tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-179608882012-02-16T11:30:30.566-06:00"Family: A social unit where the father is concerned with parking space, the children with outer space, and the mother with closet space." ~Evan EsarGarretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.comBlogger371100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-72036907529214413112010-03-20T20:38:00.001-05:002010-03-20T20:40:01.462-05:00

www.HightechSigns.com

Garretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-1143229946648308972006-03-24T12:52:00.000-06:002006-03-24T13:52:26.690-06:00

Amraa's girl's name is Alexis (or Lexi, for short)

Garretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-1142549986575754152006-03-16T16:50:00.000-06:002006-03-16T16:59:46.596-06:00

Somedays I wish I had a recorder on 24/7 to recored all the cute things little kids say. The other night when I had Brandon with me church for Boy Scouts, I was looking at the framed pictures in the hallway. Looking at a picture of Christ praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, I asked Brandon what Jesus was doing. He replied, "He's praying," and then after a short pause asked, "but where is his

Garretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-1141081615634668232006-02-27T16:13:00.000-06:002006-02-27T17:06:57.926-06:00

Sorry for my lack of updates the last few weeks. Here is the recap of the latest:Doka's best friend, Amraa, had a baby girl, so Doka took the kids and went to Sacramento to be with her. Because we used Delta SkyMiles (the undisputed king of blackout dates), the soonest return flight we could schedule was three weeks after the departure (and this was 5-6 months ago!). We're on week three now and

Garretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-1140475501551128602006-02-20T16:29:00.000-06:002006-02-20T16:45:04.413-06:00

Below are a few pics from this month's Boy Scout camp in which our boys participated.

Garretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-1139506918330227522006-02-09T11:39:00.000-06:002006-02-09T11:41:58.340-06:00

Since I can't seem to get the image upload function to work today, I'll have to link to Flickr to show you a few of the latest pics of the family.

Garretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-1138755257744019912006-01-31T18:26:00.000-06:002006-02-01T14:30:17.490-06:00

Recently, we've caught Brandon doing the taboo--picking his nose and eating it! I do not want my kid to be the one in school who is the booger eater. Kids like that are usually the ones picked on because they are also usually smelly, occasionally wet their pants, and can't seem to find their way through the 7-year-olds' social barriers. I don't want my boy to be one of them. Thousands of books

Garretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-1138307489680379592006-01-26T14:30:00.000-06:002006-01-30T11:40:10.456-06:00

I want to send my greetings and love out to all of my Mongolian friends and family this Tsagaan Sar holiday. This Sunday marks Bituun, kind of the Christmas Eve of the three-day Mongolian holiday. Tsagaan Sar coincides with the Chinese New Year, although Mongolians will vehemently deny any connection. The word "tsagaan" means white, while "sar" means month and/or moon. Mongolians celebrate the

Garretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-1138300922183622542006-01-26T12:36:00.000-06:002006-01-26T12:42:02.193-06:00

For the last several weeks, I have been working with my younger scouts in building a klondike sled to be used in a winter campout on Feb. 3-4. We finished most of the sled last night; I just need to add a few finishing touches. I'll post a picture as soon as I install my new camera software onto my computer. In order for the campout to have any level of success, and for our labors in building

Garretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-1137014299486782762006-01-11T15:17:00.000-06:002006-01-11T15:18:19.496-06:00

This is how I feel when I'm in the hospital or at the doctor's office:

Garretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-1137004592164952152006-01-11T12:29:00.000-06:002006-01-11T13:15:34.336-06:00

I saw this on Sports Illustrated's website and decided I have to post it for my friends and relatives who are U alumni. Apparently, in some recent poll, the University of Utah's male student body was voted least attractive in the nation. Ouch! I don't claim to have a good eye for beauty, but I'd have to disagree as the boys at the University of Wisconsin should probably own this honor.

Garretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-1136310800575642062006-01-03T11:40:00.000-06:002006-01-03T11:53:20.590-06:00

Today I experienced one of the saddest moments of my life. I accompanied Doka and Brandon to the dentist. It is our fault as parents for not knowing the damage breast milk, or any milk or juice for that matter, can have on an infant's teeth. Doka would often nurse him until he would fall asleep. At that time, though, we didn't know it was important to always at least wipe down his teeth so the

Garretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-1135794395844420082005-12-28T12:16:00.000-06:002005-12-28T12:28:17.496-06:00

At only 2 1/2 yrs. old, Brandon seems to be picking up on English pretty well. Today, he demonstrated that he's learning his tenses. When Doka asked him to throw a box in her direction, he did so and replied happily, "I throwed it!" Doka corrected him by saying "I threw it," and he repeated her correction. This appears to be the first time he's put the -ed suffix on a verb to express past tense.

Garretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-1134107660989459162005-12-08T23:45:00.000-06:002005-12-08T23:55:53.573-06:00

This is what I'm missing out on living here in Wisconsin: The men in this picture below are (front row, L to R) Lance, cousin, Steve, uncle, David, uncle, (2nd row) Dad, Jason, cousin, Zach, cousin, Jeremy, cousin, Grandpa (3rd row) Ryan, cousin, and Kyle, cousin.All of these pics were taken somewhere in Southern Utah (Robbers' Roost?).

Garretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-1133823576254272642005-12-05T16:43:00.000-06:002005-12-05T17:03:58.020-06:00

My dad was in town this weekend. He flew in early so he could spend the weekend with us prior to a visit to Chicago on business. I drove down to Chicago and back twice this weekend--once to pick him up at the airport and once to drop him off at the hotel. It's almost a two-hour drive, but I didn't mind it one bit as it gave me the opportunity to get a little one-on-one time with my Dad. Doka and

Garretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-1133194288230970892005-11-28T10:02:00.000-06:002005-11-28T10:11:28.240-06:00

Originally, Doka and I had planned on not doing much for Thanksgiving. Last year, we did the whole turkey meal, mashed potatoes, stuffing, etc. all by ourselves and invited guests, but by the end of the meal preparation, we weren't very hungry and were too tired to enjoy it. So, we thought this year, we'd take it easy and just do a small meal as a family at home without guests. My boss, however,

Garretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-1132771156917392132005-11-23T12:11:00.000-06:002005-11-23T12:39:16.926-06:00

1- Christ, our Savior2- Living prophets3- Every good and decent thing taught and implemented by members of all faiths and the good that comes from their trust in a loving God.4- a loving wife and companion5- two beautiful, healthy children6- a family who is close even though we're far apart7- employment and the resources to buy the necessities of life8- the freedoms of this nation9- the

Garretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-1132633114471314702005-11-21T22:05:00.000-06:002005-11-21T22:21:35.246-06:00

Brandon has a way of using his puppy-dog eyes with a begging tone to always get his way. Tonight, he successfully pulled me away from Monday Night Football by pleading, "Daddy, want popper? Daddy want popper?" Popper is Brandon's word for popsicle. Without letting me answer, he just said, "Okay," and grabs my hand to pull me up. As I walked over to the freezer, he walked over to Doka, who was

Garretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-1132632214716007482005-11-21T22:03:00.000-06:002005-11-22T14:11:03.730-06:00

I'd feel I'd regret it if I didn't designate a post to President Bush's historic visit to our beloved Mongolia, the first of such a visit of any sitting American President. Of the dozens of articles I've found reporting on the visit, I like this one from CNN for it's focus on the culture Pres. Bush was exposed to and also for it's colorful slideshow. We're hoping this is the first of many and a

Garretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-1132257480888160282005-11-17T13:40:00.000-06:002005-11-17T13:58:00.900-06:00

As this is rivalry week, I think it is appropriate to chime in my comments on the state of the current rivalry between BYU and Utah. Click here to read my post. The Ute fan below was spotted driving on his way to Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Garretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-1132001063245024102005-11-14T14:27:00.000-06:002005-11-14T14:54:55.403-06:00

The weekend came and went rather quietly with only a couple of eventful things to speak of. I finally put the finishing touches (minus the final coat of paint) on our patio door. Dad helped me install the door clear back in early July. I insulated the door from the inside, but I never finished the wood trim on the outside and sealed it with caulk until Saturday. With only one leg, I'm quite a

Garretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-1131661867111188842005-11-10T16:15:00.000-06:002005-11-10T16:31:07.123-06:00

I'm going to begin using this blog for posts unrelated to family stuff. Hopefully, this will not drive so many of you away who come just to check out how our kids are doing and then leave never to return when you read my rantings about the latest financial advice or political headline.Speaking of the kids, I have taken on the task of watching them for a couple hours each Tuesday and Thursday

Garretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-1131384086576056492005-11-07T11:04:00.000-06:002005-11-07T11:31:24.736-06:00

We've added the latest pictures to the gallery from Halloween and others taken recently. Click here to check them out.

Garretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-1131382406410748432005-11-07T10:53:00.000-06:002005-11-07T11:48:28.370-06:00

Yes, finally I have some free time to write and I know it will certainly put a big smile on my husband's face, because he has been telling me I am the one who should be writing more often since I stay home and spend time with the kids-meaning I am the first person who sees what they are doing and learning during the day. Well, before I even finished writing my first sentence, Brandon came to me

Dokahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11978425229989029409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-1131052127998628142005-11-03T15:01:00.000-06:002005-11-03T15:08:48.000-06:00

This will be the last post I make on a subject not related to the family. I just died laughing when I read the text of Bill O'Reilly's Talking Points today. The ACLU is suing NYC for performing random bag checks on the subway as a safety precaution. It turns out, however, that the NYCLU has a sign outside of their office that says the following, "All packages are subject to inspection upon

Garretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-1130964747848359482005-11-02T14:46:00.000-06:002005-11-02T14:59:17.006-06:00

This is an excellent article on education, the outsourcing-jobs myth, and the future of jobs in America. I do disagree with the author's claim, however, that Republicans subscribe to the notion that tax cuts alone help the poor. We Republicans believe that is one of many ways to ease the burden of poverty.http://finance.yahoo.com/columnist/article/economist/1332

Garretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-1130787758596664442005-10-31T13:08:00.000-06:002005-10-31T14:33:38.870-06:00

This past weekend generated a couple of noteworthy events regarding the Wilson family. It was Brandon's third Halloween and Brandon's second trick-or-treating experience. Our neighborhood organized the trick-or-treating to take place on Saturday, the 29th, so the kids wouldn't be out late today, a school night. I subscribe to a conspiracy theory on the part of the kids, convincing their parents

Garretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-1130526774495481212005-10-28T19:38:00.000-05:002005-11-03T14:58:24.256-06:00

Although I will try to limit my political content in my posts, as this is supposed to be a forum for updates on the family, I am frustrated over the reporting of several media outlets over the "decling support" for Gov. Schwarzenegger. Although he is not my Governor, based on the initiatives he has put forth, I wish he was. Below are the propositions he is promoting, which are now getting shot

Garretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-1130522271779463292005-10-28T10:53:00.000-05:002005-10-28T12:57:51.833-05:00

My sister, Amanda, became the fourth of five kids in our family to be married. Although her wedding was earlier in the Spring of this year, I still wanted to give her and my new brother some recognition. Jordan's finishing up school at Utah State while Amanda is a dental hygenist in Logan. Doka is absent from the pictures because she was eight months pregnant and couldn't fly out.

Garretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-1130435062076152372005-10-27T12:10:00.000-05:002005-10-27T14:31:02.186-05:00

I recently received a sad message from my family about the death of one of the family horses, Skywalker. He belonged to my cousin, Lance. For those who don't know our family that well, my Grandfather has passed down to his kids and grandkids his love for Arabian horses and maintains the farm back home in Utah. Although they no longer actively pursue the horse breeding business, after experiencing

Garretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-1130337602772799762005-10-26T09:38:00.000-05:002005-10-26T09:40:02.776-05:00

I found this article this morning. It will make you think twice next time you want to buy a candy bar or a soda from 7-11.How to be a millionaire on a salary like mine.

Garretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-1130275027953331792005-10-25T16:15:00.000-05:002005-10-25T16:17:07.960-05:00

Garretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-1130262952417881312005-10-25T11:52:00.000-05:002005-10-27T10:47:42.156-05:00

Doka and my interests in entertainment when it comes to TV have seemed to have merged, or at least have come much closer to each other than when we first met. The World Series is currently being played out, and we have taken a moderate interest into the competition. Although I enjoy playing baseball, I find watching MLB quite boring because the season is so long. Each game you watch is so

Garretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-1130034240901109592005-10-22T19:42:00.000-05:002005-10-25T11:34:43.856-05:00

Spiritual ThoughtI'm teaching tomorrow in priesthood class on obedience and I want to share a brief segment of the lesson for which I am preparing. We don't have to look far to find examples of strict obedience if we look in the scriptures. Christ himself showed a clear, simple example of how exact obedience is necessary if we want to be worthy of being in the presence of God after mortality."And

Garretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-1129827558852342752005-10-20T11:57:00.000-05:002005-10-20T11:59:18.856-05:00

Since my dad is in the sign business, I thought the family might get a kick out of the creativity of this sign.

Garretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-1129741096723933962005-10-19T11:52:00.000-05:002005-10-19T12:06:19.573-05:00

I thought I'd add a few pics into the log for those who haven't seen us in a while, and especially for those who haven't seen our new addition to the family--Nomin. The one of me in front of Buckingham Palace was from my trip to London in August.

Garretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17960888.post-1129740430558754122005-10-18T11:04:00.000-05:002005-10-19T11:47:10.570-05:00

Doka and I have decided in order to best keep our friends and family informed on our whereabouts, we should begin maintaining a web log and begin documenting our lives and the lives of our two beautiful children. We also want to provide a window to the world as we watch our two kids, Brandon and Nomin, grow and progress. I can't promise that we will always be diligent in keeping our posts

Garretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04963513287623523903noreply@blogger.com1