Our Little Red Lighthouse

There is a wonderful story by Hildegarde H. Swift and Lynd Ward titled "The Little Red Lighthouse and The Great Gray Bridge" It is a fabulous story about a charming little lighthouse that stands on the banks of the Hudson River at the north point of Manhattan.

One day while driving down the Henry Hudson Pkwy towards the city I noticed this little lighthouse tucked under the George Washington Bridge and was taken by surprise. The bridge connects New York to New Jersey. Months later while in a book store I notice the children's book about the lighthouse. I know that this was a perfect excuse for an adventure.

So today, on our second day of summer we hiked down the hill to meet our little red lighthouse. The weather was perfect! We wandered up and over the Henry Hudson Parkway, under over handing trees and along the banks of the Hudson River. A cool breeze was blowing off of the Hudson and we were able to find a spot of shade thanks to our little lighthouse and read the book, just to help the story come to life. Jack had me read it several times and would point out the landmarks around us as we came to them in the storyline.

It was one of those Mommy days when you think..."This is great!" Just as long as the kids did not fall in the Hudson or get hit in the head by the rocks they were throwing we were in great shape.

Lance asked to bring our binoculars to get a better look around. He loved playing I-spy with them. He found the Empire State Building, New Jersey, and a speed boat passing by, just to name a few.

Jack was doing everything he could to get into the gate. He got everything in but his head and as he tried to pull it through the bars he would giggle and say "Ow" every time his noggin clunked against the bars. Lucky for me he never got through. I was afraid I was going to have to call the NY fire department if he got stuck.

What a great day to bring a bit of literature alive. As I type Jack is thumbing through the book and talking about what he saw at the little red lighthouse. What a great start to a wonderful summer.

NY Summer

Before we went to California for the summer we made a plan. We started with 2 poster size calendars for June and July and made lists of all the fun city things to do. I was so afraid that I would miss the fun (and the kids too).

One of our favorite places to go is the American Museum of Natural History. Once it gets warm the sprinklers turn on just outside the Rose Center for Earth and Space. The boys loved splashing in the gutter outside of the Planetarium...amazing!

We also visited the Bronx Zoo and took in some of the sights that don't take place year round. The Monorail takes travelers across the Bronx river to see up close and personal animals that you can only see on the Monorail tour.

The kids loved playing "where's waldo" with the tigers, deer and other hidden animals. Some animals like the elephants they have no problem finding.

Our other favorite place in the Bronx Zoo is the butterfly exhibit. In the summer it does get a bit stuff in the green house. But the beautiful classical music, the tiny waterfalls and the flitting butterflies just capture the kids attention and they are at peace.



The boys can spend hours looking at the koi and waterfalls. They name the fish, try to touch them and watch as they play fishy tag.

Two of the "rules" are that you may not pick the flowers and you may not pickup the butterflies. However the kids have learned that there is no rule against the butterflies "happening" to crawl on your finger if it "happens" to be sticking out. Simple joys.

Taking a ride on the bug carousel is a must. The kids love to go around over and over again until I get dizzy and need to get off. With each ride they insist on choosing a different bug. Claire loves the ladybug.

A beetle, caterpillar and praying mantis are some other favorites to ride on.

Another NY city must is testing out the water from a cracked fire hydrant. Lance was so excited about the chance to see up close and personal how this wonderful thing worked.

He was so good (thanks to some coaxing) he did not get to soaked, but the possibility is still in his mind.

I don't know who was more warn out with our short NY summer, me or the kids. I did start a list for next year of some of the things that we missed or loved too much to miss out on next year.

My Daddy

This week, and for the rest of my life, I will honor an amazing man, my father...John David Fraser. What a gift my father in Heaven gave me when he let me come to the Fraser family. My Dad had so much knowledge that he wanted to share with me, sometimes it was a bit overwhelming.

I remember when I was about 9 and I wanted to know how a camera worked. My Dad was an expert on this! He attended BYU, went to Art School in Los Angles and then studies at Cal State Fullerton. He worked with photographer Todd Walker, designed and ran a photography lab at CBS and created his own Advertising Agency out of our home. Just to name few of his accomplishments in photography. However instead of asking my Dad how it worked, I went to my Mom. I remember her laughing at me and asking me, "Why don't you ask your Daddy?" I replied, "I just want the simple answer and I know that he is going to go on forever." I remember her suppressing her laughter as she placed her hand over her mouth. She then walked into the living room and whispered into my Dad's ear. He looked at me through the top half of his glasses and beckoned me over. As I sheepishly walked over and sat on the couch he said to me, "Tell me what you want to know". He lovingly and simply taught me about a camera..I caught the fire.

Being the youngest of 4 I remember being the only kid left at home. My Mom and Dad still insisted on Family Home Evening and Scripture study. With no siblings left at home to distract me, I created my own distractions and spent some of our time together under the coffee table, trying not to be interested. However to this day I can remember the sound of my Mom and Dad reading the scriptures to me and hearing the love they had for these sacred books conveyed in their voices.

I remember seeing his face as I walked out the right side of the room in the MTC and hoping to see his 18 months later. And then the excitement when I stepped of the plane and seeing the joy on his face that I was home.

Dancing at my wedding and him pointing out all the people that came to celebrate with us. Him flying up to Washington to only turn around and drive back to California so that he could be there with me when the boys were born and Matt was serving our Country. The joy I saw as he was one of the first to see the boys come into the world!

This past month he called me often at 8am our time (since the rest of the world was still sleeping). He told me of the books that he was reading and the people that he talked to and made them smile. But his greatest joy was telling me of sharing the gospel and giving copies of the Book of Mormon to even the crankest nurses.

One of my favorite memories is when I was about 7 and not wanting to go to bed. I tried the "water trick" often enough. Finally my Dad took me into his arms and pulled me into his lap. He sat in his chair watching TV cradling me in his arms. I remember placing my ear on his chest and listening to his heart pounding and his steady breathing moving my head gently back and forth. As I listened I tried to pattern my breathing after his. Right then nothing else mattered.

What a great plan our Father in Heaven has given us that he allows us come to families. To know that the knowledge of the older must be passed on to the younger. How grateful I am for the knowledge of the plan and for the knowledge that we are an eternal family.

President Spencer W. Kimball shared that he wanted to wear out his body in the service of the Lord. I have not seen a better example of this than my wonderful Daddy, and I hope to follow his example.

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In memory of John David Fraser May 14, 1933 - May 7, 2010

Three

Maybe it is because my baby went from this ...

12 pounds 6 ounces

To this...

A three-year-old

How did my baby get to this point? He started out big so it should be no surprise, but it has been. He is very comical, has killer dimples and is quite spoiled. Since Christmas he has been asking for the same thing for his birthday..."Wall-E" (Oh yeah and a Mummy from the MET). Jack is our Pixar kid, between Toy Story and Wall-E he is a happy camper. So since he got Buzz for Christmas, Wall-e just seemed the next step.

Nana wanted to give him a gift that would fit in with the rest of his collection, his favorite cowboy toy, Woody. Woody arrived several days before the event so we wrapped it up and left it on the rug the night before.

Not my brightest ideas. I was woken up by Jack pushing the now unwrapped Woody box in my face asking me to open it. So much for the big photo opt.

Wall-E came several weeks after the fact so I had the upper hand. The Disney box arrived and Matt came home from school early. We gathered around the box and made guesses as to what was inside. Nothing prepared Jack for the biggest shock of his three years.

The toy was a hit...with all of us! He comes complete with remote and says all of our favorite lines. He even looks for Eve and calls her name. I am not quite sure what can top this gift...maybe I better look into buying that Mummy.

Easter Colors

Easter is such a wonderful time of year. Being here in New York I have been able to see what spring is all about and really appreciate the newness of life. What a wonderful way to celebrate life with smiling faces and bright colors.

Easter morning was a busy for our family. Nana and Katie came to visit, it was Conference Sunday. To let off a little steam we enjoyed our beautiful weather and went for a walk in our neighborhood.

Claire was pretty in pink wearing a dress that Mommy just finish the night before.



Lance is such a handsome devil in his green shirt and khaki pants


Jack is just as cute as can be in his blue polo. He was not a happy camper at the time however.


After our walk we went home to make fresh rolls

Some of us got into it a little more than others

Most of all we made great memories and spent time together.

It was an amazing day to spend with family and to celebrate the atonement of Jesus Christ. It was wonderful to remind our kids what Easter is all about. Seeing the newness of life up close and personal reminds me that because of a single act , we will all be new again.