Roger's birthday

Dad turned 62 this month.  I can't believe it!  Happy Birthday Roger.  He is the best man I know.  He loves his family with such tenderness and adoration.  He loves and honors me every day.  He is humble and is kind.  I love him very much.  I can't love him without thinking of his parents.  They raised such good Garner children . . . . all of them! 

They sing Happy Birthday very LOUD!

Christmas at the Garners!

My mother spent Christmas with us and I absolutely loved having her here.  I'm sure she went home thinking our family has some pretty crazy traditions because we do things a lot different then what I did when I was growing up!  That is what I like about it though.  Roger brought traditions from his family and I brought some from mine.  Then of course we came up with a few of our own. 

Here are some of the traditions: 

• I love that Roger reads the Christmas story every year. 
• Our children draw each others names and then we get to open those things up on Christmas Eve. 
• Grandma and Grandpa (Roger and I) always get the grandchildren pajama's every year.  Of course they have to open them up on Christmas Eve too. 
• Then the games begin!  Lynne and Bryan introduced us to the "Candy bar game"  but it has evolved into a gift exchange game.  It is a riot to play. 

I loved the gift that Stephanie gave her Dad.  She spent many hours turning Roger's mission slides into pictures and then she made a book for him.  It was very special and he really loves it.  The kids are always too good to us.  We received so many nice things.  Personally, my favorite for me was the temple shoes with enough money to buy a new temple dress.  I am still wearing the dress that Doris gave me many years ago and I was wanting a new dress!  I can't wait until I find the one I want.  I love my family and I love being with them.  I want to thank them for a wonderful Christmas!!  I am truely one of the most blest mothers in the World!

I better explain this picture of Roger. It was a game Stephanie came up with.  He had to shake the balls out of the box on his rear!  It was sooo funny to watch! 

The Kids in their new christmas pj's -- Mary, Joelle, Emma, and Addie are in the back.  Grant and Gabrielle are in front.

I think Christmas this year started when we went down for Lucas's baptism.  His baptism was so special to me.  I have been to many baptisms but Lucas is the first grandchild to be baptised and it meant a lot to me to be able to be there. It made me very happy to see how important it was to Lucas too.  He is a wonderful grandson and I love him very much. After he was baptized we went out to dinner then we went to Salt Lake to see Temple Square.  It was VERY crowded but it didn't bother me.  I enjoyed being there with Craig, and Lynne's family and with Denise, Stephanie and Roger.  I really loved it.  It was Stephanie's idea and I'm so glad she thought of it. 

Thanksgiving

This is such a terrible year to travel and I was afraid that Craig and his family and Lynne and her family wouldn't be able to make it this year.  The storm came in right before Thanksgiving.  The roads weren't all that great which made their drive even longer then usual.  On top of that, Lynne and Bryan was in an accident in their new car before they got out of Salt Lake.  : (   It was just a fender bender but it still wasn't a fun experience when you are on your way out of town. 

Craig and Diana got here early enough so we could celebrate Cooper's birthday!  It was so fun singing to him and seeing him dive into his brownie.

Even though Lucas's birthday was on the 15th, we got to celebrate with him too.  It was so fun to see both the boys soooo happy.

I've always given the grandkids an ornament each year like my mother did for all of her grandchildren.  Last year I started giving it to them before Thanksgiving dinner.  They had so much fun opening their ornaments and discovering what they would be.  A couple of weeks ago, Joelle mentioned to her mother that she wished her ornament would be a ballerina and surprise, surprise . . . that is exactly what I had gotten the girls!

Thanksgiving has become one of my favorite holidays.  I am so grateful for family, the gospel, and this great land I have to live in.  What amazing blessings I have! 

YEAH Cooper!

I didn't go to Craig and Diana's blog until after I posted the Halloween pictures.  Isn't Cooper the cutest little Golfer? 

More birthdays!!!

I can't remember what I posted now but I don't know if I posted Steve's birthday. Here are Steve, Scott, and Gabrielle on their birthdays.  Happy Birthday!!!

Scary Halloween Spooks!

Ty and Lucas are the best Batman and Robin . . . I wish I could have seen them in person!

 Gabrielle doesn't look too spooky . . . just cute like her mother!

 Grant is a scary bear, Mary was a fairy, and Emma chose to be a Pumpkin? :)

 Joelle was a very scary wicked witch and Addie was the pretty Glenda good witch.

The "G" Girls

Last weekend Stephanie, Denise and I traveled to Utah for the annuel Garner cousin/aunt get together.  It really did boyd me up and filled my soul.  I wonder sometimes if Grandma Doris and Natalia are permitted to glimps in on us when we are all together.  I know I felt a sweet spirit while we were together.  We talked and laughed, and you can't have that many Garner women in the same room without a few tears!  We talked about family traits and characteristics that are carried from one generation to another.  I mentioned the loving service, the lack of gossip or critisism, and their sweet spirits.  Lynne added that we have been blessed with the gosple and how most Garner women have remained faithful members.  Diana, Andrea, and Camille mentioned how much we love each other but also we are friends.  We also talked about missing those that didn't come; Bruce's girls, Lee's girls, and Katherine and Jennilynn.  You were all missed and we would love it if you could come next year!! 

The Parkers begged us to come down for Thanksgiving.  As much as we hate for that tradition to end, we think it might.  It is hard for us to leave most of our family here to fend for themselves on Thanksgiving if we were to drive down.  Besides, they wanted all of us to make it.  Scott, Brian, Steph, Denise, Ayla, David and Roger all have to work on the Friday after. Thanksgiving was so fun when we used to go down, and I have some of the best memories from those get-togethers!  I wish we could pick a day in the summer for a Grant and Doris family reunion.  Maybe Dad's birthday in July?!!