Images of Autumn

Kylie in the pumpkins....

Random pictures from this October. Kylie at Apple Festival. Loved those apples!

Grandpa and Leila reading Craig's favorite author, Mercer Mayer!

Cohen and Dylan... after decorating Halloween cookies, they simply must be tested for quality control purposes!



Grammyand Dylan testing the lights for family pictures. Great shot! Great kid!

Playtime with Grandpa! Here comes Cohen...

Ryan, Kristin, Dylan, Leila, Cohen and Eva. Love the plaid!

First day of church, Primary program, I think...

Blessing Day! My sister, Nancy made the gorgeous dress and bonnet.

How lucky am I? I missed seeing Nate and Ashley and Dave this fall... hopefully in the next few months... Nate graduates December 17 so we will go for graduation in Rexburg then on to Utah to see DAVE and Kristen and Craig's family before we come back to Spokane for Christmas.

Welcome Eva June!

Kylie and Eva making friends. I am sure they are making a play date or maybe plans to be roommates at college!

Cohen is full of fun! He played for almost an hour with a pound of butter. He stacked it, he made towers, knocked them over and thoroughly enjoyed the new "toy." I am not sure what he was doing with it on his very cute tummy!

The new girl cousin trio. I love these little girls! I can't wait to host a teaparty and play dress-up!

September 17, 2010 Kristin and Ryan welcomed their new addition, beautiful Eva June Wilkinson. She weighed 5lbs. 11 oz and was 19 1/4 inches long. Unfortunately, I didn't get to make it for this one. I missed being there and watching the two of them work so well together. Dylan, Leila and Cohen love their little sister and take fabulous care of her! Kristin looks awesome, as always. She is amazing!!!

I feel very blessed to have such a great family. My own children married wonderful people who have wonderful families. Even though I wish we lived closer, it is reassuring to know that the other side of their families are supportive and awesome. tender mercies...

Oregon Coast...Heaven!

This is their Minpin, Meecka. Such a cute thing! ALMOST makes me want another dog!

I know this isn't the sea perch but I'm not sure what it. Whatever it was it sure was good after Carie got through with it!

Okay, so this is Barbie (Carie) and Skipper (Carrie). She is tall, blond and gorgeous! My lot in life is to be the short, squat, brunette side-kick!

Lois and two of her five boys, Paul and Craig. She is one proud mama!

This is one homely fish! I was shopping in Seaside while these bad boys were being caught!

This last weekend Craig and were able to take his mom, Lois, to Astoria for a visit. We left her with Paul and Carie, Craig's brother and sister-in-law. What a fabulous time! Craig has really missed being close to is brother so this was a perfect trip. They fished on Cannon Beach, off the slough and crabbed in Seaside (I think!) Their lovely home is right by the water and filled with love and light. They hosted a family bbq on Sunday afternoon and cooked up a spectacular fish fry on Monday with the fish they caught that morning. YUM! I will need to ask Craig again what kind of fish they were. I know one was a sea perch but the other two were.... I know one had blue flesh until it was cooked!

Much love and thanks to Paul and Carie for the perfect weekend. We love you lots!

Clark Family Reunion

Father's Day weekend we had a family reunion with all of my brothers and sisters and their families. The last time we were together was ten years ago when my mother passed away. It was fabulous!!! We had about 75 people in attendance and were missing about twenty. I know my mom was watching and laughing at the cute kids, the diverse personalities, and the fun we created and enjoyed.

We were lucky enough to have Nate and Ashley and Dave and Kristen and Kylie. Ryan and Kristin moved that weekend from the Dalles to Redmond Oregon and were unable to attend. We missed them but totally understood.

For those of you who don't know my extended family, I am one of six girls and two boys. I am number five. We range from fifty-seven years old to thirty-six years old. Each of us is strong in our own way and we make a great unit. I am blessed to be part of this family.

Easter Weekend

We were lucky enough to have Ryan and Kristin, Dylan, Leila and Cohen for Easter. Here are a few shots of dying eggs, the hunt and random pictures of the kids. Note the picture of Cohen emptying the shelf of books. I know his dad has a similar picture in his scrapbook except it was albums. Oh, come on! You remember albums! The things we listened to before we had cassette tapes and then cds! The Ryan and Kristin Wilkinson family will be moving to Redmond Oregon the first of June so this will be their last trip for awhile. We appreciate the effort it takes to travel with three kids! Thanks, guys. You are the best!

Happy Birthday, Kylie Marie

I am home and semi-settled so I thought I would add some photos of our newest little miracle, Kylie. It is an amazing thing to watch your daughter have a daughter. Kristen did so well and with Dave by her side they totally rocked! Thanks guys for letting me be part of the fun.

WE HAVE A BABY!!!

Kristen and Dave welcomed Kylie Marie Young into the world March 24, 2010. She weighed 6 lbs. 6 oz and is nineteen inches long. She is a beautiful, petite blond who looks like a real mix of the two of them yet very much like a Young! I am not very good at guessing features! All I know is she is a keeper! We are tired and happy and ready to come home from the hospital! I will post a picture later, just picture dainty features, pink skin, blond eyelashes and big luscious eyes! Okay, picture the cutest baby in the entire state of Utah!

I love spring - rebirth and new life!

See you back in Spokane this next thursday.

Coming together

As you know, I am not the best at importing pictures and having them actually go where I want them to go but I will make a valiant attempt!

We have a before picture of the kitchen(with the wall already down), the new floor with the first coat of sealer (it has mellowed quite a bit!), and the new cabinets without the counter tops and hardware, hmmm or appliances. I chose the cabinet hardware yesterday and they will be installed soon. They come this weekend to make the template for the counter tops, black granite with chocolate flecks, and they will be installed next week. We are finishing the recessed lights in the kitchen and dining room. The pendant lights over the island are on the to-do-list, as well. We have lots of patching of walls, painting of patching and trim work to complete before they do the final coats on the floor. We still don't know if we can keep the current backsplash. I am looking forward to having the dishwasher, microwave, frig and sink back in the kitchen. The back porch and downstairs are very crowded with kitchen paraphenanlia. (sp) We aren't uncovering the new floors until all of the construction work is finished!

Now I have to say, my heart is bursting with gratitude. NEVER did I think that we could or would do this to our little split-entry house! When the cabinet maker came and installed the new cabinets, it was all I could do to not break down in front of him. After they left I went to my room and bawled and thanked my Father in Heaven for all of these great blessings that are being poured out to us. Tithing blessings, tender mercies.... All I know is my heart is full. I am thankful for a wonderful husband who works so hard during the day and then works so hard with me in the evenings to accomplish this transformation. What a man!