Breakfast with the Bartle Boys

We arrived at Heidi's home in Colorado Springs last night (Saturday, July 12), after 800 miles and 15 hours from Mesa. Breakfast with Zach, Tyler and Gavin made the whole trip worth it!

We'll keep you updated with photos from our vacation on Mark's "Road Trip 2008" Flickr photo set.

Cousins Week!

It has been great this week to have Heidi and her boys visiting us from Oregon. It gave the cousins a chance to get to know each other and have little adventures together. This photo op was one adventure too many for Chloe. She definitely didn't want to get her picture taken!





On a memorable adventure to the mall, Granny bought matching Cars shirts for the boys. The shirts seemed to inspire goofiness in Zach and Tyler as the boys played in the back yard together.





It looks like Chloe may inherit Granny's love of gardening!





Eve discovered the pleasures of hitting a baseball!





Last Sunday night, we all accompanied Eric to the church, where he gave a fireside about his experiences in Mongolia. Claudia and Mark wore the Mongolian dels we got for Christmas. Eric brought other outfits so the youth could get a photo taken wearing Mongolian clothing. Our favorite photo was Gavin in a Mongolian hat. Proud warrior in miniature!





We posted several more photos on Mark's Flickr page.

Thanks for stopping by. Good night, and God bless.

Love those Grandkids!

Claudia and Eric flew to Portland last Tuesday to help Heidi and her new son. Mark joined them Friday night after his business trip to Texas and California. The highlight of Saturday was cutting a fresh tree from a nearby Christmas tree farm. Gotta love that fresh pine smell and the smiles on little boys' faces!



Little Gavin is wonderful! What a thrill to hold him and think of the miracle of birth! His big brothers are delighted to have a little brother.



And, of course, Granny is delighted! It is going to be hard for her to return to Arizona.



If you want to see more photos, please visit Mark's Flickr photostream.

Thanks for stopping by.

Welcome to our World, Gavin Bartle!

Last Friday, Heidi gave birth to her third son, our sixth grandchild. What a miracle birth is! Mark likes to say that God has shared with us his greatest power - the power to create life. We are also grateful for the sealing power that binds us together.

Heidi sent the following photo last Saturday. What a cute little guy!