Jaron's Birthday

 

It is So nice to have family closer now.  We drove down to be with the Prince family and celebrate Jaron's third birthday.  He is such a delightful child and we had such a nice day.

It's hard to believe that it's been three years since this precious little boy was born!

When we took Gabbi to meet her new brother, the first thing she wanted to do was unwrap him and see all of him and count his toes.

Grandpa and Jaron have a special bond.  They love to tussle on the floor. . .

and read stories.

While Grandpa played with Jaron and Brian made the barbecue lunch, Melli made the absolutely adorable Olaf made out of cupcakes.

Jaron came over to watch the proceedings.  He was so excited!

SO excited!!!

Ta Da!  Isn't that cute?

When Gabbi got home from her Primary Program rehearsal, she wanted to photograph the cute cake.

Jaron wanted to eat the "carrot" nose.

Heavy Heavy Hang over thy poor head.

Pin the nose on Olaf.

Heavy heavy hang . . . 

Happy birthday to you, Jaron!  We love you!!!!

To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Some books color your world while you’re reading them. Some, for a few days or even weeks after. But< To Kill a Mockingbird >leaves color that never leaves. It truly changes how you look at the world. I have a handful of books that I like to read every few years- leaving just enough time between readings to forget the details. Just five minutes ago, I finished this book and, as I’m still wiping away the tears, I am already willing myself to forget so I can read it again. And I will forget the details, but I won’t forget the feeling I have when I read this book. It has changed me- yet again.



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Glorious!

Just Take My Heart

Just Take My Heart by Mary Higgins Clark

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book on CD kept my husband and I entertained on a recent road trip. I’ve now “read” two Mary Higgins Clark mysteries and I think I like them. It’s not Pulitzer Prize literature, but it’s entertainment. I guess I’m the boring sort, because I would have gone with the “predictable, you guessed it, but isn’t it satisfying ?”ending that the reader expects. I’m sure I’ll be reading more of this author.



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I Heard That Song Before

I Heard That Song Before by Mary Higgins Clark

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


What do you call a page-turner that you listen to on CD. Because that’s what this book was. I listened to it on my ipod as I walked and let’s just say my walks were longer than usual! The only Mary Higgins Clark book I’d read previous to this one was “Mount Vernon Love Story” about Martha Washington- not a mystery at all. I guess it was her first book, and after that she wrote mysteries. I really enjoyed that one. I’ve heard about her for years and wanted to try a murder mystery. It was pretty good. It had a few too many “plot thickenings” for me, but it kept me interested. How bad can a book be when the protoganist is named Kay?



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You Never Know

A friend emailed this to me and it touched me deeply and reminded me so much of my busy daughters.  It is for all of the wonderful, busy mamas out there who do SO much good!

Praise Loudly, Correct Quietly

This is another mantra for parents and grandparents.  When giving children positive feedback, do it in front of others.  Let them bask in the joy of being positively recognized.  Ken's parents made a regular habit of this at the dinner table.  His dad would say, "Sister So and So came into the post office today and told me she had seen Kenny helping . . . . "  So Kenny and all of his siblings heard the praise.  It worked wonders.

But when a child needs correction, take them aside.  Do it quietly and privately.  That reduces the embarrassment.  We've all seen parents humiliate their children in front of others.  It's unpleasant for everyone.  A child will never forget that you quietly helped mold and shape them, rather than embarrassing them and the result will probably be that they want to please you.

So there's another idea for a mantra.  For others, click here.

Conference Weekend with the Prince Family

We are so enjoying having the Prince family living closer.  They came up for conference weekend.  We had such a nice time together.  We, of course, enjoyed the conference sessions.  Between sessions, we enjoyed many trips to the park behind our house.

The kids love to dance while Grandma Kay plays the piano.

"I want to tell you a secret," Jaron would say as he threw his little arms around our neck.  "I love you very much!"  Then he'd plant a wet kiss on our cheek.  Ah, the joys of grandparenthood.  

Though Michelle is close to delivering their third child, she lovingly gave me a pedicure, complete with foot soaking and massage.  What a sweetheart!

Thank you, Brian and Michelle for a great weekend!!!

Happy Medley

This makes me, well, happy!

Calico Captive

Calico Captive by Elizabeth George Speare

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Calico Captive is another superb book by one of my favorite authors: Elizabeth George Speare. She, in my opinion, is the queen of historical fiction. Her novels are set in accurate and important historical settings and her protagonists are always young adults that young adult readers (and everyone else) can relate to. Calico Captive is set in New Hampshire, then Montreal in the French and Indian War. It is based on a true account of a family kidnapped by Indians and sold into slavery after a harrowing march through the wilderness. It is exciting and has enough romance to keep you captivated (no pun intended.) I have read every one of Speare’s novels at least twice. I only wish she had written more!



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Confessions of a Book Junkie

I have a problem.  As I understand it, that's the first step in recovery- admitting there's a problem.  I just keep buying and borrowing books.  I have so many to read, but I absolutely can't resist buying and gathering more books.  I have a shelf full of delicious unread books.  I have several on hold at the library, an Amazon shipment of books is on the way as we speak, and still I just bought another one at Costco.  I have an addiction.  When I go to Costco, I tell myself I won't go near the books.  I'll just stay away.  But, before long, I find myself at the paperback table.  I met my soul mate there a few weeks ago  As I approached the table, there was a young woman already there, caressing a book.  Yes, you heard me right, she was caressing a book.  As I picked up and looked at a book near her, I actually heard her start to moan a bit.  So I looked at her.  When someone's moaning, you have to look.  Seeing she had caught my attention, she said, "I love this book.  This is one of my favorite authors."  She then started telling me the plot.  I smiled and said that it sounded really interesting.  She then picked up another book and caressed it as well.  "This one is really good, too."  I said, "You really love books, don't you?"  To which she replied "So much.  I'm here with my friend.  She wanted me to go and look at the clothes, but I said I would be at the books.  I love to read."  I chose another book because the cover was bright and cheerful (I do SO choose a book by it's cover!) and left.  I now wish I'd chosen one of the ones she was so in love with.  She is my soul mate after all.  So, does anybody know the second step in overcoming an addiction?  Oh well.  I kind of like my addiction.  Now if you'll excuse me, my book (I'm rereading To Kill a Mockingbird right now) is calling me. . . .

We Feel So Grateful!

Our sweet, four-month-old granddaughter was born with holes in her heart. Hannah Rose was in heart failure, often having difficulty eating.  The congestion in her lungs was very bad at times.  On September 18th, she had open heart, bypass surgery at Primary Children's Hospital.  Many family members and friends joined in fasting and prayer for her.  We feel that as a result of those petitions of faith, the Lord blessed little Hannah.  Her surgery went beautifully.  Her recovery, even better.  She was released from the hospital just three days after such traumatic surgery.  She has since been home with her parents.

We drove up to see her on that Saturday.  She looked tired, but comfortable.  What a sweet, precious soul.  We brought Caleb and Lily, Hannah's siblings, back to St. George with us for a week, so Hannah's mom and dad could concentrate on only caring for her.  She continues to heal and now, for the first time in her life, thrive at home.

We had a fun week with Caleb and Lily.  They had moments of missing their mama, but really did well overall.
We enjoyed taking them to our wonderful children's museum and water park and I can't count how many times Grandpa took them to the park behind our home.

Oh no!  Two dragons!

Lily loves "driving" this truck.  

I love this quote.  

The dragon mining?  

For some reason, this is one of Lily's favorite spots in the whole museum.  She loves to get in the padded play pit and just sit on this little mountain.  

She also loved grocery shopping.  

Caleb was so determined to learn how to do monkey bars.  

We took the kids home on the weekend, and drove home in the big storm.   It was exhausting, but really fun to have them in our home and get closer to them.  We really are missing them.  It sure is quiet around here!  Again, we express gratitude to our Heavenly Father for preserving and now mending our sweet Hannah.  Thank you so much for your faith and prayers!

Ken and Audubon Society Visit Mt. Trumbull, Arizona

Ken went with the local Audubon Society to a place he's wanted to visit all of his life- Mt. Trumbull, on the Arizona strip.  He had a wonderful time and saw many birds- one a new to his life list.  Following is a report of the trip written by an intern working with the BLM, Sarah Thomas:

Red Cliffs Audubon Society visits Mt. Trumbull

            On Friday, September 12^th, four members of the Red Cliffs Audubon Society gathered their binoculars, bird guides, and cameras in preparation for the dusty trek out to Mt. Trumbull for a weekend birding trip.  Arriving in the cool ponderosa forest just before sundown, the birders quickly organized a night-time search for burrowing owls.  Though they didn’t spot any of these elusive hunters in the starlight, the following morning proved to be full of flight and feathers.  The Red Cliffs group identified over 30 bird species in the Mt. Trumbull area including :

kestrels,

chipping sparrows,

pine siskins,

Stellar’s jays,

and northern flickers. 

The talented birders identified some species, like the plumbeous vireo,

by their songs and vocalizations alone.  Special sightings included the Hammond’s flycatcher,

the dainty, yellow Tennessee warbler,

 and the zone-tailed hawk. 

This tropical hawk, whose northern range barely extends into Arizona, scored a spot on many of the birders “life lists.”  The trip wrapped up at an exquisite spot on the rim of a volcanic cliff overlooking an eternity of sienna and olive watercolor mesas and feathery side canyons tumbling down to the Colorado River.

 In awe, all looked out at the beauty of Parashant, too stunned to even raise their binoculars.