Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Ava's Christmas, originally uploaded by Keltose.

Hope everyone had a great Christmas vacation! Ours was filled with snow and some good times with friends. We finally made it back to Utah today, after the weather took its toll on the Northwest last week. Our real vacation starts Wednesday! Jenn, Ava (at least we think she is) and I are really stoked for it. I'll post more details later when we get there!

I still can't believe this year is gone.
Here are some highlights of 2008 in chronological order:

1. New Job

2. CES '08

3. Olivia Bae Gardner

4. Flip This House

5. Lake Powell

6. Ava's First Steps

7. St. George Marathon

8. Ava turns 1

9. Keepin tradtion

Keepin Tradition

Well as in years past in Utah we really enjoyed getting our own Christmas tree luckily this year being in tree country we had the chance (thanks to our friends/neighbors) to get one of our own! I know this post is a few weeks late, but oh well. Judging from years past, this year's tree is definitely our best. The trip of getting it was a lot of fun and some great weather (almost too good). Check out the storyboard below.

Merry Christmas from Ava & Buster

Okay, being the amateur photog that I am. Here is my best attempt at a little Christmas shoot with Ava and Buster. Here are the best shots, even though I had to take about 50 to get these.

Weekend Warriors-SLC and back

A couple weeks ago we had a quick visit in Salt Lake for the weekend. As usual it was busy and good to see everyone we were able to. Thanks for Nick finally getting married, so I had an excuse to take work for a day. Anyways, one of the unplanned highlights was going up and waiting in line for a Christmas Tree Permit with my Dad. Some of you know this is somewhat of an annual tradition as you will see here and here. Unfortunately I won't be around to go chop one down, but hopefully we will be able to do it here in Washington seeing how there is no shortage for trees up here. Anyways, here are a couple pics from that morning.

St. George Marathon 2008

Its been one week since the race and I am finally feeling whole again. It took me a couple days before I could ride my bike to work, but by Wednesday I was feeling okay. For those that don't know, the St. George Marathon has about a 99% chance of being sunny. So, of course it had to rain on race day. Luckily, I had a great support team and really appreciate them coming out and waiting in the rain. The last time it rained on the marathon was 25 years ago! This made the shoes a little heavier and the muscles a little stiffer, but I finished. This marathon marks number 7 for me and number 5 for my mom. Despite our more relaxed training program it ended being a decent race. I was shooting for a 4 hour time, but instead came in at 4:21, so it 'wasn't my worse-wasn't my best'......That's what she said.
















Coke and Red Bull at Mile 16! I didn't drink all of it, but my mom finished them up when she came through.









The Finish!

anima sana in corpore sano

What can I say? This weekend has crept up on me pretty quickly. Its one of those events where you are okay if it takes a long time to arrive, but inevitably comes quick! I got into SLC this afternoon and met up with Jenn and Ava after not seeing them for a few weeks. Jenn has been helping her sister out in New Mexico. And then we head for St. George in the morning. My mom and I have had to a lot of our training apart with me living out state now, and this has definitely hurt our training. When we lived close by it made for training together easier. But its too late to worry about that now. I feel good about the race, I just don't think I will be gunnin for a personal best. Unfortuanetly my time has vanished with work and house remodels this past summer. Not to mention this will probably be my last marathon for a few years, with MBA school starting, I just won't have the time to commit. Anyways, the weather doesn't look that great, but I'll cross my fingers. it will be nice seeing friends and family. Wish me luck!

A Life's Work

During my Sophomore and Junior year at College, I had the opportunity to stop at my Grandparents house after my early morning shift at UPS before school for a shower, breakfast and the best conversation I would have for that day. It was these conversations that we talked about Family, The Gospel, Politics, and the most beautiful things in life that we see and hear--nature and music. If she was ever gone when I arrived she always left a note that said "Don't Forget!-XOXO". I admire most her ability to seek and notice the best in everyone and everything. Her great attitude and positivity is something that I will never forget. -KJG



Olivia Bae Bishop Gardner














Olivia Bae Bishop Gardner 1926 ~ 2008 Olivia Bae Bishop Gardner passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, February 19, 2008. She was an uncommon woman, spiritually tuned, intellectually astute, and intensely compassionate. She celebrated life and invariably brought light into the lives of people around her. Bae was born March 10, 1926 to Van Dyne Jones Bishop and Bennett J. Bishop in Hinckley, Utah. The family lived there until 1942, when they moved to Salt Lake City. Bae attended East High School, where she played flute in the orchestras and marching band and excelled academically. She married Kelly Gardner, her handsome pilot sweetheart, just returned from World War II, on December 7, 1945 in the Salt Lake Temple. Together they reared their three children, the focus and joy of their lives. Bae began working at the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah in 1968 and served as Associate Director, loving and inspiring students for 23 years. In a labor of love, she later authored the biography of Robert H. Hinckley, friend and founder of the Institute. Bae was a renaissance woman, a voracious reader from childhood, a scholar of the arts, gifted writer and musician, avid ornithologist, political enthusiast and patriot, and loving worrier extraordinaire. A valiant and devoted member of the LDS church, Bae served in many positions, most notably as ward organist for over 25 years. Survived by sister Dorothy (Roy) Fisher, brother Orion (Sue) Bishop; husband M. Kelly Gardner; son Alan (Robyn) Gardner; daughters Dawn (David) Curtis and Anne Gardner; seven grandsons- Benjamin (Michelle) Curtis, Alexander and Samuel Curtis, Kelly Jay (Jenni) Gardner, Bryan, Hayden and Bradley Gardner; and a new great-grand-daughter Ava May Gardner, all of Salt Lake City. Funeral services will be held Saturday February 23, 2008, 1 p.m. at Foothill 7th Ward, 2215 East Roosevelt Ave. (1445 South). There will be a viewing from 11 a.m. -12:30 p.m. preceding the funeral services. Online guestbook at www.russonmortuary.com "Don't forget who loves you!" In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Bae B. Gardner Internship in Public Policy at the Hinckley Institute of Politics.
Published in the Salt Lake Tribune from 2/21/2008 - 2/22/2008.

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Bae B. Gardner

(1926-2008)

The former, present, and future interns, staff, faculty, and family of the Hinckley Institute of Politics mourn the passing of former Hinckley Institute Assistant Director, Bae B. Gardner. I first walked in the door of the Hinckley Institute in the fall of 1988. It immediately felt like a second home and the main reason was Bae. I am proudly one of "Bae's kids." Unless you share that distinction, it is impossible to fully convey the loss we feel today with Bae's passing. Bae was not just an administrator to her "kids." She was a mother, friend, cheerleader, mentor, and confidant. Indeed, she supported and sustained me from that first day as an inquiring student through the present as the Hinckley Institute's director. Bae had the unique talent of making students feel that they had unlimited potential and the tireless ability to provide them with life-changing opportunities. The Hinckley Institute and I will forever be grateful for the legacy she established and the love she exhibited during her incredible years of service at the Hinckley Institute.

Kirk L. Jowers
Director, Hinckley Institute of Politics

Viewing and Funeral Service

Saturday, February 23rd

Viewing: 11:00 am. Service: 1:00 pm.

Foothill LDS 7^th Ward Chapel

2215 E. Roosevelt Avenue

Salt Lake City, Utah 84108

In lieu of flowers, the Gardner family has suggested that donations may be made to the Bae B. Gardner Internship in Public Policy scholarship fund administered by the Hinckley Institute of Politics. Donations can be made online or by calling the University of Utah Development Office at 801.581.6825. Donations can also be mailed to the Hinckley Institute at 260 S. Central Campus Dr. Rm. 253. Salt Lake City, UT 84112. For more information call the Hinckley Institute of Politics at 801.581.8501.