Go Braves!!!

The Braves played their season opener tonight. We had a party to celebrate a new season. We had some pizza, root beer, licorice, tootsie rolls, cookies and Bubblicious gum. All four of us were wearing Braves clothing. We already have clothes for Ryan. As soon as Derek found out we were having a boy he bought socks, a hat and an outfit.

Baseball is one of my new loves. This is because of Derek. When we first got married I could not believe how many games were in a season. In the last 6 1/2 years I have traveled to Atlanta to watch the Braves, attended many Bees games and watched even more on TV. I love baseball!!! I love the excitement of a double play, homerun and a close play at the plate. I love being able to spend time outside. I love being able to spend time with my family while watching a game. I love hotdogs at the ballpark. I love cheering for your favorite team to embarrass their rival. Baseball is awesome.

By the way, did you know that they have little hamburgers and hotdogs, buns and all, in the freezer section at the grocery store?

Easter Pictures

This was the first picture that was taken. Ryan was so tired and hungry. Grace was very patient and was more than willing to pose for as many pictures I felt was needed. (I think there were about 50 pictures taken all with different poses from Grace. She changed her facial expressions or how she was sitting each time after she heard the click of the camera.) These are a few of the pictures we got. Yes, Ryan is sucking on a pacifier in these pictures. In my defense, it matches.

Smiles and Bubbles

Ryan has really started to smile at us. It is so cute! This morning Ryan would not stop smiling at Grace. She thinks that every time he smiles at me that he thinks that I am her. In her mind he only smiles at his big sister.





Ryan has started blowing bubbles. He thinks that he is so tricky. The bubbles are usually accompanied with smiles. I love that he is interacting with us so much now. He is all grins when I change his diaper. He knows that is when he gets one-on-one attention with no distractions.

Grace the Rabbit

On Friday Grace had an Easter Party at preschool. They made bunny faces and baskets.

Derek picked Grace and Mason Ballard up from preschool. He said all the children walked out wearing the masks and that it looked a little creepy.

While I was taking these pictures I told Grace that she needed to smile. She told me that she was, but that I couldn't see it. I think her eyes look irritated because I told her I needed to take her picture before she could eat her candy.

She wore her mask everywhere we went all weekend.

Clark Family Cousins

I wanted to add another picture from the funeral. These are the Clark Family cousins that were the pallbearers. Grandma and Grandpa had 18 grandchildren and 11 of those 18 were boys. All of the Clark grandchildren are such good friends and have so much fun when we get together. One of grandma and grandpa's best legacies was the ability to make each grandchild feel like they were the favorite...we were all their favorite!

From L to R: (Kyle, Bart, Brady, Tyler, Derek, BJ, Mike, Jeff, Andy, Matt, Scott)

A True Gentle Giant...a tribute to my grandpa, my friend

March has been a whirlwind of emotions, I know that I am not alone in feeling a loss of one of the best men I have ever known. My grandpa, Melvin Clark, passed away on March 4th and has left behind quite a legacy of love and hard work.

He exemplified so many attribute in his life and they were so poignantly celebrated last Saturday when his funeral took place.

I have so many things to be thankful for when considering what his life has meant to me, I put together some of those thoughts just a few days after he passed away and wanted to share those:

"I have so many fond memories of grandpa, he was always so upbeat and positive about anything I decided to involve myself with in my life. I remember when both he and grandma left for their mission to Spain how hard it was on me to see them go because they were such a huge part of my life. I wrote them as often as I could and loved to read their letters back. I loved to hear of their experiences and counted down the days until they returned. I have told many of my friends and co-workers how they were so supportive and went to all of my school activities and sporting events, they were basically just an extension of my parents. It is pretty amazing with how many grandkids that they have that they were able to personally impact every one of them as intimately as they did. I used to love to play ping pong and croquet with grandpa, he was always willing to take time out for his family.

I remember early on in my mission when I was struggling with the strict rules and wrote home a little frustrated, grandpa and grandma wrote me back and one of the things grandpa said that stuck out was "you have been sent to that part of the vineyard for a reason, embrace the difficult things with the good and the Lord will make up the difference". It helped kick me into gear and I often recalled that part of his letter during the remainder of my mission. It was exciting for me to be in the same ward as him during my teenage years. I heard from every ward member how lucky I was to have Mel as my grandpa, this was true of the adults as well as the youth. I saw how everyone respected my grandpa and loved him first hand, I agree with all of them...I must have done something right before this life to get to have him as my grandpa!"

The same is true of my grandma who I admire and pray for during this difficult time. She and grandpa were such a great part of my childhood and I pray the Lord's choicest blessings to be upon her during this temporary separation from grandpa.

I miss this amazing man who had such an impact on my life, I will miss having him so near physically, but know that he is near in so many other ways. I love him and miss him!

St. George

Warm weather, no sweaters, sunscreen, car windows rolled down and green grass. Heaven!

We decided since Derek has so much time off that we should take a vacation. Saturday we picked St. George and on Sunday night we booked the hotel, thanks to the internet. Monday after preschool we were on our way. The children did very well on the drive down. Derek and Grace walked around when we stopped to feed Ryan. Grace also fell asleep while coloring.




We were able to go to The Children's Place outlet store (which wasn't really much better than the store here in Salt Lake, by the way). Grace got an Easter dress with a matching headband and some new tennis shoes that she called her rainbow shoes.




Grace asked if it was summer because everything was green. The hotel is brand new and smells like paint. The heating/cooling unit makes the room smell good when it is running. I wouldn't mind something like that at home.

On Tuesday we went to Snow Canyon which is about a 20 minute drive from our hotel. We hiked to a slot canyon that Derek and Grace climbed on. I was carrying Ryan so it was hard for me to climb around, but I got to look at the formation which was a lot of fun. I have to get on the internet and find out about the geology of the area. I wish I would have done that before hand. Grace loaded up her pockets with rocks. I almost teared up. She may have Derek's memory, but she has my love for rocks.








We went swimming when we came back to the hotel. Grace was screaming so loud that the man at the front desk came to check on her. Derek and Ryan stayed in the room because Ryan was being a grump.

I fell asleep around 9 or 9:30 last night. I am a lot of fun!! We are getting all packed up to check out in an hour. I am excited to get home, but it has been a fun few days!!

Derek's New Job

Derek accepted a position at a new company last week. He will be working at a company named Valassis. He is a Sales Executive for them and is very excited about the position. The majority of his clients are in the Salt Lake metro area, but he also will sell in Utah County and even in Reno some. He will represent the company to help companies with their marketing and advertising. Valassis' main product is Red Plum and the website redplum.com

We are all sad that he will not be with the Salt Lake Bees, but there are a lot of positives that come out of this change. The money is a lot better, he will have more time to be able to spend with us, he will have more time to put into his calling during the summer, he will have all of his nights and weekends off and he gets summer holidays off for a change!

He starts his job on the 24th of this month. We are so excited for this new opportunity, but in the meantime he gets to spend his days with us. The Bees paid his time out, so he is a stay-at-home dad for the next week and a half. I will try to get him to write about the change in more detail soon.

Ryan's Blessing

On Sunday, March 9, Ryan was given a name and a blessing by Derek. Ryan was very good through out the blessing and the rest of the meeting.

We had a luncheon after for those that came. I am grateful that many people brought food. It was good to be able to talk to family and to have a such a happy event to cap off the previous week.

Derek's Grandpa Clark

Derek's maternal grandfather passed away Monday morning was revived by the EMT and then died on Tuesday, March 4 around 2:30 in the morning.

His funeral was held on Friday. It was an exhausting, but very beautiful week. Family came in from all over the country. I think it was a symbol of how well he was loved that all, but one grandchild was able to make it. There were many tears shed and many more sweet memories shared. He was a very sweet and humble man. I will miss him very much.




Grace was close to him and loved him very much. She told me at the viewing as we were looking at him that he does not look like himself anymore. I tried to explain to her that his spirit had left his body. She didn't completely understand, but does know that she will not be able to see him at his house anymore. She started crying at the viewing right before the funeral while watching a video that had been put together to honor him.



He was buried in the Provo Cemetery next to Grandma Clark's parents. Grace was named after Annie Grace Miller Stone, Derek's Great Grandma.




I think we all feel a void and feel that we have lost a close friend, grandpa, cheerleader and amazing example.



God be with you till we meet again Grandpa.

Day of Rest

We had a pretty relaxing day on Sunday.

These are my beautiful sleeping babies. We are all getting over colds. Apparently this is what afternoons are like with sick children. Hilary Weeks has a song that talks about her favorite things and in it she sings about bedtime and nap time. It is a great song and is totally true. I love my children, but I love when they are asleep. They are always fun to look at. Several times a day I think about how blessed I am to have two beautiful children who are so sweet. Thank you Derek!!!


Grace really likes to cuddle with Ryan before bed. Usually they lay in her bed for awhile. I know I won't be able to do that for very long. One of the things I love most about two children is watching them together. Grace loves her little brother so much and when they are next to each other, whether it be sleeping or Grace reading Ryan stories, it makes me so happy.

Day O'Fun

Saturday was busy. Ryan and I went to a baby shower for Derek's cousin's wife, Natasha. She is having a boy, hopefully soon for her sake.

We then met Derek and Grace at his parent's house. We had dinner and a great Family Home Evening lesson by Dan, Shauna, Riley and Isaac. After the lesson we sang "Happy Birthday" to Kelly, Derek's sister, and had cake and ice cream.

Ryan and I went home and Grace was able to go to a BYU basketball game with Derek and his parents. Grace loves going to basketball games. She always lets us know that her favorite players are the cheerleaders. BYU smashed Air Force 76-57. Can 19 points be considered smashing the other team?

More Hair

We told Grace to go put her pajamas on. She disappeared into the bathroom for a little bit.
She came out having brushed her teeth and fixed her hair.

Apparently my child doesn't think she needs to listen. At least she did something productive.


To put a positive spin...Grace was doing something before I had to ask. She is such a good girl. Never has to be asked to brush her teeth and fix her hair!