Ava Annette Blackstock - Grandchild #10 - Born October 16th!

Congratulations to Steve, Beth and Grace, on the arrival of Ava Annette, born October 16th in Albuquerque! GaGa and Granddad are heading for NM for Thanksgiving and can't wait to meet Ava and see Grace again (oh ya, we want to see Steve and Beth, too)!! Here are a few pictures of the newest little Blackstock, her sister Grace (age 22 months) and their parents:


Beth and Ava (1 month old)



Steve with Ava just after returning home from the hospital



Grace, the giggle worm! with a sleeping 3-week-old Ava



Our favorite picture - Sweet Grace with little sister Ava (about 10 days old)

Tom & Carmen visit Dwight & Sharon - Labor Day Weekend 2008

Tom, Carmen, Dwight & Sharon enjoyed an evening at the Buckhorn Exchange listening to the music of Roz Brown (a graduate of Randall Elementary School in Madison!!) Read about Roz (Dwight's favorite musician) at http://www.rozbrown.com/

You know you've "arrived" when Kirk starts sitting on your lap!!

We enjoyed an afternoon at the ball park - Rockies beat Giants 4-0!!

Grace & Kaelan pictures (oh ya, Beth & Steve, too)

Beth sent pictures from a recent visit to Aunt Genevieve's and Cousin Kaelan's house in Albuquerque, including this sweet photo of Kaelan and Grace sitting on the trampoline

A very pregnant Beth teaches Grace how to use a trampoline

Steve enjoys bouncing on the trampoline with Grace

Wedding Weekend for Nephew Nathan

Dwight and Sharon enjoyed a wonderful weekend in Milwaukee in early August to celebrate the wedding of nephew Nathan and his bride Jaime. We enjoyed visits with brother Richard, sister-in-law Ann, and sister Kathy, brother-in-law Tom, and lots of nieces and nephews. Here's a few pictures:

Sharon, Sharon's sister Kathy, Dwight - Wedding Reception

Nephew Tim and girlfriend Bethany

Sharon's sister Kathy & brother-in-law Tom (Parents of the Groom)

Niece Elizabeth, niece-in-law Heidi with son Brennan, soon-to-be nephew-in-law Chris, niece Catherine

Nephew Michael and girlfriend Tracey

Nephews Matt & Tim (middle) with Matt's son Brennan

Groom Nathan & Bride Jaime - Rehearsal Dinner

Dwight, Tom, Kathy & Sharon - Rehearsal Dinner

Sharon's brother Richard & sister-in-law Ann - Rehearsal Dinner

Niece Elizabeth with fiance Chris (Wedding - November 15)

Niece Catherine with her cousin Matt's son, Brennan

Congratulations and best wishes, Nathan & Jaime!

Ghost Ranch 2008

Dwight, Sharon and Kyra traveled to New Mexico to spend a weekend with Steve, Beth and Grace, followed by a week at Ghost Ranch. Here are some of the highlights:

Sharon spent a fun week at the ranch singing with a group, complete with concert on Saturday night.

Pedernal - a view at dusk.

Kyra and other kids play outside the dining hall after their evening program.

Kyra and her buddies - Abby and AnneMarie

Kyra with Grandma and Granddad

Granddad with Kyra and Grace (Beth, Steve and Grace came up Friday evening so we could celebrate Steve's birthday during dinner in Espaniola).

We actually did take pictures of Steve and Beth, too, but not in this batch - will post later!

Midsummer Pictures 2008

Dwight enjoys a beautiful July evening at Coors Field, before a Rockies game (we won!)

Sharon with Donna Wyatt on a mission tour to Cameron House, San Francisco while our husbands attended the Presbyterian General Assembly in San Jose, late June)

Granddaughter Jordan (age 7-1/2) spent an overnight with Grandma & Granddad and the visit included a walk to the local playground

Steve with his new buzz cut - very cool, dude!

Granddaughter Grace (age 1-1/2) beams in her new daisy dress!

Dwight (Commissioner to General Assembly from Denver Presbytery) with YAD (Youth Advisory Delegate) Kate Shrumm

Granddaughter Kyra (age 9) poses with our Great Dane, Kirk (we are looking forward to taking Kyra to Ghost Ranch in late July)

Sharon and Jordan pose for Dwight at the Rockies game on July 4th - a 4hour game (we won 18-17), followed by fireworks - didn't get home til almost midnight!

Grandson Caleb, age 5-1/2 (and his mom, Dawn), came from Kearney for their annual visit in June (Caleb is showing off his new Rockies truck - a souvenir picked up at the game the night before)

Granddaughter Grace (age 1-1/2) shows off her tie-dye shirt (we'll get to see her in late July and can't wait - oh yes, we'll get to see Beth and Steve, too!)

Grace and Beth enjoy a day at the pool!

A Visit With Old Friends

We enjoyed a visit with Ed and Nancy Gustafson this weekend. Ed was the priest at Holy Communion Episcopal Church in Rock Springs in the 1980's and invited Dwight to use the church to organize the new church development that eventually became White Mountain Presbyterian Church. Ed and Nancy are now retired and living near Tucson and have invited us to visit some year for Rockies spring training. Can't do it next year, but sounds like a plan for 2010!

Retreat at Yeagleys' cabin near Fairplay

We spent another wonderful weekend at Jon & Danny Yeagley's cabin near Fairplay in late April. It was pretty chilly, but wonderful to be able to relax in front of a fire, be fed by a wonderful cook, and enjoy time with friends. And they let Kirk come, too!

Kyra recovers from broken arm!

Kyra broke her arm just below the shoulder while snowboarding the day after Easter. This picture was taken about six weeks later and she had just learned from the doctor that she could start running, swimming, etc.

Spring News 2008

Grandson Caleb (age 5), his mom, grandma and uncle from Kearney were here for a visit in April. We enjoyed spending a day with Caleb while the rest of his family went shopping. Sharon and Caleb pose for a picture while taking Kirk for a walk at the dog park.

Steve, Beth and Grace (age 1) (and Mello, their chocolate lab) spent a week with us after Easter. We enjoyed a trip to the zoo and just hangin' out at home.

Dwight and Grace enjoy a moment together.

Kathy, Tom, Sharon and Dwight visit at Denver International Airport

Kathy (Sharon's sister) and Tom Joynt had a long layover at DIA this morning, so Sharon and Dwight drove out to spend the morning with them. We enjoyed breakfast together, looked over the Gallagher photo album that Tom had put together as Christmas gifts for the family last year, enjoyed drinks and chips while watching the first half of the Wisconsin-Michigan State game, and asked the waitress to take our picture!

Jordan visits Grandma & Granddad again!

We enjoyed another fun overnight with Jordan on Saturday. She went to the dog park with us and Kirk, then went shopping with Grandma. We bought "Snow Buddies", a fun video about a puppy sled team, then watched it. She took it home with her on Sunday to share with her family.