Our Little Lily

Could it be true? We lost our baby kitten Lily Lou the other day, and I don't mean she ran away from home. We had a tragic accident that suddenly took her life. Little Lily Lou experienced trauma to her head. I was talking to my mom when Susie and Kalia noticed blood coming from Lily's nose. My mom insisted I rush her to the animal hospital because she would need to be put to sleep. Since Matt was on his way to Scottsdale for an appointment, the kids and I all went together.

Lily and I have bonded so much during the past two weeks, and I couldn't even imagine losing her. The vet suggested Lily had a 50-60% chance of survival, but didn't know what her mental capacity would be. I knew it would be best to let her pass on. The Vet came into the room with my children and me to inject the death meds. as we witnessed her last breath. We couldn't help but to let loose our emotions. We were saddened by this experienced, but have grown strong. It will definitely be a while before we consider another Lily. Good-Bye, Lily -- we will miss you!

Another Hand Stand? Really?!

Susie is my little gymnast. She has been in gymnastics for one year now and has moved onto the Level 4 Competition. She spends 9 hrs. a week at the gym, and you would think that she would no longer need to do hand stands and cartwheels in the house. I think it's like flying, once it's in the blood you can't get it out. I know first hand having been raised with pilots in the family -- Dr. Grandpa, my Dad and brothers--two to be exact are both pilots.

Susie will be competing all over Arizona and also Las Vegas. I can hardly wait. :))

I would love to see her earn a scholarship to college (preferrably BYU) but she has a few years in age to go!

Happy Memorial Day

I love Memorial Day. It was so nice to see a big American flag waving in my yard this morning, thanks be to Scout Troop 217. An acquaintance passed away last week, and the thought occurred to me that his death was so timely; it happened to fall during a season when we all reflect on and honor our loved ones who are no longer with us.

Like everyone, I have lost family members -- grandparents, aunts, uncles, and even my sweet baby niece who passed away shortly after birth. Unfortunately, since we're transplants to Arizona, we don't have any relatives buried nearby. But that doesn't keep me from admiring the beautiful grounds of the cemeteries in our vicinity, nor the multitudes of people that are buried therein.

While I wouldn't trade our city for any other, on days like this, I do wish that I could be nearer to family. I would have liked to visit the graves today and to adorn their headstones with bouquets of flowers.

As hard as it is to lose someone, I think we're fortunate to have beautiful cemeteries where we can visit those who went before us. I often contemplate the Mormon Pioneers who were forced to leave their loved ones far behind, only buried in a shallow grave. What strength they must have received from God. Wherever you are, and wherever your dear ones may be buried, I wish you a peaceful and happy Memorial Day.

Rachel Jackson Look-Alike

Kalia wrote a report on Andrew Jackson some time ago. She researched and organized her information for many hours before finishing the report. Most of the time, the parents get stuck with writing the report, but not in this case -- Kalia did it all by herself! Kalia recieved a B for her final grade on Andrew Jackson, and I am very impressed. All of the 5th grade students were expected to report on a President of the United States. As part of the report, the students lined the school's main hallway and displayed their reports. They were encouraged to dress up as the President or first lady about whom they wrote.

Kalia dressed up to immitate Rachel Donelson Robards, 1st lady of

the U.S. President Andrew Jackson

Ty's Favorite Lady

Ty started preschool January 2, 2008.

Here he is with his teacher on the last day of school.

I truly love this woman for loving my child. There is a deep bond between the two of them. Ty is a busy little boy who struggles with sensory issues. He tries so hard to please people and make them happy, but at times it can be rough. With the progress Ty has made this year, I have great hope for Ty's future! I am keeping my fingers crossed that Ty will have her again for preschool next year.

Lily Lou

We have a new baby kitten in our family and her name is Lily Lou. She is 4 weeks old and is black & white with blue eyes. Lily's mom is a stray, and Lily and her siblings were birthed under a bush in my neighbor's front yard. Lily was rejected by her mom, and I came to the rescue.

Lily Lou

BB and Lily
I wonder what BB really thinks!

The Happiest Place on Earth

Kalia, Cousin Quincy, Ty and Susie
This was the morning we went to Disneyland, May 9, 2008.

Living in Arizona, we really have become acclimated to the hot weather. Even though it was 70 degrees outside in California, it felt more like 50. It wasn't what I would call Paradise. :))

Ty and I were waiting for everyone to get off Indiana Jones ride.

(Are you ready for the new Indy movie-- May 22?)

... still waiting

Grant, Kalia, Carter, Susie, Ty and Cousin Quincy
Kalia, Quincy and Susie
Susie
Ty and Kalia
Tiffany, Casey, Matt and Shari
Is it really the Fairy Godmother from Cinderella? Smile!

I'm sure Minnie wouldn't mind if we lived happily ever after here. :)

... And he could live at Mickey's.

My Precious Q

Here we are: 4 adults against 7 kids. Were we nuts, or what?!

Leave it to Mary, my role model who is practically perfect in every way. :)

Kiss It Mama

Ty was being a naughty little boy when he touched Kalia's book report poster on Andrew Jackson. Kalia rushed to tell Ty to quit touching her poster, and while she was disciplining him, she squeezed his finger. Ty started his spoiled little cry (as if to say, "Help me, I'm in trouble!"), and ran to me for refuge. He showed me his hurt finger and said, "Kiss it mama, kiss it." It melted my heart.

Susie's Turning 9

Susie was born on May 5, 1999 in Bountiful, Utah at Lakeview Hospital at 6:36 pm. She weighed 5lbs. 14oz. and was 18 inches long. Susie is often referred to as my Cinco de Mayo baby since she was born on the Mexican Holiday (Dr. Lewis wanted her to arrive on Mother's Day, May 9, 1999, but she just couldn't wait.)

Susie was an excellent baby. She was always happy, she slept through the night from 10 weeks on and gained so much weight in her first month that you never would have guessed she was a preemie -- she was a little butterball.

At 9 months old, Susie was my hip baby! I didn't think much of it until she was three-years-old and still preferred to be carried. She was my baby, and still is -- the baby girl, at least. Susie had me wrapped around her little finger until one day her brother Ty arrived and I knew that Susie's position in the family would change abruptly into the center child. She fulfills this duty very well! She loves attention, and there is never a dull moment (i.e., no lack of drama, exaggeration, etc.) in her life.

Susie has several nicknames: Sister, Sister Susie, Susie Q, Susie B., Susie Baker Homemaker, Sweet Susie. She even has a song (courtesy of none other than Aunt Sarah, of course!): Oh Susannah, don't you cry for me, I'm coming to Louisiana with a banjo on my knee.

Today is Susie's 9th birthday, and as is tradition in these parts, the birthday table has been set for days. Her presents, cards, balloons, and matching diningware are all ready for the party.

Susie's blessing day (being held by Grandma Baker)

Susie at 1 year

3 years old

6 years old

8 years old

Susie's 9 yr. old birthday party

Left to right: Leia, Grant, Ty, Cousin Sammie, Carter, Susie, Cousin Tommy, Kalia, Brynn

Kalia, Susie & Brynn

Cousin Sammie & Kalia

Ally, Samantha (hiding behind Ally), Susie (opening Kalia's present), Brynn

Blow out the candles
Grant & Susie

Susie testing out her new pogo stick before she heads off to Gymnastics ...
the presents will have to wait.

My friend Tiffany and her baby, Kennedy
(also the mom of Carter & Grant)

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!

School Carnival

Seeing as we have attended the school carnival three years in a row, I guess you could say this has become a family tradition.

Ty loved to slide down the inflatable dragon -- he slid down it (about) 25 times.

Susie climbed to the top of the rock wall.

And Little Miss Susie also sought out the social life, meeting up with best friend Brynnee Boo.

Ty didn't quite know what to think of feeding a goat -- it's not exactly like feeding BB.
Kalia was there, too, and I'm sure she had as much fun as Ty and Susie; it's just that she managed to escape the camera. There's always next year ...

Out with the Old, In with the New

Ok ... maybe it's not a new hobby, per se, but, since I have been in the process of organizing my home, I have come to the conclusion that my pictures are very unorganized. I gathered all of my pictures, threw away the duplicates and headed over to Matt's office to scan the photos.

Now that I have my pictures saved on my desktop, I am uploading my pictures into a family album to be printed.

No more pictures lying around this house, and I can't wait!

Disaster

The other day I disabled my comment box for my blog, unaware of the raucous that would ensue. It's not like so many people comment on my blog anyway -- I didn't think it would be missed.

Well, good news for all of those squeaky wheels: Comments are back!

May Calendar

5th: Susie’s Birthday

9th-11th: Disneyland

11th: Mother’s Day

18th -21st: Matt’s in Virginia

22nd: Last day of school