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.

A few pics before I get too far behind. Cann Man's new trick. Its so fun until his dad's not around to lift him up, he gets so disappointed when he asks please and can't figure out while I won't just lift him up there. Sorry buddy-I'm just not tall enough.

This was the scene when I came home from going visiting with the missionaries on Sat. It was great. I asked Isaac who fell asleep first and he said "probably me" and that little "ball" is red potato they were strung all over the apt.

Cann Man double fist'n the gravel throwing-he does it all the time-I think its cute until he's throwing things at things he shouldn't.

He always wants to play with Ayla, I hear  "A-ya...A-ya...A-ya..." all day long, so before we headed home for the funeral we stopped by to play with Ayla-lucky for me the World Series was on. I love that he's pointing at the TV and you can tell the Umpire is about to make a call. (don't mind the pink chair)

Friday we jumped on a plane and ended up home about and hour and a half before the viewing. Grama's funeral was an awesome tribute to her life, it was a beautiful service. My heart breaks for Grampa but we all know Grama's in a better place and really this mortality thing is temporary for all of us.

Karen Rose Cannon Frei

October was always kind of Grama's month. Anniversary, birthday, and so today,  she's gone back home. Its a happy sad day. I wanted to do a post that pays her tribute.  I'm thankful for her life, thankful for all the time we spent together, she always called me "her" Lyn. We were close, and we still are. I'm also very thankful that she's finally free from mortal pain, her hands finally work again!!! What a happy reunion with Aunt Patti and Grama Ingledue and so many others on the other side.

Grama's Obituary:

Karen Rose Cannon Frei passed away October 24^th 2012 after a life-long battle with Arthritis and a relatively short fight with Cancer.

Karen was born October 11, 1938 the youngest child of Clarence Cannon and Rosalind Miller Cannon.  She grew up in “Sand Town” and enjoyed the blessings of being raised in St. George in that era.  She married her sweetheart, Lee Frei, on October 5^th 1955.  They made their home in Santa Clara where they lived most of their married life with the exception of a brief period of time spent living in Salt Lake City and Beaver from 1981-1987. They were blessed with five beautiful Children. 

Although she battled debilitating arthritis for years, she still managed to keep a good attitude and friendly spirit around others.  She was an avid reader.  She enjoyed visiting with the many people in her life. She loved her children and all of their friends and was always happy to have them in her home. She loved to look at the beautiful view of Pine Valley and the red mountains from her front window.  She also enjoyed making Pomegranate Jelly and sharing it with others by either teaching them how to make it themselves or giving them a bottle to take home. She loved her grandchildren and being involved their lives! She was supportive in encouraging their many talents and interests.  She also kept treats readily available for whenever they came to visit.  She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and held many callings. Most recently, she enjoyed working in the Temple. 

I was honored with the privilege of speaking at Grama's funeral, and with help from above managed to even sing -seriously, I the only person that had heard it was Cannon- this song for her. It was a very neat experience and somehow peaceful just to get to pay tribute to my Grama.

Grama's Hands (modified from Holly Dunn's Daddy's Hands song)

I remember grama’s hands turn’n pages in her chair
and hold’n on to little ones we’d set  in her lap there
I spent a lot of time with my grama as a kid
and learned to fight life's battles by watch'n all she did

I remember Grama's hands mend'n pants and stirr'n soup
her crooked grip  pull'n yarn through a crocheted loop
You could tell quite a story in the knuckles and the bends
For years she fought those crippled hands and now it finally ends

Grama's Hands and the story of her life
Grama's Hands and the years of Sacrifice
Grama's hands weren't always mobile
but the are again right now
We can see God's Plan in Grama's hands

I can picture Grama's hands Hold'n my Aunt Patti tight
Her smiling as she shakes some hands cuz now hers work just right
There's an awful lot of things Grama's waited long to do
and knowing that she finally can, we're so happy for her too

Grama's Hands and all the lives they blessed
Grama's Hands now they find eternal rest
Grama's Hands weren't always pretty
But they are again right now,
We can see God's love in Grama's Hands

Grama's Home, with that God that gave her life
Grampa's here-for a time without his wife
But they'll always be together
-sealed for enternity
Now its Heavens Hands that guide our family

We’ve all felt  God's love through Grama's Hands

Isaac had to talk and teach in church Last Week. I wasn't there for his SS class but he did awesome on his talk. Not a ton to post this week. We headed to the fair but ended up at Bass Pro Shop's out door activities instead. Here my guys are making a leather bracelet.

Cann Man show'n off his folded arms. He's a cutie.

I finished the hat for his costume...most of the pictures look like this...

The only way I got this picture was he was "work'n on a project" I don't know how I'm going to get him to wear it.  I put the leggings on him (that Isaac made the child abuse comment that I posted earlier about) he was trying like crazy to get them OFF, which was funny but I want him to wear the costume. Hmm,  Halloween was never really my thing so maybe its not his either. Oh well, I've had fun and it keeps me busy.

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.