Welcome to our family Andrea and Andrew
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| Born May 1st (Andrea one minute before Andrew) Andrea 5lbs 12oz 19"; Andrew 5lbs 10oz 19.5" |
Jan
Sawtooth had it's conference week here in Sun Valley. For one of the activities Chris led a group of 16 or 17 cross-country night skiing. They met at our house and used the Lake Creek trail a block or so away. They skied by the light of the moon, which was full and bright. They were all very enthusiastic about their adventure. They met back at our house to warm up by the fire, sip hot chocolate and review their zealous adventure.
Jen had a bone scan and we've tried different knee wraps for her knees that are bothering her. They can't see anything wrong. Jen is very sad that her best friend Liza is moving to Montana.
Sharilyn is enjoying the after school skiing program.
Emily has been getting 100% on spelling tests and she just loves writing books.
Aaron has been delighted during this conference week to have Harla Hutchinson's little girl, Katie come over to play.
Feb
This month we became the proud owners of a teenager. One who just got on the honor roll even though she is in 8th grade algebra!
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Dr. Stone sent us to Boise to see a specialist because having twins after C-sections in two directions is high risk. They want us to plan on delivering the twins at 36 weeks in Idaho Falls. (SV doesn't have facilities for pre-mature babies)
Our tv has been in the repair shop for over 2 weeks now. It's been quite nice as the kids find all kinds of fun things to do together after school. Maybe it will be too expensive to get back and we'll have to leave it.
A girl in our branch is leaving on a mission and asked me earlier if I'd play a musical number for her farewell. I was glad to at the time but now the twins are taking up all my air & I really have trouble playing flute. As I sat in bed worrying about what I should do, suddenly something came into my mind and I wrote it down. It was a medley of "Helaman's Army" and "I'll go where you want me to go". It will be just gorgeous! Chris & Shar will sing, Jen play viola and Lois play piano.
Grandpa Clarke passed away on the 20th. Chris felt impressed to go to Rexburg after talking to Mom Clarke and was there with her when he passed. What a blessing that she didn't have to be alone when that happened. Henry B. Eyring from the Presiding Bishopric spoke at the funeral. He referred to Dad Clarke as a man without guile. That is so true. I was always impressed...here is a man who was President of Ricks College for 27 years and honored by the whole community yet he was genuine and never put on airs. Dad Clarke didn't have a boastful bone in his body and you always felt better after being around him. He seemed to have a gift of bringing the attention to the one talking to him and bringing out the best in them. I wish I could be more like him.
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| Someone gave us a pic of Chris speaking at the funeral (We don't know who took this picture) |
March
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Jennifer & Sharilyn passed out daffodils after school with the Girl Scouts. A local florist donates the flowers as a happy spring to the town. :) I love this little town.
April
Our kids had great fun playing April Fools Day tricks on each other. They put green food coloring in the water pitcher so Chris would think it's Koolaid and laughed hysterically when he took a drink and made a funny face. Jen treated her school friends to itching powder & short sheeted our bed. Shar decorated a raw egg and when the kids were eating an Easter egg after school she handed the raw one to Jen, which of course didn't peel quite like she had expected it too. ha ha Aaron made a "trap" on Emily's ladder to her bed out of a Chinese jump rope. He was excited about it but it didn't appear to be anything out of the ordinary to Emily though ha ha ha.
I got released as Primary Pres.
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Brenda and Leonard Weaver invited Chris and I over to their house for dinner. When we got there it ended up being a surprise baby shower with Branch members. I was so shocked! It was so sweet of them. They all pitched in and got us a playpen!
Also, Jennifer's girls scout troop with Willa and Carol, gave me a surprise shower! I thought it was a regular girl scout meeting and almost didn't go because I wasn't feeling well but Jennifer was so cute in her pleading eyes and desperately wanted me to go. When we got there, there were the girls, moms, leaders, balloons, gifts and goodies and big shout of "surprise!" People have been so kind.
April 9th Sharilyn fell out of a chair which caught her arm and broke it. Jennifer ran to her and was quite impressive in helping her and stabilizing it. Chris took her to the hospital and they put a cast on it. That evening I started having regular labor pains so we went to the doctor. Being that the babies are still 6 weeks from due date they gave me some medication to stop the labor which made me sick and I threw it up. They told us we needed to go to Idaho Falls to be close to the doctor over there. Fortunately it was spring break for the kids so we took off to my parents. Sharilyn was in a lot of pain as her arm was so swollen in the cast. We had it checked and they slit the cast to ease the pain.
We were able to hold off the birth for 3 more weeks. Aaron and I stayed with Mom and Dad. I was so grateful. Chris and the girls came each weekend. One Sunday as Chris and the girls got ready to head home to Sun Valley Em and Aaron hugged each other & cried. Emily sprawled out on the floor and wouldn't go to the car. Chris had to haul her out. It's been so hard on her. Aaron gets a little bored without Em to play with but he's loved playing fetch, tug-a-war and frisbee with Lady and Tramp. Mom and I enjoyed chatting and crocheting silky bookmarks. The doctor tells me to hang in there a little longer. They've scheduled delivery on May first. -- meanwhile in SV, our telephone went out & they said it would take a couple days before it could be fixed. Chris was worried that I wouldn't be able to get ahold of him so he dropped Jen off at Britten's and Shar & Em off at Chandlers and came back to Rexburg. The twins held off until early in the morning of May 1st. We went to the hospital and they were born 3.5 hours earlier than scheduled. I was excited to talk to Brenda Weaver on the phone because she had her baby on the very same day as the twins were born! We were both excited about that.
May 1st 1991
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June
We had the babies blessed June 2nd. (Lexie Weaver was also blessed) Mom & Dad and Steve, Mom Clarke, Birches, Laurel with Dannah & Davilyn all came.
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School is out and Jennifer has a full time babysitting job. Sharilyn is so helpful at home...she's a little mom. She also mows the lawns and also does babysitting for a lady when her grandkids come.
6-18: Andrew is 8lbs 3oz & Andrea is 7lbs 12.5oz
I've been called as the Spiritual Living RS teacher.
July
Chris putting up a pool on the deck
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| Aunt Tamara & Grandma Clarke |
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Rich Johnson's grandkids were coming to visit and they asked us if they could borrow some outside toys for a week. With permission from Em and Aaron, we took Emily's wagon and Aaron's bigwheel riding toy. I felt sad asking them to give those up for a week because they loved playing with them so much. I told them they didn't have to. With little tears in his eyes, Aaron go in the car with his "good friend" bigwheel, to share with the visitors. I told him that because he was so kind to share something special to him, Heavenly Father would bless him. Emily asked me if Heavenly Father would bless her too for sharing her wagon. I assured her that he would because this was a very kind and unselfish thing they were going to help someone else. I had a warm feeling that Heavenly Father truly would bless them in a special way. ---Within a week a blessing was realized!! I had been looking for a couple years, with no luck, at garage sales etc. for a small 2nd hand bicycle that the kids could learn on because the bikes we had were full size. To my happiness, I went to the Gold Mine Thrift Store and found the perfect bike for only $15.00! Emily and Aaron were so excited! I had a feeling inside that this was a special gift to them from the Lord because of their kindness. Emily learned how to ride on the new bike 1st and then transferred to her own bigger bike and Aaron then learned on the new bike and they both had a wonderful time riding bikes together!
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Adam's Gulch in Sun Valley
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August
Klingler Family Reunion to Warm Springs in Island Park
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| Shar & Katie at Tamanawis |
Jennifer went to girls camp at the SNRA and Sharilyn (and Katie Birch) went to girls scout camp at Tamanawis. Sadly her camp was during the same time as our Klingler family reunion. I drove from SV to pick up Katie in Sugar City and then delivered them to Tamanawis in Swan Valley. I spent the night at Clarkes then followed Paula and Rock to camp at Warm Springs. Chris joined late, waiting for Jen to get out of her camp then they came up.
Ah, camp was so much fun, even though that first night I didn't sleep due to worrying because Chris & Jennifer hadn't arrived yet. Em had to go to the bathroom at 1:30am, (had to go in the weeds bc the bathroom was far and too dark). Then I had to go out to the weeds about an hour later, Chris arrived to camp at 3:30am, Aaron had to go to the bathroom at 4am, Andrew got up to eat at 5am and Andrea at 7am.
Andrew sure loves Aaron. Whenever Aaron is by him, he looks and looks at Aaron with the most pleasant and loving expression. Aaron is also able to make Andrew laugh easier than anyone else. The twins are doing well and so cute. I thank the Lord for this special gift every day. I am grateful for all our children and love them so much and am touched by the love they show for each other. They are truly a pure source of joy on earth.
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| City of Rocks, Idaho |
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| Swimming at David Klingler's backyard |
We had a Klingler family temple trip and we all went fasting together. It was a really special experience. (See Aug 24 journal) I called Jen afterward to let her know we'd be home soon. I learned she had been fasting with us! This so touched my heart. Jennifer is so thoughtful and positive and spiritually in-tune. I'm always in awe at her spiritual maturity.
Sept
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| Aaron's first day of Kindergarten (I followed the bus to school) |
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| Waiting for the bus on the big rock, 1st day of Kindergarten. |
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Sawtooth party at our house...17 people. I made BBQ chicken, breadsticks and corn on the cob. Others came with salads and desserts.
In the dress rehearsal for the primary program Em and Aaron ran down from the stage to sit by me. I complimented them on their talks and told them they needed to go back up and sit on the stand. They looked at me horrified and said "You mean we have to give our talks again!" ha ha! I was proud of them. Sharilyn, Emily and Aaron learned their talks and used no notes. Sharilyn sang a solo.
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| Making a porcupine |
Aaron got all dressed for Kindergarten. He put on his backpack and I said "Oh look how cute Aaron. Your clothes match the backpack." He got all excited and said he Loved it and asked if he could keep the backpack. I said "Well sure Aaron. I got it for you." "you mean it's already mine?" "Yes :D)" "For keeps!?" "Yep, for keeps!" "Oh thank you Mommy, thank you so much. I love you a hundred million miles. I'll even love you when you're mean to me - but you aren't mean, but if you're ever mean to me I'll still love you." Ha ha ha! --- Later that evening at dinner time Em & Aaron were fighting over a koosh ball. After a time, I scolded them and took the ball away, putting it on top of the fridge. Aaron looked at me with his big smile and with his arms out and a shrug of his shoulders and said "See Mom, I still love you!" Oh goodness, if that didn't melt my heart! He was true to his word. It made me giggle and I gave him a big hug and I will always remember his lesson to me on charity.
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Andrea got her first tooth and Aaron lost his first tooth. The twins keep reaching and grabbing each others hands. It's so cute. Everyday I say to them "I'm such a lucky mom". Truly I am.
We went on a hike with Em and Aaron. Jen & Shar didn't want to go so they offered to watch the twins. Chris kept us going farther than we had wanted (5 miles) and when a bit of complaining started he began singing "Oh the Bear went over the Mountain" and when it comes to the part that says "and all that he could see was..." Emily jumped right in and sang "was the crazy dad on the mountain, the crazy dad on the mountain" ha ha ha! (see Sept 18 journal entry for fun description of the hike)
The twins keep reaching and grabbing each others hands. It looks so cute. Everyday I say to them "I'm such a lucky mom" Truly I am. The Lord has been good to me.
Oct
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| Andrea and Andrew 5 months old |
Jenny is on the girls basketball team. Her practices after school don't get her home until 6pm. It's so nice that the school has a late bus for extra-curricular.
Nov 27
Today my dear Grandma Tronier went home for Thanksgiving a day early as she was released from her calling in mortality. How grateful I am for the knowledge, joy and comfort I have knowing where she is. A city of love and peace and I am anxious for the great day when we all reunite together...forever.
The funeral was beautiful. I had prayed to the Lord to bless the twins to sleep through it and they slept soundly through the entire thing. Chris & Sharilyn sang, Jen accompanied on viola and I on flute. (I believe in Christ, Dear to the heart of the Shepherd and Because I have been given much.") I was honored to have my poem "Ageless" on the back of the program. Poor Grandpa. My heart strings were tugged & as he kept saying how beautiful "mama" looked and "isn't she a pretty lady" and "she is too pretty to put in the ground." He's 88 years old.
That evening we took the kids to see the lights on Temple Square and then we were deciding where to eat. Everyone wanted Sizzler buffet but we thought it would be too expensive. I was pushing for fast food due to this. Aaron was is dire need of a bathroom just as we were passing Sizzler so Chris took him in there to go and saw the buffet price was only $2.99 for kids. He came out to tell me and asked me what I wanted to do. The kids began to erupt with opinion and Jen said to the kids "Shhh guys let's stay out of this. Mom, you and Dad just decide, we don't want to influence you." I was touched at how sweet that was of Jen. No one begged...they all sat with silent suspense waiting for my answer. I said "Okay, let's eat here" and Jen said "Are you sure mom?" and when I said yes all the kids cheered and especially Jen was so thrilled. She had always wanted to try Sizzler's buffet and this was her first time. What a sweet unselfish gesture on her part. The kids felt like it was Christmas with all that "all you can eat" delicious food. They were all very well behaved and the twins slept through the whole thing.
Andrew started crawling full speed ahead on Thanksgiving day!
Dec
We were happy to refinance our house this month at 8 1/4%. Made two gingerbread houses. Shar & I went to Jen's home game and then the three of us went to the Nutcracker Ballet. We went to Sharilyn's band recital and a Christmas show she had a speaking part in. Chris went to Jen's Thurs. home game and he missed two other conflicting meetings. Sharilyn went to girls scouts and rehearsal for the SV children's choir she sings in. They performed in Gooding and have 4 or 5 performances so far. Jen had a school dance and brought punch. Chris & I had dress rehearsal for the cantata we are singing in this Sunday. Chris has a couple solos and believe it or not I even have a solo! How did that happen? Mon. is our branch party and we will play a couple flute, viola, guitar numbers for that. I've been invited to a Tupperware party, home interiors party, discovery toy party, Christmas around the world party and a Mary Kay demo. Oh my, can I just say no to all of them?
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Bottom: Hemmingway Christmas Program.
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(Aaron had a party with friends in January)
