Emily and Aaron have made great sled runs across the street. Jennifer tutored Sheila in math and Sharilyn tutored Whitney in math. Twins are in such a fun stage. We took them out sledding and Andrew decided to be the big kid and jumped off the sled and took the rope and pulled Andrea. :) They looked so cute.
We have tons of deep snow. The Lord has truly blessed us. It will take Mother Nature's spring warmth a long time to melt this white blessings into green newness. That's okay. It is sure fun to play in the snow in springtime when that sun is so warm you don't even need a coat.
Andrea won't wear her warm sweatpants and sweatshirts. She will only wear "pretty dress" with her fluffy slip. It's so cute how girly she is.
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February:
Happy 15th Birthday Jennifer! For a few days Mom Clarke and Mom and Dad Klingler were all here. We had a nice visit even though some of the kids were sick and Jen had laryngitis. We put her party off one week and then she had four friends come over for a slumber party. She also went cross country night skiing with Brittons.
Andrew likes to quietly keep busy…opening bottles, peeling labels off cans, pouring syrup out of the bottle or sucking it out. He likes to fix his own bottle! Yes, pouring the big gallon milk jug himself! (I guess it’s time to take them off bottles but oh painful). He even runs the VCR himself etc…
Steve got his mission call to Denmark. Mom called her brother Gilbert to tell him the good news. He said it was a cool coincidence because he had received a letter from Alma Anderson who was his "greenie" companion in Copenhagen and is now the mission president. (and will be Steve's mission pres) He had taken the time to hunt Gilbert down and send him a thank you letter for his fine leadership and example to him in the mission field way back in 1949. It had touched Gil's heart. Mom and I think that Bestima is in heaven working hard to try to save her son and get Steve to Denmark. Mom wrote a letter to Br. Anderson about Steve coming and being Gilberts nephew etc. and thanked him for taking the time to look up and write to Gilbert. She got a letter back from him saying he cried when he got her letter and how fondly he remembers Gil and what a wonderful companion and leader he was. He said he talks about Gilbert whenever he addresses the Elders and tells them he hopes they will be to their new companions as his first companion was to him.
I went to Emily's Brownie troop and taught them Vina Vina Nila Gansa and brought Danish Yulecage.
We had a fun branch pirate party. I made and brought 36 apple turnovers.
Thurs was crazy. Andrea scribbled with black permanent marker on the floor, cabinet front, chair, her white table and chair and some kitchen wallpaper. Oh my! What to do? I took Jen to Twin Falls for viola lesson and had to page her in the school because I thought she forgot. She was late coming out due to a meeting. On the way to Twin a truck flipped a rock and cracked our windshield all the way across. Then a van towing a trailer pulled into my lane, not seeing me, and hit the side of the car, denting it and bubbling the paint. When we got home Chris was heading out to help a young adult. I used the toilet and flushed and it flooded all over the floor. What is with this day!
We got to go to Know Your Religion with Duane Hiatt, one of the 3D's who wrote "Follow the Prophet". It was such a wonderful meeting.
MARCH
Jennifer really loved helping with special Olympics for a couple days and got badly sunburned.
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| Happy Birthday Sharilyn! Now a teenager! |
Chris went on a week long business trip to Seattle.
Emily received several GSA awards at the awards assembly.
APRIL
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| Happy Birthday to Em and to Me Emily's 9th and my 38th |
It's so cool that Steve's Mission Farewell in on Bestima's birthday!! April 18. The bishop told Steve that he had felt impressed that it should be that day clear back in December, even before Steve had his papers turned in!
At Steve's farewell the family sang the Missionary Medley that I arranged with "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go" and "Armies of Helaman".
Mom has been so filled with emotion over Steve leaving home and going on a mission. His call to Denmark was a complete surprise and joy and eased her anxiety. As the time has drawn near for him to leave I have had such a nervous stomach for both Mom and Steve. I wonder sometimes how we have the strength to do the things required of us. It is so good to be able to borrow strength from the Savior. All of us went to the temple together before Steve left. We were all filled with joy and had a glimpse of heaven. I hope someday Chris and I can be in the temple with all of our children.
Another fun thing happened when Mom and Dad took Steve to the MTC. Aunt Carole gave mom a box of "junk" that she didn't have time to go through and in there Mom found the old letters Gil had written to the family while on his mission! One was a letter to her that was so sweet and listed all the fine qualities that he wanted to find in his "dream sister" when he got home. There was even one talking about his greenie companion Alma Anderson and what a wonderful and humble person he is and how he hopes to love and lead him and teach him about this wonderful mission they are on etc. He sound so valiant and full of love and a burning spirit of God.
While in Rexburg Mom gave Jennifer Bestima's violin. She was overjoyed and cried and hugged Mom. She has been playing it everyday and it sounds so pretty. She is learning "How Great Thou Art" which is one of Bestima's favorite hymns. A woman played it on Bestima's violin at Steve's farewell. I wrote a note to Bestifa telling him about this, part of which said "We love you very much. We thank you for the delightful Grandpa that you are and the wonderful heritage you have left for us to pass to our children. It is a great circle of love to think of you coming here for the sake of the gospel many years ago and now Steve is going back from whence you came - for the sake of the gospel."
For Spring Break we went to St George UT to get out of the cold. Chris and I went to the temple (gorgeous!) and took the kids to the Visitors Center. We hiked the Narrows in Zion National Park but it was as crowded as Disney Land. We also spent a day in Las Vegas and stayed at Circus Circus. We watched the circus acts and played carnival games and enjoyed it despite the impenetrable crowds. We also went to the Mirage and Cesar's Palace. It was nice but not a good feeling there and Andrea was especially nervous and cried. She would be just fine and then we'd step in and she would react and cry. She really disliked it there very much. We took the kids to the grounds of the temple and we all felt so much calm and peace there. It was such a tangible stark difference in how it felt - like coming out of the crazy world into the peace of heaven! I didn't want to leave. Everyone seemed so at ease and then we got back to the hotel, Andrea started crying again. It really seemed that she felt something bad there.
A fun or funny thing happened. There was a coin toss where you could win a pretty fluffy stuffed animal cat if you could get your coin to not bounce out of the glassware. Sharilyn really wanted the fluffy cat. In the night I suddenly had a burst of inspiration which I tried the next day and it worked and I won the cat!! What I did was suck on several dimes at once (yuck) then toss them. The weight and wetness of all of them stuck together caused a coin to remain in the vase without bouncing out! The lady looked so shocked and asked me if I had thrown more than one coin at a time. I told her yes and she said that wasn't allowed and not to do that again. But she still gave me the fluffy kitty and I was so happy! ha ha!
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MAY
Happy 2nd Birthday Andrea and Andrew! For their birthday we went dipping in the hotsprings pool between Hagerman and Buhl.
Andrea was sitting on the potty and passed gas in the toilet. She looked up surprised and said “My bottom beeped!!”
At times Andrew sits so still. He will sit patiently through a haircut – so still! Other times he won’t even let me brush his hair and if I do, he promptly messes it up. He is seen most often in just a diaper because he won’t leave his clothes on. Andrea on the other hand, loves clothes. She loves dresses and fingernail polish and stick on earrings and sometimes she doesn’t even want me to take her shoes and socks off when she goes to bed! She is very girly.
Invited Chandler's over for dinner on Mother's Day. Pres. Chandler shared with us interesting stuff he learned at a regional meeting: Out of all our membership only 50% are active. Of that 50% only about 50% of those pay tithing or hold a temple recommend. Out of that small number only 10% have food storage. He said that it's sad that not many are doing what they know they should yet everyone keeps wanting more new stuff to be revealed in General Conference.
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For FHE we went to Naser's and shredded more cow pies for our garden.
I dropped Aaron off at a bday party at Trail Creek then took the other kids to Jen's track meet in Hailey. Shar joined us later, riding the late bus there. (She stayed at school to work on an inflatable whale for science.) Chris picked up Aaron and then joined us. Shar changed clothes in the car then we all went to the Jr. High for her to be inducted into the National Honor Society! :) (Jen is in it too).
Historical occasion: Chris Helped organized the Sun Valley 2nd Branch. He was instrumental in making this happen. It is an evening meeting made up of Young Adults who are working for SV Company and can't come to church in the morning. We've been having evening sacrament meeting for them but now they will have their own branch.
A funny moment: Had sister missionaries over for dinner and while we all squished around the table, somehow the neighbors big white shedding lab, Bogie, came into the house. The twins were squealing and crying for him to stay and trying to get him out. Hair was flying all over the place as we were eating. Oh how the kids love that dog and how the dog loves them.
JUNE
Everything is so beautiful in the spring. The river is high and swift and a beautiful aqua color. I wonder what makes it that color. The hills are blazing with color. Yellow Arnica, purple Lupine, white Phlox, Mt. Blue Bells, red something or others and etc. I hope it will last.
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| Our Beautiful Sun Valley Home |
Bestifa Troniers 90th Birthday!!
Funny twins episode:
Twin Falls trip with the whole family was very lively. We took everyone because Chris needed a pair of work boots. While he was trying them on the twins had to go "potty" so I took them. They both tore off their diapers, which were soaked, and threw them in the trash. I had more in the car which was quite a ways away and knowing they have good bladder control, I just put them on the toilet then pulled up their pants with no diaper. They would be fine until we got to the car. We went back to the shoes where Chris was still trying to make up his mind and Jen was trying on track shoes. The twins were very restless and attempted to try on every shoe they could reach and they barked at some doggy slippers. I ran after Andrea to get her out of something and when I returned Andrew was standing stark naked except for a big pair of shoes on his feet and his own shoes and clothes laying on the floor. A lady passing by was laughing and gave me a look that assured me she understood and had been through interesting experiences herself as a mom. The young girl helping Chris and Jen looked embarrassed and tried hard to look unaffected by the incident.
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| Fun in the backyard |
I made clown cupcakes for Aaron to take to school for his Half Birthday.
Had another bird fly down our chimney. Took over 2 hours to get it outside.
We all went to SLC for Grandpa Tronier's 90 bday party. It was a wonderful turnout and everyone slowly trickled away except us Klingler's. We were enjoying being together so much.
Jen has a job at the SV laundry. She's earning money to help earn her was to basketball camp at Ricks next month.
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JULY
Coulters came to visit. They came by train and we picked them up in Shoshone at 1am. We had a great time together...took them to Kirkham hotsprings, Sun Peak and played along the sandy beach of the river, Hulen Meadows park, climbing the Mt. across the street, SV ponds and ice rink, rented a movie and had sticky popcorn...and we kind of dragged them around with us in all the things we had going on including a baptism. They were here about a week. We took them back to the train station in Shoshone which left at 5am, so no sleep that night which left just one day (Friday) to do laundry, packing, house in order etc to get ready for our 2 week trip to Philmont, including meeting Laurel half way to pick up Dannah who was going with us. Oh goodness life can be so exhausting.
Kirkham Hotsprings
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| Jen just loves to play basketball. |
Philmont Scout Camp (see next page)
Jen's had basketball camp in Rexburg right after Philmont. She stayed with Mom Clarke. Mom brought her back afterward and we enjoyed her visit with us.
Chris and Shar went on a rafting trip.
Aaron enjoyed a Father son outing with Chris to Manipu. He just couldn't wait and everyday kept asking how many days.
Jen and Shar had Girls camp.
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| Cole, Aaron, Emily, Toby |
Our family did sacrament mtg on pioneer day. Chris sang The Lord's Prayer then Aaron & Emily spoke. We all sang a two part Pioneer song (You Don't Have to Push a Handcart) then Shar gave the story of "Ellen's Blue Blanket" then Jen spoke comparing the gospel to repelling . Congregation sang "America" then I spoke on Faith Hope & Charity then Chris added his testimony to mine as we ran out of time for him to give his talk.
AUG
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| Emily, Aaron, Cole & Toby Citrit at Godfrey's Cabin |
Jen has already started cross country. It's every weeknight in Hailey. I think I'm looking forward to Jen getting her drivers license.
I made invitations and invited our kids to an FHE slumber party on the deck to ponder the heavens but we got rained out. We postponed it to the meteor shower but that ended up very cloudy and cold.
Brenda Weaver came for a visit. We did an FHE potluck in Hulen Park and invited everyone in the branch who wanted to come. Nice turnout.
I had a 20 year class reunion in Rexburg but I decided I was enjoying visiting with the family way more than I'd enjoy going to the reunion so I didn't go. ha ha.
Photos from our trip to Rexburg:
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Began the plans for building the bedroom above the garage. (We have Em, Aaron and twins all in one bedroom right now.)
Chris & Jen went on a youth float trip and then camped at Manipu. I took the rest of the kids (plus Whitney Chandler) and went to Rexburg for a Klingler family reunion.
On our way to Twin Falls (for Jen's viola lesson) Andrea threw up all over herself and Shar. Poor Shar. We borrowed clothes for her from Birches and then I ran into DI and got something for Andrea to wear. Andrew threw up on the way home. Brought Katie and David home with us so that Brian & Tami can get away for awhile and work out some problems. I'll return the kids in a few days.
Jen had a slumber party at Liza's while Chris went with YM on a Baker Lake campout & fishing trip. Shar and Katie camped in the backyard and David, Aaron and Emily in sleeping bags in the family room.
A funny thing happened to Shar & Katie while camping in the back. At 6:30am the sprinklers turned on and they were getting showered on! Shar ran out and moved the sprinkler then turned the faucet on the deck thinking she was turning it off but it turned on some more that were also hitting the tent. She moved them then ran upstairs confused and upset. It took me a moment to figure out what was going on!
Some pictures Grandma Clarke took in Deer Park
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Twin Toddler Toons
Andrea got into red fingernail polish - all over herself, her dress and the bathroom rug. She swallowed a whole card of chewable Dramamine and I had to call poison control and administer Ipecac. She got 2 dozen eggs out of the fridge and a pan out of the cupboard and cracked every egg into the pan. She did an amazing job! She pulled the trash into the kitchen and put all the shells into it. I didn't catch her until it was too late so we scrambled them up and ate them.
Andrew urinated in a box of granola. I found him in the bathroom playing in the sink. The tub was filling with water and toilet brush was in the toilet. In the store the other day Andrew was singing and singing "zip a dee do dah zip a dee ay my oh my what a wonaderful day"... It was adorable.
The twins really watch out for each other. They don't like to be separated. Andrew is such a gentleman to Andrea. Today I had my arms full of Rhubarb from the garden and Andrea wanted carried. I told her I couldn't because my arms were full so Andrew ran over to her and tried to lift her up and carry her. When he couldn't do that he just took her hand and walked with her to the house. It so warmed by heart and was the sweetest thing to see.
The other day Andrew out of the blue said "Jesus coming over". About 15 minutes later he jumped on my lap and with great excitement in his voice and his hands holding my face to his said "Jesus coming over". An hour or so later when Jen got home he ran to her and said again "Jesus coming over". He told me again later the same day. How I wish I could peek into his mind.
SEPT
Kids are back in school. They are all enjoying their classes but Aaron gets homesick. Jen has a really heavy load plus cross-country. In her last meet in Jerome she came in first for Wood River! Shar is in volleyball and pep band so they both are going from 7:30am to 6pm. Too long. Seminary (in Hailey) starts after labor day so Jen's day will start at 6:30am.
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Aaron went on a field trip to the head waters of the Salmon River coming up and he was really nervous about going. Several times he mentioned to me that he didn't want to go to school Friday because it was just a field trip and he wasn't anxious to turn in his permission slip to go. The night before, as I was tucking him in at bedtime, he told me he didn't have a good feeling about going on the field trip and he was worried something would happen. I then wondered what I should do and worried that maybe his feelings were legitimate and even if they were not, I wouldn't want to teach him to ignore his feelings. In privacy I knelt in fervent prayer. The Lord has told us to pray over all things. I needed to know if it was safe for Aaron to go on this field trip. I sat still and waited for an answer, fully expecting to sit until I got one. The answer came without words but with a sweet calmness and just pure knowledge that yes all would be well. I then asked the Lord to pour out his holy spirit and help Aaron to not be afraid. When Aaron woke up I asked him how he felt about going on the field trip and he cheerfully said "fine" and went about getting ready without a moment of hesitation or worry. He came home all excited and happy that he had gone a such a fun outing and he even got to catch frogs!
I found Andrew sitting on the table dumping handfuls of granola into the gallon of milk.
Jen gave an FHE on putting on the armor of God. Em made rice crispy treats and Shar made chocolate chip cookies.
Life makes us have to be so busy and juggle so much and go so many places. The twins cry and cry for me to stay home.
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| Happy Birthday Chris! |
Mom Clarke came for Chris's birthday then Paula and Rock came to visit. They brought us 3 boxes of peaches off their backyard trees! We loved filling up with peaches and then I canned them.
Went to Rexburg for Mom's retirement reception.
Jen has to do a bug collection for science but she can't stand killing the bugs. Em and Aaron have collected almost all the bugs for her.
Jen came in first place for Wood River again in the Cross Country meet in Mt. Home.
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Sept 26, 1993 Sunday during testimony meeting Andrew suddenly jumped off my lap and said "my turn, I go up there." He was headed for the microphone so Emily went up with him and held him up and he bore his testimony! He muttered some unidentifiable words, threw in the word blessing and church and said loud and clear "Amen". Everyone chuckled and thought it so cute and I was surprised and bursting with delight. Andrea then said she wanted a turn so Jen took her up there but Drea got scared and swatted the mic away. Everyone in our family ended up bearing testimonies today. After church we played volleyball in the backyard then what we call roof ball. The kids just love throwing the ball over the roof to those on the other side. Later Emily and Aaron played chess.
October
When general conference came on, the twins heard the tabernacle choir singing and ran into the room and stared at the TV. Then one of them (I can’t remember who) said “Look! There’s halleluiah” A week or so later Andrea was looking at a brochure from temple square and inside was a picture of the choir in the tabernacle and she said “Here’s halleluiah!”
Made a trip to SLC (via Rexburg to pick up Mom) to see the new movie Legacy on Temple Square in the visitors center. It is a beautiful and touching movie.
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| Oh dear, someone broke into Shar's bedroom! |
It's so interesting. The twins continue to tell us "Jesus coming over." Several times they've said "Jesus coming over on Sunday." Saturday Sharilyn and Andrea were playing outside and Drea said to her "Jesus coming over." Shar asked her when and Drea didn't answer but pointed up in the sky to the east and said "Over there." Sunday she said it again and I said "He is?!" and she said "Ya and a horse coming over." I said "a horse? Is Jesus riding on a horse?" and she said "Yup". Hmmm
November
We seem to have another child. Nathan is 7 and his mom, Jill, is very sick in the hospital so he will be staying with us for an indefinite amount of time. I even have a notarized certificate from his mom turning him over to us. I feel rather overwhelmed with life and I've gone through a great struggle trying to feel happy to help but I feel more like "Help!"
We are going to a temple sealing in Boise Friday evening then on our way home I'll drop Chris off in Carey for his stake meetings. Next weekend we'll be in Provo for Chris recruiting at BYU. We will leave weds evening. Jen and Shar will stay with friends and we'll take the others. We have not had a free Saturday since Sept. 18th.
December
While in Utah (Chris recruiting) we visited Temple Square etc. The twins loved it and talked about it for a month and wanted to go back. They loved the tabernacle and large statue of Christ. Andrea ran over with arms out and said "Can I hold it?" She pleaded to hug the statue of Jesus.
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| Music fun at Grandma Clarke's |
This weekend we took care of Emily's class pets which are two rats. They were so fun. They are much cleaner and don't smell like the mice we took care of before. The twins were crazy over them and Jen loved them so much she decided to clean her room so that Chris would soften his heart and let us have one. (It didn't work...he wouldn't even discuss it.) In cleaning her room, Jen found her long lost pocket knife. While sitting on the bed reading scriptures, she accidently stabbed her right hand with it and had to have 4 stitches.
Shar is singing in the Community Christmas Choir. Jen is on the starting 5 of the basketball team. Tonight Emily is in the school Christmas program. Tomorrow Shar sings in Gooding. Thurs she babysits and Jen has a home game with Buhl. Friday Shar has a band concert and Jen has a game in Richfield. (Poor Jen's dribble and shooting hand is still hurting.) Saturday Shar has babysitting until 2:30 then singing at Giacobbi at 5. Jen has a home game with Challis at 6 and it is our branch Christmas party at 6:30. Chris has meetings in Carey both Thurs and Fri. I can't find a sub for RS Sunday so I'm preparing to teach it.
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| Since we don't have a kitty, I painted one in our window. Also used black tape to make little squares. |
Jen had a game in Burley and the bus broke down on the way home. They had to borrow a Burley bus and she didn't get home until after midnight then up and out for seminary the next morning. Hhhhh!
Aaron gave an oral report on Germany.
Jen and Shar went on a food drive. They continue to be popular babysitters.
Chris took Jen's stitches out of her hand. We decided we could do it just as good as the doctor and save $45.00.
Emily was named Principal Pal at school.
We have been having choir practices for the Christmas program. Chris has a solo but hasn't been able to make it to any practices due to other meetings. He will skip the next meeting so he can practice.
Jennifer gave me a couple violin lessons on Bestima's violin. I've practiced and can now play Silent Night. Not pretty but I can play it and for some reason it fills me with such a feeling I didn't expect to feel. I don't know what it is but I love to play it so much I almost cry. It must be Grandma's spirit that is still impressed in the instrument.
As I look ahead every evening is booked until Christmas Eve. I see that we haven't had a Saturday off (just a day with nothing booked in it) since Sept 18th. Even though it is such a busy time, and it is for everyone, there is still a feeling of peace when we stop and take a deep breath and look at the beautiful snow covered mountains that surround us and ponder the power that created them. Even though Christ wasn't actually born in December, it is so nice to celebrate his birth at this time of year when all is brilliant white and sparkly.
We trade names every year for Christmas and Dave & Erin had our name. This is David and Erin giving our kids a couple Gerbils for Christmas! They called us to ask permission and a miracle happened! Chris said yes! There were two and they must have been male and female because we ended up with many gerbils.
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| Happy 8th Birthday Aaron!! |
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| Master's at Lego and Lincoln Logs! |
