Picture taken February 2008 A big HELLO to all our family and friends at this festive time of year. We have grown this year from 18 to 21 in numbers. Our main headlines this year were Joshua Johnathan Christopher born on August 3rd to Lee and Karyn's family and Norah Jane born to Spencer and Jane's family on October 13th. Then we enjoyed the wedding of Sarah and Denis Fedotov on October 29th, making our 21st member of the Bruce and Jeri Howard family! We have tried to see each of our families as often as possible throughout the year but it is never enough when about half of us live in Washington state (Lee and Spencer's families) and the other half in Utah. We are spoiled living only five minutes away from Jared and Candace and see them at least once a week. Andy has an apartment in Salt Lake not too far away and Diane and Dallon have just bought themselves a house in Ogden.
We enjoyed a visit from Lee's family in April and celebrated Easter and Raidon's 2nd birthday together.
In May we were able to visit Bruce's father's grave on Memorial Day and took some beautiful Iris from our garden. It's always nice to be able to visit with Bruce's mother.
July was a busy month when Jeri's Garrard family held their family reunion at Daytona Beach, Florida. So before we flew there, we drove to Washington and wished Wyatt a happy birthday early and visited the families there.
We then picked up two of our grandchildren, Zachary and Emily, to go with us to Florida. It made our trip so much more fun to have them along.
The hotel on the beach with all the swimming pools gave us much to do as well as a night out on a small cruise ship for dinner one night.
We enjoyed a visit from Lee's family in April and celebrated Easter and Raidon's 2nd birthday together. In May we were able to visit Bruce's father's grave on Memorial Day and took some beautiful Iris from our garden. It's always nice to be able to visit with Bruce's mother.July was a busy month when Jeri's Garrard family held their family reunion at Daytona Beach, Florida. So before we flew there, we drove to Washington and wished Wyatt a happy birthday early and visited the families there. We then picked up two of our grandchildren, Zachary and Emily, to go with us to Florida. It made our trip so much more fun to have them along.The hotel on the beach with all the swimming pools gave us much to do as well as a night out on a small cruise ship for dinner one night. Jeri's sister, Kathy Underwood, with Zach and Emily
It was wonderful to see so many of Jeri's family there in Daytona. Thank you to sister, Jeanette, and her daughter, Kristina, for all the work they put into it!
Then we flew back to Washington and drove home to Salt Lake.
The next day we picked up Whitney, Lee and Karyn's oldest daughter, from the airport so she could attend EFY at Utah State in Logan. We had time to go to fireworks on the 24th of July with Jared and Candace first.
Whitney was excited to find her dormatory room. 
In September Bruce's mother organized a get-together picnic in Orem. All his side of the family came....
....including his sister, Carolyn and husband, Craig Lasker.
The next day we picked up Whitney, Lee and Karyn's oldest daughter, from the airport so she could attend EFY at Utah State in Logan. We had time to go to fireworks on the 24th of July with Jared and Candace first.Whitney was excited to find her dormatory room. For Christmas last year we told our children that we would begin having Howard Family Reunions every year. So we found a summer home outside of Boise, Id that would fit all of us in. In August everyone in our family except for Sarah, who was in Russia/Ukraine, got together for about three days. We had a great time and it was so fun being all together. We were able to meet our newest member at that time, baby Joshua, and even Great Grandma, Edna Howard, was able to come. We're still working on where we will go next year.
Joshua was blessed the first Sunday of September, so Bruce, Jeri, Jared, and Candace drove to Shelton together.
Some of the Conway nephews and nieces that live in Washington made the trip there also and stayed for a nice dinner at Lee and Karyn's house.
In September Bruce's mother organized a get-together picnic in Orem. All his side of the family came....
....including his sister, Carolyn and husband, Craig Lasker.Our oldest daughter, Sarah, began attending the University of Utah shortly after returning from her mission to Ukraine in August of 2009. Majoring in Russian, she was able to do a study abroad program there beginning in June. After six weeks when it was over, she wanted to fly over to Ukraine to see friends from her mission....one being Denis Fedotov, who served in the same mission. They had been in touch since her return the year before. As it turned out, they fell in love and became engaged.
It was a short engagement as they returned to Utah to get married in the Salt Lake Temple two months later.
They decided to live in Kiev, Ukraine for about a year after honeymooning at Newport Beach, California.
It was a short engagement as they returned to Utah to get married in the Salt Lake Temple two months later.
They decided to live in Kiev, Ukraine for about a year after honeymooning at Newport Beach, California.Wedding planning was about all I (Jeri) did September and October when I wasn't working, going to Choir, eating, or sleeping. But everything turned out wonderful and the bride and groom were, and are, very happy. We really are excited to have Denis for a son-in-law. He is everything we have wanted for our daughter.
We were able to fly to Spencer and Jane's home in Vancouver, WA the middle of November to meet our new granddaughter, Norah.
They are always a joy to be with and they weren't able to attend the wedding because of Norah just being born.
The kids all had fun at Chuckie Cheese Pizza while we were there.
Jared and Candace have decided to adopt a child as soon as possible. They have been working hard getting their home ready and making the adopton arrangements. We wish them blessings in order to receive a little one soon.
Andy became a General Manager for Dominoes Pizza like he was a few years ago. He decided that this is what he enjoys doing and is good at it. He is able to have his son, Raidon, on weekends and we look forward to geeing them both on Sundays if not more.
Diane, out youngest, and Dallon Wheatley were married just one year ago on November 15th. They recently closed on their first home and are now in the process of moving in. It is in Ogden not far from Dallon's work and Diane will begin working for Convergys at home. They now have custody of three-year old Sophie.
Taken at our August Howard Family Reunion before Norah was born. Our grandchildren: Raidon, Wyatt, Whitney holding Joshua, Zachary, Sophie, and Emily
They are always a joy to be with and they weren't able to attend the wedding because of Norah just being born.
The kids all had fun at Chuckie Cheese Pizza while we were there.
Jared and Candace have decided to adopt a child as soon as possible. They have been working hard getting their home ready and making the adopton arrangements. We wish them blessings in order to receive a little one soon.
Andy became a General Manager for Dominoes Pizza like he was a few years ago. He decided that this is what he enjoys doing and is good at it. He is able to have his son, Raidon, on weekends and we look forward to geeing them both on Sundays if not more.
Diane, out youngest, and Dallon Wheatley were married just one year ago on November 15th. They recently closed on their first home and are now in the process of moving in. It is in Ogden not far from Dallon's work and Diane will begin working for Convergys at home. They now have custody of three-year old Sophie.
Taken at our August Howard Family Reunion before Norah was born. Our grandchildren: Raidon, Wyatt, Whitney holding Joshua, Zachary, Sophie, and EmilySo this was our life for 2010. In the wintertime we have to hunker down inside when the snow blasts us like it has so far this season. And in the summertime we like to work out in our gardens, growing flowers and vegetables and berries. Jeri still works as office manager for a dentist and has 1 1/2 years left in the Tabernacle Choir. Bruce is still with ATK where they have had many lay offs this year. His job changes as people leave but he keeps hanging on. Retirement is not too far away. We've also, with some encouragement from our children, become more conscious about our health and have joined a fitness center where we excercise as well as do a lot of walking outside. We're trying to eat healthier and not as much. It will be a life-long process, but one that will hopefully keep us enjoying our family for many more years to come.
We hope you have a blessed Christmas and New Year. We are thankful for you and for our Father above who makes all things possible. We celebrate the birth of his son, and our Savior, Jesus Christ.
All our love,
Bruce and Jeri
No comments:
Post a Comment