Two Cute Reindeer

I was able to go see Bailee and Braden's school Christmas programs and they were so cute and were the very best singers in their classes. Here are some pics I took with my phone camera. Thanks for inviting Grandma to your programs!

Enjoying fun together with our awesome YSA Branch

Here are a couple of pictures of Dale and I enjoying some great activities with the singles branch.

We had a wonderful SLC Temple Square trip recently, attending the temple, shopping, eating, and seeing the lights.

One of the girls snapped a picture of us walking back to the van in the car garage, Dale talking on his phone to one of the youth. She labeled it "president and first lady"... I thought that was cool!

Here we are with Stan and Cathy Lott at the Branch Talent Night singing a song to our young friends, "Text My Cell Rock" ( I changed the words to the December Reader's Digest song they had published of "Ring My Cell Rock" to the tune of "Jingle Bell Rock").

Love working with our awesome branch and they keep us young at heart!

Thanksgiving Memories of 1973

Hey Arlene...I was inspired by your post of you and John's first Christmas together. I rummaged through some photos of mine but couldn't find Dale and my first Christmas, maybe because we both worked on that day at the Utah State Training School. But I found this one at Mom's on Thanksgiving. I am digging the purple polyester!

I loved this one showing Mom's Thanksgiving table. That is Dix, my oldest brother by me and there is my sister Polly seating Audrey, her oldest girl. There is the great cornucopia Mom set on the table every year and all the good food. I didnt see her lazy susan with the olives and pickles, but I am sure it was there. Notice a favorite of mine but not anyone else in my family, the green lime jello salad with cottage cheese and pineapple and a hint of mayonnaise, by each plate. Ah, this brought back wonderful memories, I even thought about the year before I was married and when I accidentally put salt in the pumpkin pie filling instead of sugar! Good thing Mom was patient as we hurried and made more. We really did have wonderful Thanksgivings at Mom Gauger's.

Wonderful Thanksgiving

Good food, fun times, rousing basketball, amazing Guitar Hero/Rock Band, movies, crafts, games, visiting...all shared by 25 members of the Clark Family! Yes, when all together we total 25. We went to the church for the day and enjoyed all the activities with plenty of space. The only mishap this year is when Mason cut his eye. I didn't get as many pictures as I had planned on, I took a lot of basketball shots and a few others, so I am pirating pics from other people's files and facebook as we speak to share. I am doing two posts to get all the pictures somewhat together. This one will be of the grandkids and the next one will be of rock band/guitar hero, basketball, and other random shots. I had a great time with all my family and I am so thankful for them and that we all had the chance to be together.

Grandma went with Sarah and Mason to the er when he ran into a metal post at the church and cut his eye. Mason was a brave soul and endured the gluing of his eye shut along with the cut.

The grandkids had fun coloring placemats, decorating turkey cookies, playing basketball and other games, watching movies, doing a candy walk, and a gift exchange game.

Here is a group photo of some of them coloring their placemats.

Decorating turkey cookies: Order with parent in parentheses: Zadyn(Alisa); Logan(Jef); Mason(Cam); Braden(Cam); Bailee(Cam); Isaak(Jeremy); Kyler(Alisa); Cole(Jef)

Malia(Cam) I wish we would have gotten a pic of her playing Red Rover and Duck, Duck Goose, she was the star for sure!

Isaak with olives...like father, like son...loves those olives!

Three newest babies...Jeremy's Mikelle held by Collette; Jef's Ella held by her brother Logan, Alisa's Ryker

Kids making a basket...Grandma tried to get everyone while they were making the shot.

Braden(Cam); Cole(Jef); Logan(Jef); Mason(Jef); Avery(Alisa); Isaac(Jeremy); Kyler(Alisa); Bailee(Cam); Zadyn(Alisa)

Grandma loved having all 13 of her precious grandkids together and loved seeing them play and have a fun time toether.

More Thanksgiving Fun Times

Dale carving and Cameron sampling
The Clark Family Rock Band: 1st two pics include L-Jeremy on guitar; Alisa on drums, Jef on vocals, and Cam on guitar and another of Alisa on drums. 2nd photo - Grant doing drums as son, Avery watches. 3rd -Mary keeping the beat. 4th - Chad, the "little" drummer boy-

Collette with Jeremy's Mikelle

Jeremy doing his balancing act with Mikelle.

Traditional basketball game with the Clark boys: Jef, Cameron, Jeremy, and Chad.

Julie's Birthday Celebration

This past weekend, I was able to go to American Fork for my sister Julie's birthday. She loves this annual gathering of her family to help her celebrate. It was so great to see her and my family and to visit with each other. We all enjoyed watching Julie open her presents and of course all enjoyed eating birthday cake and ice cream. I was excited to see some of my nieces and nephews and some of their beautiful cnildren, too. A nice surprise was when my very special friend, Arlene Smith Heiner, dropped in to say hi. I mentioned on her blog that I was going to be there and told her to swing by if she could and she did! We missed Polly and Dave, they were away visiting their daughters and families, and Dix, who was in St. George with family. A big thank you to Collette and her friend Kellsy for driving me down and to my brothers and sister and their spouses for making this event such a special one for Julie and for all of us.

Sonya and Julie opening presents

l to r: Alex, Brent, and Dennis

Mark and Lori

my friend Arlene and I

front l ro r: Jenny holding Tosh, Julie, me, Mark and Alex; back: Katie, Adam, Kim holding Kayden, Andy, Betty, Dennis, Collette, Sonya, Lori, and Brent