A trip, A funeral, A wedding...

So, it has taken me a couple weeks to blog this because this family has had the Flu for a week! 5 out of 6 of us (Jake is the lucky escape artist) had the Flu last week and it was awful and it lasted forever!! We have all recovered and I think I am ready to get back to the grind.

So, after Christmas we headed back out to California (we have been out there a LOT the last year!)...this time for my Grandpa Nemrow's funeral and Brooke & Kyle's wedding. This trip was not about relaxing in the sun. Luckily we had lots of new toys and such to keep the kids busy in the car.

The funeral was a nice day to remember my Grandpa. There was a great turn-out...all of his kids, almost every grandchild and many great-grandchildren were there to pay their respects. My Grandpa Nemrow was a character...a great story-teller, a loud man, a lover of college football and he really loved his family and was so proud of them. All of this was mentioned...nobody mentioned that I was his "favorite grandchild"...but I will let it slide this time! Anyways, he will be missed and I am glad that we could be there for his funeral.




Brooke and Kyle's wedding was a actually a lot of fun! It was a lot of work to be the mother of the flowergirls/ringbearer, a "bridesmaid" of sorts and the photographer...I was running around like a crazy person! It was a bummer that I was so busy running around I didn't have a chance to chat with everyone who was there...but I made sure to take some time out to hit the dance floor! Rylee was the "queen of the dance floor!" and rocked out all night...we all did our best to keep up. Karlee caught the bouquet and Spencer caught the garter...and then the two of them shared a great little dance! Anyways, it was a fun evening and we are all glad to have Kyle as part of the family! Congratulations guys!

Christmas Day finally arrives!

After a full month of activities, traditions and festivities of all sorts the big day finally arrived! I guess the kids have been pretty good this year because Santa made a stop at our house and spoiled these kiddos rotten. It was a perfect morning. We spent the day relaxing, playing games, putting toys together, charging our newest electronics...when I say "we" of course that is everyone except Jake...he spent the day sleeping...I guess we all did exactly what we wanted! Spencer even got his first "big boy" bike and he picked it up in minutes (unlike the months we spent teaching his big sisters to ride). What a fun day!

Clark Christmas Party!

We all look forward to this family party all year! Which is why Karlee was SO BUMMED when she woke up throwing up the morning of the big day! We kept trying to get her better, and she just wouldn't pull through. In the end, me and Karlee stayed home for dinner...she kept it down and so we went over to see Santa, play Christmas Bingo and then we headed back...the rest of our clan stayed at the party until 11:30 at night...it was quite a "hoppin' partay"!

It's a SNOW DAY!

So, for the first time any of us can remember (including Jake, and he's been around awhile now)...school was closed for a snow day. The storm covered the roads with about 2 feet of snow and when we woke up we got a text message from the school telling us school was cancelled...then we checked the district website just to be sure and it was official! It was the last day of school before Christmas break...so the only bummer was that the kids missed their parties and Karlee missed doing her class Christmas play...but who can complain about staying home and hanging out? So, here's how we tried to fill our day...

Of course, we made a snowman...we couldn't find anything for eyes...so we just gave him some sunglasses!

We had some friends over for lunch...Hotdogs anyone??

And, my personal favorite of the day...this one made me laugh all day...Karlee, Audree and Makayla played...school! Yep, they had the day off and the best thing they could think of to play was "school"...they are hilarious!

Dance Recital and a SNOW DAY!!

Last night was Rylee and Audree's dance recital...they were so adorable in their costumes!! Isn't Rylee's hip hop outfit so "Rylee"?? I loved it...and Audree looked like a tinkerbeel ballerina! We got there in time to have a front row seat and we were so excited that Grandma and Grandpa Clark could come to watch with us! They both danced perfectly and I couldn't be prouder of their great work!


Also, a huge storm is passing through Utah right now and today is the first "snow day" (school is cancelled!) that I have ever heard of while living here! We have had over 18 inches in the last 24 hours at our house...I usually don't appreciate the snow...but during the week of Christmas I think it's quite festive...so I am actually enjoying this beautiful Christmasy weather! The kids are very excited that their Christmas break just increased by one day...except Karlee...her class was supposed to perform a Christmas play that she wrote with her best friend. The class chose their play to perform and today was the big day...oh well, we'll just have to play in the snow instead!

Spencer is 4 years old!

I am so sad...my baby turned 4...I LOVE 3 year olds and that part of being a mommy is over...lucky for me, these kids are still great even as they grow up! Anyways, we did the usual celebration for Spencer's big day and it was such a fun night! All the Clarks came over for a soup and chili dinner (I love that dinner on winter nights!). Spencer opened his presents...which he loved! Let's just say there were lots of cars, trucks and trains involved...his idea of perfect!


There was cake and ice cream and then we headed out to the lights!

I don't know how we did it...but somehow we managed to squeeze all the people in this photo into one truck! We had a great time driving thru the lights! It was actually a warm evening...so a bit more enjoyable than in years past! What a great evening...thanks for coming everyone...and Happy Birthday, Bubba!

Christmas Festivities!

Well, we have been so busy having fun that I haven't had a chance to sit down and blog about it! Here's some of the stuff we've been up to...this is the short list let me assure you!
We decorated some cookies ( I would like to say that we "made" them...but honestly, I bought the dough at the store...we just decorated them!).

We had Spencer's preschool party here at our house!! We had fun with a book gift exchange, playing Christmas Bingo, reading some Christmas books, decorating penguin masks and eating cookies! The kids were so cute...it was a good time...later in the day Spencer said to me..."The kids at preschool thought you were the teacher today...but you are just my Mom!"...so funny!

It's been snowing...a sure sign that December is upon us! The kids don't care if it's snowing...the swings are still fun!

We made it to the mall to see Santa...everytime we find the chance to do this it seems to be at the end of a long and busy day...hence, my kids look like orphans...I always feel bad because some of the kids in line are all dressed adorable with hair done perfectly and we look like we dragged the kids out of bed...oh well! I guess the kids don't care, and neither does Santa!