Just Cruisin'

 Josh and I had such a great time on our cruise! We loved Catalina Island.

We held and played with a baby lion in Ensenada. That was interesting! 

 

We had a really lovely ocean view room!

We had such a great time together! I love you, Josh!

Hat Day!

I snapped a quick picture before the girls ran off to school for hat day for red ribbon week. I especially love Gweny's choice for the day. Love these awesome kids!

Grandmother Gwendolyn Wirthlin McConkie Cannon

Josh's beautiful, smart and kind grandmother passed away last month.  I miss her.  I so admire her and the brave and determined choices she made during her life that shaped her into the strong and intelligent women that I knew and loved.  Her example of righteous gospel living and her love for everyone that knew her will always be a testament to me of the love that Christ has for each of us.  I am so grateful for the time we spent with her and grateful that our own Gwen, Mikayla and LJ were able to spend precious time with her in the year before she passed away. 

The children loved their grandmother great.  During the few months that we lived together, LJ would sneak away to his grandmother great's bedroom and he would talk with her about all the things that a 2-year-old (at the time) rattles on about.  And she was truly interested.   

Grandmother was always interested in what everyone was doing.  Not because she was nosy, and not because it was simply polite to ask, but because she truly cared.  Grandmother, we miss you.  Thank you for being the example of the kind of woman I wish to be.  We love you!

 

Gwendolyn Wirthlin McConkie Cannon

April 29, 1921 ~ July 4, 2013

 

Gwendolyn Wirthlin McConkie Cannon passed away July 4, 2013 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Born on April 29, 1921 to Joseph L. and Madeline Bitner Wirthlin, she shared a happy home with her brothers (Joseph B. Wirthlin, Richard B. Wirthlin, David B. Wirthlin) and sister (Judith W. Parker). The family was known for church service, community involvement, a remarkable work ethic, and commitment to, and love for, each other.
Gwen married James Wilson McConkie on May 16, 1944. Gwen and James lived in New York and Paris while James pursued advanced training to become a professor of music. They moved to Minnesota in 1951. In 1954, James died of polio, leaving Gwen to raise their three children (James, Kathleen, and Michele) alone.

She earned a Master of Science degree from the University of Utah in 1955 and her Doctorate of Education from Columbia University in 1959. In 1960 she married Philip Farnsworth Cannon, and a fourth child, Carolyn, was born. Phil's work took them to London where she lived for 26 years. She taught at Columbia University, Queens College (New York), and Goldsmith College (University of London).

Her life was marked by devotion to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, love of family, intellectual curiosity, good humor, refinement, service, and faith. Her children and grandchildren revered her as the matriarch of the family and relied on her for sound judgment, lively debates on political and religious issues, energetic support, and unconditional love. Her legacy of faith will be felt for generations. She will be missed every day.
She is survived by her son James Wilson McConkie II (Judith Miller); daughters Kathleen McConkie Collinwood (Dean); Michele McConkie Erekson (David); and Carolyn Farnsworth Cannon Miller (Eric); brother David B. Wirthlin (Anne); 18 grandchildren, and 43 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 13, 2013 at 10 a.m. at the East Mill Creek First Ward LDS Chapel, 2702 East Evergreen Avenue (3435 South), Salt Lake City, Utah 84109. Viewings will be at the Chapel from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., and on Friday, July 12, 2013 at Larkin Mortuary, 260 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Interment will be at the Salt Lake City Cemetery, 4th Avenue and N Street. Please leave online condolences for the family at www.larkinmortuary.com.

Published in Salt Lake Tribune from July 7 to July 11, 2013

LJ's first day of...wanting to wear his backpack

He didn't start school today, but he wanted to wear his backpack...and why not?  It's a really cool backpack.

And he's an excellent photo-bomber.

Gweny's First Day of 1st Grade

She's got her new dress on...

 

And her brand new backpack.

 

She's got new shoes...

 

 

and she's trying her best not to cry.

 

 

 

She's a little excited and a little terrified... all rolled into one cute 1st grader.

Mikayla's First Day of 4th Grade

Watch out, fourth grade, here she comes!  She's ready, she's confident, and she's so, so excited!

Land Ho!

We spent some time with Poppa Rog and Grandma Pat and their boat. 

 

The kids were all so brave to try out the EZ ski.

 

Even LJ gave it a try and he loved every minute of it.

 

 He kept pointing up to tell Poppa Rog to drive the boat faster

Thanks, Grandma Pat and Poppa Rog!  We love you!

Fun Summer!

We had a fun, busy and hot summer.  We spent lots of time at Lagoon and at the zoo.

This picture was taken just a few seconds before LJ's first bee sting.

The bird show at the zoo was always a hit with the kids.  They loved it!

 

LJ went to the dentist for the first time and handled it like a champ!

 

And Gweny jumped off the diving board for the first time!

 

 

 

We had such a fun summer.  I'm so glad I was able to spend so much time with my kids.

Mikayla's 9th Birthday

Mikayla and this very fun group of friend spent the day at Lagoon for Mikayla's 9th birthday.  We had such a great time.  Mikayla finally grew a few inches taller this summer, so she won't be shortest in her class this year.  I love this Mikayla.  I'm so happy to have her sunshiny example in my life.