In Case You're Wondering...

It is not for a lack of love or desire that I haven't blogged about

Emily.

I am learning and I am truly understanding that when a child

is in her twentieth year that she is more than capable and even much better

 about sharing her life with the rest of the world than even an adoring mother can.

Even though there are loads of things I would love to write about Emily,

happier I could not be that she is a bright, lovely, sweet and smart adult.

From here on out, Emily's happenings, celebrations and thoughts will be autobiographical.

Love my Emily xoxo

Musings of a mother

This morning, as I wait (again) for the plumber to apparently not show up (again), to look at the leak under my kitchen sink

I decided to sort through random photos.

*

The best photos around our house always have Emily's fingerprints on them and it got me thinking about her, and the three other females I live with, all my daughters.

A few weeks ago I was lamenting my choice to not take the good camera on our Hawaiian getaway. This morning I realized it wasn't a bad choice after all.

Because while Dan and I wondered (occasionally) what the four girls where up to the entire week we left them home alone, little did we know that they were innocently documenting their good times for us.

I love how Emily has always taken photos of her shoes and anyone else's for that matter. I'm pretty sure she possesses some innate passion for them.

While I heard through Julia's joyful, breathless descriptions of their impromptu sprinkler rendezvous, I had no idea how they looked soaking wet or how hard they had all laughed at the randomness of it all.

Emily, the oldest and natural leader of the bunch designated herself as evening fun coordinator, if you will. Each evening she planned a fun and unexpected adventure. Not surprising, she loaded the girls in her car and took them to one of her favorite spot's in the county.

And as Em and I sat at the kitchen table this morning over homemade bran muffins and talked about her forthcoming day, I couldn't help but secretly admit to myself how lucky I am to have this girl home one more year. I'm even luckier that she has the most wonderful way of expressing herself. Check out her blog and you'll know what I mean.

Thanks for the brilliant documentation!

18

Watch out world...

Emily is 18 today!

It really and truly seems like yesterday that Emily was born right here in Provo, Utah.

We've bounced Emily around over the years....Southern California and Atlanta, Georgia.

But, her heart has always been in Utah.

Eighteen years ago Dan and I had no idea what bringing a new life into the world really meant. We only knew that we were excited beyond belief. Her birth was right out of a textbook (which I can only fully appreciate now). The magic of a baby being born and then the amazement which followed as we realized that we were entrusted with a piece of heaven... a brand new baby.

Flash forward and today Emily attended Relief Society with me... by the way... it was so cool to have her sitting next to me. I know I'm being sappy, but there is nothing more rewarding and wonderful than to see your sweet baby girl grow and progress and move forward into the world a confident, happy, and genuinely good person. She is still a slice of heaven in our home!

We love you Emily and happy birthday!!!

Timpview High School Graduation

It's official... she graduated!

Grandma and Grandpa Clark made a special trip to be there.

Graduation took place Thursday, May 27th at 2:00pm at

Utah Valley University.

We're grateful that Dan made it from the airport just in time for the program to begin.

I left a little early from the program to get home and prepare for an open house we had afterwards for family and friends.

Hilary and Hannah were there.

Julia decided to bypass the long event in favor of parties and such at school.

(She had already sat through seminary graduation a few days before).

What a memorable day for the family!

Emily

I wish I could take credit for these photos--but I guess I can take partial credit for this child--because she is my eldest and she will be a High School Graduate very soon.

To see more of these awesome photos go here:

www.merephoto.com/blog/

Thanks Meredith!

My High School Senior

Emily had her senior photos taken this evening.

We traversed through downtown Springville, taking advantage of amazing brick backdrops, long, tree-lined driveways, and a few cool alleys.

Emily stood in doorways, in the middle of roads, looking glamourous while drivers and pedestrians passed by with smiles on their faces.

(Notice the "E" in the background)

I probably creeped out the photographer when I pulled out Julia's point and shoot Polaroid to capture the capturing that was going on.

It was so fun to tag along and in my solitude reflect on my little girl that is pretty much an adult. I can't wait to see the final results of these photos!

Congratulations Emily!

I know I've posted this collage before,

but it captures Emily

through the years.

Today she has a GREAT reason to celebrate.

She was officially accepted to BYU a few weeks ago.

But now she learned she can attend BYU on a full tuition scholarship.

YIPPEE, HOORAY, ETC!

When this one works hard at something she does it well, very well.

Not only our we completely proud of this tremendous accomplishment,

more importantly,

she is also a wonderful daughter and genuinely good person.

Wow, I'm so blessed to me her mother!

Thanks Emi for all the homework you help with,

for the being the computer geek our family really needs,

for driving anywhere for anyone when they need it,

for being the calm and peaceful person that you are,

for knowing how to take photographs and sharing them,

for always making good choices,

and for just being YOU!

Congrats on everything--you deserve it!
We love you to pieces!

Emily and Her Best Friend

So Emily and her bff, Matisse, met the very first day of kindergarten.

They are what you call kindred spirits--a once in a lifetime kind of friend, a very best friend.

Today happens to be her bff's 18th birthday.

Why do I blog about such an event?

Because as a parent you pray and hope that your child will find a friend just.like.her.

Now these two are college bound...

I have no doubt that someday when they are grayer and older, they'll still be dear friends.

We love you Mati and wish you the best birthday ever!

Dear Princeton University and the like,

Please cease your weekly emails, perpetual catalogs, and tantalizing letters to my eldest child. Because you see, the more you send, the more she considers you and all the others as a possible academic adventure. Frankly, her family would like to see her gaining her college education a mere mile or two away from home. I continue my bribing methods for attending BYU (like doing her laundry, automatic Sunday dinner, providing a fun hangout when needed at home with all the new friends she'll meet, unceasing love and adoration from her little sisters).

The rest of the family literally can't talk about college starting in a few mere months without getting misty eyed. As a mom, I can see this new phase in my life as the absolute hardest yet (taking them to kindergarten was a piece of cake in comparison).

Yet, I am so very, very grateful for such a wonderful, good and dedicated daughter and yes, one of my best friends!

P.S. Can I recycle your mail yet?

Procrastination versus Preparation

As a mother, I am still learning that procrastination is not always a bad thing and that it actually works better for some people--just not me.

You see, Emily takes after her dad. He may procrastinate at times, but he works

well under these conditions. I, on the other hand, prefer to prepare because procrastination only leads me to stress... a lot.

I am trying to exercise patience as I sit back and watch (without too much talking), Emily prepare or is it procrastinate her college admission deadlines and scholarship deadlines?

I want her to have it all done yesterday. However, she prefers to put the final touches on everything the night before. And you know what, it always works for her!

Any pressure=great success for this one and in many ways I admire it.

So dearest Emily, I will try to show more appreciation for the wonderful virtue of procrastination.

Hot Off the Press

She has worked enthusiastically and tirelessly,

along with a few other amazing journalism groupies

on getting the first edition of the Thunderbolt to press.

The lay out has been revamped, customized and updated.

Every detail was gone over multiple times.

It wouldn't surprise me if Emily's dreams have been consumed with the printing of this school year's first newspaper installment.

Congrats, Editor-in-Chief for a job well-done!

Homecoming 2009

Homecoming is tonight and Emily is a senior--I'm in mourning over it.

We knew before her date even arrived that the "man flower" was going to give us major problems...and it did. Dan, my go to guy in these things, and who actually pinned the "man flower" on Emily's prom date was missing in action (BYU football game).

James and Emily

My gorgeous girl wearing her 1960's vintage dress.

What fun memories!

Who Took My Camera?

Take a wild guess...

She knows how to actually operate it...

and edit when necessary...

I am so clueless...

Maybe I should just give it to her?

Emily's Last First Day

It's me again! Emily in the form of mother. (Cricket, cricket.)

Well, I just wrote a scatterbrained novel about the first two days of my senior year on my own blog, and it probably doesn't fit the caliber of my mom's blogging, so I'm just going to post a link here so you can read it if you will. Disclaimer: Beware of typos; I'm too braindead to read and re-read my blogs.

If you won't, here is the Spark notes version: It seems I'm going to have a good one.

When the Parents are Away...

Thanks to Emily and her desire to document life, we found out what the girls do when we aren't around...check it out...I wish I could get my camera to take pictures like these.

P.S. Really not much has changed since we started leaving the kids alone a few years ago. Several weeks ago while watching old home videos, we uncovered an unknown stash of video footage Emily had taken of all of the girls while she was babysitting them--crying, fighting, playing, laughing, all of it for Dan and I to see--very funny and eye opening to say the least!

Almost 17

My oldest child is almost 17...

I'm posting this today because...

her actual birthday is jam-packed with non related birthday things...

so sorry Emily!

A few things about Emily that you may not know...

she loves the rain and cold weather...

her eyelashes are to die for (she actually has to comb them)...

she can do anything she wants to do and do it exceptionally well...

she fills our house with beautiful music...

she is our in house audio visual/computer technician, math tutor, photographer and so much more...

she is her parents' guinea pig...

we all love her tons!

Debussy Debut

Emily debuted her Debussy today at her spring piano recital. All I can I say is that I was proud as punch sitting in the audience. Even though I've heard her practice the piece countless times, I was mesmerized by her nimble fingers running up and down the keyboard effortlessly. It is a joy to watch her truly enjoy playing the piano. Long gone are the days of reminders to practice or cajoling her to go to her piano lesson.


Enjoying the "post-recital" euphoria at Brick Oven with the family.

Junior Prom

Amidst the rain and soggy weather, tonight is Timpview's Junior Prom. Emily is so excited!
She had her hair done an hour before her date, Rory, picked her up.


Emily's Aunt Melissa made this stunning dress for her. Melissa is simply amazing--she took an idea Emily had in her head and put it all together in a matter of a week. The final result was beautiful--thanks Melissa!!!

Tonight we get to look for this cute couple on the steps of the county building as they promenade for the parents. What a FUN night for all of us--parents and sisters getting to watch her get ready and leave for the evening and Emily--getting to go to her Junior Prom with such a wonderful young man!

Stuff

I am SO behind in blogging but here is a short recap of some of the things that have been going on lately. Last Thursday night we went with all the youth in our ward to the Draper Temple Open House. Needless to say the structure's exterior and interior are beautiful beyond on words. It was wonderful to be in the temple with all four girls and see their expressions as they viewed all the different rooms. The bride's room was definately a favorite for them.


Saturday afternoon Emily was asked to the Junior Prom (which is on April 11th). When the doorbell rang, Dan and I opened the door, looked down and saw this blue container. I immediately thought one of the neighbor kids had left us a "gift" (this happens frequently especially when the weather warms up). However, Dan wised up quickly and realized it had to be a "prom thing." Indeed it was and when we figured it out squeals echoed throughout the house (and probably the neighborhood). Emily is so excited!


She answered her date last night and continued with the "fish" theme that came with the invitation. To make Emily's week even better (if that's possible), she was named Editor-in-Chief of Timpview's newspaper next year. This is something she really wanted and we are thrilled she'll have this opportunity her senior year of high school.

Backstage Pass

Saturday night at Timpview the family attended "Backstage with the Jazz Band" to support Emily. For three hours, the jazz band players rocked backstage with their jazz ensembles for students and family. It was a blast! Of course, my favorite part was listening to Emily pound the piano keys with her friends looking on.


Not long after we arrived I noticed Hannah's discarded boots in the middle of the dance floor. (She takes her dancing seriously!)


Julia got into the swing of things from the get go and loved dancing with everyone!


When Emily wasn't at the piano, she too was on the dance floor with her friends and sisters.

Even Dan and I got into it--surprising to me it was his idea to dance! It was a late night but well worth the fun and entertainment. Thanks Emi for the invite!