Gardner Brother Fun

Wow, it's been a long time since I've updated our blog we have been busy with school activities, birthday parties, Good Morning Milo shows, holiday celebrations, church callings and keeping up with all of you! We are doing well and are looking forward to this Christmas season when all our kids will be home with us to enjoy time together and celebrating the miracle of our Savior Jesus Christ's birth.

I wanted to let you all know that recently I've set a goal to ride in the Sulvang Century in March 2010. Ride meaning on a rode bike, the kind you pedal, not the kind you have to wear leather and have a tatoo. I thought I'd put those 200 spin classes I've taken in the past 8 months, and put them to good use. Better yet, I have joined the Lymphoma Leukemia Society "Team in Training" to help raise funds for the cure of blood cancers, in the process. In addition to my early morning spin classes, I meet with my team every Saturday morning to train for the 100mi ride. Our first two meetings were at Mission Bay where we rode 20mi. learning how to ride a pace line. For the next three months, we will meet all over the county putting in more and more miles gaining skills and stamina preparing for Sulvang. I was talking to Teagan recently about the ride and she asked me, "Do you really think you'll be able to to that Mom?" My answer, "Absolutely." I know I can do it. Since my ACL injury 13 years ago, I have kept fit, but, I have been limited to specific workouts and activities. Spin class and now road bike cycling has enabled me to physically challenge myself far passed those limits without fear of injury. Cycling has unlocked a part of me that I haven't be able to explore for awhile and it is sweet to feel that again.
So family and friends and whom ever visits our family blog anonymously,here's the plug, please support the Lymphoma Leukemia Society by making a donation. Your donation would help find life saving solutions to those suffering with blood cancers and help me meet my personal Team in Training fund raising goal. I want to get to Sulvang and prove to Teagan that this mom of seven can indeed ride a 100 miles and have the legs to celebrate about it that night! Can I do it, sheez!

Please make your donations here, Thank You!: http://pages.teamintraining.org/sd/solvang10/sgardnelk6

Camping and Fishing Trip with Grandma and Grandpa

We just had the best camping trip ever. I mean ever. Grandpa Carpenter decided that he and Grandma were going to take their family fishing. Grandpa planned everything. We traveled 7 hours to Bishop California, just 15 minute south of Mammoth. It might as well been on another planet as it was so beautiful there. We camped at Brown's Owen River Campgrounds. The camp was flat and grassy surrounded by mountains, we had fishing just 50 yards from our tents.

I have never eaten so well on a camp out. Foil diners? I don't think so. Grandpa is an expert dutch oven chef. We had tender corned beef brisket Saturday night and melt in your mouth beef roast Sunday night.

Friday and Saturday were our fishing days. Here is the place were I will boast about being the first one to catch a fish! It was so fun! What was more fun (for me at least) was putting another worm on the hook and catching the second one just 10 minutes later! Whoo Hoo! In fact, those were the only fish caught Friday. Saturday was another story. We got up early the next morning, skipped breakfast, got our poles ready and headed across the grassy meadow to throw our lines in.

Grandpa was a great tutor. He gave each of the kids casting lessons and it must have worked because Rilyn caught the first fish of the day. Soon enough the family was smiling big as they reeled in those flippy-floppy brown trout! All in all, we caught 11 trout. Strangely enough they were pulled out of the same spot in the river. We named our fishing hole, "Carpenter's Bend". A highlight in everyone's memory was Grandpa gutting a fish, showing everyone that it was a female fish because was full of "Roe" (eggs) then promptly put them in his mouth and ate them. I thought Caitlin would puke on the spot. Nevertheless, everyone enjoyed the fishing experience, even Brittan who is not fond of fish, was a good sport . She said she was fishing just to "practice her casting". When she hooked two fish during her "practicing" while reeling them in, she would apologize to the fish and refuse to touch it after that. By the way, she caught the biggest fish of all. (Of course.)

Inbetween times, the kids had squirt gun battles, threw a Frisbee and football and played card games,(legal ones)and ate. we made many visits to the "hungry tent" it was well stalked full of wonderful things you don't feel guilty eating because you're camping.

Another activity was Brittan practicing her driving around the camp grounds, in grandma's car. Not to be out done, Teagan had her fair share of driving around camp as well. She's a good driver even though she's twelve.

Each night before bed and after the evening clean up, grandpa made a fire and we gathered around for our nightly devotional. We shared a spiritual thought, sang camp songs, played games and made treats. Sunday we organized a quasi church meeting with hymns, talks and discussion about gospel principles. It was cool.

We were about 15 minutes from Mammoth so we took the quick trip up and loved the amazing beauty there. We hiked trails, saw Devils Post Pile and drank from a delicious soda spring we discovered bubbling up next to the river. It was a great adventure for all of us.

I could go on and on but I won't.

Did I mention this was the best camping trip ever?

Here are some pictures.

Parking at the Beach...the True Test of Faith

We went to the beach today. La Jolla Shores, it was a Saturday and we didn't get there early, we got there around noon.Everyone here knows that's not a good plan. It is busy and there was no parking.

It is so funny to think about looking for a space to park in when there aren't any. In fact, you and many other people are circling around hoping you'll come up lucky and get a spot.

As you are moving slowly up and down the parking isles,you're watching for people that look like they have been to the beach and are finished. It can be tricky though, sometimes you come up on people when it's hard to tell if they have just got their beach stuff out or if they are putting it in.

Then there are the people who go to their car like they are finished with the beach,but aren't leaving. That's awkward. Especially when you follow them with your car as they walk to their car, put your blinker on to signal the other cars searching that "you claim this space", only to have the people give you a funny look, wave you off and finally tell you they're not leaving. Wow. Why don't they tell you that when you are following them with your car?

So you continue to circle and search, circle and search, never giving up that faith that you too will find a space. I hate it when you don't see a person getting into their car to leave and you pass them just missing the parking space by a car length. The guy behind you couldn't be happier.

It is amazing how long you will wait for a parking space with your blinker on while the people go through there rituals to prepare to leave the beach. Today we waited while a guy, took off all his wet stuff, put them away, took a modified shower, dried off, put on dry clothes, washed and dried his board, and put it in it's little case and strapped it to his car. The funny thing was we weren't even waiting to get the spot, we were in the line of cars behind the car, that was getting the spot. Well at least we were entertained.

All this, strangely enough, isn't really annoying you know, like Caitlin said today, "Mom it is just a part of the experience of going to the beach" No one really gets mad about the process either, it's like everyone understands this is just something that's expected. I also think it's because you're going to the beach. You know, going to the beach is always worth it.

Oddly enough, if you're patient enough, you will get a parking space. And when you do it is the greatest feeling of excitement. WhooHoo! I've got a parking space! Yes! It's always worth the circling and searching because now you get to stay at the beach for as long as you want!

And think when your finished, think how happy you're going to make someone when they spot you heading for your car.

Oh the beach, we love it.

Haircuts

I've been thinking about cutting my hair for a while now. Not that my hair was really long, but it was long to me.I liked growing out my hair, it was fun to put it back in a pony tail and blow dry it out and have it hit my shoulders again. But there were draw backs that started getting on my nerves.

Like having to put it back in a ponytail and blow drying it.

I think long hair is over rated, for me anyway. Don't get me wrong, if you have long hair. Great. Enjoy. I probably even think it is really pretty, but for me it is just hot and in the way too much.

I've had my hair short in the past but I didn't want it like that again but I didn't want to look like I belonged in Hillcrest either, something fun but still feminine.

I know this isn't really that interesting to read about, after all we all get our hair cut. But, I was so surprised at how much I loved watching all the hair fall down around me. I was excited when it was all gone and I was free again. So I thought I'd write about it.

I knew there would be family members that wouldn't be as excited as I was. It was so funny how much I didn't care! When I walked in the door of my Mom's house, Rilyn let out a blood curdling scream,(so Rilyn). In fact my Mom who was in the kitchen, thought after hearing the scream, that an intruder had entered the house. She immediately began debating whether to grab a knife and defend her grandchildren or grab them and whisk them out the back door. After seeing it was me, she was relieved and even said she loved my haircut! Jaren, said, "It looked bad and wanted it back "the mommy way."

Caitlin, Brittan and Teagan said,they like it better than they did yesterday.Which actually makes sense for any woman that has ever got her haircut.

Weston likes it - Weston loves when people get new haircuts. Doug of course said he thought it was very cute. Which is true. :0)

So that's my ramble about my haircut. So much "to do" about hair and cutting it.

Funny.

Fun week!

This last week was great, Kamden came down for a visit since she is out of school and has some time before teaching summer school, we've been keeping busy and enjoying being together.

Later in the week Caitlin's good friend from BYU came down for surprise visit. It is a major feat to keep anything a surprise for Caitlin, she is just too sharp and too good noticing anything out of the ordinary, but we managed to actually pull it off. I am very sorry we didn't get her totally surprised reaction on video. It was something to behold.

Kamden has been creative making puppets with J and Rilyn, we have loved a trip to the beach, BBQing and getting back in touch with family and friends through visiting and music. Saturday we all climbed aboard the trolley and made a day of exploring downtown and loving the perfect San Diego weather. At Seaport Village we emptied a bag of Costco size Dorritos, Pretzels finished up sandwiches we didn't eat at the beach! We played catch, threw a Frisbee watched people fly their kites into the trees and took in all the sights and free sidewalk entertainment by the harbor .

Our city is beautiful!!

Last week I lost my mind just long enough for me to agree to help chaperon a youth 80's themed dance at our stake building. So, after our downtown excursion I took a trip to the local Salvation Army and found some really rad 80's clothes.
My daughters and Mom took it from there giving me that perfect 80's big hair and make up. Don't I look amazing? ...Oh...Wow.

We had a great week together.

A Fun outing with J and Cait

Want to do something really fun with a three year old? Buy an all day ticket and ride the green line on the San Diego Trolley. Have your three year old sit across from you be sure they are close to the window. Instant fun for them and entertainment for you! It's so worth the $5. Everything is so interesting for them, the sounds the sights the people and how fast the trolley goes! Cait and I just sat and watched Jaren react to everything! We got off at Fashion Valley and while Cait shopped Jaren and I rode the escalators. This has been a favorite of his since he could hold my finger and stand up. (Another simple but very fun adventure for a three year old.)We went into Old Navy (there's an escalator there too.) He found some boots he really liked. We decided against- them not quite big enough. We met Cait for a $1.25 Tuesday Fish Taco at Rubios. We watched a couple of ducks at the food court pick at a pizza crust. On the way back to the trolley Jaren noticed the alphabet letter on a store window. He pointed at each letter and said each one out loud..V-I-C-T-O-R-I-A S-E-C-R-E-T. Humm..

On the way home Caitlin couldn't resist him any more and gave him a smacker on the cheek for both of us- weather he liked it or not!

It was a very simple but fun time together. I love being old and having a three year old that's not my grandson! Life is good!