Merry Christmas from the Ballards!
We hope you have a lovely holiday surrounded by family, friends
and the Spirit of the Lord whose birth we remember at this time of year.
May 2011 be joyous and wonderful for you all.
Our Ballard family reunion, July 2010.
Back row (L to R): Russ's mom Afton, Russ's brother Ron, Tamsen Bo, Suzanne, Russ, Megan C, Patrick M, Nick C, Emily M holding Finley M, Kevin B, Jana B holding Tyler B, Ryan P, Sara P.
Middle: (seated) Todd Bo, Braeden Bo, Sheridan B
Front: Tyce P, Cooper B, Avery M, Bridget M, Preston C, Ashleigh C w/hands on Amelia B, Maura Bo w/hands on Tage P, Teriesa B, Nathan B, Teagan P, Talon P, Ethan Bo.
JANUARY:
Braeden becomes a deacon and attends the Temple for the first time w/mom and grandparents.
We have many blessings in our lives, but the greatest this year was the complete healing of Tyce (below) after his brain surgery to remove a tumor last December.
January highlights - a New Years Day party with the family and the Burts (Jana's family), Russ attending Scout snow-camp with Braeden, being able to go to dinner at the homes of our kids/grandchildren, and attending dance recitals.
FEBRUARY:
Teriesa B is baptized!! 
We get to attend our mission reunion! (shown with our Mission President)
April highlights - Tamsen's basement flooded. How grateful we are for a Ward who came to her rescue! The insurance money covered using the upstairs carpeting to replace the water-soaked basement carpeting and then replacing the upstairs carpet with a beautiful wood floor which is much easier for Todd to maneuver in his wheelchair. They lived with us in May during the installation. We loved having them here (even with their chickens!)
MAY:Grandchild #19, Tyler Bruce, is born to our son Kevin and his wife, Jana. Kevin is shown here with his sons, Sheridan, Nathan, Cooper and Tyler.
May highlights - Gardening, traveling, Tamsen's family living with us.
We have many blessings in our lives, but the greatest this year was the complete healing of Tyce (below) after his brain surgery to remove a tumor last December.
January highlights - a New Years Day party with the family and the Burts (Jana's family), Russ attending Scout snow-camp with Braeden, being able to go to dinner at the homes of our kids/grandchildren, and attending dance recitals.FEBRUARY:
Granddaughter sleepover at G'ma & G'pa's home (pic includesPreston).
We wish Bridget could have joined us!
February highlights - more fun dinners at our kids/grandkids homes, more dance recitals!
MARCH:Surprise party for Tamsen's 35th birthday!
March highlights - Suzanne got her Utah State Insurance license and began working for Aflac.
APRIL:
Great big Grandma Ballard comes to visit - shown with some of her great grandchildren.
February highlights - more fun dinners at our kids/grandkids homes, more dance recitals!MARCH:Surprise party for Tamsen's 35th birthday!
March highlights - Suzanne got her Utah State Insurance license and began working for Aflac.APRIL:
Great big Grandma Ballard comes to visit - shown with some of her great grandchildren.
Teriesa B is baptized!! 
We get to attend our mission reunion! (shown with our Mission President)
April highlights - Tamsen's basement flooded. How grateful we are for a Ward who came to her rescue! The insurance money covered using the upstairs carpeting to replace the water-soaked basement carpeting and then replacing the upstairs carpet with a beautiful wood floor which is much easier for Todd to maneuver in his wheelchair. They lived with us in May during the installation. We loved having them here (even with their chickens!)MAY:Grandchild #19, Tyler Bruce, is born to our son Kevin and his wife, Jana. Kevin is shown here with his sons, Sheridan, Nathan, Cooper and Tyler.
May highlights - Gardening, traveling, Tamsen's family living with us.
JUNE:
We love being together as a family: Kevin, Megan, Todd, Tamsen, Nick w/Russ in the back.
June highlights: Russ built a wall in the basement for our storage space, as well as installing a door in front of our food storage cold storage area. Teriesa read the entire Book of Mormon before she was baptized and got to go to a BYU play, dinner, and spend the night w/us.
JULY:For our family reunion, we took a repeat picture of this 1990 Christmas card.
We love being together as a family: Kevin, Megan, Todd, Tamsen, Nick w/Russ in the back.
June highlights: Russ built a wall in the basement for our storage space, as well as installing a door in front of our food storage cold storage area. Teriesa read the entire Book of Mormon before she was baptized and got to go to a BYU play, dinner, and spend the night w/us.JULY:For our family reunion, we took a repeat picture of this 1990 Christmas card.
Ryan, Kevin, Tamsen, Emily, Megan
My how our kids have grown up in 20 years! (got the order wrong, darn it!)
Most of us were able to travel to Lake Tahoe to attend the wedding Suzanne's nephew, Dustin DeBard to his bride Tori. 
July highlights - the family reunion in UT and Lake Tahoe, our bounteous garden, Canada Day parade with Kevin's family, Braeden's orchestra recital, and many soccer games.
My how our kids have grown up in 20 years! (got the order wrong, darn it!)
Kevin, Ryan, Tamsen, Emily, Megan
Most of us were able to travel to Lake Tahoe to attend the wedding Suzanne's nephew, Dustin DeBard to his bride Tori. 
July highlights - the family reunion in UT and Lake Tahoe, our bounteous garden, Canada Day parade with Kevin's family, Braeden's orchestra recital, and many soccer games.
AUGUST:
Russ in Washington DC attending the Glenn Beck Rally.
August highlights - Suzanne began working for an insurance company called Extend Health (she's now licensed in 11 States and is helping retirees with Medicare insurance policies). A trip to Northern Utah, Southern Idaho and SE Wyoming to see the pioneer trail and our gorgeous Mountain States area.
Russ in Washington DC attending the Glenn Beck Rally.
August highlights - Suzanne began working for an insurance company called Extend Health (she's now licensed in 11 States and is helping retirees with Medicare insurance policies). A trip to Northern Utah, Southern Idaho and SE Wyoming to see the pioneer trail and our gorgeous Mountain States area.
SEPTEMBER:Russ and Tamsen and her children visit the Whitney/Nay Ranch in Southern NV. Russ's ancestor farmed on this oasis in the middle of the desert 100 years ago. Current residents are Marilyn & Orville Catoor.
September highlights - Labor day with the Burt family (Jana's parents), attending grandchildren events at school.
OCTOBER:
All but Emily's family was able to attend a 2nd reunion to celebrate the event.
September highlights - Labor day with the Burt family (Jana's parents), attending grandchildren events at school.OCTOBER:
Our 40th wedding anniversary with a trip back to where it began:
the Manti Temple in central Utah.
All but Emily's family was able to attend a 2nd reunion to celebrate the event.
(picture accidentally deleted)
October highlights - a trip to Mt Nebo w/Megan's kids to see the fall colors, attending Primary programs, school events, and an orchestra concert w/Braeden on the violin.
NOVEMBER:Just had to show this cute picture of Tyler! (with Tamsen)
Suzanne's oldest and dearest friend came to visit. Alice & Suzanne have been friends since Kindergarten and she is the wonderful woman who introduced Suzanne to the Gospel.
NOVEMBER:Just had to show this cute picture of Tyler! (with Tamsen)
Suzanne's oldest and dearest friend came to visit. Alice & Suzanne have been friends since Kindergarten and she is the wonderful woman who introduced Suzanne to the Gospel.
Russ, Alice, Suzanne, Alice's sister, Alice's daughter Maite
A wonderful Thanksgiving at Ryan & Sara's home (Megan's family also joined us!)
Sara, Tyce, Suzanne, & Tage
November highlights - fishing trips, Russ to Elko to visit his mom/brother, school events with the grandchildren.
A wonderful Thanksgiving at Ryan & Sara's home (Megan's family also joined us!)Sara, Tyce, Suzanne, & Tage
November highlights - fishing trips, Russ to Elko to visit his mom/brother, school events with the grandchildren.
DECEMBER:
In December Russ also began working at Extend Health as a customer service agent. We both should be out of work in late January when the Medicare season is over.
December highlights to look forward to - the Cousin's Christmas party at our home, Christmas with Kevin's family, and New Year's Day at our home.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
We have been blessed by visits this year from or to so many wonderful friends and family members we've known in the last 40 years. Our thanks to Norm & Cathy Bennion, Mark & Jennefer Hoffman, Janice & Byron McAllister, Brittany Fernandez, Mel Eckman, Barbara & Bill Hughes, Steve Brockett & family, missionaries we knew in OKC, Russ's mom & brother, Cristy & Jon Pearson, Tom & Amy Wheeler, Alice & Don Garate and family (sadly Don died shortly after their visit), Alice's sister, Alice's parents Bill & Aleen Nord, Jim Nord & boys (we lost Jim in December), Russ's Aunt Eula & her family, Alex Whitelaw, the DeBard family, & Suzanne's Mother & stepfather. Mostly, thank you to our terrific children & grandchildren for brightening our lives & causing us daily to thank our Heavenly Father for our numerous blessings. May God bless you all in 2011!
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