Thanks Aunt Barbara!

Kyle's Aunt Barbara gave us this darling little pink dress at Celeste's baby blessing.  I love pink and this dress is just so adorable on her.  I wish I could find this dress in adult size!  I would totally wear it.  

The Color Purple

The Color Purple by Alice Walker
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I picked up this book because it is considered more of a classic novel and I haven't read a classic in a while. I also wanted to read the book before I watched the movie.  I think books are better than movies 99% of the time and if I don't like the book I won't watch the movie.  I probably won't watch this movie.
I loved the beginning of this book. I found it fascinating.  The grammar of Celie and her family intrigued me and I really liked it at first.  It got old after a while though and I found it confusing at times.  I had to keep rereading portions of the text to remember who was talking.  I think this would make a great audio book.  As an audio book the reader could really get into the different voices of character.  I think it would also be less confusing as the reader.
Celie is an amazing character!  I loved her strength and wisdom.  She had such a rough childhood and you can't help but feel sorry for her.  In the middle of the book Celie meets Shug and I didn't like Shug at all.  I thought Shug was a distraction to an otherwise amazing book of characters.  Just when I about couldn't stand the book Nettie enters the scene.
I love Nettie and her story of living as a missionary in Africa.  It was very intriguing and well written in my opinion.
Two main things bugged me about the book.  One being that "Mr. ____"  all of of the sudden makes a complete character flip. He was mean and abusive one minute and than all of the sudden he is Celie's friend.  I am ok with characters changing, but I like to be a part of the change.  The other thing that really bugged me was the lack of knowing how much time had passed.  I would have liked dates on the letters or something to let the reader know how much time had passed.  At one point I thought just a few months had gone by and than in one of Nettie's letters she mentions living in Africa for 30 years.  Holy smokes! How did that happen?
There was a LOT of swearing which I don't care for.  Some sex scenes including rape and same gender sex.


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Post 500!

I have been watching my post numbers reach 500.  I wanted to do something special for post 500, but now that it is here I can't think of anything. I can't believe  I have written 500 posts.

I really enjoy blogging.  I started blogging so I could brag about Grant!  I think he is just adorable and I love him so much.  I just wanted the whole world to see how cute my son is!  I will be honest I still enjoy bragging about Grant.  I also now enjoy bragging about Celeste too!  I love my kids with all my heart.

I also enjoy staying connected with some of my close friends and family.  I know in the last few years as family and friends have spread across the country my blog has helped us stay connected. I appreciate comments and advice. Thank you for reading!

As I have continued to blog I realized I had a lot of history recorded.  I didn't want to lose these events to cyber space and decided to convert my blog to a book.  It is really fun to read about all of the things we have done in years past.  I am currently working on 2009 and it amazes me how much I forget.  I am so glad I have kept current in our family's events.  I hope one day my children and grandchildren will appreciate my feeble attempt at recording our history.

Backyard Campout

Grant loved the Father Son campout earlier this summer and has been itching to go camping again.  Kyle decided that he would have just as much fun camping in the backyard as going to an official campsite.  Together they set up the tent and got all their stuff outside.  

Grant was so excited he wanted to go out in the tent at about 8 o'clock, but it was still so hot!  We convinced him to stay in the house until it got a little later.  I don't really care to camp and so I was lucky for the excuse to stay in the house with Celeste.  As I was getting ready for bed I could hear the boys outside telling stories.  

Grant told his Dad some made up story about a boy, who was not named Grant, that did all the same things Grant does.  Dad told him about the time he and Lee went camping.  

They ended up having so much fun that they camped out again a second night in a row.  Grant tried to go for three nights, but Kyle had to work and wanted a good night's sleep.  

A Misremembered Man

The Misremembered Man by Christina McKenna
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was not my favorite book.  There were parts in the book when I swore I would only give this book one star. I ended up giving it three stars because the ending made the book.
The story is really depressing.  I boy being abused physically and sexually in an orphanage is just not appealing.  Luckily, the author didn't go into too much detail.
I spent a good portion of the book wishing it would move along faster.  I felt there was a lot of unnecessary side story. I liked the flash backs into the past, but some details weren't really necessary.
I don't think I would recommend this book to most of my friends.  There are so many other wonderful books I would read before this one.
No swearing that I really remember and no sex scenes except for the suggestion of child rape.


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Celeste's Baby Blessing

We blessed Celeste on July 7th at my home ward in North Ogden.  Celeste was blessed by her father.  Isaac Barker, Ross Murray, Derek Murray, and Shan Hellstrom stood in the circle.  Kyle's blessed her to be strong in the gospel, marry in the temple, and be an example to her family. 

I bore my testimony of the Gospel.  I shared how wonderful the Plan of Happiness is because it allows us to be parents.  Celeste has brought such a wonderful spirit into our home.  Many of our family members were able to attend the blessing including my Grandma.  We were able to visit with many family members at a picnic afterwards.  It was a wonderful day!  

We took some darling pictures to remember the day.  I am so grateful to Sierra who was able to come and take a whole bunch of darling pictures for us.  

Here Celeste is in my blessing dress. 

Celeste in her blessing dress.  These pictures were hard to take because her dress was so slippery!

My beautiful niece!  She looks so much like my sister.

Our family on Celeste's blessing day.  Grant had run home from church with his Uncle Blair.  He was already changed to his favorite soccer shirt before we even got home.  I decided not to bother making him change. 

Celeste with her parents on her blessing day.

Daddy and Celeste

Mom and Daugher

Evelyn wanted a picture of with Celeste in her pretty dress.  Evelyn asked if she could get a dress just like Celeste's.  She loved it!

Look at this innocent face!

Four generations

Noel.  I love her eyes in the picture.  She has beautiful eyes.  (I put this picture up for you Brooke.)

Juliet

Thanks to all of our family who came to support us!  It was so wonderful to visit with everyone.

Preston Turns 2

In Utah we were able to celebrate Preston's 2nd birthday!  I love Preston to pieces.  He is so adorable.  He loves Thomas the train and basketball.  Preston loves to be around animals and go outside.  

My Dad was super excited for Preston's birthday.  He bought these hilarious birthday glasses at the dollar store.  No one else would wear them.  All the kids thought they were dumb, but Papa wore them.  It was hilarious!

Preston got some Thomas trains, a few books, and some clothes for his birthday.  We gave him a T-Ball set.  We thought he should broaden his horizons to other sports besides basketball.

Evelyn and Celeste have matching zebra outfits.  Evy loves her zebra outfit, but Celeste has been too small for hers.  Now that Celeste has started gaining weight she finally can wear her zebra outfit.  We had to take pictures of the cute girl cousins.

My sister is the most talented cake decorator.  She has never taken a class or anything.  She is just talented!  She made Preston this adorable Thomas cake.  He loved it!

The best part: He knew he was cute!