SoCcER!!

Every Saturday morning Seth and Clyde said, "I don't want to go" and every Saturday morning they got onto the field they LoVeD it! Monte Birk would've played in their spot given the chance. They all RocKed the field this year. 3 cheers for the Gardiners!!

HIP HIP...HOORAY!

HIP HIP...HOORAY!!!!

HIP HIP...HOORAY!!!!!!!

I do have great shots of them playing games, but I can't seem to find them right now! BLAH!

Gila Valley Temple

What a blessed opportunity we had in Arizona to have a temple open house and dedication. It was not an easy day trip to take but it was well worth the 6 hours in the car for the 2 hours we spent there. A few of my favorites were...

#1 Sitting in the adjacent stake center watching the video of temples. Seth sitting in my lap and telling me, "Oh mommy this is making me cry, it just makes my spirit so happy."

#2 When we walked in to the Celestial room Jack, who was not a very reverent OR quiet spectator, became suddenly very still and pointed up at the Chandelier with wide eyes and a gasp of breath.

#3 Seth told me when we walked into that same room, "Oh mommy, I love the temple." with complete awe in his voice.

#4 Monte Birk's comment in the Celestial room, "Mom, this room was really expensive to do."

LPM Graduation!!

This is a BIG DEAL for Monte Birk and Mom. (It's a 3 year program but he's been in it for 4 years. Re-doing the lousy 2nd year with mom as his teacher with Miss Julie. He just couldn't pay attention with me as his teacher.) 4 years of attending classes and practicing.

The final recital is a performance of an original composition by your student performed by your student. He is such a talented boy. And a wonderful example for his younger brothers.

we did it!!

campus field trip

Seth and Clyde are lucky enough to have a daddy in their class as a fireman! Monte Birk is lucky enough to have a mom that picks him up early from school and let's him tag along. Because this was a "too cool" visit from the fire men. They even hooked up to the water and let kids get wet!

Seth


Seth, Ally, Clyde and MB at the front

BluE BuGs ReciTaL

I quit teaching Let's Play Music for many reasons...give me a call if you want them all...but one of the main reasons was the fact that my boys were awful, terrible, no good, very bad boys in my class!! I wasn't sure if they were learning a thing with me! Miss Jodi was kind enough to take over my entire roster of students and I became "just another mom" in the class...BeUtiFUL!! Suddenly they are participating and singing and dancing and answering questions...they are BriLLiaNT - GO FIGURE!! I adored going to their recital as a mom and not their teacher!

PeRFoRmanCes

So...I get this call from the Music teacher at Augusta Ranch telling me that Monte Birk is in the school talent show and his piece needs to be memorized...Say WHAT? He comes home and nonchalantly let's me know that yes, he's done an audition and yes, he's playing the piano piece he wrote in music class...ummmm OK. He was so low key about it at home that I couldn't tell if he was excited or nervous or what! The day finally arrived and he got up and slowly walked to the piano and played his piece perfectly. Then without a bow, a look, or a smile, he high tailed it across the gym floor back to his place in line, tunnel vision the entire way. Guess he was nervous after all.

The first grade musical was another thing entirely...he was so at home singing and dancing on the stage. No nerves there! 2 of his good 'ol buds from school

Jonah, on his left, is his best friend...we love having him over to play.

Mom's Day at AR

I underestimated the excitement of Mother's Day in the first grade classes of Augusta Ranch. I had to park a block and a half from the school and hoof it to the class to be there on time! Muffins, juice, cards, songs, poems, stories...I wasn't allowed to pick up a finger. He served me the entire time I was there and was terrifically happy to be doing it! I was in a little corner of HeAveN the entire time.

There is something very special about your oldest child. Don't misunderstand me, all of my boys are very extra ordinary and special. But your first child shares all of your firsts with you. You learn with them. And they, for the most part, forgive your slow learning curve far too often. This guy is my best friend in so many ways!

2! 2! 2! 2!

HapPy BirThDaY to JacKson

HapPy BirThDaY to Jack-et

HapPy BirThDaY to Jaxaphone

HapPy BirThDay to JaCk!!

...and many more...

I needed this...

"God expects you to have enough faith and determination and enough trust in Him to keep moving, keep living, keep rejoicing. In fact, he expects you not simply to face the future (that sounds pretty grim and stoic); He expects you to embrace and shape the future- to love it and rejoice in it and delight in your opportunities."

-Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

HaPpy/SaD and GroWinG uP

I know that there are plenty of moms out there that Champion the start of school...I could've used a month of more summer. I miss my kiddo's...immensely! And yet, they RoCkEd the first day of school!! It is wonderful to have 3 Great teachers that I can trust with my little devils for an entire day. Now, If I could just get them to StOp GroWiNg!!

and yes...Clyde's shoes are on the wrong feet.

Some things there are just no remedies for.

tired?

This is the child that WILL NOT, NO WAY, NO HOW, fall asleep anywhere but in this own bed. And yet, today in nursery at the church...

Sitting Indian Style and folded in half.

'the power of a good book'

Does your summer slow down?

WOW! I've been gone a long time! Sorry all, but whoever said "summer slows down" is full of bologna! We've been crazy busy with swimming, kung-fu, friends, swim lessons. I'll have to post some pictures of our random days for you. What's new, you ask?I've been doing 2.5 miles daily on the treadmill for about 4 weeks now. Just got an excercise bike this week and set up the old weight set. I virtually have a gymn in my own house! Yes, I feel like a rich lady...and I'm lovin' it! NO paying for sitters to watch my kiddo's and no paying for the gymn membership. The guys all practice their kung-fu and stretches whilst I run and it works out quite nicely. Although I am feeling much better there's no physical changes...yet. I just this week started to change my dieting habits. Well not so much a diet but change of lifestyle. I'm putting out there to commit myself. So, realizing that my will power is non-existent if you see me in a few weeks/months try not to rub it in if I fall off the wagon by next week...K?

HEADLINE NEWS!!! I'm not the ward choir director anymore!! (12 years of my adult life I have been the ward choir director-and that does NOT count the other musical callings I have held.) I now have the best calling in the world! 9 year old achievement day leader!! I don't teach them on Sundays either! Just every other week 1 hour mini-mutual! Lovin' it!!

Monte's in Pennsylvania for work. Last week he had scout camp. He did his own camp this year, his first year as Scout Master by the way, and it ROCKED! according to everyone who made it there. I doubt it NOT! They earned 8 merit badges. I was glad to have him home though. A week is a long time. Alas, as I said he is already gone again.

hmmm...I think it's time for me to take a trip somewhere...what do YOU think? Anyone want to come with me? Let's run away! I can procure buddy passes! I am, however, going to UT for the fourth and the week after. WITH all the boys and no Monte Sr. So I'm thinking it doesn't really count...RIGHT?

Why not just put it out there?

We lost another baby last week.

Same age as the one in November.

This one was a girl.

I'm tired, discouraged, and sore.

YUCK

Snippets

All of my past blogs have been for the eventuality of "slurping"? them into a scrap book for future generations. After over a year of blogging, people telling me that the blogger site "dumbs down" your pictures anyway, and NO BOOK...I've decided it ain't gonna happen. So it will only be snippets of our lives. My favorites, because I am MoM and MoM get's to decide what is the best...RigHt?!

Snippets...

...like this morning when my FantaStiC hubby told me that "time was passing us by" and I needed to get a video camera. I was given a dollar ammount to shoot for and free reign to shop. (the 1st grade musical is today at 1:30) Walking into Wal Mart I find NO DISPLAY CAMERA's...where are they? "Oh, they're ALL over here in the cart ALL %50 off...we're making room for the new models." I bought 2 for the price of 1, walked them both over to Best Buy across the parking lot, asked which one to keep (the Wal Mart associate didn't know much and quite frankly neither do I) proceeded right back to Wallie to return the "more difficult" of the camera's and now sit at home charging my new video camera. I'm hoping to get enough juice into it for the solo Monte Birk has as 1:30. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father does care about the little things.

Evan's Funeral

H. Evan Gardiner

October 20, 1968-January 16, 2010

(Monte's brother)

I know God lives. I know we will see Evan again. I know that the Plan of Salvation is the only way to find true happiness not just in this life but for eternity. I am grateful for the temple that provides insights and blessings to us while we are here on this earth. I know that families are eternal.

I know.

Jan Jordan (Monte's sister)

Alan Gardiner (Monte's brother)

Joy and Tim (Monte's sister and her husband)

Margot and Joy (Evan's wife)
Jan and Monte
Joy and Monte
Karen (My sister) Annie, Monte and Jack

Margot was the picture of decorum and strength. The services were perfect. Margot wrote a tribuite to Evan that her father read for her. Joy gave his life history. Monte also gave a tribute to Evan. I sang. The nieces and nephews sang a primary medley. (Ryan and Lindsay included) Alan dedicated the grave and Jan conducted the singing. Janet held strong. What a wonderful family I have been privileged to be sealed to in the temple of God.

Evan (Monte's Brother)

http://mgardinergazette.blogspot.com/

Happy New Year

I should really post the video of MB at midnight. He worked SO HARD to stay awake and fell asleep with 3 minutes to go! We tried and tried to wake him to no avail!! Carrying him upstairs to bed just after the ball dropped he woke up completely distraught!! I had to pull up the internet to find a re-run of the ball dropping online.

the race is ON!!

the pay off

No gift has ever had a bigger pay off than this face when he opened the nintendo DS from MoM and DaD (thank you Game Stop for the awesome-ness of your used items)!

...and then there was Christmas...

See the controlled (and smiling) AweSOmE big Bro holding tight to the escapee in this shot?

MoM and DaD rocked it this year with plasma cars...and Scooters...

Seriously...do they come any cuter or more fun than this guy?!!
SaNtA didn't do so bad either setting up this 'ol trampoline all by himself. Mrs. Clause was cold and tired in the house getting the rest done.

Phoenetically speaking

I LOVE that he reads at a 3rd grade level and writes...