Puppy Love

My cousin, Glenna, owns a dog named Misty she got from Canine Companions for Independence, an organization that provides people with a dog that will help them with daily tasks.  Glenna's dog mostly helps her pick things up, but Glenna tells me it has helped her social life a lot as well.  She has met many people who train dogs for the organization.  She left Misty with one of those friends when she went to Grandma's funeral, so Cameron thought she'd like to hold our little Dutch to get her doggie fix.  We had to bring Dutch since he was such a young puppy.  He did well in the car, and he got plenty of mauling from the little kids in attendance.

Does this girl love her puppy, or what?!

Family History

My sweet, kind Grandma Grey took her last breath on May 26th this year.  While it's always hard to lose someone you love, I was happy for her that she went to be reunited with her parents, a few siblings, and her wonderful husband who had already passed on.  I wasn't as sad as when Grandpa died, because neither of them is alone now.

The morning she died, before I found out that she had, I was cleaning out my garage and I opened the box that contains some of my birthday and Christmas gifts from her.  My grandma crocheted so many of our presents.  I love looking at them because it reminds me of her kindness.  She always made sure to have whipped honey in her cupboard when I came over because I loved it so much.

The last time I saw her, which was February of this year, I laughed until my cheeks hurt.  I was in her room at the assisted living with Aunt Bonnie, Aunt Mary, Aunt Carolyn, and Glenna.  She got stuck on one subject and I just egged her on.  It was a great last memory.

At the cemetery, we had some time between the graveside service and the luncheon, so Aunt Bonnie took us on a tour, giving us some background on some of our distant ancestors.

Francis Lee and his wife, Jane Vail Johnson, were living in Toole, just having trecked across the plains with the pioneers. Shortly after they arrived, Jane made commented about being glad she would not have to eat out of the wagon any more. That day at a meeting with the Saints, President Brigham Young announced that he wanted some select families to travel south and settle a community. Francis Lee and his family were one of the families named. Jane went home, shut herself in her room, and cried for 30 minutes. She came out and stated they would be going south because a prophet of the Lord asked them to. They settled in what is now known as Panaca, Nevada.

Francis C. Lee's wife, Mary McMurrin, had a sister named Margaret, who was married to one of Francis' brothers. She birthed 11 children who all died. When she gave birth to her 12th child, she died. They baby lived with Mary for the first year of his life and was then sent to Salt Lake City to live with other relatives. The boy grew up, married, and had children. One of those children was Harold B. Lee who later became a prophet and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Francis C. Lee's wife, Eathel K. had twins, Eva and Ava, and a son, Joseph, who died the day they were born. They also had a daughter, Mary, who died when she was 12. After Mary died, Eathel took to her bed. One night she had a dream. In the dream Mary was not playing with the other children. Eathel went over to her daughter and asked her why she would not play. Mary told her mother that since she was sad, she herself had to be sad and could not play with the others. Eathel left her bed so that her daughter could be happy.

Hazel was one of Francis C. and Eathel's children.  She is Grandma Grey's mother.

I think her children did a fabulous job picking out her casket.  It just reminded me of Grandma the instant I saw it.  It's a soft mauve with little plaques of blue flowers around it.

Over the Hill

During the last year, whenever Cameron and I were in the party section of a store, he would emphatically state that I'd better not get him anything for his party that was black or had tombstones on it.  That didn't stop him from turning 40 though. 

I wanted to go all out since this birthday was a big one.  I set out to have a surprise party for him with all his friends.  I had it planned for the Friday before his birthday and told him that I would take him out to dinner on his birthday and we would have a family party the Friday after his birthday.  And so the lies began.  I can't count how many times I lied to cover up my plans.  I started feeling guilty and getting nervous that he would find out. 

My friend, Becky B., was my main partner in crime.  She helped with the shopping and transporting food to the park.  We used Pamela and her family as an excuse to get to the park.  (They were up for Grandma Grey's funeral.)  Amber O., the wife of Cameron's friend came right up to him at the park and told him happy birthday right when we got there.  His response was, "My birthday's not till next week."  He didn't suspect anything until Becky came up with the cake.

In addition to the people mentioned above, we had Brock and Ashlee H. and Lisa H. and her family.  No one from work could come because they had an emergency engine exchange starting the day before into the following morning.  They conspired with me to ensure that Cameron would not have the day shift so he could make it to his own party.

Cameron needed a little help opening his presents, so Emily B. gladly came to his assistance.

Brock and Dutch

Cam and Tam

Ike H. and Tamzie

Because it was graduation season and I waited a little too long to request a cake, Costco only had time to make an undecorated cake.  I'd never had one from there, and it sure was yummy.

I'm just glad I pulled of the surprise.  I was glad to get all my lies off my chest, too.

From Charkey to Dutch

One morning, Tamzin came into my room asking for a real puppy.  At Kayja's suggestion, she then called her daddy and told him she wanted a puppy.  Since Cameron is wrapped around both of Tamzin's little fingers, he set out to find the perfect puppy on Craigslist.  He came home with a fluffy Bichon Frise.

Tamzin couldn't have been more excited.  The other girls were pretty happy, too.

Worn out from all the excitement.

He sleeps a lot since he's a little puppy, but the girls still never cease to give him plenty of attention.

When it came time to give him a name, we heard Fluffball and other such ridiculous names from the girls.  Azie came up with Charkey from who-knows-where.  I mentioned to Cameron that it sounded like Starskey and Hutch, and he suggested we name the puppy Dutch.  Everyone agreed.

Sing, Sing, Sing

Annika and Kayja joined a little singing group in January.  It's taught by my friend, Sarah P., who wanted a small group for her daughter and a few other girls that was just to teach a love for singing.  The video and pictures didn't turn out well, but their recital really was cute.  Annika and Kayja have really enjoyed being a part of it all, and they have even improved their singing skills. 

In Love with Cohen

This is my nephew Cohen.  He's one.  And super cute.

This is Annika pulling him and Tamzin around and around in Grandma and Grandpa's yard.

This is Kayja and Annika smooching on Cohen. 

He was loving the attention, and my girls were loving having a squishable, kissable little boy around.