Pictures from John in Denmark

My son John is serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the land of his ancestors - Denmark!

John is loving his time in Denmark teaching others about the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Poem for a Two-year-old

Griffen Is Two

by

Grandma Baadsgaard

I love you buddy. Have a great day!

When you’re turning two

There’s lots of work to do

Like turn every knob in the house

Then sneak around quiet as a mouse

Grab lots of treats to nibble

And use lots of pens to scribble

All over freshly painted walls

Then counter-tops newly installed

Next you find balls to throw

And make forts in the snow

Climb on beds and jump

using your arms for a pump

Then pick up rocks to pound

Smash pan lids for startle sounds

Whenever food is near

It is your job to make it smear

Then make your belly wiggle

Right there in your middle

For if you’re turning two

There is lots of work to do . . .

Whew!

Three-year-old Birthday Poem

DANIEL’S TRAINS

by Granny B

Happy third birthday to a very busy and charming little boy. 

I love you Daniel.

When Daniel laid his sleepy head

On the train pillow upon his bed,

He had a dream that made him smile

Of riding trains for miles and miles.

For Daniel loves trains you see -

So when he is awake he likes to be

A conductor with a blaring horn

That blasts his family from night to morn.

Around and around he chugs about

Roaring and screeching as he shouts,

“Toot – toot! Here comes the train!”

He’ll run through you if you remain.

Then with a smile on his face

He circles and circles all over the place

He won’t slow down ‘til Mom says, “Stop!”

And holds up the sign – her kitchen mop

Then says, “All trains will halt right here.

And park your caboose in the rear.”

Great Day at Arches National Park with Alisa

Birthday Poem for a Five-Year Old

Clowns Smiles

by

Grandma Baadsgaard

Happy 5^th birthday Rylan. I love you very much.

Here is the clown story you wanted.

“Why are you smiling?” said Rylan to the clown

He answered, “I always paint on a smile when I’m feeling down.”

“But if you’re feeling blue why don’t you paint a frown?”

“Because a frown is just a smile turned upside down.”

Everyone has sad days - we don’t need to spread ‘em around

Because then we’ll make other’s smiles turn upside down.

Then Rylan went home to his house in the woods

Full of, “don’t do that and Rylan maybe you should”

“Brush your teeth and clean your room

And don’t make a flipper out of your spoon.”

And when he built a tower it was knocked down by his brother

So he ran to the kitchen to tattle to his mother

“Griffen knocked my tower down,” Rylan said with a big frown.

“He doesn’t know better - don’t make those grouchy sounds.”

So Rylan did a cartwheel until his head was pointing down

Then his frown became a smile that wasn’t turned upside down

Now when his days are gloomy and nothing goes his way

Rylan knows how to change things so he still wants to play

He takes the muscles in his face all pointing to the ground

And turns them up to make a smile so he’s nice to be around

No one makes us mad or sad, we simply choose the way

We respond when life’s battles are at bay

If we choose to see what’s right in all those who are near

We sport a smile and always have lots of reasons to cheer.