Family Fridays...James

It took me a while to decide whom I might like to blog about next. However after reading Tiffany's blog about the baby of the family (And then there is....) having it hard, I thought I'd give my reasons for the baby of the family being a great position to be in.

My baby...Ames Momas Too Too Train (name given by Casey)...aka Jimbo Jumbo (bet you didn't know that James), Jamie (when did he stop being Jamie?), aka JT (given by himself) , aka James Thomas Unwin (he was going to be Benjamin, but that's a whole other story)  

Memories of James:

• Chubby little feet that wanted to be kissed each night
• Loving to watch the movie Back to the Future
• He and Casey hiding behind my bed pretending they hadn't found their Christmas presents of various Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
• "Al be gur" (Disney's movie Oliver)
• His love of his binkies and having to have warm milk in his bottles
• Picking him up from his mission and his surprising us by being at the airport in the Dominican Republic
• Covering for Casey by wiping messages off of the answering machine that said "today your student missed one or more classes...."
• Lying on the couch with "DeeDee" watching cartoons and each of them drinking their bottles
• Christmas Eve 1989 when he split the back of his head open
• Soccer, soccer and more soccer (Casey too!)

Reasons why being the baby last child in the family is the best:

• Trips to England that others missed because they were married or on a mission
• Always around to move furniture for parents or family members
• Being lucky enough to help do odd jobs around the house
• The opportunity to bond with  parents not only on holidays but at breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Having a car to yourself
• Having a house to yourself
• Fussed over by older siblings 

Ok maybe there aren't sufficient reasons that being the baby is a great place to be but when all is said and done James is the ideal baby last child of the family.  He has always been easy going, kind, patient, helpful, slow to anger (and to be honest, I don't ever remember him angry as a teenager or adult).  He is a great father to Annie, (last Friday's Family Friday) husband to Kristin, and son to me!  James, I love you!

No apologies to James...but he will always be my baby! 

(and to his older siblings...I'm sure they wouldn't have it any other way either...RIGHT?)

April 1987

Family Fridays....With Annie

Our adorable little Annie joined our cute group of grandchildren in December 2009. She is a real cutie and I think I have finally gained her love and trust. She was a little character from about 2 months on. She just didn't act like she liked me. It didn't stop me kissing her and telling her one day she would love me.

Things I love about Annie:

• She loves her mommy and daddy
• She loves the movie "Little Mermaid"
• She loves to sing and dance
• She loves her cousins
• She loves Missy

Sweet Memories of Annie:

• Hearing her first sweet newborn cry.
• The night she decided it was okay to stay and play with Nana and Grandpa
• Her funny face expressions.
• Our applesauce fight (I might add she won!)
• Watching "Little Mermaid" with her for the first time and watching her sing along. (she was only 14 months old at the time)
• The Sunday Annie was sick and was laying in my arms watching videos of herself on my phone.  She turned around to look at me and gave me a half smile and buried herself into my chest as if to say "I'm safe and love you." 
• The Sunday night when I was playing with her 5 month old cousin Lucy on the floor.  Annie came and sat on my lap and put her little arm around my neck and held on tight. (I can still feel that hug.)  She wasn't sure if she wanted to share me!  
• The day I gave her an Ariel sing-a-long doll. 

Although she wasn't sure I was who she really wanted to be around a few months ago she has decided that maybe just maybe she will keep me around...I told her she would love me lots one day...

 and she really does love Nana!

Do you know where you were?

Some events stick in our minds and it is very easy to remember where we were and what we were doing.  Twenty eight years ago today was such an event!

Although this picture is 27 years old, a lot of joy, happiness, love and a sometimes pain in the backside (no pun intended) came with that event. I love you!  Happy Birthday Casey!

Family Fridays...My Nana

Edith Louise Mangus Bonner

My Nan was born March 27, 1909, in Logan, West Virginia.  I was the second of five grandchildren and the first granddaughter. We had a running joke in the family...I was told that I was her favorite...and you know what...I was!

Memories of My Nana:

She loved to travel.

• I remember traveling with her on many occasions.  
• She took me to California, Denver, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming and many other places.
• These trips enabled me to see my first fire flies in the back country of West Virginia.
• While my Nan stayed with her daughter, my Aunt Gene, my Uncle Carl took Bill, James and me to Washington D.C. to visit and see all the sights.
•  During one of our trips to San Francisco I went to my first major league baseball game and saw the San Francisco Giants play.
• Nan took me on my first train ride to Wyoming. 
• I remember standing in the middle of the Logan River in Logan, Utah in fishing waders and her fishing with me.

She loved to spend money.

• I remember Poppo, my grandfather, sitting at a desk paying bills and turning to her and saying "What's money any way if you can't spend it?" (and she loved to do that)
• I remember she bought me a pair of tan shoes that to this day I will swear were the most comfortable pair of shoes I ever owned.  I think they were about $50 and that was in 1970. (We won't even go near the subject of her shoe collection!)
• She love, loved, loved her Cadillacs.
• I remember her sitting me down once when I was 15 or 16 and showing me all her different savings accounts and where and which bank to find them. There was only a little in each one one but I am sure there could probably still be a bank around the area with an account in her name!

She loved to talk on the phone.

• There are many times I can see in my mind her sitting and talking on the phone and doodling on a piece of paper.  She used to draw squares with "X's" in them.
• I have more than once been in the car, at the store, even walking down the road when my cell phone has rung and it made me think of her.  She would have been one of the first people to own a cell phone...remember those big brick style phones with an antenna...yup, she would have had one of those.

Nana was no saint.  You didn't cross her and you didn't cross her family! However with that said, she was a very generous and kind person.  She would help those who were down and struggled to find a way out of their problems. She was loved by many.  She was always my biggest ally!


There are many fun, sweet memories I have of her. Far too many to put here.  I can remember the white board that used to hang by our back door. Several days had passed and I had forgotten to call her.  There written on the white board was a big message...CALL NANA! Unfortunately, one day it became too late.  She had had a stroke.  I went down to see her.   She couldn't talk but as we stood in her hospital room and my mom and Aunt Gene (Nana's other daughter)  started to tease me and Nan about me being the favorite.  I held Nan's hand and her thumb gently rubbed my hand.  The only words to describe the communication at that time was her spirit spoke to my spirit.  Words were not needed...she was expressing her love, and how thankful she was for all our adventures and most of all she was telling me that "Yes, I was her favorite!"

Family Friday's...(on a Monday) My Brother

My brother came into my life when I was 7 years old.

Early memories of him:

Poppo, Nana and David
circa mid '60's

• Dragging Having him accompany me in his blue push chair when I went to my friends to play.
• Babysitting him and our cousin Lynn and telling both of them to go play on the freeway.
• Tickling his toes and making him laugh as a baby.
• He was always "Mr. Dapper Dan" in his Sunday dress.
• Playing Superman with his cape that our Aunt Bev made.

Things that I Admire:

• He loves his family.
• He loves the gospel.
• He is very giving and if you needed the shirt off his back it would be yours!
• He loves to grow a vegetable garden and share when my garden isn't liking me. Which is often, cause I don't enjoy the gardening just the fresh veggies!
• He will always tackle the hard stuff when the rest of us whimp out!
• He is very knowledgeable when it comes to politics and current issues. 

Things I have Yet to Figure Out:

• How he survived attending "Terror Tech" Boy's School in England!
• Why when we have a family dinner all my kids will come in and change the seating name tags so that they can sit by him? 
• Is he the "thorn between two roses? (Melanie and I)   Or the "rose between two thorns"?

When all is said and done...he is lots of fun to be around and can make us all laugh until tears stream down our faces. He is my little brother...he is my friend.  He supports and gives words of encouragement when needed.  I love and appreciate him for all he does to make our family a great family.

Just for the record I still wouldn't "trade him for a $100.00. Even if it was cash."

Family Fridays...

...WOW you are going to have to hold that thought! I'm defintely behind schedule!

Actions...

It is said actions speak louder than words.  Why is that? Don't words also bring happiness, respect, or sadness just as actions do the same? Are they one in the same?  You get people who "run off at the mouth" but do you get people "who run off at the actions"?

There are people who are good at speaking up, speaking out, speaking words of comfort, speaking kind words, speaking unkind words.  There are people who lead by their actions, scare you away because of their actions, make you want to follow or make you want to run.

So which are you? I imagine we are a little of each....why then is it said "Actions speak louder than words?"

Just a question I have today?

Family Friday's...My Dad

My Dad Loved....

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints  He had a firm testimony of its truthfulness.
• His family (and wouldn't he just love all the great grandchildren)
• John Wayne ("I haven't lost my temper in forty years, but pilgrim you caused a lot of trouble this morning, might have got somebody killed... and somebody outta belt you in the mouth. But I won't... I won't... The *hell* I won't!" 
• The Right to Bear Arms (I'm sure he has a smile on his face right now!)
• The Constitution
• America
• His conspiracy theories (and he had us second guessing people, places and events on several occasions)

Fun Memories of Dad...

• The summer of 1979 when Matt was 6 and Tiffany was 4 we came home on a surprise visit.  We hid behind the door when he came home from work.  Mom asked him "Guess who's come to visit today?" His reply, "Chris and the kids!" I have never been sure whether he was tipped off or not. He did seemed surprised though.
• An extended family camping trip during the summer of 1972. We were in a motor home travelling through Europe, where he assured us that "he could get us around all the countries we were visiting without a hitch."  First stop was a petrol/gas station in France..."Help, I am an American and I need petrol!" Those were his famous first words upon meeting someone who didn't speak English.  Peter was asked several times on that trip if he was hitchhiking with us.
• His 75th birthday.  We had planned a surprise birthday party for him and throughout the morning we made one excuse after another as to why we couldn't stop by with his presents but would see him the next day. The shocked look on his face when we and loads of people walked through David's patio door to the backyard shouting "Happy Birthday!"

Dads career's....

• "My daddy works in da sewer"
• He worked for the Salt Lake Hardware Company  (I point out that big red building to whoever is in the car when we pass by there)
• He served in the National Guard and was stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia for 6 months. That was a very eye opening experience for me as an eight year old in the South in 1960!
• He worked for the State Road Commission and we were one of the first people to drive on the I15 between Bountiful and Sandy.
• He was a personal helper to Santa Claus several Christmas's
• He worked for the LDS Church and traveled around the world and because of his assignment for three years in England he acquired an English son-in-law and a baby daughter from Wales.
• Towards the end of his life he took up writing, OK, recording his life story for his family to read.

Although it seems like forever ago...

Next week, on March 2nd, it will only be 6 years since the early morning sunlight shone through the window of my parents bedroom, and my dad slipped peacefully and quietly from this life to the eternities.

Until we met again...

Family Friday's...

Happy Birthday Granny!

Today would have been Granny's 89th birthday. Peter's mum worked all his growing up years and he was looked after by his Nan.  Granny was a very kind and generous mother-in-law and I considered her my "mum".  She was always willing to babysit and now that I am a Nana I appreciate her willingness even more.

Her name was Violet Eliza Cheeseman Unwin.  She always thought her middle name was Elizabeth because that was what her parents had told her.  Imagine her surprise when she went to work for British Telecom at an early age and had to get a copy of her birth certificate for work.  Her mum thought the Eliza on her birth certificate was short for Elizabeth.

Favorite Memories of Granny...

When being the narrator at the 1988 family Christmas party's Nativity play she said "The wise men brought the baby Jesus, Gold, "Frankinstein"and Myrrh. The play dissolved into hysterics!

Once when visiting my Grandfather Follett she expressed her delight at the large "condom" he was living in. Those of us visiting with her busted a quiet gasket!!!

She came over to visit us about every 6 months those first few years we were here. During one of those  November/December holidays, Tiffany volunteered to go to the store for me.  Just a quick trip.  Tiffany came up to me while I was standing at the kitchen sink and said "Please don't tell Granny. I just want to be quick."  As Tiffany walked to get her coat on in the other room I turned to Granny and said "Granny, Tiffany's going to the store.  Would you like to go?" I think she was ready and standing at the door before Tiffany could blink her eyes  (Tiffany really didn't mind)

The Sunday she walked into the chapel at Epsom with the missionaries.  Tiffany was aware she was having her umpteenth set of lessons and was going to be baptized, but they had kept it a secret from the rest of us! Peter even said "Mum, what are you doing here?"

When she got married it was during WWII.  Because of rationing she had no wedding cake with the exception of a cardboard cake iced with a little frosting.  So when she was here one Christmas, summer (Thanks Tiffany) she took the opportunity to go to the temple for the first time and was sealed to Ken for eternity with Peter being sealed to them.  When we came home that night we had bought a small "wedding style" cake to celebrate.  She was touched and I think very pleased.

Granny and Matt going shopping for a new headlight or taillight for our van because of an unfortunate parking episode.

Granny standing at her glass enclosed front porch holding Casey, waiting for us to arrive to get him. (I vowed then and there I would not do this with my grandchildren cause I felt so badly that he had obviously been a little stinker)

Tracking Granny down at her friend's house at 6 a.m. one morning to come babysit so I could go to the hospital and James could join our family.

Granny Loved....


Playing games, especially Scrabble.
She loved to travel.
She loved to go shopping if you were going, she wanted to come too. (see above)
She loved her grandchildren and was always knitting sweaters for them as they were growing up.

Her final months...

Peter and I had the opportunity to go over to England in June 2002.  Unfortunately she wasn't doing well health wise and we went with the sad task of finding a nursing care facility for her.  By the time we got to England she was in hospital and stayed there for about 12 weeks.  There was a lot of legal things we had to do to get her in a position to enter a care facility.  We found a nice one in a very posh area of Cheam, Surrey, England.  We were happy with it and knew they would take good care of her.  They were even willing to try and get her sprung from the hospital and into their homely atmosphere. It was hard to leave her and yet she wasn't as coherent as she had once been. We knew as we left that we were saying goodbye to her for this life.

August of that same year found all of us, Matt and his family, Tiffany and her family, (Casey was on his mission so he missed it) James, Peter and I going to Lagoon to spend a fun day together.  Granny had send money at Christmas for gifts and I had hung on to it thinking it would be great to save it for something special.  We used the money that day to go and play as a family.  The entire day and right up to Lagoon closing it's gates was spent with us saying "Oh wouldn't Granny enjoy seeing this?" "She would love to be here!" The day is one of the best family days we have ever shared!

That night as we were going to bed, (Tiffany and her family were spending the night), we continued to laugh and go over the events of the day.  We continued to talk about Granny and the fun memories we had of her. The phone rang.  It was Peter's cousin David, in England, to say that Granny had slipped peacefully away earlier in the evening.  I still remember Tiffany sitting on our bedroom floor and Peter and I sitting in bed as we received that call.  Yes, we cried. Tears flowed at a rapid rate on us all.

We were so grateful for that day!  We had spent a day being grateful for her and so it was only appropriate that we ended the day kneeling in prayer expressing our thankfulness for her in our life.

Happy Birthday Granny! We love and miss you!

Family Friday Shout Out...

Ok, this Friday's Shout Out just has to be to my favorite son-in-law, Mike. Yes, I know I only have, one but one is sufficient!

The other day I was in a meeting...and my cell phone rang.  Caller ID said it was my granddaughter, Megan.  As it was in the middle of a school day I thought I should answer it just in case there was a problem.  The conversation went something like this:

"Hello, Nana?"
"Mike, how are you?"
Mike whispering in a very hushed voice...."If I die, will you please check what your daughter has been feeding me? Oh, I gotta hang up!!"

That was the conversation.  I quickly text  Tiffany "call me."  She was obviously busy and didn't see the text for several hours.  I was somewhat concerned but at the same time knew where both of them should be.  For those of you who know, Mike has just had back surgery and I think the combination of a burnt toasted cheese sandwich and drugs had got the better of him at that moment.  It makes for a good story though....so moral to this story is Tiffany you had better not poison Mike!

Fun Memories of Mike:

When they came out of the temple after having been married I turned to Mike and said "Just remember...no give backs!" He is living up to that promise and I think he is very happy, accept maybe the poisoning scare.

Sitting on his new ladder one Christmas while opening other Christmas presents.

Riding his new bike around the kitchen one Christmas morning.

Memories of Mike I would be happy to forget:


When he "mooned" me at a pool in St. George.

When he "mooned" me at a pool in St. George. NO this is not a typo he did it two different times!!!

Why I admire Mike:


He is a hard worker and has taught his children those same values.

He eats 99.9% of the food I put in front of him. (okay the green fettuccine wasn't his favorite)


He will always come help us if we ask without a word of complaint.

He loves his family.

So Mike let me just say to you...I love you.  Thanks for being my only son-in-law, and remember....No give backs!