Happy Birthday Brianne!

Brianne means noble, strong, virtuous

Brianne is my niece,  my sister's oldest daughter, and this is a little about her from my perspective.   She has 3 younger brothers and found out about a month ago that she will have another little brother!  She is a great helper for her mom.  She keeps her room clean and is very smart.  She loves her Aunt Karalene, at least she makes me feel like I am important to her.  She is very sweet and gives me hugs and acts excited to see me.

This is a picture I copied off my sister's blog-- I like it because it speaks a lot about Brianne, she is outside the temple in thoughtful moment.

This is Brianne at my home in the fall of 2007.  We had just got home from church and her and her brothers posed for me for a surprise Christmas gift-- I had their family name.  She is the letter L in the word Love.   

Happy 8th Birthday Brianne, Thanks for being so sweet.

Love, Aunt Karalene

Are we burning in Hell?

Often times we get phone calls from family and friends in other states asking about some disaster the news stations are reporting about California-- they make it sound like that whole state is going to hell in a hand basket.   Well this time folks it may be correct!   On the news they showed all the wild fires burning around Northern California.  Looking at the map I was surprised my pants were not on fire!

As I have mentioned, we have been at Cub Scout Day camp from 8-4 all week, each day is worse then the last with the haze from the smoke.  Our beautiful California sun has been diminished to the orangey, red color you see in the center of the picture above, actually maybe it is the moon, but it is in the place where the sun does set in the evening-- I don't know, it is hard to tell!  

So yes, we are being affected by the fires, the air quality is at unhealthy levels-- we are definitely burning in Hell!   Pray for us!

Top Ten Reasons that I dislike the loft bed!

I could say I hate this bed and it probably would not be too harsh.  However, when we finally get something different-  I think I will be sad to see it go.  We bought it just for this house when Jordan was almost nine.  He wanted a bunk bed.  He out grew it too soon and it became Chance's bed.

Reason #10

My kids are not little wisps and the opening to the bed at the top  and the up and down ladder are sturdy but awkward for their bodies.

Reason #9

The design of the bed and the layout of the room mean that no matter where the bed is placed- you must avoid hitting your head on the ceiling fan.

Reason #8

Air is hotter near the ceiling--makes for miserable sleeping.

Reason #7

Can't roll my kid out of bed.

Reason #6

Can't snuggle with Chance and read a book with him.

Reason #5

Hard to give him kisses- he rolls to the far side.

Reason #4

Hard for Chance to make the Bed.

Reason #3

Can't get company to sleep in it.

Reason #2

Changing the Sheets requires me to crawl into the bed-- what a sight!

#1 REASON I hate the BED

Vomit and gravity and height-- are not a good mix!

Yes, my family and friends... you have not really had a grand vomit experience until your child hangs himself over the edge of his bunk bed and lets loose the days food that has been churning around in his tummy.   It hits the ground and then projects up and under everything!  Nothing is safe within a good 5 ft. radius.

Chance came home from day camp not feeling well from the fudge he made at the cooking station (armpit fudge), that combined with not drinking enough water and he had the first signs of dehydration.  He made his point further when he woke up at 10:30 pm and I heard splash, ping, ping, splash,  ping, ping coming from his room-- sounds like slop being poured for the pigs.

Yep,  hate that bed!

Happy Birthday Mckenna!

Mckenna-- meaning "ascend"

Here is wishing a great birthday! 

 These pictures are from your trip to California in August or September of 1999.  

This is when we visited the Cheese Factory-- a great place for squeaky cheese!  

You and Jordan are walking back from the waterfall with Grandma Ellen.

We went to the beach... I do not know which one we went to, I think this was before we started going to Manresa Beach-- so this is probably Santa Cruz Boardwalk.  But then again... I need some help on that.  You are pictured with Jordan and his Aunt Marlo.  So did you make that fort or did we just inherit it?

This is when we took you and your parents to the San Francisco Airport- you are on your way home.  Don't you love it... it is the sweetest picture.  I could probably put that on a calendar and sell it!

Lots of Birthday Wishes-- Love,  Aunt Karalene

15 1/2, Already! Is this when you start taking prozac?

Chance and I have been at cub camp all day and will continue until Friday.  I am tired and am just getting a few things done before I go to bed and read a book.  I looked over my email- I have a message from Jordan, it reads...

Sister Clark Looked up drivers ed classes for me so I can get my permit.

 

Here is the link for Amador Valley Driving School: http://www.amadorvalleydrivingschool.com/

Okie dokie, then!  I guess I am raising him right... when he wants to do something, he has to put out the effort to make it happen.  Yes, I absolutely refuse to be the coddling parent.  In fact, I am perfectly happy if he does not get a drivers license.  But since he has played his hand, I must respond.     So I found the only 4 days of the summer that he has nothing else to do, signed my name to the paperwork... now he will need to fax it in! 

 

$395.00 for Driving School

$???.?? to add a teenage boy to the insurance. (maybe the decimal needs to move to the right?!)

Entering the next phase of parenthood-- Priceless!

50 miler to Yosemite, the final hours.

A couple of parents, Chance, and I drove up to Yosemite Valley on Friday morning June 20, to meet the Boy Scouts and have a BBQ after their 50 mile hike.  When we arrived the boys were waiting to shower and Scott and the other leader needed a ride to get their vehicles parked at Glacier Point where they began the hike.  Another mother and I stayed with the boys. I took pictures of the boys during that time, this is the aftermath of a 50 mile hike-- 6 days in the wilderness.

We found everyone covered in dirt, mostly just their clothes and legs.  This is Ryan, I documented his dirty face.

It took 2 hours for the leaders to get back with the vehicles.  It was along time with tired boys and all the food for the BBQ was still in the truck that left with the leaders.  We did have Cheez Whiz and bread that a Mom brought up on request of her son.  The boys snacked on cheez whiz sandwiches.    

I saved parking spots for the returning vehicles-- Yosemite is very busy.   See my barricade... actually a bearicade, I used the bear canisters.

Waiting...

Everyone had mosquito bites on their legs and arms.  This boy had worn a tight under armor shirt all week, the mosquitoes bit right through.

Got Milk... some of the boys could not stand waiting any longer and went to the store in Curry Village and bought quarts of Chocolate Milk.  A few of these boys did not feel to well after the BBQ... too much sugar for bodies that have been on food rations all week.

AT the BBQ... one of the requests the boys gave me for food when they called from the top of Half Dome-- syrup to make Shirley Temples.  

After the BBQ... the boys are more then full.  This is their reflecting and testimony time as they talk about what they learned about themselves and others during their trip.

Scott has pictures that I will post at a later time.

They all made it safe... survived a week without Mom cooking or picking up after them... and they can feel proud that they accomplished a really hard thing... a 50 mile hike.  And from one of the boys,  "I thought this was going to be 50 miles of walking on flat land, I did not know it was 50 miles up and down mountains!"    Yes, it was very hard and they did it!

Happy Anniversary Stephen and Sara!

Have a fantastic Day!  I was trying to figure out how many years-- I guess 29!  Am I a winner?  

Okay- a little editing for my records.  I would hate that 50 years from now, someone reads this in my scrapbook and thinks it is fact-- they are married for 30 years,  June 22, 1978.  I was not a winner at the guessing game-- Scott lost too.  

 In fact, I have to do a bit of guessing as I go through these pictures because no dates where written on the back.  

This picture was either taken at a Family Reunion or on the trip with Trudi and Mike to St. George.  My guess is 12-13 years married.

My guess is... taken on the day Scott and I were married.   Married for almost 10 years!

Wow, that was a little trip down memory lane, I hope all my guessing has at least been close to the target.  Thanks for being such great grandparents to our kids... wait, that did not come out right, you are GREAT, as in the adjective and not in the next generation way.  I guess it should say terrific grandparents... yah,  that sounds better, not so confusing.   

Have Great Day-   Love, Karalene

Sand and Water

Yesterday Chance and I went to Shadow Cliffs-- just east of town.  It is a lake that fills an old quarry and is fun for a little something different.  It has things that Chance likes- sand, water, tadpoles, fish, and clams.  We spent from 4-8:30 pm and he played the whole time, mostly just by himself, occasionally he would have make a pal who he would share his toys with.

This is looking the other direction from the lake.  I took it because of the table that was being invaded by birds as the family was swimming.  A few are in the back, hard to see, most flew away before I took the picture.  Come next week this will be all invaded with Cub Scouts, as this is the location of cub camp.

That is Chance out there with his snorkel gear.

He is ready to show you what he was snorkeling for...

Clams!  "Look Mom, we can make Clam Chowder!" 

Going back for more.  Oh must tell you that the snorkel gear is from the CODE ADAM episode at Walmart last year.  Thought I had lost him-- but turned out he had paid for his snorkel with his gift card and was sitting in the car

Some kids threw their chips out for the geese, so they congregated in front of me.  When we came fishing a month ago, these were just babies-- see mom and dad keeping a look out while their babies eat.  It you look out on the water where the baby Loch Ness is-- that is Chance! (click on the picture- to make bigger)

BMX Bikes and Boys

We had our annual Father and Son BMX Bike Activity for Cub Scouts this evening.   It has been a hit with the boys.  We have hot dogs, fruit, vegetables and lots of ice cold water!   We have a father who is a local policeman and he spent some time talking to the boys about bike safety, he even came in his uniform and brought his police bike... it was great!  Our Cubmaster helps the boys do bike maintenance and then they just ride and take food/water breaks.   It is a good wear out the boy activity.   

Chance waiting for his turn at the maintenance station

Attaching the pump to the valve.

  

Filling it up to 40 psi

Happy Birthday Brenda Jean!

Hi Brenda-- Here is wishing you a great birthday!

I remember I was in college when Brenda got baptized at age 8.  I had car problems in Moab and it did not look like I would make it home for the baptism.  It was also up in the air as to who was going to come and help me,  as Kirk had planned to baptize her and he and Nielson were the mechanics-- Nielson must of not been old enough to drive.. well at least legally.   I just very faintly remember, (I really should of wrote these things down- does anyone remember?)  but after a bit of waiting-- the car started and I was on my way.   I pulled into Blanding and the North Chapel just in time for the baptism.  Thinking back, it is hard to imagine doing all that without cell phones!    

Anyway, you probably do not really remember much about me when I lived at home.  You probably remember me best after I was married.   Remember this... you and Erica came out to California with Marlo to spend the summer with me.  You two were crazy...getting homesick and flying back to Utah-- you gave up a whole summer of Great America and hanging out at the club house swimming pool.  

Here we are at the Lighthouse on Highway 1 between Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay.  My 3 sisters and my son Jordan!

And this was so fun of you...to plan a surprise party for my birthday last year.  It was the best!  You were so sly about it doing that questionnaire for the trivia game.  Then to top it off, you made my favorite dessert, cobbler!  You know how many times I have had to have my husband's favorite yellow cake and chocolate frosting for my birthday, as if it is the only acceptable birthday cake. You made me a fresh plum cobbler... and you had never made cobbler before, that made if even more special and it made my day.   And best of all, it was sooo gooood and I ate the rest at Mom's and Dad for the next few days.  Loved it! 
Here I am ready to scoop up some cobbler and top it with vanilla ice cream.  Brenda is next to me and her husband is in the background.  Out of all the pictures I took that day... this is the only one I got of you.  You were busy, busy, busy!  Thanks for my great birthday... hope you have one just as wonderful today.   Love you!    Karalene

Even Superman Needs a Dad!

This post is a tribute to my husband who is a fantastic father to our two boys.  He gives them lots of love and adventures.  I think I would be hard pressed to find a father that does more outdoor adventures with his boys then Scott.  Secretly, it is because my husband loves doing those things with them... he is still a boy at heart!  

 Many years ago I gave Scott this picture for Father's Day.   The painting is by Liz Lemon Swindle- a favorite LDS painter of mine.  It is a reminder that all boys need a father, even Superman.  

Here is our little Superman, Jordan, at about 7 wks.

Here is our 2nd little Superman, Chance, at 3 weeks.  (He did not get the flying through the air photo shoot.  I put the outfit on him and he about burst the seams-- it was apparent that I must get the picture quickly and I was the only one at home.)

Here are some of the adventures Scott has done with his boys--  Scott loves these as much as the boys--sometimes even more!

This is Jordan, after he went to the midnight release of Halo 3-- his Dad takes him to many of the cool new releases of movies and video games.

He takes his boys hiking, usually one at time.  He makes it a point to spend one on one time with them.   Here is a day he took Chance.  Scott has said that when I come with him... Chance is whiny.  I guess that is one reason that boys need to spend time away from Mom so they cut the umbilical cord, preferably before they leave for college!

He took Chance to the overnight Cub Scout Akela'n Me.  Chance got to do BB guns and Archery.

Here they are together at Akela 'n Me

Who needs reindeer?  Not my boys... they got DAD!  Scott's favorite place,  Disneyland!

So Scott is not home with us today on Father's Day.  It has been a quiet day around here and I made his two Father's Day phone calls for him.   So where is Scott? ... I think right where he would like to be on Father's Day, in Yosemite doing a 50 mile backpacking hike with the Boy Scouts.  Here he is with Jordan,  don't they look so happy...they have really been looking forward to this hike.

Scott and Jordan, before they leave to meet the rest of the boys at the church.  Notice all the backpacks loaded in the truck and Jordan's "McGyver" collection to watch on the way there.

Backing out of the driveway.

Adios!  It is just Chance and I for a week.  Scott won't get to see this post until he gets home, want him to know that we missed him and were thinking of him today.   Hope you have another great Father and Son adventure in the wilderness among those clever Yosemite Bears!

What would you do for a Movie Ticket?

  We have a few jobs that the boys can earn money for, mowing lawn is one of them.  A while back Jordan started asking for a movie ticket instead of cash.   He likes it because he saves bucks at the theatre and the ticket says, "Marching to London, Go Dons" on the back.  We get them through the scrip program that earns money for his marching band fees.

So here you have it...what Jordan does for a movie ticket!

Schools out for Summer!

The last day of school was Friday the 13 and it was a great day!

This is Chance waiting line as his teacher tells each student goodbye.

You are seeing the last time he will walk through these doors as a 2nd grader.

He is next, see his anticipation!

Here's his big squeeze from his 2nd grade teacher!  He really likes her and she was really good to him.   These are her comments on his report card. "Chance is amazingly creative!  Math, reasoning are strong.  Please read (underlined) lots this summer.  Chance has had a positive year!  He has been fun.  Happy Summer."   

                       Chance and a few of his buddies.  The kid in the blue shirt, is his walking buddy and neighborhood pal.  To give you an idea on Chance's size... he is standing between two 3rd graders, the kid on the far end is in 2nd grade, same class as Chance.                           

This is me,  I worked as Noon-Duty Supervisor 3 times a week.  This is my last day.  Chance liked having me around- even though I only saw him when he was eating lunch, at recess he went to the art room for recess activities.  (creating things)  He never came around to the section I was working.  Which was okay, because he does not listen to his mother very well.

It was a great job, they paid me well for my time and I got to know the teachers and kids.  For the most part the kids are very respectful and obedient.  It always surprised me that as soon as I blew my whistle, all the kids in the vicinity would stop and look to see if it was them doing something wrong.   One day out on the lawn I had the girls show me how they made a clover chain.   They were too cute,  they were taking orders and then manufacturing them.

    After recess they presented me with my very own clover chain.   I wore it the rest of recess. Very sweet!