December 2008 Family Newsletter

Happy Holidays! December 2008

This has been a good year for the Gardner family. We have been in our home for a year now. It is nice to have our own place and something that is truly ours. Where we can make whatever changes we want! Although we are now tired of remodeling with plenty left to do.

Brandon is busy with work. He still works as an apprentice plumber. He is on his third year of school for plumbing, and can’t wait to be done. He is also being kept busy at church as the assistant ward clerk. This year he got his wish to have toys… he got a 2008 Kawasaki Brute Force and he loves it. We also got an older Yamaha Kodiak; this is supposedly Jen’s but more often than not, one of Brandon’s buddies is driving it. He is always taking the opportunity to go riding…rain or shine or snow it doesn’t matter to him. The kids are quickly following in daddy’s footsteps. Cooper can’t see a 4-wheeler without begging to go for a ride, and Kyleigh already wants one she can drive. Brandon has also taken up duck hunting this year, and was surprised to find that he really enjoyed it.

Jen is busy at home. With our own kids, and some of our friends’ kids that she watches while they work. It is fun, hectic, and often crazy at our house, but the kids enjoy having other kids to play with. Jen is the secretary in young womens, and enjoys getting to spend time with the girls and getting to know them better. This year Jen has tried to become more domestic. Don’t laugh, its true :) She has been busy this summer and fall trying to learn to can fruits and vegetables. Thanks to all the phone calls to her mom, everything turned out great. We now have beets, pears, peaches, and applesauce. It has been great to see our food storage grow, and know that all of that hard work was worth it. Jen is also attempting to learn to sew (it’s a stretch I know) but with some luck she can accomplish her desire to make a quilt, or maybe some jammies for the kids.

Kyleigh just turned five! She is in preschool, having just missed the kindergarten cutoff, and she loves it. She is learning so much and loves to go and be with her friends. Right now in school she is learning how to sound out words and how to write. It won’t be long before she is reading. Kyleigh is also in dance and tumbling and loves to go and be creative. She is quite the little dancer and loves her tumbling class. She is always showing us the dance moves she makes up, or trying to do handstands and cartwheels in the house. She has recently become interested in craft projects and cooking. We try to help her make things, and let her help do things in the kitchen. She is mommies little helper and loves to do anything mom is doing. She loves to sweep and mop, and help with Cooper and the other little kids we watch.

Cooper just turned 2! He is busy exploring everything and trying to figure out how things work. His new love are cars, trucks, and 4-wheelers. He is always vroom vrooming around the house. He is starting to talk more, and is learning new things everyday. He likes to do things on his own schedule and doesn’t like to be pressured into anything. He loves babies, and is surprisingly very gentle. He is a sensitive little boy and is sensitive to other people’s feelings. He loves to get you to chase him, and loves to be tickled and teased. He likes to be with his daddy at all times. If daddy is at home, Cooper is bound to be right there next to him.

This year firsts: Brandon ran his first marathon, and then also his second marathon. He is addicted to running and is already planning more marathons for 2009. Jen ran a ½ marathon and is planning to run the full marathon with Brandon in 2009. We took a family trip with Jen’s family to San Carlos, Mexico. The first time the kids have been out of the country! The first time Cooper has been to the ocean! Cooper wasn’t so sure he liked the ocean at first, but it didn’t take long and he was loving it! The first time Jen went Scuba diving in the ocean! It was an awesome trip, and we had so much fun. Scuba diving was awesome! It was not the least bit scary, which is monumental for Jen who doesn’t like the water. This year has been a great year, even if it did fly by…We are hoping next year will be just as great!
We hope you have a wonderful Christmas!
May the true meaning of Christmas be not only in our hearts but in our actions as well.
Best wishes in the year to come and we hope to hear from you soon.
Love,
The Gardner Family

Slacker!

Ok, I have been a slacker! I know I know! But the more everyone said 'I keep checking your blog...when are you going to update?' The more stubborn and indifferent I became. I know its a horrible attitude :) But, thats just me. I am always telling Brandon; the more often you tell/ask me to do something, the less likely I am to do it. I know its a horrible quality to have; but I don't care. Ok, maybe I care a little bit, but not enough to change...
Then, I was talking to my friend about blogging, and explaining my indifference and frustration. What she said motivated me to continue on. She said 'Who cares what anyone else says. Your blog is for you and no one else. If you want to blog, then blog. But you only need to worry about how you feel about it. Its for you!' However, I do like that it can keep us all in touch and updated on whats going on with eachother, no matter where we are....So, now I am doing it for me because I want to. And I do hope it helps give everyone near and far a small glimps into our lives...

So, now that its been for...ev...er since I have posted. I am just going to start with the new year, I may go back and add things from last year, but just for my own record...
So, here's to a fresh start! And to doing it for me, no guilt included :)

Kyleigh's Dance Recital

Kyleigh has been in dance and tumbling since last september. Well, we just had her recital and she did awesome. She also had try outs. I didn't tell her what try outs meant, just that she got to go dance for people. I didn't want to stress her out. She did awesome! The judges actually placed her in the 1st-3rd grade age group! So she is learning beginning ballet, and doing extra performances (like competitions) this fall and next spring. So we will have a busy school year because she is starting preschool this fall. Unfortunately she misses the kindergarten deadline by a 2 months, so she has to wait until next year to go to elementary school. She is loving ballet and being able to have friends her age. Her recital was great and she was excited to have Grandma and Grandpa Cooper come from Colorado to watch her, and Grandma Gardner and Grandma Great Harris come and watch too. She did tumbling the first night and dance the second night. She love to do both, and Caitlyn her best friend (in dance) is in both her classes! Here are some pictures...

Mexico!!

Sorry I have been behind!

So, We went to Mexico with my family (Jen), we left June 6th and got back on June 15th! At first we were going to drive, but changed our minds and decided that with gas prices, it was better to fly! Especially while Cooper flies for free, and the kids were only flying back with us because they spent the week before with Grandma and Grandpa Cooper. We went to San Carlos, Mexico! It was like a 7 hour drive from Pheonix. It was well worth it though! We met our kids, my parents, Shannon (my sister), Erin (my sister) and her boyfriend Mitch at my Brother James and Sister-in-law Colleen's house in Pheonix. Then drove the next day to Mexico!
I guess I should mention that all of my family except my sister Erin are Scuba Certified, and thats what the vacation was based on. Shannon, Colleen, and I certified in December and this would be our first dive trip, and first ocean water dives! We were excited to say the least!
Erin and Mitch helped by watching our kids so that I could dive with Brandon! Thanks you guys, you are awesome!!! Oh, it was Mitch's first time out of the States, and first time in the ocean. So I am sure it was a pretty exciting trip for him!
Kyleigh and Cooper LoVeD the Ocean! Cooper would sit back to where the waves would crash and then come up to his waist! If there were a few waves in a row that didn't reach him, he would start yelling and pointing at the ocean. It was so cute, I was glad he liked it, because I was afraid that he would be scared of the water! Kyleigh was brave too, and enjoyed playing in the ocean as long as someone was close to her, as the trip went on, she got even more brave, and would venture to do more.

I've been tagged!

Sorry, I guess Tiffany and Amanda both tagged me quite sometime ago, but I just didn't realize it....sorry!!!! So here it goes!
1.What where you doing 10 years ago? Getting ready for summer, and looking forward to being a senior! I was 17, and just starting to get the horrible case of Pnemonia, that the doctors wouldn't treat....I was sick most of the summer, and was miserable....

2. 5 things on my to.do list today... do the dishes! Get Kayda to the vet! Make homemade bread yum! continue to tackle the laundry! Play with the kids....

3. 5 of my fav snacks! Licorice:) ice cream (any flavor, cookie dough and mint chip are the best though) :) BBQ potato chips:) Sunflower seeds:) veggies and Newmans Own Light Raspberry Walnut dressing:)

4.What would I do if I suddenly become a billionaire? Move to Colorado and live on love ;) ha ha
Take all our family and friends on awesome vacations! Buy front row season tickets to the Jazz and Rockies for my dad...Donate it to charities, travel, travel, travel.... just happen to visit North Carolina, and New Jersey :)

5. 3 bad habits- Biting my nails....although getting my nails done has helped to stop that... Being negative about myself and thinking other people think bad things too, watching tv, surfing the net

6. 5 places I have lived? Durango, CO; St.George, UT; Bountiful, UT; Ogden, UT; Roy,UT

7. 5 places I have worked? hhhmmm let see Denny's (did anyone see that coming) Southpark Childrens Center, Weber State Housing, Avatar, and back to Denny's :)

8. 5 things people don't know about me?
*I love the rain and want to read a book with a cup of hot chocolate, and a blanket and sit by a window so I can smell it, and hear it. Our house in Colorado was the best because the roof tops there are metal and you can hear the rain pelting against it...awesome!
*I can't wake up and just get out of bed, I have to have time to adjust to the idea of being awake. I like to lay there and think. And it takes me an hour to fall asleep...Brandon can fall asleep in 2 min. (honest, I timed him) I am so jealous!
*I hate neverending chores....putting away laundry, doing dishes, the minute I have all the dishes done, someone needs a drink and then there is a dirty glass! Or I just hang up all the clothes and kyleigh takes 3 outfits off to see which she wants to wear. I do the same thing, but it still makes me crazy!
*I love to bake, but hate to cook; and I hate deciding what to have for dinner....why is it the my job? I don't get it..everyone has to eat, why can't everyone help decide...why do I have to choose what everyone has to eat just because I am the one preparing it? It makes no sense!
* I love to do crafts, but I am not creative...I am really not! Give me a pattern, a picture whatever and I will replicate it, and have fun doing it, but don't ask me to think of what to do on my own! I am too indecisive, and have no cute ideas... Try as I might, they just aren't there...

I tag Christy Fillerup, Kristie Moeller, Natasha, and Colleen

Kyleigh's 1K run!

Kyleigh was able to run in a Kids K that was held after the marathon. The kids ran the last 1/2 mile of the marathon/half-marathon. It was so cute. Brandon and I were going to run with Kyleigh, she really wanted both of us to do it with her. Well, considering we just ran our races, we were exhausted. Brandon couldn't even run, and I did more hobbling than running. I did my best to keep up with Kyleigh and her cousin Morgan. They ran the whole race holding hands! They were so adorable. They were even in the Monday, May 19th newspaper, in the sports section. The whole day Kyleigh kept asking her grandma and grandpa Cooper for a cow bell to ring as the runners were passing by. Well, all the kids that ran got a medal for completing the race. Of course, it was a cow bell!!! She couldn't be more excited, and she wants to take that thing everywhere. That bell could make a person crazy, but I am glad she enjoyed her race so much!

This top picture is Caden Gurr, he is Rachel and Jason's little boy..Kyleigh and him have been friends since she was 3 months old! They are so cute, and love being friends.

Ogden Marathon

For now here are some pictures of Brandon at his race, and after.... He will be adding his own commentary so check back for that! I do have to say how proud I am of Brandon! He did awesome!! He ran 26.1 miles in 3 hours 25 min. and 11 seconds. He was a little over 15 minutes shy of quailfying for the Boston Marathon! On his first marathon! He did awesome and is already planning his next race! He was 9th in his class, 98th in his gender and 115th overall!!WOW!! Here are pictures of Brandon running, then pictures of us afterward, including some with Jens Gibbs, Brandon's best friend who also ran and did a great job!

Ogden Half Marathon

So, now that I am starting to move again; and feel like I can start to function like a normal person...I will give you all the full marathon/half marathon update!

Brandon and I both had a very restless night before the race, so 4 a.m. came way to fast! We got up and got ready to go. We arrived and waited for Jens, Daryl, Rachel(my best Colorado buddy) and her sister Sammi. Brandon and Jens loaded first and I went to meet up with Daryl and Rach, and Sammi. We couldn't find Rach or Sammi, so Daryl and I loaded the bus and headed up the canyon. The trip seemed WAY longer than 13.1 miles and I was getting nervous! I had given up hope of being able to find Rachel and Sammi-bummer. Just as we unloaded the bus I spotted Rach! WOoHoO! Well, we got to the start and had almost and hour and a half to just stand and wait. It was cold, but they had a bunch of fires for us to stay warm, but there were way too many people so we didn't get a whole lot of warmth!

All four of us started at the same time, but it wasn't long before Daryl and Rachel were off in the distance. Luckily Sammi and I ran at the same pace. It was awesome because when I wanted to slow down or walk she pushed me, and when she was having a hard time I pushed her. It is so nice to have a running partner! I hate running alone...

I was excited to see the first few miles fly by, it sure didn't feel like I had been running that far. The water/aid stations were great! My favorite was the one with gum and another one with watermelon! The watermelon came just when I needed it! It was so refreshing and tasted sooo good! I always chew gum when I run, but I had forgotten mine in the truck, so I was happy to see gum along the way! :)

We celebrated every mile marker with a WOoHoO and a wave of our arms! I even ran like Pheobe on Friends, just to loosen up for a minute.. I was so glad to have someone to share the race and the experience with! The last two miles were hard! The last mile seemed to stretch on FOR......EV.......ER!! It felt like three miles rolled into one. At the end, as I was coming in..I saw my parents and my kids! It was just what I needed. I stopped and kissed Kyleigh and Cooper and then went on to finish my race! Sammi waited for me, she was so awesome! She said there was no way she was going to finish without me:) I couldn't have asked for a better running buddy. Maybe we will have to plan more runs together... Here are some pictures of us running and then after the run.. I finished in 2 hours 18 mins. 36 seconds..... I was super excited! I just wanted to finish the dang thing, and I ended up with a personal best! My training run of 11 miles, I ran between 11 and 12 min. miles. During the race, I ran 10 1/2 min. miles! Way better than I expected! Maybe I can be convinced to continue to run, and maybe to do another race ;)

Fun Trip on the new Front Runner

Allison Barnes and her little boy McCord joined us on the Front Runner! We decided that while it was free we would take the chance and go for a ride! The kids were excited for about 20 minutes, and then the younger ones started to get restless. We rode to Woods Cross, got off and went and got ice cream. We got back on and went to Salt Lake and then came right back to the Roy station. It was fun, and quite the experience! Here are some pictures of us riding the train...

Connor and Logan come to play!

We were able to watch Connor and Logan while Jens and Tiffany went out. We had soooo much fun! Cooper finally got some competition, and they all wanted to play with whatever someone else had. They all loved the play house! We only had one high chair, so Connor and Logan were big boys and sat up to the table! They played so well, I hope they get to come play again! Here they are...sorry there are so many, but they were so adorable I had to put a bunch up!

EEERRRR!

Ok, Sorry everyone! I have been a slacker...I am going to catch up, and then keep caught up! I just haven't been in the best mood lately. I don't know why, I just have been onery and irritated and didn't want to blog anything! I have decided to adjust my attitude and get happy! So here's to blogging again and my attitude adjustment!
~~Sorry to Brandon and the kids for living with a bear the past couple weeks! I love you more than anything in this world!
So, I am labeling this as now, but you will have to go back through Nov. to see what I have updated!
:)

Christams Day

Christmas Day in Colorado!

The pictures speak for themselves... We had a wonderful Christmas. After all the presents are opened, my dad makes Eggs Benedict for Christmas breakfast (another Cooper tradition)! I didn't get any pictures because I was too busy pigging out on eggs benedict! Then we looked out the window, and we had a friend come to visit...its a normal occurance in CO, but we figured people elsewhere might think it was cool. Then to make the day evern better, we got calls from my brothers on missions.... Shaun is in New Jersey, and Jon is in North Carolina. It was so awesome to be able to talk to them! I can't wait to see them again!

Christmas Eve Tradition

My family (Jen's) has a tradition on Christmas eve... Denny's closes around 3 in the afternoon on Christmas eve, so people can be with their families. Well, my family has chili for dinner and then we go tour the lights of Durango. After our tour, we head back to Denny's where we make egg nog shakes! It has always been fun because nobody is there and we get to be there together and make egg nog shakes.... MMM sounds so good right now. Now that we alternate holidays with Brandon's family, we only get them every other year. I think in makes them taste better!

Here is the family at Denny's enjoying the shakes.

Kyleigh is learning young how to work at the restaurant...cleaning floors, putting in orders!

Random Things about Jen

Ok, Sorry it took so long for me to blog this....
Here are the 6 random things about Jen:

1. I am neurotic about my bedding. I can't sleep if the bed isn't made. I don't care if it is made in the morning or not, but I hate it when the sheets are crooked and have wrinkles when I am trying to sleep. I tuck my side in tight and make sure the the sheets and blankets go over my head and then I fold them down so they hit at shoulder level. I can't sleep if it isn't made, and I will make the bed at two in the morning, and Brandon dead asleep in it. I try not to wake him up, but I can't sleep until it is made the right way. Crazy, I know!

2. I love to sing and dance, but am not good at either! But I love to all the same. I am one of those people belting it out in the car. Kyleigh gets mad and tries to get me to stop, but its just too much fun! I like to dance, but Brandon doesn't like to. I am not good at it, I just think its fun to do!

3. Someday, when the kids are older I want to go back to school to get my masters, and doctorate. I want to be a family therapist... Then, I just want to take any class that interests me. I want to learn to do massage therapy, cake decorating, photography, and take teaching classes... Just to name a few! I love to learn about pretty much everything. I would be a student forever if I could. I just love to learn.

4. I love to bake, but hate to cook. I wish I could cook gourmet food, but I can't. I don't know what spices to use, or how to improvise when I am cooking. But I love to bake! I used to bake when I got stressed out, it just gave me time to be by myself and think. Now, I don't have as much time, but I am trying to teach Kyleigh and let her help. It is no longer time alone, but now I get to do it with Ky and we try to have fun.

5. I just got certified to Scuba Dive and I am afraid of water! I know it sounds insane, but I have never really liked water, and definitely didn't like having my head under water. But I wanted to be able to go scuba diving with my family, especially Brandon; so I gave it a try. I loved it, and now feel more confident in water than I have ever felt before. I can't wait to go to the ocean!

6. I am completely indecisive! I hate making decisions. I know it sounds stupid but I am always afraid of making the wrong choice, or of hurting peoples feelings, or stepping on someones toes. Even if it only effects me, I still can't make a decision. I have to list all the pros and cons and then I try to make Brandon choose for me. There have been many times I am in the store doing the eeny meeny miney mo... Trust me its bad!

I guess thats it, there are 6 random things about me!
I tag Christy Fillerup, Kristie Moeller, Sue McCrary, and Natasha

Christmas Pagent

Every year Grandma and Grandpa Great Harris always have a Christmas party with the kids acting out the Story of Jesus' birth. This year was Kyleigh's year to be Mary! She was so excited! It was all she could talk about, oh and she calles Joseph--- Jophes (like Joe-fus) its so funny, and no matter how many times we pronounce it right, and sound it out she still gets it wrong. Oh well. Brandon had a part in the story too... do you think he was the right guy for the job.? His family sure though so! :) Here are some pics of them.

Our Final Open Water Dive!

WOO HOO!! My sister Shannon, my sister-in-law Colleen, and I all completed our final open water dive yesterday! We went to the Crater at The Homestead in Heber City. It is an old volcano -i think- and they drilled into the side so you can walk in and then there is a natural spring inside that keeps the water at 95 Degrees! It was so warm. Anyways, there is not a lot to see, but it is nice to be able to certify in December, and not have to get into freezing cold water! Anyways, now everyone but the little kids, and my sister Erin are open water scuba certified! I can't wait to get to the ocean and practice and explore! Thanks to my parents for giving us this opportunity of a life-time!!! We love you!!

I also have to thank Dive Utah - Ogden for teaching us all we need to know and putting up with our whacked out schedules!

So, here are some pictures of us before our final dives, and after our final dives!

Shannon and I setting up our gear!

Shannon and I getting ready to do a seated entry in to the water!

Colleen, Shannon, and I after our final dives and still wearing our equiptment! We are standing kinda funny because the gear and tank are pulling us backwards because they are so heavy.

Tired Kids!

After the play date, and it was past time for bed! So, I put them to bed and went downstairs. I went back to check on them, and they were so cute I had to take some pictures!


Kyleigh loves to listen to High School Musical 2 on her mp3 player! It is her favorite way to go to sleep! I love it, because it reduces the number of times I have to go in and scold her for playing and not sleeping! Here she is so precious!

Then there's Cooper... I have no idea how he fell asleep like this. It must have been comfortable for him at the time. It was just too funny to see him curled up like that in the corner of his bed! I couldn't resist taking the pictures!! I did, however, move him to a more comfortable position after I finished with the camera!