So last weekend we went camping at D'Lo and then to a place called Mitchell Farms. It was a cute little place. I'm going to post pictures and movies and you are just going to assume that we had a blast and we'll leave it at that.
I laughed as I was building collages this week I saw some from when I first started doing the blog. Then I would do a collage for the whole week. Now sometimes I need more than 1 collage for 2 hours. I guess that's how it is, with a little guy and I can't get enough of-and especially living far away. 

Keeping Cannon out of the "fire"-next to impossible, but must be done. Exhausting.

Building the rope swing-and all night and all day project. I know the pictures aren't great but...oh well.

All for this...I admit if it wouldn't have been cold I probably would have tried it -from the lower take off spot.

Here's the movies...

This one was going to be the back flip...



And finally Cann Man on the slide-the kid has no fear



Mitchell Farms...

Sunday after conference Cannon was so tired of being cooped up we headed for his favorite Sunday activity-to visit the horse by the church.

This little sucker was an unwelcome guest this week. And although I chased him with the broom and the vacuum he could still be here. I can't think about it.

 

Isaac tried to entertain Cannon during conf-they were learning how to do pull ups.

And one more pic with video just because we have the other slide ones. We've worked so hard on the sit down and scoot-ch to the slide thing. When he finally got it the other day I was so proud but it was hilarious! I wanted a picture of him ducking his little chin and working so hard-but of course the picture was insufficient so...the video. 

That's about it. He's been saying "amen" at the end of prayers for a couple weeks now. Even though its sounds more like "Mayhem" but this last week he's started to fold his arms a little too. Its darling and makes me think I'm doing something right :)

Friday Isaac headed back to New Orleans to help with the clean up efforts -doesn't even the thought of that make you want to gag? oh man. He did say it was the worst smells he's ever smelled in his life. Anyway, moving on to a more pleasant subject, since he was gone I headed north to Memphis to visit Sara and Ryan and their boys. Sara and I are cousins but we weren't really ever close until we roomed together at BYU, now we're cousins and GREAT friends. It was SO FUN to see them. (And ps she's one of those supermoms that just does more than is humanly possible, I took a few notes but I'm tell'n ya its just not in the cards for me.) Cannon had fun too, its good to have family within driving distance.

Max waited all day to show us his astronaut costume, Calvin gets to be his space ship for Halloween. (Oh speaking of Halloween I've been getting my craft on working on Cann Man's costume and Isaac told Blake right in front of me that "They'll probably throw us in jail for child abuse for making him wear it." What a brat huh? He's going be our little Big Bird and he's going to be CUTE, whether his dad likes it or not! Ok I better get down off that soap box and back to Memphis)...Where was I, Oh yeah poor Calvin scored both those dings on his head while we were there, they looked so painful I wanted to cry for him. Sara said bruised heads around her house are pretty typical.  Boys. Boys. Boys. Max was just going for the ball...
They have a huge fenced in back yard, Cann Man was in heaven!

Saturday we went downtown and they have this mock up of the Mississippi River with all of its tributaries and the kids can wade in it, it was so fun. Well actually the weather was perfect -for not being wet- so when Cann man tripped and got his shirt wet it was a little chilly, so we ditched it. But there were some boy scouts racing their boats down the river and it was just a fun, cool, free, place. I was impressed.

After we hit up some Memphis style BBQ and Ryan met us there after finishing up some work at the hospital. He's the one that found the cage/jail whatever you want to call it (lifesaver) for the boys while we ordered and such. After lunch we headed back so it was just a quick trip but so fun. I watched the RS General Broadcast on the internet at home that night but we also got the fun surprise of having Isaac come home Sat. Night too because they had finished up so it was great. I'm excited to take him back to Memphis with us, I know he'll love Sara and Ryan -who wouldn't? and we'll get to go to the temple, looking fwd to it.
Other than that the week pretty much flew by but I did have the camera out a few times to help me remember what we've been up too.
When I leave the closet door open Cannon tries on Isaac's ties, one at a time. Too cute.

 I love it when he just sits and reads his Book of Mormon, its so cute. He did it a couple times this week. Some of the moms in our ward formed a little play group so we hit that up, it was fun. Cannon was really disappointed he couldn't talk this little girl into getting off the trike and giving him a turn. I thought it was hilarious, there was another statue of kids playing on a seesaw, he piled on and tried to ride it too.

 This picture really sums up the week, the kid is into EVERYTHING, stove- check, dishwasher-check, fridge-double check. We do the timeout thing, he just waits out his few minutes until he can get into something else he's not supposed to. He usually doesn't get this far but I've got my work cut out for me. I mean the kid doesn't have a yard or a bedroom so why not play in the kitchen but disaster looms...as he grabs the burners. When I was cooking dinner for the missionaries this week I tried to block him out with old fashioned baby gates-I tip the chair down and put bins in front of the other entrance. He climbed up the slates in the back of the chairs (I knew he was trying but had my head turned to the stove) then I heard the thud, as he lay there on the inside. He looked a little stunned but didn't cry as he was just satisfied with himself for getting through the block. Oh brother.

 And he's started to use his tractor as a step stool if he every can't reach something he just drives over to it then tries again. Funny kid. He keeps us laughing. He can't quite get on the couch without some help but one night we watched him climb over my sewing machine case (the step stool he needed) with ball in hand (which is what made it so funny/difficult -he should have set in down on the couch and climbed to it but anyway) and onto the couch, then shoot the ball, then go get it and start over and over and over. It was just funny and he always finds lots of extra energy when Isaac gets home. They worked on pounding nails out on the patio this week too.
We took the missionaries around Thursday- Cann's got it, he can knock doors.  It was cute.

Things back home are plugging along-the only help they get from us is our prayers but I think those count.

Like usual I had started constructing this post throughout the week, but this morning I managed to delete it. So here's the starting over version. UG I have a love/hate relationship with technology.

We had to say goodbye to Grama :( Friday but we survived the flight, Cannon actually slept part of it. And we found the BEST SURPRISE EVER at the Shreveport airport.I had typed in all the details but its so disheartening starting clear over. So cute of him though we loved it, of course it made our drive across LA so so much better. We stopped at the Mississippi river but couldn't get down to it, we always have our eye out for cannon's though :)

I forgot to document my b-day flowers. I should have before they wilted.

The Grandparents update: Grama's "pretty slow" that's what she says if ya ask how she's doing. Grampa, well they did an Angiogram and Angioplasts and   put 3 stents in and I was under the impression that everything went smooth but I was way off-they almost lost him on the table 3 times. Then his kidneys weren't working so he was going to have to go on dialysis or basically go home to die. So Monday when I called to get the update my folks had been there at the hospital and he was doing ok, awake talking and such so they went to grab a bite to eat. That's when I called. Then a few hours later they called and back and told me what had happened. They were just getting back to the hospital after lunch when the social worker called and said there had been an emergency and Grampa had flat lined. (Remember Grampa was perfectly healthy -all relative for an 85 year old I guess- but anyway seemed perfectly healthy for 9 of the 10 days we were in Utah) anyway so my parents were only a quick elevator ride away but they got there and the medical personnel were doing CPR but only problem is my Grampa is a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) patient. So they had to stop them. Can you imagine, my poor dad. Anyway, they stop, then Grandpa rallys and makes a comeback. Crazy. Then the next day when I called to check his kidney's had rallied and if all went well he'd be able to come home by Wed! Crazy, I guess Grandpa's not done here on earth. Anyway he really didn't come home until Thursday but...that's the update.

And here in Mississippi we just carry on like everything's normal.
Here's some of this week's antics...we'll call CANN-tics.
The first two we were still in Utah for. Teaching Cann Man to Shop :) and maybe I drink the milk out of my cereal bowl....whoops

Cann associates his sandals and ONLY his sandals with getting to go outside. Can you believe I had the nerve to put these other red shoes on him. Outrage! I love that the sandal he wanted is sitting next to him in this picture. Then helping wipe the pencil he scribbled off.

He's a good helper -well he was the one that made the mess- but if I get the camera out all bets are off! I also wanted to get a picture of his little skinned up knees-its a permanent thing poor little guy- but no luck.

And my little cookie helper.  We used the high chair as a step stool and really shouldn't have because now he just thinks its his in the kitchen ladder. WHOOPS, but what's done is done. 

 The Library-why haven't I done more of that sooner? And the ducks so fun!

and a couple movies to boot

Little Stinker boy is asleep-wish he would sleep in the middle of the night. But even though its a travel day for us, if he's sleeping I might has well post. Some of this post I constructed throughout the week and some early Thursday morning when after I sent this to Isaac on email
"Greetings from the middle of the night. Cannon wakes up like clock work at 3. I got him back to sleep and was laying there and I heard a phone ring I wasn't sure it if it was my new ring or not so I got up and checked my phone, it wasn't mine so I layed back down and it went again. Then my dad's lights came on. It was Grampa calling my dad (he turned it off the first time thinking it was his alarm) anyway calling to tell him he thought he was having a heart attack. So needless to say its 3:41 and I am wide awake.... Don't know anything (my dad went to take him to the hospital) but now you are in the don't know anything loop."
My poor dad. So along with everything else, grampa is in the hospital- but doing better- good grief!!!

All of the days are pretty much a blur. Cannon and I had a blast visiting with Kalyn and Kristin. I know we live in Mississippi but this still feels like home and I'm good with that. It was so fun to chat and the weather's beautiful and the humidity is non-existent :) Oh I'm pretty sure  its Heaven. Sunday was just a good good day, I loved going to church in Ivins. I loved Sacrament mtg and getting to go to our old Sunday School class and Relief Society was just a fun fun lesson. Oh it just felt so good and comfortable and nice. Sunday evening the Allreds came and we visited and cleaned what we could at my Grandparents house. They are so nice! Monday I hit the Big 31. YUCK. Seriously-no way can I be that old-but I am! I have an uncle that I don't see very often but he's been up helping with my grandparents house. He asked how old I was and when I told him he said "BULL" it was the perfect comment. Tuesday we visited with Grama Cottam and Aunt Kay and Andee and also caught Lydia's soccer game. Wednesday we hit up the play date at the park and Coach Allen's soccer practice. So fun.  So while the trip is very different than expected we've also been able to do a lot of fun things and see a lot of people.
The pics I added while I was up at 4 in the morning-Usually these pictures would end up in a collage but I'm not on my regular computer so maybe later.

The city guys might not of let Cann Man on the back hoe (last week) but Grampa would! I love that you can see Cann holding on to the steering wheel -if you look close- he's a serious helper. And he said "Woof" every single time they drove by the dogs. It kept Grampa smiling.

Running the mini with Grampa too

 Wore him right out

 Such a good helper

 I have and empty box of dog treats I put a handful in then let Cannon divvy them out.

"More"..."Please"

Anyway I guess that's it. I know its all over the place but oh well. Not excited about a long day of travel but very excited to see Isaac. Wasn't prepared at all to say goodbye to Grampa in the stink'n hospital. Haven't said goodbye to Grama yet but...not excited about that either. Such is life though and its been SO SO SO good to be here even with all the chaos. 

Flood Clean Up-near and far

So Saturday and Sunday Isaac worked with the Helping Hands organization and when I saw these pictures I was so proud.

Annie and I hung out some, we went yard sale'n and I totally scored for 8 bucks, that was fun.
Monday was a long day of travel but so good to be home and Tuesday at first it was raining all day and they were giving me a hard time about bringing Isaac (the Hurricane) with me, but then all Heck broke loose. Check the kutv  or  KSL  link.  My grandparents house is below the dike, their house flooded bad and the basement was clear full. It came in the window wells and blew out the windows, it came in the front door it basically went everywhere. (Even blew the door and frame off the storeroom in the basement) What a mess. So much help so fast though. Probably 30 people were there Tuesday night just helping anyway they could. Crazy run of emotions going from my husband giving help to people in need, to being on the receiving end (even though it was my grandparents). Wild wild wild. So much Christlike service, its amazing, and so humbling. While it was happening they wouldn't let us through to get to her house (Ok and I oblivious that it was happening, I knew it had been raining all day but I was headed up there with a plate of cookies for Grampa) So anyway after my brothers clued me in to what was happening we totally transformed my mom's house so Grama and Grampa could move in. After that my helping was kind of limited to tending either Grama so Jayne and Grampa could get away and help up at the house, or tending Ann so Kyler could. I definitely wanted to do more.
Here you can see how high the water was on the hedge. Luckily (blessing) my dad was there at my Grama's.

 

So many little blessings with all the mess though.  My grama was worried about the stuff in her mothers cedar chest in the basement, its one of the things Chip got out. My grama has this paisley shawl that came across the plains with the pioneers. (I think it was Fanny Gunn's-but my geneology is rusty) but just last week she had my Aunt go get it from the basement, so it was upstairs. That fact that my aunt Jayne was coming anyway. Huge Blessing. I'm glad I'm here now too, and Aunt Laur came Thursday night. Even just having my Grama move in down at my parents-huge blessing! (we're still working hoping praying grampa will come too but he's still sleeping up to his house and that's okay too) Understandably they didn't want to leave their house but her health is poor right now and my parents home is built handi-cap accesable (by design) so its a good thing.
Heres another example... seriously this is the next day, so amazing.

I just compare that to how long the people Isaac was helping had to wait to get there houses looking like this. Here's one more link...they all look the same to me after watching so many. Chip is on it 3:25 but it just looks like the other picture from KUTV

And some random just normal (low stress-mostly fun) pictures from the week:

Cannon looking at pictures of Grampa's dogs-getting so excited to see them.



 Sharing a little string cheese with Samps.

Playing with Ann-Spinning on the office chair-SO FUN They've eat'n popsicles with Grampa and helped sweep out the garage, just lots of good times.

Watch'n the backhoes clean up from the flood. Isaac always lets him help so he was really annoyed he couldn't get in with those drivers and help them.

We had pizza with the basketball girls So fun to see them and they were SO EXCITED to see Cann Man and he was super clingy, just tired- but it was fun. 

Kisses for Great Grama Frei

I'm glad we're here, we definitely miss Isaac too though.

Friday we found some entertainment at the local Bass Pro Shop...it was a fun little family date night. The pics aren't great but Cannon is watching the fish then I loved his expression with that cat.

Isaac's been looking forward the first Saturday of the month since the Stout's told him about the fun Home Depot projects, then with the move we missed August but I think he's set now. He called Blake so Ayla got in on the fun too. They plan to collect the project pins and all. Cannon made a goal post and Ayla made a little jewelry box. Too cute-Home Depot is awesome! I'm glad Blake had his phone and snapped some pics.

Somehow I thought Ole Miss was just right up the road-right up the road 2.5 hours. WAY closer to Memphis (where my cousin lives but she is home in Utah) than here. On top of that LSU is pretty much equidistant from here (just thought I'd throw in the geometry term for old times sake) but LSU is ranked #1 so I guess it was better that we went Ole Miss for our first SEC football experience, I mean $4 tickets is tough to beat. I also tried Chick-fil-a for the first time (that I can remember) on that little trip. SOLD. I know its all the conservative rage right now but I'm in. So clean, so nice, so friendly, fresh flowers on every table, mouthwash, extra diapers just in case in the restroom. It was great. All the workers had their Ole Miss Chick-fil-a game days shirts, I loved it.

Sunday...oh Sundays are SO HARD for me, they break my heart, I just want to be home. It used to be my favorite day. Church, we loved the Ivins 2nd ward, then naps, and visiting my family filled up the day! So here's a little proof that we did live in heaven!

 

I told Isaac I wanted to go home for my birthday and bought my ticket before we ever left, I am SO EXCITED. This is a quick phone pic Kristin snapped for me this week of the Maxwell's (Bro Maxwell was our home teacher) cleaning up our yard before we come. Isn't that the nicest thing you've ever heard? I confess I teared up when Kristin first text me about. Then they came back, it was a multiple night project. ~remember that I can't even give a plate of cookies away here~ Oh my goodness I was totally overwhelmed. SO SO NICE!

For a Labor day project my boys put up a hammock~and cleaned off the little balcony but I still did some cropping :) I had given it to Isaac the Christmas before we got married, it made it's debut this much later...just one of the random things that made the trip, but it was fun.
Tuesday I got my Mississippi Drivers license-an all day project. Oh brother. Wednesday we fed the missionaries, definitely one of my favorite things out here. Love having them. Love their thoughts and their prayers its a good thing (and I make it an all day project but hallelujah for the pressure to make the apt somewhat presentable-they don't care but I do) This week I randomly thought of kids that I taught in school (some in 8th grade) that I know are out on missions. It was just cool. Thursday we took the guys lunch at school and got to meet a lot of their professors. It was fun.

Tonight Isaac is going with a group from our ward/stake down to the coast to help clean up from the hurricane. I'm trusting that Blake will take some phone pics for us :) They are staying until Sunday evening, which seems a little weird going with a church group but I guess its just different, there's a need and they are going to help. We fly out Monday so I looked into changing my ticket but it was going to be pricey! Plus at least we'll get to see Isaac Sunday night because it will be a long time to be away from him for me and Bubba. So here we  are sitting around for the weekend waiting to leave, kind of a bummer but it will all work out.
Next post from home :)
Oh and poor little Bubba's  been so sick this week. Hoping/praying he's on the mend now!