Giving Thanks in Billings

 Yes... this is picture overload. We had a lot of fun. This is the first time since Justin's parents left that the entire family has been together. I LOVE Justin's family. They are so great. We had good food galore, good company galore, and even had some fun games after the kids were in bed at night.

 Mmmmm....Pie:)

Justin's parents and sibs- Camille, Kellie, Carrie, Larry, Carol Ann, Jeff, Kim, Justin

Lizzie, Maddie and Gracie with their snow babies

Gracie's card 

Justin and Jeff- being extra helpful in the kitchen.

Sara and Ryder

Sour pickle

Transfer week in Billings

Maisy, climbing on the dishwasher.

 We had a fun week in Billings. Justin's parents were in the middle of transfers, so we tried to make ourselves a little scarce. Justin was working at a small animal clinic for the first 3 days of Thanksgiving week. It was a lot of fun. Even though we weren't around for ALL the festivities and missionary events, it was fun to see a transfer week.

 This is a Book of Mormon costume that one of the couple missionaries made. Don't you love it?

 Sister Ives in the office fixed Gracie's hair a couple of different days. Gracie started begging pretty early in the morning to go over and visit Sister Ives. She is so nice and used to be a school teacher so she put Gracie up to fun and productive projects.

 Gracie at transfer breakfast.

 "Called to Serve"

Sock Drive

Our ward had been preparing for the ward Christmas party and a sock drive. We had tithing settlement last night. This is how it went.

Bishop Foster: So, is there anything we can do for the Gardner family?

M&J: No, I think we're doing pretty well.

Gracie: Yeah, we've already got socks.

***talked with the bishop for a minute about the sock drive***

Bishop: Gunner, those are some cool boots.

Gunner: (removes boot and exposes bare toes). Thank you. My don't have any socks.

Bishop: Maybe we need to do a sock drive for you!

We all laughed. Gunner doesn't like to keep his socks on and about 80-90% of the time puts his boots on with no socks. Silly boy. Don't worry, we don't need a sock drive.

Pink Speedo love

 The kids were really looking forward to swimming with their cousins in the hotel on Wednesday night. Earlier in the day, Gracie and Gunner were carrying their swimsuits around. Well, Gracie's got back in. Gunner's did not. I didn't realize until we got to the pool. So.. Maisy didn't swim and Gunner got to wear her swim bottom as a speedo. It was pretty funny. In the end, he had his life jacket on and nobody really minded.

11-11-11

 Well, I know I'm slow on posting about Maiy's special day.We had a great day, full of fun and celebration. We hosted a playgroup in the morning and shared some cupcakes with our friends, who also sang to Maisy.

Maisy's owl cake.

Decorations

 We ran to the park in the afternoon. Isn't that what one year olds like to do? I doubled Maisy and Gunner up in the swing. Maisy was giggling and Gunner was crying.

Maisy's personal cake

 We gave Maisy her whole cake when we were singing and then Justin started to take it away (he didn't want to waste good cake). You should have seen how fast Maisy grabbed the dish and started to pull it back. She was SOOO MAD. She knew it was for her:) Anyway, she got over it and had fun with her little slice:)

Cake face:)

Thanks to those who celebrated with us near and far.

Maisy's First Year in Pictures

November

December

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

Celebrate Good Times, Come on!!

Guess who is turning one this week? Guess who took her first steps this week? Guess who wants to party?

You are hereby invited to a virtual party
Date: 11.11.11
Time:11-1 (or really anytime)
Place: Wherever you are


I don't want to be too overboard, but this birthday represents so much for our family. It isn't just another birthday for a one year old baby. It is the recognition that life is fragile and the appreciation of life and miracles. Maisy has helped our family to live life a little more deliberately and to be more intentional because life is not just a guarantee.


So... plan to party on Friday. Do something to live life a little more fully. Eat some cake, exercise, take your kids to the park, or drive to Colorado and surprise us:). Then... leave a comment about what you did or what you think you might do to celebrate.

Halloween

 Halloween was great. The kids got to play outside for awhile in the afternoon because it was such nice weather.:)

Gunner, Gracie, and Maisy -Halloween 2011

 Gunner was Woody, Gracie was a German girl, and Maisy was a pink cat.

 We went with our friends and their girls were the 3 blind mice. Such a cute idea.

I taught Gracie to say "danke" and "bitte" as she went around. She looked so cute... made me want to move to Bavaria:)

SNOW

 Our city became a winter wonderland. Hardly any leaves had fallen, and it made for many heavy trees and broken branches.

 We also lost this tree in our front yard.

 Branches from the neighbor's trees.

 Helping.

 Cleaning up the mess.

 

The city is supposed to come by and take away the limbs. There are piles like this all over town. They said that saws and most saw accessories are sold out in every store in Fort Collins. For those who haven't seen our house, ours is on the left with the cream colored paint.