QUICK SUMMARY OF 2008-June-December

Well, since I didn't keep up with our family blogspot, I thought I'd make a short "Cliff Notes" of the last six months of 2008.

**I am going to add our latest pictures to our new slideshow on the right side of the blogpage.***

We had a great summer! In June, my Dad came out and stayed a couple of weeks. Bob has already done a "fishing diary." He just loves Daddy, and my Dad really has fun with him; they both love their trips together. He also wrote about our trip to Antelope Island.
When we went out to Antelope Island, Ian captured the day with almost 200 pictures...that kept him busy!
Antelope Island has a stark beauty about it; it was interesting to see the Great Salt Lake from that point of view, and to see Salt Lake City from across the lake.
We saw several buffalo as we were driving around. We also saw a jack rabbit chasing a fox....how's that for nature in reverse? We went to the visitor's center and saw all of their Indian relics of those who used to live there, and we watched a video of the history of the island. It was interesting to my Dad & I to see the arrowheads they had, because where we grew up in Lacoochee, FL, we used to find Indian arrowheads on the ground there all of the time.

While my Dad was here, we rode the "Trax" downtown with him to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building to see the movie about Joseph Smith, the prophet. Ian came along, too. We spent time enjoying the scenery around temple square, and went to the Lion House for lunch.
We also watched movies and videos with him. We couldn't do too much because he was in a lot of pain with his hip. His fishing trips wore him out, and he spent most of the time recovering from one trip to get ready for the next.
He told me lots more stories of when he grew up, and we also worked on his life story.

Also in June...Ariel, Tatum and Monica came for a visit. Monica left for a few days to take a trip to Las Vegas with her friends, and we got to have fun with the girls while she relaxed.
While Monica and the girls were here, we kept really busy. Here are some of the things we did:

*went to Grandma & Grandpa Barrett's house to have her great pancakes!
*went to the park across the street and played tennis
*got pictures taken of Ian and Ariel and Tatum
*flew kites over in the church park (also across the street)..Bob & kids did great but Grandma (that's me) got one stuck in a tree, and broke trying to get it down!!
*we all went to Hogle Zoo together
*went to the Planetarium in downtown SLC with all of Angela's family
*Monica, Ariel, Tatum & Ian & I went swimming at the West Valley Fitness Center
*Bob, Monica & the girls and Ian rode the "Front Runner" train to Ogden; then they 'hiked' to a Mexican restaurant that Monica loves (one that she went to when she was lived in Ogden)

We had such a good visit with Monica; after she left to go back to Reno to work, we got to keep Ariel and Tatum for 2 weeks. They are so much fun to have around!!!!!! We wish that they could live closer and we could see them as much as we see Angela's family!
We have so many great memories with our children and our grandchildren. Our lives are so blessed with these great people and we are so proud and happy to have them in our family and share these memories.
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We had a great holiday season in 2008!!

My Dad "Papa Joe" came here from Florida for two more weeks.
While Daddy was here we looked at two books that I have about the history of where he grew up in Northwest Florida. He was recalling names and places that he hadn't thought about for years; he really enjoyed that!
I always take notes while he is telling me stories of his past. He is helping with our family's genealogy. I also want to write his life story.
While he was here, we watched lots of old movies and TV shows, especially westerns. I love watching these with him. We also had Ian over to spend time with his Great-Grandpa. Ian is the oldest of all of his great-grand children, and Angela is his oldest grandchild. (Oh, yeah...I'm the oldest of his five children!)
We also celebrated Daddy's 79th birthday (November 26th) while he was here!! We took him out for his birthday dinner, along with Angela, Richard, Ian, Anakhan & Azure.

My Dad was here for Thanksgiving, and helped me get our dinner ready, since I had to work that day!! He is a much better cook than I am!!! I cooked the turkey overnight, but Bob and Dad did almost everything else.
Richard brought the potatoes, and cooked them. Angela helped me set the table and get other things ready. Ian helped me do the gravy..he didn't like gravy or any sauces until he started helping me.(That's gonna be one of our new traditions!)
Azure and Anakhan helped me, too. Thanks to all of you!!!

On the Saturday before my Dad left, we drove to Elko to pick up Ariel and Tatum. (So Dad got to see his great-granddaughters before they left. He loves the girls! Tatum and Daddy had lots of fun together. I don't remember what started Tatum saying, "I can't see a 'thingle' thing!" (single thing), but Dad was trying to say it like her, and she said, "You're not saying it right...you have to have two teeth missing in the front to say it right!" Then, my Dad said, "Look Tatum, I don't have any teeth!"
Tatum is a blast! Ariel started writing down some of the funny things she said, so I'm going to start a section in the blog called, "TATUM-ISMS"

The girls stayed 2 weeks; some of the things we did while they were here were:
*Ian and Ariel decorated the house for Christmas; they even put up a tree upstairs and one downstairs, and did all the decorations and lights!
*we went to pick up Ian almost everyday to play with them; He and Ariel are best friends, as well as cousins, so they always have to catch up. (When, they see each other it's always like no time has past since they saw each other the last time.)
Ian loves Tatum and she is like his little sister. Ariel and Ian always make sure that she is happy; they like to play with her, and she entertains them!!
*Anakhan and Azure came over to play with them, too; Azure and Tatum really love to play together...those two are becoming great friends!!
*we went shopping, colored, played games & watched Christmas videos; with Tatum getting so big, it's hard for all of us to sleep in my great big bed! (Tatum's a wild child and a wild sleeper, too)
*we had Megan, their cousin, over to play; they love to do crafts together; all 3 girls made their own Christmas 'dioramas'...they are beautiful. It's amazing how creative they are!!
*the girls went to visit and spend the night with Megan at their other grandparents house "Papa and Freaky")

Monica came on Dec. 10th, and we had lots more Christmas fun!
Here are some of the things we did while she was here:
*Monica & I went shopping together; she helped me get presents for everyone, since I had'nt had the time to do any; she also wrapped everything!!! Thanks, Moni!!
*we went with Angela to see a Christmas movie,"The Four Christmases"
*we watched our traditional "Home Alone" movies...it's so much fun to all pile into our bed sto talk and to watch movies
*we listened to lots of Christmas music. watched more videos and played games; (our favorite game to play with Monica is 'Kismet')
*Ariel and Tatum went out to help Bob shovel snow several times! They also got to play outside in the snow lots...good thing we got them new boots, scarves & hats!
*Monica & the girls went to spend the night with "Papa & Freaky" and Kelly and Megan; Monica & Ariel & Kelly (Megan's mom) & Megan went to see the movie, "Twilight"
*Megan gave Tatum her collection of "Bratz" dolls and all their clothes, etc
*Tatum spent hours playing with those dolls here, and when Azure came over they had lots of fun playing together with them
*we went with Angela to see the movie "The Four Christmases"
*Monica cooked several times...she loves it...one Sunday morning, she cooked 'hootenanny' pancakes..they're great!...Thanks, Moni!!
*we had Angela and Richard & kids over to play and eat (with Moni cooking)
*one snowy evening, we went downtown with Monica & the girls to see the lights on Temple Square
*Bob and I celebrated our 36th wedding anniversary! Angela and Richard took all ten of us out for our 36th wedding anniversary dinner. Thanks to you guys for buying everyone's dinner..it was a great evening with all of our kids and grandkids together!

On December 17th, it was time for the girls to go back to Reno. Bob and I drove them back to Elko. We were very lucky and blessed that we were able to travel between snowstorms, so they all got back safely. I wish they could've stayed for Christmas, but we were able to send all their presents back with them, and they were able to spend Christmas at their own home.

Things are pretty quiet around here when it's just the two of us. We had a great holiday season together, and with all of our loved ones.
I also had to work Christmas day, but Angela and Richard and Ian, Azure and Anakhan came to have dinner with us and open presents.

We love the holiday season. At Thanksgiving, we all remember and share the things we are thankful for in our lives. Especially at Christmas, we are thankful for the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.
There is a spanish word, 'mas' which means 'more'.
When I think of 'Christmas,'I think of it as 'CHRIST--MAS'. To me, this means that we should put 'MORE CHRIST' IN CHRISTMAS!
Christ was born, lived and died for us, so that we might know the importance of our lives here on earth. He sacrificed his life so that we might live. He taught us how to live in this world, and taught us the gospel, so that we know that our lives do not end when we die. We know that if we live righteously, keep his commandments, and keep the covenants that we made in the pre-existence, so that we may live with him in the next life.
We hope everyone had a great Christmas, and had a great year in 2008!

We have made lots of plans already for our family for this next year, and are really looking forward to 2009!