Relatives Visit to SLC

I know I'm behind but I wanted to post about this so if any of my relatives check our blog, they get to see their faces or their kiddos :)

My cousin Brandon got married on June 2nd to his fiance Alvhild and we were lucky enough for them to have their celebrations happen in Utah!  We were able to see them sealed together for time & all eternity in the SLC temple, and then have dinner with the Evans' and all their guests at the Lion House.  It was a perfect day outside and so fun to see everyone who was in town.

 Love the crazy before and very posed after pics below - so many kiddos!

Here were some candid shots outside the temple.  I love attending marriage/sealing ceremonies in the temple.  It's the best part to a marriage because you get to share such an important event with them.  I love when a bride and groom enter the sealing room and get to see all their family and those who play an important role in their life.  (This was my favorite part 2.5 years ago too!).  And since it was my cousin's wedding, a lot of my extended family was there too and brought good feelings to me.  It was great to watch how in love they are, just adoring each other and wanting to serve the other person.  New love is so pure.  And actually older love can be too, so I wasn't saying those of you who've been married forever aren't as sweet.  But new love is just wonderful.  I know they deserve the best and I'm so happy they found each other even if it took awhile to find.  No matter how long it takes to find that right person, when it happens it is the best and the right time.  And for those of us who it has taken a long time, or hasn't happened yet, I think our love grows much more for our future spouses because we won't take them for granted, but really treasure them everyday.  Waiting for my spouse, it was hard, but I knew once he came I'd be so grateful everyday.  Sometimes there's a moment I forget but I can easily remind myself and any hard trials we have together still are okay because we have each other to lean on.  Not trying to brag about marriage, just explaining my situation - I know how it is to want to be married, and now I know how it is on the other side after waiting for a long time - I hope everyone gets to experience the joys of marriage and having a best friend forever.

So I got caught in my thoughts.... back to the wedding...

After the wedding, the Evans' cousins stayed in town for a week and we were able to see them one more time at a BBQ at Steph's home.  David had a EQ meeting so he only stopped by for a few seconds and then left me to hang and spend time with them (Nancy, Brooke, Courtney and kids and also Lindsay's kids since she was sick herself... as well as my mom and the SLC Evans' Andy, Steph, Richard and Jan and family).  I had a couple hours to experience LOTS of kids.  Between all those cousins above I think there were at least 15 little ones there.  This is how all of their family vacations are, wow!  And from a small family, that was so new for me.  And having an in-law family that is the opposite of small (9 kids), I had a small glimpse of what the future for the Clarks looks like.  And I say "small" because 9 with 3-5 kids is a lot more than 15!  Anyway, everyone had about a 1 year old, so there were 4 of them who were just walking barely.  It was cute to watch them interact with each other as well as they were given a corn on the cob that they just walked around with.  All the other older kids are cousins themselves and you could tell that they knew how to play together, get in fights, and just have fun!  While there was a lot of chaos it was fun to watch their parents as they got out the bandaids or put someone in timeout or just use those parenting skills they have developed over the past 5-8 years.  A long time ago, as cousins, we were all in that stage of playing together at reunions or trips - crazy it has been so long since those times.  You Evans', remember us visiting Alabama and all the fun we'd have: boogie boarding on the beach, boating, baseball games, the kids playing in your home together, swimming, finding a bat under the balcony, driving the doon buggy...  These are just some of the fun times I remember.  Brandon and Eric ganging up on Courtney and Andrea... Well, my memory isn't the best, but I can remember some of it right?!

Here are some BBQ candid shots, thanks to everyone for coming and to Steph for putting the invite out there and throwing a fun party!  Let's do it again soon!

 All these cousins playing together! How fun!

 She's adorable!

The Work Madness

While David is busy studying, I’ve been MORE than busy working.  I now know what it feels like to have 14-hour workdays!  The last half of June I have worked till midnight most days.  Worked all day and then worked all night after a quick dinner.  I don’t wish this upon anyone.

Why the craziness?  Our company bought or acquired another company that had around 100 employees.  We kept most all of the employees except for a few.  But it had to be a hush hush process so even if we knew about it we couldn’t do anything about it.  Then after all the top guys finalized it, we had to wait for the financing to close and we were just waiting to know the date it would happen (and it just kept changing).  Acquiring 80ish employees may not sound so big but there are a TON of moving parts – changing their benefits, adding them to payroll in time of the next payroll run, new processes, new people, getting them moved into our building, holding a orientation meeting, etc.  And when I say “benefits” that gets so complex like 401k, medical, dental, etc etc… each one needs to be addressed.  And there are really only 3 of us HR people who can take this on.  And we had about 3-4 days to get most everything set up.  And then the day before the meeting where 50 eyes would be looking back at me for 4 hours, I put the PPT for the orientation together – talk about last minute!  But I couldn’t get it done any faster.  And as I did that training, it was pretty hard actually because there you have all these employees who are happy at their current job, where they work, who their boss is, their benefits – but here I was telling them all the changes to expect.  PTO would be less, they get to be at a bigger company with more rules, move to an old building… and wow, I just didn’t know that would happen.  And don’t really want to do that again.  I like being in charge and sharing my knowledge with others, but when it’s not happy news, I guess I should have thought about that one.  And of course the “HR meetings” get the bad reputation as everyone said “oh the rules, snoozer, boring stuff, ahhh..” etc.

So after the first few days of craziness, I thought I’d eventually see the end, but I didn’t.  And still haven’t.  Because while working on the integration stuff, my regular work just slipped and now I’m trying to catch up that as well as continue the acquisition stuff.  AH.  And I’m just getting more and more tired.  And so are my other HR counterparts – we just can’t survive this much longer.  At least the July 4^th week turned out to be more relaxing and definitely needed, except that I just didn’t want to be at work at all those days.

I’d say I now see the end in sight, but I’m not sure that will be possible.  Here are some funny or not so funny moments as of recent in the HR world:

• An employee emailed me today and said he couldn’t register in our 401k plan still.  So after a few back and forth emails we thought maybe the 401k company had his personal info wrong so I sent him his DOB and SSN to have him verify.  The next email came, very short and sweet:  Sorry, I just noticed I’ve been typing my birth date wrong.  I was able to log in.  haahah, really!?
• These aren’t funny but with all of the payroll and deduction changes I’ve had a lot of employees asking me if their paycheck is the same, or if they aren’t getting enough $$ etc.  And so I have to calculate everything out for them and do “math” so they can kind of get it but sometimes it takes me like 30 min to explain gross, taxes, net, deductions and they still don't get it.  Ah!
• It was a co-worker’s birthday this week, Dale, and so we are celebrating later but I went out and got us some cookies to celebrate with the HR team.  We stopped at his desk, gave him the card and cookies and then he said thanks and put them in his bag to take home!?  Maybe it would be normal but most every birthday if we do get cake or anything we all share it, and darn cuz none of us got any cookies!  I even said, if you want to put them over on the HR area we can all celebrate, but he said, no I’ll take them home to surprise my wife.  Wow.  Just an odd duck sometimes, well, like most times.
• And honestly there are so many stories just with all different types of personalities, I could never get through them all but they are good.  Some people are so strange, or just rude - lots are, and then there are still a few nice ones that even say thanks for when I help them.  Nice.

I can't think of more right now but there always is.  I guess it's good that my memory is very short so that I can block out a lot of the not so happy experiences.... ha.

(Me after a day out at the pool - finally a break! And a sunburn...)

My work life balance has NOT been good this past month.  And I'm finally starting to say "No More Please".  It's hard to do because a lot of what we do is so time sensative, but really, work is NOT my life and I can't let it take over my home life and other wishes.  I know I learn this lesson at least once a year, but maybe I'll get a balance someday that doesn't need to be fixed when the busy days come.  But knowing I'm a dependable person and want perfection, it makes me always try my best and probably work too hard for too long each week.  So at least as of today I'm going to get my life back into balance.  Especially as I don't get overtime, I should stop extending myself too much.  Hopefully my next work update won't be "I'm working too hard again..."  Hold me to it, okay?  Thanks!

Summer Ramblings

I can’t believe we are more than ½ way through the year!  Time just goes faster and faster, when will it ever slow down?!?  Maybe when we’re in our 70’s?  Probably not.

Life’s been too busy to blog, but I’ve missed it and it’s on my to do list, so hopefully I can share more about all that we’ve done so far this year.  On my list to write is: the crazy workdays, gardening, family visiting for weddings, home remodeling, lagoon, crafts, etc.

So here it is July and we are doing well as the little Clark family.  We’re both going to the gym together on the weeknights that are free.  And then during the weekends we pile on the ice cream.  Really, that is one of our favorite desserts J.  While David is done with school, he’s not done studying for the DAT, so he had a week or two of freedom and he’s back to the books.  He will be taking the test on July 19 (and the Dark Knight Rises comes out after at midnight, and he’ll be seeing that with the boys too).  He also has church (EQ Pres) responsibilities and so meetings, sports nights, and other stuff to keep them busy this summer.  Our ward is a whole other topic, and I shouldn’t get into my feelings on that, but David is doing well with his calling and I’m still chugging along in primary.

Besides that Utah has been warm this summer already.  We finally went swimming and got a nice little tan (okay, burn…) and the really the whole state has had lots of fires so that’s been stranger than usual.  Sadly, we haven’t had a lot of time to really just enjoy this summer.  I think we really thought we’d have lots of free time, evenings, no school or work, and just the dream life.  It’s sad, but I think after July 19 we’ll have more time to just, be.

After the DAT we need to remember to slow down and enjoy our time more.  It seems like today’s life is really about “how much can you fit into a day, how much can you take on, what else can you add, just squeeze this in, or even, lets learn and do this from scratch”.  I totally do this, and I think a lot of the world does this today and it just gets worse and worse, as we get further along.   I just wonder if later on I will be happy or feel like I missed out on the better of life rather than just doing the busy part of life.

Anyway I could ramble on and on but instead I'll just leave it at that and maybe I'll get some more blog posts done this week right?! Yay :)

Kitchen Creations & Crafts

While most of the time I'm busy with the daily "to do" tasks...  Sometimes I get to be a little crafty or cook-y.  (Yum, cookies! Wish I had some!)  There's probably a better word for someone spending time in the kitchen - culinary artist - except I'm just a beginner, so anyway, enough rambling already!
For David's graduation I made him chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting per his request.  And so I tested out my newly acquired frosting tip skills.  I think I did pretty good w/out the best frosting possible.  It was fun doing these, even at 1am before graduation day.

And then on Mother's Day  it was decided each child would make part of the dinner for the 18 family members at the Clark's.  Well, I didn't even have pots/pans big enough to fit food for 18!  But it worked out.  I was in charge of two meals (and never had made them before may I say) - Potato Salad & Lime Cilantro Rice (Cafe Rio knock off).  And they turned out GREAT, at least they were mostly eaten, I think I made too much, and I liked it, so that's a start. :)

Here's me with the potato salad.  I actually had to boil the potatoes in two pots, and then let them sit in the fridge for several hours before they would cool down.  I had my cousin Steph's recipe and tips so I think that helped with the "success".  Peeling all those potatoes, cutting up the veggies, eggs, etc - it all sounds like a piece of cake on paper, but it sure did take 1/2 a day at least!  Next time, I'm making enough for only 2.

And then for the Lime Cilantro Rice - I had 2 pots and 1 rice cooker for all that rice!  David was a big help in both of these when he was around, which was definitely great.  What would I do without him?  Okay, getting side tracked again.  Below are some pictures during the rice process and then the final product.  It called for all these limes, but I would have even added more, me and citrus, yum!

David frying the rice above....

And lastly, I'm not sure how, but I still had some creative crafty desire and although I was going to make a wreath for ME first, below is the wreath given to my mom-in-law.  I guess I practiced on this one and the one for me will be even better maybe?  David helped pick out the flowers and colors and I think it looks very summery and nice to have their address on it, although if anyone does this, the numbers are on with hot glue and with all the varied sticks, its hard to keep it on because it's not level.  I'll post our wreath as soon as I finish it too.

And I didn't get a picture, but Saturday night we (my sis-in-law and me) made brownie cookies from pinterest which was very good too - along with a nice BBQ dinner of veggie kabobs and steak, hamburgers, etc.  More culinary creations from the 4 of us :)

He Did It!!

I'm so proud......

My David is a college graduate as of May 4th 2012!!!  Really, how cool!?!?!?  And just as a side, he's been in school for years, and the whole time we dated and married, so I'm just saying, finally I get my D to myself!  (not totally true but so much better)

David, you've put so much time, work, effort, and really did as much as you can to get graduated this May.  I've watched you and you really have done all you could and I'm very proud of you.  I'm happy you are done and you don't have to put up with stupid teachers or classes that don't care about you anymore.  If done again I know you'd switch majors and do things differently, but good job and persevering and sticking through the very tough situations the Biology department at U of U has.  (Note to anyone at the U, yes we are saying don't ever major in Biology).

CONGRATULATIONS!  Take a break, relax and enjoy doing "nothing" for as long as you need.  Although I know you aren't the type to sit still very long, which is just fine with me.  I'm excited for our summer together (even if there's still some studying and dental school application preparation, everything is going to be so much better without full-time school).  I love you babe!

Below are some pictures from the main event at the U of U campus.  First, at 9am he and I went to the university presentation.  He walked in with his graduating class and then they presented some awards and officially declared everyone a graduate.  (We had fun texting back and forth as some of the speakers were snoozers hehe).  Then we walked over to Kingsberry Hall in the Presidents Circle for the 11:30 Science Department graduation.  We had some good support there including his parents, a few siblings (Amber, Josh, Jon & Annie and kids) and his grandma, as well as my mom came from AZ to be here.  And then me of course :)  And he walked across the stage and they were lucky to get his name right (not that David Stephen Clark is hard right?)

That's him above shaking his dean's hand... so hard to see, i know!

Afterwards, we put on a Graduation party at our home Friday afternoon at 4:30pm.  I had fun planning and decorating and making the food....  Wish there were 3 of me so I could have done more cutesy desserts or decor, but we did what we could with what we had.  And if we had an entertaining type home, wow, the things I could do.  But we had lots of people stop by to congratulate David and celebrate with us - neighbors, his family, my UT family, and a few close friends.  Thanks everyone for coming!  (And thanks for the help Mom & Steph! Only one minor incident -  losing some keys as well as not getting the balloons up where I wanted, but oh well)

I know... the D got ruined - but I am getting my baking and decorating skills down for sure!  It was fun testing out my cupcake decor tips and such...

Congrats Baby!

Grandma's House

My grandma moved into a nursing home, memory unit care center, last April 2011.  A year later, she's doing great, but as such, her sons have decided to sell her home.  Its been a bit strange and sad for me as she's still alive and yet we have gone through all of her personal items and then also just finished a estate sale, and her home will soon be up for sale.

We were able to go through and find items of rememberance and that was the best part for me.  My grandma made SO MANY ceramics.  Seriously, 100 boxes full in her garage and then a couple bedrooms and shelf units full.  So I was able to bring some home (finally just repackaged this week!) including: Santas, a winter house collection, halloween haunted sets, some easter decor, and some odds and ends, including her microwave (yay, ours was on the way out).  Honestly it was really hard leaving her home for the last time before the sale because I just want to remember it how it was.  I know it's just a home, but to me there are so many memories there.  The most prevelant being my many visits to see Grandma over the summers by myself or from college at BYU, etc.  We've been buds and loved chatting about whatever was on our minds.  We also made ceramice together during those summers, watched her garden all the time, flew to AZ together every holiday, etc etc.  I think I'd like to claim "closest granddaughter" title :)  Especially as I realized that the other grandkids just weren't close by or something but it was really just her sons who went through all of her belonings with us.  I guess I'm just more sentimental or something.

And the good thing, I can still go chat with Grandma Ginny anytime.  She's not all here, doesn't know who I am, but she does have her spunk and is actually happy in her new place.  So, it makes for a good visit to grab a coke down the hall or chat about whatever she's been doing (over and over).  Fact: I really haven't dealt with death in my family or friends too much yet.  I have such a hard time just saying goodbye to someone leaving the state, etc, I know when someone actually leaves this life, it will impact me a lot.  There will be a hole where they were.  I don't like thinking about that stuff at all.  I do know there's a better place that we'll all be going and they'll be waiting for us to join them - but the day to day will be different and it will be a growing experience I'm sure.  Not looking forward to it, just saying.

Here are some pictures taken before the estate sale.  (I do have to ask my future self to try not and let this happen when its my turn to leave this life... I hope as I get older that I just continue to get rid of more and more and if there's keepsakes I can pass them on to my kids or grandkids while I'm still alive, making it less difficult to get rid of all the nick-nacks.  David told me this and I thought it was a good suggestion.)  We had to stop by the house during the sale and man that wasn't fun.  I didn't even go inside because it just bothered me to have random and "odd" (for real) people coming in and poking around.  It just seemed like a violation to her life and hobbies and all that she made for herself.  I know people have to do it, and they had to do it because what else can you do with those items when no one wants them?  But, it was hard to watch for me.

Anyway, here's Grandma's house :)

Her street and driving this is what we'd see.

My favorite kitchen and green chairs that as kids we'd always stick our fingers into the backs.

The room I usually stayed in (above)

And these are only a few of the Santas and ceramics, didn't want to go crazy with all the pictures we took, but I have a CD full....