Hi!

Yup- it's been a year (almost) What a year it has been!
We are loving our new home and are still "decorating it" or whatever one calls it. Andrew has been working on the backyard tilling the backyard with a shovel, he's going to plant grass and make a vegetable garden. Our grass in the front is lush and green. We lived with dirt until mid-end Decemeber. Andrew made a flower bed in the front and put 3 rose bushes and planted some daffodil bulbs. We have lots of rose buds almost ready to bloom, and the daffodils are now peeking out of the dirt! I can't wait until Spring comes!I don't miss Santa Rosa as much- I think ever since we bought our home, that I was then able to put down roots and call Southern California home.

The kids have made good friends here. I am so grateful that they have found good friends.

I am still going to school- taking a Nursing 50 class and wondering to myself- is it worth it? It's a rough class.

We are happy here and we've enjoyed all the rain that we've recieved here-

Here's a quote that I found and love and wanted to share.



"If ever you are tempted to
become discouraged or
to lose faith.....
Hold on a little longer.
You can do this!
You are part of a special generation.
You were prepared and preserved
to live at this important time
in the existence of our
beautiful planet earth.
You have a celestial pedigree
and therefore have
all the necessary talents
to make your life an
eternal success story."

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf


Love it! Hope everyone is doing well!

Sarah

Conference...

I am so thankful for General Conference this past weekend. I have been under a tremendous amount of stress for the last few weeks. I feel like I can't focus in school anymore. My testimony was starting to slip, until the other day I know I have been complaining about my calling and how rough it is... and thanks to my friend, Karen, who I love and miss, said to me... "It would be calm if we had no callings.." (something along those lines) I immediately said, " Without callings, the church would fall apart and the gospel would cease to exist..." and she responded and said, " Spoken with someone who has a testimony....." Thank you Karen, for waking me up!!!!! Talking to you the other day was an answer to my prayers!

I have been looking forward to General Conference.. with renewed faith. I listened.. I prayed.. and had questions in my mind, and it was answered.

I am so looking forward to this week, and going to make changes,(baby steps!!)

Thank you all for your patience with me,

"Fear not, be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith."

Love it!!

Here's to a new week!!

Ok!!Ok!!! Don't Kill me Alright!!

So- It's been 4 MONTHS!!!! Phew! How Do I fit 4 months in a blog??



I shouldn't be blogging.. I should be working on my Plato/Wright Essay... but I am sitting here staring at the computer screen drawing a BLANK!!! I'd rather be Facebooking and stalking everyone! ;-)



So, I thought I'd post something, so that I can keep my friends!!



Anyway- Here's some highlights on what the Clawsons have done the last 4 months.....



* Mommy made the children and the hubby suffer as I went to school during the short 6 week winter session.



* Mommy continued to make the children and hubby suffer as I went back to school after a 4 day break in between semesters!!! Don't hate me alright!! :-)



* Mommy and Daddy makes the children suffer as we go to church for long hours.. meetings galore!!! (I'm think the kids think that they better have a place in Heaven!! Snickering!)



* Mommy makes the family suffer when there's drama going on - I don't have to 'splain myself alright!!! (still snickering)



* Mommy leaves the children to go and clean someone else's house... (come on.. the children think it's the best... and destroys the house!! not snickering anymore!!)



* Mommy and Daddy gets walked all over- not 'splaining that one either....



* Mommy and Daddy leaves the kids one day and goes house hunting.... and we say- not doing that again!! (the leaving kids part!)



* Mommy and Daddy look at houses.... thought this was supposed to be fun!! After a while they all start to look the same.... This is also our way of torturing the children- by draggin them everywhere with us for hours!!! (we're still thinking of ways to torture them some more! snickering again!! ;-)



* Mommy tortures Daddy and begs him to explain tonicity and hypertonicty and hypotonicity.... in the tropical rain forest!!... Yes.. my Anatomy teacher likes to make weird comparisons! (stopped snickering..... :-/)



* Mommy and Daddy are busy and busy with our callings-... Sometimes we say- Oh boy!! Let's go to a different ward and just sit at church and have no resposnibilities!! Then we wake up and think- oh.. Dream on Baby!!! We've been snookered!

(There better be a place for us in Heaven!! )



* Mommy and Daddy lets Emma Wemma have a slumber party for her first double digit B-day.. ( What were we thinkin'?) Oh yeah!! We love Emma!!! We had fun making mini pizzas and blowing up a million pink balloons, and letting children run around crazy- Good times!!!



* Daddy goes to a meeting for Ashley's Science Camp- Ashley sees her best friend's mama crying... because she will miss her daughter.. Emma, Luke say.... BYE BYE Ashley- BYE BYE!!! (snickering) I have to say... It will be nice to have peace and quiet for a few days.. without the phone ringing all the time... - but of course I have to say I will miss my tween!!



* Mommy took the kiddos to Disney and CA Adventure... and ended up throwing up driving home..... I know (tmi)



* Mommy and Daddy and the children are hoping that after all the (sniff) torture that we put them through looking for a new home, that one of our offers will be accepted... We're DONE!!! ( I love our realtor... so if he reads this... don't get us wrong... We love you and appreciate all the work you've done for us...)



* Mommy and Daddy will be celebrating our 14th wedding anniversary in a few days- and all we can think about is.. how are we going to pay our taxes, and waiting to hear about whether or not our offer has been accepted..... Fun Fun!!!



* Mommy and Daddy love our children... and are so grateful to have each other. We are so deeply blessed! We can feel love and support from our family and friends... And hopes that our faithful readers still love us!!! ;-)

Knotts Merry Farms

Emma got DRENCHED!!! We were so lucky that we had traded in a pair of jeans at Target that morning- so we had some dry clothes to wear- She had to take her shirt off and put her jacket on and zip it up!
Emma got to invite a friend of her's from church to join with us-

Having fun!

Fiesta Hats ( same idea as the Tea Cups at Disney)

Andrew took this picture of us on Ghost Rider- which in my opinion is the BEST wooden rollercoaster I have been on- and I have been on quite a few of them.... AWESOME!!! I was kind of scared for Luke--- But he survived!

LA Temple- Christmas Lights

We went to the Temple after church before Christmas- We had fun and had a nice time there! This was our 2nd time doing this- so maybe it has become a tradition?

A mishmash of pics.

Luke made a snowman out of marshmallows at his christmas party at school.

Ash made the honor roll- We're proud of her!


Luke's tooth fell out.. the tooth fairy put a golden sacajawea dollar under his pillow.

Gingerbread house decorated by Emma

I don't know if you can see it, but Em made a sign that says " Emma's Inn"

Andrew and I had Em all to ourselves, so we had fun making personal pizzas, decorating this.. We need to have special time with each child... it was fun!

Nutcracker pictures

Don't they look beautiful/handsome? They did a really good job!!!

blogging from my blackberry

Hello!!! I thought I'd try blogging from my phone and see how it works. We are enroute to Big Bear to go play in the snow. We have never been to Big Bear.. So hopefully it won't be so crowded there...

We've been having a GREAT vacation! We went to the movies in Irvine... Went on a GIANT ferris wheel- the biggest one I've ever seen- and I've seen a few!

We went to Knotts Berry Farms on Monday, and had a blast!It was so much fun to go on all the crazy rides with the kids.. Luke went on his first upside down ride (like the tidal wave at great america) he loved it!!! He wasn't quite tall enough to go on a ride similiar to Top Gun, but he waited for us patiently- while the rest of us got on as a family.. I didn't know how Emma would do- I guess my kids take after me!!!! We've been having fun together- playing games, watching TV, staying in our jammies all day.

I don't know if I can figure out how to download a picture from my phone... But yes, I will have to post pictures like I promised.

Hope you all have a Happy New Years! I got cute hats and tiaras for us for tonight. Andrew's going to make pizza and we'll probably play games and watch movies... It's sad to think that all this fun will end in a few days- Hopefully we can go to the beach, go bowling before this vacation comes to an end.

Updates....

Dear Friends~

Hope this Holiday Season finds you all healthy and happy!

I just thought I'd write and update you all about what's happening with the Clawsons......

The children and I are all off for 2 weeks, so we're going to really try and enjoy it! Andrew won't be off until after work on Christmas Eve day for a few days. We are looking forward to enjoying spending time with the family during those few days. Hopefully we will be able to give our children all the attention that they need or want for the next few months in a few days! (smile)

The kids are doing well in school- I'm proud of the way that they've grown. Ashley only has 6 more months before she goes to Jr High! Scary!!!!! I'm not sure who is taller now, her or me.. but like everyone else in the Clawson side says, " it's not hard to be taller than you (me)!"

Emma got her braces a few days before Halloween, she has been able to adjust to it. She has to wear it for 18 months.. Ashley only has a year left before hers is taken off. I'm not sure if Luke will need them, I'm crossing my fingers that he won't, it is so darn expensive!

Last week, all 3 kids performed in the Nutcracker at their school. What a WONDERFUL experience it was to see all the hard work that they've done - come together- into a beautiful program. The kids really enjoyed doing that. I will post pictures on the blog later, when I have some time. They all looked so CUTE in their costumes. We were able to make a movie on MY new camera that I got for my birthday, but Andrew needs to figure out how to make copies and then we'll send them off to family... We also found out that the director was able to get a video made and will have copies available after Christmas break.

I finished my last final on Monday, and just saw my grades online, and saw that I still have my 4.0 gpa!!! Andrew wasn't surprised- he actually said, " I wouldn't expect any less from you!" So, I hope he'll still be proud of me even if I don't keep that up!!! I guess education is so important to me. I wish my kids would see that. It's just too bad that my grades from when I was 17 and 18 at the JC has to follow me around- I had a 1.8 gpa back then!!!! I'll be taking a class during the winter session, Psych 9. We'll see how that goes, hopefully I can keep up with the fast paced classes.

Andrew is still loving his job- So, I'm glad that we're here... It makes a big difference in our family when he's happy and I'm happy as well. There are times where we get too busy and that's when we get a bit cranky- but it doesnt last for long! :-)

We just found out on Monday, that we will have to look for another place to live. The owner of the house, this nice big house that we love... has decided to give it up and turn it over to the bank. We were stressed about what we were going to do. We don't have money saved for a deposit to put towards another house, so after going to church today and talking to someone about the situation, a woman told us to talk to a man who deals with foreclosures. He was able to give us some information. He said from the time that the bank puts a notice on our door, we have 5 months or maybe more to move. So, we feel a lot better knowing that we don't have to rush and find a place right away. Hopefully we can save some money and be able to find another place or maybe continue to rent this home from the bank, who knows what the situation is, there's a silver lining somewhere! I know of it and I feel it! Our Branch President told us today during tithing settlement, that because we are full time tithe payers that we will be blessed, I just had a warm feeling inside, that everything will be OKAY!

We are really truly blessed... After church today, our branch had a gathering to share Christmas treats.. I was looking at the members, and how much LOVE... LOVE... that I have for the members. The branch has become my family. I know that I feel alone at times, with no close friends like I used to in SR, but, there's so much LOVE there....Yes, there are those who gossip, or have bad attitudes, and such, but, it's everywhere...

I am so grateful for my family and for Andrew. Andrew and I have grown so much as a couple since moving here. We've had some rough times, but we've had to rely on each other with no friends to go talk to. Emma asked her dad today who his best friend was, and he told her," your mother." How good that was to hear that he sees me that way! He's my best friend for time and all eternity!

So, my dear ones...I hope that this season makes you look inside yourselves and see how blessed all of you are! Everyone is blessed with something, it's up to you to find it and acknowledge it (them).

Much Love to You....


The Clawson Family

Prop. 8 Story

I just wanted to share an experience that I had the other day. I posted a picture with the big "yes for 8" sign on my car.. I know it's an "in your face" sign, but it's something that I believe strongly in. Those who know me, know that I don't put signs up or announce to the world my political/moral beliefs, so this was a first for me.

Anyway, I was driving and noticed that i needed to get gas, so I pulled into a gas station. I pulled into an empty "stall", and someone else was in front of me filling his car. A man in a big SUV pulled in behind me, I guess he saw my big, "in your face" sign on my car, and started getting mad at me, so he pulled over and parked to the other side of my car. Another man (older man with a wife) pulled in behind me- "waiting in line". I found myself blocked in and trapped, the man that parked his car aside mine got out of the car and started walking around my car, yelling at me and at my car.. started walking to the man that was filling up his tank in front of me.. pointing to me and making obscenities at me.. I was TERRIFIED!!! The man waiting behind me saw how scared I was and pulled back out so that i could wiggle back out and escape. I had a silent prayer that i would get out asked for protection. Once I got out, i saw the older man get out of his car and start walking to the other men.. basically scolding him for freaking me out. I know that once I put this sign up on my car, that it would stir things up and cause problems, but it was something that I felt strongly about, and felt that I would be protected. I am so grateful that it was just me in the car that day, and not my husband. I feel that if it was Andrew, then it would have been more physical. I have read so many stories about people getting hurt over this.... Anyway, just wanted to share... I hope and pray for every one's safety while there is so much chaos in this perilous times.

Happy Halloween!!

Emma was a ladybug, Ash was a cute kitty cat, Luke was Dash from the Incredibles... They got TONS of candy! Dad stayed home to pass out candy.

I have been busy blogging- so keep scrolling down.....

Birthday--- Braces--

Here's some pictures that was taken on my Birthday. Andrew took us out to a NICE Indian place. The family gave me my present there and I proceeded to set up my camera and snap some pictures... Enjoy!

Doesn't Em look cute? (I'm biased I know!)

Yes on Prop.8!!!

Now that I have a new camera.. I can do better with blogging! Just wanted to show you my prop 8 sign on my car. I have gotten a few reactions out of it! It's a good thing I'm deaf!!!!

Pumpkins Galore!

Andrew was a very good boy this year and got me a camera for my birthday! So, here's some pictures I was able to snap! NO ONE is touching my camera!!!!! Enjoy!

Jack O' Lanterns

I've done 47 things!

...Things I've done and Been to (Mine are in RED )

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 (in the process of )
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
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
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
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
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 (& Book of Mormon)
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. Read an entire book in one day

I've Been Tagged!

Ok, OK.. Don't hate me!!! I've been super busy!!! But I'll do this -only for you Jessica!!!

My 8 Obsessions right now...

1. Keeping the house clean... which is rare with 3 kids!

2. My calling as RS Pres. is basically taking over my life!

3. Reading books...

4. Finding crockpot recipes (like i said, I have been busy...)

5. Andrew is an Obsession for me!

6. Kids !!!

7. Making sure the kids do their chores!

8. Food Storage

8 words or phrases that I use often

1. Whatever!

2. Stop fighting!

3. Clean up your messes!

4. You're beautiful/handsome (to my kids)

5. I love you

6. Ok, how about we do this.......

7. Give each other loves ( to kids after I tell them to stop fighting)

8. Time for prayer..

8 things I want to do before I die...

1. Watch kids grow up

2. Have grandchildren

3. Travel to Mexico and see where Andrew served his mission

4. Go on a Deaf mission with Andrew

5. Visit as many temples as I can

6. Graduate from college (working on that one!)

7. Go on a cruise and travel

8. Get my dream car- a baby blue VW beetle convertible

8 things I want or need right now...

1. Debt to be paid off

2. My house clean! (my sisters are coming tomorrow!)

3. Sleep!

4. Will someone do my homeowrk for me?

5. Need a new camera

6. Twilight books # 2 and # 3

7. Braces and my teeth fixed

8. Peace of mind!

8 people I tag..

1. Emily

2. Sara H

3. Elisa

4. Becky

5. Melissa

6. Valerie

7. Cindy

8. Rachel

Now I can move on!

Ok- I guess the Twilight series was an obsession. I wasn't feeling good for a few days, and my sweet hubby went to Border's to purchase Breaking Dawn for me. I finished all 720 something pages today....So, Now, I can move on... and get my laundry done and do all the fun stuff that mommies are supposed to do! Pah!

Ok! OK! I'm going INSANE! I started reading the Twilight book yesterday afternoon, finished it after dinner, read the 2nd book when I went to bed around 9 30, read New Moon until I looked at the clock and panicked when it read 1:32 am! I have children to wake up at 6 30!! I woke up at 5 am, continued where I left off in the 2nd book, woke the kids up and did what was neccesary to get them out the door- got back in bed and finished at 10:30 am. Took a break walked around, got a drink of water and stuff. The lure of the 3rd book Eclipse was too strong to resist. Kept reading it- of course I had to take time out during the day to make a quick dinner, (winks) and take a bath- because I did not want to disturb my reading yesterday! So... I'm all done with all 3 books! I think it's a total of 1700 pages or something!!!! in 24 hours! I am officially a Twilight FAN!!!! I just don't know whether or not I want to see the movies.... seeing how I get SO dissapointed when it's not the same as the book! Maybe I'll have to give it a try! Anyone want to join me?

Twilight

Okay, I succumbed and gave up! After hearing about the Twilight series and when I heard it was about vampires- I was like, "Not interested!" I wasn't feeling good today- and I've had the book sitting around- so, I decided to read it. MY GOSH!!! No one could get me away from the book except to eat! I read the whole book today- all 500 pages! Now I can't wait to read the second book, "New Moon." Just wanted to share!