For Candace

I promised my sister that I would update my blog with more pictures of Grant. Here are some pictures that totally show his personality. I know what you are thinking about the first two pictures: What a chubby baby!

There and Back Again...

For Easter Vacation this year, we flew down to sunny Arizona. We played by the pool, got some sun and culture, and enjoyed the family. Here are some pictures and highlights.

Grant discovered kitchen toys while we were down there. We packed a bunch of his toys with us, but he took a liking to this collapsable measuring cup and a wooden mallet he swung around like a wand. EVERYTHING goes into his mouth!

We attended India Fest at the Pheonix Art Museum. There was delicious food, spectacular dancing and music, but no water bottles were allowed inside. Even empty water bottles will be confiscated by scary security men.

We also enjoyed participating in traditional Easter activities, such as dying and searching for Easter eggs. I have featured my new favorite way of dying Easter eggs: the silk tie method. Simply wrap raw eggs in pieces of a silk tie and boil for 20 minutes. Even the not-so-artsy can create beautiful eggs. Other good methods included marbled Easter eggs and lace Easter eggs (both methods are still undergoing refinement).

We also played with friends and hunted for Easter eggs. The eggs were hidden in Grandpa Michael fashion . . . novice level (so Tenille could find them; Nat did not even try).We had friends over, including the Davises from New Jersey, who now live in Mesa too. Grant made a new friend in Tyler, who is 8 months (?), and Jeff and Laura's most recent (and unexpected) addition!

It was time for some new family photos. We were ecstatic that Grant cooperated. Nat tickled him to get him to laugh in all the pictures. Tenille absolutely demanded that Grant wear his sailor outfit. It was the first and last time.

Here's a really nice Cannon family picture. Josh is missing though, and will be serving in India for another 8 months... When will we ever get the whole family back together?? We think everyone should just follow us back East!

We hope everyone else enjoyed the Holiday!

Happy Pi Day!!!

3.14 is Pi Day! Here are pi-squared ways to commemorate this important math holiday!

1. Read 1 Kings 7:23
2. Run 3.14 miles

3. Play with new circle toy to find pi (Nanna had no idea how appropriate this toy was for pi day)
4. Visit The Joy of Pi website

5. Read Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi
6. Write 3.14 pages for your thesis (It should be more, but I was too busy celebrating pi day)

7. Read Life of Pi (which has nothing to do with the number, but is a fabulous read)
8. Ride a bike (note the spokes)
9. Eat things that are round (pies, pizzas, quesadillas, oranges, etc.)

I've also included my favorite pie recipes for you to tryout.

Banana Blueberry Pie

8 oz package cream cheese, softened
3/4 c. sugar
2 c. whipped topping
4 bananas, sliced
2 9-in pastry shells, baked
1 can blueberry pie filling

In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Fold in whipped topping and bananas. Pour into pastry shells. Spread with pie filling. Refridgerate at least 30 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh blueberries, mint and sliced bananas.

Vanilla Cream Pie

2 baked pastery shells
4 eggs yolks
3/4 c. sugar
1/4 c. cornstarch or 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
3 c. milk
1 T. butter
1 1/2 t. vanilla
Whipped topping

For filling, combine sugar and cornstarch. Gradually stir in milk. Cook and stir over medium-high heat till thick and bubbly. Cook and stir for 2 minutes more. Remove from heat. Slightly beat egg yolks with fork. Gradually stir 1 c. of t he hot filling into yolks. Pour egg yolk mixture into hot filling in pan. Bring to gentle boil. Cook and stir 2 minutes more. Remove from heat. Stir in butter and vanilla. Pour filling into baked pastry shell. Chill for 3 hours. Serve with whipped topping.

Variations: cover pastry shell with bananas for Banana Cream Pie; or add 1 c. flaked coconut with butter and vanilla, garnish with toasted coconut and almonds for Coconut Cream Pie

The New Media

Recently Elder M. Russel Ballard, and Apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gave some talks in which he highlighted the importance of spreading accurate information about the church through the internet. He urged members to set up blogs, and engage in other online activity, discussions and so forth. Through these outlets we can share testimonies, answer questions, disseminate media, and serve to balance out the overwhelmingly critical and negative voices that abound regarding Mormonism.

I've been tossing some ideas around as to how I can contribute (e.g. a gospel oriented blog, becoming a regular contributor to some bigger & better blog, serving as a responder to questions on church websites, you can even do MTC online chat now for those in the Provo/Orem area). I'd be interested if any of you have had any success with this, or if you have any suggestions.

I thought I'd pass along an interesting link. It seems the leaders of the church are taking their own advice. Check it out: http://blog.moregoodfoundation.org/224. The link Elder Nelson refers to is JesusChrist.lds.org.

Grant Dances to the Classics

Grant is mobile! Well, he can roll from his tummy to his back (although rather inconsistently). After several takes, this was the best video we could produce. If you use your imagination, you might be able to see Grant roll over at the end of the video.

Along with his new found mobility, Grant has discovered that life doesn't always go as planned. Case in point: That which the hand can grab, the mouth may not chew. We posted some before and after shots to illustrate. Here is Grant enjoying his swing (and his beautiful quilt Aunt Candace made him), wondering if he will ever be able to reach the pretty orange fish. After moments of deep concentration, SUCCESS!! This period of triumph is briefly enjoyed, only to be followed by . . .. . . anger and frustration when he couldn't pull the fish to his mouth.The moral of this story is: don't put food, drink, research papers, necklaces, earrings (especially still attached to earlobes), phones, cameras, or Christmas decorations (thanks to Karee for putting away my decorations away this weekend) anywhere near the baby!