Well, the freeze is on! Whenever you hear a weather report here or check on your phone they have the temperature listed and then what they call the "real feel." Yesterday, at one point, the temperature was 18 and the real feel was -6. Funny thing it that it is supposed to warm up to 50 degrees on Saturday. I can hardly wait. This has been an almost record December for snow and cold temperatures. January and February, here we come. After that we will have one winter down and two to go! We can do it! Learning to do hard things in life and getting out of your comfort zone not only builds character it shows us what we are capable of doing.

Christmas was fun. We had one of the best dinners we've ever had. Honey-baked ham, shrimp with cocktail sauce, pineapple, raspberries, blueberries and kiwi fruit platter, twice baked potatoes, homemade rolls, green bean casserole, pumpkin and triple berry pies. Are your mouths watering? Oh, and roasted almonds (compliments of me) and a two pound box of Sees chocolates. Aren't we all spoiled.

It was tremendous to see all of you on Christmas via Skype. When we see each of you our hearts swell with love for you and a longing to be with you. However, we are truly beginning to understand the sacredness of this calling. We cherish our missionaries and are learning just how difficult but how rewarding missionary work is for them. They are wonderful. Never forget how much we love you and need your prayers. You're the best family ever!

Wrapping presents today and thinking of all our fun Christmases past. I can't believe mom & dad let us all sleep in the same room. So fun!!! There are so many memories: listening to Mom & Dad bring the presents in the year we got bikes. The year we got skis!!!! Christmas morning when dad bounced off the exercise ball and nearly busted his tailbone. I always loved being in on helping Dad get something for Mom. It was so exciting! I loved the year he got her the book shelf. Remember the funny picture in front of the duplex when he gave her a bike. I felt extra special the year he let me help him pick out a nice coat (Woolwirth) from Park's.

I had the chance to share a favorite Christmas story in YW's on Sunday. I told Uncle Rex's story about the bicycle. I shared with the girls how grateful I am for the example of giving and love that my family has been. There has never been a Christmas that we weren't doing something special for another person or family, or having someone over to share our Christmas with us.

Thanks Mom & Dad for being such a great example!

I know we all do our best to live up to the legacy.

Now that I am bawling, I'll tell you all how much I love and miss you!!! It will be a different Christmas this year for everyone one of us, but the memories and the love we have for each other enhances the spirit of the season even more.

Merry Christmas!

~Molly

Tibble Fork
We just got back from a fun afternoon of sledding at Tibble Fork! It was amazingly beautiful! I thought of that dreadful day 20 or so years ago with the Mandi episode. Thankfully we were not sledding by any trees or posts and no one had any mishaps, just lots of happy fun! Merry Christmas, I love you all!!

I thought of all of you today in church. We were on the stand in a ward we have not previously visited. When the meeting started 9 darling children/adults came into the front of the chapel and sat on the first three rows on the left side. Each of them has downs syndrome. They were all dressed in red and three of the men had matching red, white and gray argyle sweaters. They were darling and sweet and clean. One of them had a "Burt" puppet doll (of Burt and Ernie fame.) The could not sing but during the hymns this sweet boy would put the puppet on his hand and move the puppets mouth as if the doll were singing. Dad and I were in tears. These "perfect" souls bought us to tears. I thought of each of you because I was wishing this was something you could see. Watching them was a sermon about love and innocence.

I thought of Mom!

Mom~ I'm listening to Handel's Messiah and was reminded of the time you performed the whole darn thing with the stake choir. I love how every now and then you say, "I'm think I want to do that, " and then you do it! You are awesome!

~Molly

"Great Was the Work"

What a fabulous week and a half we had with Mom & Dad.

All I can say is wow!

I was amazed at the life they lead. There is always so much going on, yet everything they do is personal and sincere and done in companionship with the Holy Ghost.

Mom & Dad were always amazing, but now they are Super Duper Amazing!

I am so proud of them!

I had a hard time leaving, not knowing when we would be back. I read this verse in Alma this morning and it completely summed up how I was feeling. The sons of Mosiah and Ammon are parting ways to go teach the gospel in various lands.

"....they seperated themselves and departed one from another, trusting in the Lord that they should meet again at the close of their harvest; for they supposed that great was the work which they had undertaken."

I will post more about our trip, and our sealing later.

I love you all!!!!!!

~Molly

Utah Victory

Despite BYU's loss, Utah's victory was a happy day for Tanner.

I love his get up. He must have been the most spirited fan there!

(facebook photo)

I thought of dad yesterday when I heard the song "Shameless" in the car. I think of dad every time I hear that song! It then leads me to think about the cabin and the awesome times we had there. Those were the good old days huh?!!

I thought of Dad when I went to Yoga, because he told me that shortly before him and Mom left they attended one of Rebecca's Yoga classes, and well I don't think I need to give much detail here except that after doing yoga the thought of dad attempting it made me laugh. But hey, I'm impressed he even went! It takes guts for a guy to go to Yoga.

I just heard "Silver Bells" and thought of the time that Em & I sang that together at Celene's Christmas show. We'll have to do a reenactment one of these years. Yes, we are already listening to Christmas music and our tree is up!

~Molly

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, FINALLY!!
Well, I'm finally getting some pics from the halloween party on here. We had lots of fun and this kicked off the week of halloween for us. We missed the Gadd's although you were having your own party for Cora, and it was certainly not the same without grandma and grandpa!

This is my cute Brad before everyone showed up.
This is the only family pic I got of us, but it turned out pretty good.

If we would have had prizes Mandi and Tyler would have won the best costume award! They looked so awesome!!

This is most of the kids. I think just Zac & Mason are missing. They were so excited to see each other that I could barely get them to be still for the picture. Oh, Brig was still at fb practice.

What a scary bunch of kids!

Things are never the same without mom and Molly!

The Heaps' workin it!

I think Lily ended up changing at least three times. This time she added my hat to the ensemble. By the end of the night, she was in underwear, and a sequin belt. We were cracking up, and I did not take a picture for posterity; I didn't think she would want it documented in later years. I love that girl!

Mason was so stinkin cute! He didn't last long in the costume because he couldn't roll around in it.

Happy Birthday Cora!

for more birthday pics:

www.thegaddz.blogspot.com

I thought of Grandpa the Great when I had to sharpen a pencil with a knife the other day.

I thought of Mandi when I told Kevin this story, "Quick, someone bring me an apple!" ~If you need an explanation call me. I don't want to go into the gory details in my post.

~Molly

I thought of dad while I was in party land, and saw a Michael Jackson costume.

Flyover

Pics and narrative about Kevin's Notre Dame flyover are on our blog. I unprivatized our blog again so you all can see it without trouble.

Love you!

www.thegaddz.blogspot.com

Bigger Adoption News!!!

We recieved a document in the mail from our attorney this week saying that everything has been approved and the date for our adoption hearing is set.

November 4th at 9:30 am!

Big Adoption News!

Just got the go ahead from DES in Arizona ~ We can set a court date anytime after Monday!

Now, to get our attorny to get into gear.

Yay!!!!!

Updating our blogs today.

http://www.thegaddz.blogspot.com/

http://www.m-bug.blogspot.com/

There's some pretty good stuff so

GO LOOK AT THEM!

I thought of Dad when.......my itunes was on shuffle and Three Dog Night "Old Fashioned Love Song" came on. Love you Dad!!!!!

Now I'm listening to Neil Daimond "Coming to America." This song screams Emily! It also makes me think of every fun fourth of July we spent together as a family.

~Molly

Here is a little video of Mason, so mom and dad can get a taste of his personality.

MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER!!
I thought of dad today as I listened to the Man From Snowy River soundtrak in my car. It is awesome! Does it get better than Jim Craig??

Fly Over

I'm not sure who I told, but Kevin is leading a four ship flyover at the Notre Dame/Pittsburgh game on Sat. October, 9. It should be televised so be sure to watch.

He is getting a few extra tickets so I'm planning on getting a babysitter for a few days and driving up there for the weekend. I am so excited to go to a Notre Dame game! What an opportunity!

I know how much Mike loves Notre Dame football so we offered he and Lezli the extra tickets. I hope they can come! What a fun weekend!!!

These are a couple of buck that like to hang out in our backyard.


A few days ago I was upstairs whil Josie, Lily, and Zach were playing downstairs. I turned around and was met by this pleasant surprise.

Yoda baby!

Go Pink Thunder!!!!

Maggie's team won all three game sets tonight!

(A huge improvement from last week ~ they lost all three)

Set 1: 26-18

Set 2: 26-19

Set 3: 25-24

GO PINK THUNDER!!!!!

I thought of mom and dad Wednesday night while I was at Brigham's football game. It was great to watch him play and chat with Rebecca & watch Brian pace anxiously back and forth down the sidelines!

WOW! We didn't know Kevin could move like that. That is one for posterity. We loved watching the Gadd family dance.

I thought of Rebecca when dad and I walked past a church down the street and there is a sign outside that advertises jazzercize classes. Music was playing and ladies were in the church exercising up a storm. It made me think of Rebecca and her great commitment to keep others as well as herself in great shape. Go you chicken fat go! (Just an expression from the 80's)

I thought of Rebecca, Emily, Molly and Mandi when I saw Trapper Keepers in the school supplies section in KMart the other day. Oh the memories.

I thought of Ricky the other day when we visited the graveyard in Mendon, New York where Heber C. Kimball's father and Brigham Young's first wife are buried. I knew he'd love it.

I thought of each of you Sunday when I gave a talk in the Cast Shelter at the Hill Cumorah and talked about the importance of General Conference and told everyone that I know I can count on the fact that a week from this Saturday all of us will be watching Conference as families for two days.

A few weeks ago some of our Elders that serve in Buffalo got a great idea of how to talk to people on the street about the gospel. They took sidewalk chalk and drew pictures of the Plan of Salvation on the sidewalks. Many people were attracted to it and asked questions. One woman loved it so much the elders were able to take her name and send a referral to the area she lived in just east of Buffalo and another Elder in our mission and his companion taught and baptized her. She loves the gospel. Who would have thought. Sidewalk chalk! Cool. The Elder who baptized her went home this morning. He has a twin bother serving in New Hampshire who was also released today. They will arrive home together tonight in St. George. Isn't that sweet. The church is true and miracles happen everyday.

Oh My Lands!

I just said "Oh my lands!" Cora piped up and said, "Aunt Emily is really the only person that says oh my lands."

Always thinking of all of you!!!

~Molly

I thought of Mom and Dad, and well...everybody while Josie and I picked apples in our backyard. I couldn't stop thinking about all the times we picked apples as a family service project. I was sad I didn't have a big bib to put my apples in.

Dynamite!

More FHE craziness! Cooper is the best part of this video. Just in case you are wondering we had a very sweet lesson from Marlee before the party broke out. It's not all fun and games!

FYI ~ about 45 min. prior, the kitche and living room were spotless. Why was I not filming then!?

FHE Gadd Style!

Happy FHE!

.

This is the dance party that broke out after our FHE treat.

Maggie made up this dance & we have quite a few videos of the kids doing it. I'll try to load the one with Cooper and Maggie in it also. Watch this one to the end. You'll get a special treat from Kevin, and me falling over in my chair!

Emily, now you have a visual of what happened while we were talking yesterday.

We have an apricot tree in our backyard and the kids enjoyed picking and eating them.

What little hotties!

I thought of Dad when I told Tyler's family about his experience in Egypt, when he accidentally drank the water and was stranded on the top of the mountain, and it hit him. Run dad, run for the bathroom!

I thought of Mandi and Mom today when I watched part of an episode of "Diagnosis Murder."

I've discovered that after the kids go to bed there are episodes of "Murder She Wrote" on. I've been having fun watching them. What memories! I can just see us girls down in Grandma & Grandpas basement on Sunday nights vegging in front of the tv.

~Molly

The other night Dad and I went with our Assistants to teach a wonderful woman named Cheryl the lesson entitled the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The lesson focuses on faith, repentance, baptism, etc. Cheryl is a wonderful black woman who has had quite a life. She is truly gaining a testimony and committed to be baptized on October 16. I'm so excited because Tyler and Mandi will still be here and can attend the baptism and meet her and her family. Cheryl is trying to stop smoking. As as a family will you please remember her in your prayers. She is a woman who is full of love for others. We are excited for her. All our love Mom & Dad

I thought of Colby when Rebecca told me how much he loves school. I could just see him going

from class to class and loving all the new changes he is going through.

I thought of Marlee when I saw a picture of her on our screen saver today. I'm so happy Marlee is in our family. We are blessed to have her to love.

I thought of Ellie when she called the other night to thank us for her birthday card. It made me happy that she was thoughtful enough to thank us for such a small thing.

I thought of Tyler today when I was in Wegmans, the grocer of grocers, buying sweet and sour sauce because he likes to cook yummy things.

I honestly thing of each of you everyday without fail.

Memories!
Ricky is importing all of our home videos onto our computer and I have been watching all day. I have thought of all of you as I watch you and our little ones. The grandkids are so little!!! Ellie is the baby and Rebecca and I are pregnant with Ash and Lily. Oh my goodness they are so little and cute! I am currently watching a video form new years eve I think and all the kids are breaking a pinata. It is a crack up! Savannah is tiny and has barely any hair. Cora and Maggie were on a different part and Cora had beautiful blond curly hair and I was dying!! I love all of you and the memories you have given me!

I thought of Josie when the kids were watching Little Mermaid. "You've got to pucker up your lips like dis."

I thought of Emily while were watching The Ten Commandments. "Through the blast of his nostrils..." We must of thought this was really funny as kids because I always think of Emily when I hear it.

~Molly

I thought of Dad last night while I watched Peter Sellars in the Original " Revenge of the Pink Panther" I could just hear Dad saying, " Inspecter Clouseau" In his oh so good French accent. Miss you dad!

Today I was talking with Sister Lenker. She and her husband are serving here for two years as the Site Directors. Brother Lenker was a mission president in Albania in the late 90's. All the missionaries had to give investigators was the Restoration pamphlet because the Book of Mormon had not been translated into Albanian. In 1999 when the Book of Mormom was sent to their mission in Albanian, the missionaries had the privilege of giving personal copies to the members for the first time. In Sacrament Meeting the missionaries would call each family up to the pulpit to give the family the this blessed treasure. Sister Lenker said you cannot the tears that were shed as they would hold the Book of Mormon to their hearts and weep. We have it everyday! Do we as a family understand what a blessing and privilege it is to read from it's pages each day? Let's not take it for granted! XO Mom

I thought of Mason today when I told some of our missionaries that Mason was born one month before we came here and that we couldn't wait to see him in October.

I thought of Rebecca Brian Emily Ricky Molly Kevin and Mandi and Tyler when I took my first breath this morning! Oh yea, when I woke up and just about every minute since. Dad

I Thought of You When.....

I'd like to start a new sequence of posts entitled "I Thought of You When...."

So....when you see something or do something that reminds you of one of us, hop onto the blog and post it!

I think this will be so much fun!

Thought #1:

I thought of Grandma Murl when I saw a lady running through the rain with a plastic grocery bag on her head.

~Molly

School is Great!

We want to know what the grandkids love about school!

Leave a comment or make a new post telling us what"s great about school this year!



Love you!!!!!

YEAH FOR KINDERGARTEN!!
Ellie started kindergarten today and she couldn't be happier! She had a great day with no reservations. I will post pics of all the kids' first day, once Ash starts next week. Love you all!!

Mississippi Girl

The completion of Cora's "Mississippi Girl" look.

First Day of School 2010

I just posted cute pics of the kids on the first day of school.

Yay!!!!!

www.thegaddz.blogpsot.com

Mom ~ your log in is your email address and whatever password you picked.

Love you!

T is for Tooth!

And the tooth has finally come out! We are all loving Cora's cute new look and anxious for the other front tooth to fall out so she can build on her toothless look; or as we like to call it, her Mississippi girl look.

WE LOVE YOU CORA!!!!

Hey crooked tooth Cora. It looks like it's ready to come out. Don't forget to put the tooth under your pillow. Hopefully the toothfairy will be generous. I wish I could see you and can't wait until you come our here. You will love it. Kiss all your family members for me. XO Your Favorite Grandma

Wanna See My Tooth?

Cora really wanted Grandpa & Grandma to see her tooth that is about to fall out.

(It's the crooked one.)

I just wanted to add to what mom said about that video on forgiveness. We watched it, and it really was touching and taught about the true meaning of charity and the pure love of our savior Jesus Christ. I love you all and am so grateful for eternal families.

p.s. I know it's kindof annoying when parents are always talking about the funny things their kids do, but I just have to say yesterday before church Tyler was shaving and he basically had a go-t. He asked Josie if he should leave it for church, and she told him no, because beards aren't reverent!

It is about 75 degrees in beautiful New York. (All of you eat your hearts out as you swelter in your perspective states of residence). We couldn't be happier, unless of course we got to see each of you. I had a great time going to teach a lesson with the Sister missionaries last night. We talked to people on the streets as we came and went. Watching the sisters gave me some good tips on how to approach people and introduce the gospel to them in a non-threatening way. The best thing about their approaches was the natural and caring way they spoke to people. "Are you from this area? Have you ever spoken to missionaries before? Have you ever wondered if you have a purpose in life? Etc. Etc." I was surprised at how kind people were (this was in the hood). Then we gave them pass along cards with the sister's phone numbers on them. Who knows what will happen. Sounds weird but it was very natural and a sweet experience. By the way, look at mormon.org as a family and go to the OUR PEOPLE link and check the profiles that are listed on the left. They are great! Also look on lds.org and view the video called forgiveness if you haven't already. It is amazing. You may remember the events spoken of in the video took place. We love you so very much. We think of you all the time. Be happy and kind to each other. Mom and Dad

Good Morning!

Hope you all have a fabulous week!

p.s. I need a picture of Colby. Send me one if you have one, or upload it on the sidebar. Thanks!

Yeah for Girls Camp!!!!
I just got home this afternoon from camp and I am EXHAUSTED!!! It was an awesome week and so worth the tiredness. I thought of mom and dad the whole time I was there! Pres. Shaw was there and I had so many thoughts about the years dad was there. I can't count the times I was told how much everyone missed mom. Mom, you are so missed by the young women organization-especially Celene and Diane. It was beyond weird to be a leader there with Celene, Jilene, Debbie McCallister, Diane Stewart, Natha Pugina, Joyce Erdman and many other women who were my leaders as a teenager and who I admired so much.
How is it possible to love 25 young women that you have only known for a week? I was so impressed with the girls in this ward. There was no fighting and the older girls loved and looked after the younger girls. The YCL's were such great leaders. My testimony was so strengthened this week and I had a blast with all of the other leaders! I know that the camp program is inspired. It is such a unique way to gain and strengthen testimonies. I love it and I couldn't have handpicked a better calling to have!!

Hi Everybody,

How is our wonderful clan? You are all so busy and I love that. Doing good things is what we all should be doing. Enjoy your life everyday in spite of what is going on. Life is a great gift from our Heavenly Father. We are happy, busy and our testimonies are growing. We met a very interesting man from New York City at the pageant. We call him "ya, ya" because he says that at the end of many sentences and his accent is exactly like Rocky Balboas. He is a hoot. We are going to his house Thursday for a barbecue. He has had serious problems but loves the church. Hope we can do some good. Take good care of each other. Hugs and kisses!

Mom and Dad

North Carolina

I finally posted pics from North Carolina. I posted a lot cus there were so many, so if you want to see more (and I know you do) you can visit our blog. I will update it soon with more pics! love you all!