Quote of the day ...........

"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave this world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life was breathed easier because you lived. This is to have succeeded.
Emerson

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!!!!!!!