Family Night with the Parkins

Matt and Amy invited us for family home evening tonight. It was such a great night. The kids had a blast. Matt started with the lesson and gave a great object lesson on repentance and the Atonement. He showed the clear glass of liquid and then you add food coloring to represent sin and then add bleach to represent to Atonement. The kids loved the lesson and really understood the meaning. Then we roasted marshmallows on their new fire pit and the kids played in a tent that was set up in the yard. It was a great night. Thanks Matt and Amy for the invite.

Hometown Heros

Every year we have the opportunity to go to the park and listen to the different choirs and bands salute the armed forces. It is a great night to help remind us what the 4th of July is really about and remember all those who have served and those who are currently serving. This year Dan dropped me off and took the kids to Spencer's birthday so I was able to just sit and relax and enjoy the night. The city also salutes 5 hometown heros. But the best part of the night is the last group. It is the Men of Song. Grandpa Anderson is in the group and has been for years. They always do such a great job. This year after they sang the Salute to the Armed Forces the audience gave them a standing ovation. It was the best part of the entire night. I am so proud of my Grandfather, my Father, and my brother Brian for they dedication and sacrifice they have made, when serving our country. I am so proud to be an American and feel blessed to live in a land with so many opportunities.

Camping

We had such a great weekend. We went camping in North Fork. We left during the crazy rain strom and couldn't find a camping site at Anderson Cove or South Fork so we went a little further to North Fork. It was so beautiful, the rain had stopped and the ground was dry. The boys were able to play and explore and be the little adventures they always desire, and Abby was right along side of them. We went to Pine View for the afternoon on Saturday and the kids played in the sand and loved splashing in the water. Dan made some great food in the dutch ovens and we made about a million marshmellows. It was a perfect weekend.

A weekend of Gardner Events!

This past weekend was so much fun. We were so busy. Dan's parents celebrated 50 years of marriage. So the nine brothers and sisters planned an anniversary reception in their honor. On Thursday night the families from out of the state flew in. On Friday night we went to Barnes Park and had dinner and the kids played and we were all able to visit and have a wonderful night. On Saturday we met at the church at 4:30 to decorated for the reception. It was really nice. The tables had cowboy boots with mixed flowers and a lasso around the toe of the boot. The table cloths were bandanas red and blue with berlap underneath and a white table cloth. It was really fun. They blew up 8 wedding pictures and put them around the room. They had some re-create their wedding cake and made a back drop just like when they got married. Dan made a picture video with music and pictures. They had a lot of people come and it was such a great night to honor them. On Sunday it was Father's Day and we had Mexican Night at Robin's house. It was so nice to let the kids play again and enjoy some great food. Monday night was an attempt at Family pictures and a Bar 'b'que. I hope the pictures turn out. That is a lot of people to try and sit still and smile.
It was a great weekend of events. I love spending time with Dan's family. The kids play so well together. They got to ride the horse(even Britton). Eat homemade ice cream and play, play, play.

A note in the mail!!!

I received the cutest note in the mail. It said Lisa Gardner, please join me for a night of celebration honoring 11 years of marriage. Thursday, June 18th 2009 @ 3:00pm. Please plan on returning on June 19th in the afternoon. Children are taken care of until your return. Love Dan. I have not been away with my husband for 6 years. I was so excited. You know that feel you get in your stomach when your dating, thats how I felt for weeks. We dropped our kids off at Cassie's and went to a Bed and Breakfast in Huntsville. We had reservations at Ricken Backers at the Ogden Airport. It was really yummy. The Bed and Breakfast was really cute and it was nice to have some time just the two of us. On Friday we went to the Gateway and spent the day. I am so blessed to have found such a wonderful man. I love my life and the family that we have created together.

Britton is 8!!!

Britton turned 8 today. Wow, time goes by so fast. He is so much fun. He loves every sport he can try and is really good at just about everything. He is a great big brother and always concerned about me and the baby. His spirit is growing at such a young age and he already has such a hunger for the scriptures and the reasons for life. He trys to make the right choice but is already realizing the need for repentance. I love him so much and I am so proud of the boy he is.
Britton decided this year he wanted an Olympic Party. So we went to the church(it was raining of course)and played in the gym. We had a tug of war contest, a long jump, a relay race, soccer bowling, a bean bag toss, a balloon popping contest, a pinuta, and a flag making craft. I made an ice cream cake for dessert and decorated the gym in red, white and blue. It was a great party. We bought him a new soccer ball, a pitching ball thing, a pirate lego set, twister and a new outfit. He was so excited for all the events of the day. We love you Britton.

What Britton's ready for scouts?

So Britton got to go to scouts for the first time. They invited him to go because it was the day before his birthday. It was a day at Camp Keisel. He had a blast. He got to go shooting, canoeing, run through an obstacle course, make a leather craft, bow and arrows, had a picnic lunch, played tug of war and many other events. He had such a fun time and is looking forward to years of scouting ahead.