A DAY AT THE PUMKIN PATCH

At the fall-time of the year, we always take a day and go to the Red Barn Pumkin Patch. This year was no different. We chose a warm day, got together, had a spagetti dinner and went to the pumkin patch. It was fun and the kids loved it. Hopefully they will remember these good times.

A DAY IN PAYSON CANYON

We took a day this summer while Angie and Mike and their family were in Utah to hike up Payson Canyon to the Grotto. After the hike, we roasted hot dogs and made semores in the Canyon Park. It was a great day to make some memories and enjoy the beautiful place we live.

At left.....Debbie and Addie eating a semore.

Addie

Kate and Maggie Fisher and Sawyer

Amy, Angie, Mike, Katelyn, and Addie.

The kids roasting marshmellows

Nate, Sawyer, and Fisher

Gage, Amy and Fisher

Grammie Deb and Addie







Amy and Sawyer

Cam and her friend Rex.

The kids at the Grotto

Angie feeling the rigors of hiking and carrying the baby.

Dean, Kate, Angie, and Maggie at the Grotto

Kate

The two old guys.

Angie, Jack, Dean, Dad, Mike, Sawyer, and Nate

Addie, Brooke, Kate, and Maggie

Grandpa, Kate, Gage, Addie, Dean, and the teenage Grandma.

Addie and Gramma Deb

Angie, Jack, Addie, Amy, and Fisher

Mike, Angie, and Jack having a snack on the trail.

Brooke and her friend

Mom and her friend.
















Sawyer and Fisher

Amy carrying Fisher

Nate, Amy and their family

Nate and Sawyer

Addie, Gage, and Dean in Granpa's Truck

Grandma Mathewson

A FEW PICTURES OF GRANDMA AND HER SERVICE.....

COACH AND DEB'S CRUISE

After 37 years of marriage and working and working and working, we finally took a seven-day cruise aboard the brand new Carnival Splendor. After many days of pre-cruise stress, we flew out of Salt Lake City early on Sunday morning, June 7th. I had my normal airport stress attack, but things went pretty smoothly. When we got to LAX, my stress returned about finding our transfer and getting to the Port of Long Beach. When we got to the port, all I could see was this old ship with three big smokestacks. I thought this will be a bummer of a cruise, but it turned out to be the Queen Mary which was the Ocean Liner that brought my dad back from the War in Europe when it ended. Our real ship is pictured below. I'm a little less stressed, but still had to wait around and then go through the boarding procedures. While we were waiting for our luggage and stateroom, we boarded and went to a deck where they had a buffet lunch ready for us. We were able to relax on the deck in a deck chair and wait for the ship to sail. The speaker came on and sounded a life jacket evacuation drill, but we thought it was only for the crew. After awhile, we noticed everyone had left the deck and pools and we were alone on deck. I crew member came by and told us we had to go to this drill, so we got our life jackets and stood with 4,000 other people for about a 45 minute get off the boat if it sinks drill. That did not make me feel much better. Anyway, it turned out to be a good cruise, the weather was great and the ports were beautiful. Our cabin stewart told me Debbie had brought enough clothing and shoes to clothe her whole country, but it worked out. Below are a few pictures from the cruise.
WAITING TO BOARD IN LONG BEACH

WATCHING OUT OVER LONG BEACH HARBOR

BOBBY WAS OUR WAITER EVERY NIGHT FOR THE ENTIRE CRUISE. HE WAS REALLY GOOD TO US AND REALLY LIKED MOM.

MOM EVEN BROUGHT HER SCRAP BOOKING AND WAS THE HIT OF THE SHIP'S CLASS

SHIP'S DECK AS WE LEFT THE COLUMBIA RIVER AND WENT BACK OUT TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

LIGHT HOUSE BOAT IN ASTORIA

MOM ALONG THE HARBOR WALK WITH THE ASTORIA BRIDGE IN THE BACKGROUND

THE WHOLE POINT OF THE CRUISE WAS FOR MOM TO PUT HER FEET IN THE WATER ON A SANDY BEACH.....THE ONLY ONE SHE FOUND WAS THIS LITTLE BIT OF BEACH THE SIZE OF OUR LIVING ROOM. TO GET TO IT, SHE HAD TO CLIMB DOWN A CLIFF, AND FELL THE LAST TEN FEET.

MARINER MUSEUM IN ASTORIA

OUR SHIP DOCKED IN ASTORIA NEXT TO A HOTEL. THE SHIP WAS 900 FEET LONG, 240 FEET HIGH, AND 120 FEET WIDE.

VICTORIA BRITISH COLOMBIA CANADA WAS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.

MOM IN FRONT OF SOME OF THE FLOWERS IN BUTCHARD GARDENS WHERE WE SPENT A FEW HOURS. IT WAS ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TRIP ALONG WITH THE BLOWER HAND DRYERS IN THE RESTROOMS ON THE BOAT....THEY WERE AWSOME.

GARY AND DEB NEAR THE FOUNTAIN IN THE SUNKEN GARDENS AT BUTCHARD.

I WAS NOT A VERY GOOD TRAVELING COMPANION, SO MOM FOUND A CANADIAN TO SPEND TIME WITH.

THE EMPRESS HOTEL IN VICTORIA.

VANCOUVER BRITISH COLOMBIA WAS A BEAUTIFUL PORT, BUT THE CITY WAS HUGE, SO WE STAYED ON THE BOAT AND ENJOYED A RELAXING DAY. MOM GOT THE ULTIMATE SPA TREATMENT, AND I RAN AROUND THE SHIP BRINGING HER CHEESECAKE AND DIET COKES.

VANCOUVER BRIDGE.....WE WERE NOT SURE IF THE BOAT WOULD GO UNDER IT BUT WE MADE IT.

LEAVING VANCOUVER AND HEADING OUT TO SEA.

PART OF VANCOUVER SKYLINE

OUR DOCK IN VANCOUVER

IT WAS A NICE RELAXING DAY.

THE STEWART WOULD MAKE OUR ROOM UP IN THE MORNING, AND TURN OUR BED DOWN AT NIGHT. SHE WOULD LEAVE A DIFFERENT TOWELL ANIMAL FOR US EACH NIGHT.

ANOTHER ANIMAL

THE KITTY

THE SEAL

MOM READING AND RELAXING WHILE I WAS SEARCHING FOR CHEESECAKE AND DIET COKE AGAIN. GOTTA LOVE THE HAT.

HEADING OUT TO SEA FROM THE VANCOUVER PORT

CANADIAN SUNSET

LATER CANADIAN SUNSET....IT DID NOT GET DARK UP THERE UNTIL ALMOST MIDNIGHT. WE ARE SAILING DOWN BETWEEN THE COAST AND THE COASTAL ISLANDS. WE SAW SEVERAL WHALES IN THIS AREA.

ANOTHER CANADIAN SUNSET WITH A MUCH BETTER LOOKING FOREGROUND.

DAD AND BOBBY AT OUR FORMAL DINNER...WE ATE EACH NIGHT AT THE SAME TABLE IN THE GOLDEN PEARL RESTAURANT. HE TAUGHT ME PHILLIPINO GANG SIGNS.

BOBBY AND DEBBIE AT OUR TABLE

AFTER DINNER EACH NIGHT ABOUT 11:00, WE WOULD GO TO THE DANCING LOUNGE AND LISTEN TO THESE TWO SING.....THEY WERE GREAT....I NAMED THEM LING LING, AND LING CHOW.

LING LING

ABOUT 2:00 IN THE MORNING ON OUR LAST NIGHT ON SHIP AND WE WERE PRETTY TIRED. MOM IS READY TO GO BACK TODAY ON ANOTHER CRUISE, BUT I AM NOT QUITE READY. OTHER THAN MY PANIC ATTACKS, WE HAD A GOOD TIME.

EASTER TRADITIONS

Debbie contends that Gary never dresses up in anything but sweats. These next three photos show that is not the case. Most days you can find him dressed up in up-scale clothing and dapper head wear. Here are three examples

We all had a good time even though it was cold and wet. In fact it is April 15 and I am sitting here watching large snowflakes fall outside as I write this. We ate hot dogs, salsa, chips, and desert. Grandpa leaned all the grandkids against him and watched a movie while the girls visited and the boys went to do a contruction project for Mike and Ali. Other than Nate getting schocked, all went well. We gathered again for a supper of sloppy joes and other goodies. We all had a good time and returned to our homes in safety. We are going to be very busy for the next few months with birthdays, Disneyland trips, trip to Arizona, and summer activities.

Scout and Gage

Gage filling his basket

Fisher and Sawyer

Grandpa and Abby

Grandma and Abby

Boomer wanted to play with everyone, but could only watch beneath the gate

Grey finding a treat on Grandpa's truck

Amy with her twins Sawyer and Fisher found their share.

Scout looking like she is being left behind

Jeff thinking of Love

All the kids on the rock wall. Some are happier than others about the whole idea.

Grey did pretty well on his hunt.

Kevin is helping launch the parachutes for the kids to chase. Addie not feeling the cold

EASTER WEEKEND WITH THE FAMILY

Even though it was cold and rainy, we are not deterred from our traditions.

Our Easter Egg Hunt had to go on as well as a fun day with the family.

MAKING VALENTINE COOKIES WITH GREY

February 14th, 2009 brought Izzy, Scout, and Grey over to Grandma and Grandpa's house to do fun things, watch movies, and eat popcorn and creamies. Grey decided to help Grandma make valentine cookies because Grandma was not feeling very well. He was a big help and we now have many heart shaped cookies.

FAMILY FUN

Here are some random family pictures. Our family enjoys doing fun things and it is especially gratifying to know they enjoy being around each other.








Mike and Ali

Grandpa, Grandma, and the kids.
Gary and Debbie at the Mesa Arizona Temple

Gary, Neva, and Bennie

Grandpa and Scout

Debbie, Cam, and Maggie

Grandma and Grey sharing a treat




Scout ready for the ride

Dar and Angie

Grandpa Haney with the birthday hat.

Amy and her twins

They don't have snow like this in Arizona.

Mike, Grey and Kate.

Jeff and Brooke tormenting mom

Mike and Cam going

for a ride on the scooter













Mike and Dean

Dean ready to go swimming

Kate with her cool goggles.

Angie and her sweet family