Joseph David Gardner: 11 Years Old!

Today is our oldest grandson's 11th birthday. Happy Birthday, Joseph! As you can see, Joseph is a fantastic soccer player (his dad is his coach!), but Joseph also has many other skills and interests. I'm amazed at his creative abilities. Joseph is one AWESOME dude!

It's hard to believe that it has been eleven years since Joseph was born. Joseph's birthday falls on his parents' wedding anniversary--Happy Anniversary, Dave and Lori :) Joseph is interested in all things having to do with athletics.

You can see how proud David is of his son. These two are great friends. Joseph is also a wonderful son to Lori, and a very supportive older brother to his four siblings: Sarah, Jacob, Bekah, and Emily. Joseph is taking on the responsibility of baby sitting on rare occasions for short periods, and he does a terrific job. Joseph shows remarkable maturity in helping his siblings to learn how to do things, as well as a lot of patience in interacting with them and helping them to interact with each other.

Joseph has recently demonstrated pretty terrific skills as a ballroom dancer. We got to see him perform over Thanksgiving break and he was outstanding! He takes after his parents and aunts and uncles. I would love to see him develop that skill. He also is learning how to play the piano. I have heard him doing very well with a few good musical pieces.
Joseph loves living near so many cousins. He and his cousin Max have a special bond. Their birthdays are very close. Even though Max is quite a bit taller, the two of them have a lot of fun playing together.

This morning, Joseph was telling me about the cool things he got for Christmas. One of them is a
HUGE truck with all kinds of amazing features. I'd love to show you a picture of it, but unfortunately I don't have one. Joseph also received a super Lego kit. He's amazing with Legos, and has loved them since he was teeny (a trait that is common among all Gardner guys).








Some of the things I love about Joseph are his enthusiasm, his sense of humor, his creativity, his love for family and friends, his spiritual sensitivity, and his good looks. He's a great young man, growing up to be a remarkable and wonderful person. We all love Joseph. Happy Birthday!

Super Sarah!

TaDah! It's Super Sarah! The one and only 8 year old in our family who is turning 9 on November 25th! We are so proud of Sarah. She is a delight, an impish little angel girl who has delighted us from the moment we were blessed to have her come into the family.

Here's Sarah with her little sister Rebekah, who is also a joy. Sarah is a wonderful example of a kind big sister, and she is always helping to take care of one of the little ones. I love how she is so kind and caring. Sarah follows her mother Lori's example.

Some of Sarah's talents are: she is very creative with crafts, especially in the art department. She is always making the most wonderful things! She draws, she colors, she designs. She's really remarkably talented. I have a cute note she wrote me when she was first learning to write, and I still treasure it.

Sarah also loves sports. I have watched her play soccer and would like to see her ice skate. I hear she's pretty good at that too!

I can't wait to see our Sarah-soda. She's a delight in every way. We're excited because we get to fly to Utah for Thanksgiving and see her! Love you Sarah and Happy Happy Birthday!

Cute Cutie Pie Camryn

This adorable little girl that is with Elder Nathaniel Gardner is Camryn Marie Gardner, whose birthday is today! Happy Birthday, Camryn! She is 5 years old, and she is wonderful. She has definitely stolen her daddy Joel's heart, and we are so grateful she is part of our family.

Camryn is a fashionista. She loves having her hair done and doing hair. I had the privilege of having her do my hair the last time we were in Ann Arbor, and it was fun to have her do it (especially learning that I had to have my hair sprayed with water). She is very gentle and very focused. She also is very creative. I don't know that my hair will ever look as good as it did with Camryn's creative skills! She uses them on her My Little Ponies also. I am pretty sure she got Grandpa to play My Little Ponies with her.

Camryn has lots of friends, and she is a very good hostess. She likes to play with dolls, stuffed animals, and ponies. She also is very tidy. I have watched her make her bed without being asked, and I am pretty impressed that she can do that as a young lady.

When we first got our Mac computers, we played with the special effects and Camryn had fun with them:


If you look at her eyes you can see how they sparkle with fun ideas. She is the epitome of creativity, and she is such a social little duck that it's fun to watch her in action.

Camryn is also a leader. She's a good example to her little brother Christian and I know she is very excited to have a new baby in the family. She will take very good care of her new baby brother when he comes in February.

I wish I had some more pictures of just Camryn alone! I think I'll steal a few from Heather's blogsite.

Anyway, Happy Birthday to our precious little Camryn! You are a joy to us!!!!!!

Our Wonderful Joel Daniel Gardner

In the foreground is our birthday boy, Joel Daniel Gardner, holding his son Christian: great dad, creative dating husband and one of the most wonderful guys in the world. Happy birthday, Joellie! I tried to do this blog entry yesterday, but the blog website was down for some reason. So please accept my apologies for the belated birthday wishes. We'll just have to celebrate extra hard in CHICAGO baby! Next weekend, yep, we're all 7 of us heading back to Chicago. I'm pretty pumped, especially since I had just told Stan how much I wanted him to come up with a fun idea to take me somewhere spontaneously like Joel did with Heather!

If I were to pick one word to describe Joel, it would be this: determination. I have loved this boy since I first saw his adorable face when he was born. He has an unquenchable desire to know all about everything. When he was crawling he got into soap, butter, sugar, toasters, cockroaches (we were in the Philippines and they are rampant there--even if you're a spectacular housekeeper), and was always watching everything with intensity. If we turned our backs, he could figure out how to take something apart and put it back together, and it would still work! The best fruit of Joel's determination is Heather. Joel fell in love with her when he was 14, informed me he would marry her when he was 15, and finally convinced her to marry him when they were going to school at Utah State University. They have three, going on four, adorable kids: JD, Camryn, and Christian. Heather tells me that they're considering naming their expected little guy after the places where they fell in love with each other. Pretty cool! With Heather's support and encouragement, I have watched Joel become a truly great man, and I know there's even more to come, because that's just the way Joel is. Once he decides something, NOTHING will stop him. Nothing. Nada. No Way. He just decides and goes for stuff, and gets there.
This is a picture of Joel and Christian. They are good buddies, and Joel loves all his kids. He and JD have a ton of fun together with Legos and ball games, and Camryn is definitely Daddy's little girl.

It always amazes me how each of our children has grown into such a unique, yet amazing individual in their own right. Joel has gone from a marginal student who worked part time at Checker Auto to an exceptional physician--an anesthesiologist who will be doing well in his contracted job next year in Pocatello Idaho. It's fun to see Heather and Joel excited to find a house. They deserve it after all these years in their crumby little apartment in Ann Arbor!
These six boys have a great time with their dad and each other. From left: David, Nathaniel, Joel, Stephen, Stan, Joshua, and Matthew.

Joel is wise, hilariously funny, witty. Inside he's a marshmallow: kind and compassionate, always willing to do everything he can to make things right. I love his integrity and I love his drive. Most of all, I love Joel. Happy birthday, dear son! You are an inspiration to me. I love you! Mom

Bekah Boo!

Happy Birthday to our little princess, Rebekah Loreen Gardner! She is a bundle of sunshine and a joy to everyone who knows her. Some of the things I love about Bekah are: she loves to smile. I think she is smiling 99.9% of the time! She makes ME smile, just seeing her smile. She loves her brothers and her sisters. She is kind and loving to her baby sister Emily and she thinks of ways to make her happy. She also loves to play with her big brother Jacob. Bekah also loves her oldest brother Joseph, who is a very good example to her, and her big sister Sarah, who helps her learn lots of creative skills. Another thing I love about Bekah is that she loves to talk and sing! In fact, just about any form of happy communication is something you will find Bekah doing. She is a little angel girl.
Bekah finds joy in everything, also. She loves to learn about things, and she gets excited about life and all the fun things life has to offer. She loves to play--outside, inside, it really doesn't matter. She just has a lot of fun!

We love this precious little girl and are so glad that she is part of our family. We are very grateful that she was born to Dave and Lori, who are some of the best parents in the world. Happy Birthday, Bekah Boo!

Nananananananananah....MATT MAN!

Happy Birthday, Matthew! Today is the 27th birthday of our precious son, and how we love him! Matt is a pillar of strength and integrity, a man who has blessed our lives and those of his brothers and sisters (and wife and daughters). We are so grateful for our Matthew Aaron Gardner. As I type this, I am listening the the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing "Sunrise, Sunset." "...when did she get to be a beauty, when did he grow to be so tall; wasn't it yesterday when they were small?" Tears come to my eyes as I realize how precious life is and what a miracle to be a part of someone's life--and how especially blessed I feel to know Matthew as a part of my life. Maybe Matt never grew to be "so tall," :), but he definitely stands tall in the things that matter!


This is Matthew's precious wife, Brittany, who is a marvelous mother to their little Della (pictured), and tiny newborn Aliya (above with Matthew and Brittany at top of page). The way that Matthew met Brittany and their subsequent courtship and marriage has been an answer to prayer. She is a treasure to us. The story of how they came to know and love each other is a story of divine promises fulfilled and friendships that extend throughout eternity. How we love her!








Matt and Della have a special "Daddy-Daughter" relationship. It's so fun to see them together. I know his three girls have Matt wrapped around their little fingers. Couldn't imagine a better place for him to be!
Last year, I was so proud of Matt, Josh and Nathaniel when they ran a half marathon in Logan, Utah. They were successful because they spent months consistently preparing and working to achieve their goals. I'm proud of the example Matthew sets in working to achieve his goals. I'm grateful that he brings inspiration into his decisions and he has great faith, which strengthens my own. We were also very proud of him when he prepared and studied and practiced and was chosen to join the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Now we get to watch Matt and Josh singing on Sundays!




Oh how I hope that someday everyone reading this will have the privilege of knowing Matt. I am greatly blessed to have this wonderful son. We love you Matthew Aaron Gardner! Have a marvelous birthday. And may you be blessed as you have blessed our lives!

Our Super Duper Jedi JD Birthday Boy

This awesome dude is our grandson JD (Joel Daniel Gardner, Jr.), whose birthday is today. JD is 8 years old! I am so proud of him. JD is an exceptionally kind and thoughtful young man, who is a terrific older brother. I have been excited to do this blog about him for a long time, and I'm glad we're back from Utah so that I can access a few pictures of him. One I don't have, however, is the one where we were at Disneyland and JD and his cousin Joseph were both chosen to be Jedi Knights and fight Darth Vader and Darth Maul! So Heather, if you read this, please send me a copy and I'll post it.

JD is the Lego master. He makes incredibly intricate Lego creations, and he spends hours thinking through the details. He is also very talented at playing games on the Wii. I make him laugh hysterically when I attempt to play. His grandpa Stan is much better than I am--I usually end up at the end of the race, no matter how easy my part is! But JD zooms past everyone and always does a great job.

I love JD's thoughtful creativity. He made a wonderful clay set of a fork, knife, and spoon for me, that I treasure. He wrote me a note telling me he loves me that I keep with some of my most precious things. JD thinks a lot about many things. He loves to do adventurous things, and he is willing to try a lot of new things. I give a lot of credit to his awesome mother and dad, who do a marvelous job raising him and his sister Camryn and his brother Christian. JD is both very serious and very funny, and it's so fun to talk to him because he has a lot of wise ideas. I'm so glad we get to live nearby for a little longer before his family moves to Pocatello Idaho.

JD, I'm so proud of you for your birthday, and for making the decision to be baptized! You are a wonderful person, and a blessing in our lives. We love you so much, and we are proud of you.


JD with sister Camryn and cousins Joseph and Sarah! Best buddies, these guys; when they all get together they have a terrific time!

Let's Face it: English is a Crazy Language

There is no egg in eggplant, nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England nor French fries in France.

Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat.

We take English for granted, but if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese? One index, 2 indices? If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught?
Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?

Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital, ship by truck and send cargo by ship, have noses that run and feet that smell?

How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out, and in which an alarm goes off by going on.

English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all. That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.

PS. - Why doesn't Buick rhyme with quick?

Happy Birthday Josh!

(here's an older picture--we're missing little Joshua James in this one, but it's the only family picture I have on my computer!)

Our third oldest son Joshua Adam celebrates his birthday this month. Josh will be 31 on July 19th. So what can I tell you about Josh? Well, for starters, he’s a very smart man. I enjoy hearing Josh’s perspective on decisions because he usually has a lot of interesting thoughts, and his counsel is solid. Sometimes I wonder who is the parent and who is the offspring here! Josh is a Certified Financial Planner, and he gives sound financial advice. He has built a good business through some challenging beginning years, and he is inspiring to me because once he makes a decision he sticks to it. He works with Prudential and is one of the few remaining in the group with which he was hired.

Josh sings with the Tabernacle Choir, and you’ll often see his face grace the TV screen. He and his brother Matt are in it together; Matt was selected for the choir earlier this year, and it is so gratifying for me to see them singing, often sitting together! My heart swells with pride when I listen to them and watch them perform. I love it most of all when Josh and Matt are singing in the Choir, and Melodie and Brittany are in the Orchestra at Temple Square, all at the same time. I know that being in the Choir is a great sacrifice of time, and it is amazing to me how Josh and Melodie manage that challenge with four little ones. But manage they do, and do it beautifully. Their children are happy and confident and they are very well behaved.


The best choice I think Josh ever made was in finding his eternal sweetheart, Melodie. They met when they both served as performing missionaries in Nauvoo, Illinois. The first time we met Melodie, we were touched by her warmth, her radiance, and her goodness. She is a blessing to Josh and to all of us!

Josh and Melodies’s house tends to be “Command Central,” as Brit has called it. Over the years, they have welcomed everyone to stay there. They have tirelessly changed bedding, set up beds, hosted family gatherings there, and welcomed Steve, Dave and Lori and their kids, Matt and Brit (before they got their own home a few blocks away), Emilie (who stayed there for about a year I think), Joel and Heather, Stan and I, Caitlin, and Nathaniel. All of us, in addition to other family members from Melodie’s side. I enjoy the spirit in their home. It is loving and patient, and I know that Josh and Melodie are doing their best to keep their relationship strong and raise their children well.

Josh, I am very proud of you, and I love you very much. Happy Birthday, Dear Son!

Adam Matthew Gardner

The handsome young man you see in this picture is Adam Matthew Gardner, who turned five years old on July 6! Adam is Josh and Melodie’s oldest son. His siblings are named Jarom Dallen, Rachel Lovina (who was featured in another blog entry earlier), and Joshua James.
Adam is a very bright little boy. He is full of life and interested in everything. I would have to say his greatest love seems to be playing the cello. He is already quite proficient, especially for a five-year-old! He has a number of pieces in his repertoire. He doesn’t need to have music to be able to play “I Am a Child of God.” He performed that piece beautifully at the family reunion we just had in Provo Canyon has week, and completely wowed the whole Gardner family!
Adams’ cello teacher is his Aunt Brittany. She has encouraged him and helped him to learn so much. Now she is also teaching Jarom how to play the cello! Adam works hard to learn, and his mother Melodie is wonderful at helping him to practice consistently.

Adam seems to remember everything he is told, and he is very good with his brothers and sister. He takes care of them, he helps his mother and father, and he sets a good example. He and Jarom are best friends. Yesterday I was able to visit their family and I enjoyed watching how he and Jarom interacted. They truly enjoy each other.


He also has learned to read quite well, mostly teaching himself. He enjoys learning.
I guess when you’re talking about your grandchildren (and your children!) you tend to be a little bit prejudiced. But that’s ok—I just have to say that Adam Matthew Gardner is a wonderful boy and I am so proud of him! I love him very much. Happy birthday this month, Adam!

A Fun Idea...

I got this off my friends blog and thought it might be fun, plus it gives me a chance to find out how many people actually read my blog :)

1. As a comment on this post, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you know me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you

Panda-monium!

This is for those that haven't seen the 16 baby pandas. SICHUAN , China -- One zoo in southwest China has its hands full with 16 baby pandas.

The Sichuan Wolong Panda Protection and Breed Center is dealing with the results of a breeding boom where 16 pandas have been born.

The brood includes five sets of twins.

The cubs are weighed and measured every five days (see pics)

The heaviest tips the scale at just over 24 pounds, while the lightest weighs about 11 pounds.

The pandas are due to stop suckling soon - just about the time they'll start learning to walk.

Once weaned, the panda cubs will attend panda kindergarten.

In the meantime, more little ones are expected at the centre since 38 giant pandas were artificially impregnated.
Sorry these are so little! I couldn't get my computer to transfer the pictures any larger. But they're still VERY cute!