Spring/Summer 2008

Jacob leaves for Basic Training in August--get ready Fort Jackson!
Izzie just got back from her European vacation, still ready to rock.
Tom (Paula's Dad) taught us how put in a new floor down at Phil and Paula's, so I had no choice.
Plenty of work, but we did it. (It also got me some cool new power tools)
First came pulling up the old carpet, then the floor prep, with help from Tex.


Little by little, it started to come together, one big gulp at a time.

Ah, the fruits of our labor!
Hey, who put in that new floor?
Nice!

A surprise Visit!

Two weeks ago I came into the Kitchen at Jacobs request, and out jumped Hayley and Adam. What a surpise. I had no idea they were coming to Virginia. Ron, Jake, Hayley and Adam were pretty good at keeping a secret. I cried. What a great two weeks we had spending time together.

One day we loaded up into the truck and drove to Monticello, the Thomas Jefferson estate down near Charlottesville, VA. He was an amazing man, very intelligent and designed quite the place. He built his house on the very top of a big hill (mountain out here) surrounded by a 5,000 acre estate, with 600 servants and slaves. Very cool piece of history to see.

This is the front entrance to the mansion.

Here's the gang, Betsy, Hayley, Adam and Jake, looking over the gardens as they would have been back in the day.

Yes, we are a handsome bunch and admire fine vegetables.

What a cute couple! Hayley grew a fair amount in the two weeks they spent with us. They surprised Mom and we snuck them out here without her knowing. She was happily shocked.

What a nice place, even today. Hard to believe it was built in the late 1700's.

This is the carriage entrance.

Mom and Jake taking in the sights.

We had perfect weather. It wouldn't have been as much fun if attempted in July.

These two always like to pose.

The little girl inside and the big girl outside just keep growing. Lots of growing left to do as well.

The dogs were very happy to have Adam and Hayley in the house. They love having company around.

Even Tank got a kiss from Hayley; no wonder they like her.

All good things must come to an end. Here we are at Reagan National to send them back to Utah.


There's still a little farmer left in every Garner, my little field of plants and the new lawn are doing well. I'm constantly pulling out the sprouting acorns; it was a bumper year for acorns for some reason.

We re-did the yard late last year so there is more work this year. Maybe next year it will be less work.



In April we went to North Carolina to see Phil and family. Phil got back from Iraq in March. Izzie is about as cute as they come; and lots of fun.



Betsy may not be very big, but her sons are all extra large, and really good men too.



We got Isabella a new rocking chair for her first birthday; she really loved it.

Izzie in her pretty dress. She is very close to walking, won't be long.

Very pretty!

Christmas 2007

We had the best Christmas ever this year. Everyone was there at one time or another, minus of course the two in Iraq. But we were able to play with their babies and their wives. Fun was had by all. Evidence Below:

What a happy bunch!
Paula and sweet Izzie looking adorable.
Tank imagining he is a 140 pound lap dog.

Izzie will be crawling soon. What big beautiful eyes!
Cousins playing on Grandma's table.
Grandpa and Max looking like they've had too much fun. Tired out.

"Please don't make me eat....."
"Grandpa, I will puke on your hand!"
Izzie avoiding eye and spoon contact.

Bath toys!
Max helping Aunt Paula.
Izzie is getting it figured out.

Jake is tuckered out.

Adam was the chief sugar cookie cutter.
Hayley lending a hand.

Sugar cookies are the best!
"Sugar makes me happy!"

What's up Hayley?
"Is it my turn yet?"
Grandma likes Christmas as much as the kids.

The guys got new jamma pants; we took off our pants right there and changed (while the girls covered their eyes).
The girls got new jammies for Christmas too; lovely.
Heather, Ephraim with Max modeling his new pajamas.

Jake had the very important mission of handing out presents and maintaining good order and discipline; he mostly succeeded.

Ephraim was more than thrilled to once again see GI Joe under the tree. Question is whether he'll share with Max or not.

Max liked Grandma's sugar cookies as much as he liked the presents. Adam and Hayley attacking their presents.
Adam doing his best Bubba Nascar fan impersonation. "Nobody can beat Jimmy Johnson!!!!"

Tex hoping Max will drop sugar cookie crumbs.

Fox beat Tex to the crumbs. Eight people and three dogs made for a crowded but very fun Christmas.
Toys!

Dad helping Max with his presents. Maybe he needed more sugar cookies for energy.

The tiger says what? "Gilmore Girls make me happy!"
Max got a remote control car.
Warm Christmas as evidenced by Ephraim's bare feet.

Church basketball claims a victim yet again. Broken bone number 3 just from Church ball, 5 total.

Gee Grandpa, we are good looking dudes!

More evidence.

The hair works with the ladies too.
I am the MAN!

After church, Eph and Heather.

Max is ready for church with Grandpa.
Handsome Max with Grandma and Pa.
Hayley, is that a new coat?

Grandma sings like a rockstar, when she's not on a break.
Eph should play lead for Metallica or Led Zepellin. The video game Rock Group was a hit.
Tex doing his best to cheer up Jake. No more basketball for awhile.
Max had to take over on the drums for Uncle Jake. Always ready to rock and roll.

"I think toys taste better than food", Izzie said to Jensen; he disagreed, "food rules", he explained.
"Grandma, Mom is on the phone so we'll just have to chill, this could take awhile."
"I think it's almost dinner time, right Mom?"

Izzie is cute no matter what she's doing.
"Mom, did you say Dad is coming home?!"

" This is one tasty toy Grandma!"
"Is that really a LaBron jersey? Cool! What's for dinner?"