Friday, August 31, 2012

17

Can't believe this guy turned 17 this month!
Time just keeps passing more quickly and I think he is realizing it, too.
Crazy to think that in just two short years he will be on his mission!

Clark is a fun kid to have around!

Does he listen to me much?   Not really!
Is he neat and tidy?  Not at all!
Does he like it when I take his picture?  Absolutely Not!

But when it comes to the really big, important stuff in life,
this #4 child of mine IS THE BEST!

 Since all he ever wants to do is spend $$$$ on food,
we opted to give him cold hard cash.

I taped one dollar bills together, end to end, and stuffed them in an empty Kleenex box,
with the saying..."Don't BLOW it all in one place!"

Pretty sure he will be frequenting Lenny's for their Family Pack Hamburger Deal
and Charleston's for their ribs.
(Just his two latest obsessions!)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CLARK!
We love you tons!

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Throw Back Thursday...1st Day of School


It is sometimes hard to remember the days that I was home
from sun up to sun down with 5 little kids.
Other moms used to tell me to enjoy the time because they would soon be grown up.
I didn't believe them.  
I could not imagine the day that all my kids would be in school and I would be FREE!
But, just like that...they are all growing up! 

 Tia 1st Grade-1996

 Kimberly and Tia

 Now, Tia is a college graduate with a diploma to prove it...
and a soon to be mama with a baby of her own!



 Haley Kindergarten - 1998

 Now she's a girl with some serious orthodontic skills,
working part-time and attending MCC full-time
 chipping away at the pre-requisites for the dental hygiene program.

 Cassidy Kindergarten - 1999

 Cassidy and Katie

 Their first day of college-Summer Term at BYU,  June 2012.
Cassidy will be home to attend ASU in the fall majoring in nursing. 
 Katie will be back to BYU.
Not sure how these two are going to go to school without each other...
this will be the first time in their lives that they will not be attending the same school!
(I just shed a tear!)

 Clark Kindergarten-2001

 Rachael, Clark, Carie, Maddie and Bennett-Kindergarten Picture Day

Now Clark is a Junior at Mountain View.
A-hour starts bright and early at 6:45 am lifting weights.
No picture in his cute new clothes...it is the football uniform every morning!

 Bennett Kindergarten-2003

 My baby is a Freshman at Mountain View!
He starts his morning at 5:30am at swim practice at Kino,
rushes home to shower and change and is off to A-hour with Clark.
These boys put in 12 hour days with football and swim practices each morning and afternoon
AND it was only 116 degrees yesterday!

Now it is just me and Echo...
and it is far too quiet!

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Alaska


Clark had the trip of a lifetime this past July!
He was invited to go to ALASKA with his friend Connor Ipsen and his family.
 Connor and Clark in front of the Ipsen's home on Craigs Island.
(The boys stayed in the bunk house on the right)

 They loved riding the Trail 90's through the lush vegetation

 They gorged themselves on the wild berries that lined the roads

 Spent most of their waking hours fishing
(Clark, Brad Ipsen, Grandpa Neville and Connor)






 Who needs football camp?
Pulling out a shrimp pot

 Saw tons of wildlife...deer, whales, black bears and bald eagles




Clark had the time of his life and we are grateful to friends that included him in their summer fun!
A great trip for sure!

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Families are Forever

Families are Forever!
We know it and are so grateful to have this knowledge!

This beautiful little family is now facing their greatest trial
and being required to endure a heart ache that most of us can't even imagine.

We love them and are grateful for their example of
dedication, testimony, strength and grace 
as they walk into the future without their sweet little boy Dylan.
 Charlie, Dylan and Hannah


Stephanie and CJ (Curt's nephew)
Hannah, Charlie and Dylan

Their heartbreaking experience is here


Services for Dylan Dee Brown
Saturday, August 4, 2012
9:30am-10:45am Viewing
11:00am Funeral
LDS Chapel
33794 N. Gary Road
Queen Creek, AZ 85242

We love you C.J. and Stephanie!

Friday, July 20, 2012

Daddy Day Care

Boys need to be busy!
Clark and Bennett are usually home from football and swim by 10am each morning.
Their afternoons were just begging to be filled with some hard work!

Curt has been having them come down to his office/yard and he has kept them busy!
The best part of it is....they aren't getting paid and they LOVE IT!
They are both intrigued with the way a business runs and have learned a lot.
They have gone through the office attic, 
cleaned out repossessed vehicles,
sorted through scrap metal, listed items on Ebay and Craigslist and
Clark will often help drive vehicles to the auctions.

The deal is...whatever junk they can sell, the money is theirs!  And guess what?
They are making just enough to keep them happy!
Clark spends his money on food...his latest obsession is ribs from Charleston's
and Bennett spends his on more junk.  He bought a go-ped off of Craigslist.

They are a "chip off the old block" (more Curt than me!) 
and it has been great for them to spend time with their Dad!

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

July Fourth

Wow!  I am so far behind...

To celebrate the Fourth of July,
 Haley and some friends decided to go up to Show Low to spend the holiday.  
When we received a call at 10:30pm the night of July 3rd,
we knew it wasn't good.
Haley informed us that they had been in an accident several miles outside of Payson.
 Everyone was fine, but the car was not.
All we knew was that they had hit a deer, and narrowly missed a pole.
Curt asked if they needed his help and within minutes he was on his way to Payson in the tow truck.

When he reached the scene of the accident, we realized how blessed all these kids had been.
It was an elk, not a deer.
The car was suspended in the dirt median in the middle of the divided highway
 and had just missed hitting a big pole.
The elk hit the passenger side window and the side of the car.
Thankfully it was not head on, or the results would have been much different.
The young man sitting in the passenger seat was covered in shattered glass and elk hair,
but was not cut or hurt.

We are so grateful that they had offered a prayer before their trip, 
praying to arrive safely.

As the other kids continued on to their destination (still shocked they didn't stay to help!),
Curt, Haley and two strangers who had stopped, helped Curt get the car ready to tow.
It was a huge job, considering the way the car was positioned.

A lot of lessons were learned:

ALWAYS wear a seatbelt
Prayers are answered
Curt is THE BEST DAD EVER!  and Haley knows it!
(It wasn't even Haley's car, but she knew her Dad would be there to help,
 no matter what because it is not the first time Curt has rescued her
 and her friends in the middle of the night with car issues!)

At 4am they arrived home, safe and tired.



The next morning, bright and early was the flag route.
It was awesome that Clark and Bennett did it on their own and let Curt sleep.
 Clark multi-tasking and not too happy about my pictures!

 Getting ready to take down the 32 flags on their route!


Echo showing a little love!


Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Special Blessings

 Clark received his Patriarchal Blessing on July 1st.
It was a special day, one that we will all remember.
There was a wonderful spirit present during this sacred occasion.

We are SO BLESSED that we have a Grandfather that is an ordained Patriarch,
and who is worthy and willing to give his grandchildren their blessings.

 We love that Grandma is also a part of this special experience.
She has the job of typing up each of the blessings that Grandpa gives.

We sure love this guy and look forward to watching his life unfold!