And it begins..

So summer has started for us. Taylor graduated from preschool on May 19th. Lauren's last day of 1st grade was May 23rd. Swimming lessons start at Heise Hot Springs next week. The summer movie matinees have started. The Library's summer reading program starts next week. We are still waiting for the summer weather, but all other indications point to summer. Summer seems more daunting with 3 kids. What am I gonna do with them to keep them entertained, busy, learning, challenged, etc... I will probably run out of ideas in the middle of next week so if anyone has suggestions, please feel free to leave a comment or two. :)

I haven't posted for a while so I thought I'd leave some pictures of the last few weeks.

So, we broke down and bought the kids a trampoline. One of those that includes the safety enclosure. Huge! Everyone in the ward knew we had gotten a trampoline because you can see it from so far away. My younger brother Dustin decided he needed to come and play with my kids on it for old times sake. They had a blast!


A few weeks ago, we took the kids to Salt Lake for a quick getaway. We went to Hogle Zoo. So fun! We saw monkeys, buffalo, elephants, giraffes, zebras, tigers, etc... but my favorite part was this mother duck and her babies. They were walking down the sidewalk area where hundreds of people were walking. I don't know what part of the zoo she was coming from, but she was headed somewhere in a hurry. All the little ducklings were moving their webbed feet just as fast as they could go to keep up with her. Finally, she went underneath a fence and into a small grassy area underneath a monkey aerial enclosure. She had to jump off a concrete step (which was fairly high up). We watched as she jumped (no hesitation) and expected her babies to jump after her. For them it was a long drop (see picture below). It was the cutest thing to watch her turn around and quack at them to get them going. They all stood there pacing until one brave duckling took the leap. After that, one by one, they all leapt, following their mother's example. One hit a tree branch on the way down. One fell to the side a little bit, but they all made it. Then the mother duck gathered them together again, and they were on their way. It was so interesting and made me think about myself as a mother and letting my kids take chances and risks and simply setting a good example. What we can learn from nature.

Alta Cannon

Jason's Grandma died last Thursday. She was 84 years old. Her funeral is today so I have been reflecting on the memories I have of her. She might have been 5 feet tall, but only if she was on her tiptoes. She probably weighed at her heaviest 100 lbs. She was so tiny, yet so full of spunk! Grandma Cannon was ever a lady and inspired those around her to be such. She welcomed me into her home 12 years ago with loving open arms and has treated me like one of her own since then.

She couldn't let you leave her house without having had a Pepsi and a treat of some kind. She had a way with flowers and needles. She made things beautiful!

I learned something new about her last night at her viewing that I didn't know. Grandma's mother died when she was 18 months old. She really never knew her. Grandpa Cannon said that she asked, "How will I know my Mother when I see her?" He replied, "You won't know her, but she'll know you!" What a wonderful thought to think about last night as we celebrated Mother's Day. She was celebrating with her mother whom she didn't get the opportunity to know here on Earth.

What a comfort to have the gospel in my life at a time such as this. I am grateful for the long term perspective that I am able to have because of the restoration of the true church on the Earth today.

We love you and miss you Grandma!

Busy...Busy...

We thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful weather yesterday. We took a picnic to the Falls, fed the ducks and geese, and people watched. Carter had his first encounter with a hissing Canadian goose. It was hilarious. Carter was getting closer and closer to the goose. Carter was holding out his hand like he does with our dogs and cats. I expected the goose to bite him (thinking that he had bread in his hand.)When he got within 6 inches of the goose's head, the goose hissed. I expected Carter to get scared and turn back towards me. When he turned towards me, he had the biggest grin on his face and he hissed like the goose with his tongue sticking out. So funny! He went back for more, but the goose decided now was the time to make his escape. I wish I would have had the video camera. It is so fun to see the world through children's eyes. I think that's one of the reasons we get to have children, to remind us of the pure joy of things around us.

Let's see...what else exciting has been going on in the Cannon household. Jas and I bought our first real bed (headboard, footboard) on Saturday. That was exciting. We also bought the matching chest of drawers. You know you are moving up in the world when you have an actual bed. Ha Ha! Yea for matching furniture.

The Celtic Woman concert was AWESOME! Some of the most beautiful music I've ever heard. The fiddler was like a little sprite dancing and playing on stage. She never looked at her violin. She was amazing! So much fun, and it was a blast gabbing with my Mom on the way there and back.

Boise, here I come!

I'm going to Boise this afternoon to see Celtic Woman in concert with my Mom. I'm SO excited! My mother in law showed me the DVD and I have been hooked ever since. Check out the video I posted. It's one of my favorite!

Celtic Woman - the Voice

New Calling

Sunday I was put into the Young Women's Presidency as the 1st Counselor. I was also released as YW Camp Director, and the Ward Choir Director. I'm excited about the new calling and relieved to be...ummm..."rid" of the old ones. Not so much the Camp Director cuz that was a blast, but the choir director...for sure. I did that for 4 years. I learned a lot but am excited to move on. I still have the organist calling, but hope to get released from that soon as well. So, anyway....if any of you have advice, ideas, etc... for me, I'd be happy to take it.

The latest

I took this picture this morning because I couldn't pass it up. Carter loves to shuffle along in anyone's shoes (but his own.) My thought was that he has big shoes to fill if he's gonna grow up to be like his Dad. Jason is a wonderful father and husband and I am grateful to have him in my life.


This was our Conference Saturday project...painting. It took some time and a lot of paint. I am so happy with how it turned out. Now I have to make some curtains with the basketball fabric I found.