Homecoming Pictures

Happy Birthday Griffin

Griffin Likes To Smash It

By Grandma Baadsgaard

I love you Griffin. You make me smile.

Griffin likes to smash it

When his brother builds a tower

When he mother says, “Stop that!”

Griffin’s face turns sour

Griffin likes to throw it

When he sees a round red ball

When his big brother takes it

He breaks down and bawls

Griffin likes to take it

When he sees his Granny’s hand

Then they go for rides

All over Disneyland

Griffin likes to hug it

When he sits on Mommy’s knee

He puts his arms around her neck

And squeezes till he’s free

Griffin likes to eat it

When he sees candy anywhere.

And when it is time for baths

He runs around in the bare.

Griffin likes to blow it

When his straw is in his drink.

Then he likes to dump it

Right in the kitchen sink.

Griffin likes to push it

When with someone half his size.

But when they start to cry

He can’t figure out why.

Griffin has been two a while

But now he’s turning three

He is an angel . . . when asleep

As quiet as can be.

Happy Birthday Daniel

DANIEL IS FOUR

By Grandma Baadsgaard

Happy birthday my sweet Daniel

Sometimes when you’re four

Life can be a bore

So you stand on your head

Before you make your bed

Then it’s time to jump

With elbows for a pump

Cause you don’t like to wait

For any important date

No more frowning faces

For you are going places

You don’t like to walk

When exploring your home block

You just have to run

To soak in all the fun

If a plane appears in the sky

You have to stop and yell, “Hi!”

If you see a truck

You know you are in luck

When you feel the beat

You stomp your foot and leap

When you see the cat

You throw treats at her mat

You eat chips and rice

And cheese just like a mouse

If you have a boo-boo

Only Dan can kiss you

But when it’s time for sleep

Mom will take a peek

And kiss your little head

Before you get out of bed

And explore for one more day

Of four-year-old fun and play.

RYLAN THE DETECTIVE

by

Grandma Baadsgaard

Happy Birthday to my very astute six-year-old grandson Rylan. I love you so much.

Rylan is a detective supreme. He solves mystifying mysteries both big and small. First he locates his magnifying glass and then he finds his notebook and pencil. Next he walks about the house looking for mysteries to solve.

“Any puzzles you need solved today?” Rylan asked his mom.

“What I’d really like to know is why so many socks come out of the dryer without a mate,” his mother answered shaking her head.

“Do you always put socks in the wash in pairs?”

“I think so.”

“Well maybe,” Rylan said rubbing his chin, “you should pin the pair of socks together with a safety pin before you throw them in the wash.”

            "Why that is a lovely idea,” his mother said. “Why didn’t I think of that?”

            “Any puzzles you need solved today?” Rylan asked his dad.

“What I’d really like to know is where the television remote is hiding,” his father said shaking his head while he turned the couch cushions upside down.

“Well maybe,” Rylan said rubbing his chin. “You should Velcro your phone to the remote. Then when it gets lost you could use mom’s phone to call your phone and you will hear it ringing and find the remote straight away.”

“What a stupendous idea,” his father answered. “Why didn’t I think of that?”

Then Rylan thought about his grandpa who lived far away.

I wish I could talk to grandpa and see his face. I know how I’ll solve that puzzle.

Rylan borrowed his mother’s phone and face timed his grandpa.

“I was missing you today,” Rylan said when his grandpa answered.

“I was missing you today too,” Grandpa answered.

“Do you have any puzzles for me to solve?” Rylan asked.

“What I’d really like to know is why I keep growing older,” his grandpa asked.

“That’s easy,” Rylan said smiling. “Old stuff is called antique and antiques are worth a lot of money. So you’re not just growing older; you're growing more valuable.”
          "I never thought about that way," Grandpa said. "Thank you Rylan."

Next Rylan talked to his grandma.

“Any puzzles you need me to solve today?” Rylan asked his grandma.

“Why do I feel all warm and happy inside whenever I see your face?” Rylan’s grandma asked.

“That’s easy,” Rylan answered. “That's because you love me Grandma.”

Only a detective boy as smart as you knows that,” his grandma said. “A little more love would sure solve most of the puzzlements in this world.”

When Rylan went to bed that night he placed his magnifying glass on the night stand right next to his notebook and pencil. Then he thought about his brother Griffen and his baby sister Alice. Then he thought about and his mom and dad.

Why do I suddenly feel so warm and happy inside when I think about my family? Good thing I'm Rylan the detective because I know the answer to that mystery.

Children Are Diamonds

This post is dedicated to the woman who taught me that children are diamonds . . . Florence Cope. She is my friend and I learned a lot from her. She was buried yesterday . . .

One day I was waiting in line for my child’s evaluation with his new kindergarten teacher. A stylish young mother and her son sat in the chairs next to us because the teacher was running behind. I was obviously eight months pregnant and hovering on the huge side of big.
This young mother stared at my belly and asked, “Why do you want to do that again?” Her question caught me off guard. I blushed. “This is it for me,” she added. “Boy am I ever ready to get this last one in school. Now it’s my turn for me.” She was wearing beautifully tailored clothes, her hair was elegantly styled and her long fake fingernails were polished pink with jeweled flowers on the tips. “Just bought that,” she finished pointing to a shiny red sports car in the parking lot. “Nice huh.”
I looked down at my protruding mid-section and asked myself . . . Why am I doing this again? My worn maternity clothes were stained orange across the belly with my preschooler’s spaghetti from lunch. I still had dirt under my fingernails from playing in the sandbox. My wind-blown hair was stuck to several sticky kisses on my cheeks. The old van I drove was covered with mud and still smelled like hot dog and marshmallow smoke from our last family camp out. Yet, I knew exactly why I was doing this again.
I cleared my throat several times, turned to this woman and asked, “What if a highly important person brought you to the opening of a diamond mine and said you could go inside and gather as many diamonds as you wanted? But, there was one condition. You only had a certain amount of time before your opportunity was over and then you couldn’t gather any more diamonds. Would you do it?”
“Sure, who wouldn’t,” the stylish young mother answered.
“What if some of the diamonds were hidden in the rocks and you had to work really hard to find them and keep them?”
“I’d be willing to do whatever it took to get those diamonds because then I’d be rich,” the young mother answered. “Even one diamond is worth a fortune.”
“That’s why I’m doing this again,” I answered patting my abdomen.
I’m not sure that woman understood what I was trying to say. But I noticed that my little boy, who was seated next to me, took my hand and quite literally beamed. Children always know when they’re somebody’s treasure.
Wiping runny noses, changing messy diapers, fixing endless meals, sorting dirty laundry, soothing crying infants, waiting up for teenagers, supervising homework, cleaning up after the stomach flu, washing dishes, bringing in a paycheck and picking up after another toddler tornado doesn’t seem like important work. It is. Loving and serving children of all ages is the only work that really matters. The value of each person’s soul is priceless.
So, the next time you’re in the middle of cleaning up yet another mess, repeat these words . . . Children are my diamonds. I’ll do whatever it takes to nurture their souls because then I’ll be rich with love forever.

Florence Cope
The last thing she said to me on her death bed was,
"I have learned that people are basically good . . .
and even when they're not, they are still trying."

Florence Cope's children at the cemetery.

New Horizons Orchestra A Fun Place To Learn

When I was in my fifties I learned about an orchestra in Utah County sponsored by BYU where they let you start as a beginner. I'm so happy to be part of this group. We meet twice a week and play beautiful music together. There is a moment during every rehearsal when I am transported to a place of peace and joy. That feeling stays with me all week. I feel so grateful for this opportunity.

Here is a fun link to an article about the New Horizons Orchestra I play in.

http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/central/provo/residents-over-gather-to-perform-in-byu-orchestra/article_5a5dce62-aed5-5e12-a42a-1177ae1610b3.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share

Christian Ford Baadsgaard Is Born Today

Introducing my newest grandchild . . .
Christian Ford Baadsgaard
What a gift it is to see
the greatest miracle in the world. . .
the birth of a new born baby.
Thank you Joseph and Martha
for allowing me to be there.
What a holy gift.

Favorite Fall Photos 2016

Alisa at the cabin