The Gardner 7

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Back to School

We have had a fun summer but I think we are all ready for school to start. Routine is GOOD! I always think about the staples commercial where the Dad is zooming around on the cart throwing school supplies in the cart with a BIG smile on his face and the kids are behind him with scowls and slumped shoulders. I feel just like that man riding the cart around the store. Giddy as a little kids at Christmas. Don't get me wrong. I love my kids and love to spend time with them but I LOVE routine too. First thing I am going to get into a morning exercise and scripture reading routine. After that I am going to focus on organizing our home. Hopefully, come January we will be ready to paint the whole house and install new flooring. Happy School Days!

Friday, May 23, 2008

how time flies!

Okay....so life is busy and I haven't had a chance to blog! Let's see what has happened in the last couple of months:
1. I directed the musical at SAA and Maddie was in it.
2. Kelson and I had birthdays! Kelson is 7 I am ?
3. Dan started traveling again.
4. My parents came to visit from Denver
5. Karate lessons (for me and the kids), gymnastics lessons, piano lessons and baseball games.
5. Deanna was called to be an institute teacher for the stake (but did not get released from her other two callings...Primary music leader and Stake Primary music leader.
6. Kelson broke his hand falling off of his bike.
7. Sick kids
8. Computer got a virus (UGH!)
9. I have read about 10 books (This is my new way of dealing with stress)
10. Dan and I performed for a Stake Relief Society meeting that Sister Smoot spoke at
11. I had a two day training on the Music Mind Games (soooo much fun and soooo awesome)
12. Not to mention keeping the yard and house somewhat clean and intact while all of this was going on!

It has been crazy but fun! Dan is working hard at Oil-Well. It is so neat to see how his company continues to grow and the skills that he has developed. When he is home on the weekends he has to catch up on Bishop stuff. And he manages to squeeze in family time! He is amazing.

The kids will be out of school on June 3rd. I am so excited to have them home. I LOVE summer time.

Well, the house is quiet! Dan took the older two boys camping and Maddison is at a sleepover. So I am going to go take a bubble bath and read a book and then curl up in front of the TV and watch a movie! Ahhhhhhhhhhh

Sunday, March 2, 2008

where has the time gone!

I realized I haven't taken the time to write on our blog for a while. So here is a quick update. We celebrated Maddison's 10th birthday by going to Classic Skating. The kids get to pick the dinner menu the night of their birthday and Maddie chose to have top raman noodles, sour dough bread with an oil vinegar dip and fruit cocktail. (I think she loves carbohydrates!) We had a great time at the skating rink and finished the evening off with ice cream, cake and presents. Maddie is growing into such a beautiful young lady. She is so sensitive to others needs and loves to serve those around her. Her knowledge and testimony of the gospel continue to grow. We feel blessed to have her in our family!

Sunday, February 17, 2008

birthdays

The months of February and March are full of Birthdays. This year we are letting each child decide one activity they would like to do with the family and then choose what they would like to eat at one meal on that day. Dawson turned the big "4" on the 13th but the official celebration was yesterday (Saturday). He wanted to go swimming and have spaghetti and meatballs for his birthday dinner. Everything was Transformers (plates, cake, party hats etc.) He had a great time being in the "spotlight" for the day. I think he was hoping it would go on a little longer because he told me this morning...."I don't want waffles for breakfast! I want cereal and I get to choose!" We had to inform him that his special day was over and of course he had a melt down! (Whoever said that girls were emotional!) Next week we will be celebrating Maddison's birthday on the 25th. She turns the big "10." She has opted to have waffles with strawberries and whipping cream for breakfast and then go roller skating for her activity. Kelson is still trying to figure out what he wants to do. Luckily he has another month to figure it out.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Lehi dwelt in an Igloo?!?

It can be difficult for our little children to sit still and listen during scripture reading time. So Dan and I have incorporated a couple of fun things into our scripture reading. While reading a verse we will substitute different words and names for those found in the scriptures to see if the kids will notice. For example we might read, "I George, having been born of goodly parents..." or "Lehi dwelt in an igloo." The kids think it is so funny and they love to try and catch our mistakes. Last night instead of reading a verse I decided to sing it opera style. The kids found this quite humorous. Maddison joined in on the fun and read one of the verses with a cowboy twang. At first it felt a little sacreligious but it has made our scripture reading fun. Of course we don't do this all of the time but on those evenings when the kids are wound up it helps pull their focus to the scriptures.

Friday, January 25, 2008

love is in the air

Well, Valentine's is only a couple of weeks away and I am trying to come up with some fun ideas to bring in the spirit of love! On Valentine's day I am going to make pink heart pancakes and pink milk! (any other ideas?) I am going to put out a little valentine's bucket that has candy hearts and valentines in it. I will encourage everyone to write little notes to the family and put candy hearts in hidden places for the family to find. Now for the difficult one....my sweetheart Dan! I am trying to come up with something really creative and fun for him! Any ideas? I thought it might be fun to buy him a digital picture frame that would just happen to be on his desk when he gets to work. I also thought I might make a CD of some of "our songs" and have it playing in his truck with a candybar and rose on the seat when he leaves for work! I am open for any other great ideas! I thought I might raid all-a-dollar and see if they have any cute valentine's place mats etc. for dinner. Maybe I could come up with a cute Valentine's menu! Hmmmmmmmm! I'll have to thing about that one!

Monday, January 14, 2008

Focus in 2008

It is hard to believe that we are half way done with the month of January. Soon Valentine's Day will be upon us. Hence the pink blog colors! I am amazed at how quickly time passes and I often wonder if I am investing my time and energy in those things that are most important. Often times I find myself wandering around my house like a lost child worrying about these things instead of focusing that time to gain more knowledge, develop a talent, play with my children, listen to good music, pray, etc. Our reminder word for the year 2008 is FOCUS! Our family has set some goals that we are hoping to accomplish by the end of April. We will focus the majority of our time and energy on accomplishing these goals. One of them is to finish reading the Book of Mormon. We have also challenged the children to finish the current level of piano books that they are in and test to the next belt in karate. To celebrate we are going to go out to eat and spend the night in a hotel. The kids are excited and it will be a great way to focus all of our attention on the kids and say "GOOD JOB! YOU REACHED YOUR GOALS!"

facebook

I am now a part of facebook. I was a little skeptical at first but I have become reacquainted with so many friends from High School and the Denver area that I am glad I joined. Two things that I have discovered. The first is that people's personalities don't really change that much.....just their looks. And two.....I am really grateful for the choices that I have made that have led me to this point in my life. The Lord truly takes care of me and my family and has given me more blessings and opportunities than I could have ever dreamed of. I married a man who is an amazing father and husband. He has taken care of us in every way possible. My children are beautiful and healthy. The Lord has been good to me.

Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood.....here I come!

Well, Valentine's Day was bigger than Christmas at the Gardner home this year, which wasn't too difficult considering Dan and I didn't get each other presents for Christmas. I surprised Dan with a digital picture frame at his office with some homemade chocolates (which were quite fabulous if I might say so myself.) And Dan surprised me with tickets to the Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood concert.....in Sacramento, California! That's right! We are flying out on Wednesday, March 12th to go to the concert that night and will fly home the next day. But it even gets better......my sister and her husband are going too! YIPPEEE! I am so excited and was quite shocked that Dan had already worked out a lot of the little details. What a man! I hope your Valentine's Day was full of love and "surprises!"

President Hinckley

There are some events in life that have had such an impact on me that I remember exactly what I was doing at the moment it happened. Sunday night when I was informed that President Hinckley had passed away will be one of those such events. I was in the hall reading to the children when Dan in a somewhat panicked voice beckoned me to come downstairs. When I got to the bottom of the stairs I glanced at the TV and there was a picture of President Hinckley with a caption stating that he had passed away earlier that evening. Immediately I called the children downstairs so they could see what was going on and then I called my family in Denver. After I got off of the phone I looked over to see an image I will never forget. Maddison was in her Daddy's arms and her eyes were filled with tears. The only Prophet that she had known in her life had just died. We called the children around us and offered a prayer of gratitude to our Heavenly Father for blessing us with such a wonderful Prophet. How truly grateful I am for President Hinckley's life and his powerful example of service and love. He will always be the "People's Prophet."

The book of the Gardner's, Month 12: day 24

1. And it came to pass on that day that there went out a decree from Shelene Gardner, that all in the Hal Gardner lineage in the region round about should gather at their Inn.
2. And Dan also went up, out of the city of Clearfield, into the city of Layton, (because he was of the lineage of Hal Gardner) to eat with his wife Deanna, and four children.
3. And all went to eat, every Gardner from their homes.
4. And it came to pass that when the family arrived they did find the table spread with a feast fit for a king.
5. And there was much food and rejoicing, and they ate and were filled.
6. And so it was that while they were there they portrayed the birth of our King....

Focus!

Thanksgiving was full of food, fun and family! Lots of family! It is so great to come together with cousins, aunts, uncles, grandpas and grandmas and feel as though you were never apart. What a great blessing family is in my life. I wish that I lived closer to more family members so I could feel of the great support and uplift they give to me daily!

My sister and I realized that this was once our family....but our parents were in our position and we were in our kids position. But we don't remember our parents ever looking so good at our age!

The children had a great time playing with their cousins. They were all immediate friends and had a hard time leaving the fun!

Well, another Thanksgiving and soon to be year will have come and gone again. This time of year is a great time of reflection for me. I love to look on the past year and see the Lord's involvement in our lives. He has been so good to us even though times haven't always been easy. I also look forward to the new year and the opportunity it brings for change. I have set some goals for myself and am hoping that this year I will have the self-discipline to focus on these goals and not get side tracked as I usually do! Every year we choose one word as a focus for change. In 2006 it was simplify! Last year it was plan! This year I think it will be focus!

If I had a wish for everyone this holiday season it would be to spend time with your loved ones making memories!