"And now when I am baptised, I'll follow His example..."

Dallin and Cauley before the baptism

On Saturday, July 16th, we loaded up the minivan and headed down to the Stake Center for Dallin's baptism. It was a wonderful thing, especially after seeing the big surprise that came walking into the doors ten minutes before it started. Jeff and Jaclyn had driven down for a little vacation here in AZ, just so happening to coordinate with Dallin's baptism. (WE LOVE YOU GUYS SOOOOO MUCH! Thank you!) Since we had the majority of family there our Bishop, Bishop Braye started 10 minutes early. It was really weird, but we got out of the primary room just in time for the next ward's baptism. (Our family was all there, but that was all. Our friends and neighbors showed up about 15 minutes later and helped fill the room with love and joy.) Anyways, it was very sweet and a wonderful baptism. Jaclyn ended up getting to say the opening prayer, then Grandpa Clark gave a talk on baptism. (What's the #1 thing you gotta do to win? Anyone remember?) Then all of the Clark Family Grand kids sang the primary song "When Jesus Christ Was Baptised" accompanied by Grandma Kathy. We then had the baptism which Cauley performed the ordinance with Brad Greer and Ryan Johnson (2 of Dallin's uncles) as witnesses, and while Cauley & Dallin changed their clothes, Jennifer Johnson and Stephanie Greer sang the song "If the Savior Stood Beside Me" accompanied by Grandma Kathy. It took them a long time to change as Dallin couldn't do any buttons on his pants or shirt because of his thumb and then after they were dressed, Cauley had to re-bandage and dry his thumb. (see previous post if you didn't hear about his thumb incident!) When they came back from changing, I gave the talk on the Holy Ghost and then Dallin was confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints by his dad while Grandpa Clark, Jefferson Clark, Ryan Johnson, Brad Greer, and Jeremy Contreras stood in the circle. Bishop Braye closed the meeting by welcoming Dallin as the newest member of the church for our ward. Grandma Kathy gave the closing prayer before we all went out into the heat to head over to our house. Thank you to all who made it! Thanks for making it such a momentous occasion!

The Clark Family cousins practicing their song before the baptism.

Grandma Kathy, Grandpa Clark, and Dallin

Bryce, Aunt Stephanie, Dallin, Parker, Uncle Brad, and Taylor Greer

Uncle Ryan, Tye (being held), Brent, Dallin, Aunt Jennifer, and Mike Johnson

Jaclyn and Jeff Clark and Dallin

This is a key chain Uncle Jeff and Aunt Jac got for Dallin. He was so excited!

Here Grandma Kathy is giving Dallin a set of scriptures. She bore her testimony of them and told him how special these words of our prophets of old are to her and gave him these scriptures from her and Grandpa Clark. (The green scripture case is a "temporary" one as the black one was on back order, but we'll see if Dallin can part with his green case when the new one comes!)

"Thanks Grandpa! I love you!"

CHEESE!
(Our BIG crock pot FULL of nacho cheese)

Dallin has been asking for months now for a nacho bar after his baptism. Wish fulfilled- we had many toppings including nacho cheese, sour cream, tomatoes, olives, onions, salsa, beans, meat, and shredded cheese. I think it went over well...

Grandpa Clark holding the 2 youngest, Taylor and Halli

Good food, good friends (and family) = GOOD TIMES!

Round 2? 3?...? :)

Dallin's 2 best buddies, Carson (right) and Dalton (left). I really do believe Dallin could have sat there between his friends and eaten nachos all day if we let him!

This cutie liked the nacho cheese. He's also in our new nursery class at church. (maybe I could try bring nacho cheese for snack sometime, Brianna!)

So much fun! (Notice all the girl toys are still in the girl bucket- ALL boys here!

Lesson Learned

Dallin leaned the hard way about knives this week. After piano on Wednesday, Grandma had given him a piece of candy before she excused herself to the bathroom. Dallin couldn't get it open so after trying the scissors, he tried with a stake knife. Let's just say there was blood everywhere (including back behind him on the microwave!) as he screamed to go find Grandma. Good thing Cauley was on his way already. I know the picture doesn't show it, but the cut goes through the tip of his thumb, to his thumbnail on the other side. 6 stitches later, he felt better. (I know I am no DR., but it looks like it could have used a few more?)

Couldn't be a vacation without car trouble!

Lookie here. Not a fun way to start the trip home. We actually left on Friday, driving down to Utah where the kids and my dad went to the Hill Air Force Base museum. Me and my mom went shopping at Tai Pan. That night we stayed at Aunt Carolyn's house. (Thanks again Aunt Carolyn!)

We left around 4 am AZ time and had just got off the freeway at Nephi and had driven about 4-5 miles before it felt like we hit something and suddenly Cauley was fighting to keep the car upright. (He did a good job!) This is what we found:

Seriously?

There really wasn't any safe place so I made the kids get out to be safe and stand a little ways into the wheat. It was cold and early! Good thing I brought blankets!

Cauley did an good job changing and putting on the spare tire which turned out to be a normal tire. We went back to Nephi to Big O and had them check everything out before hitting the road for the rest of the adventure home.

Mater greeted us in Gunnison. This was a real old tow truck someone had painted and parked on the side of the road.



IDAHO!!!!

Most years, we are lucky enough for a vacation 2 times a year to a cooler place- Idaho. It's weird to go back home to such a small town after living here in AZ for the past 7 1/2 years! I love it though! (It's the only time we get to see any of my family since they don't come down here- ehem, MOM and Jeni!)

This trip has been by far my favorite so far! I got to drive to Shoshone with my mom to pick up my Grandma and Cheyanne, two of the many familyy members on my mom's side I haven't seen for at least 7 years. Although it meant I was riding in the car an additional 5 hours after our long drive to Chubbuck a few days before, I really enjoyed it!

Jeff and Jaclyn also drove from Utah up to stay with us a few days. I have to say, I LOVE Jaclyn!! I am so grateful for the time we got to spend together and I want her to move down here soon so she and I can hang out more often! While they were here, we went for a short little nature walk up in Cherry Springs with the kids. My mom and dad also watched the kids for us after that while the 4 of us went out to lunch at my all-time favorite place: Buddy's. Yum! After lunch we shopped for a few minutes, then went and got ice cream, then headed back to my mom's to get ready for Scott's BBQ.

My brother, Scott, threw a BBQ while we were there for a few of his friends' birthdays. The kids had a blast on the slip n slide and even more fun with the water guns and hose. There was lots of food and plenty of Scott's friends for entertainment. Thanks Scott for the party!

The next day was Sunday and we enjoyed going to church with Jac and Jeff (I kept saying Jefflyn and Jac! hahahaha!!!) and then we headed up to my Uncle Dan's house for the annual Ruth family 4th of July BBQ. YUM!!! Here is where we sadly had to say goodbye to Jeff and Jaclyn, but it was still good food and good company. At least they got to eat before hitting the road.



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Weston "sneaking" some cake batter.



After fixing Brooklynn's cast with this awesome duct tape Jeff and Cauley picked out, Tyli hurt her nose and said it was "broken." She kept crying about it until my sister made a "cast" for it out of the tape. Like magic, it worked- Tyli stopped crying and enjoyed her ice cream, what she didn't get all over her face that is!

 I believe this was the absolute lamest parade we have EVER been too!

Everyone waiting for the parade: (from right to left: McKade, Brooklynn, Mitch, Colton, Cauley, Carson, Dallin, Halli, Me, Gretchen, Luke, Jeni, Chey, My mom, Grandma Scott, and Tyli.) I don't see Weston, but I know he was there. My dad was at work.

The parade lasted all of maybe 5 minutes and it didn't even have a band, drill team or cheerleaders, ok, really NOTHING of interest! It was horrible, but everyone did pick up around a handful of candy.

As soon as the parade started the wind came up and then came the rain. It was miserable and we were right in the open facing it.

Keeping warm, Grandma?

Wet and cold, but happy to wave that flag!

 That night we went back to Scott's house to watch the fireworks. They shoot them off up on the hill at the fairgrounds, and let me tell you, NOTHING beats being up there to watch them up close and personal, but we had a great view from my brother's house and could even see the ground show from there.

Saying goodbye to my Grandma Scott and Chey. Please excuse the one-eye look.) Scott, me, Grandma, Chey, and Halli

Are you sure it's safe to be close to them there elk? Tyli thought they were going to bite her!

 My sister and her family now live in Aberdeen. They live really in the middle of nowhere. These elk live right next door. We went out to their house one night for a weinni roast and swimming.

Quick, Cauley, get your gun!

Um, Tyli, your top is on backwards. Letting us see her personality!

My favorite picture of the cousins. I love watching how well they play together and how much they love each other.

My dad.

Nope not camping- just getting ready to roast hot dogs.

The little ones swimming. Um, I TRIED to hide their nakiness.

An impromptu photo shoot at Ross Park

I'll talk more about our trip to Idaho in the next post, but I had to share these pictures my husband took. On Friday, day 3 of our Idaho vacation, my mom and I drove 2 1/2 hours to Shoshone to pick up my Grandma and cousin Cheyanne so that they could come spend the weekend and see our family which they haven't met before. It was a nice, peaceful drive and really nice to see my grandma and Aunt Becky who I haven't seen in 8 years! While we were on the road for a total of 5 hours, Cauley took the kids to Ross Park in Pocatello to go climb on the rocks and play for a while. He decided to put together an very impromptu photo shoot. (Notice the kids aren't dressed real nice and Tyli's hair isn't even combed, but hey, dad's don't care!)

I climbed on these rocks when I was a little girl. Some of them are really big, others perfect for my little climbers. All of them are really slippery due to weather, time, and the zillion different people who have climbed them.

My adorable 14 month old!

Let that personality show!

One of my absolute favorites!

Man I could eat those sweet cheeks!

Isn't my 4 year old beautiful, uncombed/done hair and all!

He's getting too big, too fast!

Nice picture taking, Dallin. I think Halli's had enough though!

Dallin turns 8

Can you believe I have an 8 year old? I sure can't! Dallin turned 8 last month and has been loving every minute of his "older" self. For his birthday dinner, he requested my homemade pizza. Happy to oblige, D-Man! Since it was such a special day, we busted out the Soda. (We're not usually soda pop drinkers, but I needed it for a recipe I made my father-in-law for his birthday dessert.)

Halli thinks we need to say prayer after each bite of food. We usually just tell her "amen!" and she's happy.

 This was a year for a party for Dallin. (My kids get one every 2 years.) Dallin requested a swimming or water party. Cauley's aunt and uncle have a great pool and an amazing back yard that could take on all of us adults and kids, so they kindly said we could use their pool. Thanks Turleys!

Cori, Aunt Jeni, Makenna, Jennifer holding the new baby Charlie (Cori's new baby) and Halli keeping cool in the shade while watching the swimmers.

Grandma and Ryan keeping an eye on the cousins.

Cauley grilling hot dogs for everyone.

Dinner! This was some unspoken agreement between the kids that they all had to sit inside the trampoline bars to eat- and stay there until they were done- which they did!

Blowing out those candles. Dallin requested blue cupcakes (the cake part matches the frosting) inside ice cream cones. I also made some graham crackers sandwiches with leftover frosting and those seemed to go faster than the cupcakes!

This was the hard part. Tyli had gotten her stitches out 2 days before and since the wound was still healing, she wasn't allowed to go swimming for another week. She sat by this fence and cried the entire night. Here is her daddy trying to console her and probably making a deal about swimming at a future time.