Happy 5th Birthday to Our Clara!

Clara is always moving

Clara just turned 5!  We are so glad that this energetic, spunky, and at times mischeivous little girl belongs to our family.

Clara started preschool this year and loves learning.  She has learned to write her own name and likes to copy letters.  

Clara gets up early and is always moving.  She loves being outside, playing soccer, going to gymnastics and most of all playing with friends.  She also loves animals and wants to keep every animal she finds, even cockroaches.

Clara loves to score goals, even if she has to steal the ball from her own teammate!

Clara loves her family, including grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles and cousins.  Lately she has gone out of her way to help her immediate family, making beds and cleaning up their bedrooms to show them that she cares for them.

At Island Park last summer

With the Moulton cousins

With Shad's family at Silver Lake

Grandma Arvi's birthday cakes are an annual tradition

Clara actually fell asleep on this bike ride

Ship mates forever

First day of preschool

Clara loves to pose

Her favorite hat

Clara loves to play with mom

Always outside, even if it's freezing

 

Happy birthday Clara!  We can't wait to see what crazy thing you do next.

Utah Lake

The weather stayed so warm throughout most of September so we made sure to make the most of it and took Shad's brother and sister out for some more water action.  We had some bad water days on Utah Lake this summer, but we took the risk again and this time turned out to be great.  Everyone was able to get out on the water.

Mieg got up on slalom with no problems.  She even started cutting back and forth!

Brenda took advantage of the good water to and made some great cuts!

Cat (Mieg's friend) was able to get up on the wake board!

Trynn had fun...

...and even got some air!

And so did Shad!

We bought a trainer ski for the girls to use.  They both love it.  Isabel broke her arm earlier in the month so she didn't stand this time, but she still got out there.  Clara absolutely loves being out there and would stay all day if we let her.

We can't wait for next season to start!!!

Isabel's baptism

September 3rd was a special day this year.  Not only was it Shad's birthday, it was also the day Isabel was baptized!  Isabel had been looking forward to her baptism day for months; she could hardly wait for it to happen.  Isabel was glowing that whole day.

We were blessed to have so many family and friends come share our special day with us.  We know that there were many who wished that they could have been there. 

We were glad that some of Isabel's birth family were able to come.  They are a very special part of our lives and we love them very much.

We are so proud of Isabel and the choice she made to be baptized and confirmed a member of  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Isabel knows how to recognize when the Holy Ghost is with her.   She is a great example of someone who tries to do what is right.  

We love you so much Isabel!!!  

"Recapture" the Memories

Last July we headed down to Blanding, UT to spend some time with Brenda's family.   We took our boat and had a couple of awesome days at  Recapture Reservoir.  It was perfect!  We were the only ones out there most of the time.  The kids had more fun swimming in the water than actually being on the boat.  A close second was getting bounced around on the tube. Mindy and Grandma both took a hit for the team and spent their time back and forth between the beach and the house depending on what the little ones needed.

We didn't spend ALL of our time on the water.  Jacob got baptized.  We stayed up late playing our favorite game, Balderdash.  And the men did some demolition work on Mike's front porch.

Notice the 3 supervisors ;)  Isn't that how construction works?

All 9 grandchildren + Mitzi :-)

 Next time we'll be sure to get Mindy in our pic

 4 handsome guys!

 The best brothers and sister ever!  Love you guys!!!