The ballet was fantastic. The costumes were brilliant and the talent was rich. Ellie was wide eyed and captivated the entire time. As was Momma and Grandma.

Before the ballet we wandered the crowded new shopping center in downtown. Ellie spied the Disney store and we promised we would stop in after the ballet. When the ballet was over she exclaimed “Ok now we can go to the Disney Store!”  Once we were there she set her sights on the Rapunzel doll and would not let go.

We had dinner at Lamb’s Grill it has been operating in downtown SLC since 1919 and still has it’s vintage charm. I had heard they have a delicious chocolate cake and indeed it was the highlight all 5 layers. Yum…

Sunday morning we went for a stroll to seek out breakfast and ended up back where we started as SLC is some what of a ghost town in certain areas on Sundays

Owen and Gary had a good weekend together as well despite his middle of the night “where’s my Momma rant”.  We picked him up a new hat. I think he likes it.

Owen had an excellent 2nd Birthday.  He hammed it up for the cousins and had a wonderfully fun time partying at  Grandma and Grandpa McKenney’s. (Thanks for being the host Mom and Dad).

He new exactly what to do when I placed the cake in front of him. We sang and he blew out the candles right on cue.  Then he proceeded to giggle and snicker and gobble up his cookie monster cake. It was pure joy watching him.

Click here to view the embedded video.

He had a great time opening his gifts and he was thrilled with each one. Wanting to stop and play before opening the next.

Oh! I am so in love with this kid! Welcome to 2 Owen!

Bada and Papa have an electric toy race car that Ellie loved driving around. I think Owen was a little envious. Bada and I caught them taking a ride in it together one day.

Next up are the pictures I took at Farmland. We visited this sweet little farm when we were out last October and Ellie loved it. She fell in love with Sonny the Pony so we had to back and see how he was doing. Owen was a little overwhelmed by all the animals…

the end

Owen is officially one year old.  We celebrated this weekend in spite of his sister’s nagging ear infection. The party was postponed on Friday and then we reorganized.  We had a small celebration on Friday night just the 4 of us. Owen made us laugh as he explored his cupcake and opened some gifts.  He is such a character with the faces he pulls and jabber he makes.

He loved his cup cake. I found a great sugarless recipe for carrot cake  here

Grandma and Grandpa McKenney wrangled up the cousins, Aunt Tamara, Aunt Gay, and Grandpa Jackson. We had a little impromptu party Saturday afternoon. Owen put on a good show having conversations with Grandpa Jackson, attempting to walk, and just pulling funny faces and silly noises all day.

It was a great weekend and to top it all off Owen has begun walking.  Just a few steps at a time but he is determined. Just a little more practice and it will be a whole new world.

Bada and Papa are here until the 20th. It is sooooo nice to have them here just to have an extra hand while things all happen at once like burning the chicken for dinner, feeding Owen, and tending to Ellie’s meltdowns. That kind of scenario seems to occur often around here. What a relief it is to have four adults around to manage what comes our way. Ellie is so excited to have her Bada and Papa here. She is so whipped out by the end of the day she has been refusing to settle for naps I think for fear of missing out. Owen is thrilled as well showing them all that he can do like riding his bike, wooing the ladies, and eating all his food.

Bada can't wait to go skiing

making some wishes w/Papa

We stayed just north of Lahaina in Ka’anapali at a resort called the Honua Kai.  It was right on the beach and had excellent amenities including a great pool area that was kid friendly and a nice market with lovely cupcakes and fresh locally farmed produce. We had a lovely room with a kitchenette and a good view of the ocean from the balcony. Except for the Luau, one dinner out, and a handful of lunches we were able to have low stress meals in house.

The highlights of our trip:

• Snorkel/Dolphin and Whale watch boat tour to the island of Lanai So, when we go to the snorkel site I went out got spooked and promptly returned to the boat, Gary went out had a great time and encountered a fish half his size, Ellie got all geared up stood on the boat deck where the waves went from her knees to her chest jumped in with Gary got 10 feet away from the boat then with out crying or screaming or anything  just pointed back too the boat and she was done. Props to my three year old for being so brave.
• Driving the Road to Hana
• Lounging at the Ohe’o Gulch in Kipahulu at the end of the road to Hana
• Morning walks on the beach
• Eating spaghetti and clams (mermaid food) on the balcony as the sun set
• The “Reefdancer” boat tour which is a glass bottom boat where we were able to see an Octopus
• Attending the Old Lahaina Luau where Ellie exclaimed she was going to “eat the pigs body” after she watched them dig it out of the pit. Wha?
• Dancing with the wee one at the Luau
• Watching the amazing dancers “princesses” at the Luau
• Discovering Napili Beach and successfully snorkeling there. We were able to watch a sea turtle hang out in the surf from the beach
• Getting the family down to the beach for a sunset
• Watching the sunset from the top of Haleakala Crater

Animals we saw:

• Humpback Whales
• Spinner Dolphins
• Sea Turtles
• Octopus
• Sand Crabs
• lots of Fish

Gary’s favorite part = swimming in the Ocean and learning the “Hawaiian Way”

Danette’s favorite part = morning walks on the beach watching all the whales, snorkeling for the first time, and watching my kids discover and love the beach

Ellie’s favorite part = seeing the Octopus, playing in the waves, and eating pig at the Luau. (Side note again my girl was brave as she was swept off her feet by more then one wave while we were there. She would get up and look at us as if to check in to see if it was ok and then smile at what a thrill that was and get right back after it. Oh to have that uninhibited drive to play and not fear consequences. PS Mom we were right there with her each time)

Owen’s favorite part = We think by the excitement we witnessed from him that he really liked playing in the waves and eating sand

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the trip. (If you would like to see all of the photo’s from our trip visit our flickr site here )

Owen just laughed at me when I told him with a very serious voice not to eat the sand

and some videos too…

We could get used to Maui

Gary took Ellie to preschool and Owen took his morning nap and I was graced with an hour and a half of pure silent moments to myself. Ahhhh

After Ellie’s preschool we went shopping. On the way home I let Ellie call Bada and Papa. She talked to them for over a half hour and it was all about Christmas. There was talk of Santa and ballerina’s, reindeer, chimneys, the north pole, Polar Express Train, Christmas Tree’s, Pirate ships for Owen and a crown for Daddy, It was so much fun to listen too. They really had her going.

I found Gary at home making my favorite Chicken Parm Dinner. We had plans of decorating our Christmas Tree but found out that the stand it was in was leaking all over the place. 

Gary saved the day by bringing out my Birthday gift. He totally surprised me with an old school Fisher Price Sesame Street play set. I spied this about a month ago and got all giddy over it. I found it at this site www.toysofthepast.etsy.com. Check it out if you grew up in the late ’70-’80′s  I guarantee you’ll have childhood nostalgia overload. I felt like I was 4 years old again when I opened it. I don’t remember if we had this set when I was young or if a neighbor kid had it all I remember is how much I loved it. The trap door that spits out the characters on the side, the “catwalk” that leads the characters to a slippery slide, the merry go round, all that.  I think that some of the childhood neurons in my brain that had been put to rest came back to life for a little while last night. It goes with out saying that Ellie and Owen were impressed too. They played with it until they passed out literally. Gary said that as he was laying Ellie down in her bed she mumbled in a dream filled sleep fog “sesame street playhouse…”.  Needless to say Gary did a good job this year of making my Birthday extra special.

Another funny side note. We were listening to Christmas music last night an old version of “Santa Baby” sung by Eartha Kitt came on and according to Ellie it is scary. She got really upset and cried big tears telling us it was scary. We couldn’t figure it out the only thing I can think of was the background singers. ???

And… Here is some footage of Owen and Ellie hamming it up too

It did go surprisingly well. I was calm the entire time which is unusual. Every other time in my life when I’ve been put in that kind of a situation my heart races and I get the cold sweats and shakes, but I never experienced that. Instead I experienced Grandma’s love and it sheltered me from all the anxiety. Pretty much one of the most spiritual moments in my life.

LuDean Burris Jackson, 83, died Nov. 24, 2010, in Logan, Utah, after a long battle with health challenges. LuDean was born in Logan, Utah, at home on Oct. 3, 1927, the first child of William Thomas Burris and Alveda Lillian Barrett Burris. She attended Logan schools and graduated from Logan High School in 1945. LuDean worked at Logan businesses during and after high school. From the flip of a coin on a double date she met her future husband and eternal companion, Scott Jackson. She and Scott were married June 12, 1946, in the Logan LDS Temple. LuDean was active in the LDS Church, serving in the Young Women and Relief Society programs and as a Logan Temple officiator. She was involved in civic activities and was a good friend to many. She enjoyed the beauties of God’s creations and beautiful music.
LuDean is survived by her husband and friend, Scott, and their five daughters; Meriam Nielsen (Alan), Sherrie McKenney (Paul), DeeAnn Davidson (Daniel), Laurie Jackson and Gay Jackson. LuDean is also survived by two brothers and one sister; Keith Burris (Marye), Ronald Burris (Elaine), Carol Godfrey (Joe). She loved her family as much as life and was a loving grandmother to 15, special great-grandmother to 19 and one coming in May.
There are many ways to remember my Grandma like the violets in the lawn, a beautiful rose, Ebelskivers at Christmas, baseball, the temple, but what stands out the most is a simple letter

Dear Grandma Jackson

I think a letter is an appropriate way to honor you. As I gathered my thoughts and memories of you I asked my siblings and cousins to share with me their memories. Each one of us agree that we will miss your letters and cards. You never missed a holiday or reason to send a note.You wrote personal letters to each of us when we needed words of encouragement.  You wrote me almost every week when I was younger and learning to spread my wings. Remember the summer I spent in Alaska? The highlight of each week was when I found a letter from you. You knew I needed that connection to family when everything seemed so far away. I have learned that you did this for us all, we all have received letters of encouragement and love just when we needed it the most.  How lucky are we to have these hand written words to keep close to our hearts to remember you with.

I know that family was the foundation of your life. You gave unconditional love to all of us.  You would light up when ever we were together, especially around the wee ones. We felt your pride and your joy when we were together.  You always greeted everyone with a smile and a hug.  I will miss how you greeted us with genuine joy as we walked up the back steps into the kitchen. Your love for Grandpa and his for you was something to behold. What a beautiful marriage  you shared with Grandpa. You were so devoted and it was so easy to see that you were best friends. I love the fact that Grandpa kissed you goodnight every evening.  I cherish the sweet story of the coin toss to win the first date with you.

This love for family and friends radiated from you and made you such a positive person. You have endured so much with all your ailments you never complained you didn’t let it bring you down and depress you. You stayed positive and I think that took a lot of strength. Your positive attitude has had a far reach. We have always been amazed at how well you’ve handled the pain and frustration of diabetes. You have shown us how to rise above and be happy.

Grandma you knew that the key to life was to cultivate relationships and through that there is love. What a beautiful life you lived with so much love in your heart. What a wonderful example you are.  I never heard you speak ill of anyone I only witnessed you make more and more friendships along the way and those friendships were so honest and true. You have taught us through example that life is about love.  I am so honored to have your legacy to follow. You are the ultimate matriarch. I miss you Grandma.

with all my love,
Danette