jnl-grammy

2011-09-27T22:09:00.003-06:00

jayce and his mom have had a couple of sleepovers and jayce feels like he needs to help out when

ever he can. so he helps grammy put on make up...

he helps grandpa mow the lawn...

he helps grandpa harvest some corn...

and he helps himself to the cereal cupboard to get some froot loops. what a cute kid!!!

happy birthday to mom.

2011-09-20T17:20:00.002-06:00

Happy 75th Birthday mom. I loved being able to spend the day with her. we went shopping and went to lunch and then to a movie. it was a nice day and i hope she has a wonderful rest of the day. she deserves the very best!!!!!

Time flies

2011-08-26T12:47:00.010-06:00

time flies when you are having fun. the family is growing and that makes dave and i happy. we have fun with the kids and
and try to make every moment with them count. kristin just

turned 11, sydni is 8, sam just turned 6, gracie will be 3 in october, tyson is a bright 4 year old, lexi is 1, jayce is 1 and italee is 1. we had a busy baby year and now we are going through a dry spell.

dave has been very busy with scouting duties that he loves more than life. i had the oportunity to see him while he was director for a woodbadge course and he is in his total element when he is scouting.

we were able to spend time with the kids this past summer in various activities...camping and parades and reunions and

whenever we can make an excuse to be around them. last october we took all them to disneyland and it was the best time ever. i can't wait to do something like that again. it seems for now they are busy with their lives and enjoying life. it is amazing all the things they are doing. dave and i are very proud of them and their accomplishments.

Girls just wanna have fun....

2009-05-25T22:54:00.002-06:00

Pictures from the spring scrapbook expo. when i was looking through pictures that i have just downloaded i came across the expo pics. it is something i look forward to twice a year. spring and fall. pics from top to bottom: sally's staple of peanut m&m's, that we cannot get enough of.
j.j., anita, sally and karma working so hard. how in the world could a pic of me be in the mix? the last is the other half of my brain...sally. we have a ball at the expo's. we may not accomplish much in the way of scrapbooking but we get a good dose of the giggles.

Look what Amy did

2009-05-23T12:15:00.002-06:00

After moving to Cokeville Wyo. Amy decided she better find some things to do. She decided to try making quilts. (She really is one of mine.) This was her first attempt and what a beautiful job she did. this is before the quilting the quilting started, and once she was finished it is a beautiful quilt. it is baby quilt size which was a good size to start with. I was overwhelmed with my first one being a to the floor queen size bedspread. now, that eric and amy have moved into their house, she plans on making tyson a twin size quilt for his bed. we will be looking forward to seeing it. My Amy is amazing.

Sam

2009-05-12T11:13:00.002-06:00

i thought perhaps since i did blog on justin, then gracie, that i would just continue the trend. this is our sam. he is a little boy who says more with facial expressions and eyes than he could possibly express in words. he is full of joy and wonder. he adores his grandpa. that is the first person he asks for when he comes to the house or when we go to their house. they are best buds. he is a fun little boy to just sit and watch, total entertainment.

pass it on

2009-05-02T19:22:00.001-06:00

The rules:1. Be one of the first THREE to leave a comment on this post, which then entitles you to a handmade item from me - something crafty or yummy, who knows?! I make no promises about what I will make just that I will make something special for you.

2. Winners must post this challenge on your blog, meaning that you will Pay It Forward, creating a handmade gift - anything! - for the first three bloggers who leave a comment on YOUR post about this giveaway!

3. The gift that you send your THREE friends can be from any price range and you have 365 days to make/ship your item. This means you should be willing to maintain your blog at least until you receive your gift and have shipped your gifts. And remember, it's the spirit and the thought that counts!

4. When you receive your gift, feel free to blog about it, sharing appropriate Linky Love!If you are not one of the Top Three Commenters on this post, you can still play along. Go ahead and start your own Pay It Forward and encourage your blogging friends to do the same!

Can't help it....more

2009-05-01T13:43:00.002-06:00

this is gracie mae clem. i couldn't resist posting them when i saw them. she is growing up way too fast. she is the happiest baby i have ever seen. she loves it when someone talks to her. she gets the biggest grin and her arms and legs are just moving all over the place. she is just pint sized, but she has personality oozing all over the place.

Justin Rocks

2009-05-01T13:19:00.002-06:00

Hi. I told you i would post an entry soon with pics. My camera seems to come off of it's own vacation now.

This is Justin....obviously. He doing what he does best and what he loves. Again, he realizes that his kind of music and my kind of music are two different kinds. He is talented, i am just trying to get him to play some of the stuff i like. maybe in time he will. these pictures were taken at a battle of the bands in salt lake in january. since then he has had a few gigs here and there. they battled again just a couple of weeks ago. April 19, 2009. dave and i didn't make this one, we were off celebrating our 29th anniversary in san diego. but that is another entry. so, he said they did well. still didn't place in the top two, but hit the middle.

he is still often seen with jenna, which is good. they are still working on the school thing, which we don't bring up unless we have to because it is a touchy subject at our house.

justin is a good kid and he keeps his dad and me on our toes.

2009-04-24T09:49:00.002-06:00

holy cow!!!!! it has been way too long since i have written on here. thank you for the comments on the last post. sorry it took so long to read them. i just decided to write a short note and apologize for not keeping up on my blog. i do have pictures and when i have more time to blog i will post them. this weekend we have our wyoming kids coming to visit. so i better get off the computer and get ready for them. after this weekend i will be back and post pictures and catch you up on our life. have a great day and a super weekend. my love to all of you.

Routines

2009-02-13T23:30:00.002-07:00

okay, so it has been awhile. it just seems after the holidays we got into our routine life and it is rather boring. things are on an even plain and i am not complaining. we have had a few things go on here and there.

the most exciting thing that has happened took place just this last tuesday morning when dave was coming home from work and between the freeway exit and freeway entrance in bluffdale (by the prison) he hit some black ice and in his words, "had a wild ride". after he told me the story i told him (for anyone who has been to disneyland will understand) that he is not mr. toad. he basically fell off the freeway. after spinning one way and the other he slid to the emergency lane and all he thought that it was going to hurt, he figured once his truck hit the dirt he would roll. guardian angels were very busy. first while he was spinning they told him not to touch the brakes, then when he did hit the dirt, the truck didn't roll. the ground was enough wet and enough warm to keep him upright. when he stopped the engine had stopped and he was stuck. so he started the truck and put it in four wheel drive. he ended up on the freeway entrance road below. two gentlemen stopped to make sure he was okay, and when the three of them realized he was okay and so was his truck he entered the freeway since that is where he ended up and came home. he said he didn't sleep very well that night, go figure. it makes you realize just how quickly life can change if things go wrong.

you catch up on brian and mandi on their blog. they are good and i thank heavenly father every day for them and those 4 kids of theirs.

eric is enjoying his job at naughton plant in kemmerer. they have not sold there house in farr west, but they were able to rent it out, so now amy and tyson are with eric. it feels good to know that they have their little family back together. the three of them also bless our lives everyday.

derick and jage are busy with their jobs. it is strange not to have them around as much. they are loving their house in spanish fork and they love each other and are good to each other. it is fun to watch them take care of each other. still working on the baby department, but those babies will come. they bless our lives and make sure that we are doing well and offer to help if we need anything.

justin, well, heavy metal music is his story. they did well at the battle of the bands, but they didn't place. i am impressed by his musical ability but he understands that what he likes in music is not particularly my cup of tea. he has an amazing talent and ability. he has also taken guitars that do not work and interchanged the parts to make a working guitar and then sold it. very impressive. him and jenna are still being seen together. i think they must like each other. justin keeps dave and i going and on our toes. though he gives us quite a challenge i wouldn't want to be here without him. he doesn't know it all the time, but he loves me.

as for me, well....i am here. now that the kids are basically raised, i am not so sure about my role in life. i hope it doesn't take me too long to figure it out. i don't like it when i feel like i am wasting precious time.

so there you have it, in a nutshell. the camera i guess is still on vacation. i better look in the case to make sure it hasn't run away.

have a good day and remember to enjoy the moment you are in, because it will be gone in the next moment.

Catching Up

2009-01-20T23:04:00.003-07:00

Okay, this is just going to be boring. I looked for pics to fit, but could not find any. The camera has been on vacation. Actually there is just not much going on.

Brian and Mandi have been covered in their own blog. Mandi is back in school, which means grammy is back to tending. It comes with challenges, Sam tells me not to get him in trouble so that he can play with the toys and watch movies. What he is really telling me is that he wants to do what he wants and don't make him pick up the toys. He is three, and is good at it.

Eric and Amy are still running two households. One in Ogden and one in Cokeville. Eric is enjoying the work at the power plant. Amy and Tyson will be glad when they are together again. It appears that they have the chance to rent out their house for awhile. So that will help things out. Tyson is on the go constantly. He has things to do.

Derick and Jage are enjoying living in Spanish Fork. Both are enjoying their jobs. Still wanting to expand the family, but are trusting in the Lord that things will work out for them.

Justin, well, he is still working on packets at East Shore High. This next Sunday he will be entering a battle of the bands at a club in Salt Lake. He has devoted a lot of time to this experience and is excited. Jenna has been a good support for him and are seen together frequently.

As for Dave, after being off work for a week waiting for a drug test to come back, he is now clear to go back to work. For a day. Then he is on his long change for a week. Yes, the drug test came back clear as we all knew it would. He was not kidding when he told me last November that come the first of the year i would see very little of him, he is working on a stake encampment for the young men in the stake. Even when he was home unexpectedly for a week he has been very busy. He has more energy in his pinky toe, than i do in my whole body. I do not know how he does it.

Now for me. I am just trying to keep up with the other thirteen. Some days it just makes my head spin.

Congrats to Jage

2009-01-10T08:54:00.002-07:00

when j.j. went into work yesterday, before she even put down her purse or took off coat, her boss called her into the office. she sat down, and he asked her if she wanted to be the new pantry lead at the deseret book in spanish fork. she was so excited. we are excited for her. this will be new experience for her and will help her knowledge to grow.

Congratulations Jage.

Brothers

2009-01-05T10:21:00.002-07:00

BROTHERS!

You can't live with them,

you can't live without them,

but

I have the best.

(including Jason)

Bartley on Christmas is reading the Christmas story from the Bible, and Todd is a wiseman. Aren't they just so cute.

Grandkids

2009-01-03T19:10:00.002-07:00

the other night it was so fun to see these kids play. i do miss the sound of little ones running around. they had such a good time playing in the play room with the toys, and on the computer, and downstairs on the wii. it is fun to watch them grow through the stages of what they like to play with. i find it interesting that sometimes it is the simplist of things that interest them most. the best part about being a grandparent is that you can just sit and enjoy watching them.

Happy Birthday Dave

2009-01-02T19:28:00.002-07:00

Oh, somebody had a birthday, our little dave dear, may Father in Heaven bless you through out the coming year. Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear dave, happy birthday to you.

since dave had to work today, we actually celebrated his birthday last night. it was a wonderful day. the kids got together and opened christmas presents from each other, and we had a birthday party. as the family grows this house gets busy when we have all our kids here, and both dave and i would have it no other way. it is our greatest blessing when we have all of our kids here. derick did have to go to work and we missed him when he left. but we feel fortunate that he was able to be with us for as long as he was.

i put five candles on dave's birthday cake, one representing each of his grandkids. when he went to blow them out he had the four come and help him. he figured gracie wouldn't be much interested.

Dave is a wonderful husband and friend to me. he is a great dad, and grandpa. he loves his family more than we realize. I hope he had a good day in spite of having to spending all of it work.

Christmas memories

2008-12-31T12:50:00.002-07:00

i decided to post some of my favorite pics from christmas eve. it is hard to believe another christmas season has come and almost gone. what a wonderful time of year. i am looking forward to what lies ahead for this year and for the next christmas memories.

Sad news

2008-12-29T09:10:00.002-07:00

a few blogs ago i posted a picture of tyson and said he was going to be a big brother. amy miscarried this past weekend. the little family is fine. so for now it is the three of them.

strange christmas

2008-12-26T00:15:00.004-07:00

no picture blog this time. well......what can i say.....christmas came and christmas went. i can't say it has been the best christmas day i have ever had.

4:45 a.m. was our wake up time. usually it is a couple of hours later, but the last couple of years dave has needed to be to work. last year he didn't have to be there as soon, so this was the earliest i have woke up on christmas morning since i lived with my parents. it was strange. between dave, justin and myself it didn't take long before the gift were open and dave was off to work. (he still isn't home, and it is officially the day after christmas).

i went back to bed, justin did not. he watched a bit of t.v. and then he shoveled my walks for me. after that can anyone guess where he headed? yep, he went to be with jenna. about 9 i got up and got ready and went to dave's brother dean's house for a brunch. it had snowed so much that it took me awhile to get across town. i was there for an hour or a bit more and then i came home.

i was hoping for a break in the weather so i could get to dad and mom's house without the trouble i had getting to dean to jeri's house, but it didn't come. looking back i should have just threw caution to the wind and went over. i was home for 4 or 5 hours when justin and jenna came over. they were here for awhile. then about 9 p.m. dad and mom showed up for about 30 minutes and then decided they better get home. once they got home they said the weather was worse where i am at than it was down on state street and the rest of the way to their house. they came to play cards, but was worried that the weather was going to get worse. times like this i wish i lived as close to them as bart and jen do.

so, to rap it up in a nutshell. there was about an hour or so this morning that was completely wonderful. an hour or so late morning that was nice. the rest of the day was what it was. i'm not complaining, just wasn't use to spending christmas alone.

hope everyone had a great day, and have been safe from the horrible weather.

Hot chocolate and a good movie day

2008-12-22T17:44:00.002-07:00

Even though it is a perfect to stay indoors and drink hot chocolate and watch movies that is not what i have done.

i had to go shopping, at walmart, bad idea. i had to park in no man's land. i only went in for a few things, so that i wouldn't have to try and push a cart through the snow to my car. then i remembered i should get this and don't forget that. right. i had to push the cart through the slush and the snow. they need four wheel drive on those things.

i love the new snow, i just don't want to do errands in it.

Mandi, just in case you didn't see the pictures on facebook, i posted them again for you on my blog. i am not sure, but do you think i am trying to make you homesick? is it working if i am? mom's can be so mean sometimes.

Missing: Have you seen them

2008-12-20T11:48:00.002-07:00

Mandi called me about a midnight and said they were just headed down their street on their way to california. they will be there through christmas. i think they are headed home on the 29. this is half of my kids. i miss them a lot. i should be getting a call from them within the next hour saying they are there.

i read a quote the other day that said: "Christmas is a time you get homesick, even when you are home"---Carol Nelson

it is true. especially when you know part of you is spending the holidays somewhere else.

Mandi is looking forward to taking the kids to the beach. they will have a great time with brian's family. brian and his siblings will be together on christmas for the first time in a few years, it will be good for him to connect with them.

i hope they have a wonderful california christmas.

Count down.....

2008-12-18T23:46:00.017-07:00

You better watch out, you better
not cry, you better not pout,
i'm telling you why, Santa Claus
is coming to town.

A week from now he will have
been here to leave presents
for all good girls and boys.
i just love this time of year.

The reverence of the season. the busy of the season. it is just exciting.

When i see a nativity set,with Mary and baby Jesus it reminds me of when my four original kids were born. when you finally realizethat your heart extends, and is now outside of your own self. even when the ages range 28 years down to 17 years. then as those other kids came along, now they range from 32 years down to 12 weeks. (and counting), now more pieces of my heart are walking around outside of myself.

This week as Christmas gets closer i will be counting the blessings that Jesus has given me.

Zoo Lights!!!! :)

2008-12-14T23:31:00.002-07:00

Man with baby

We went to our second annual zoo lights with the family. It was a lot of fun for most of us. I think Gracie was not impressed at all, until grammy took her inside one of the cafe's and layed her on the table so she could talk to the candy canes that were hanging from the ceiling.

We had hot chocolate, and road the carasoul. They had more exhibits and animals out this year than they did last year. They also had more lights. It was also a lot colder this year than last. I am glad i had my snowmobile gear.

One of these times we want to go to the zoo in the daylight and when it is warmer to see the animals. Dave and I have annual grandparents plus passes, but they only get used for zoo lights. It is silly I know. I keep thinking if i buy them every year sooner or later we will use them more often.

I guess that is it for now. It was just a great time being with the kids and grandkids for the evening.

Magic

2008-12-13T14:26:00.004-07:00

How many of you think this time of year is out of control? Every December it is the same hustle and bustle, the crowds, the shopping, the money, the brain burning of trying to think of that perfect gift. Have you ever thought what it would be like without it? I remember as a child how magical it all seemed, even after i understood what it was about. As grown ups, do we lose the magic of the season? I can honestly say there have been years i wondered where the magic has gone. Lately, i realized, it is what you believe it is. For me, I decided i wanted the magic back. Sure there are things that happen that derail the excitement of the season, but i put it back on track as quickly as i can.

What was the magic that first Christmas night? It was the birth of a baby, in a humble and quiet cattle stall. It was a star, and it was angels. It was the Christ child, the savior of the world. It was Heavenly Father's gift to you and to me. So many times i feel like i fall short of such a wonderful gift, but i have to remind myself it is a gift of uncondional love, and it is up to me to decide what i do with it.

I am the type of person who enjoys the quiet and the reverence of the season. I am sure for some it is the busy part that makes their magic. My Christmas wish to all would be, that whatever makes the magic for you, that you find it and keep it all year through.

A Big Brother

2008-12-11T15:21:00.002-07:00

okay, i hope i am not going to be in big trouble... yep, tyson is going to be a big brother. we are excited. i am thinking that pyper will like the due date. july 4, 2009 is the projected date of this little one.

usually, i can tell when one of my kids is pregnant, but this one caught me by surprise. not only does time go faster when one gets older, but the mind and senses start to go as well.

Blog Time

2008-12-10T22:21:00.003-07:00

i decided i better check in. i haven't been good at keeping up lately. since our trip to st. george i have been pretty lazy.

i don't know about the rest of you, but i can't believe that a year has gone by. this year went so fast. i guess it is true, the older you get the faster time goes. i guess i need to stop getting older.

this past sunday gracie was blessed. brian performed the ordinance and did a great job. it was a wonderful day. later that night we went down to spanish fork and saw the festival of lights and then went to derick and jage's house for hot chocolate. it really was an enjoyable day being with all the kids.

i do love this time of the year!!!!!

Sunrise in St. George

2008-12-05T09:36:00.008-07:00

we went to st. george for a few days. i was able to do some scrapbooking, and watch movies. dave went shooting and four wheeling. derick and j.j. were able to be with us for a day, i believe all of us had a good time. alee was able to come to the resort and do a bit of scrapbooking, but she has a very busy life, so she wasn't able to do as much as she would have liked.

one morning i couldn't sleep, and when i looked out the back of our unit this is the sight that awaited me. so of course i grabbed my camera and started shooting.

it is so much easier to shoot scenery and beautiful sunrises that it is to shoot people. i have tried my hand at taking family photos. it is tough. one thing about picture taking is, the more mistakes you make, the better you will be. of course, i am going to be wonderful, because i make a tremendous amount of mistakes. since my last two and only two family shoots are for family maybe they will be nice to me anyway.

8 things

2008-12-04T17:49:00.003-07:00

hey, been on vacation and came home to being tagged. thanks mandi.

8 of my favorite t.v. shows: House, Bones, Ghost Whisperer, reruns of; cosby show, everybody loves raymond, little house on the prairie, hogans heroes.

8 things that happened yesterday: scrapbooked 6 pages, saw porter in a run-a-thon, saw rhett in a run-a-thon, saw alee's christmas decorations, watched santa claus 3 (i watched 1 and 2 the day before), i ate bbq. rib steak with a yam for dinner, i took blake family pictures, took a shower and went to bed.

8 of my favorite places to eat: rib city, sizzler, prestwich farms, javiers, chili's, spaghetti factory, the italian place, pantry in deseret book.

8 things i am looking forward to: my next scrapbook-a-thon with sally, the christmas season, getting my quilt done, my next scrap-a-thon, dave feeling better, riding through yellowstone park on the back of a harley next fall with dave, my next scrap-a-thon, and the scrapbook expo in the spring.

at the moment i can only think of tagging: Sally

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-26T20:32:00.000-07:00

From Our Family

To Yours,We Wish You

And Your Family

A Happy

Thanksgiving!

The Larsen Clan

Being tagged by Jeanne

2008-11-25T16:53:00.000-07:00

I was tagged by Jeanne. So, here goes.

Five things i was doing 10 years ago.

1. recovered from heart attack.

2. started selling mk

3. played the piano in primary

4. met our oldest son (Brian)

5. waiting for the snow to go snowmobiling

Five things on my to do list today

1. laundry

2. clean frig

3. go to the bank

4. go to hell (walmart)

5. clean bathrooms

Five of my favorite snacks

1. plain m&m's

2. cream pies
3. mom's sponge cake

4. caramel shake

5. COKE!!!!!!

Five jobs i have had

1. Humphries plant and garden supply where i met my wonderful husband.

2. alpine school district warehouse

3. Mary Kay cosmetic consultant

sorry, that is it.

Five things i would do with a million dollars

1. I would give Bartley the rest of what he needs for sound equipment

2. i would fly my family and parents to disneyland for a week

3. even though we don't have that much more to pay for our house, i would pay it off.

4. dave and i would go and spend two weeks in the new england states in the fall.

5. save for a rainy day

Five things that made me laugh this week.

1. Sam when he hugged grandpa dean and said, "I missed you."

2. a photo on flickr of a baby in a santa bag

(i thought babies came from storks)

3. Kristin not wanting to get off the horse

4. Sydni being able to get zero in five crowns for her mother

5. Gracie just makes me happy

I am now going to tag:

Sally

Pam

Bartley

Pyper

Mandi

Dreams that can't come true

2008-11-25T10:42:00.000-07:00

This is Missy (I think). Isn't she beautiful? Mandi wanted some pictures taken down at the pasture, and i couldn't resist taking some of the horses. The sun wasn't cooperative, so a lot of the pics didn't turn out well. We are going to try again Friday morning. Hopefully the weather will cooperate for just a couple of hours.

I do wish i lived on a farm. Animals are such amazing creatures. While i was taking pictures the kids would giggle when two of the horses would stand on either side of me and watch. when i say stand on either side i mean they were so close i could feel their breath on my neck. They were just like kids, so curious.

Doodles

2008-11-17T23:54:00.000-07:00

last time i was at alee's house we were just talking while she was feeding "beautiful" (actually she was feeding herself because she can, but alee was sitting by her) anyway, the kids had some paper and some colored pencils out and while we talked i just felt like doodling. the boys were somewhat impressed that i could even draw something that resembled a flower. so i sat with porter for awhile and helped him draw some mountains and some pine trees. then later i helped rhett. sometimes the simplest things turn into awesome moments and memories. it wasn't until i got home and downloaded these pictures (that i took for the "heck" of it) that i realized i had captured a memory.

Halloween

2008-11-07T23:36:00.000-07:00

here are my favorite trick or treater's. i have a cowboy sam, a gracie cheetah, a kristin darth- vader, a fairy princess sydni, and a tyson skeleton. i was able to go with them around our neighborhood. it was sooooo fun. it has been a few years since i have been out with the kids. i miss it.

on halloween i usually order pizza and have soda's around for the kids if they want to come by. i think i fed all of them except derick, who was at work.

we had a great evening!

Outhouse with a view

2008-10-13T10:32:00.001-06:00

okay. so i decided to download the 8 or so pictures from my camera. this one turned out better than i had anticipated. it is seriously the view from our newly built outhouse. even though the colors are dieing out i managed to get this one. i am not sure dave appreciated that i was taking pictures while he was finishing the painting.

so here are the pictures of the outhouse that was taken on the day of the first coat of paint. isn't dave the most romantic husband? well, okay, i think he is, if he is willing to build a potty just so i will go camping with him.

living life.....

2008-10-11T20:58:00.000-06:00

it has been nearly a week since i have blogged. things have been kind of crazy. dave had about two weeks off of work and he is the original energizer bunny. i have a hard time keeping up with him. but i was never bored.

i can't blog without pictures anymore. since i haven't downloaded any new ones, which i don't have very many this week, i thought i would still show off gracie. kristin, sydni, and sam still think she is pretty awesome. sam keeps trying to tell mandi that she wants to play with his trucks and cars. dave and i went over the other day and kristin was holding her and watching t.v. sydni just grins when you ask her about gracie. it is fun to see them interact with a new baby in the house.

i guess i could have downloaded some pictures i took when we to indianola to finish painting our outhouse. it is a beautiful outhouse grey. dave built it so well i feel like i should flush when i use it. looking at the weather we picked a good time to go finish it. it was a beautiful day and the weather was perfect. i wasn't quite ready to come home. next spring we are going to have to get busy and build a couple of bridges over the stream and start clearing out some of the vegetation so we can have better camp spots. it is going to take some hard work, but we are excited. we just keep looking toward the finished product.

well, dave is back to work. justin and jenna are watching movies, so things have quieted down for a bit. i think i will work on some unfinished projects like a quilt for my bed. well, until the next time take care of yourselves.

Tagged

2008-10-06T20:21:00.000-06:00

all of you know my friend sally, well, her awesome niece pam whom i have known since she was five tagged me. she is a total sweetheart. this is going to be tough.

1. i have a hard time falling asleep if my cat minnie is not on the bed with me.

2. i dance around the house when the radio is on and no one else is home.

3. dave and i kissed on two different occasions before we even dated once.

4. my favorite place to vacation is disneyland.

5. i prefer most pies over cake, unless it is my mom's sponge cake.

6. when i want to be recluse, quilting is my escape.

7. i make a better listener than a talker.

I now tag:

1. Bartley Nicholes, because he is my brother and he would be better at this than i am.

2. Haylee Postma, she is my niece and i think she needs to let me view her blog.

3. Pyper Nicholes, another niece who is fun to have around.

4. Becca Nicholes. yes, another niece who lives far away and this will be fun to hear from her.

5. Deric Nicholes, a nephew of mine who must live an interesting life, but can't share it.

6. Collin Nicholes, a nephew who can give a book report by reading the preface only.

7. Dannon Nicholes, yep, another nephew who lives so close but yet so far.

More of Gracie

2008-10-05T20:34:00.000-06:00

okay, some of us are still in shock over the fact that she is a she. Gracie is a petite, beautiful little angel. i really can't wait until she gets home and settled so i can have some photo shoots with her.

i still have not figured out how to take the best pictures of people. i am getting better with scenery, but my favorite things to shoot are my grandkids and my family. even though the pics do not turn out like i want them to, i still have to keep them for the scrapbooks. the history is still important.

my favorite pic today is the one of Gracie holding onto her Grandpa Dave's finger.

even though some of us are still trying to figure out why she is a she and not a he, we are excited Gracie is here.

Welcome Gracie Mae

2008-10-04T21:17:00.000-06:00

Gracie Mae Clem

October 4, 2008

4:37 p.m.

6 pounds 9 ounces

19 inches

i was surprised when they announced she was a girl and not a boy. this grammy thought for sure sam would get a brother. i was sooooo wrong.

her timing was perfect gracie waited for grandma clem to get here, but she didn't wait too long before grandpa dave and grammy headed up to ogden to visit eric, amy and tyson.

sydni was at the hospital when gracie was born and she was one excited big sister to be able to be there right after she was born. kristin and sam stayed at grammy's and played with tyson.
it was fun to see them with their new sister.

it has been an exciting day.

Fall in Utah

2008-10-02T08:37:00.000-06:00

my sweetie and i had a get away the last three days. we went to our resort in midway. the bottom picture is the view from our window. dave particularly liked the power lines. we went for a ride in the truck one day and ended up in brighton. the next day we went for a four wheeler ride. the mountains were beautiful. i prefer the four wheeler because it has more opportunity to see the deer and elk. even though we have to stay to the road it just gives you more range of vision. we had a great time, and it was nice to beable to get away.

Baptism Day

2008-09-27T21:19:00.000-06:00

what a spectacular day it was.

yesterday i took kristin to get a dress for her baptism day. she is not like her mother. it took her at least 12 dresses before she found the one she wanted. she then needed tights, then she needed shoes. watch out mandi when it comes prom time. we had a great time she tried on all kinds of dresses. i think it surprised some people that it wasn't white, but this is the one she had to have. she was worried that it had to be white, but i reassured it didn't matter. she said she felt like a princess, and i told her she looked like one to me.

when we arrived at the church and saw kristin and brian dressed in their whites, my heart felt as though it would burst. anyone who knows me well, knows that i do not tear up easily, but yep, i got a little misty eyed. not only because this is my first grandchild, but it was brian's first ordinances to perform as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for his children. these are the moments that make me so happy that i am a mom. it was a sensational day and the spirit was strong.

happy dance

2008-09-24T17:02:00.000-06:00

wahoo. i just got the results from my cholesterol tests. not perfect, but the best i have had in quite a while. total is: 180 (happy dance time), tri's: 280--high, but less than what they have been in a long time, hdl: 34--not good, but still an improvement, and ldl: 93 never heard of. wow!!!

EXPO weekend

2008-09-23T07:50:00.000-06:00

you are not going to get a picture of me today. you are so lucky! i went to the cardiologist yesterday and i am retaining a few pounds of water. so weight doesn't count this week. instead i have posted some pictures of my very bestest girl friend, sally and her aunt anita and her mom, karma, and her newest daughter, kari. kari is her sons andrew's wife. actually they are my friends too. i love them all. we went to the scrapbook expo this past weekend. we have been looking forward to this for months. it was so fun. we scrap, we visit, we eat, we giggle, and love each others company. that is how i ended up with ankles as big as an elephants. when i sit for that long i build up water in my ankles and legs. it was a really fun weekend. yes, i did accomplish doing 13 pages. not a record, but probably a record for me at the expo. we seem to be able to do more pages when we go and stay at wolf creek for a couple of days. well, i guess that is that. i am off to exercise.

dinner with the clem clan

2008-09-15T22:14:00.000-06:00

brian and mandi and the kids spent the weekend up the canyon camping. mandi brought the girls down last night so they could go to school today. brian and sam spent the night in the tent trailer. mandi called and asked if i wanted to go up with her and the girls for dinner. i told her i had things i better do so i had better stay home. a few minutes later kristin called and said, "please grammy come with us." how do you refuse that? so i went. i am so glad i did. totally enjoyed spending time with the my grandkids and the older kids. we had dinner, we made smores. brian decided to come home tonight so brian and mandi packed up and i talked to the kids while roasting marshmallows. this is what makes life worth it all.

Thinking too much

2008-09-12T23:19:00.000-06:00

i was in bed, wanting to go to sleep, but my brain won't turn off. i am thinking too much i guess. i have been going through all the kids and wondering if they are okay, and happy. i want them to be happy with whatever they are doing at the moment they are doing it. i don't want them to think that life is a chore. i want them to be happy living life. i am afraid i taught them that life is a chore, because i thought that way for so long. now i realize, it is a chance to live, grow, and learn. learning how to get back to our heavenly father, learning how to live life to its fullest in a crazy mixed up world that tries to teach that the only way to be happy is to play. i want them to love all people for who they are, and realize they are learning too. i love these 11 almost 12 kids with all my heart. i want them to be happy.

Congratulations Amy!

2008-09-10T22:19:00.000-06:00

this is amy. she married our son eric. silly girl. she graduated from weber state this past summer. she won't go to the graduation ceremony so we are going to celebrate on our own anyway. this afternoon we are going to go to ogden and go to a pizza place there with most of the kids. derick and brian have to work, darn it. we are so proud of her. at the first of the year she did her student teaching at a near by jr. high, the principal was so impressed with her he offered her a job. she declined so she could stay home with tyson and be a stay at home mom. she is a great addition to our family and we love her tons. she doesn't like the camera, so getting a good picture of her is difficult. we have had to learn to be tricky, but sometimes that doesn't work. she catches on and can be fast about hiding her face, or turning her head. sometimes, we just luck out and get her picture anyway.

Justin

2008-09-10T17:37:00.000-06:00

the gentleman on the left is my dad. he is awesome! :) the young lad on the right is the caboose, his name is justin. justin is also awesome. smart as a whip when he wants to be. i usually don't like to write twice in a day, but he is the reason i am. he bought a new amp today, a very loud one. i have resorted to earplugs and the computer/play room so i do not go completely nuts. i won't deny it, he is good. mostly self taught. but he likes it hard and loud. in my younger days i was the same, then i had kids. i quickly decided too much confusion. now i like it mellow and soft unless i am home alone for a long period of time or excising. so, here i am writing a blog because it gives me something to do until he takes his amp to his friend taylor's house. his parents like it loud. justin told me it would live there a lot of the time. we will see. i just hope bliss' don't turn us in for noise. of course it might be quieter in jail. he is a pretty good kid, yes he gives us grief, but so far it is nothing that we can't handle. last year at this time we had a rough spell with him, but we got the help we needed and he is a lot happier. not much into church and religion, for the time being, but i think he will come around in time. it might take a few years of him being on his own, but he will come around. we love him and he makes us laugh, and he makes a great 17 year old.

2008-09-10T14:26:00.000-06:00

this is sydni. my second grandchild and second granddaughter. she is playing soccer this season. she is pretty reserved, so it surprises me that she plays. she gets in there and puts forth her whole effort. she is an awesome little player. i just got through photoshopping this pic so i decided to display it. i want to be an awesome photographer, but i am not. probably not even on the novice level. but i am trying. it is just something i have really gotten into in the past year, and i would like to be naturally good at it, but it is one of those things that is going to be hard for me to learn.

well, it was a good thing i exercised twice the other day, because i just couldn't get to it yesterday. i was pretty disappointed, but i didn't know what else i could have done. i would have liked to do it when i got up, but dave had errands to run and didn't know the repair guy was coming. by the time he got back i didn't think i had enough time, but i did. i wish i would have been given a time. then the repairman had to leave and get some parts, at that point i figured i better go run errands instead of exercise. when he finished i had company, after that it just didn't happen with the other things i had to do. so, i haven't exercised yet today, but it is definitely going to happen within the next couple of hours and i am not going to allow anything to get in the way. i don't want to be fat anymore. it makes me cry when i see pics of myself. it is just not me.

2008-09-08T12:13:00.000-06:00

my sweetie received the silver beaver award this past weekend. we are so proud of him and his accomplishments with the boys. every service he gives to the scouts comes from his heart and not just because he has to. he is an amazing man, and i love him with all my heart.

2008-08-17T18:08:00.000-06:00

it has been a long time since i have blogged. i just got through deleting my old ones. i just didn't feel like they were what i wanted them to be about. just got back from a week long trip to san diego. it was great fun. i enjoyed every minute. there were some hiccups with some of the kids, but i figured it wasn't going to stop me from enjoying the moment. i probably could put some photos on the blog if i knew how. maybe i will try it later. right now i need to go and get ready to go to my granddaughters 8th birthday party. kristin is my oldest grandchild and she is awesome! i will see what i can do later.