Memorial Day

Bella and I in front of my Grandma and Grandpa Norman's graves.

My Mom's Family. My Grandma and Grandpa Norman.

On Memorial Day, we went to the Salt Lake City Cemetery where a lot of my ancestors are buried. We put flowers on my Grandparents grave. My Grandma Norman lived with my family for 10 years while I was growing up. She was a huge influence on my life. She died one week before I met John. She was an amazing woman, a lot like my mom. She taught me love, service and loyalty. She was a widow for 40+ years and never remarried. She never even dated. She said she never wanted to have to choose who's arms she would run to in the eternities. She was a strong and independent woman before that was the norm. I love her. I miss her. I am thankful for days like yesterday that I get to think and reminisce about her and that I get to share memories with my husband and daughter about my Grandma.

Bella putting a flower on President Hinckley's grave.

While we were there, we decided to go and see President Hinckley's grave. John knew where it was from previously seeing Sister Hinckley's. It was nice to honor and remember a man that I felt so close to, even though we never met. He was the prophet of my youth. He was the prophet when I gained my testimony of the Church. I felt close to him because of that. When I told that to my mom she said, "You feel about him the way I felt about David O. McKay and how your dad felt about Spencer W. Kimball."

President Hinckley's grave.

This makes it sound like we had a really sad day, but in reality, it was really fun and relaxing. It was fun to just be with my family with nothing else to do. We also went over to my sister, Erin's house for a BBQ. It was a good kick-off to summer-corn on the cob and all.

Cent of Style

Yes, this is Brennan. It is one of my favorite photos from our photo shoot, last fall.

As most of you know, I started my own company a little over a year ago. It has come a long way. Long enough in fact that the website is finally done. Hallelujah! I thought you might want to check it out. www.mycentsofstyle.com. Let me know what you think.

Grand Cayman

We got back from Grand Cayman a week ago. We went with John's brother, Joe, his wife Erin and their kids, Carter and Aidan. We rented this great beach house on the non-touristy side of the island and spent a terrific week lounging in the sun. We literally did little other than play at the beach and the pool.
John and Joe did go scuba diving a few times, they loved it. We also went to this cool place called Stingray City. It is a sandbar in the middle of the ocean where about 60 "domesticated" (I use this term lightly, because they are still wild animals and about two weeks before we went a tourist was stung) live. You get out of the boat and they come all around you. You can feed them squid and even hold them. John did all of the above, I basically stayed in the boat, I am a total wuss. Bella was even more brave than me. She happily touched them. I barely did.
On mother's day, we went to the Boatswain Turtle Farm. It was so cool. Right when you walk in there is an large lagoon full of adult sea turtles, at least 100. We fed them and then we went around to the different tanks of younger turtles. You could just pick them up and hold them. Here in the states, there would have been an employee at every tank making sure you were following the rules, but there on the island things were much more relaxed. It was great. Again, John and Bella were the brave ones. Holding and touching them, I just did it once for the picture....I am not an animal person, to say the least.
The island is actually really expensive, so we basically lived off of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and pancakes. We did not even buy any souvenirs other than one stingray stuffed animal for Bella. We did however get some beautiful conch shells right off the beach by our house.
We had a wonderful time. Bella and I have wonderful tans and John is not too red. So, all in all it was a wonderful trip.

This is strictly for the camera, I barely did it.

The one below should be first, someone needs to teach me how to correctly input pictures.

Smiling Happily, before getting drenched by the blow hole.

Bella could have played on the beach the entire time. The beach house is in the background.

My brave daughter and husband swimming with the stingray. I am the one on the boat taking the pictures.

I seem to always be the last.....

So, I have done it. I have created a blog. I frequently check my family and friends blogs, but I myself, have never had one. I decided it was about time to get on the bandwagon and begin blogging. I am sure my post wont be nearly as entertaining as say, Christy's, or as well "pictured" as Becca's but I am going to give it a try. Here it goes.....