The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party

The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party by Alexander McCall Smith

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Another delightful Ladies No. 1 Detective Agency series book. In this one, Grace Makutsi- MMa Ramatswe’s assistant- finally gets married, after a long engagement. MMa Ramatswe sort of solves a cattle slaughter mystery and they deal with loveable but unprincipled Charlie. I enjoy immersing myself in this slow-paced culture. I have no desire to go to Botswana, but I don’t need to- I feel I’ve lived there through this series.



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I Love to See the Temple

For the past couple of months- off and on- I've been trying to figure out how to share with you this recording.  I think I may have just figured it out!!!  It is a recording of my grandson Caleb and his daddy singing "I Love to See the Temple."  Nearly every night since Caleb was born, he has heard this song as his lullaby just before he goes to sleep.  He now sings it with his dad.  His dad climbs on the top bunk with him and they cuddle and sing this together.  One night, I recorded it:

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Happy Birthday to Me!

I had a very nice birthday.  I just had to share with you the video that Kristen sent me. She lives far away from us and from all family. So when it's Grandma's birthday or some other family member's (I know she did it on my mom's birthday in February, too)she makes that person's favorite foods for dinner and talks about them, so that the kids learn their heritage and celebrate vicariously.  On my birthday, she had the kids help her make my favorite chocolate cake- with half chocolate and half German chocolate frosting.  They had my favorite tacos for dinner and then birthday cake for dessert.  The next morning, Jake asked if they had sent Grandma her cake.  Kristen told him no that would be pretty hard.  "We need to send it to her.  It's her birthday."  Kristen said that wouldn't work.  He said, "Then let's fly in an airplane and give it to her."  

But I didn't totally miss out on cake.  Ken surprised me with this beautiful cake:

Happy birthday to me!!

The Power of Everyday Missionaries

The Power of Everyday Missionaries by Clayton M. Christensen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I read this at the recommendation of my daughter. I have watched her live it’s principles since she read it- for the past few months. Nearly every chapter presents a paradigm shift for me and how to approach sharing the gospel with others. The book presents principles and then gives many examples of how those principles were applied in real life. Brother Christensen is a very good writer. The material was succinct, clear, and motivational. It’s only 150 pages and the chapters, short. I really think every member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints would benefit from reading this book.



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Ken Goes Cruisin'

We had two big events crash at the same time.  Shonna and Blake's baby girl came much later than we anticipated (YEA!-  I think we prayed too hard and got her stuck in there) so she came just a day or two before we were supposed to go on a cruise with all of his partners and wives to the Caribbean.  Isn't that the way of life- so often we have to choose between good and good.  So we decided to divide and conquer.  So while I was in Logan, Ken went a cruisin' and had a wonderful time.  On Grand Cayman Island, he went on an excursion to the sting ray sandbar and got to swim with and even hold a sting ray.  You can see the water was calm and shallow and conditions perfect for such an excursion.  He promised he'd take me back there!

Sting Ray Sandbar in Grand Cayman Island

Boat to Sting Ray Sandbar

Tendering from Cruise Ship to Grand Cayman Island

Sting Rays!

Is this amazing or what!

 On Belize a few of them hired a lady to give them a tour and take them to see the Mayan pyramids.  On the way, she, in trying to get over to avoid a bus on the narrow road, ran off the road and down into the jungle.  They off-roaded through the jungle at a high rate of speed.  They hit many small trees, but miraculously did not hit a tree large enough to disable the van or hurt the passengers.  She was somehow able to get back up the side and onto the road again.  They all felt blessed as things could have ended SO much worse.

View from the top of Mayan Pyramid at Altun Ha

Altun Ha, Belize

The tour guide/ cabdriver (in green) who nearly killed my husband

View from one of the plazas at Altun Ha

The highest pyramid at Altun Ha

View from the top of the pyramid

Their other stop was Cozumel, Mexico where Ken went with a group to Chankanaab- a beach/marine park.  The beach was gorgeous and the snorkeling amazing there.

After the cruise, Ken stayed a couple of extra days in Tampa, FL to do some birding.  It was hot and the mosquitos thick, but he did get a few new life listers there (somehow I don't regret missing that part of the trip at all!)
We both got home on the same day and are now enjoying being at home together on a more permanent basis.

Ipad Terrorists

I know this little girl looks angelic and innocent.  And she is for the most part.  She is a sweetie.  But if she gets near her mom's iphone or my ipad, she becomes a little terrorist.  She grabs it and starts swiping and punching and soon you hear the sounds of her watching a video of herself at Lagoon or some lady speaking Spanish or Mickey Mouse clubhouse or she's drawing stuff or she's talking to Ginger or whatever.  She often accidentally calls people and occasionally a screen pops up with confirm purchase.  She is NOT afraid of pushing and swiping and punching and it can entertain her for hours.  A phrase often heard in their house is "Don't buy stuff, Lily."  We all said it.  "I'm not" she'd say as she swiped and punched.  But more than once my ipad was asking for my password to itunes when I got on. Luckily she didn't know that password or Ken may not be retiring right now!   I wonder if they give tech lessons to these kids before they come down to earth.  They seem to be pre-wired to know how to do everything.

Lily engrossed in mom's iphone while Shonna was on bed rest.  Notice who's doing the bed resting!  She would just take over her mom's space.  

  Michelle's little guy, Jaron (look at that cute face!), is the one who taught me you could put your fingers on the screen and bring them together to close the window.  "What did you just do? Show me that again."   Both of them are two-years-old.  I was schooled by cute, innocent-looking two-year-olds.   Cute little Ipad Terrorists.

My Favorite Things- Cushioned Kitchen Floor Mat

A couple of years ago, Kristen and Jared gave me this cushioned floor mat for Christmas.  I'm not sure what's in it, but is so soft and really comfortable to stand on.  We have it in front of our kitchen sink.  The edges stay down and it's easy to sweep and swiffer over it.  It's easy to clean, too.  It is so comfortable, I'm considering having my entire kitchen done in this stuff!   It's truly one of my favorite things!

To see more of my favorite things, click here.

Always put a little salt in sweet things and a little sugar in salty things

This was Grandma- Libby Fox Peterson's- mantra- or at least one of them.  I remember her carrots tasting so sweet and her divinity being just divine (I'm sure with a pinch of salt in it!)  She had other mantras, too.  She was the queen of the one-line mantras.  I remember her saying, "A stitch in time saves nine" and "waste not; want not," "What goes around comes around," "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush," All's well that ends well,  and many, many others.  They come to me at appropriate moments and help me do better. "Always put a little salt in sweet things and a little sugar in salty things" is a great one to remember when cooking.  Thanks, Grandma!


For other mantra ideas, click here.

Fun at the Camerons

I spent a week and a half with the Cameron family to welcome baby Hannah.  We had fun.  Lily, Caleb and I went to the zoo and then the park one day.  I took pictures on my phone, but I can't figure out how to get them onto the computer.  I'll keep trying.

Sweet Baby Lily- I mean Hannah.  She looks SO much like Lily!!

Lily in apron with hood AND bib.  She's now ready to eat spaghetti!

Caleb loves to build his train tracks.

Lily Kay and her baby

Love, love this picture.

This is a darling book we got at the library.  I really recommend it if you haven't read it.

Blake took Lily and Caleb to a camp out with the Cameron family over Memorial Day weekend.  Shonna and I enjoyed the evening watching a movie (Saving Mr. Banks)  and of course cuddling baby Hannah.  The next day (Memorial Saturday) we went to the Logan cemetery to decorate Mom and Dad's graves.  We then enjoyed a Cafe Rio lunch.  Those few hours with my daughter and new granddaughter were the highlight of the week!

The splash parks opened that weekend, so we had to go try one out on Tuesday  The kids had so much fun!

Princess Lily

The kids love their new sandbox their daddy built for them.  During the week I was there, the Camerons were putting in their yard.  They laid sod and brought in the landscaping.  It was crazy busy, but will be so nice.  

Caleb on the mountain of woodchips that will be spread for a nice play area.  

I love this sweet baby girl.  Welcome to the family, Baby Hannah Rose!

Hannah Rose is Here!

Grandchild # 9 is here safe and sound!  Hannah Rose made her debut on May 13, 2014.  She was 5 lbs. 12 oz. and 18 1/2 inches long.  So she wasn't big, but big enough to come home with her mama, and that was our goal all along.

This is my favorite picture of Hannah Rose Cameron.

Hannah is wearing a sleeper her mommy wore when she was a baby!

Hannah's first bath at home.  She actually really liked it- until her mama took her out of the water!  

The newly expanded Cameron Family!

Congratulations Camerons!!!