Dad and Kipp ......

Here is Dad with Kipp before the run with the four wheeler. This is the "do" Dad had when they got back. Must say, he is stylin'!!!! The wind was blowin a gale this day and both Dad and Kipp had unusual dos.

SNOW 2008 !!!

The view from our front window
The view from our back window

The view from our front yard!! Stunning!!

Here is our snow storm for 2008 and let me tell you, IT IS FREEZIN' !!!!! How crazy in our desert state we get snow below 3000' and we see temps at 28 degrees. Being from Maine and having to spend 30 min. getting ready to just go out and play, this is heaven! I get to enjoy the snow and watch it melt within a day. YAHOO!!!!!! Roads frozen so you have to go 15 mph so you don't spin out of control and believe me people in the lower elevations DO NOT know how to drive in this weather unless they have lived some where there is the frozen stuff!!!

So here is the Safford snow for 2008!

Gardner Christmas Party 2008

(Cody and Kaely discussing the challenges of our times)

See why we have some fun. The food is fantastic and a team effort!

Some of Mimi's nursment !!!!!

One of the son-in-law studs
(Brian, Tif's hubbie)

A yearly tradition for the Gardner families is the Gardner Christmas Party. We schedule it for the second weekend in December and have an absolute ball. The cousins get to spend quality time with each other and Mimi has an assortment of "delicious Nursment" to keep her going thru the holidays!!!!! We desperately miss Rex but having him for Thanksgiving was the best time and had our whole family together.

The agenda for the GCP is something like this:

EAT

gather together for:

reading of the Christmas story from the Bible

talent show presented by the Glorious Grandchildren

presenting the presents to each other and then opening them so we can see what everyone got and hug the gift bearer

have the savenger hunt for the matching pjs for grandchildren

baths, bed for yungins

adults talk, have food fights or play games (food fights were introduce this year!)

What an awesome time is had by all!! Papa and Mimi are so blessed and we can't tell you how much love is happenin' for the Gardner family!!!!

Can I play Santa?!

Here is "Santa's helper" waiting on Christmas morning to see that we didn't dive into opening our gifts without some sort of order! We had a wonderful Christmas and are so blessed for all we have.

Happy Holidays 2008!

This Christmas was as wonderful as all the other 36 Christmas'. Some were more challenging than others but remembering the reason why we celebrate kept us going. Of course our most wonderful gifts from our Savior is our children, sons-in-law and our precious grandchildren.
I am so grateful for them and my families on both sides, our friends who support us and this glorious Gospel.
In reflecting on the season, I must testify of my love for my Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ and for the priesthood restored to this dispensation and for the Temple.
I send my love for all who view this post and for your happiness and health in 2009!

The man at the window with the video camera.....

We were altogether on Wed. night before Thanksgiving, the Rowells and Cluffs and us. I was on the couch when I saw a guy at the window with a video camera filming us. At first I thought who is that and what a nerve when I recognized the person. IT WAS REX !!!!!!! Shawna and Ben had gone over the Thursday before with the kids to spend sometime with Rex since he couldn't come home at all this holiday season. On Tuesday they were talking about him not being able to come home when he said why not. So they brought him home. The only one knowing was Verg. So we are on camera, me jumping up, everyone turning and looking then everyone running to the door. The Bryans weren't coming until Thursday but came late to surprise us!!!! Mission accomplished !!!!!! The kids were real troopers having to do so much traveling but thank you, Ben and Shawna and Theron and Sydney for making this one of the best Thanksgivings ever !!!!!! Our whole family together again!!!!!!!

I love this place .....

Sorry this is so blurry but I love the Haunted Mansion but really love it when it is done as The Nightmare Before Christmas! The movie is a Tim Burton classic and I love the story behind it. Can't figure out why this is so blurry, oh well, I should take lessons from our daughters!

Okay, so the ruler of the roost ...

So here he is the "Kippster" watching over his domain and also knowing he is having his picture takin' so he goes from Airbud to Lassie in his poses. Gotta love the Kipp-man!!!

(oh this feels so.....ooopppsss the camera)

(shoot, is this my good side?)

(NAILED IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Buzz and Rex ..

(What's this..... the bus with Buzz and cutie on it?!)

(Wow, our son is so biiiiggggg ..)

(Rex is everywhere and no one is the wiser ....)

When Verg and I were over to see Rex about a month ago, we were going to get something to eat. Rex told us he was on a bus as Buzz to promote the new theme for '09. As we were coming back from the restaurant, lo and behold a bus pulled up along side of us and quess who was on it ..... yup, BUZZ !!!!! So being the good, supportive mother that I am, I grabbed my camera and took pictures. We had so much fun and miss Rex very much but we are soooo happy he is livin' the dream!!

The greatest blessings are right in front of me .....

I must admit I am starting to see the greatest blessings in my life are the ones right in front of me and my world is better for it. I get so wrapped up in the uncontrollable events, I sometimes leave the controllable ones behind. My sweet husband has such a keen way of helping me see if I deal with the blessings I have and stop worring about the day to day grind, my life is so complete and as my sweet daughter, Shawna, says the adversary is winning if we allow him to do so therefore we must take control and follow the Savior.
Life is so short and we have so much to experience and grow from, we just need to remember why we here and "get r done"!!!!
My love to all who have touched my life in some way and we are all definitely in this together!!!!

Leighton Family Reunion

Here are some of the memories from the 1st LFR. It was so fun watching the children play, become friends and be very busy! Such an awesome job to Auntie Di, Koi and Amy for working so hard and being so organized! We are looking forward to next year already and also to have those who couldn't be with us this year join us, you were deeply missed! So be ready for the info on the happenings for the 2nd LFR!!!!

Oh these fun (not) tags!!

8 shows I love to watch:
Murder She Wrote
Color Splash
Divine Design
Curb Appeal
Perry Mason
College football games (when in season)
Dancing With The Stars
History Channel

8 favorite restaurants:
Baxter's Lobster House (Portland, ME)
Olive Garden
Cheesecake Factory
La Casita
Carter's A&W (Willcox)
Applebee's
Joe's Crab Shack
Crabby Bill

8 things that happened yesterday:
rode in the 2008 Homecoming Parade
watched Doyle be the H/C King crown bearer
worked
got ready for the Leighton Family Reunion
helped C.J. be comfortable with having all 4 wisdom teeth being pulled
got to see my "sister", Kris Stermer
got to talk to Twinner
had a Starbuck's ( so happy they are finally in Safford)

8 things I'm looking forward to:
Leighton Family Reunion
the holidays
any time I can spend with our families
retire from the SUSD
Vergene and I loosing weight
the second coming
our Temple being completed
more grandchildren

8 things on my wish list:
go on a mission with Vergene
having our home, cemetery and monument company completed
having a place in California big enough for our family to stay at when we visit
having Rex live in the place where our family can stay when we visit
being debt-free
having as much Family History done on my ancestors
being able to travel more
to see our country more united

Dune is in the house !!

This is Big Dune from Portland ME. He is my cousin-brother and he is a very big part of my life!! He came for my niece's wedding and we had so much fun!!!!! I am truly blessed to have such awesome cousins and I love them all!!!!!

Doyle is comin' of age!!!!!

Okay, so the wheels coincide with his age!! Can you believe this?! Mimi's heart was definitely in her throat but he did really well, oh life in rural America!!

This is what I mean by priorities ....

Even though C.J. has been home for a little over two months, these pictures were taken the two days after we got to Safford. C.J. got in on a Tuesday, the next day Trevor had knee surgery and the day after that he and Heather stayed until the following Monday so they could be here for our missionary's homecoming. That's what family is all about!! Rex took a week off of work so he could be here for his brother, that's what I'm talkin' bout!! So we had all our family under one roof and this mama was one grateful, excited and relieved woman!!!!!!!

Where did the time go ???!!!

Okay, this is now one of my priorities since I have put my life in on a schedule (and when I can get to the computer since C.J. is using it for all his college assignments). I am home today and 1/2 day Thurs and yesterday with the flu and this is the first time I have been pretty much upright.
I am truly blessed and now I can focus on the essentials and leave the non-essentials to lie where they may!

One year closer to retirement !!

Yup, I must say that is a lovely thought. I loved my day and having my mom here for awhile has made it really fun!!
I love my family and my sweetheart, we got to go on a ride tonight and I still get breathless when I am with him!!!
Yes, the advantages of having birthdays are so awesome and having good health to enjoy them is a blessing!!!!

Happy Birthday, Heather Danine !!!!!!

34 years ago today !!!!!

When they put that precious bundle in my arms, I couldn't believe she had just left Heavenly Father's arms!!! I was excited, scared, exuberant, and thought I could not love any one more than my Heather Danine!!! She became a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother and friend to all who has crossed her path.
Thank you, Heather for being the first best friend with four more to come. I love you!!!!

YUP, THE FIRST WEEK IS OVER !!!!!

Can I just say this week of registration is over and now I feel like I finally have a handle on the "don't get so uptight" thing? I love the people I work with and now I am so much happier with the kids coming back. FOOTBALL starts in a few weeks and I am so excited!!!! I can scream my head off and nobody cares except for Dad who has purchased earplugs so I don't give him a headache!!!!!!
So here comes the Bulldogs and the crazy lady with the big mouth!!!!!!

Can you guess what this is about ????

Yup, the first day of work is over and OH MY GOSH what a day. With the new students registration and getting back in swing of the work day grind, it was most interesting!!! It was so good to see my office "buddies" and to get on the summer happenings which we could have done all day but we were suppose to be collecting a pay check so that was kept to a short time. I forgot and I seem to do this year after year, how much is involved in helping to keep a high school office functioning!!!!!
But as I have stated before, one more year closer to retiring, lol!!!!!

My family ...........

Well, here we are, one big happy family and by the look on my face you can tell I start work on Monday, the 28th (and you thought it was from Tif choking me~ha!). But to tell the honest truth I am looking forward to it because that means I will be one year closer to retiring and at my age that is what it's all about. I have the most supportive family anyone could ask for and my sweet husband tops the list. He and I are a team and we can accomplish any thing we set our minds to and believe me I am so looking forward to eternity.
Our family keeps me sane and on top of things and for that I am so grateful.
OOOHHH, WE ARE A HAPPY FAMMMIIILLYY!!!!!!!!

100 ?????

Okay, I will try to answer the tag my Shamoms got me with. Here goes:
1. I was born in Massachuettes.
2. I was a Bluebird in Gorham ME.
3. I learned to jitterbug before I almost learned to walk.
4. We moved to Arizona for my dad's health in 1960.
5. I was nine years old.
6. My favorite food is Maine lobster.
7. My favorite sweets are chocolate and caramel.
8. My first name means defender.
9. My middle name means lily.
10. So I am a lily defender!
11. I lived in Scottsdale when we first moved here from ME.
12. We moved to East Mesa in 1962.
13. I roded the bus in to school.
14. It made me an outcast.
15. My family joined the Church in 1964.
16. Best decision my parents made!
17. Wow, only on 17!
18. I met my sweetheart in Seminary (we been together a total of 40 years).
19. I was a Mesa High Jackrabbit.
20. Go Purple and Gold!!!
21. I was voted a cheerleader my senior year.
22. I was 2nd attendent in the 1969 Homecoming Royality.
23. Even tho I rode the bus in from east of town.
24. Went all thru high school dating my husband.
25. My family moved to Willcox.
26. Three days after I graduated.
27. I waited for my missionary.
28. Sent him an announcement about our wedding while on his mission.
29. Thought he should be invited (it worked, we have been married 35 years).
30. He returned home May 26th.
31. We were married June 28th.
32. In 1973.
33. My colors were blue and pink.
34. I graduated from Dental Assistant school in 1973.
35. I LOVE dental assisting !!!!!
36. Our family started in 1974.
37. Heather Danine
38. Tifani Dawn
39. Shawna Daelene
40. Rex Devere
41. Charles Jacob
42. August 15th
43. March 1st.
44. July 21st.
45. April 24th
46. June 10th
47. 5 of the happiest days of my life.
48. Not to forget, Vergene on Feb. 18th.
49. My heros are: Nephi, Alma, Moroni, Joseph Smith, Sandra Day O'Connor and Abraham Lincoln.
50. Before I was 18, I lived in 14 different houses.
51. I was 11 when we joined the church.
52. The Temple is my most favorite place to be.
53. Hobbies are:
54. Reading
55. Scrapbooking
56. Going to Disneyland
57. watching football games.
58. watching track and field meets
59. screaming at both.
60. I took dance and gymnastics for 11 years.
61. seven of the most fantastic people in my life are:
62. Kaely Sue
63. Cambry Christi
64. Cody Hayden
65. Theron Vergene
66. Doyle Brian
67. Sydney Lillian
68. Wyatt Floyd
69. I love the ocean and mountains.
70. My pet peeve is being pityed.
71. I love the youth and support them 1000%.
72. I love to walk for great lengths of time.
73. I would love to have a Nissan Armada.
74. Or a Murano
75. I love Safford High School.
76. I do bleed a mixture of purple/gold and blue/white.
77. My family is the single most important thing in my life.
78. As is my testimony.
79. I love to do genealogy.
80. I love history of any kind but favor American history.
81. B-O-R-I-N-G.
82. I am afraid of heights
83. I love the 60s and jazz and church music.
84. Thank you Ben for introducing me to thai food.
85. I am claustrophobic.
86. My favorite color is purple but love all different kinds of coordinations of color.
87. I LOVE HGTV.
88. I like to cook.
89. I use to make my own clothes.
90. I love all the church callings I have had.
91. the most bizarre thing I participated in my life was when I went with Sis. Lola Simmons to a BYU Genealogy seminar and we slept in my car with a mosquito net over us and took showers at the YMCA in SLC, also ate out of a cool chest and this was a week before the seminar, was better when we were in Provo. But wow she would put her false teeth on the dashboard and did she snore!!!
92. On graduation night my sweetheart and three other football players picked up my little Subaru and hid it on me.
93. Wasn't my sweetheart that night.
94. the best vacation I ever had was when I went with Mom Gardner and we met up with Vergene and Papa Floyd in South Dakota while they were on a harvest crew and got to see Mt. Rushmore, did you know there was a treasure hidden behind there.
95. that was the summer before my senior year.
96. I love dogs especially Kipp.
97. I love the song of the morning doves.
98. I love my new house, thank you Vergene
99. I love life
100. I love people
And that's my 100 things about me and I'm stickin' to it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our missionary is home !!!

Here he is, here he really is !!!!! The whole family was there except for our Brian and he was missed. The girls decided to pick up C.J. in style since he just came from Chicago, so we all went in a Hummer Limo ! C.J. was stunned and a bit overwhelmed but saw the humor and loved it. We all had so much fun and didn't have to worry about parking or driving in traffic. So we are all here and now the fun begins with all the families growing and doing all the fun things !!! The next generation of missionaries are the grandchildren so we have awhile.
Welcome home, C.J. and thank you for continuing in returning with honor as have Dad, Heather and Rex !!!!

TOMORROW !!!!

Today is July 14th and tomorrow I will have my whole family together at around 6:15 pm an that is so hard to believe!!!
What an awesome two years it has been and now we are ready for our "youngest" to come home and continue on his quest in life!!!!
Yes, the Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints is truly the restored church and yes, we are an eternal family !!!

4 !!!

Count down .............

7 !!!

8 days ~~~~~~~~

This is not happening can't be happening but sure am glad it is !!!! Elder Gardner will be flying in on July 15th, and this family is crazy with excitement !!! This is how it was when Heather and Rex came home from their missions and the anticipation is STILL at an all time high !!
It is a bittersweet feeling since now we have come to the end of an era of this generation's missionaries and look forward to having our next generation's group which we will pray does NOT go by as fast as this generation did. Each one has brought blessings to our family which other wise might have not happened. So thank you: Vergene, Heather, Rex, C.J., Brian, Ben and Trevor for the committment and desire in serving our Heavenly Father. THE COUNTDOWN IS ON !!!

My baby brother is 50!!!

The birthday boy, Chad, who is one of my heros.

My sister, Di, and my niece Angela who is soon to be a married woman!
My niece, Sondra and her mom (and Angela's mom and Chad's wife) Frances
Tifani and Amy, my niece, at the party for Chad.

Frankie called and invited us to a surprise birthday lunch for Chad at Red Lobster in Tucson. We had a blast and Chad was very surprised as well. I remember the day he was born. Di and I were staying with the Ottos in Gorham Maine when Bea came in and said "you have a baby brother"! We were so happy and to this day I am so blessed to be the big sister to Diane and Chad.

I can't believe it ........

Two weeks from today our family will be picking up our missionary from the airport!!!!!! People ask me if the time has dragged or flown and I say here and now, it has FLOWN!!!!! We as a family have been blessed by the committment and focus our missionaries have shown and the strength and example they have been to us. So on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 we will be a complete family physically. It could not have happened without the prayers, support and love of our families so may I take this opportunity to thank each of you from the bottom of my heart. I love you all!!

My sweeties ......

Papa and Mimi are so blessed by having seven of the greatest little people in our lives. We had all seven here this past week and Heather too. Here is our oldest grandchild helping with the youngest grandchild. They are all best friends !!!!!

From simple things come great blessings !!!!!

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT !!!!!

Our missionary will be home in two weeks and four days!!! The anticipation is overwhelming and the next chapter in our lives begins. We are so blessed to be able to have four missionaries from our family and we are looking forward to having many more as our grandchildren and great-nieces and nephews prepare to walk uprightly and grow in the gospel.
I have come to use as my motto in life: "We are not human beings who have come to earth to learn of spiritual things, we are spirits who have come to earth to learn of human things."
Love to all who come to my blog !!!!!!

Time of our lives ....

Shawna and Ben went on a cruise and so Tif is taking care of Theron and Sydney (with a little help from her friends). Heather is also here for the week with Cody and Wyatt and Papa and I have all seven grandchildren here!!!

It is so fun to see the cousins interact with each other. We have had our share of fussing, fuming and telling on but that was remedy with patience, overseeing and bribery. Love these little people !!!!!!!!

Mary, Bert and Mimi

One of my favorite characters is Mary Poppins and Rex set up this photo shoot for me.

Fantastic !!!!!

My vacation .....

This is my vacation with Rex. I had a wonderful time and got the "star" treatment. I had the opportunity to get a photo shot with eight characters at one time and that is very rare! I got to watch Rex in action and was in awe with the way he nailed the character he was portraiting at the time. All in all it was an awesome time and one that I will remember as my "dreams come true" vacation !!!!