An Elephant and Lily

What do the two have in common, they never forget.

Last night as we read scriptures with the family Lily somehow, I can’t even remember how, was offended because she was cut off in the middle of her scripture.  She locked up and wouldn’t calm down until far after the reading time was over.  So tonight as we were getting ready for FHE she was in charge of reading the scripture to open the mtg with, I couldn’t believe it when she chose to share the exact verse she was asked to read last night.  Now that is stubborn to the max, she didn’t forget that she was cut off and she wanted to have her chance to finish what she had started.  She is one of a kind.

Comments:

Grandpa and Grandma Parker said…

She is kind of like someone else we know. Stubborn for the good is great, we just have to mold it a little. “If you don’t stand for something you’ll fall for anything” Keep up the reading of scriptures Lily.
Monday, April 27, 2009 11:43:34 PM

Patricia said…

You’re awesome, Lily! We love you for who you are! Grandpa and Grandma Baldwin
Friday, May 01, 2009 10:09:40 PM

Piano Recital

Alexis had her end of year piano recital Friday night. She played the songs that she played for festival last weekend, "The Wild Horseman", and "Song for a Princess". Jodi, Lily and her friend Emi said she did great. She got her festival score back and was happy to get a 98. She is looking forward to earning her statue next year. It is great to see her progression and I really enjoy hearing her practice.

Idaho History Program


Mason with his teacher….he loves her because she doesn’t like to give homework!

Mason participated in the annual fourth grade Idaho History Program this past week. He was very happy for this day to come, because he had to miss P.E. for two weeks while they practiced for this program! We are proud of him for doing his best, even though at times it looked as if it were very painful for him to have to sing all of those songs in front of all of us parents. He gave me a smile when we were all singing "Here we have Idaho, winning her way to fame…." I think it is because he knew that it would all be over really soon.

My favorite part was in the car when Alexis said, "I told my friends, "isn’t my brother cute?’" Then Mason said, "Did you show them JT?" And then she said, "I was talking about you!" He is a pretty handsome Idahoan.


getting ready to take the stage
dreaming about when P.E. will happen again

Comments:

Grandma and Grandpa Parker said…

It’s good to see Mason getting a good well-rounded education. We think he’s handsome too.
Monday, April 20, 2009 7:28:26 AM

Jana said…

Way to go Mason..whenever we cross the Idaho boarder I always sing the Idaho song! It will come in handy someday on a long road trip.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009 7:47:49 PM

Michelle said…

I LOVE your hair Mason! You know . . . I remember a few of the counties of Idaho from my days in 4th grade many moons ago.
I love the state song for Idaho. Way to go!
Monday, May 25, 2009 9:24:06 PM

Saturday Productivity


finished and ready for the shrubs and bark!

We were able to check something off of our lists this weekend! For two years we have talked about building an arbor and we finally did it, rustic style. Stephen recycled some wood from a caved in potato cellar – a man in our ward was getting ready to burn. The only pieces of wood purchased were the 4 posts, pretty cool huh? It feels so good to be productive and frugal all in one. It felt like old times – me running the chop saw, Stephen nailing, kids running wild and crazy, and a more than a couple of slivers to show off. At least none of us had to get a tetanus shot from the rusty nails we were pulling out! Alexis also participated in piano festival and did a fabulous job. Her morning consisted of practicing her 2 octave scales for 2 hours. She was very nervous about them, but all of that practice paid off! It sounded good from outside the door and she felt good about it in the end. The other pictures are from a crazy night this past week. It had been cold all day and a snow storm had blown in just in time for Lexi’s soccer game. We decided to stay home and warm. Mason and Lily got a little crazy with the rubber bands, but had lots of fun. Olivia ended up flicking herself in the face, that’s when all of the fun had to end.

Comments:

Dad said…

Mom loved it. She wants me to build one like it at the new house.
Monday, April 20, 2009 7:24:53 AM

Magan said…

Yes, love the arbor
Monday, April 20, 2009 2:10:01 PM

Jana said…

Very cool, we all want one!!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009 10:21:12 AM

Patricia said…

What a nice addition to you place. We can’t wait to see it when we come up. Your family is always doing neat things at your house. It’s all good; so very, very good!
Dad and mom
Friday, May 01, 2009 10:06:21 PM

Garbage can fetish


Today before church we went into the primary room to have Lex and Olivia practice their scripture. I let JT walk around in the room while I coached Lex and Olivia, we then headed back to the chapel for church. I noticed that JT’s pacifier was missing and that is a life saver in sacrament mtg. I scoured the bench looking for it, and sent Lily back down to the primary room to look for it, still no pacifier. I then went into the primary room myself knowing that JT likes to through things. I looked everywhere but it just wasn’t to be found. As I was walking out of the room I noticed a garbage can about JT’s height. I thought to myself, he wouldn’t put it in there. Sure enough though he had thrown it in the trash. Crazy dude….but wait there is more….

Jodi just told me that later that day when she was in the primary room JT had tipped the can over, pulled the liner out and had crawled into the can. All she could see was his feet sticking out. He then pooped his pants while he there….guess he was looking for his pacifier and just couldn’t take the stress of not finding it.

Comments:

Dad said…

Maybe he will really enjoy caves and tight places as he grows up.
Monday, April 20, 2009 4:29:30 AM

Jana said…

Too funny…good thing you had that inkling or you might have had a rough Sacrament mtg.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009 7:45:58 PM

Patricia said…

We sure love that little guy! G & G Baldwin

Friday, May 01, 2009 10:12:16 PM

Patricia said…

We sure love and miss that little guy. We can’t wait to come for a vist at Memorial Day. All of the kids better watch out. We are going to have so much fun! Love to all, Grandpa and Grandma Baldwin

Friday, May 01, 2009 10:12:16 PM

Did I shave my legs for this?


This is only for our family Lex – don’t be worried. I just have to document it for your daughter someday.

Alexis came home from school on Friday with Mason close on her heels. She walked straight up to me and said, “Look at this mom!” (kind of freaked out) I looked and there were some long hairs dangling down from her arm pits. She told me that Mason discovered them – and was jealous. He wished he could have some too! It just made us all laugh. We took her in my bathroom and zapped the hairs away before she went to her “Twilight” party.

Then last night Stephen and I went to Wal-Mart on our date and and purchased a very stylish razor – one worthy to do the first shave of the legs. Alexis allowed me to help her give her legs the first trim of their life. We had a good time and I felt happy to be sharing this monumental moment. It is nice that Alexis is filling us in on all of the new and exciting changes happening in her life. We love it and her very much!

Happy Shaving in the years ahead – it is a never ending task!!!

Reflections


I was there and was touched by the moment, Lex is growing up and there isn’t anything we can do about it. – DadToday as I watched Alexis help Olivia give the scripture in Primary my heart went into reflection mode.

I have walked the path of Primary with Alexis all of the years she has been in, except for 3 years while living in our second house in Idaho Falls. I have watched her grow from where Olivia is now – a bright-eyed, eager, Sunbeam in the Rexburg 8th ward to a beautiful, faithful, & knowledgeable young lady in the Sugar 6th ward. Today she asked me if she would be able to go to Young Women on her birthday (she turns 12 on a Sunday)- it’s about a month away now. It got me thinking about all of those Sundays we’ve been learning and growing together and how they are almost out of my fingertips. The Primary chapter is reaching a close and the opening of great times in Young Women are sure to come. Now it will be Stephen’s turn to watch her as they attend activities together. It is an exciting time for her to be alive and learn even more in the gospel and develop and refine herself. She is getting ready to spread her wings – I have a lot of confidence in her and how well she’ll be able to fly.

Now it is Olivia’s turn to follow her sister’s example…

The following song came on tonight as I came home from a meeting…speaking to me of past years and and preparing for the future ahead.

Comments:

Grandma and Grandpa Parker said…

We are proud of both of them. Each phase of our lives are exciting and growth producing. We both loved our teen-age years, and now even retirement is exciting.
Monday, April 20, 2009 2:35:27 AM

Diana said…

Lexi was sure sweet that day! Isn’t great to let them spread their wings & let them fly. But always knowing that you will be there to smile at them as they glance around to see where you are!
Thursday, April 23, 2009 4:29:46 PM

15 Mile Run


Today Jodi, Diana and I ran our biggest run yet as part of our training. It was so crazy to think just two days ago there was snow on the ground. What a beautiful day it was today. I was just proud as can be of Jodi for this accomplishment it is her and Diana’s longest run ever. They both did great, but I am kinda partial to Jodi. Next week we get to run a 16 miler and we can hardly wait to have Casey as the water boy.

Comments:

Dad said…

It is a good thing to be partial to Jodi. Never leave that mode. The women in our lives are great.
Saturday, April 18, 2009 12:42:55 AM

Diana said…

I, too, am glad you’re partial to Jodi. It is sure fun having you around on those runs, even though you secretly look down at your watch to see how fast (or slow) we are going & wish the pace might be a little faster. Thanks for your patience!
Thursday, April 23, 2009 4:32:27 PM

No turning back now


Jodi and I are officially registered to run the Teton Dam Marathon, Jodi surprised me by consenting to run it with me. I figured she is already in shape from her half marathon so this will be a walk in the park for her. We even talked her running partner Diana to run it with us too, so all three of us are going to run it together (we are working on getting Casey to run it too but that may be more difficult than the run itself :-). We have a pretty vigorous training schedule but we are not about to give up on this dream. Set aside the morning of June 13th to come out and cheer us on.


Failure is not an option!