Family History

Here are the long awaited pictures of Phebe in her blessing dress. This is the same dress I wore when my father blessed me. I love that the tights are baggy on her. Oh, to have the same problem! The last one is my favorite.







Phebe is named after my great grandmother, Phebe Dorothy Bayles, and shares her name with my youngest sister, Emma Phebe. Grandma Phebe was born in Parowan, Utah in 1903. She met my great grandfather, Homer Brenner, when she was visiting a sister in California. They raised my grandfather, Harry, and great aunt, Marie, there. I remember visiting them in Santa Paula and make hollyhock ladies with Grandma Phebe. Grandpa Homer liked to mix his own breakfast cereal out of 3 or 4 different kinds and called it "Weirdo Cereal." It seemed like they had one of every kind of fruit tree in their yard. Sometimes when we visited we'd all walk to the Thrifty and get an ice cream cone. It was always so fun to visit them. Grandpa Homer passed away when I was about 10, and Grandma Phebe when I was about 11. I was very lucky to have them in my life. Not many people get to spend so much time with their great grandparents.

When we were coming up with names to add the list, this one was always at the top. I asked my grandpa why his mom's name was spelled differently (usually it's spelled Phoebe) and he said "That's just how it was. I never heard no 'O' in Phebe!"

So there's a little bit of Brenner-Tolman family history for you.