Birthdays and More

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRIFFIN!

Griffin Ephraim Garner survived 525,600 minutes of being mauled  by his two older brothers. We celebrated with cake and presents.  He was a big fan of his dollar bills, firetruck, and rainbow chip frosting.  

Max is a first grader!! 

The boys spoiled me on my birthday with delicious food and beautiful jewelry and a scarf. They have excellent taste. 

So long August! Hello fall!

The Garners Hit the West Coast

Way back around Memorial Day we started our summer off with a bang by heading to California to visit my parents in Modesto and Ephraim's brother and sister-in-law in Prunedale. (Another drive-24-hours-straight vacation brought to you by our marathon driver, Ephraim. I think he broke a new record by only stopping to sleep for 15 minutes in Wyoming)

We loved seeing the giant sequoias at Calaveras Big Tree State Park  

We had no idea we'd be in 40 degree weather in June! Chilly but beautiful.

A Dedicated Dad

 Next stop was Aunt Paula and Uncle Phillip's.  They're caretakers at a farm so the boys were delighted to see and help with all the animals. Max loved riding the pony Licorice and hiking with the donkey (we forget his name).

Griffin playing with cousins.

After our hike.

The boys loved the Monterey Bay Aquarium especially the touch tank and jelly fish.

Our next stop was the beach to explore the tidepools and play in the sand. The boys were fascinated with the anemones, crabs and fish.

Next stop was the beautiful Oakland Temple visitor center.  Gorgeous views of the bay!

We headed to San Francisco where we feasted on sourdough with havarti and Ghiradelli chocolate.

Delighted sourdough bread eater.

Mom and Dad on the wharf

The boys at a Giants game.

We spent our last day in California at Yosemite.  I felt like I was walking around in a postcard the whole time.  Definitely a must-see national park.

We stopped in Utah on our way back and were able to see more family and friends.

Hiking in Salt Lake City with Uncle Jake.

We were lucky enough to be in town for our new cute nephew Ryan's baby blessing and for my grandparent's 65th Wedding Anniversary.  It was so nice to get to celebrate with them. 

Two wonderful people! We love you!

This Little Piggie is Going to Be Tasty

Once upon a time Ephraim had a bright idea to get some pigs we could raise all summer then butcher in the fall. 

In the beginning, they were tiny.

They ate and ate and drank and drank.  They got bigger and smellier and their pen went from lush and green to a real pig sty. 

 After digging out and jumping over their pen over and over and us fixing their pen over and over, we've now decided its hard to think of anything nice to say about them.  Ask us in a few months when we're eating bacon.

In other agricultural news, its amazing that with zero gardening experience, our seeds went from nothing...to this......

 then this........

 60 zucchini and counting! We've also loved our lettuce, cilantro, green beans, and peas.  Corn, watermelon, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and onions coming soon.

 Two silly, soon-to-be corn-huskers.

And one cute Griffin just for the heck of it. Can't believe this baby is walking already.

Spring Break Visitors

Jamie, Rich, Hannah, Jake, Alex, and Logan came to visit from Utah for Spring Break.  Have we mentioned we love visitors? WE DO! It was great to see them and the boys loved showing them around a few of our favorite places.  We also drove to Kansas City with them to visit historic Liberty Jail and tour the new temple there.  Fantastic barbecue was the bonus on that trip (if you're ever in

 Kansas City, we recommend Jack Stack's!)