Texas : Day 3

 
Today we went on a safari with the Quinn's and Mabb's. Today was not the ideal day as it was POURING buckets of water. We had made reservations and could not cancel so off we went. As soon as we stepped on the safari bus, the rain came down. It wasn't too bad at first but then came the wind with the rain and nobody was safe anywhere on the bus.
  I have tons of pictures but I only put 2 on. To make it up to our poor tourtured and emotionally damaged children, we had to visit the gift shop to make it all well again.
  The Quinn's and Mabb's had enough and headed home. We went on to Dublin Texas to go to the Dr. Pepper plant. It was not the big hoopla we had expected but fun nevertheless. We bought shirts, hats, Dr. Pepper syurp, jelly beans, and even Dr. Pepper beef jerky.
 We did not go on to the tour as we were late again and missed it.
Tonight Chrissy, Donelle, and I locked ourselves in Donelle's room and watched 2 hours of the Biggest Loser. The kids survived as did Jon and Cole as they watched a basketball game. Tomorrow we are going back to the "money making place" and get on the tour as we missed it yesterday. We are then on to Dallas to see where JFK got shot. I want to see this the most as I've seen all those history docementries on it. We miss you Jenn and family and wish you were with us.

On the road in Texas

It's Spring Break and what better way to spend the a vacation than by taking your five children and sticking them in the car for a 16 hour road trip across the flat nothingness of New Mexico and Texas. That is what we've done and we have had a great time along the way. Out final destination has been Fort Worth to spend time with Friends. I must add how grateful we are to them for letting the 7 of us displace their family for a week.
We spent our first day out in Fort Worth seeing the local sites. Our first stop was the Fort Worth Stockyards where we were able to follow the history of the Cattleman of Texas. We saw a cattle drive down the main street, though the kids and spouses seemed to expect some form of the running of the bulls. It was not quite as exciting, but those giant longhorns are still a site to behold. The kids ran through a cattle pen maze, while Donnelle took on the mechanical bull, YeeHaw! We then settled in for some BBQ (see Whine and Dine for the review).
Our next stop was the US Bureau of Printing and Engraving. This virtual fortress is on of the location that print the US money. The museum was interesting, though we were disappointed we did not get there in time for the our. Sorry, no photos allowed here. After a trip to the gift shop for shredded money we headed for the Downtown area to see the water gardens.
The water gardens are an architectural garden in the middle of the city with pools, misters and waterfalls among the trees. The kids had a great time climbing the walls and sticking their hands in the water.
What' on tap next? Tomorrow we venture into rural Texas to visit an Safari style animal reserve, a dinosaur park, and the Dr Pepper plant and museum. It should be a full and long day. ctg

Happy 35th Birthday Kelly!

 
 

I just wanted to wish one of my very best friends a Happy Birthday on March 17th.
Kelly and I have known each other since....forever! She is a great friend and a truly amazing woman. Here is some unique things that I admire and love about her.

-She and her mother holds a humanatrian gatherning once a month and they have donated many items to needy families and organzations. She is always at Joanne's buying fabric.
- She has been a foster parent to many lucky children and has 3 children currently with their family.
- She is also mom to 6 of her own children whom I love dearly. She is so good about having quality personal time with eachof them and even makes them enter projects into the state fair.
- She doesn't drink pop and she walks almost every night.
- She does achivement days at her house with 25 girls and she always has then doing the neatest projects. I hope they appreciate her or at least I hope their parents do.
- She always has a clean house. All 7000 sq ft! She also does all the bills and domestic affairs. She does everything with style.
- She loves the lord and the gospel and is a true insparation.

I could go on and on but I'll save some for next year. I love you Kelly and have a great birthday. We'll celebrate when I get back from Texas!

22 Reasons Why I Love Donelle & Count Her As A Friend!

1. Was my one of my rollerblading buddies and our never ending friendly battle to be the skinniest. She now wins. I've gained 12 pounds since she left.

2. Our late night visits to Sonic & Dairy Queen (even on a Sunday once) to have our own gripe sessions.

3. She introduced me to some amazing friends that I love dearly as much as she does.

4. Pulling pranks with others in the ward. One year delivering old dishwashers and putting them on porches with lights around them. Another year a old car wrapped in lights and christmas crap and putting in front of the Bishops house. We were one of the recipients and loved it.

5. She throws amazing parties and thinks it out to the last detail. Our own group activity leader if you will. Had some of the BEST ward parties I've seen!

6. Remembers every ones Birthday.

7. Is the best cruising buddy around and I can't wait to do it again someday.

8. Will not tolerate the phase " I don't have the time". In her eyes everyone has the same time, we just have to use it to the best of our ability.

9. Was the best camp director I had, even if we only spent 3 actual hours at camp before the fire drove us out. Though 3 years later I was hers and can say I've sleep next to Donelle in her "unddies". You got to be friends after that experience.

10. Can pick out the ugliest dress out of Savers and go out in public in it.

11. Loves her Family and heritage and shares that with her friends. Just ask her and she'll show you the sights of Safford and meet the parents. Maybe you'll be lucky and get some pecans from the Wheeler's trees.

12. Has a nursing degree and is a hard working ER nurse. Love her stories too!

13. Loves to go shopping with me and can talk me into buying just about anything. (Not that it is too hard!)

14. Is the reason I started to blog.

15. Made us go out and start having "Girls Nights". Gotta love her just for that one alone.

16. Is a person I look up to spiritually. She has helped me gain a stronger testimony and be a better person.

17. Taught us that even while camping you can still make ice cream the old fashion way.

18. Is making me go to a country concert. Hell might be freezing over on May 31st!

19. Let me tear down her ugly, I mean lovely wall paper and enjoy ever minute of it!

20. Has a husband that can just do about everything and fix anything. Now I love Cole dearly but I do envy Donelle on that.

21. Has 2 girls that I can make bracelets for and pretend they are mine when they stay with us.

22. Is a true friend and will always be there for you.

6 Random Things About Me

Bekki Tolman has tagged me again so here it goes....

1. I bought my 14 year old a razor to shave off his "stach". Is that too young???

2. I have OCD and only know it too well. Unfortunately that is not geared towards weight loss
(at this time) or housework.

3. I've been loving sleeping in till 8:30 because Cole has been taking the kids to school.Gotta
love that man. That means I stay up late reading.

4. I have fake teeth. The first 6 top ones are procelain veneers. My loving father-in-law gave them to me 12 years ago.

5. I hate mopping my floors. You just have to look at my crawling 10 month old niece who has dirty knees
and filthy socks after I watch her.

6. I dream about someday when the kids are grown and gone about traveling all over the globe
with my dear husband. New Zealand, Switzerland, Tahiti, just to name a few.

Okay, I guess now I have to tag people.
1. Leslie- update you blog already girl!
2. Chrissy- the same!!
3. Alene
4. Cassie
5. Donelle
6. Anyone else that I dearly love. I don't have room to name you all!

Nick- innocence gone?

Nick is our second boy and therefore tries as he might to gain our attention. He has developed a wicked sense of humor and I love him dearly for that, most of the time.
Last night for family night I made all the family watch "Becoming Jane". Since I have no girls I subject my boys to my love of all things Jane. Well I had been doing laundry that day and had washed some "Victoria's Secret" purchase I had bought for Valentine's Day. Not thinking about it while I folded clothes on the couch as we watched the movie. Nick then picked up my "underwear" and said, "Whoa Mom, what are these". I tried to grab them but he swiped them away and looking startled said, "No really Mom, what ARE these". By that time I was laughing so hard and as was Cole that I think it set in to Nick. "Oh, these must be your "FUN undies". That boy is going to be the death of us.
Here he is in simpler times.

Bag Tag

My long lost friend Bekki Tolman has Bag Tagged me. That means I am to reveal the contents of my bag or purse. Well I don't have time to take a picture of it so I'll bore you with telling you the contents of it. My purse contains a wallet, a calendar of Trevor's scouting activities, 2 pencils, 1 pen, a pop tab (long story), a travel first aid kit( who wouldn't with 5 boys), lip gloss, hand sanitizer, Kleenex, a camera memory card(that's where it is!), ibuprofen, and LOTS of gum.
Thanks for the tag Bekki and now I tag...... really whomever wants to.

Good Times

I was looking through pictures today and thought you would find these amusing.



This is how we announced the coming of Gardner Boy # 5. The shirts say Uno, Dos, Tres, Cuatro, and Cinco. I'm wearing Cinco with the arrow pointing at my tummy. It was Cinco de Mayo and we were going to a family party. Boy, I look like a chubby pregnant mother with terrible dye job, which I was! (2002)
























Erik channeling his inner Zorro and Catherine Zeta Jones at the same time!(2003)

I love these types of photos. The way they truly are most of the time. Trevor still likes his nose picking time.(2003)

Boys Quilting???

Yes, you are seeing correctly. I got my boys to help tie a quilt! ( 2 actually! ) My mother-in-law is making new quilts for the boys bedrooms for the new cabin and wanted the boys to participate. Jason was relucant and only tied a few squares but Nick took to it and liked it, so much so he now wants me to help him make one. Ryan loved it as well and Trevor got in on the action but we don't have a picture of him. :( Erik was the only one who wouldn't be bothered with it. I need to mention that this was on Super Bowl Sunday. The boys would be embarassed if their friends found out that they did less than "manly" activities on that day, though Jason only worked 10 min so he could go watch the game.

Jason in Cross Country

Jason's cross country team winning the 1st place trophy!

Jason winning 4th place out of 26 boys. I was so proud I cried, much to Jason's embarassment.

That boy can run. This was the fifth meet and the last of the season.