Kimball and Betty

Downtown Disney in July 2011

2011-08-16T15:15:00.000-07:00

We are not ready for the vacation to end. We have had fun but Betty started work today officially. We saw the Robertsons during spring break, the Jones during the week of the 4th of July, the Greenes in July, and the Bucks in our neighborhood. We need to start planning our next visit ASAP.

Las Vegas vacation.

2011-07-09T15:57:00.000-07:00

We hiked across the Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge and took pictures of the Hoover Dam. This is a picture from the dam looking up at the bridge. What a beautiful sight.

2011-06-13T12:31:00.000-07:00

These are some pictures we took on our Alaskan cruise with John and Rilla a few years ago. We spent one afternoon at Buchart Gardens with a big crowd of visitors. That was one of the only times we have been to Canada. It was one of the best places to visit when the central valley gets too hot and dried out in the summer. I wish we had taken more pictures. I guess we have to go back.

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Memorial Day at Rozier Bass Lake Cabin and Yosemite.

2011-06-06T21:28:00.000-07:00

We had a great weekend walking around Yosemite, having lunch at the Ahwanhee Hotel, attending the Yosemite Ward in Oakhurst, and visiting the artisan faire in Coarsegold. The Dogwoods were in full bloom and we saw magnificent waterfalls and rain.

Blackberries!

2011-05-19T11:49:00.000-07:00

Still having fun.

2011-04-21T10:38:00.000-07:00

The Dole Plantation Maze, pineapple ice cream and juice, the beach, and the night show were so fun. It's great to be with the Robertsons on the north shore. Today we go to the Dinosaur Museum in Honolulu and other adventures.

Spring break 2011 in Laie

2011-04-20T01:03:00.000-07:00

Honolulu Zoo, Turtle Bay Beach, BYUH Campus tour, PCC, etc. with Stephanie, Thomas, Ambrose, and Asher. Ambrose has a schedule to keep with Happy preschool, birthday parties, swim lessons. Thank goodness we can stay connected with our other children and grandchildren on their blogs or facebook. Allison is a cute easter bunny. We are loving the weather and fun here.

Huntington Library

2011-03-02T09:49:00.000-08:00

I don't know why we haven't visited the Huntington Library, Museums and Gardens before. It is a treasure. The Azaleas, Camelias and Roses are starting to bloom on the way to the Japanese, Chinese, and Australian Gardens. There was a Bonzai exhibit and demonstration with an interesting group of people there in mass. The library includes old documents such as an old Gutenburg Bible, among many other relics. The museums include paintings from Gainesborough that my mother had prints of on display in our house growing up. I always know that she was educated and cultured but I always wondered why she had those prints on display in our house. They were magnificent on display in the museum. I would love to go back to the Huntington (which is by Pasadena, Ca) when the grandchildren get old enough to enjoy something from it. It was inspiring.

2010-10-06T09:54:00.000-07:00

It was so fun to see many of you at Allison's blessing in the Painted Mountain Ward and now we look forward to our oldest granddaughter's baptism this saturday. It will be a nice family event. Betty and I are taking a walk in San Simeon Park on the coast in a couple of weeks so we can enjoy nature in the coastal fall weather.

Back to work.

2010-08-08T16:22:00.000-07:00

Our Family Reunion/vacation is over and it is back to work tomorrow. We spent a week at the beach. Some favorite highlights include going to San Juan Capistrano Mission, Disneyland, Downtown Disney, the pool, beaches Corona del Mar, and Balboa/Newport, Newport Beach Ward Sacrament meeting, dinner with my nephews Josh Hawkins and Derek Shields, dinner at Roys Hawaiian Fusion with Betty and going to the movies at Fashion Island with Betty. It was so fun to be with my wife, children, sons-in-law, and grandchildren. We are looking forward to the arrival of Brittany and Adams baby this month. Betty starts back to work this month also. Later, Kimball Hawkins

High Adventure 2010

2010-07-26T09:54:00.000-07:00

This a self photo at the end of the high adventure. Bruce Wade and I held down the camp at Whitney Portal for a week while 4 groups hiked a 43 miler to Mt. Whitney from Horseshoe Meadow and some to the Mt. Langley area. We hiked a couple of 6 milers and took it easy . The animals and flowers were spectacular.

2010-07-07T15:35:00.000-07:00

I was planning to trade in or sell the Sequoia in the fall so I could use it this summer for the High Adventure and the family reunion at the beach in July and August. Well I have to pay for a 2800 dollar repair now before I can take it to a prep hike with the teachers and priests this friday and saturday. Isn't that par for the course. I thought to ditch it before the big repairs came. At least the hiking and beach will be fun. I have been enjoying taking the GET bus while the car is in the shop.

2010-06-29T13:06:00.000-07:00

We had a great visit at the Hill's cabin near Island Park over the weekend. Yellowstone is still magnificent and the weather is a big relief from the heat of Bakersfield. What an ideal setting for a sibling and mother reunion. Some highlights were Old Faithful, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, walking, the buffalo, antelope, a presentation on Hill family history, and Ririe. Visits to my dad, Ashley, Ben and Lincoln were some of my favorites. Back to reality. Kimball Hawkins

2010-06-21T15:24:00.000-07:00

I got caught up with the Stotler extended family on sunday afternoon. They barbecued at Richard and Susan's house and Darlene took pity and invited me. It was nice to see all the Stotler kids and grandkids. They are a very generous and friendly group.

Betty is coming home for a day and then we go to Wilma's reunion in Island Park, ID for the weekend. Betty gets to stay in Utah for the week with Ashley/Wilma (Lincoln) and then comes home the following friday. Natalie is helping Brittany in the interim. This summer is flying. Dad

2010-06-15T14:48:00.000-07:00

TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 2010

Yikes!

The bank called me in a panic because there was activity on our account in California and in Las Vegas, NV. I guess they are unaccustomed to people in multiple states run up an account on gas, groceries, supplies and hiking equipment. They required signif reassurance plus ssn and mothers maiden name to authorize any more use. We better stay home and stop spending. Betty is at Brittany's house for the summer off and on because of her precarious pregnancy. We are excited for the Greenes and of course the possibility of having another grandchild. We love all our Bucks, Greenes, Jones, and Robertson grandchildren.

2010-04-26T14:32:00.000-07:00

We are all traveled out. We visited the Robertsons in Hawaii and then went to the Jones in Provo the following weekend. Two weeks later we spent a weekend with the Greenes in Las Vegas. Now we are back at home and happy to see the Bucks. Betty took all the pictures and hasn't posted them yet. It has been a whirlwind of visiting. Now come visit us.

It was difficult to see our parents struggling with stage of life physical problems. They are remarkable people who continue to be an example. My dad turned 89 today and is looking frail and tired. He has been without my mother for six years and four months. I hope you will visit him or write to him if you get a chance. I pray for him every day and hope he can see my mom soon.

2010-01-13T15:26:00.000-08:00

What is the saying about January's child? I can't remember, but I'm sure it has something to do with overcast skies. There are many reasons to love January, but I don't feel like it. We get to celebrate Pat and Kris' birthdays as well as MLK; what else? I go to the temple on the 23rd. Oh, and Brody and Natalie celebrated their 11th wedding anniversary. We had fun with the kids. Our cold weather turned into 60 to 70 degrees. I see some blossoms waiting to pop. Life is good.

2009-11-25T18:18:00.000-08:00

The three day work week is a great thing. I could get used to it. I spent two nights and two days at the temple and stayed in the apartments. Los Angeles is a serene place from the third floor view at the temple apartments. It was so quiet and peaceful in the big city on Sunday morning. The UCLA Ward didn't disappoint with the pipe organ and young college age families all happy and enthusiastic. I attended the annual Christmas fireside in the temple for workers. The big upper room was filled to capacity and the Southern CA Mormon Choir sang magnificently. It is an amazing experience to associate with good people and feel the spirit of temple work. See you there.

Hey ya!

2009-11-04T12:30:00.000-08:00

Have you ever hiked in the mountains in the fall? It is so peaceful and beautiful before the snow gets too deep. On a sunny day you see animals, hear the wind, and watch blue jays misbehaving. There is little competition for the hiking trails. I don't like snow camping so I don't hike overnight or go above 10,000 feet after Thanksgiving. The neighborhood or the bike/walking path are my wintertime hiking trails. There is nothing greater than a refreshing walk in the woods.

2009-08-01T12:13:00.000-07:00

We are back from our 34th anniversary celebration. It was so relaxing at the beach and a break from the Bakersfield heat. It was fun to see a game at Angels Stadium and go to Downtown Disney. Thankyou to kids and grandkids who visited us at the beach. We got really excited for our family reunion next summer (starting August 1st, 2010). Congratulations to Ashley and Ben ! They are expecting a baby in February 2010. We have really missed the Robertsons since they went home in July. Thanks for the blog pictures and updates. Our mundane news is new trees and grass in part of the backyard and getting a new roof this week. We love you and miss you. If you happen to read this then say hello.

rare blog

2009-06-12T08:55:00.000-07:00

Now that Betty is off work she is systematically going through the house and yard with a fine tooth comb. She pulling out landscaping in the back yard and has workmen working on concrete, pool, and replanting grass and shrubs. There are bags and boxes for Goodwill and stuff overfilling the garbage can. It is nice to have her at home again. She gets to take a trip to Utah to visit kids, grandkids, siblings, and her mom. I will join her for a weekend to see my dad and everbody. The dog, Cooper, will take care of the house and new landscaping for us while we are visiting family. What are you doing this summer?

2009-04-26T08:20:00.000-07:00

We attended our stakes performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and it was magnificent. It was one of those things you go to not expecting much and coming out impressed and excited. The singing, sets, music, and costumes were great. Visit us this weekend and we will take you to see it.

We just got back from a quick camping trip at Morro Bay State Park with the Bucks. I remember all the fun times we have had there. I can't go often enough. The kids descended on the shell shop and we got taffy just like old times. Thank goodness they are too young to spend much time in the surf shops.

Hey ya

2009-04-07T15:54:00.000-07:00

We are having a fun vacation in Utah. Can you say fun and Utah in the same sentence? Betty has been spending time with her mom and I have been with my dad. We had a fun meal at the Cracker Barrel and tomorrow we go to the dinosaur museum. It is fun to spend time with Ashley, Ben, Brittany, Jackson, Bennett, and Isaac. I'll blog again next year. Kimball

first haircut

2009-01-01T10:44:00.001-08:00

Ambrose was perfectly happy to get his haircut if mom was with him and he had a sucker to occupy him. That didn't keep the barber from cutting his bangs too short.

Happy Grandma

2009-01-01T10:40:00.000-08:00

Grandma had a good time with Ambrose over the holidays. It is hard to come home and start back to work after a fun vacation.

Untitled

2008-12-24T22:58:00.000-08:00

We grew tired of our old blog, so we are starting a new one. We are spending Christmas with Thomas, Stephanie, and Ambrose in Hauula, Oahu and have enjoyed the walks, weather, and playing with Ambrose. We had Christmas Eve dinner with Thomas' parents in Laie and enjoyed games, stories, and singing the Hallelujah Chorus. Linda is a great cook and hostess. We saw Brittany and Adam's bishop's family from Las Vegas at the temple visitors center by chance on tuesday night when we were there to see the decorations. They were on a tour from the Polynesian Culteral Center. Everything works out well for us. We enjoy reading your blogs and hope you will stay in touch with us. Have a great 2009.