This is when we were back in Rome. We are in front of the Trevi Fountain, enjoying the shade and the after taste of our gelato!

Taryn, Beckham and I went on to Venice after Florence. Brendon had to go back to work. Of course someone, Bren and Dale, have to work to support our traveling habits! Right! Anyway, we are posing on one of the many little bridges across all the waterways in Venice. It was a cute little city. We stayed in a lovely hotel right by St Marcus's Square. and visited the cathedral, and wandered through the streets shopping. The fact that there are no cars in Venice made it even more quaint.

Rialto Bridge...one of the more famous bridges in Venice, taken as we arrived there and took the "slow boat" to our hotel.

Vlorence was lovely! Tall buildings and everyone speaking Italian. Imagine that! View from the top of the Duomo Bell tower. And above is the Pointe Vechio bridge. This bridge was purposefully not bombed by the ally's during WWII. We had a great time shopping along thie bridge, and buying paintings.

ITALY was GREAT!

The Monday after the wedding reception, in August, Taryn and Beckham and I headed to Rome, Italy! Wow! Brendon was in Rome on an internship and we joined him. Here I am looking lovely in front of the Colussem, and then enjoying gelato, which was at least a daily occurance!

Tiffany, Dale and I before Cody and Katelyn's reception in Gridley.

I was able to be in Palo Alto for the birth and that was so neat. What a darling baby!

WHAT A SUMMER! 2009!

It was quite an eventful summer! It began in May when Blair came home from his mission. Blair and I are pictured above. (: It continued with baby Beckham being born July 22nd, then Cody's wedding in Oregon on August 15th at the Medford Temple. Then there was the reception in Gridley the next weekend in our yard! That's Grandma Betty Barrow with the proud mama, Taryn, and Beckham.....I'm not so good at blogging yet so my text is at the bottom of the pictures! Cody and his bride, Katelyn, are in the carriage for their surprise ride.

A New Grandson!

Beckham Walker Merkley was weighed in at 8 pounds 8 ounces, on July 22nd in Palo Alto, California. His proud parents are Taryn and
Brendon! Grandma and Grandpa were both there to welcome him here! It was quite a long process. as Taryn's water broke at 1 am on
July 21st, and Beckham had to be taken C section on July 22nd at 3 am! We LOVE YOU!!!

Gracie Leishman

Had to blog this darling picture of Gracie, our youngest grandaughter at Christmas!

Camping in Nevada

During Spring break in March we went camping with about 40 people at Rawhide Hot Springs, which is about an hour and a half off the main road near Fallon, Nevada. It is truly secluded....no one around for miles. We circled our trailers and had a great old time! Jay set up a tent shower with hot water, and Bruce arranged all of the food and cooking (we took turns helping). Russ even set up a kitchen sink! So we were pretty high class for roughing it! this is most of the bikers when we went on our ride of the Narrows.

This is the "Narrows." I heard about how pretty this ride was two years ago, but couldn't go because it is too hard of a ride. This year I was able to ride with my friend, Candy, in her new "Razor." That's me in the lime green helmet! We look like Martians!

Dale and Lynn looking like real riders! Dale is....I'm just a faker! Just give me a four wheeler and I will tackle the baby hills!

This isn't even my bike, but I couldn't resist the matching colors! Ha ha.

In February we went on a cruise tp Belize, Costa Maya & Cozumel with many of Dale's friends that he grew up with in Canada. It was wonderful!

Snowmobiling during Christmas vacation! It was great. Taryn couldn't go because the doctor advised against it, so we missed her.

Snowmobiling at Christmas

While everyone was home, except Blair still on the mission, we had a couple days of fun sledding. The weather was great! The hot beans and hot chocolate filled the tummy, and the family filled the heart!

It was wonderful having most of our kids home for Christmas! We were just missing Blair, because he is still on his mision in Mexico. Brendon takes fantastic pictures with his camera.
Thanks, Bren...

Christmas at the Leishman Home 2009