Sunday when we were out for a walk we saw a huge column of smoke and we got to see the fire trucks come rolling up and everything, it was just some trees in a back-or side- yard so not a big deal but it was pretty cool after just having been to the fire station but lets be honest-Cann man was way more interested in the dog some little girls who were also watching had.

I love always having the diaper bag camera handy-even if the pictures aren't that great it helps remind me of some of his antics on what really seams like a pretty uneventful week.

 Like this pic is of our late night cookie making project when the little stinker wouldn't go to bed (it was one of those late nap disasters) but I actually got the camera out to try and catch a pic of  him spread out on the kitchen floor trying to eat uncooked top ramen (he loves that stuff cooked or not) with no hands. It was one of those deals where I thought "gross stop that,... oh wait I want a picture first" but I missed it-and the picture wouldn't have had the vacuum sucking slurping noises that are what got my attention in the first place. Anyway. I'm tell'n ya-never a dull moment with this kid around.
The next missed picture was him dancing in the mirror after he climbed up on the table. And after that... I know he loves to look at animals on the computer and he loves to play basketball so apparently he decided combining two of his favorite activities would be a good idea.

Truthfully I missed this one just heard him grunting and asking for the ball afterward.

We're making  progress on eating!!! Yipee!  PB and J AND Apple slices both made it down his throat and on the same day-hooray for progress! His little vocabulary just keeps getting bigger and bigger. He's a pretty good little parrot but the ones I can think of that he's added this week are "dog" instead of just woof, "silky"...kind of, we get "sss-EEE" and "excited"  or "eh-sigh-d" because we always ask him if he's excited to go see Ayla and such.
Isaac...stressed-probably as much as I've ever seen him but Blake and Annie are tending and we're going to go on fun date tonight so hopefully that will be relaxing for him. Me...I miss basketball and I just think I end up cooking a lot. Not that it turns out great it just gives me something new to try. Don't be confused, life is not dull-not with Cann Man around, and  the other thing I do is constantly dream up projects, most of which don't happen. Oh well.
Anyway I better go, I should be cleaning the kitchen...Blogging is just way more fun. I am going to stop but don't bet on the kitchen getting cleaned. :)

Had to throw a cute picture with dad on!

There's a lot MORE than I could ever post but I'll do what I can.
We went to Memphis and spent Thanksgiving with Ryan and Sara. It was so fun! We had a blast! There is so much that is worthy of documentation but my mind is drawing a blank. Max did ask if we were going to stay until Christmas, no but not because it wouldn't be fun! We definitely have a lot to be thankful for. I do have this picture to help me remember Max looking down the butt of the bird and yelling "I see its bladder!" it was hilarious. I love that Ryan has his scrubs on too. Isaac looks like he's getting in on it with Cann Man here but the truth is those two were standing back while Max and his dad did the operating.

We let the shopping crowds be and enjoyed a little hike and picnic Friday. As we were hiking around at this little park that kind of in the middle of suburbia I kept thinking of that Christmas song about a "tender Tennessee Christmas" it will be fun for their family -they came home last Christmas but are staying this year- but I'm SO SO SO Thankful we get to head home for Christmas. 

The only bummer was that we had wanted to/planned on/and had taken Sunday clothes to be able to go to the temple but it turns out the little temples aren't open just any time. So we weren't able to catch a session. I guess we'll have to plan better next time.

The rest of the week was pretty routine expect Isaac didn't have to stay at school so long. We played Tennis -that our new little hobby since moving here, we're terrible, but its fun...and we're getting better.

Cannon always makes me laugh. His own language its something else..."Ut mmm ut mmmm" its "Up please." It so weird but he can say please, so usually I make him say that right before I pick him up. He was calling both Max and Calvin Max. But it was more like "MAAAA....X" it was was funny. I don't know what else, but there's always something.

This was Cann Man trying to wait up for his dad to get home. We just in a tough spot where 1 nap is not really enough but if we go 2 the second one ends up foul'n up the night. Oh well.

 

Monday is laundry day (who am I kidding? laundry day is really ALL stink'n week) Anyway cute little Cannon boy was bringing me laundry one piece at a time. I would fold it and put it away while he toddled back into the dryer. It was SO CUTE then he figured out he could grab it by the armful and I wasn't able to keep up quite as well. The kid melts my heart and makes even the most mundane tasks enjoyable. (It worked once at least) I love this kid.

I'm positive it was the first time in my life I've every enjoyed doing laundry-it wasn't near as cute when he was emptying his drawers and trying to put the clean clothes in the washer but he sure is fun!

It seems like this week has been super super busy. Isaac's pretty swamped at school but we're looking fwd to next week and Thanksgiving break. For our little playgroup this week we went to the fire station, it was pretty cool!

Monday's Isaac's late day, so usually we do Family Home Evening on Tuesday but this week there was a RS activity, then Wed we fed the missionaries and went to Book of Mormon Class oh and this is what we gave Pres. McDonough because he was doing interviews here at our building along with a double layer coconut cake.

 

For some reason my pictures of the cake didn't turn out. But supposedly he really likes coconut so we did our best. I told the sister missionaries I wanted to do it and they said I should have him in his big bird costume-that's why its on there. The sisters delivered it for us and took a video of him reading it but I still need to snag it from them.

Anyway back to the week. Thursday we had dinner with Isaac's friend from school Omar and his family it was really cool. Totally different, because they are from Turkey and of the Muslim faith. SO totally different but very religious. Like the boys ate in a different room than us-and sat on the floor. Blake just thought there wasn't room at the table but I think it had more to do with their beliefs. Omar told Isaac his wife didn't speak English but I thought she did really well. They have a little boy that is about 6 months older than Cannon -so Ayla's age, and Blake and Ayla came too- he's a cutie his name is like Joseph but with a U -I have no idea how you'd really spell is but you say "U-seph" it was cool to talk to his wife (not even trying to spell that one, I kill it enough trying to say it) anyway just to visit with her and see how her greatest joy is being a mom too. It was neat. Oh and Bubba in Turkish means Father so while I was calling Cann Man Bubba, U-seph was calling his dad Bubba, just a funny little thing we learned. The only scare was when Cann man tried to ride one of U-seph's toys down their stairs. It was a big time rough and tumble fall clear to the bottom but thankfully he came out with a little bloody lip, shaking and scared crying but nothing else. I hope we get to do more with them. She was really nice, oh and I can pity myself all I want about living in Mississippi -which I did mention last week is getting better though right- but this poor girl moved to the United States 1 week after they got married they were in Delaware before here. UG


And (sigh) now its Friday and I'm taking  dinner to a family our ward and who knows what else the day holds...blogging right? I love that.

And  MAYBE I ordered some food storage stuff and had it shipped to Utah. Great that's where we left all our other food storage. Sometimes I'm not very smart! Oh brother. Lucky for me I still have the best neighbors there and they found it. Good Grief.

Cannon and I set up the $3 Christmas tree I bought back in Sept when Annie and I went yard sale'n- we're totally getting a jump on the holidays!

So I wanted to add more pics from our trip but I take too many pictures. I'm just tired of making collages so it is what it is. Not organized but overly documented...Oh well.

My little Trick Rider-he climbs on everything!

Grampas Dogs are Cannon's Favorite So  FUN! We were teasing my dad about his nickname evolving from George to Chip and now "Woof" Poor guy seems to be digressing.

Hang'n out with the Allred's during the funeral. Still not sure how Becky got him to eat that much of a sandwhich...and love the  big cheese with Court.  So maybe he's used to the picture thing :) Too fun.

Cann Man was loving destroying the dominos with the cousins!

When he wants to color he is say. Doe Doe Doe, this baby translation stuff is hard. So I pretend he's saying "Draw" and we go with it.

His new work gloves are good for everything!
Fun at the feed yard. We sing "Oh my grampa's have a farm"

And fun with Ann (And Elsie)

Oh I had so much fun at home. The day after I got back the cute sister missionaries asked me if I missed it here, I shrugged, smirked, and asked if they would like me to lie? But that we did miss Isaac. However I must admit that as the week progressed for the first time I have felt the blessing of being here, I know that some of the things that have and will happened here will forever change my and our lives for the better and that some of our associations will be life long (or longer) friendships. I am grateful for that. Good attitude from me on the blog, WHAT??? This is unheard of,  I know, its been a while. But anyway I felt like it was important to post and I am super grateful! So now... the week:
Sunday we got to go to the 2nd ward. So fun. So many great friends. Loved the all three meetings! I am coming around on our ward here though too-its getting better, or I am--whatever. Then Monday we headed for Vegas around 8:00 AM and finally got back home here around 11:30. Oh brother, good thing I love being home so much because that day of travel is MISERABLE! Luckily after 2 hours in Dallas we as least found this little play place

On our flight to Jackson there wasn't anyone in the seat next to us. Hallelujah I love that. So Cannon piled in his chair. The only problem was it was a 10:00pm flight and most people wanted to sleep. But from the second he sat down in his own seat he just kept saying "Ice. Ice. Ice. Ice. Ice." We just get Ice when the flight attendants bring around drinks because it cuts down on the mess but Oh man-it was cute the first 30 or so times after that I didn't know how or if I was ever going to get him to be quiet. I did finally get him on my lap again and distracted for a minute until the flight attendant was about 2 rows in front of us then I let him sit there again and ask for Ice, then of course win her over by saying "Pease" and "Deek Dee" his consistent perfect inflection version of "Thank You"

Then it was kind of back to the swing of things. Cann Man had a Dr. appointment. 18 months-time flies!
He's starting to jabber and he knows exactly what he's saying...too bad I don't.
We dressed him up in his cute little Cowboy outfit-and here he is giving his little toy Monty Horse a lick. Silly kid. Oh and after dad shaved Cannon needed a turn. My two boys definitely missed each other! Its good to be together as a family again.

I have a ton of pictures but I want to add them from MY computer, but I can't wait so... I'll post some and maybe fix them later. We'll see. So Friday we got home just in time from the viewing.

Saturday was Grama's funeral, it was a really nice celebration of her life and a beautiful October day to make it even better. Then we just kind of settled into being home for a week. I swear my heart just beats here-its so good to be home-Isaac knows and that I want to come back I can't really explain it though its just home. I'm looking so fwd to December when he gets to come with us. And I've decided I can totally do this Mississippi thing if I can come home once a month. Grama would be so glad to know she she got us home for Halloween! She's going to have to work her magic from the other side now though. Monday we started putting that Big Bird Costume to good use. My parents had  ward family home evening Trunk or Treat.. Actually putting Big Bird on was TORTURE 

 but then he settled down and was fine.

 

Tuesday Kristin called and said it was the Ivins 2nd ward Halloween carnival-done! we totally hit that up. We saw so many good friends it was so fun. Wednesday morning we went up to say Hi to Coach Kittrell and he and Mr. Brooks talked us into coming back for their trick or treat thing they do at SCHS-it was really great and the high school kids all really liked "little Bird" as they called him, they'd try to hook him up with trick or treat candy but he was really just good with one little dumb dumb sucker something in each hand.

Halloween night we went to Aunt Charmaine and Cindy's then over to the Allred's. He was having a blast helping Becky give out the candy when we got caught by the bball girls.

It was so fun to see them. They all offered the spare rooms at their houses if we'd just come back and live for the season. I do miss those kids. When we left we went up and visited Kalyn (but didn't even drive by our old house-on purpose) it was so fun. I'm sad we missed Ky's family all dressed up but oh well. Ann and Cannon have been playing in the mornings and having a BLAST.

Monday Grama and Grampa took Cannon to Cal Ranch and bought him his very own cowboy boots. So spoiled. They're pretty cute though, he also got gloves to help feed with and his very own little toy horse "Monty" (that's the name of my dad's horse that he got to ride while Ann was on Jethro)

Helping Feed

 In his cute new boots

Riding Monty (he says Mon-ee)

Its been way fun to get to spend some extra time with Grampa Frei, I feel so bad for him, its just a hard time. And he got some more sad news that my Aunt and Uncle are moving to North Dakota. Its not sad news, its really a great opportunity for him and his family but its just so far away, I don't like being far away -although I think I can handle the Mississippi thing if I can keep coming home once a month and stay for 9-10 days at a time. Grama's going to have to help us out from the other side! I have so many more fun pictures but who knows if I'll ever post them or if Cannon and I will just look at them over and over and over again when we're back in MS in the apt. Good Times.