Christmas and More!

Lidia a very happy, energetic little girl.

 She turned one in Jan!!

Very cute girl. 

 She loves her daddy.

 They moved out of town and now live on a farm.  The kids love the animals and Phil and the family have to feed them early in the morning.

 Yummy birthday treats!

 Doing chores, every day.

 That really looks good.

Cooking up some good grub.

Lost in a sea of presents.  Santa was very good to our house.

Hmmm...where should I start?

 Once Seth had a car, the other presents were less critical.  (guess we should have just bought a couple of cars)

 Ellie was in heaven and had a fun time with the entire Christmas season.

What is it Gmom?  I love it!! 

 Mandatory picture taking, of course.

 Betsy got us a cool map of the world to track family missionary travels and other adventures.

 We quickly found a place on the wall for it.

 She loves that Princess stuff, and anything horse-related.

And the boy just wants anything with wheels.  (is it genetic or just a man-thing?)

Tebow Time!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

 Just plain wore out.  He doesn't just chill very often.

He's always up for a Gmom hug.

Gpa trying to get in on it.

Christmas day church going.  The weather was great.

Cars and trucks make him smile.

Ellie in her pretty Christmas dress.

What do you mean I'm not in Nursery anymore?  Sunbeams?

Seth really got attached to Jake and will really miss him.  Jake's off to UVU and the Provo experience.

Yeehah!!!

They all love Jake.

Adam and Hayley went to run/race.  They each did great, I think they each won their age group.

Ellie was intrigued by the Nativity, though a little nervous until I showed her they were just plastic.

Gmom was the official race babysitter again, but this time had Gpa to take pictures and help.

Post-race family shot.

Gpa brought a Mexican General to Texas to give him a new helicopter.  Very fun to see the Bell helicopter factory and fly the simulator.

Lots of goodwill and ceremony.

A shot of the ceremony principals.

Betsy Visits Mexico

Betsy came to Mexico, here she's in front of the entrance to the National Museum of Anthropology.

Mexico City is filled with interesting memorials to many different things.

Museum of Art

One of the very old churches in downtown Mexico City.  16th century I think.

It was really fun to have her here.

On the upper deck of the tour bus. 

It was good for the first couple of hours...after that, much less so.

Another look at the very old cathedrals.  Lots of gold and statues inside.

I think this is a memorial for the worker and/or revolution?  Not sure, but very interesting looking.

This is the very interesting looking musem that belongs to one of the richest men in the world, the telecom multi-billionaire Carlos Slim.

The Mexican Navy flew us (and other, of course) to Acapulco for the commissioning of a new ship.

On the beach.

Because of the violence in and around Acapulco, the place was somewhat deserted.

Very beautiful sunset.

At the commissioning ceremony.

They put on a good rescue show for everyone there.

To the rescue!

The newly commissioned officers of the Mexican Navy arrived from a cruise to the Mediterranean. 

We even got to see President Calderon speak.

Betsy putting on her best smile with the group of attaches and their wives.  (and I'm not even an attache this time around, but got invited anyway)

Welcome Home Elder Garner!

Jacob flew home late Thursday night October 13th.  We took a few pictures the next day before we left to visit with the Stake President.

We even had Dad here to share in the fun!

It was his first time to see the new house and experience the "country life"!

The boys were excited to have him home too!

Mom is always so happy to have her boys home.

It may not look like it, but Ellie was so excited to have Jacob come home.  We had been building him up to her for awhile.  After all the things we told her, he was up near Hero status when he arrived.

Jacob is buying Ron's car to take to school.  I think he is happy about that!

One of Ellie's favorite movies is Calamity Jane.  So naturally she was convinced to be a cowgirl for Halloween.  She was adorable!

Seth had no choice.  We went with the theme and he was our little cowboy!

A couple weeks after Jacob came home he turned 22!  That is crazy!  We forgot to take pics before we ate the awesome Hayley homemade carrot cake.

Adam and Hayley gave Jake a planner.  His upcoming College life will require it!

Mom and dad gave him clothes, clothes, clothes.  He needed some new stuff.

We are so happy to have him around for a couple of months before he heads off to school in Utah. Welcome home Jacob.  We are so proud of who you are and all that you have accomplished!