OUR BACKYARD! In case anyone out there wants to come visit us, bring a rake! We have just a few leaves to rake up. That would make one heck of a pile to jump into.

This is our missionary Matt Koster. As many of you know, Matt and Brooke Koster are our "calabash" kids. "Calabash" is a hawaiin word (I've been told) for "of my heart, but not of my womb". Matt & Brooke have grown up with our kids since they were about 4-6. Well, Matt is now a missionary. He's currently in the MTC learning Spanish in preparation to serve in Boise Idaho, Spanish speaking mission. We are super proud of him!

Halloween 2008 @ the Grubers Insane Asylum!

Megan was Scooby Doo, Tyler was a Bat, Natalie was a little puppy, Austen was ????, Lizzy was a witch, Brooke was a Kitty Cat and Ali was a teenage mutant ninja turtle (TMNT). Alex willingly stayed home and passed out the candy. Afterwards the goofs tried making a pyramid. It only lasted a few brief seconds though!

Visit from Family

All this cousin time was so much fun! We wish we could have time with all the Peay cousins!

Megan's Baptism

Megan's Baptism. What a great day! We had visitors from Utah & Idaho come out especially for this special day for Megan! The happy girl with the family & her neighbor friend Amanda.

Pre-Halloween?

Lizzy & her friends decided to dress up a little early in various pieces of previous costumes and walk down through the neighborhood. Megan joined them, and yes they were seen in public like this.

Girls camp lake

it was so cold in the mornings that the lake would create fogg !

Girls Camp '08

The lites attacked the leaders with pie during a skit...

All of the P2 Lites - had to send a picture to Leslie Okabe so she could see all her girls.

little teddy bear!~~~

RUBY

<3333333

we miss you ruby! love you R.I.P 6-22-08!

Lizzy's Graduation - June 2008

Lizzy & Catalina - SBHS & WWPHS

Lizzy & Erin - SBHS

Matt & Brooke Koster at Liz's Graduation

Graduation

Graduation finally arrived! Grandma Sandie came out and Grandma Sari & Papa Andre were also able to come. (Notice that Alex didn't come with us?-He had clearly had enough of anything related to school)

Youth conference

Another successful youth conference! This year we took 116 to Ellis Island and learned a bit more about geneology. It was awesome! Anytime any of you want to come out here to NJ to visit, we will take a trip there. It is really facsinating. The ferry also goes to the Statue of Liberty.

Mike teaching Alex and some of his YM how to use the Family Search computer program.

Lizzy and some of her friends on Ellis Island.

Alex and some of our YM on the ferry ride to Ellis Island.

Notice our awesome bright LIME green shirts!

Our Rock Star

OUR ROCK STAR!

Lizzy was in a girls band for a tribute to the seniors in our stake. She rocked out on the bass to "Love Song".

Prom-The limo

They all took a limo

Prom

close up!

Prom

Her group of friends

Prom

Lizzy went to prom with one of her freinds from church Matt Kelly

She had a little trouble putting on his flowers

lizzy got her hair done by a family friend in our stake for her senior prom

RUBY's new dew! cute

President and sister Gruber from the presidency of the Manhattan, New York temple

called in november of 2007.

The girls had fun rooting for the Giants on superbowl sunday they even had their own game!

Christmas 2007-top photo-the girls had a week long slumber party in Lizzy's room, including Ruby!; (2) Jake Varga, Austen Bilal, Lizzy Gruber, Alex Gruber=the cousins;

(3)-Ali & I playing with my new camera; (4)-Natalie Bilal & Megan thanking each other for their Build a bear clothes they gave each other, these 2 cousins are always hugging; (5)-Alex "built" himself a pillow out of blocks. He always could sleep anywhere on anything.

Merry Christmas from 23 Hillside Ave!

Alex made HIGH HONORS at school last marking period!

Sunday, Dec 30, 2007-New York City-Lincoln Center fountain. We spent the weekend in the city at Andre and Sari's. Papa's 72nd birthday! Lincoln Center is right across the street from their apartment and the Manhattan Temple.

Try getting this group together for a family picture. Yeah right! I had to catch them when I could. We tried hard for about 2 weeks to get a few good pictures to create our Christmas card. There wasn't a single one that everyone liked so we ended up not sending cards out this year at all. Consider this blog our christmas card!