrances and be reminded of those who have paid the ultimate price for our freedoms.
I explored the Smithsonian and also spent time at the Holocaust Memorial Museum while Brent was in his meeting. We also went to the temple. (pics a little dark) The Washington D.C. temple is quite a sight as it appears out of no where, right in front of you as you are driving down the freeway. What a great trip!
The children had a great time staying with the Cornia family. Also Addy and Jackson got in a little special time with Grammy and Papa over the weekend. :) Thanks Mom!

He's the Man

2008-03-10T22:06:00.000-07:00

Cole is really going for it these days!

Yesterday he learned how to ride his two-wheeler! Yahoo!
Looks like the trike days are gone.. and just in time as his trike had just broken the day before that.

Later that night when he got out of the tub he gave himself a new look.

This boy is going for it!

2008-03-10T21:56:00.000-07:00

This one's for Aunt Nataley

2008-03-06T14:36:00.000-08:00

Alright so I can see there is still a lot to learn on the blogging. I am feeling good I can post pictures but then realize I really don't know what I am doing. Why in the world are the photos all so big??
Addy, Jackson, and Elle went all out for school spirit day. They were serious about wanting to sport their red and white. Complete with red colored hair and painted faces they showed how much they love their school. Addy and Jackson were each picked from their class for having the most school spirit and got to help up on the stage at the end of the assembly.
Just think if Aunt Nataley had been here to help. For sure they would have been over the top!

Old News

2008-03-04T20:45:00.000-08:00

Well since this blog is serving as a record of happenings, I need to write about the trip Brent and I took last week to Long Beach, CA. We had a great time. Brent went officially for business (he receieved his recognition for passing his boards ((yahoo!)) and attended a conference) but we certainly got in some fun too!
Can you believe the first night we ended up at Hooters at nearly midnight.. our flight in was late and we were starving. That restaurant was first for me.. and had it not been for the fact it was the only thing open dont think we would have ever ended up there.. we got our order to go and even after the 10 minute walk back to the hotel the food still tasted so so good.. (I am always a big believer in eating food right when it is hot and ready, unlike Brent who will remember 4 things he needs to do and 2 calls he needs to make right as his hot plate is placed in front of him)

who knew it could be half way true when people say they really go there for the good food..

The next night we (well at least I) experienced a dream come true. We went and saw the musical "Wicked." We both loved it. It was held at the Pantera (sp) in L.A. and it was a beautiful theater. We loved, loved, loved the story and how it had so many insights into the Wizard of Oz... also some great potential of life analogies and the bigger picture.. 5 stars for sure~

The next night we went to the USC- Oregon game.. that was alot of fun and Brent remembered who he really was after a day or two of shopping and spending the night before at the theater.. :)

And the last evening we went to the LA temple.. Of course it is huge compared to what we are accustomed to, and really quite unique in many ways.
All and all a great great getaway.
A big thanks to Lani and Charlie for staying with the kids. Of course they loved every minute with them.

Goodbyes are the worst

2008-02-29T22:30:00.000-08:00

We said goodbye to the Hight Warden family tonight. I have a special place in my heart for this family. I met them right after they moved here 6 years ago. Their son, Anthony is a one in a million. I tend to think expressing my feelings on paper will prove to make for less tears when the goodbye comes.. not so...
I was reminded of a sweet verse in the scriptures as we read tonight and I thought directly of this dear family. 1Neph1 1:20 "...I will show unto the world that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance." The wonderful feeling of a bright hope for this family having a fresh new start will replace the tears soon.. but in the meantime I hate goodbyes.

and so it begins

2008-02-29T13:46:00.000-08:00

so I can't come up with anything more original than that to begin..
but begin I must~

This is a great time to start blogging for a number of reasons. For one the hype is over right? Blogging is old news.. I dont feel so much like I am following the crowd.
Two.. often people will ask me what I have been up to lately... and I always struggle for an answer.. now I can just refer them to my blog right?
Three- it really is a great method for journaling and I have been feeling I needed to get with it since the last general conference session when Elder Eyring gave that outstanding talk related to writing your history for your family.
Honestly I wish I would have started this sooner as I really have the worst memory. The children are all growing fast, (Addy 10, Jackson, 8, Elle 7 tomorrow and Cole 5) and I really have a hard time remembering those years when they were all younger ...
One thing I do remember though is people telling me how quickly those years would pass and me never believing it... Now I am realizing just how right they were.