The day after Amy Clawson's 33rd birthday, she and her newborn daughter passed away on May 21. It was less than a month before Father's Day, leaving LDS dad Alex Clawson to raise his three little children on his own.
Three little redheaded superheroes climbed on their dad. They tussled over which one got to wear the Hulk Hands. When their turns came, they put on the oversized green gloves to punch and knock over a pile of cardboard boxes.
In their playroom Thursday, the children wore superhero capes made by their mother. There were laughs, toddler antics and sibling squabbles.
Amid a hubbub of toys and tots, Alex Clawson watched over his children with love, patience and the gentlest hint of authority. It was a sweet morning at their Everett home. But things are not what they were.
“My mom died,” 4-year-old Willem Clawson confided quietly, looking up at his visitors.