Christmas 2009

I know every year I say that it was the best Christmas ever but it really was a good year! We decided to have Cafe Rio, Steph and Mom style for Chrustmas Eve. I know . . . we sort of broke away from the tradition of going out on Christmas Eve but the family is getting too big for us to all go some where. The dinner turned out as good as the real thing. Craig and Diana came up Christmas Eve so they were able to join us for dinner but Lynne and Bryan could't make it until the day after. There was plenty left so we ate it again on Sunday. It was still just as good!

It was such a relaxing morning on Christmas Day. The kids used to get up anywhere between 3:00 a.m. and 5:00. I used to tell them that they had to wait to open presents until at least 5:00. Sinse they have gotten older we have been able to sleep in later and later. This year it was agreed that we would all meet here at 9:00. How nice was that?!!! We had hot cocoa while we opened presents then Stephanie made eggs Bennidict for breakfast. They were soooo good. Everyone sort of went to their own corner of the house afterwards. The "boys" all gathered in David's room because he has an x-box.

The day after Christmas we went shopping. None of us really bought very much but I had gotten a gift certificate for Wal-mart! I bought make-up! That doesn't sound very exciting to some of you but to me it was like . . . well . . . it was like Christmas! I needed it so badly but didn't have the money. That stuff can be expensive!

I have to tell you what Steve and Katherine did. They went and bought us some wood for Christmas. I don't know who all went in on it but I think they paid the most. I have enjoyed the warm house very much! There is nothing like a warm fire.

I also got gift cards for Lowes and a ZUNE. I have listened to the Zune so much that my ears hurt! I can't wait to go to Lowes to get a new light for my kitchen. Wow! I know it sounds like a lot! That isn't all but there was so much.

I am very grateful for all my children. Not just because our Christmas was full of gifts but because I really loved being with them. I loved having Lynne and Bryan and Craig and Diana here from Utah and all the kids that live here. There was a feeling of joyand love, and it was just alot of FUN!




Grandma Cray got these Christmas pajamas for Gabrielle. They fit her just right.

I had to throw this picture in of Ty. Look at the feet on his P.J.'s. They are the cutest ever!

Thanksgiving!

Everyone was here but Craig and Diana and we sure missed them! Every family has their traditions and we have ours. First of all we don't eat at the traditional 12:00 to 2:00 Thanksgiving time. All the married kids' inlaws eat early so we have always eaten at our regular dinner time at 5:30.

Some of kids go and play a game of football while the turkey and potatoes are getting cooked and of course they have to wear a jersey.

I think the tradition in our family is to see if I can come up with a new tradition every year! Not really but I did think of another one this year that will be fun. Every year I have given the kids a Christmas ornament. It started with my mother giving one to all of her grandchildren when they were young. This year I wrapped them up and put them on their plates at Thanksgiving. It was fun to see each of the grandkids come in and wonder what the surprise was. Joelle got to our house first and it almost killed her to wait until all her cousins were there so they could open them all together.

I also set a card on the grownups' plates for their Christmas list that I asked them to do before they left the table. Then I emailed the list to everyone so it gave them some ideas for Christmas.
Those will be two things I'll continue to do from now on. I love my family and feel so blessed. Not just at Thanksgiving when we are suppose to be thankful but I am so very grateful for our family all year long.


Not only do they play football but they do the broad jump and run around a lot! I think this is David.
Brian punting the ball.

I love Jeff's jersey. I think he's a BSU fan.

Joelle wanted to go with thme to play football this year too!

Joelle and Emma opening up their ornaments.

We were so happy that Lucas and Lynne, Bryan, and Ty could come up this year. They usually do but I'm always happy to see them!

Addie and Mary. And Grant is off to the side.

More Pictures of Gabrielle

Did you notice the color of her hair? It isn't the same as her sisters. She looks a little more like Adwen then she does Joelle to me. She is very cute.

Scott's Birthday

With the excitement of the new baby, I forgot to mention Scott's birthday. I love it when the family gets together! Happy Birthday, Scott! (I don't know why this is underlined. I can't find where to take it off. It isn't intentional)

Baby Bailey

I owe Craig and Diana an appology, I said that we had nine grandchildren. We also have a very special granddaughter who is in Heaven. We have 10 grandchildren!

New Baby Garner Girl

I was at work today when Jeff called and told me that they were at the hospital. Dad and I got there about 2:00 and Jennilynn was starting to have pretty regular contractions two minutes apart. She was given the epidural but it didn't work at all on her right side. She debated whether or not to have the guy that gives drugs, come in and give her more but finally around five she had him come in. He gave her something but it still didn't effect her right side. Anyway, her contractions became pretty strong but she handled it very well. She did such a good job. Their little girl was born at 5:52 p.m. and weighed 7lbs. 6oz. Both mother and baby are doing very well. Now the work and sleepless nights begins!

Halloween Spooks!!

Joelle and Addie came to Trick-or-Treat us. Joelle helped us carve a pumpkin . . . well not really. She kept saying, "Eoww . . . that's gross, isn't it." I drew a wolf on one of the big pumpkins and Dad (Roger) carved it. For some reason it turned out to look like a "Y"???

Katherine and Steve took their kids to the Friday night trick or treating down town Nampa. So of course they had to stop by Stephanie's office. Stephanie at first wondered who Katherine was and then she saw Steve. One of her co-workers asked Steph if her sister was like her and went to church. :) She looked pretty good!

Joelle is Sleeping Beauty and Addie is Tinkerbell.

Steve is a lumberjack and Katherine . . . well she looked good whatever she was.

Emma is Rapunzell, Mary is Little Red Riding Hood, and Grant is like his Dad.

Hope everyone had a HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

We've been Boo-ed!!

Last week Lucas called and he told me about getting "Boo-ed" I thought it was such a cute idea that I "Boo-ed" a couple people at work and a couple in our ward. Jennilyn is feeling VERY pregnent lately and has had all the symptoms of her body getting ready for their new baby. She called and asked if her and the girls could come over yesterday and I wanted to keep the girls entertained so Jennilyn could get a little break.

The girls helped me clean up the dog poop in the back yard, we practiced writing their names, and then we made cookies so they could go "Boo" Emma and Mary. I hope they had fun because I did. Addie ate more dough and frosting then she made into cookies but that goes along with baking with Grandma!

Joelle told us that she was going to take the cookies to Emma and Mary, ring the doorbell and hide. Then she said she was going to jump out and say "Surprise"!! She was so excited but when we got there the Steve Garner family was gone. We still snuck into their house and put the cookies on the table with the "We've been Boo-ed" note. Addie fell asleep on the way back to Grandma's house but I took a picture anyway.

Funny Kids!

Grant wasn't too sure about the skeleton. It made him a little nervous.

I just read Diana's blog and I have to dito what she said. I love listening to the prophets. I liked all of them but was really touched by the strength of Elder Holland's. If you missed is go to lds.org and listen. It will mean a lot more to watch it then to read it when the Ensign comes out. Not that reading is a bad thing but when I was listening to him, I could feel the spirit and knew that what he was testifying of was the truth.

Last Saturday Katherine brought the kids over so she could go to Steve's band compitition. I enjoyed the kids very much and here are some pictures of them helping me decorate for Halloween.

The kids also wanted to see if they would fit in Uncle David's very large missionary suitcase. They did!

September

September has flown by so fast. Here are some of the events that occured this last month. We went down to Utah this weekend to take Grandma back and to go to Michah's wedding. I wish I would have taken some pictures of Grandma when she was here. I really enjoyed having her for the week. I'm afraid she got a little board while I was at work. So . . . next time she comes I'll make sure I have time off so she won't be here alone. We did get to visit and we even went and saw some of the friends she had here.

Michah was married at the Bountiful Temple. I always love going to temple sealings. It makes me realized how blessed we are as Latter-day-Saints. I love listening to the words of advice and counsel given in every sealing. Michah and Stephanie were very cute and when I looked at Wendy she was so proud and adoring.

David, Craig, and Steve all have birthdays in September. It is fun to have everyone over for dinner to celebrate. We miss being with Craig though . . . . my dream is that some day the Utah kids will all live up here . . . . I don’t count on it though :(

Roger, Stephanie, Scott, Brian and even Uncle Rick went to Texas to see BYU vs Oklahoma. They all told me that they were so glad they won but it was worth the trip just to see the stadium. The screen was about fifty or sixty yards long! Pretty amazing!

This is the ball field where the Texas Rangers play baseball. It was right next to the stadium. I thought it was a cool looking building too.

Scott and Brian's Moving Day!

If you have been following Scott's blog you will all know that they have bought a new home. Today was moving day. The kids all played on the lawn while we packed up, cleaned, and moved. I was thinking how I enjoyed the work because everyone that could be there were there to help. It made things go faster and smoother then if the boys tried to do it alone. Just another reason why I love this family sooooo much. Thanks to the Jeff Garner family, the Steve Garner family, Stephanie, and Denise. Many hands makes light work. I don't know if that is a saying but if it isn't it should be.


Grant was playing and he fell down. Do you see his hurt on his knee?

Emma asked me if I would take their picture. She loves pictures!

The girls love to be together.

The boys new home.

Loading up the truck.

John Marshall Cray January 8, 1928 - August 17, 2009

I wanted to post some pictures taken during Dad's funeral. I know my mother is already missing him but we are all happy that he isn't hurting so much all the time now. It was hard walking into his house that first time and not see him sitting in his green recliner.

Dad was as tough as they come. There were times I didn't like him very much but there were also times when he was the best friend in the world. He said what he meant and he meant what he said. He was able to quit drinking and smoking and even became worthy to go to the temple in the last 10 years. I loved him for his tenasity, his stick to it attitude, and his love of family. He did love his family.

I owe so much to his example of hard work and his attitude that you can do anything you set your mind to do if you want it bad enough. He valued education but was living proof that you shouldn't make excuses if you've had a hard life. I know he passed on a lot of his charactoristics to his children. I have never known anyone that could build or fix anything like he could.

All of Mom's brothers and sisters came from far away to be there. All of his children were there and so were a lot of his neices and nephews. I felt so loved among all the family that came. It was truely amazing.



John, Danial, and Uncle Bob

I had to throw a picture of Roger in there.

Mom and Stephanie. Mom looked pretty in her blue dress.

All of us kids and Mom.