Disney World Fun

We sure had fun with Aubrey and Kyle and Rylan and Griffen at Disney World in January.

Birthday Poem for a Sixteen-Year-Old

NOW THAT I’M SIXTEEN

by

Grandma Baadsgaard

Happy Birthday Josh. I sure love you.

Now that I’m sixteen,

I’m old enough to drive.

Everyone stay off the roads,

If you want to survive.

Now that I’m sixteen,

I’m old enough to date.

I hope she says, “Yes,”

Before it is too late.

Now that I’m sixteen,

I fix pizzas with a flare.

Get your Papa Murphy’s

But only if you dare.

Now that I’m sixteen,

I make stuff that explodes.

Parents getting grey hair

Afraid they will implode.

Now that I’m sixteen,

I’m ordained to be a priest

I see a man emerging

At times and places at least

Now that I’m sixteen

I bless the sacrament

In white shirt, tie and suit coat

I knell – a prayer is sent

First the cups are filled

Next I break the bread.

Then slowly I read

And sacred words are said.

 Soon I will leave home

Take Christ’s promise with me -

For I’ll serve a mission

Where God will help me see -

That life is so much more

Than getting just for me.

It is giving and receiving love

Joy and peace you can see.

When I return home

I will grow to be much more

For when you work with God

Your manhood learns to soar

Birthday Poem for a Nine-Year-Old

NINE TIMES NINE

By 

Grandma Baadsgaarad

Happy Birthday. I love you Isabella with all my heart.

Being nine is surely a sign

I’m growing up too fast.

Afraid my childhood won’t last.

So I won’t waste a day

For running around and play.

Being nine is surely fine

If I don’t miss a day in the sun

Fly to the moon or stay on the run

If I hear music in my heart

Or sing out like a lark

“Wow I’m nine - the world is mine!”

I’ll be a lion who roars

Or a bird who dips and soars

I’ll climb every tree

So I’m way up high to see

Turning nine is so divine

I’ll eat birthday treats and say,

“I’m royalty the whole day.”

I’ll open presents and eat cake

There’s a fine party for my sake.

When you’re nine you can’t whine

For whining is for babies -

Not for fine young ladies.

I’m old enough to say, “Sorry and please.”

I’m too old to poke or tease.

When you’re nine people say, “Toe the line.”

But I’ll have you know - I am free

Because I’ll always be me

A little older and a little bolder.

no matter how old I be.

Enjoying the holiday season with Alisa

Maple Mountain Chamber Orchestra Christmas concert.

At the BYU game with Dad.

Alisa is the best baker in the family.

Birthday Story for a Nine-Year-Old

WHEN YOU DIG FOR POTATOES

By

Grandma Baadsgaard

Happy 9^th birthday Mitchell- my budding archaeologist.

            When Mitchell’s mom told him to go outside and dig up some potatoes for supper he groaned, “Do I have to? It’s my birthday.”

            “You never know what you might find,” his mother said with a wink.

            “What I’d really like to dig up is a mummy,” Mitchell answered. “There’s a mummy exhibit coming to Salt Lake City at the Leonardo Museum with real mummies from all over the world in January. I really, really, really want to go.”

            “But the admission tickets are so expensive,” his mother answered. “Now get those potatoes dug up. Since the snow melted off yesterday, you can get to the last ones next to the raspberry bushes.”

            Mitchell dragged his feet into the garage, grabbed a small shovel and reluctantly walked to the backyard. He found the spot his mother told him about and started digging. The shriveled vines were his best clue of where to dig.

            First Mitchel dug up a gigantic potato then several small ones. He brushed the moist earth off the spuds and continued digging. Suddenly his shovel hit against a solid object.  Mitchell’s heart raced. He quickly dug deeper and brushed the dirt away. Buried in the ground right next to the raspberry bushes, Mitchell found a wooden box secured with a lock.

            Mitchell wiggled the lock but nothing happened. He ran into the house yelling.

            “Mom, you’ll never believe what I found buried in the dirt in our garden. It’s a box with a lock. I want to get this lid open so bad. What do you think is inside? It could be anything . . . like papyrus or a gold goblet.”

            Mitchell immediately called all his friends to come over and bring every key in their house. He tried each key one by one. Nothing fit. The box stayed locked. All his friends went home disappointed. Then Mitchell remembered his own key collection. He tried every one, but nothing fit.

            Mitchell wondered what to do. Because he was born on December 19 there was always a Christmas tree in the family room in their home. He plopped down on the floor, flipped over on his back and looked up at the tree through the boughs. That is the moment when he noticed their giant silver key.

“The key!” Mitchell said. “I forgot about our magic key.”

That large silver key was how Santa got into their house on Christmas Eve even though they didn’t have a chimney and even if the door was locked. His family hung it on the tree each year. Mitchel always liked to leave the key on the front porch with a plate of cookies before he went to bed on Christmas Eve.

Mitchell grabbed the key off the tree and rolled it over in his hand. Then he walked over to the dusty locked box. He pushed the key into the lock and turned it to the right. He heard something click right before the lock opened. Mitchel quickly creaked open the lid to the box.

There in the bottom of the box were tickets for the mummy exhibit in Salt Lake City along with a treasure map and a secret code that looked like Egyptian hieroglyphics.

“Mom! Dad! Look what I found in the box!” Mitchell screamed running through the house. “The magic key worked. Now I can go see the mummies. And look there’s a treasure map with a secret code in here too.”

Mitchell carefully unfolded the treasure map. He carefully deciphered the hieroglyphic writings that formed the secret code in his notebook. Mitchell noticed a half moon, serpent and the bird along with the picture of a man, woman and child. He followed the treasure map through the house as he thought about what the glyphs meant. He ended up in his parent’s bedroom where they were sitting together holding hands and smiling.

“I’ve got it!” Mitchell said with a smile. This treasure map’s secret code translates to . . .  mother . . . father . . .  love . . .  son . . . Hey, does that means you guys love me. Ah shucks. Thanks Mom and Dad.”

Mitchell gave his dad a high five then he gave his mom a big hug right before he said, “You guys are a pretty great daddy and “mummy”.

John spreading musical cheer in Denmark 2015

My son John is on a mission in Denmark.
 He is traveling the country with this musical group putting on free concerts to spread Christmas cheer all around the country.

ORCHESTRA CONCERT TONIGHT!

I play in the New Horizon's Orchestra and we have a concert tonight at 7:00 at the Sherwood Hills LDS Ward Building at 4000 Foothill Drive in Provo. 

The dress is casual and everyone is welcome.

THIS IS MY ORCHESTRA AT TEMPLE SQUARE

Poem for a Fourteen-year 0ld

FOURTEEN

By

Grandma Baadsgaard

Happy Birthday Matthew. You are awesome!

I’m not a boy.

I’m not a man.

Will someone please tell me

Who I am?

Food stuck in my braces

When I smile -

Teacher with a whistle

Makes me run the mile.

“Change your underwear.”

Says Mom with that look

But I frankly don’t I care

If I smell like fish on a hook

“Comb your hair, brush your teeth

Take a bath would you please

Practice piano, clean you room,

Or my patience is going to leave.”

Homework and locker combinations

Assemblies, recitals and tests

Gives me days at junior high

Without a moment to rest.

All the girls my age

Look two years older than me

How am I supposed to impress them

When all they see . . .  

My pants turn into floods

Whenever I turn around.

My voice seems to crack

Whenever I make a sound.

 Older brothers stare

Younger brother tease

When will this annoyance

Ever, ever cease?

Too old for Halloween

Not old enough to drive

How in the world

Am I supposed to survive?

Junior High is full of

 Jocks, nerds and bores

I just don’t know how

I’m supposed to soar.

Maybe I’ll just relax

And just practice being me

Cause when all is said and done

I’m content to be

Matthew the magnificent

Matthew the brave

Matthew the courageous

With a sense of humor to save

Late night video games

Lying in my hammock to sleep

Sneaking treats from the pantry

Is all I really need.

Who says you need

Nutritious food to survive

Mac and cheese serves me well

That’s all I need to thrive

You say I need

 Proper vitamins to grow.

I say life is too short to skimp on candy

When your blood sugars get low.

Someday I’ll be the dad

And surely I will say

“Stop doing that!” to my son

But today is not that day.

Emily Baadsgaard Wins $1,000 scholarship in the Utah Book Mark Contest

My granddaughter Emily won the Book Mark contest and the $1,000 that goes with it!

Emily drew and designed a fantastic bookmark.
Way to go Emily!

Happy Birthday Sophia

A HOME FOR FORGOTTEN DOLLS

By Grandma Baadsgaard

Happy Birthday Sophia - my fellow doll lover.

               Sophia loves dolls – all kinds of dolls - just like her mother and her grandmother. She loves them so earnestly that she created a home for forgotten dolls right in her own bedroom. The dolls at the regular stores are fun to look at but she prefers the dolls she finds at thrift stores and garage sales. Brand new dolls encased in plastic are not as intriguing as the ones she discovers under dusty blankets or scattered in the left behinds of other children now grown too old for play.

            Sophia understands the drawbacks with new dolls – they simply don’t have a story to tell because they have never been loved. Old dolls always have enchanted tales deep inside them waiting for a listening child. Each doll’s story comes to Sophia when she holds them in her arms while she falls asleep. Then their individual tales become her dreams at night.

When Sophia wakes in the morning, she paints the doll’s story on paper or canvas with crayons, watercolors, pastels or oils.

When people ask, “Where do ideas for your pictures come from?” she graciously smiles.

          Though Sophia has lots of dolls, she knows they do not tell their tales to everyone. Each story is a hidden treasure available only to those with a kind heart.

Once her best friend said, “Sophie, you have too many dolls.”

Sophia knew her friend didn’t understand. She knew dolls that are forgotten and thrown away leave empty places in their former owner’s hearts unless someone rescues them and gives them a home. If these former owners do not eventually fill their lives with children, that empty place will remain.

The dilemma Sophia understands is that older children often think they have grown too old for dolls and childish things. So they store them in the attic or throw them away. Some fortunate dolls are rescued by mothers who cannot bear to throw away their daughter’s childhood. So they lovingly donate their dolls to thrift stores or garage sales hoping these cherished possessions will eventually find a new home and another little girl to love. Sophia’s dolls all have the honored pedigree for dolls that have been loved many times.

Sophia likes to place her dolls all around her when she goes to bed at night so each doll will feel cherished and adored. Often when her mother checks on her she has a hard time finding Sophia’s sleeping face among all the sizes and shapes of dolls tucked in all around her.

On her birthday, Sophia’s grandmother gave her a large porcelain doll dressed in a turn-of-the-century dress.

When Sophia took the doll from the gift bag she smiled warmly at her grandmother and they both winked at each other. Vintage doll lovers know other vintage doll lovers when they see them.

“Sophia,” her grandmother said, “this doll has so many tales to tell. I know you will have sweet dreams tonight.”   

Birthday Letter for my thirteen-year-old grandson

Dear Brad,

Happy Birthday to a very special young man we love. We feel so grateful to be your grandmother/father. We hope you know that we will always be there for you and that our love is constant and true. We are so proud of you for the life you are choosing to live and the good example you are for your younger sister and brother.

We notice how patient you are with Izzy and Daniel. They are so blessed to have you for their oldest brother.

We notice that you love to read. Reading is the best way to learn and discover the world of knowledge. As long as you keep reading, you will never be lonely or bored.

We notice that you have a wonderful smile. When we see you smile and notice that sparkle in your eyes it seems like the whole room lights up.

We notice that you have very good manners. You always say please and thank you.

We’re always so grateful to receive a Brad hug. You never forget to give us a hug goodbye when you come over.

We notice how you work hard in your schooling. We’re excited to hear about what you are working on.

We notice that you are a worthy priesthood holder and willing to do your duty with a smile.

We get so excited when we know we are able to spend time with you. We had fun camping with you this fall and going on that hike with the beautiful autumn leaves.

We notice how you are always willing to help with anything that needs to be done – like moving family members to a new place.

We notice you never complain and work hard and try your best at everything you do.

It has been a joy to watch you growing up and becoming such a fine young man.

Always remember Brad that you have a Mother/Father in Heaven who loves you.  Jesus Christ is your Savior and best friend.  Remember that your earthy mother/ father loves you. Never forget that you have a grandma and grandpa Baadsgaard that love you with all our hearts.

You are a treasure - and we found our pot of gold when you became our grandson.

Grandma and Grandpa Baadsgaard

Birthday Poem for a Two-Year-Old

Daniel

by

Grandma Baadsgaard

I love you sweet Daniel. Have a great birthday.

Soft brown eyes

And a shy little smile

Lots of snuggle hugs

To last a while

Arms around our neck

Head on our heart

Good times to share

We’ll never be apart

Grandsons are the best

To make Grandma’s heart sing

Little boys are hard to catch

But oh what joy they bring

When you look up at me

My soul just wants to melt

I feel all warm inside

With all the love that’s felt

You were once a dream

But now you are here to stay

All my love for you

Will never go away

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.”