Decorating for Christmas

I love decorating the tree!

Above the door leading into the family room.

Becca shows the "Cow Jumped Over the Moon" ornament.

Who could ask for a better decorating crew?

We decided to decorate for Christmas on Wednesday night while Julie and Ava were still here for Thanksgiving. We got out all the Christmas boxes and Rod set up the tree. We had so much fun! We took down all the fall decorations and put up all the lights, manger scenes and Christmas stuff. Ava loved hanging ornaments on the tree. She had one little spot close to the bottom where she would hang every ornament in the same place. Becca helped Ava decorate in the high places by putting Ava on her shoulders. Even Nick joined in the fun and put ornaments on the tree. He helped take the fall stuff down from the places where I would have had to stand on a chair. It's nice to have some tall people around when you need them! We had a wonderful Thanksgiving day. Rondaleen came and joined us for dinner. Rod deep fried the turkeys while I made orange rolls, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, Watergate salad, stuffing, and fresh pineapple. Rondaleen brought her wonderful cranberry cloud salad and a beautiful fresh flower arrangement for our center piece. We had pumpkin cheesecake and peach pie for dessert. Julie gave Becca and Nick an early Christmas present - the new game called "Ticket to Ride." We had fun playing the game, talking, and eating. It was hard for me to take Julie and Ava to the airport last night and send them back to Utah. What a wonderful gift we have had the last 4 days to have them here with us.

The Wildlife World Zoo

Julie wanted to feed the giraffe. It has a 1 foot long purple tongue!

Look at that tongue!

Julie smiles by the albino alligator.

JulieJulie and Ava at the giraffe feeding station.

Today, we went to the Wildlife World Zoo. It is about 20 minutes away from where we live and I had never ventured to this zoo. Someone at work said they liked it better than the Phoenix Zoo because you could get closer to the animals and the exhibits were closer together. We packed up our little lunch, the stroller and a backpack full of baby things and off we went! It was a perfect day to be out. There were several school busses in the parking lot - so we had to put up with rowdy and rambunctious kids. The zoo itself was not quite as nice a facility as the Phoenix Zoo. The pathways were all dirt, so it was very dusty. The animals were really great to see, but the exhibits were not really beautiful, like the Phoenix Zoo. We enjoyed seeing the animals, especially the giraffe. Julie wanted to feed the giraffe, so we got some of the pellets for her. She also wanted to see the albino alligator. That was VERY cool. They are extremely rare as they have no way of blending in with the habitat to hide from predators. We enjoyed our lunch break and then went back to more animals. They have a White Tiger, which was really neat. The Rhino was also very cool to see. It was a fun place, but not as fancy or as beautiful as the Phoenix Zoo. The animals were healthy very well cared for - but their exhibits were small and just average. We did have a good time.

Julie & Ava

Look at that lip! Her whole face is buried in the bowl! More, please.

We are so excited! Julie and Ava are here for Thanksgiving. They flew in Sunday night. On Monday we met our dear friend, Rondaleen, for lunch. Monday night we had ice cream for a treat. Ava liked hers so much that she tipped her bowl up to get every last drop. It was hilarious! Her lip would stick way out on the rim of the bowl. She kept asking for more and Rod kept giving her a little scoop. He showed her how to stir it up so she could drink it. We just kept laughing at her. She is so cute!

Honoring a Veteran on Veteran's Day

A rare photo of Dad and the kids (I'm the one he has his arm around). He was usually the photographer. We had some really amazing family vacations.

Dad at the park in Syracuse. I think this picture was taken in the late fall of 2003.

This photo Dad is in Janet's kitchen at one of the many wonderful dinners she has hosted for us.

Today is Veteran's Day, November 10, 2006. Most folks like this day because they get a holiday from work - I do like that part myself. However, I have been thinking of what it is really all about and I think of my dear old dad. Today, he is a, 81-year-old World War II Veteran. He spent at least two (if not three) years in the Navy during the war, and unselfishly served his country. He left behind his home and sweetheart, as an 18 year old boy, just graduated from a small high school in a small town in Utah. Throughout my growing up years (and even now to his grandkids), my dad would tell us wonderful and amazing stories of his childhood growing up on the Uintah Basin. He lived in a little two room shack, slept in a "boarded up tent," herded cows and sheep, fed pigs and chickens, was chased down and pounced upon by a giant turkey from hell, threw dirt clods in the air as he daydreamed, ate plumb sandwiches wrapped in newspaper, milked cows, butchered livestock, gathered eggs, rode his horse to school, and was afraid of "Old Red Fingernail," a scary Indian that would sic is dogs on dad as he was riding his pony to school. He told many stories of encounters with the Indians, in particular an old woman that cornered him and his friend in the store with a bull whip, of getting lice because the Indian kids would wear his hat, the Bear Dance, and of his Indian cousins. He can even speak a little "Ute". I never tire of hearing him share his experiences, past and present. I could go on and on with stories my dad has told me. But what I really wanted to say today is that this Uintah Basin country boy is my hero. He worked so hard to rise above the circumstances from which he came, and he loved his growing up years - never begrudged the fact that his mother died when he was only an infant and that he was somewhat passed around from home to home during his raising. And when he was barely out of high school, he joined up and went to war. He served with honor and was injured during his service. He came home and married his sweetheart, went to college on the GI bill and worked his whole life (often many jobs at one time) to take care of his wife and children. I cannot remember when he did not have a "bad back." I can remember playing on the lawn of the VA hospital as Mom visited him when he had a spinal fusion. I cannot remember a time when he did not live without pain, but he never complained. Dad - today I honor you. I honor your valor. I honor your integrity. I honor your work ethic. I honor your love of God, your love of country, and your love of family. You are an amazing man, and I am so bless to be your daughter. Thank you for everything. I know this will never adequately express all the feelings I have for you, but I love you. I could never have asked for a more perfect and wonderful Dad.

Allen & Stacey

Allen & Stacey chillin' on the couch.

Allen is working on our new DVD drive. He can really perform surgery on the insides of a computer!

This past weekend was such a busy one! Nick had his State Band competition on Saturday and. Becca had her 13th birthday. Also: Allen came to visit and brought his new bride, Stacey, to meet us! All this was on Saturday. Friday, Rod and I took the day off to drive to CA to get our car, so we were on the road for 11 hours. When we got home, we went to the last football game of the year at Cortez to watch Nick with the band. We got up, gave Becca some presents, took Nick to the school so he could ride with the band to Maricopa, and went to Sam's for some grocery items. When we got home, it was time for me to head to Maricopa; Rod and Becca stayed behind to wait for the arrival of Allen and Stacey. Nick wanted to ride home with me after the competition, but his teacher said he had to stay, so I headed home without him. It was fun to meet Stacey. It just so happens that her birthday is the same day as Becca's, so we all went out for a birthday celebration. We had some wonderful Mexican food at a little restaurant called Don Lencho's in Peoria. Becca loves pumpkin cheesecake, so that is what we had for birthday cake. Stacey is a welcome new member of our family and we are delighted to have her. She and Allen drove for 12 hours from Layton to Phoenix for this short visit. They could only stay for the remainder of the day Saturday and left early Sunday morning so they could get back to their jobs on Monday. While here, we were fortunate to have Allen work on our computer, so now we have a slick new DVD burner. Allen is a whiz kid at the computer stuff!

Cortez Band Goes to State

The drum line performing 007.

Nick looks serious as he beats his bass drum.

A big smile now that the competition is over.

This past Saturday, the Cortez Marching Band performed at the state competition in Maricopa. I drove down to watch Nick and take pictures of the competition. It was so much fun to see the members of the band in their moment of glory. They scored "Superior." I was very impressed with how good these small bands sounded and how well they performed. From the beginning of the school year, the band members have arrived at school at 6: 30 AM for their early morning practice every day but Wednesdays. On Mondays, they practiced from 6:30 - 9:00 PM and they had a couple of Saturday practices as well. One of the most fun events was their annual "sleep over" at the school. After a Friday night football game, the kids stayed on campus and practiced. They watched the movie "Drum line." They had food and ran around playing hide and seek over the whole campus. Nick had a blast. We picked him up the next morning around 9:30 AM and he slept for the next few hours when he got home, but he slept with a big smile on his face. The Cortez program was a medley of "007" theme songs. It was very well done. They even had Agent 007 roll out on to the field and do his "sneaking" and "nonchalant" moves during the final number. Now that the band competitions are over, Nick told me he wished that band would not end. He has enjoyed this experience more than he imagined possible. He is already looking forward to the next season and is hoping to move up to the snare drum. Guess what Nick wants for Christmas . . . right - a drum set.

Officially a Teen!

What a cute teenager!

Becca's favorite pastime is to listen to music on her Ipod, play music on her guitar, and listen to music with I-tunes on the computer. November 4th, 1993, a true miracle came into my life. After being told 3 years previously that I could not have any more children, I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl - Rebecca Diane Clark. I don't think there has ever been a family more excited about a new baby. Here older sisters did everything for her - I hardly ever got to hold her! This past Saturday Becca turned 13. I can't believe how time flies. Becca has a great sense of humor, she is very bright, and she is a good friend. I am so glad that she is part of our family.