Tuesday, December 30, 2008

In Memory



Earlier today I was browsing my families blogs, and I came 
my cousin Becca's.  The first thing that caught my attention was the picture of her with my grandma Browning.  Before I even started reading, I realized that today is the day, one year ago, that she passed away.  I have been thinking about her a lot these last few days, and now it makes sense why.  Both Becca, and my sister Jillian have wrote very sweet thoughts and memories about her, and have inspired me to write some of my own.

One year ago, I was expecting my sweet baby Violet.  Grandma was asleep, as she had been for several days, with the help of copious amounts of morphine.  Family had been gathered about for several days, and at least one person had stayed with her every night since Christmas.  We knew minute could be her last, and we anticipated the moment with mixed emotions.  It was somewhat miraculous, and a little puzzling why she had held on as long as she had.  The nurses that stayed at night commented on her endurance, most people go within a day or two of going to sleep, grandma was going on a week.  I don't remember what changed exactly, I was in the front room on the rocking chair embroidering a blanket for Violet, but something changed and everyone that was there got up and went into the room.  I think we could all feel it, these were the last moments.  We waited silently, reverently, but not for long.  As she drew her last breaths, she turned her head slightly, and then unexpectedly, her hand moved ever so slightly, she smiled, and she was gone.  We knew, all of us, that grandpa was there, and that he had taken her to be with him, and that she was happy.
I am so grateful for the opportunity to have been there.  I had often feared being present during the moment of death, not knowing what to expect.  But, this experience was so sweet and peaceful, and my knowledge that life continues after death has been confirmed.  As she left this world, the sweet baby within me moved, and reminded me even more of the plan of salvation, of our purpose here on earth, and my grandma was a living testament of it.  She was an example to me, and to my whole family and I will be forever grateful to her for her acceptance of me into her life and family.

I commented on Becca's blog, that while the women of our family were gathered together, dressing her, and making her pretty, my aunt Susie made a really sweet observation.   She observed that, for many years my grandma had tried to have a daughter and was unsuccessful, seven times unsuccessful.  It was through adoption, after her sixth son that she gained her daughter.  But at that moment, she was surrounded by daughters, her own daughter, her daughters-in-law, her grand daughters, and grand daughters-in-law.  So while it took awhile, she did get her wish, and had more daughters than even she could have imagined, and we all love her so much.

On a lighter note, I just want to tell a quick story, that to me sums up my grandma and her perspective on life.  One Christmas we were gathered together and ready to start singing Christmas Hymns.  The question was posed, who was going to play the piano, and she asked me outright if I would.  I said I would, but only if nobody else would, and she, as quick as a whip, and with heavy sarcasm replied," Well that's the way into the kingdom!"  I don't think she was trying to be funny, I actually think she was serious, and so over the years, when I'm about to forgo an opportunity for growth, this line pops into my head and I can't help but smile, but I also can't help trying a little harder to improve myself, no matter what the task at hand is.  I love my grandma, Lila Jean (Coates) Browning, and I look forward to the day when I see her again.




I have...

I found this on my friend Corrine's blog, who found it on her sisters blog...

Copy and paste the words. Bold the things you have done...


1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower 
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child  (Someday though)
16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run .
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language 
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing (just the indoor fake kind though)
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance (for one of my boys, not myself)
47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud 
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy 
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone .
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book (Not yet)
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating 
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life 

90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby 

95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone 
99. Been stung by a bee

100. Made amends with someone who offended you
101. flew in a small Cessna plan with just you and the pilot
102. visited a monastery in Tuscany
103. ran out of gas 
104. Given birth to twins

now add something that's not on this list and keep it going, if you'd like.

My poor baby!

My sweet little Violet's not feeling good, and it's a combination of things!  First of all, I came down with a cold Sunday night, so she's probably fighting that, but then this morning, as I was watching her cry I noticed that she's cutting her first molar!  It's on her bottom left side!  Ouchie! It totally explains why she was behaving the way she was this morning.  We got up and took a shower after I nursed her this morning, and she laid her little head on my chest for about ten to fifteen straight minutes.  Then, when we got out Karl dried her off while I continued with me after shower routine (lotion, deodorant...) and then I went over to the bed to join them.  She was laying on my tummy in her birthday suit and Karl was patting her little bare bum, but she thought he was spanking her or something because she started CRYING!  Not just fussy crying, but alligator tears, ragged breath, lump in the throat, hurt feelings CRYING!  So, to calm her we showered her in kisses and hugs, and finally I resorted to nursing her again.  So, while she was nursing, she reached over and pinched me, hard, and I cried out, "OUCH!"  And that set her off again!  She was being so sensitive!  Anyway, that's when I noticed the molar and her tight gums, so no wonder!

Monday, December 29, 2008

Nothing to Say


I don't have anything to say, but I know people check to see if I've put up new pictures, so I thought I'd post some pictures from a few months back that I never got around to posting when I took them.  This is in October, I think, when Karl was working up in LA.  The kids and I followed him up there and visited the La Brea tar pits and stuff.  These were taken outside of the art museum there.

She was having fun crawling around, at the time, crawling was a relatively new experience for her.


"I'm not having fun anymore!"

My handsome Ben
(The others wouldn't stand still for an individual shot)

This one's really cute in black and white, but I know my mom prefers color

They were playing tag


So cute, shortly after this shot was taken, Karl got there and she crawled as fast has her chubby little legs could go, up the steep grass hill to meet him!

Friday, December 26, 2008

Merry Christmas!

Our Christmas was fabulous, I hope yours was too! In this first video, the boys are so excited that they got giant Hershy's Kisses, and then Sam opens another present and exclaims SOCKS! 
The Next video is of them getting their last two presents, helmets, and then the grand finale, bikes!  And then the last video is of Violet, after her brothers were distracted with their own things, quietly unwrapping her present.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Our 7th Anniversary!

Yesterday was our seventh wedding anniversary.  The day was spent, separate, as Karl was broken down in New Mexico on his way home from a business trip.  As disappointing as it was, we've already been through so many trials together, that this was not as bad as it could have been.  We love each other today more than we did when we were married, and no matter what life throws at us, we are both confident that ours is an eternal marriage, that will last that long.  Happy Anniversary to us!

And by the way... HOLLY'S PREGNANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  She's due August 3, 2009!  Yay for Holly and Matt!  I'm soooooo excited!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Molasses


Tonight while I was baking ginger bread houses, I must have knocked the lid of the molasses jar off the counter because Violet found it and had a time!






Here's a "before" shot of the assembled houses, we're going to decorate them tomorrow!

Working working!

So, I finally finished the doll house.  I added the flowerpots on the window sills, and finished the bed, a rug, and a coffee table.  Then I knitted scarves for the boys, which I'm not going to show, just in case they see the blog, and then a pair of mary jane style booties for Violet, that turned out just a smidge too small, so I'm going to make another pair.  I'll probably give these ones away.





Friday, December 12, 2008

Doll House

This is the doll house I just finished for my nieces.  I've been working on it all week while Karls been gone.  It's made out or craft felt, and everything is hand sewn.  I painted the little dolls today.  (You can click on the pictures and they'll get bigger)


Inside view

The Family


The Family at Home




Their couch

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

First Step!

Yesterday, December 9, 2008, Violet Eve Clinger took her first step!  She was standing by a book shelf, and I just happened to glance up at her when she let go with both hands, and took a step.  I couldn't help myself, I gasped, and she looked up at me in surprise and lost her balance! Doh!  She probably would have maintained her standing position if I could have kept quiet!




She was going up and down on her toes like a little ballerina in the picture.



This is the face she makes when you tell her no, or do something she doesn't like
Her "no, no" face

Monday, December 8, 2008

Colorado Christmas at the Clingers!



Our house is all decked out in Christmas things!

This is what you would see if you were walking toward the house, on your way to the front door.


This is our front door.  I made both the wreath and the swag.  The swag is leftover branches from our tree!  The wreath is fake.


Here's the swag up close


And the wreath


And here's our living room, and that's technically our dining room in the back, but we use it as a family/computer room


And here's our tree!

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Teeth


Joe and Ben lost a tooth tonight.  It was Joe's first and Ben's second.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Violet Lou Hoo



Holly posted these pictures on her blog, and they were too cute not to repost on mine!  

Monday, December 1, 2008

Joe and Ben's Birthday!

Joe and Ben turned 6 today!  I can't believe it!  They are so big and so smart.  We started the day off with breakfast, all they wanted was bacon, eggs and toast, so that was easy.  Then they opened cards and presents.  Grandma Dorothy addressed her card to Masters Joseph and Benjamin Clinger, so of course I read it that way, and the of course they assumed the roles of Master.  " I am the Master, do what I say!"  Little boogers!  Then we went outside to play in the snow, and I constructed  the base for an igloo, but I made it too big and got too tired, and the boys got bored and hungry so we went inside.  For lunch they wanted Raviolis, and peanut butter sandwiches, and they wanted to make the sandwiches themselves, so again, easy!  Then Karl got off work early, so we went to dinner together.  Ben wanted Burger King, and Joe wanted the Village Inn pancake house.  After that, they wanted to go swimming, so we headed over to the rec center and swam for a couple of hours, and then headed home for cake!  We've just finished playing a couple rounds of Flippin Frogs, and now we're going to watch Ice Age, The Melt Down, and then hit the sack!  It's been a great day, but I'm glad it's over, it takes a lot of energy to try to make two people happy all day long!