Cameron, Whom I Love

Look how cute my husband was as a baby. Just digging for cheerios in the shag-carpet wearing his overalls, happy as can be. And notice how much River looks like him in this next picture. Practically identical as babies. So, just in case anyone was still thinking that she looks like me a smidgen, she doesn't.

After you're finished ooohing and aaahing over Cameron's baby photo, jump ahead with me a couple of years with these next pictures. Man, you can tell it's the 80's. I mean, check out Cam's belly shirt! Also, upon closer inspection you will notice (to my delight) that his shirt says "Hammer Time". Eee hee hee! Of course, it's not really 1985 without the neon-sweater and camo-pants combo. Thankfully, Cameron's fashion vibe perfectly coincided with mine at the time and proves that we were always meant for each other. (Thanks Mom, for loving me enough to risk carpal-tunnel crimping my hair every day.)

This is my all-time favorite picture of Cameron during his high school years. The outfit! The one arm coolly slung over the steering wheel and the other proudly displaying his learners permit! The hair! The hair in this photo alone is worth enlarging it for a closer look. Due to the hair, I think this must've been the year Cameron got his infamous nickname of Dauber. (You know, the oafy jock off of the tv show 'Coach')Sadly, Cameron joined the military after high school and was forced to cut off his hair. The good news is that he was stationed in Hawaii for three months right before his mission to England and soon earned another nickname. It was

wait for it,

Pineapple Head. As you can see in the picture at the MTC below, his nickname pretty much spoke for itself. The bottom picture is after the mission president got a hold of him ;)

Such was the life of Cameron Mitchell White until he met his eternal companion and had a child of his own. What a great 29 years!


Happy Birthday Cameron!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I have recently read...

'The Memory Keeper's Daughter',
'The Life of Pi',
'The Kite Runner'
and 'Anna Karenina'.


They were all really wonderfully written, interesting books. However, this is troubling to me because I can't say that I would recommend any of these books to you, or to anyone. Don't get me wrong, they are excellent books, they make you think, ...but the reason I am lumping them all into one catagory is that they all left me sad. Disheartened. I've discovered that I can't stand books that happen like real life, where no hero saves the day, and no magic-spell changes the outcome. Really, I don't enjoy reading books about suicides or adultry or murders. Even if they are critically acclaimed best-sellers or on the list of Oprah's Book Club. I need to read books that leave me entertained or uplifted or imagining. I'm currently reading 'Oliver Twist' for the first time and if it ends up badly for little Oliver, I'm never reading Dickens again. Ever. I swear. So anyway, I recommend these books only if you feel like you want to be the grown adult that you are, of which, I rarely like to be ;)





On to other topics, mainly 'What to put on the blog to appease my and Cameron's parents?' (whom we love!)



What, Daddy? Show Papa Brent my hunting face? Okay!




ARgggghh!


I am a camouflage-clad hunting warrior!




This video basically shows how River's walking skills have increased. She can now turn around with out falling and even picks objects up off the ground. I know, I know, you're all falling off your chairs with excitement.

All Things River (Only of Interest to Grandparents, Most Likely)

By request of my parents, here are a multitude of pictures of us and the 2 feet of snow we recently received.

When Cameron learned that school was cancelled for the day and he could stay home, he immediately put on his snow trousers and boots and ran around the block looking for people and cars that got stuck in the snow. And, fortunately, there were quite a few. This is secret footage I captured via the kitchen window and proves to me that Cameron is still that man I fell in love with all those years ago. ;)

This is River after her bath. It seems to be her favorite time of the day.





Thanks to Aunt Paula, River thinks she is the coolest chic-a-dee around because she can put chapstick on by herself. For her, chapstick is highly entertaining. Look for the sly smile when she puts it on, the 'uh-oh' when she drops it and the cute babbling.

Volkin or baby? Only YOU Can Decide.

So I cut River's bangs. And, gosh, she looks cute. Okay, okay, the bangs are a bit short, but I think River pulls it off rather nicely. I only meant to trim 'em up a bit, but I under estimated the 'MUST PUT SHARP OBJECTS IN MOUTH' mentality that River seems to have, and it seriously threw off my hair-cutting skills. First the bangs were too long on the right, then they came to a point in the middle (not attractive, unless you want to look like a Volkin)....somewhere around that time I almost jabbed River in the eye. Two inches of beautiful strawberry-blond hair later and I was finally satisfied. Then, the first thing that Cameron said when he got home was "River's hair is crooked." Arrgg! Can't he recognize a good hair cut when he sees one?I'm not too worried though, there is always the hat option. Good thing it's winter.

5 Second Movies

Cameron came across these short clips on YouTube. I think the Titanic summary is especially good. Maybe even better than the original movie. If I ever listen to Celine Dion's "my heart will go on," again, I'll scream. Loudly. For a whole summer when I was in Jr. High, 98.5 (the only radio station Roosevelt has) played nothing but 'my heart will go on' and 'the macarena'. Also, by unlucky coincidence, 'my heart' is the ONE & ONLY song I can play on the piano, due to taking lessons that same accursed summer. Anyway, watch the 5 second version of Titanic, it's much better. The Batman clip is bomb and the Rocky clip is fab. Enjoy.








There's also a great H. Potter clip if you care to look for it.

Orange You Glad to See Me?

Being the mother of a one-year-old is a great thing. I mean, one-year-olds are so much more mature and independent than say, an 11 month old. For example, now that River has turned one, instead of just leaving her fingers sticky with peach juice or mac & cheese, she uses her hair as a napkin! I know! I know! How smart is she? A previously un-tapped source of hand-cleaning potential. She simply puts both hands on top of her head and slowly slides them down her face, parting her hair perfectly down the middle and cleaning her hands of any annoying sticky substance. She does this three meals a day. I love it. She's a genius, I tell you. Why, in fact the other day I came into the room, and not only had River figured out how to take the lid off of the marker, she learned how to draw too! Ah, the joys of parenthood.

We Love You Grandpa.

Lloyd Aldon Fenn
Nov. 18, 1933- Jan. 3, 2008

When I get where I'm goingon the far side of the sky.
The first thing that I'm gonna do Is spread my wings and fly.
I'm gonna land beside a lion,and run my fingers through his mane.
Or I might find out what it's like To ride a drop of rain

Yeah when I get where I'm going,there'll be only happy tears.
I will shed the sins and struggles,I have carried all these years.
And I'll leave my heart wide open, I will love and have no fear.
Yeah when I get where I'm going, Don't cry for me down here.

I'm gonna walk with my grandaddy,and he'll match me step for step,
and I'll tell him how I missed him,every minute since he left.
Then I'll hug his neck.

So much pain and so much darkness,in this world we stumble through.
All these questions, I can't answer,so much work to do.
But when I get where I'm going,and I see my Maker's face.
I'll stand forever in the light,of His amazing grace.

Yeah when I get where I'm going,Yeah when I get where I'm going, there'll be only happy tears.
allelujah!I will love and have no fear.
When I get where I'm going.
Yeah when I get where I'm going.