Cayman Paradise

Christmas in Cayman

2009-12-30T17:01:00.000-08:00

My gorgeous girls are growing up!!

Summer jumping for joy in her Christmas P.J.'s. We have enjoyed this beautiful tree all season right below our balcony :) Yes the girls ran outside to take the pic on Christmas Eve. Loved having Carli here with us. Wish everyone could have come :(
Family fun Christmas Day--went to see Blind Side-- great movie :)
Dolphin Cove with our new friends the Beck Family from Highland, Utah

Palm trees swaying, steel drums playing, must be Christmas in Cayman!!! They brought in snow making machines and placed them near our balcony--looked pretty authentic until we walked outside into 86 degrees (see video.) We stayed inside, cranked up the AC and cozied in our jammies when we needed a winter fix, did our traditional jigsaw puzzle then spent most of our time at the beach!! We are all nice and brown this Christmas--and some of us could give Rudolph a run for his money because they did not obey mother and sunblock!!! We've had fun making new friends this season but we're still missing our dear family and friends back home. We wish you all a very prosperous and Happy 2010!!! We have three new grandchildren in 2010 on their way. 1st up is Robert Grayson Bourne due Jan. 11 followed by Camden Brown due Feb. 24th and our mystery baby in June will make Baby Eddie a big brother!

Holly turns 18!

2009-10-26T20:31:00.000-07:00

Birthday Dinner @ Agave-- Holly's favorite! Olivia joined us.

Holly turned 18 on October 21st! She feels like an adult now but I feel like she is still my baby. Happy B-Day baby! We spent the weekend before her birthday in Miami shopping and she got some fun stuff including a pair of red high heels. Go Holly!

Recipe for a Perfect Summer Evening

2009-10-09T07:22:00.000-07:00

Start with 1 beautiful Utah mountain setting-- (preferably Deer Valley)
Mix in generous amounts of pine trees, quakies, fresh air and the aroma of rich mountain soil.
Spread it out beneath a sky of brilliant blue then gently fade to a darkened canvas lit with sparkling starlight.
Set the temperature for cool enough to wear jeans, boots and a light jacket.
Toss in a blanket.
Sift in good company to share the experience with (in my case my daughter Allison--thanks for being my little concert buddy )
Top it off with the music of Jackson Browne--play for over two hours without an intermission.
Put it all together and you have one fabulous evening and an envious husband--sorry Ed, I know you would have loved it!! :(
It was a little bit of heaven for me and the perfect finale to my mountain summer visit!! I get emotional just thinking about it. It restored my soul!! Thank you Jackson--you've still got it :)

Cute Allison endured the strong smell of Marijuana that would waft by now and then. She said it reminded her of her mission in Amsterdam--too funny to connect those two opposites.

Boys Are Taking Over!!

2009-10-03T14:39:00.000-07:00

After a teary goodbye to Grandma Grampp we drove 6 hours to California where we had a joyful reunion with Eddie, Mary and Baby E!!! What a treat. He is sooooo precious. I love our pics of him, he is so photogenic. He is seriously the best baby. He loved sitting on my lap while I read him "Goodnight Moon." He will turn one this month. While we're on the subject of grandsons, I am delighted to share that we are going to be blessed with two more in early 2010. Allie and Bobby are having little Grayson in early January and Kelli and Kyle are having little Camden the end of February. We girls may have to fight for chick flicks--up until now we have ruled. We are all so excited. What fun families are!!!

Reading "Goodnight Moon" How cute is that?
Now that's a pizza!

Aunt Kelli's practicing!! She was such a good sport to drive all that way to see little E.

Cheerio time :)

All Giggles!

Aunt Allison and her baby bump!!

This one is my favorite. Grandpa and his boy!

That was yummy Aunt Summie! Give me some more of that lollipop :)

Having fun eating out. Yes baby Eddie does have parents--sorry I didn't take more pics of them but Mary and Eddie are in this one!

Here we are with our boy. We wanted to bring him home with us he is such a cuddle bug!

Fun with Family in Arizona

2009-10-01T17:04:00.000-07:00

Day 2 of our road trip found us in Scottsdale Arizona with Grandma Grampp. We had a lovely visit with her. We miss her. She is amazing! Still going strong and independent @ 93. I want to be just like her when I grow up!!

Mother and Son :) Such a sweet picture. Vesta looks great!!
The Grampp Girls--minus Carli and Holly who stayed home from the road trip to work & play.

Nephews Clayton, Brian & some of their kids :)

Summer was feeling under the weather, we took her to the doctor before we left to make sure she didn't have an infection before we hit the road again. She told the doctor., "My 93 year old grandmother keeps taking my temperature with an old school thermometer." The doctor said "Mercury?" Summer answered "Yes!" He laughed and asked me if Grandma was really 93. When I confirmed that all of the above was true he told Summer that meant good DNA for her!
Actually, grandma said she enjoyed taking care of us and serving us--it gave her purpose. We love and appreciate her example and influence in our lives.

Alan and Ed jammin on the guitar

Visiting with Robyn and Chelsea

Road Trip!

2009-09-28T12:46:00.001-07:00

Take one car and add five people (two of whom are pregnant) and you could end up with a road trip called disaster. Well, we had our moments on our trip to AZ, CA and back to UT in 7 days but overall it was fabulous and gave me just what I wanted--the chance to be out on the open road and drive through a large land mass surrounded with people I love--and drive to visit precious family members.
Day 1 took us to Southern Utah where we made a brief photo stop at Bryce Canyon then spent the evening in a quaint bed and breakfast inn in Kanab Utah. We had a delightful dinner at the Rockin V Cafe. The food was amazing and the atmosphere was perfect!!!

Kelli & Allison (both pregnant!!! what good sports to join us for the trip.)

Our traditional foot circle--this time on the red rock of southern Utah

Summer contemplating the beauty of nature :)

Summer turns 12

2009-09-25T07:56:00.000-07:00

Summer turned 12 and had a blast celebrating with her Utah friends & family. Love you Summie. You are growing into such a beautiful young woman. The party included skating, laser tag, pizza and a private party room with a dj booth complete with music videos. It was a lot of fun!

Summer, Carli & Holly doing their sister dance to "Hot & Cold" in the dj room!

Gorgeous Grampp Girls Allison & Carli (Allison arrived from Minneapolis earlier that week--yeah!!)

Summer, Aspen, Amanda & Abbie

Aspen and Summer in the DJ booth

Summer and Amanda

Abbie and Summer in skates

The whole gang!

Holly & Ed (Ed arrived in Utah in time for the party!!) Notice something different about Holly? She went back to blonde over the Summer. She is a blonde babe once again!

Anisa, Abbie, Summer & Jordan (our good friends drove all the way from St. George to party!)

Earlier in the week I went to lunch @ CPK with Allie & Kelli my beautiful (pregnant!!) daughters.

I was out for a jog during the balloon fest in Sandy and happened to have a camera in the car. This picture doesn't do the magical moment justice. The balloons were closer and more vibrant than they appear in this picture. Later, I ended up jogging by the spot where they were all landing. It was a lot of fun!

Boating and Oral Surgery

2009-09-24T10:13:00.001-07:00

A few days after Summer & I arrived in Utah, Holly arrived from Ireland (yes I know, we all want Holly's life! She was invited to Ireland for a visit with her friend Taylor Ribbins who spends her Summers there with her Irish family. She had a fabulous time.) So.... Holly came to Salt Lake City via Dublin!

First order of fun in Utah was a day at Jordanelle on our favorite boat--the Beckstead's Black Pearl. I thoroughly LOVED being up there in the mountains on that beautiful lake and the kids had a blast. Thank you for the fun day!!!
Holly & Carli riding the tube...

Summie fish at home in the water

Holly got up and out of the ice cold water...

Me & Carli... Miss you baby :(

Abbie & Summer... 2 peas in a pod...

Tyler Brunatti catchin some air....

Chillin on the boat after lunch with Car, Ty, Kel, & Mont...

After our day of fun in the sun, we got down to the first order of business which was wisdom teeth removal for Holly AND Carli. They spent a few loopy days on Loritab and kept me busy running up and down the stairs with frozen pea ice packs --and logging miles to and from milkshake runs. It was crazy but I loved taking care of them and they were hilarious! They came through it all beautifully with very little swelling and bruising. Holly's teeth were horizontal so she had lingering pain:(
Fresh out of anesthesia... Love the cotton fangs. Notice it is older sister Carli clinging to Holly for moral support. Holly was totally out of it! I love you Carli & Holly! Glad you went through this together and that you still wanted "Mommy" to take care of you!!!

p.s. Hey Cayman friends have you found a way to get music players back on our blogs? I hate that they blocks us due to our lack of copyright laws. I miss my music!!

Summer Highlights

2009-09-18T14:43:00.000-07:00

I love my life! I really do have the best of both worlds--mountains and sea. It was great to spend much of the Summer in Utah and wonderful to return to the beach. So much has happened and so much exciting news to share. I'm going to start at the beginning and blog for a few days about all of the fun and all of the surprises in my family. LIFE IS SOOOO GOOD!!!

July in Utah can you guess where I am? (The music should give it away) Air Supply concert--Sandy Amphitheatre! What a kick. I took my neighbor Ruth Seirup with me--Ed wasn't in town and her husband Bob was watching ManTV with their son

Ruth :)
In order to get her to go I had to assure her there wouldn't be any pot smoking drunks around. Ha! Ha! (We were the wildest girls in the crowd which tells you a lot about the crowd.)

Beautiful Utah my mountain home!!!

We so enjoyed the mountains and mild weather in Utah. I loved running in the shadow of Lone Peak to my old familiar ipod tunes--(it felt fantastic to run hard and fast downhill in the dry air but I was excited for the beach by the time we left.)

A Few More Pics...

2009-07-16T19:22:00.001-07:00

Master Bedroom Built-ins

Kitchen dining area

View from Master Balcony

Summer hanging out on the family room couch

Kitchen: the oven bakes great cookies :)

Sun through plant leaves near the pool :)

We've Moved!

2009-07-16T13:01:00.000-07:00

The Master Suite

The view to the south where the single family houses will be

The view from the family room balcony

(I took this picture looking up while I was laying by the pool)

The architectural detail at Camana Bay is world class!

The couryard below us--this tree is huge and lit at night--pavers are pretty

Summer's favorite trick in pool or sea...

The view of the pool directly in front of our front door

Our new front door--love the yellow and the planters...

Last week we bid a sad farewell to the Sovereign. We were hoping to stay until Sept. 1 when our new apartment will be ready but the unit was needed for someone else so we made a hasty move to a temporary apartment in the building next to where our new apartment will be. (I should say that Ed made a hasty move while I was away in Florida with Carli :)
We are crowded with two bedrooms and surrounded with boxes we don't want to unpack since we will be moving yet again in 5 weeks :)... but Camana Bay is wonderful and I think we will love it here. The pictures don't really do it justice. Ed walks to and from work in under 5 minutes. We can walk to movies, shopping, restaurants as well--could be dangerous :) The beach is about a 7 minute walk. We are truly living the "new urban" lifestyle.

Love the palm trees :) Miss the beach :(

Goodbye to Kelli and Ky :(

2009-07-01T18:04:00.000-07:00

Kelli and Kyle left today and the house is so quiet :( I'm left with the memories and the photos...thought I'd share a few. Allison and her friend Annie left on the day Kelli and Kyle came so it has been a fun few weeks with lots of company.

Friends :)

2009-06-13T19:01:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful visit with Dave and Julie O'Leary and all of their children last month. Thanks to the swine flu scare in Mexico at the time, they opted out of Cancun and came to Cayman--lucky for us.

We also loved having the McKells who visited the month before the O'Learys and brought along three of their children. We have been friends with Brad and Renae since BYU. Such fun history. Sorry we didn't take more pics with the McKells.

You know the friends that feel like family? The ones that no matter how long you've been apart you just pick right up with them? That's how it is with these friends. Such a treat to make some memories with friends here in this beautiful place. We love visitors :) Especially when they bring teenagers from Utah--makes Holly feel like she's a little closer to home.

Life is a Beach!

2009-05-27T18:32:00.000-07:00

The past two days have been perfectly dreamy in my world. Not to rub it in but living on the beach really is unmatched in my book. I have never felt so at peace and at one with nature. I keep waiting for the novelty to wear off, to grow tired of the sand, the sun, the shells, the sea creatures in the crystal clear water with its many shades of blue. (It is so pure that I can see the fish and an occasional stingray swimming yards off shore while I'm walking.) The novelty has yet to wear off. The island is full of surprises--Like this morning when we walked out the door to find rain pouring from a blue sky. Within minutes the sky was dark and menacing and I was afraid my beach plans were ruined, but within the hour the weather went from torrential downpour back to blue sky with puffy white clouds. I had another surprise yesterday when I picked up my foam float that I left by my front door and found a giant crab beneath it.

There are so many ways to enjoy the beach. I jog, I sprint, I walk--ipod included. I weave in and out of the water when I get hot. I enjoy watching the cruise ships come in and the crowds of people fill the beach. Their laughter keeps me company. I am finally starting to snorkle and I love relaxing to the rhythmic sound of my breathing and the weightlessness of my body .

My favorite past time is my float. (See picture above which is of Carli and her friend Tyler on the floats.) I float on a foam mat and listen to the wind and the waves as I bob lazily along the shore drifiting wherever the current takes me. Yesterday the sun went behind a cloud and I looked up at the sky and could not believe its beauty. It was a great color of blue framed in an arc of puffy white clouds with the sunlight shooting out from behind them. It was one of those moments when you look at something and it's like you're seeing it for the first time. It's a great feeling to be fully present in the moment. I floated past a palm tree where a bird was singing a beautiful melody and thought to myself, "This is perfect." For the first time in my life, I am outside more than I am in and I feel so content!! I want for nothing.

Nirvana: An ideal condition of rest, harmony, stability or joy. I'm feeling it!!

When the sun goes down, after I soak in the visual feast of the sunset, I actually feel sad that my playground is closed for the day. Some people work their whole lives to end up in a place like this. I can't believe we get to be here before we retire! What a dream.

WAY TO GO ALLISON!!

2009-05-15T17:41:00.000-07:00

Our beautiful Allison graduated from the University of Utah last week with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology and Honors to boot! We are so proud of her for a job well done and a HUGE lifetime achievement. We love you Allie and we're so happy we were there to share another special day with you.

Fun With Carli!!

2009-05-03T15:33:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pics from the past few days with Carli! She is staying another couple of weeks which makes us all very happy. What's a trip to Cayman without visiting Rum Point, Calypso Grill & Snorkeling, the blowhole & Stingray City? Stingray's have powerful suction. If you don't believe it ask Carli who got mistaken for a piece of squid and the stingray drew blood. What are the chances?? Enjoy!

Go Holly & Summer!!!

2009-04-28T07:52:00.001-07:00

Report cards came out yestserday and Holly & Summer came through with flying colors. Just wanted to say congrats to them for all of their hard work in this difficult school!! All of those hours of homework have paid off. WAY TO GO GIRLS!! You have taken on this challenge even though you would rather be in Utah with your friends and family. We are so proud of you for giving it your best. We love you--and baby eddie does too!!!!

Back on Island

2009-04-20T08:48:00.000-07:00

Back from Spring Break where we shared some milestones with our children and our beautiful grandson and had them almost all together in California--minus Bobby and Kyle :( We did see Bobby and Kyle in Utah and spent Easter with them which was wonderful. We had a nice Easter dinner together at Kelli and Kyle's in Farmington.

It was great to spend time with family and a few friends but now I miss you all even more. I think we should all live in the same cul de sac. Does that work?

Take a good look at the angel in the picture three up from the bottom. She is the one on the end holding her beautiful baby boy. That angel is Jodi and she lives in the house next to mine in Draper. She is AMAZING. She asked before we arrived if she could go in the house to "put a few things in there for us." When we arrived in Utah weary from traveling, she had air mattresses and blankets and pillows, chairs, towels, a garbage can, a television to watch dvd's on, an ihome for music, tulips in the kitchen and groceries for breakfast. Can you stand it?? She thought of everything. We love you Jodi and miss you sooooo much!

Here are some highlights of the trip--and it was a trip, not a vacation ha ha!!

As you can see from the above pics Little Eddie was the center of attention. He was passed around constantly as you can see from the pictures above and who is holding him. He is perfect. Such a good baby. I was happy to see that he had grown but still felt like a baby to me so he hadn't changed too much since Christmas. We love you little E!!!!

Eddie's Birthday:

It was fun to be with Eddie and his sweet family on his birthday. (Is it really possible I am the mother of a son who is 26?? ) Eddie and Mary and baby Eddie are thriving in the sunshine of California. They have a darling apartment in the heart of Burbank with its tree-lined streets and quaint bungalows. Eddie toured us around his office and surrounding buildings at Disney Animation Studios. What a blast. Go Eddie. We are so happy for you and Mary.

Carli Graduates:

Congrats to Carli on her graduation from AMDA. You are the bomb Carli. It was wonderful to see you light up the stage in your showcase. You are amazingly talented and you have worked so hard. It made me cry to hear your beautiful voice. We are proud of you for finishing the program with flying colors. WOW!!! You really blew us all away. Can't wait to see where your life takes you... (And this very moment you are on a plane to come visit us and we can't wait to pick you up tonight!!!)

As a side note, after visiting the States, here are a few things I am so over...

Snow and sleet in April...

Traffic jams on Freeways...

Bad movies... (Sorry Vin and Paul)

The crowds, the lines, the bad food--- @ Disneyland--don't visit the park during spring break :)

And a few things I will never get enough of...

Family

Sharing space with my children (no matter how crowded it is)

Lunch with friends

Lone Peak

Brick Oven Pizza :)

And now I am going to nap on the beach to recover from my vacation.....

Bobby and Allie Visit Pics

2009-04-01T14:34:00.000-07:00

Here are some pics from our fun week with Bobbison. Don't know why the top Pic from Margaritaville is so small but here you go. The other Restaurant pics are from Calypso Grill --the best restaurant in Cayman where you can get to die for sticky toffee pudding for dessert. Gotta love the sticky!!! The airborne pic of Summer is a favorite of mine. She is actually jumping off a cliff into the water at Smith's cove. She may be the spitting image of me at her age but luckily she did not inherit my fear of heights or the water. At church we said goodbye to Debbie Barnes who recently returned from her mission to Georgia. She is a wonderful, fun girl and we really miss her--she is from Jamaica and was visiting her sister here for several weeks. We miss you Debbie!! The turtle farm was a blast. It was fun that Bobby and Allison were here for Summer's school program. We realized they haven't missed for the past two years--they attended all of her Draper programs and now they even came to Cayman for this one. Pretty lucky!! The pic of Holly is because we did all of the fun things listed above while she was at Jr. Prom in Utah. Sorry Holly! We'll take you to Calypso and the turtle farm when Car comes down in April.

Next week UTAH!!! No snow please. I am ordering tulips and daffodils. Could someone make sure they are blooming before I get there?

Holly's Charmed Life

2009-03-30T08:21:00.001-07:00

Cute Holly took a whirlwind trip to Utah to attend Jr. Prom @ Alta High School. She left on friday before last and returned on the red eye Sunday night. What a trip. She looked absolutely stunning and had a blast with her friends back "home" including BFF Casey pictured above right. Her handsome date was Braedon. What a fun life!! Holly complained that my last post was more like a novel so I tried to keep this one short and sweet. Love you Holly Dolly!

Summers Haircut!

2009-03-28T19:53:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! Its me summer. :D hows my peeps back in UT? I hope its good cuz its good down here. Despite the fact that my dad told me I waste my life away on the computer knowing how sensitive I am!! D: I'm sorry that's off subject. Anyways, today I went to a salon and got my bangs cut! I love them. You can look at the picture right up here (I would make an arrow, but idk how to make an up one.) well I hope you like my hair cuz i do :) C ya l8r.

Happy Birthday to Me!!!!

2009-03-25T12:53:00.000-07:00

Ten things I loved about my birthday:

#10) I celebrated it in the Caribbean sunshine instead of the snow this year.

#9) "Happy Birthday" was the first thing I heard as Ed whispered into my ear. P.S. This is the way everyone should start their birthday--but not with Ed :)

#8) I talked to my sister Karen first thing. We share the same birthday and she is always offering to switch ages which makes me feel young no matter how old I get. Imagine a pesky little sister who always reads your love letters, snoops in your diary and tags along to high school basketball games because you are forced to babysit her. That little sister would be me. Then, to really ruin your life she was born on your birthday so you're sharing that with her too. What are the chances? I always wanted to be just like her. Get married in the Manti Temple and have a little boy and some girls. Guess some dreams do come true! My sister is the best.

#7) My mother remembered and called me early (Don't laugh. She forgot one year and given the above post that means she forgot 2 birthdays. It was painful.) I listened to her tell me what I should be worried about which made me feel like a kid again. I lovingly told her to get a life. Not a chance. Thank you mom for my life!! I love it!!

I also talked to my other mother "Grampp." She is worried about hurricanes already. I guess it's a mom thing.

#6) Carli called me early because she had a nightmare and needed Mommy :) She remembered my birthday too, but first things first!!! I love it that she is still my baby girl even though she has lived all alone in NYC and now LA. I am so proud of her for graduating from AMDA and can't wait to see her perform when I visit next month. Carli--just so you know, this list is not in ascending order of importance so don't be upset that you're not listed next to #1!!! I miss my car-car. She loves telling everyone that she is the self appointed favorite child, sister, aunt, etc.

#5) Picture this: Summer sitting on the edge of my bed in her jammies, eyes slightly open, hair pulled back into a tossled pony tail from slumber. Barely awake she still manages to pull some wit. "Let's see,' she begins, "I think there is something I need to tell you...." "Hoppy?... no, no Hippy?... No it's HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" She breaks into a grin that she doesn't like to share often because she wants braces and we haven't found a trustworthy orthodontist on island. I love her smile. I laugh and tickle her for teasing me. She makes me feel young (and a little "hip"py too)!

#4) Holly's voice calling down the hallway "Happy Birthday Mom!" I love the sound of Holly's voice and can't bear the thought of not hearing it in my house when she leaves us alone in paradise next fall. Wait, this is supposed to be a happy post :( Holly's stories of her charmed life entertain me. She is always jetting off to a prom here or a party there and then sharing the pics and details with me. I just watched home movies of her at age 6. Can we turn back time please??? Can I have that little girl with the raspy voice back for just a day so that I can pick her up and wrap her arms around my neck and hold her all to myself? Who knew my little blondie would grow into such a dark haired beauty???

#3) Cute Kelli called to say, "Hi! I'm teaching but I wanted to call and say Happy Birthday!" I always feel like a failure when it comes to homework with my kids. I love telling people that my daughter is a high school english teacher who is almost finished with her master's in education. It garners respect somehow, as if I could take credit for her hard work--wink, wink. I am so proud of her for teaching right through her chemo. What a fighter!! I love it that she is healthy and that I was with her for the worst of it. It was great to take care of my little girl and know that even if she's married to the perfect husband--adorable Kyle-- she still needs mom when she's sick :( Can't wait to see you in two weeks sweetie!!!

#2) My wonderful son called from sunny Burbank where he is living his dream working for Disney. I am so proud of the man he is. He is a great husband to sweet Mary and a good daddy to the cutest baby on the planet! Seeing how much he loves his baby makes me think that maybe now he understands how much I love him. I am so happy that I have the opportunity to mother a son and trust that he will take care of me and be nice to me in my old age... Eddie is so good. He took in his little sis Carli who is also a great help to him. Can't wait to visit next month and have the Disney experience from his inside perspective. What a blast!!

#1) Precious Allison and Fun Bobby just spent 10 days with us! They were flying standby with Buddy passes and got delayed getting out which meant they spent my birthday morning with me--Allie cleaned the kitchen and made the sweetest card--. They went to the airport around noon which was a real bummer. I was out for a couple of hours and on the way home I thought it would be such a fun surprise if I came through the door and they were here. They were not. The condo was so empty I cried and decided this was the worst birthday ever. I called Ed and he was interrupted with a call from Allison. They had been stranded at the Airport all afternoon w ithout our cell phone numbers. They overheard someone talking about Ed's project and asked him if he worked for Dart. He did. He had Ed on speed dial. I flew to the airport, giggling all the way. Turned into the best birthday ever with that reunion and a fun evening together. Allie always makes me feel great. "You're so cute Mom, etc. etc." She is so thoughtful and fun. We had a lot of laughs. I miss her and Bobby but will see them in two weeks! Can't wait.

So blow out the candles and bring on the years if it means I have more time with these wonderful people. I love my family!! I love my life. I am truly blessed.

Cheers!

I LOVE MY LIFE!!!

2009-03-11T19:11:00.000-07:00

Today I caught up on my laundry then took a nice long jog down West Bay Road and walked/jogged back along the beach beneath a brilliant blue sky. I took my time, enjoying the brightly colored sailboats and weaving in and out of the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean. When I got back to the condo I still hadn't enough of the beauty outdoors so I changed into my swimsuit and spent an hour reclined in the sun doing absolutely nothing except listening to the music from my ipod as it filled my head with my favorite tunes. After taking a break to take lunch to the girls, I made myself a salad and sat down on the balcony with a book and read until I fell asleep. It was a short nap but I needed it after all that sun :) Pretty much a perfect day. I'll be having more of them. I don't know when or if I have ever felt this content. The rhythm of the sea suits me. The video below is one I took a few weeks ago on a windy day but you can get a feel for the color of the water and the sand. Today the waves were calm--which is how it typically is moving into spring and summer.
Tonight we had the Crandalls over for dinner. They're a cute young couple from church living far away from family so we're happy to step in. After dinner, Ed & David played some tennis and Shalynna helped with the dishes then helped Summer out with some math homework--so thoughtful :) Ending the day with friends just topped it off for me.
I hope you're drinking in the beauty that surrounds you wherever you are, and enjoying family and friends. The world is a glorious place, no matter the climate or season! LIVE WITH PASSION!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ED!!

2009-03-09T08:21:00.000-07:00

Today is Ed's Birthday! Just wanted to say that I love him and the life we have together. He is such a great husband and father and grandfather and works so hard to take care of all of us. He is our rock and we depend on him for everything and he never lets us down. He is the man we all turn to when we need help. You are a ROCK STAR Ed--HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETHEART!!!

Last week was another Grampp Birthday--Darling Carli turned 20 on March 3rd. I can't believe it. Last night I watched home videos of her when she was my little girl and I cried. She is still my baby girl and always will be :) Happy Birthday Car Car!! Carli is living with Eddie and Mary and Baby E now that they have moved to Cali to work for Disney!!! Eddie is loving his new job and we are all so happy for him and this new opportunity.

Life in Cayman continues to get better and better. We all absolutely love it and cannot believe that we really live here. Here is a little rundown on some recent events:

Summer enjoyed a camping trip to Kaibo with the entire 6th grade (how would you like to supervise that one?) that included exploring pirate caves, snorkeling, holding starfish @ starfish point and visiting blowholes as well as dining at rum point. How fun is that? The highlight of the trip however was her first kiss (on the cheek) and the night games and fun that included one of the teachers putting on a scary mask and getting quite a reaction from Summer who thought it was the legendary "Kaibo Creature" everyone had been talking about leading up to the trip. When the creature rattled something and emerged from the trees, she started crying, screaming and holding on to Coach Dave's leg (He is about 6'4". ) I guess they do it every year but being the new girl, no one let her in on the joke and they all had great fun watching her react. She laughed at herself and was a good sport when it was all over.

Holly continues to do several hours of homework every night and hang out with her friends on the weekends. She will be heading to Utah next weekend to attend Jr. Prom @ Alta. Look for pics. She is adjusting well and enjoys CIS but will return to Utah next year to graduate with her friends @ Alta. Her travel schedule is booked solid!! Utah in March, Utah & California in April for Spring Break, School trip to Costa Rica in May and then a possible trip to Ireland in the Summer. (Her friend Taylor travels home to Ireland every summer with her family and has invited Holly for a visit. We're hoping to work out the details so that she can go. Fun!!)

We all had great fun last week with our first visitors--the Becksteads. Bonnie & Mont spent five wonderful days with us and it was a BLAST showing them around and hanging out with them. I loved the company and miss them now that they are gone. We also met up with some of their friends who were also visiting and we all took a boat trip into the sound and caught our own lobster that we took home and ate for lunch. Yummy! We visited stingrays as well. Great day in the Caribbean :) Note: Visitors are welcome :) Speaking of visitors, Bobby & Allie are coming for a visit THIS WEEKEND!! They will stay about 10 days and we cannot wait! I miss my kids who are not here with me. Luckily I will see them all (including my little grandbaby Eddie) in April. Can't wait.

Wholly Guacamole!!!

2009-02-20T03:53:00.000-08:00

Have you ever seen an avocado this big?? It is about half the size of Summer's face. I walked past them twice, thinking they were mangoes and finally asked the produce man to direct me to Holly's latest craving. I seriously laughed when I saw them and I was told by the cashier that they get even bigger ones in. Okay so it cost close to $4 US but when you consider how many you'd have to buy in the states to equal the same amount...probably not so bad :)

We thought you might enjoy a few more little tidbits of information unique to the culture here on the island. The following are terms, phrases or pasttimes that are common here but new to us:

"Cricket" is a SERIOUS SPORT. I watched a bit while waiting my turn at the driver's license division. I made the mistake of asking one of several Caymanians glued to the tv if it was a cricket game. I thought it was baseball at first until I took a closer look and saw that it was a flat board and not a bat, and no one appeared to be running bases. After numerous explanations from eager Caymanians, I still don't get it. Dare I say I found it rather boring???

"Football Pitch"--otherwise known as the "Soccer Field" or maybe it is a part of the soccer field. Not sure yet. I only know it has nothing to do with Football as I've always known it :)

Gas is sold by the "Imperial Gallon"

Our Caymanian Currency has a $25 bill. I love it! Wish we had them in the states.

"Topping Up" This is what you do to add minutes to your cell phone. We chose the plan where you pay as you go. You simply go to a little machine--they have them all over town--or you go online to "Top Up" your phone. I love using the phrase. Holly makes fun of me for it!

"Robot" If you're from South Africa, like many of our friends, you refer to a stoplight as a "robot". That is seriously what they call them.

"I'll give you a shout." another way of saying "I'll call you."

"Four Half" otherwise known as "Four Thirty" when stating the time.

"Civvies Day": that celebrated day designated for leaving the uniform at home and wearing "normal" clothes to school. In addition to the last friday of each month, certain holidays apply :)

Summer is in Grade Six, not Sixth Grade. Holly is not a Jr. in High School, she is in Grade 11--if you mention "Junior" people look at you strangely.

While we're on backwards stuff, the date always throws me. Day first, month second, year last. Ed has resorted to writing the month instead of giving it a numeral.

And here's my favorite: The other day I was shopping with a hand held basket that I had overloaded. A kind older gentleman who worked for the grocery store commented that I had a heavy load. "Let me get you a trolley," he insisted and returned with a shopping cart. Charming! I think we should call them trolleys in the states :) Living in a new culture is a lot of fun. It's a big, beautiful world and I am loving it!

How's the weather where you are?

2009-02-13T15:30:00.000-08:00

Holly just took this picture about five minutes ago...thought i'd share it:)

Caribbean Dream

2009-02-11T03:18:00.000-08:00

Holly and I have been enjoying the Sunsets on the horizon beyond our deck. She's been capturing the beauty with her camera. I love it when she calls out for me to come running before I miss some visual feast of sun, water and sky. The rays often shoot down through the clouds creating the bands of light you see in the picture above. (Credit her for the amazing shot!)

Even more impressive to Holly is the beauty of the Caribbean Moon. She proclaims that she is "obsessed" with it. When we go out at night the moon is aglow and closer somehow. Little white puffs of clouds sail on the breeze beneath a starlit sky that seems more bright as well. Very dreamy.

Yesterday morning we really had a treat. I woke up early around 5:30 and walked into the darkness of our greatroom. The shades were open and out the vast expanse of windows (this condo is great for views) I could see the water shimmering in the light of a bright moon hanging low in the sky. I had to wake Holly up. We were mesmerized by the beauty as the silvery waves gently lapped the shore. In the distance, we could see a speck of light. As Holly got ready for school I watched the speck take shape into a cruise ship coming to port in Georgetown. It was big and beautiful with its decks all lit up.

Today I woke up for a replay and was not disappointed. Thursday is a big day for cruise ships. We will have four today with a total of 12,000 visitors on the island. I've seen two already this morning.

We'll have to get a camera that takes night time pictures of the scene I described above; However, there's nothing like seeing it in person. Many of you are coming to visit, when you do, make sure you wake up early one morning to enjoy the magic.

Dive Right In!!

2009-02-08T17:27:00.000-08:00

Let's face it, true fulfillment is all about relationships and we, Ed, Denet, Holly & Summer, are excited about the fascinating people we are meeting here in Cay-man! (Hopefully when you read this word you are hearing it with the local pronunciation. It is not pronounced Caymen as we say it in the states, it is K--Man with the emphasis on the Man!)

We'll start from the bottom up with Summer. Summer has met many new friends and is loving interacting with them. This past weekend she spent the evening friday and again on Saturday with Chloe & Dean. They are twins whose parents are from Capetown, South Africa. Their father is a doctor on the island and coincidentally Ed has a physical with him monday morning (we discovered that as we were introduced to them. Small community :) These children are two of the most polite, gracious, delightful children I have ever met. In addition to their charming british accents, they have a lot of knowledge of the world and the island and we enjoyed conversing with them as though they were two little adults--complete with giving us suggestions for restaurants we should try. Their mother Shelley and I met briefly and bonded instantly. I look forward to developing a friendship with her. Interesting coincidence: On friday after we dropped her friends at their home, Summer remarked to me that Shelley reminded her of Rochelle, in fact she said, "I think Shelley is your new Rochelle." The next day when she saw Shelley again, she told her about Rochelle. Shelley told Summer that her best friend also died in a tragic car accident. Interesting how the universe brings people together...

Holly went out to the movies on friday with friends from school and then to dinner and a party on Saturday. May I say that her friends are wonderful as well. They are surprisingly protective of her standards. A couple of them from the states know what it means to be a mormon and they are quick to point out that Holly is a "good girl" and as one young man put it, "there are few of them left in the world so keep her that way." They won't allow anyone to offer her alcohol, they apologize when they curse around her and they even changed the movie they were going to see so that she could come along. Wow. Such respect. I'm thinking she may have an easier time living the standards of the church here on the island than back in Utah :) They taught her to play Dominoes which is THE game on the island. She caught on quickly and gave the champion a run for his money last weekend. Her friends are from all over the world and it is fascinating to her. She says she now thinks in different accents and finds it very strange!!! She gets to take a school trip to COSTA RICA in May. Can you stand it? Such great experiences....

Denet: I am looking forward to lunch this week with author neighbor Marilyn Jax. (See picture above.) Her novel is "The Find" and I tried to buy it here and it is sold out until thursday. The reviews on amazon are great. I can't wait to read it and I am so excited to get to know her. She is lovely. The condo unit we are staying in is called The Sovereign. It is filled with retired couples , mostly from the US, Michigan, Minnesota, Tennesee and Florida. They all stay for the winter and then return to the states in April or May. They are delighted to have children around and always want updates on how the children are enjoying school, etc. They have been so welcoming it is great.

Ed works with interesting people from all over the world and there always seems to be a function we are invited to. The Dart "Family" is great and very comfortable to assimilate into. Ed also has the opportunity to work with the missionaries at church. (See photo above) Elder Wilson is from Jamaica and a lot of fun! Elder Mason is from a small town in Utah that we'd never heard of, the Bradleys are a wonderful couple from New Jersey who are on their way to The Bahamas. We are sad about the transfer because they are a lot of fun and also they are not being replaced with another senior couple. The mission is losing 5 senior couples.

To all of our friends and family in Utah--We love you and miss you and will remain close to you. It is great to expand our circle of friends but we treasure our bonds with you!! I hope you are all well and happy. Spring is coming--I promise!!! If it makes you feel any better we have been in sweats--it turned a little cold here last week. Our neighbors claim it is the coldest they've ever seen it in 20 years of coming here (high 60's low 70's.... but the breeze was nippy) Things are set to warm up again this week.

QUOTE FOR THE DAY: People who say it can't be done are often interrupted by someone doing it!

Sticker Shock #3

2009-02-04T14:56:00.000-08:00

#3: "Mom I need a graphing calculator. It's expensive. You can get one at "Kirk's"."

I know where Kirk's is, it's the grocery store just before Georgetown on West Bay Road. While I'm there I can buy groceries!! Wow I am turning into such a local. Somehow I take a wrong turn. I know the beach is somewhere on my right. Eventually I turn enough times that I think I'm going west. Suddenly I'm in Georgetown, right where I wanted to go yesterday... (See earlier post).

I head back towards seven mile beach and eventually find Kirk's. I pull into the parking lot on the right side which is the wrong side and someone gives me an unhospitable gesture out his window which helped me recognize my mistake. I park and enter the store. After finding some hangers (8 for $.99) and feeling like I hit the jackpot, I ask someone where calculators are. I am directed to the aisle where a knowledgable sales professional is stocking the shelves. I approach her.

"I'm looking for a graphing calculator for my daughter for school. Her teacher said I could find it here."

The nice lady from the Phillipines gives me a quizzical look. "Oh, I'll bet she meant Kirk's office supply. Do you know Shedden road?"

I give her a blank look. She continues. "Exit the parking lot. Turn right. Turn left at the first signal. Go straight through the roundabout. Before the next signal is Kirk's."

Sounds easy. I thank her and leave. I exit the parking lot, remembering to look right before crossing the street to drive on the left. There's the first signal. Turn left, no problem. Straight through the roundabout hmmmm..... Well, if it were possible to drive straight through the roundabout instead of around and around, I would probably end up taking the 2nd left, right? Because the first left would be like turning left and the third left would be like turning right and the 2nd would be like going straight. Several blocks and an industrial park later I stop to ask the nice man from Ireland (red hair and an enchanting accent) if he can help me find Kirk's.

"Go back the way ye came... and take a left at the junction. Kirk's is on the right," he begins.

"Which left? Do you know the name of the street?"

He shakes his head. "No but it's the busy one. I hope ya find lots o' nice things ta buy there!"

I thank him and pull out of the parking lot.

A few turns later I am near the airport, an area I am familiar with and I know I am lost. I pull into another parking lot and walk into a furniture store. The lady behind the desk is an American, with an attitude.

"Are you familiar with the roundabout next to Foster's?" At this point I am not familiar with anything.

"Right at the Roundabout. Right at the signal. You can't miss it."

As I'm pulling out of the parking lot, I look left by mistake and begin to turn right into a lane of oncoming traffic. I am going to die. I correct myself and continue driving while shaking. I don't see anything resembling the building or any street signs that say Shedden road, even though I followed directions precisely. I pull into another parking lot ready to cry. Some man with an unrecognizable accent and very bad teeth smiles at me when i ask him for directions to Shedden road. "I'm looking for Kirk's office supply," I add.

"That's right next door. You can walk."

GLADLY!!!

When I arrive at Kirk's the Jamaican drumming on his leg leads me to the calculators which are gone. He takes me to the front to the lady behind the register. She greets me with a smile. "Special order only. 3-4 weeks delivery. You might try Lee's office supply," She gives me directions while patting my arm. She can tell that I've had a bad day. She speaks slowly in her Caymanian accent, "Turn left out of the parking lot. Stay to the left. Make the turn. Lee's is on your right."

I find it. They have it!!!!! I don't care how much it costs. $175. Hey, less than the back pack!!

Graphing Calculator $175/Not having to ask for any more directions: PRICELESS!!!

Sticker Shock #2

2009-02-04T14:18:00.001-08:00

No Summer is not leaving for vacation with a piece of carry on luggage--this is her back pack :)

Day one of school I was told by the office that Summer would need a rolling back pack as she would be unable to carry her load of books. They told me where to go in Georgetown and what type of back pack they recommended. What they didn't tell me and what I failed to ask was.... the price. That same day I ventured down to Georgetown and got caught in traffic. Directions here are another blog post but suffice it to say no one uses addresses or maps, they go by "landmarks" and if you don't know them..... 90 minutes and several trips through Georgetown later I arrived at the shop to find it closed. Everything closes here at 5:00 or 5:30. I reassure myself: At least now I know where to go. Sort of. I mean I have no idea how I arrived but if I did it once, I should be able to do it again right?

On Day Two of school I send Summer with a "Book Bag" of Holly's that is larger than the bag she had on Day One which was totally inadequate. She comes to the car on day Two struggling to carry the bulging bag and Holly remarks in horror "You tore my bag!!!" We weigh it when we get home. 18 lbs. and those weren't all of the books--and she only weighs 70 lbs.. Imagine carrying 25% of your body weight in books. I drop the girls off and head immediately to Georgetown. Miraculously I find a parking spot in an area that looks vaguely familiar. I grab the spot and begin walking, praying I won't get lost. I pass through a parking lot with a stray Rooster and within a block I am pleasantly surprised to smell the aroma of the KFC landmark that is right next to the bag shop. I emerge near the shop where I saw the "cute little red back pack with the monkey on the zipper" in the window the day before and rush inside, quite pleased with myself that I found it so easily and feeling a little less like a tourist. Before approaching the register, I check the price $188. I can't believe it but I am left without an alternative. There are no rolling backpacks anywhere else-- I did check. MY FIRST PAINFUL CAYMAN ECONOMICS LESSON: When you need something "NOW" on the island you are in TROUBLE. So plan ahead and only buy groceries here... (when absolutely necessary to sustain life)

Back Pack $188/ Relieved Daughter: Priceless

Sticker Shock #1!!

2009-02-04T14:07:00.000-08:00

I was prepared for a cost of living increase but I did NOT expect:

1) Holly needed color and a cut (yes she is naturally blonde but prefers not looking like all the other grampp girls... So we got a referral from a co worker of Ed's and the place looked a lot like a "Great Clips" when I went in (Paul Mitchell products for sale near the register), so I felt I was in my price range but I made the big mistake of not asking for a price FIRST. $248 U.S. Dollars. (before the $25 tip) I was stunned. I've decided to fly Mark David down here to do everyone's hair at once. It would save me money :)

1 Haircut $275/ Happy Daughter...Priceless!

First Day of School

2009-02-02T19:27:00.000-08:00

Aren't they sweet in their little matching uniforms? Okay, they hate them but I love them :) Today was truamatic to say the least. It felt as though we were dropping two children off for kindergarten all over again. These two little homebodies have lived all of their school years in Draper and didn't know what to expect from being the "new kid". As it turned out, everyone welcomed them with open arms and Summer thoroughly enjoyed being the center of attention--literally. After school I asked Holly where she was and she pointed to a large circle of kids with Summer right in the middle of them. Holly was also warmly welcomed but less enamored with the whole attention thing. She is overwhelmed and still very homesick. She is the bravest kid I know. She is AWESOME to move forward and give this everything even though it is painful and the most difficult thing she has ever done. The counselor told her to expect a rigorous schedule including 2-3 hours of homework per night. She is enrolled in the "IB" program which stands for "International Baccalaureate". It is above AP level and puts the students in a very favorable standing when applying to Universities. Go HOLLY!!

So tonight I asked everyone what thing they miss most about Utah and what thing they love most about Cayman. Here are their answers:

Ed: 1) Doesn't miss Utah 2)Loves the weather

Holly: 1) Toss up between Taco Bell & the Mountains 2) The color of the water

Summer: 1) Misses her friends 2) Her new cute "crush" (Matthew)

Denet: 1) Misses Sunday dinners w/my married kids 2) Loves lounging on the beach, walking on the beach, jogging on the beach, looking at the beach.....

LIVE WITH PASSION!!!!

Denet

2009-02-01T13:54:00.000-08:00

Last night, as Summer described in her post, we went to an event at Camana Bay (Ed's FABULOUS development.) I thought I would include a picture. Allison just taught me how to upload pictures with my post so now pics will be included. Make sure you scroll all the way down to catch the earlier pictures I posted.

Today was a wonderful day at our little branch. The testimonies were powerful. There are so many converts it is exciting. A convert was confirmed today and another Baptism coming up this week. Ed is Branch mission leader. We will be feeding the missionaries on Tuesday. Tomorrow is the first day of school--exciting!!!!

Later,

Denet

Today we went to HELL!!!

2009-01-31T19:02:00.000-08:00

This is Summer! Or should i say sinner considering we went to hell today! Dont worry all our young freinds. Its a city im not swearing! Anyways, Here are some pictures of Hell. I had so much fun saying it 2day and not getting in trouble :) 2night we went to a concert with this old geezer and this drunk cowboy on stage. My mom is laughing soooo hard as i write this. Anyways, telling from the pictures, You dont wanna go to hell man... or woman... whatever the point is its a bad place. C ya l8r!

We're Here!!!!

2009-01-30T12:20:00.000-08:00

After all that packing and all of those tears, we have finally arrived in our new island home!!! Many thanks to all of our wonderful family and friends who helped ship us out--literally. We couldn't have done it without your muscle and support. You are all amazing and we miss you TERRIBLY. Come visit.
This is a picture of Holly & Summer running for the beach the moment we arrived at the condo. We came here directly from the airport and as planned they ran for the water with their clothes on :) I came here with my boots on, kicked them off when I got here and I'm enjoying bare feet and flip flops. The dry cracked skin of winter is healing, pony tails are required and makeup feels out of place. Easy living at its finest.
I finally drove a european car with the steering wheel on the right. Believe it or not, it makes it a little easier to drive on the left when you steer from the right.
Caymanians are wonderful people. We can't get enough of the British accents and all of the polite ways we are addressed. Everything is "ma'am" or "miss". School starts on Monday for the girls. They need to make friends. They are lonely and homesick. Holly especially.
I'll post a pic of them in uniform on first day of school.
Please keep in touch.
Much love!