2025 Top Ten

1. Brad flew halfway across the world to Malaysia where he tried Durian fruit. Highlights included  mountain biking and snorkeling.

2. Emily celebrated her 40th Birthday with a trip with Brad to Sedona, AZ and a girls trip to Banff, BC.  She also celebrated 10 years cancer free!

 

3. Carson (16) is a Junior in high school! He got his drivers license permit and drove us home from Utah.  He also went to Homecoming with his girlfriend Prya.

4. Tanner (14) 8th grade! Got a e-bike and loves riding around the neighborhood with his friends.

5. Logan (11)  5th grader! He is on the safety patrol at school and loved going on a fathers son campout to Enchanted Rock with his scout troop. 

6. Spring Break skiing at our favorite Purgatory resort in Durango, Colorado

7. Going to Carlsbad Cavern, NM

8. Kayaking Horseshoe Bend and boating in Lake Powell with Grandma and Grandpa Clark

9. Murphy Family Reunion in McCall Idaho

10. Lantern ceremony for Olivia

(what is written on the family Christmas Card)

 This year has been one of both heartache and gratitude for our family. Earlier this year, we lost our dear cousin and niece, Olivia (11).  Her absence is deeply felt, and through our grief, we've been reminded of the preciousness of family and the importance of cherishing each moment together. 

Carson turned 16 and is now driving!  He even drove us all the way back home from Utah over the summer, a 1500 mile journey! Tanner, now 14, had a great season playing football and loves the freedom of zipping around on his new e-bike. Logan, 11, is enjoying his last year of elementary school and making the most of every moment before middle school begins. Brad had a big travel year with work, highlighted by an international trip to Malaysia. Emily celebrated her 40th birthday with a special trip with Brad to Sedona and an unforgettable girls' adventure in Banff.  

Through all of life's ups and downs, we are thankful for the love and support of family and friends. Wishing you a joyful Christmas and a peaceful new year filled with hope, love, and togetherness.

2024 Top Ten

1. Brad and Emily celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary!

 

2. Carson (15) is a sophomore in high school! He went to DisneyWorld with his orchestra group where he had a music clinic and performed Disney songs to a music video.

3. Tanner (13) 7th grade! Broke his arm in P.E. playing soccer at school and joined the jr high football team.

4. Logan (10)  4th grader! Joined the neighborhood swim team and got his black belt in Taekwondo.

5. Spring Break skiing at our favorite Purgatory resort in Durango, Colorado

6. White water rafting down the Snake River

7. Hiked a volcano in Costa Rica

8. Went repelling down waterfalls

9. Zip lining through the cloud forest

10. Staying in a treehouse in the rainforest

Top Ten

1. Brad had business trips to Australia/New Zealand, the UK & Norway. He also competed in LOTOJA for the 4th time and got 6th place!

2. Emily ran her first half marathon and is a lead preschool teacher for 2.5 year olds.

3. Carson (14) is a freshman in high school! He went to London & Paris with a school group this summer and got the travel bug. Carson is enjoying playing the cello in his high school orchestra.

4. Tanner (12) started middle school! He went to scout camp over the summer and has also started playing the cello. You'll usually find Tanner running around the neighborhood with his friends.

5. Logan (9) enjoys playing soccer, basketball, and Taekwondo. He brags that he is now the best skier in the family (aside from dad) and he loved going camping this summer.

6. Spring Break skiing at our favorite Purgatory resort in Durango, Colorado

7. Horseback Riding along Immigration Canyon 

8. White water rafting down the Snake River

9. Brad and Emily went on a vacation to Amsterdam, Belgium, and Paris

10. Seeing the Eiffel Tower

Top Ten

2022 Top Ten 

1. Brad started traveling again for work and has been to Canada and Alaska. He’s looking forward to going to Australia/New Zealand after the New Year. Also competed in Lotoja again and got 9th place in his group!

2. Emily- Went to Sedona this fall on a girls trip and has been doing lots of running. Still working as a preschool teacher and is now with the 2 1/2 year olds. Like a lot of moms her second job is being a Uber driver to her kids and all their activities/ social life.

3. Carson (13) Officially became a teenager and all that comes with it; the cracking voice and growth spurt that finally made him taller than mom. Still playing the cello and got his black belt in Taekwondo.

4. Tanner (11) Also got his black belt and is enjoying his last year in elementary. Tanner is always with his friends and enjoys family movie nights.

5. Logan (8) Ever the class clown, we never know what will come out of his mouth. He has a new found love of reading and is just like his dad always wanting to ride his bike everywhere.

6. Went mountain biking in Moab

7. Went to AJR concert 

8.  Spring Break skiing in Colorado where Logan graduated from the bunny hill and is now on the green hills!

9. Took the boys to the Broadway play Hamilton

10. Enjoyed spending the Christmas holiday time in NYC!

What an incredible year 2022 ended up being! Finally after 2 years of Covid upheaval this was the first full “normal” year since then. We took full advantage and did so many fun things together as a family. Loving this stage of life we’re in!

 

Top Ten

Top Ten

1. Brad went halibut fishing in Alaska 

2. Emily went on a girls trip to Universal Studios and Chicago

3. Carson (12) taking cello lessons and earned the top award for academics in English 

4. Tanner (10) turned double digits! Loves Taekwondo and being outside with friends

5. Logan (7) our little dare devil who loves all the big roller coaster rides 

6. Vacationed in South Padre over spring break and went on a dolphin tour!

7. Hiked the Delicate Arch

8. Got Lagoon Amusement park season passes 

9. Had lots of family visitors this fall

10. Brad competed in Lotoja again and Emily was able to go and be part of his support crew

2021 started out as a continuation of 2020. To start off the year we had the capital riots, Covid was still in the limelight, divisions over the Covid vaccine, we had our Texas freeze, and then our family got Covid! 2021 was not off to a good start. Fortunately though things did mellow out throughout the year and it seemed as though we were getting back to normal.

We escaped to South Padre for spring break (desperately needed after having Covid), we had another fun summer in Utah, and school is back to normal with no masks!

It’s a busy season of life we’re in, with all the kids activities, but it’s a fun one!

 

Top Ten

1. Brad competed in LOTOJA and turned the big 40!

2. Emily enjoyed baking bread, running, and watching butterflies hatch over quarantine.

3. Carson started Jr High!

4. Tanner skied on the big lifts this year

5. Logan started Kindergarten!

6. Our family went on a Disney Cruise in January 

7. Spent our spring break skiing in Durango

8. Learned how to do online school

9. Went to Lake Powell

10. Enjoyed all the extra family time together this year

2020 has been quite the year!  Covid dominated, but we were lucky enough that it really didn't affect our plans too much.  Our family vacation was in January and we were able to go skiing over spring break just 2 days before the lockdown, and luckily Lake Powell opened up just right before our scheduled vacation so that wasn't canceled either! 

It was nice having so much family quality time together and a simpler schedule. Having Brad and the boys doing work and school from home, all extra curricular activities canceled, to spending 2 months in Utah this summer with family.  Technology also made it feel so not alone, with FaceTime with family, to many school zoom calls (I mean seriously who ever heard of zoom before this?  Now it's a household staple) it made this year feel more connected then it could otherwise have.  

Even though 2020 was simpler it wasn't without drama because it certainly was a dramatic year!  From obviously the covid unknown, to Black Lives Matter, to the presidential elections.  Always one thing or another dividing the nation. 

I think it is safe to say that 2020 will be a year to remember!  Definitely going down in the history books as a year that won’t be forgotten. And with covid still alive and well, it will be interesting to see how 2021 plays out. Here’s hoping 🤞🏻

 

2019 Top Ten

1. Brad biked a Century (100 miles!) in the Houston summer heat.

2. Emily had a busy year!  Started back into the workforce as a preschool teacher and had a girls trip to NYC!

3. Carson (10) earned his arrow of light award!

4. Tanner (8) started boy scouts and Taekwondo

5. Logan (5) got staples in the head and started a new school with mommy!

6. Went skiing as a family in Durango Colorado

7.  Brad and Emily went Down Under!  Fed Kangaroo's and snorkled in the Great Barrier Reef!

8.  Saw Old Faithful in Yellowstone

9. Brad spent a month in China, Australia, and Norway while Emily held down the fort and took the boys camping by herself

10.  Trips to Utah for a wedding and a funeral

2019 also closed the end of a decade.  It was fun looking past the last 10 years to see all that has happened.  New adventures, kids, cancer.  It was a decade of growth in so many ways, lots of highs and some very low lows, it was a ride!  Life takes you on many different roads and as it has been said before, you gotta take joy in the journey!  And I'm excited to see what the next 10 years bring!

Also what a perfect post to make as my 1,000th post!

2018 Top Ten

1.  Brad traveled for business to Australia and Indonesia

2.  Emily went to Seattle for a wedding

3.  Carson (9) learned and fell in love with skiing

4.  Tanner (7) earned the prestigious Honor/Noble Knight award at school

5.  Logan (4) follows behind his brothers playing soccer and rock climbing 

6.  Brad went to his 20 year High School reunion 

7.  Brad and Emily saw the Broadway hit Hamilton

8.  Boating at Lake Powell

9.  Went horseback riding through the bluebonnet covered hills in San Antonio

10.  Spent a wonderful week in Disney World!

2017 Top Ten

10.  Brad came face to face with a bear while in Alaska 

9.  Emily took a girls trip to Chicago to see the Broadway play, Hamilton

8.  Carson (8) went skiing for the first time

7.  Tanner (6) started kindergarten

6.  Logan (3) started speech therapy preschool

5.  Spent Easter weekend in Destin, FL

4.  Went to Utah for a wedding and a funeral

3.  Survived Hurricane Harvey

2.  Brad and Emily stayed in a hotel on a cliff in the sacred valley 

1.  Brad and Emily hiked 4 days on the Inka trail to Machu Pichu

2016 Top Ten

10. Brad got promoted to Corporate Industrial Hygienist

9. Emily got to see her high school band Weezer over the summer

8. Carson (7) went to the NCAA final four tournament

7. Tanner (5) got his tonsils out and played soccer this fall

6. Logan (2) loves to run, play in the dirt, and give hugs

5.  Went to Park City 3 times this summer (girls trip, date night, and with the kids)

4.  Had Thanksgiving with family in Utah

3. 12 years later went back to the beach that Brad proposed at in Destin, Florida for spring break

2.  The boys got their wish to play in the snow and build a snowman

1.  Saw the Bellagio Fountain in Las Vegas

I love doing this post every year and looking back at all that we've done.  This year I got my quiet, no surprise year that I was hoping for after the previous year.  It was a year to connect with family, with two trips to Utah this year, a fun filled summer and a wedding this fall.

Now that we had our quiet year, we are already planning some fun things for 2017. Carson turns 8, big vacations, and Tanner starting kindergarten.  This year is also going to be the year of the 60's with 3/4 of our parents turning 60 this year and my grandparents will also be celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary.  Yep 2017 is going to be a great year!

2015 Top Ten

10. Brad took a skiing trip with his brothers

9.  Emily turned the big 30

8. Carson (6) was honored as a "Student" of Character" for showing kindness

7. Tanner (4) loves toys, playing with friends, and riding his bike

6. Logan (1) loves trying to keep up with his brothers

5.  Went to New Orleans with the Murphy girls

4.  Emily was diagnosed with Stage III Melanoma

3.  Saved by both Grandmas on their very helpful trips

2. The boys were able to go to the Duschene Family Cabin for their first time

1.  Brad and Emily took a wonderful vacation to Istanbul, Turkey and Rome & Venice Italy

Every New Year is a time of reflection and looking ahead. 2015 has been dubbed our Roller Coaster year.  It had many twists and turns, ups and downs.  There was lots of surprises, heartaches, disappointments, and learning opportunities.  It was also a year of coming together as a family, humbling ourselves, and taking advantage of this wonderful life.

A lot happened this past year here's hoping that 2016 is a lot quieter and calmer!

2014 Top Ten

10. Logan Brad Clark joined our family this July

9. Brad ran a half marathon and flew an airplane

8. Emily started quilting, loves blogging, and taking pictures of her kids

7. Carson started Kindergarten, played soccer, and has lots of friends

6. Tanner started preschool, and loves to play with superheros

5. Logan is fun to tickle and is rocking on his knees ready to crawl

4. Purchased a mini van (aka the Batmobile to Tanner) 

3. Traveled to Utah, Sea World, and New Orleans

2. Enjoyed showing our families Texas's beauty

1. Brad and Emily celebrated their 10 year wedding Anniversary

Its been a wonderful year with a wedding, a beautiful baby, and spending time together as a family.  We are so thankful and are truly blessed!  Happy New Year!

2013 Top Ten

1. Brad got a new job with Conocco Phillips

2. Emily met one of her childhood TV icons

3. Carson learned how to spell his name

4. Tanner turned into a dare devil at the pool

5. Moved to Katy, TX

6. Sold/Bought new home

7.  Loved exploring our new home state of Texas

8.  Brad and Emily ran a 5k together

9. Loved going to the beach

10.  Found out baby #3 will be joining our family around the 4th of July

What a year its been!  Filled with lots of big changes, and 2014 looks like it will bring even more exciting adventures for our family.  Who would have thought this time last year that we'd be moving to Texas of all places!  Its crazy how so much can happen in a year, and I can already tell 2014 is going to be a great!

2012 Highlights

1. brad graduated with his masters from tulane

2. emily hosted a murder mystery party

3. carson started preschool

4. tanner took his first steps

5.  brad & emily went to new orleans in may

6.  took a family vacation to disneyland

7.  visited family in utah

8.  enjoyed several family bike rides

9.  loved having our best friends move in next door

10.  saw the blue man group in las vegas