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!!