Christmas photos 2013

Lindsey Slater and Companions

Happy Everything

From Neal and Chris Clark

From the Ford Family

From aunt Dotty's Daughter Joan.  Aunt Dotty is Grandma Donna's sister.

"Joan wins the best Christmas card every year! They truly are amazing and thought out! We love to get them every year and see what on earth she came up with." Sherrie

This is a photo taken by Jan Clark December 21st 2013

It is her Christmas card.

 This is the first Christmas card I have ever made so I put in some things from years past.  

I call it a portrait of my mind on Christmas eve 2013.

Merry Christmas from Brett, Max, Sam and Justy

3 Christmas Letters

Merry Christmas From The Eldredge Family

Eldredge Poems

Cinquain Poem

By James

       Airplane

    wings, body,

flying, fast, tricks,

   hard, smooth

         RV-4

Snowboarding (a cinquain poem by Martin)

snowboarding

wet, fun

jumping, turning, avoiding

keep away from stuff

winter sport

Two Mountains

(by Natalie Eldredge)

In my home

Two mountains tower,

Formidable, daunting, 

Hour by hour:

Sort the colors,

Wash, then dry.

Fold, put away,

The first mount is nigh.

Another mount,

Another feat:

Set, eat, clear, 

Scrub, dry, repeat.

They vary in size

From small to tall,

But rarely 

Never there at all.

I dig and dig;

They grow and grow

Sometimes fast 

And sometimes slow.

Sometimes one,

Sometimes the other,

Sometimes 

Both of them together.

Mount Dish-everest

Mount St. Laundry

Ever present

For every Mommy.

A Haiku (by Mary)

Creepy crawly wooly bears.

Fuzzy wuzzy fluffy bug

Roly poly bug.

Sweet, Silly Sally 

(by Natalie)

Sweet, silly Sally

Sitting on the floor,

Sucking blocks and tossing rings

While Mommy does a chore.

Sweet, silly Sally

Cannot reach her ball.

She pushes up on hands and knees,

Then rock, and rock,

And…crawl!

Limericks (by Mary)

Limericks are really fun

But sometimes they twist up your tongue.

Some are confusing

And some are amusing.

You won’t really know till you’re done.

A Haiku (by Natalie)

Quiet, peaceful bliss—

A porcelain baby sleeps

Nestled in my arms.

Natalie's talent is getting her babies to sleep!
Mary is making pie--she is quite the cook.
That is James on the unicycle--he asked for it for his birthday.
to be continued...

Mikaila Cook

I got my REAL name tag that I'll be wearing in Japan! I even got to tell them how I wanted Cook spelled for the pronunciation.   koo'koo...  At the little apostrophe you stop your voice for just a second, does that make sense?  so everyone's going to call me sister kookoo!  Like I'm crazy!  They'll never know why I giggle every time.

Me and Joe doing some hard Mission work!

Lindsey Slater

Sister Slater on her mission in Oregon
helping people know that Heavenly Father Loves them.

Lexi, Kirra, and Kaden

made Christmas cakes

ALL BY THEMSELVES! Elfs... ;)

 "caaaakkee!!!!"

Larry's house invasion!

Rare

Brett Clark, seriously contemplating his recent work, Fall Leaves on a Stick
I learned this art technique from my kids when they used to be small and would still go on hikes with me.

A concept "drawing" for my son Max Clark's video game.
He did not approve it but I am rather giddishly impressed with myself.
Pixel Art by Brett Clark 

Three Drawings by Jason Dean Clark Ford age 38

Dragon  
ink and markers

Inca Jetpack
ink and markers

Willard the Welder
drawn with a pencil then colored in photoshop

Your name and age: Jason Dean Clark Ford 38

Your parents names: John Clark and Kristien Ford

If you have children, how many? Names and ages. Hannah is 8 loves to sing and is learning algebra. Nathan is 4 and he loves Mickey Mouse.

If you’re married, what is your spouses name and how did you meet?  My wife's name is Kristen and she has a masters degree from Oregon St University. She sings and plays the piano. 

If you’re in school what grade are you in, what is your favorite thing about school, what is your least favorite thing about school? I went to art school and later made computer games for ten years. I still feel like I am always learning. I like listening to free online lectures and courses. I like learning about physics, psychology, astronomy,  history, computer science and any thing ells interesting. 

How would you describe yourself? Optimistic but also realistic. 

If you went on a mission, where? I served my mission in the Carlsbad California mission. They now have built Lego land there but it wasn't their when I served. The mission is the number one producer of avocados in America. I love guacamole. I am glad I served. It was a good two years of my life. 

Where were you born and raised? Where do you live now? I was born in Salt Lake City Utah. Grew up as a little kid in sandy Utah with a tree in the front yard where we built a tree house. Moved to West Jordan Utah and attended junior high. Moved to Puyallup Washington where it rains a lot. I now live in Eugene Oregon. Home of hippies, and the Oregon Ducks.

What is your favorite place you have visited - or place you would like to visit? I have enjoyed visiting Hawaii. I love the beach with big waves. I also like the Caribbean islands. The water their is crystal blue and warm. Hannah and I took water craft out in the Caribbean and jumped waves together. I would like to visit Samoa. The more remote the better. 

What is your favorite food? I love Mexican tacos and burritos, Brazilian beans and rice, Indian curry, Susie, Stake and potatoes. If its food, I love it. I favor savory over sweets. 

What is your favorite book, movie or both. To kill a mocking bird and A fair well to arms are the only to books to ever make me cry. In a good way. So I guess I like those. I also like reading fantasy books with dragons and things. Tolken is a good author. So is Robert Jordan. I like Hemingway's style of writing. Its not fancy but honest. I also like to read about the people who have invented something, or brought about a great idea (Einstein), made some great medical discovery, or who explored the planet.

What music do you like to listen to? All music. The list would be to long. I have no one favorite artist or style. Willy Nelson, U2, Bob Marley, Beethoven, M&M, Daft Punk, The Killers, John Denver, Gladys Knight, all of it bla bla bla bla bla....ect... I think its a shame when people put them selves in a musical box. 

What is your occupation? What would your dream job be? Or what do you want to be when you grow up?  I'm currently a stay at home dad. I wish I was smart enough to be a theoretical physicist. 

What are some things that you enjoy doing?  Reading, writing stories, playing the guitar, racing bicycles, and spending time with my family. 

Do you have any special talents or things you’re learning to do? I mentioned I like to write. Its a new thing I am trying. I'm starting with short stories and maybe ill get to where I can make them long stories. 

What is your pet peeve? People who think they know it all. 

Have you been on any adventures? Lots! I have been blackberry, raspberry and blueberry picking with my children. Its an adventure.  I have flown a small plane a couple of times. I took off from the runway and flew it around for a bit. I never did get to learn how to land it though. Fortunately there was an instructor with me who new how to do that part. Many times I would pic a direction and ride my bike as far as I could go. I have been lost and have been chased by dogs on my bike.  

Something you’re afraid of? My greatest fear is dying. I don't want to die. I like it to much here. Their is still an infinite things to do in this life. Places to see. I personally haven't seen the after life so I cant give you an affirmative that it is there. I like to say it is their. I have faith that it is their, but faith isn't knowing. I want to see my children grow old. I want to see their children's children grow old. I want to see humanity build star ships and populate the stars. So really their is still a lot to do. 

What was your most funny or embarrassing moment? I cant think of one. 

What is your best quality? I don't know. That is a question to ask some one else about me. 

Share an interesting fact that we don’t know about you.  I have a third nipple. I asked the doctor at one of my check ups, What in the world is that? That is what he told me. 

Kaylie Clark's Ward Musical

The art blog has been quite for a while so I thought I'd send a video of my ward musical I was in back in June. My dear friend Allan and I (the tall black guy) played a pair of evil twins that tried to sabotage the singing competition so they could win.

Our songs/scenes are at: 

17:00 (Anything you can do I can do better)

35:17 (Total Eclipse of the Heart)

If you see one thing, make sure it is the Total Eclipse of the Heart. We have appearances and dialogue and group numbers throughout, and the whole thing is pretty funny so if you have an hour to spare you might have a good time watching it.

Mindie and Sherrie finished the half marathon!!! Yipee!

We did it!!

I am AWESOME!! Survey :: Kaylie Clark

Your name and age:
Kaylie Clark! Age 24

Your parents names:
Neal and Chris Clark

If you have children, how many? Names and ages.Nope!! Need a man first. Anyone want to help me with that?

If you’re married, what is your spouses name and how did you meet?  

Hmm not yet--but I hope he is a stealthy FBI agent and I stumble upon evidence and help him solve a crime! And he is blown away by my investigation skills and one thing just leads to another...

 

If you’re in school what grade are you in, what is your favorite thing about school, what is your least favorite thing about school? 

I am between schools: Just got a BA in International Relations from BYU and in a few years I will find a grad school to attend--considering quite strongly the field of positive psychology (emphasizing in quantitative research methodologies. I LOVE the incredible things you can learn from numbers. Research is discovery!) 

One of my favorite thing about school is the personal enrichment I can add to my life with learning. I love when new information can burst my paradigm and show me that the world is, in some ways, far different than I initially assumed! I think every piece of information can contribute meaningfully to creating a proactive life that I get to intentionally shape in the pursuit of greater and greater ability to bless people around me. 

I am especially excited about positive psychology because as I have come to understand my own brain in cultural and biological contexts, I have gained more and more power to choose who I want to be and how I react to things. I am passionately in love with human redemption stories, and I want to spread my experiences of how building positive character traits and becoming skilled in understanding and responding to emotion can completely turn around the negative aspects of a person's character and, as I found, give me control over the woman I want to be. I'm really excited to study this in the context of economic and social welfare systems: how different systems affect this aspect of human well being. I particularly want to study the family's role in this, and how that role is supported or hindered by social, economic, and political systems. This is why I love school the most--it gives me the power to find out how I can bless the world in the best way I can!

How would you describe yourself? 

 I am a passionate young woman who craves new experiences and new ideas. I am independent and insist on doing what I believe is right regardless of external pressures. I'm probably overly optimistic because I always think there is a way to achieve anything, solve any problem, or choose a lifestyle more consistent with my internal values in spite of large barriers. Consequently you may see me chase after preposterous ideas, but so far I've made it work. I think I'm full of unique ideas that may seem strange at first and might take some time to understand. I'm also loving living in Washington, DC and enjoying the single life! There are so many rich experiences and people to get to know.  Ultimately I think I'd consider myself a proactive woman who is intentional about who I am and how I live. Also a definite relationship-oriented people lover.

 

Where did you go to college? What did you major in? 

Oh-- see above, I when to BYU and graduated in 2012 with  BA in International Relations. Graduate school to come!

 

If you went on a mission, where? 

Nope! My life is a mission. There is always good that I am needed to do.

Where were you born and raised? Where do you live now? 

Born in West Jordan, Utah. Raised in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains just outside of Sacramento, California. The weather was so good (minus rainy winters)! The last six years of my life I was at BYU in Provo). Now, I live in Washington,DC! It is an incredibly fun city with so much to do and interesting people to meet!

What is your favorite place you have visited - or place you would like to visit? 

I loved the French countryside. Hard to pick a favorite, but Normandy was amazing. Great weather and beautiful beaches. The D-day monuments were very moving. Loved Point du Hoc (here the marines scaled a muddy seaside cliff next to Omaha beach to overtake German bunkers. A perilous task): the terrain of the battle there was preserved and fresh grass and flowers grew over broken bunkers and craters from explosions. A moving juxtaposition of the beauty of peacetime overlaid on the site of a horrific battle.

What is your favorite food? 

Thai curry or sushi. One of my life hobbies will be to travel all over the world and eat all of the food. Trying new foods is one of my favorite things! DC is amazing for this! I've had Afghan, Ethiopian, Turkish, Venezuelan and others so far in the few months I've been here. Mediterranean (fresh pitas and good hummus with middle-eastern style veggies and meats) has been a favorite go-to for my lunches.

What is your favorite book, movie or both. 

 Hard one. Book: Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl or The Anatomy of Peace by the Arbinger Institute for Conflict Resolution. These books fully shape my outlook on life--they give me an excuse to assume the best in people and think kind thoughts about others and to fill my life with meaningful pursuits. They helped me more accurately understand other human beings whoa re different from me and more effectively engage those differences, overcoming conflict, and learning from what they see that I don't. They have taught me how to work well with people. Incredibly empowering.  

I haven't seen enough movie's to pick a favorite. I love Amazing Grace! I want to be William Wilberforce.

 

What music do you like to listen to? 

 Indie Dance Pop. Lol, ask me if you don't know what that is. I love interesting unique sounds with a funky beat. Try YouTube for Empire of the Sun, Phoenix or Two Door Cinema Club. Daft Punk is glorious! And I love Metric--though that's more indie alternative. Not really dance pop.

 

What is your occupation? What would your dream job be? Or what do you want to be when you grow up?  

I am currently a workforce development research assistant at a nonprofit social science research firm called the American Institutes for Research. We use psychology, sociology, and other research methods to investigate issues of social well being including heatlhcare, education, international development, human development, and workforce development. I get to use statistics! We contract projects to private companies and the government. Right now I am helping to create and update a high-stakes nation-wide college entrance exam (that some of you may end up taking!) and I am also on a team that is examining the airport security process for the Transportation Security Administration m order to evaluate and improve its effectiveness. Cool stuff to do in DC!

My dream job is to be a University Professor of (maybe) positive psychology. I LOVE teaching. I LOVE research. I LOVE studying and working with human beings. Being a TA for a statistical research class at BYU was my favorite job. The relationship you build with students is so rewarding, and I love to be a mentor to them. I'm also dying to do research because there is so much good that can be done in the world with new knowledge that comes from it. I want to study work-life balance, and my dream job would not be complete without an active role in speaking and publishing on and encouraging work-life balance policies for companies that I evaluate in my research. I'd love to head my own research, advocacy, and consulting firm on work-life balance at the same time. Geez, I hope I live forever. 

I am dying to help workers better manage their time with their employer and with their families. I want working dads and moms to have more freedom to be more involved with their family. I want to make it easier for families with two working parents to spend time together and all meet each others' needs. I have been doing research on this the past few years that is going into a book I am writing with a BYU professor, and I have been ecstatic to discover the wealth of options and the growing field of research!

What are some things that you enjoy doing?  

Yoga, singing, piano, thinking, psychology, fashion, sewing, statistics, thought experiments, trying new foods, smartness competitions with boys, and going on outings with good friends. The beach!!!

 

Do you have any special talents or things you’re learning to do? 

 I've almost got the hang of a handstand! I'm learning computer programming right now.

 

What is a goal you have? 

 Live and work in France for a few years and live and work in Scandinavia for a few years.

 

What is your pet peeve? 

chewing gum, ugh. i can't even capitalize it.

 

Have you been on any adventures?

 On one right now, trying out the East Coast. At my last internship I'd often hear sirens and look out the window to see a procession of armored vehicles running down Pennsylvania Avenue carrying the President or other high-level dignitaries. As an intern at the Council on Foreign Relations I attended many meetings with top policy thinkers and government officials, including the ambassador of Japan and the Presidents/Prime Ministers of several African countries. I went to the state department with my senior fellow and he wanted to take me up to the top floors to see the Secretary's (Hillary Clinton's) office! But we were sad to be informed that our meeting was actually in a different building. Bummer! I recently took a beach vacation with a bunch of friends to North Carolina and saw where the Wright Brothers flew the first airplane! I decided I must live near the beach. 

 

Something you’re afraid of?

 Falling from a crumbling bridge over open water or a being room full of thousands of scurry spiders. Combine the two for a mega-nightmare (my brain did that to me once when I was falling asleep. It was awful).

 

What was your most funny or embarrassing moment? 

 I have had a little crush on a guy I asked to dance at a ward swing dance a few months ago. I tried to teach him a fancy move and I ended up elbowing him square in the face. It was even worse when I did it again to the next guy I danced with. 

 

What is your best quality? 

 My dedication to living an intentional life and living how I believe is right, regardless of what others think.

Share an interesting fact that we don’t know about you.  

I have to wear snuggies at work because one of my research rooms is sooo cold. 

I am AWESOME!! Survey :: Natalie and Andrew Eldredge's Family (7 in one!)

Your name and age:

            Natalie (36),
Andrew (34),
Martin (10),
Mary (9),
James  (6 and 3/4),
Luke (3),
Sally (2 months)

Your parents names:
            Natalie:  Neal and Christine Clark
            Andrew:  David Arthur and Mary Alice Eldredge
    
If you have children, how many? Names and ages.
            Natalie and Andrew:  see above.

Mary: I want to have a kid names Richie (I love that name).

            Martin:  None.
            James:  (wants to have) 1,000,000, 000,111,111, 222,111,111,222,333, 999,999,999.

If you’re married, what is your spouses name and how did you meet?

Natalie: Andrew had the hots for my roommate and was trying to date her.

Mary:  Are you SERIOUS?  I’m a kid!

If you’re in school what grade are you in, what is your favorite thing about school, what is your least favorite thing about school?
            Natalie:  I graduated from college, but I want to take a Chinese class this summer.
            Andrew: Not in school—yeah!, aww…
            Martin: 4^th, lunch, math homework
            Mary: 3^rd grade, I love Mrs. Bee, I hate homework
            James: 1^st grade

Where did you go to college? What did you major in?
            Natalie:  BYU; Family Science with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy
            Andrew: BYU; Mechanical Engineering

If you went on a mission, where?
            Natalie:  Arkansas and Tennessee
            Andrew:  Germany, got sick, and ended up in Iowa. 
           
Where were you born and raised? Where do you live now?

Natalie:  Murray, UT; South Jordan, UT then Cameron Park, CA.  Provo.

            Andrew:  Denver, CO; Wheatridge, CO.  Provo.

Martin, Mary and James:  Orem, UT.  Provo.

Luke:  Tucson, AZ.  Provo.

Sally:  Orem, UT.  Provo.
 
What is your favorite place you have visited - or place you would like to visit?

Natalie:  Rio Secreto, near Cozumel, Mexico.  I want to visit Mount Rushmore.

Andrew: I’d like to visit the Great Wall of China.

Martin: Lagoon

Mary:  Lagoon or camping in Zions.

What is your favorite food?

Natalie:  Lasagna

Andrew: Pineapple curry, five star spicy.

Martin: Spaghetti

Mary: Brownies/ Doritoes

James:  Macaroni and ketchup

Luke: Ramen Noodles

Sally:  Milk

What is your favorite book, movie or both.

Natalie: Books- Little House on the Prairie books, Anne of Green Gables.  Movie- The Scarlet Pimpernel.

Andrew: Movie-The Right Stuff.

Martin: Harry Potter

Mary: Book- The Tale of Despereaux.  Movie- The Croods

James: Books-Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

Luke: Books by Dr. Seuss or Pat Hutchins.  Movies-Wreck It Ralph and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Sally:  Anything as long as mom is holding me.

What is your occupation? What would your dream job be? Or what do you want to be when you grow up?

            Natalie:  Domestic Engineer.  I am what I wanted to be when I grew up.

            Andrew: Engineer.  I want to be a teacher.

            Martin: Miner, Author, Engineer, Pilot, Artist.

            Mary: I want to be a baker, Artist or Zoo Keeper.

What are some things that you enjoy doing?
            Natalie: Sewing, reading, singing, playing piano, writing, hiking.
            Andrew: Flying, Ham radio, Scuba diving.
            Martin: Gymnastics, Rubik’s cube.
            Mary: Art, baking, yoga, gymnastics.
            James:  Creating things out of random stuff.

Luke:  Playing airplanes.

Sally:  Smiling, eating.

What is a goal you have?
            Natalie: Get another college degree.
            Andrew: Earn my instrument rating.
            Martin: Finish the Harry Potter series.
            Mary: Keep up reading.

James:  to get $1,000,200

Luke:  Not break my leg.

Sally:  make it to my 1^st birthday.

What is your pet peeve?
            Natalie:  Looking for shoes when it is time to leave.
            Andrew: Commies trying to take over the world.
            Martin: People getting angry at me.
            Mary: Waiting.
            James: Siblings mocking me.
            Luke: I have to eat my dinner before I can jump on the trampoline.
            Sally:  Mom putting me down.

What was your most funny or embarrassing moment?

Natalie: If you really must know… Back in college I went on a five mile run on a very hot day.  I was dehydrated and there were no bathrooms around and, well, I had a #2 accident in my running shorts.

Andrew: I ran a red light this morning.

Martin: When I tried to (I can’t read this word on Martin’s survey.  Some trick on the trampoline, I think)  on my back but did a back flip.

Mary: This survey.  Farting or someone telling something I said that should be private.

James:  (I don’t think James gets embarrassed.)

Luke:  (Luke, either.)

Sally:  (Has no shame)

What is your best quality?

Natalie:  I am a good listener.

Andrew: My wife says I am a good lover.  There’s more to me than that.  So much more; I can also solve a rubik’s cube.

Martin: Smart.

Mary: I’m Smart.

James:  I’m a type 1 (energy profile.  A hobby of mom’s lately.).

Luke: Is very fun.

Sally:  Is adorable!

Share an interesting fact that we don’t know about you.

Natalie:  I have never had braces, and I don’t have any cavity fillings.

Andrew: I don’t know who you are or what you don’t know.

Martin: I made my own language.

Mary:  I have a freckle on my bottom lip.

James: Speaks Chinese

Luke: Says “please”, “thank you” and “sorry” without being told!

Sally:  Just learned to say “goo”.

Share something you would like to do or see some day, or a dream that you have already fulfilled.

Natalie: After being on anti-depressants for ten years, I have been healed from depression.

Andrew: I have a family.  I’d like to see my kids become super-kind super-geniuses.

Martin: Rubik’s tournament.

Mary: Be the nicest mom ever.

James:  Get a robot.

Luke:  Ride in a helicopter.

Sally:  I was born!  I want to run around with the other kids.

What do you love to do most with your family? 

Natalie:  Read stories.

Andrew:  Throw a ball.

Martin: Go on the trampoline.

Mary: Jump on the trampoline.

Do you have anything else to add about yourself or interesting facts or stories from your life?
            Natalie:  I can’t believe I found enough time to type all this!

Andrew:  I swam with a shark.  The shark could swim faster than me.  I like morse code.

            Martin: None!

Mary: I have lots of friends:  Paige, Lizzy, Zoe, Kaitlyn, Alison, Grace, Kiersten, Breianna, Zidia, Jaylen, Siena, Addie, Sally, Lily, Hannah, Cami, Lindsey, Mrs. Bee.

James:  When James was two years old, he developed a kidney disease as a result of an untreated Strep infection.  That’s when we discovered James catches strep without showing any symptoms.  Luckily his body healed from the kidney disease on its own.

Luke: When Luke was almost two, he shoved a metal rod through his soft pallet and had to have emergency surgery.