8, where has the time gone?

Bayli has been so excited for her 8th Birthday.  Too bad she was sick for the big day.  Missing school is not her favorite thing.
Since her birthday was at the beginning of January, she had to be very patient in waiting for her baptism day.
Groundhogs Day will have a new meaning for us.  Sorry Bill Murray, you've been replaced with the smiles of a wonderfully beautiful young lady.

Posing in her awesome "jumper"

A very proud dad in said "matching jumper"

 Bayli had so much love and support from wonderful family, friends, and neighbors.  She was beeming all day long.
She told me that when Jed had confirmed her and gave her a blessing, "I kept my eyes closed through his whole prayer!  And it was a really good one!"
I must say it was a really good one.  He seemed to hit all the key areas that are important and meaningful in her life right now. 

Bayli was lucky to share her special day with two of her wonderful friends.  Aren't they lovely?

Afterwards she had a wonderful time celebrating with her family.  She was so grateful for all of the support that she received.  As soon as her company had left, she started working on her thank-you cards.  Love that girl, she is so grown up!

We were so busy with the days events, that we almost forgot to take pictures of her in her special baptism dress (I love it, not your traditional baptism look).  I'm glad that I remembered to put her special wrist-let from her blessing in her hair.  One of those sentimental gifts from her Aunt Katie that we have cherished and been eager to use for this big day.  The next time she'll wear it is on her wedding day, not so eager for that day!

The world is yours to discover and experience, live worthily and make it count little B!

three little birds (part 4 of 4)

I had such a fun time creating my little birds. 

I knew that I wanted to make the memory even more special. 

So I videoed each little bird. 

Underwent some seriously painful editing. 

And set it to my favorite version of Bob Marley's song "Three Little Birds" (sung by Renee & Jeremy). 

I love you my little birds. 
May you always have wings to help you fly. 

Love, Momma




three little birds from Lisa Atherley on Vimeo.

sweet

You know that outfit that your kid wears that you love and hate all in the same moment?  

It is cute but non-functional.  

The straps always seem to slide off their shoulders.  

They kneel in just the right spot, pulling down the front, all while trying to stand up.  

A series of events that indefinitely leads to anger, frustration, and a near miss face plant. 

  

And always in this love/hate attire

a tag seems to peak out

drawing you closer to HATE.  

Through the day you battle with the outfit, constantly telling yourself, 

"why did I put this on?"

Then when you are nearly ready to give up,

strip it off, 

and make life easier, 

you read the tag.

You feel your frustration melt away.

And you go about the remainder of the evening

trying to catch a glimpse of that little

sweet in all its happiness. 

A little reminder 

that its the sweet things in life 

that make all of this worth it.

Little quotes from Heaven...

Chase randomly comes up to me,

gives me a hug,

and says 

"you bess mommy, you bess!!!"

Interpretation:  you're the best

no longer a kindergartner

Bayli had her end of the year Kindergarten program.  Chase and I had a fun time watching her sing her little heart out.

Giving me the thumbs up for a great year of school.

Bay and one of her cute little friends, Josie.  She is blessed to have so many wonderful friends.  It was fun having nearly half the kids her age from our neighborhood in her Kindergarten class.  I wish that I had gotten a group picture of all of them.

Bayli with her teacher Mrs. Venning.  She will miss her greatly.

BUGGED!!!

Honey Bee pollinating the Amur Maple

I am so irritated by all of the pest control companies that keep knocking on my door (I literally had 4 different companies in a weeks time) trying to get me to commit to their services.  With promises of no more spiders, hornets, wasps, ants, etc.

For one thing, I LOVE insects.  They completely fascinate me.  Even the Squash Bugs that wreak havoc on my garden each year-although I could do without them.  Even the ants that once plagued us when we were living in Jed's dad's rental, fascinated us.  Especially when Flying Ant Day Week came around each year (or Flant Day as I have also heard it called).   That period of time when the freshly emerging queen ants would make their appearance and begin their nuptial flight. The family room/back door would be swarming with clumsy new flyers trying to make their way out into the world.  If they would only have quit coming up through the cracks by the back door, they would have been a bit more successful in making it outdoors rather than into the tip of the vacuum hose.  Those who did make it out into the backyard made quite a spectacle.  It often reminded me of a crowd gathering to see a hot air balloon show.  We also had some pretty excited birds awaiting the arrival of an easy meal each morning. 

The main reason why I am completely bothered by the "pesky" control people and their promises of "no more..." is that we need all of these insects to have proper balance.    With all of the discussions going around about why there are so few bees anymore, I am sure that they have something to do with it.  I mean, you spray for one type of bug, another is going to walk/fly along and have issues as well.  Especially if you are spraying every tree and bush in a given area.

Don't get me wrong, we do fertilize our lawn with certain grub eliminators.  And we remove a hornets nest when it is dangerously close to where our kids are playing.  Not to mention the exterior perimeter foundation spray that Jed applies to keep the majority of spiders outside.  But really, every bug in my yard has a part and if they are not interfering with the welfare of my family, they are welcome to stay.
Especially the lovely honey bees that find the Lilacs and blooms of the Amur Maples in the spring.  Then, as their numbers grow in the summer months, make their beautiful buzzing sound as they fly about the Blue Beard and Russian Sage.  I mean really, what is lovelier than that?

JOY is...

running across the field

hands above head

jumping up & down

cheering out-loud

smile from ear to ear

completed with hugs for dad

September 27, 2010 Bayli's first goal

Capturing Autumn

I cried over beautiful things knowing no beautiful thing lasts.

~Carl Sandburg~

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.
~Albert Camus~

Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.
~Stanley Horowitz~

Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.
~George Eliot~

Bittersweet October. The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect pause between the opposing miseries of summer and winter.
~Carol Bishop Hipps~

We took a little excursion up Butterfield Canyon to enjoy each other and the loveliness of a Utah Autumn.
Autumn is my favorite of the seasons. It is my favorite time to reminisce on old memories, as well as to make new ones.
Nothing says autumn like gorgeous views and smiles on everyone's faces.

I loved Chase's posture as he looked down to the valley below. He actually pushed pause on his busy little body for a few seconds.

We took them to the Bingham Copper Mine overlook.

Although the mountainside is scarred by the evidence of man-made machinery, there is a strange beauty about it. Mankind's need for elements that only the Earth can give. Our Earth, openly showing treasures of its creation.

Bayli loved being surrounded by beauty and wanted to take pictures of everything, as though she didn't want to forget it. "Mom, give me the camera so I can take another picture of those trees over there."

As with any outdoor excursion, the kids are attracted to rocks, dirt, and hillsides.