RIP Great Grandma Marion

Last month Great Grandma Marion passed away.  Here is Q at her funeral, held on a beautiful day.  All of the Grand-daughters and Great Grand-daughters were lucky to choose a piece of jewelry from her huge collection.  Quincy chose chunky clip on earrings, I chose a silver bracelet with daisies, and Millie chose a gold necklace.  She is remembered and loved by everyone.   We are all so happy for her - imagining the reunion with ith her husband who passed so long ago!  Here is her obituary:

1923 ~ 2013
On April 27, 2013 Marion Bee Larsen Clark passed peacefully from this life due to natural causes. She had just celebrated her 90th birthday and had lived a very full life! 
Marion was born April 21, 1923 in Provo, Utah to Parley L. and Jane Bee Larsen. She grew up in southwest Provo attending Franklin Elementary School, Dixon Jr. High School, Provo High School and BYU. It was at Dixon Jr. High School that Marion met Don Schow Clark. According to Marion, it was "love at first sight!" Don and Marion were sealed for time and all eternity on September 23, 1942 in the Salt Lake City Temple. 
After Don's service in the Coast Guard during World War II, the couple made their home in Provo. Don and Marion were greatly blessed to be parents of eight children, five sons and three daughters. In August of 1960, six weeks after the birth of their baby girl Cindy, Don lost his life in a small plane crash. Marion's strength and courage, with the added loving support of her father and mother, allowed her to continue to raise her family in an atmosphere of love and security. 
In 1962, Marion welcomed an eight year old Indian placement student, Frank Begay, into her home where he was greatly loved. To him, Marion was simply known as "Mom." Marion devoted her whole life to her children as well as to her service in the LDS Church. Her callings included Cub Scout leader, Primary President, Relief Society Teacher, Relief Society President, Counselor in the Stake RS Presidency and the calling she most treasured, an Ordinance worker in Provo Temple for over 17 years! 
As Marion's children grew up and left the "nest" she started dating again. In 1980, she married Hyrum Long and they were married for 7 years. In 1990, Marion married Earl Finlayson with whom she served a wonderful church mission to Scotland before his death in 1999. In 2000, Marion again married and spent the next nine years with Don Nelson until his death in 2009. 
Marion was living at the Seville in Orem at the time of her passing. 

*This picture of Don Clark {Sam's Grandpa} was at the funeral and I couldn't help but see Uncle Adam's resemblance!

Dates with BS

Amidst the chaos of end of school stuff and summer beginning,

BS and I have managed to squeeze in a few dates.  We do try to keep our priorities straight :)

We love going to the movies and do that quite a bit, but mix it up every now and then.

At a Salt Lake Real game {with Russ and Holly Smith}.  Before the game our friends took us to eat at an Indian restaurant and I tried lamb for the first time in my life. 

 On a bike ride through Highland, American Fork, and Alpine.  We love to do this together.

I like to let him ride in front :)

Moms & Muffins

It's almost July and I'm still trying to wrap up school stuff from May!  I think this about does it.

The week before Mother's Day, the kindergarten kids invited their Moms to "Moms and Muffins."  The Moms were the guests of honor, with entertainment that included the kids singing songs to us and some silly dances.  Then they gave us a flower planted in a pot they had made and we ate muffins together.

Super fun :)

Dance Festival '13

I say this every year, but I swear the time between the annual school dance festival is getting shorter and shorter.  I feel like I was just posting about the one last year!  Sheesh, time needs to slow down!

This year's festival was, as always, really fun to watch.  And the weather was beautiful.  Quincy danced first to "Lollipop, lollipop, oh lolly lolly lolly...."

She looked adorable and did a great job!

Then it was Will's turn.  He danced to "Feel this Moment" by Pit Bull and Christina Aguilera.

I was a little surprised about how he got really into the dance and wasn't embarrassed at all. 

What a cool dude!

And then it was fifth grade.  They danced to Footloose, the Blake Shelton version.

The first half, they danced on their own but then the second half they danced with partners.  Sambo happened to get paired up with Lilly, his "crush."  He was such a gentleman and they did so good! 

 

This was the first year that Millie wasn't dancing {junior high} and we didn't have a little rugrat watching with us.  I can't believe we have reached this point already.  But I can't complain...walking with Sam to the school and sitting outside in beautiful weather watching our kids perform ain't too bad.  

 By the time the festival ended, it was almost noon and getting hot.  So we checked the kids out of school early, grabbed some lunch and a Snoasis, and went to the local splash park to cool off.  Quincy's buddy Connor came with us too.

Speechless

Our little Q.

Our little baby!

A friend {at cocomphotography.com} took these pics of Quinny.  It was quite impulsive - I noticed that her new "grown-up" tooth on top was coming in fast.  I wanted to capture her with baby teeth before they are all gone.  She was totally a good sport about it and seemed to actually like wearing her cute dress and fancy hair.  She just did whatever she was told.  I love her big dark eyes!

I know I'm her Mom, but I vote that she is THEE most adorable six year old around.  Even better, she is even more adorable in her personality and on the inside!

When I saw her pictures I was SPEECHLESS.

I love her more than she will ever, ever know.

Here are some of my favorites:

Play Ball!

Can I just say that I really, really like to watch baseball.  I know a lot of people think it is too long and boring, but I have thoroughly enjoyed this baseball season and really look forward to the boy's baseball games.  I think it is because as they get older the games get more exciting, and also because it is so nice to sit outside in the warm Spring weather (well, mostly warm).  It is also fun to sit in the crowd with friends and family and cheer them on.

Will up to bat

This year, Sambo and Wilbur both play on the Monday Night Lights league but on different teams.  Sambo is a Diamondback and Will is a Knight.  Almost every FHE on Monday nights from mid-April through June have been spent at the ballpark.  Almost all of their games have been at the same time and the fields are right next to each other so it has been perfect to sit in the middle and be able to watch both  boys play.  They still have a few games left but have won about half of them.  This Super League is tough competition! We have loved having Grandpas and Grandmas, Aunts and Uncles come from Provo and Morgan to cheer them on!  Especially Grandpa Jim and Grandma Judy...they have been there almost every week.  Thank you!

Both boys also play on the city recreation league.  In this league Sambo was also a Diamondback {same coach, Buck} and Will played for the Red Sox.  The games were played at a park really close so it was real convenient. Both their teams went into the play-offs in 1st place and when the tournament was all said and done - Sam's team won 2nd and Will's team won 3rd.  Not too shabby!

Sam's strengths are hitting (when he isn't being mental), running/stealing bases, playing 2nd base, and pitching 1-2 innings.  Will's strengths are hitting, throwing, and catching any ball.  He mostly played 2nd base, 3rd base, and left field.  

Oh, and of course BS is at every game and practice helping to coach.  Somehow I missed getting any pictures of him.  Too bad because he is really cute in his coach's uniform.

Sam throwing a pitch

Sam ready to "Smack it out there" as Grandma Cindy would shout :)

Playing 2nd base

Will playing 1st base

But we were not the only ones that loved going to the games, Quincy loved to go too.

I wonder why?...

Will and Jack took advantage of Sam's games, riding the scooters to the nearby park:

We look forward to a few more baseball games and will be sad when this season is over...unless it gets really hot.  We hope the boys will choose to continue to play baseball next Spring!