Saying Hello to a New Year

Sheldon, Julie, and Jace arrived in Las Vegas on Saturday evening, December 31st, just a few hours before 2011 ended and 2012 began. We began our festivities with a little New Year's Eve party which included appetizers, hats, horns, and fireworks. Near midnight Steve, Sheldon, Julie, and Jace headed towards the Strip to watch the fireworks. I was too tired, so I opted to stay home and get a little sleep before church. Sheldon was scheduled to leave LV on January 4th so he could get back to work in Washington, but Julie and Jace were scheduled to stay in LV until January 17th. We managed to cram quite a few activities into a short time while Sheldon was here for the holiday. Hopefully they all enjoyed themselves as much as we enjoyed having them here.

Happy New Year!

It was so nice having Sheldon, Julie, and Jace
here to help us celebrate New Year's.

This holiday wouldn't be complete without
hats, noisemakers, and whistles.

Yes, Julie and I know how to use our fingers to
 make "12" for 2012.

The fireworks on the Strip are always
spectacular for New Year's.

The twins were finally home from the
hospital after a four-week stay.
Julie was able to cuddle and love them unlike
her first visit to see them when the babies
were still in the hospital.

We went to the petting zoo in Red Rock Canyon.  Jace
took one step inside and promptly said, "They are going to
eat me."  Then he headed for the EXIT!

In all the times we've gone to Red Rock
we've never gone into Bonnie Springs
where there's a road with old buildings
to represent the "West" as it
was years ago.

Check out that old fire truck in the background of
this picture.  Sheldon and Jace had fun on the
playground toys while the rest of us watched
a staged "hanging."

Thank you, Bonnie Springs, for having a train to ride.
Jace was in heaven.

I love the wagon in this picture.  It really reminds me
of how Nevada started with the silver rush.  It was fun to
revisit the history of our state while enjoying
warm, beautiful weather in what normally is
a cold winter January.

Once again a trip to Red Rock would not be complete
without our usual hike to our family's
favorite waterfall and pond.

Quite by chance, we stumbled upon Thomas and some of his
family while we were hiking at Red Rock. 
I guess our world isn't really all that big after all.

What a beautiful mountain and what
a beautiful girl I'm standing by!

Thomas and Natalie invited us over to their house
for a bonfire and a hot dog roast the night before Sheldon
left to go home.  It was a wonderful evening.  The view of LV is
fabulous from their property.  The Ellsworth home sits
up on a hill overlooking the city in one direction and
Frenchmen Mountain on the other side.

Everyone had a great time riding skateboards, tricycles,
and scooters on a cement slab on Ellsworth's property.

Both Twins Are Home

Monday, December 26th, Ben came home.  Thursday, December 29th, Weston came home.  What a great day for all of us especially Natalie and Thomas.  The babies ended up being in the hospital about four weeks.  Both now weigh six pounds, and they are doing remarkably well.  We feel very blessed that they are home.  At last Natalie and Thomas can rest physically and emotionally knowing their family is finally at home enjoying life together.  I stopped by on my way to the temple yesterday afternoon to drop off a double stroller from a lady in my stake, a little bouncy chair I have been storing for Natalie, their wash, and of course, cinnamon rolls from the bread store!

It was so nice to see the twins without all the cords
and medical paraphernalia.  They seemed restful
and quite happy and contented.

Clark saw me carrying things from my car to the house,
so I had a chance to tell him that both babies were home.
He came downstairs to visit both babies too.

Two proud grandmas and
one very proud mom.

A very proud grandpa and proud sister!

Steve's Brother Passes

The phone rang this morning at 5:00 a.m. waking us from our night's sleep.  It was Steve's sister, Dorothy, telling us that Tom, their brother, had passed away early this morning.  He had been sick for quite some time with digestion problems all linked to Crone's.  He had actually suffered for years with this disease.  He had been in the hospital for over a month this past August and September.  Fortunately, Steve had been able to visit Tom in the hospital when he had gone up for his yearly fishing trip in September.  When Steve returned to Las Vegas, he told me that he didn't think he would see his brother alive again in this life.  It seemed to Steve that Tom was doing very poorly.  Later Tom also developed blood clots in his lungs.  He definitely was experiencing extremely poor health.  Tom took a turn for the better and was eventually released from the hospital and taken to a rehabilitation center in Idaho Falls.  However, this morning when the phone rang all hope for recovery was dashed.  

Tom was the second child of four.  He was born on September 15, 1940, and passed away on December 26, 2011.  He was 71 years of age.  As I've listened to Steve talk today with his two sisters; namely, Dorothy and Florence, I know they feel badly and mourn his loss.  They all know, however,  that finally Tom is free from his physical and mental problems that have plagued him since high school.  It is comforting to know that there is a heaven with a loving God that undoubtedly warmly greeted back one of his sons this morning.

In tribute to Tom, I post the following pictures portraying a few snapshots into his life here on earth.

Florence is on the far right.
Tom is to the left of Florence holding Steve's hands.
Dorothy is standing to the left of Tommy.

Easter Sunday in Mackay, Idaho
(Tommy is on the far left, then
Florence, Steve's Mom, Steve
is the baby, and then Dorothy
is on the extreme right)

Easter Sunday in Mackay, Idaho
(Steve's Dad, Steve is the baby,
Florence, Dorothy, and Tommy
is on the extreme right.)

Florence, Steve's Dad, Dorothy, and Tommy
in California where Steve's Dad worked at the
ship yards as a welder.

Steve's Mom, Florence, Dorothy, and Tommy also in
Califonia while Steve's Dad worked at the ship yards.

Swimming at Sun Valley, Idaho on Easter
at a hot springs.
(Steve, Florence, Tommy is standing,
Dorothy, and Steve's Dad is on the right.)

Steve, Florence, Tommy, and Steve's Dad
(The family is visiting Dorothy in Coalville, Utah
where she got her first teaching position as an art
teacher after graduating from BYU.)

Tom and some of his high school friends
who were in a play together.  Tom is on the far left.

Tom, Steve's Mom and Dad, Florence and
Steve and Dorothy are in front
(Living room in Moore, Idaho)

Tom's high school graduation photo
(Butte High School, Arco, Idaho)

Tom and Steve are standing in the back.
Steve's Mom, Gene (Dorothy's son), Steve's Dad,
Dorothy, and Florence holding her
oldest son, Dell.

Tom and Sharon on their wedding day

Another picture of Tom and Sharon on their wedding day

Heather and Julie visiting their Uncle Tom
in Blackfoot, Idaho



Steve and Tom visiting their old high
school in Arco, Idaho
(Julie is in the picture too.)



Christmas 2011

Christmas Eve and Christmas morning were very quiet at the Galler household this year.  This is the first time that Steve and I were alone for most of the holiday.  It seemed different but nice.

Steve and I enjoyed a yummy steak dinner for
Christmas Eve.  It was quite delicious!

Here's another view of our table from a different angle
on Christmas Eve.

After dinner and dishes were completed, Steve and I
enjoyed listening to this beautiful story narrated by
Walter Cronkite.  It has always been a favorite
Christmas story of ours. We also watched a movie
called "Mr. Krueger's Christmas" with
Jimmy Stewart and music by the Mormon
Tabernacle Choir. 

After listening to our story and watching our movie, we
opened our scriptures to Luke 2 and read the
story of Christ's birth.  The older I get the more I
realize just important His birth was to mankind.

We opened one gift together on
Christmas Eve.  I prodded Steve to
open the picture he's holding above.  I
have wanted it for some time as it reminds
me that Christ is next to me at all times
even if I don't always recognize that fact.
The picture is entitled "The Road to Emmaus"
inspired by the story from the New Testament
in Luke about two men who are walking to
Emmaus after the crucifixion of Jesus.

Christmas morning Steve and I unwrapped our gifts.
Both of us received Lenovo laptops. 
We are very excited about them.

About 12:30 on Christmas Day we headed
for Summerlin Hospital to visit our sweet
grandsons who are still in the Special Care
Nursery.  We dressed them in the little
sleepers pictured above and waited for Santa
to arrive for more pictures.

We couldn't be prouder as grandparents!

Aren't they precious?

Santa finally arrived, and we were able to
snap a few photos before he left to visit
some of the other children in the hospital.

The nurse convinced Steve and I that we should be
in one of the group photos, so here's our moment
of fame with Santa and The Ellsworth family.

Steve and I stayed at the hospital for about an
hour and then we headed for Sacrament Meeting.
After church The Ellsworths arrived at our home
so we could celebrate Christmas with them.
Everyone opened gifts.  Cali was
especially happy to receive "Lily."

Ashton liked his new PJ's and was enjoying
his new monster trucks and baseball tee as
well.  He's a very sweet little boy.

After all the presents were opened we had a nice
Christmas dinner.  Everyone was happy and in
good spirits.  We enjoyed pork roast, potatoes, beans,
jello salad, french bread, and brownie sundaes.  It turned
out pretty yummy if I do say so myself.

After dinner we had a pinata for the kids
to play with.  Both took a number of turns
before it fell apart to reveal all kinds of
yummy candy.  It was fun to watch them
having so much fun.

After The Ellsworths left for home, Steve and I headed for Kim and Linda's house.  We played a fun board game and then had crepes with yummy toppings.  It was fun to be part of the Sutton family as Christmas Day came to an end.  When all is said and done, Christmas is about the Savior and recognizing what His birth and life means to each of us.  It is also a day to spend with family and honor those eternal relationships that are made possible through Him whose birth we celebrate this day.

New Pictures of Melanie and Ryan

What a cute couple!
(Scott King Lake; Ardmore, Oklahoma)

Ryan's favorite hobby is fishing, so
this picture seems appropriate.

Happy Couple!