Happy Thanksgiving

Last Sunday, Catherine and Mike spoke in their ward (Foothill 1st ward) on gratitude. (For a complete text of her talk, check out their blog.) One particular point that Catherine made was that we should acknowledge and be grateful for the small things as well as the biggies. In that spirit, I thought I should share some of the small as well as not so small things that I find myself grateful for and appreciative of. They are listed in no particular order:

1. My husband---Steve is amazing and I love and appreciate him more each day.
2. My children---they are talented, smart, kind, loyal---and they all married really really well!!
3. Carsen--who was the little pioneer who taught us how to be grandparents
4. Raegan--who insists that every picture she sees of Lance Armstrong is really a picture of Grandpa Steve.
5. Alex--whose red hair and big smile make us giggle
6. Temple marriage---mine and those of our children
7. Dad's mission to France--it has blessed my life with more than just the annual French dinner and I think it has blessed our children as well.
8. Cell phones--so I can talk to my kids every day---even the ones in Boston.
9. My Mom
10. Creations of our Heavenly Father---mountains, Lake powell, friends, family
11. Dishwashers and microwaves---I often remark (and you are probably all sick of hearing it) that I don't know how my mother and Grandmother Duncan handled family dinners and holidays for big groups without dishwashers and microwaves.
12. Our neighborhood family.
13. The heritage of strong righteous women who have gone before, serving as wives, mothers, leaders in the Church and community---who have left me without excuse for enduring to the end.
14. Dinner with Mike and Linda
15. Michael and Jennifer Bell---who have loved us through thick and thin and have traveled long distances every time to be with us in the temple for the sealings of our children.
16. Getting to know Sandra, Cort, Brad, Beth, diane, Bill, Jeff, Susan and all of the kids
17. Living in Utah so that I could see and experience the blessing of watching my children date and marry wonderful people.
18. University of Utah football---especially this year!
19. Missions to Haiti, Chile and Brazil
20. Eternal Family
21. Michigan (Let's go Blue!) and all our friends there
22. The Time-out-step where I would sit my kids (bottom step in our Detroit house or one of the bedrooms if it was too small for the three to fit) where they could learn to negotiate, work out problems and forgive one another.
23. Cherry Garcia ice cream
24. Hatches chocolates
25. Black Sheep Wool and Charlotte and Vonnie
26. Eror Family attitude that we can do or learn anything that we put our minds to---and to not be discouraged when things look hard.
27. Philo
28. Fasting as a family and being able to end it altogether even if we are far apart.
29. Egg Nog
30. Fall--my favorite time of year.
31. Making halloween costumes for my family members---big and small.
32. Patricia singing.
33. Patricia and Catherine singing together.
34. Patricia and Catherine playing the piano whenever they are home at Hilltop Road.
35. Lotoja weekend and the friends that go with it.
36. Health---mine, Steve's, Mom's our children's and our grandchildren's---easy to take for granted but such an amazing blessing.
37. Furnace in winter.
38. Air Conditioning in summer
39. Blogging as a form of staying in touch
40.Las Vegas
41. Reading the Book of Mormon out loud everyday with Steve.
42. High Heels
43. Sephora
44. Katie, Alec and our Hawaii Family
45. Boot heaters in my ski boots (they REALLY work!!)
46. The friendship with the Edwards family which has been in existence longer that I have known Steve or Kara has known Jeff
47. Computers
48. Email
49. Gardening
50. Steve being patient when I forget to work on or follow through with #49
51. Music--all kinds
52. Cirque de Soliel
53. Ward temple night---going with neighborhood family is a wonderful experience.
54. Pilates
55. Toys: skis, boats, road bikes, mountain bikes (with Brad and Beth), etc
56. Raybould family---when we moved into the avenues they welcomed us with open arms and hearts---and then continued that by alerting Ben and Liz that the Garffs were coming to their ward
57. Forgiveness---the fact that my husband and children forgive my weaknesses and mistakes and that my Heavenly Father does too

That's a partial list---Happy Thanksgiving. I look forward to sharing the upcoming holiday season with you and those we all love so much!! Thank you all for being part of my life! You make me happy!!!

Happy Birthday Patrick Michael Barnes

Today we celebrate the birth of Patrick. We are so grateful to have him in our family and although he is far away in Boston (finishing his MBA) we keep him close in our hearts, minds and thoughts. Patrick adds so much to our crazy group. There is nothing like watching a sporting event with him---he knows more wierd trivia---just plain fun stuff. And he is seldom wrong in the trivia department. If I ever play "Who wants to be a millionaire" I want him as my lifeline. He is intense (d'ya think???), humble, loyal, spiritual, intelligent, handsome, funny and fun to be around. Patrick is a wonderful athlete, friend, father, husband, brother and son. We are so blessed to share life with him!!! We love you Patrick and miss you tons!

Happy Birthday Dear Faf--Part 2

I thought we should share some photos of the birthday bash that we held in Faf's honor so here goes---some are self-explanatory and some require some commentary:

BIRTHDAY GIRL HERSELF

Catherine picked out the birthday meal menu---she said that the most important thing was chocolate cake (lots of chocolate) and NO fish or fish-ny-products. So---we accomodated her need for chocolate---and added a fishy twist.

Carsen is always ready to help with candles

And what is a birthday without---presents!

Grandma Pat celebrates

As part of Catherine's birthday, we refinished the cedar chest that was Elaine Wightman Duncans. Elaine is Catherine's great-grandmother---and Catherine was given Elaine as a middle name to honor her. Here, in front of the chest, is Catherine and Grandma Pat (Elaine's daughter) giving the birthday girl a table cloth which belonged to Elaine.

What is a birthday without a birthday foot message---compliments of Carsen!

The evening was topped off with a few sets of Rock Band. Steve and Melissa provided the stage kit---complete with smoke and flashing lights. Rock on Catherine with your amazing band! And happy birthday to you!

Happy Birthday Dear Faf!

Today we celebrated the birth of our Number Three---Faf Elaine Eror Garff. She is such a light in our family! Catherine makes everything a bit brighter. She roadbikes, bakes, hikes, enjoys music (making it and listening to it), is a great and loyal friend, knits,skis, spoils nephews and nieces, gardens, giggles, has major laugh-attacks, is creative and artsie, is an avid U of U fan (why not---she certainly spends enough time and money there!), loves her parents (all four), siblings and---MIKE! She is thoughtful, kind and unselfish. We are grateful everyday for her presence and influence in our family. Happy Birthday Sweetie!!! We love you!

Vivian Canyon

Just as I was finishing the blog for the Ulcer, we got a phone call from Brad and Beth inviting us to go mountain biking with them. They have been such great sports about the whole road bike thing that it was our turn to try their sport. Steve got us ready by tuning up the mountain bikes (after all, what is a real bike ride if it doesn't start with a visit to Gutheries Bike Store?) and then, on Thursday, Steve and I joined the Hutchings for THE most beautiful ride ever. They were so patient with my out-of-shapeness---Beth even traded bikes with me so that I could get the benefit of bigger gears, shocks, etc. The scenery was absolutely amazing and the company was even better. We love you guys! Thank you for the wonderful fall afternoon!

The pressure is killing me...

So here is the deal---I was tagged by Melissa on her blog. This normally would have been fine but---she also tagged all family members, people iIknow, people Idon't know and therefore couldn't have tagged, etc. (It would help if more of our family and/or friends would get with it as far as blogs go---grrr) Plus,I didn't think that i could think of any random thoughts about myself. The pressure was enormous!! So I was at dinner with Catherine (while the guys were at priesthood meeting) and she started picking my brain and making a list. Here are the resulting random facts:

1. When I was a teenager, I desperately wanted a mondrian print dress and white gogo boots. Dad wouldn't agree to the purchase because he said that they were a fad that wouldn't last more than one season. (But what a halloween costume I would have today had he given in!)

2. For many years, I had an invisible friend named Toni. It has been quite awhile since we have hung out---I hope she is having a great time wherever she is.

3. As a child (a really small, sneaky child) I used to sneak frozen hotdogs as a treat. (no bun, no condiments---just frozen, raw tube steaks!) It always made me feel better when I was forced to take a nap.

4. One of my most disturbing memories of being a young mother is of the day when Steven Jr. was taking a particularly long nap. I snuck into his room to see if he was still breathing. He was. Apparently he was also exhausted. Art does that to a guy. He had taken off a particularly bad diaper, decorated the (new) crib with the contents (did I mention that the crib was white) paying special attention to the detail on the railings, and then fallen asleep.

5. I have always tried to be a rule follower. (You know---a real obey and sustain the law kind of woman). I have always loved hostess twinkies and chocolate cupcakes. When I was a senior in high school, my friend and I were over-indulging in the aforementioned treats and found ourselves rather full---but still holding a couple of half-eaten twinkies and cupcakes. Alas--no trash can in site. Good news---a mailbox. We stashed the stuff in the government provided box (which was right under a sign which said "no littering"). Does a statute of limitations apply here?

6. Toilet humor makes me laugh.

7. I was pooped on by a pigeon under the Eifel Tower in Paris.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TEAM PAT!

It seems like just yesterday that we were all gathering in the Salt Lake Temple and celebrating the wedding of Patrick and Patricia. But here we are---three years later---it seems like the time has flown by! We love you so much and miss you tons! Happy Anniversary to our favorite Boston residents!

Neighborhood Party

We participated in the annual neighborhood party at Northcrest Pool. It was particularly fun because we were all together and the neighbors could check our our cuter than average grandkids. Such a fun evening to share!!

Aunt Faf and Little Dude (Alex)

Alexander Patrick Barnes

Just can't get enough of that boy!!

The local firefighters brought their big rigs and gave the kids the grand tour. Carsen loved every minute of it--and went back for seconds---thirds---fourths---

Raegan and Uncle Mike

Grandma Judy singing with the band---don't worry, I won't quit my day job!

Before the Barnes arrived in SLC for a visit, Carsen asked if Alex would be a kid or a baby because he had some things that he wanted to teach his cousin. I guess these dance moves are but a few---with more to come!

ULCER

Today was the annual ULCER bike ride around Utah Lake. Steve gathered a trusty group of men (Brad Hutchings, Dan McDonald and Jacob Francis), saddled up the trusty red TIME and headed out. Beth Hutchings met the group for lunch and for a quick check of the condition of the riders. Steve always love being on his bike but when you do it with family, it makes it even better. Thanks Beth and Brad! Next time, it's mountain bike time!

Steve, Dan and Brad checking the equipment

Gathering at the starting line

Dan McDonald, Steve, Brad Hutchings, Jacob Francis

Steve, Beth and Brad making plans for lunch

Riders ready!!

LUNCH TIME!!

Coming into the finish line

The End!

FHE at GP's

Last monday, we gathered at Mom's (aka: GP, aka: Grandma Pat) for a backyard bar-be-que. We needed to christen her new patio and landscaping (which, by the way, is amazing). Catherine and Carsen built a tent and had a pretend camping trip. The weather was perfect, the food was great and the company couldn't be beat. Thanks Mom!!! We love you! The Camping Tent:

Carsen used Catherine's camera to take the following two photos. Say Cheese, Faf!