Goodbye Harbins!

It is with mixed emotions that we faced the last week of school this year.

Excitement: The school year is finally over. We didn't drop the parental ball too many times. Both of our kids passed with flying colors. The last day "lunch on the lawn" brought all of the anticipated joy that we have come to expect and enjoy. Class parties served the same melting icecream sundays as last year (I guess it's a little bit of an over statement to say we were excited about that part), but the energy was in the air non-the-less.

Savannah and Allison gettin' their groove on the lawn

Alyssa and Emmie have worn the same outfit on the last day of school for the past 3 years!

Anxiety: Savannah has just completed her final year of elementary school. I'm not sure I'm mature enough to be the mother of a middle schooler. I'm not sure she knows what she's in for. Middle school is a whole new ball game. Not to mention a whole new COUNTY!

Table decor for Savannah's Graduation Party!

Listfullness: (is that even a real word?) Watching Savannah cross the stage at the 5th grade graduation, seeing her kindergarten picture in the slide show, reading that her hopes and dreams are that she'll be a teacher after winning a gold medal in the olympics for gymnastics, remembering that my dreams were the exact same as hers.

Savannah's 5th grade class

Pride: being at the school during the last week of school privides lots of oportunities for teachers, other adults at the school and friends to tell each other what they think about our kids. It is at times hard for me to keep my emotions in check when those that I respect express to me how much they love and appreciate my girls.

Savannah with her Focus teacher Mrs. Newton

Shock: I am continually shocked at how cruel little people can be to each other. It's also shocking to see how fast kids catch on to who the mean ones are but continue to endure the behavior instead of moving on to new kind friends. It would be even more shocking to find out it was my own child that is the mean one. I hope that will never be the case.

Allison, Makenna, & Savannah

Audrey and Alyssa have been best buddies for 3 years

Gratitude: My kids have always been placed with REALLY great teachers. Mrs. Inglett loves both of my girls. She has learned that Alyssa is an honest, trustworthy little girl. When she's going to be gone for the day, she tells the sub to ask Alyssa if she has any questions. She told me at the class party how she admires Alyssa for sticking to what she believes in. Alyssa is not a blend in girl. She does what she wants to do even if she has to go it alone. Mrs. Inglett recognizes this as a very valuable trait. As long as she's making good choices and sticking to those, I agree. Ms. Headley has been very good for Savannah this year. Savannah needed to be away from all the girl drama of the past 3 years. Ms. Headley's class was the perfect place. When Savannah got her Herbts Ms. Headley was so understanding and compassionate toward my baby. I knew that if Savannah needed ANYTHING she could give Ms. Headley a nod and they'd be having a pow-wow about what she needed to be more comfortable.

Savannah and Ms. Headley

Anticipation: I love having my whole family at home. Sure, it's stressfull. Sure, it's busy. Sure, it's the way it should be. All of us working together to get the job done, love each other, and have a lot of fun in the process.

It's Summer!

Uncle Ted

My Uncle Ted always made me feel special. He was very kind to everyone. He was very supportive of his family. He is and will always be my uncle Ted.

Ted Black Davis (1955 - 2010)
Dr. Ted Black DavisTed Black Davis, 54, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on May 23, 2010. He was born in Salt Lake City on Aug. 23, 1955, to Byron Rigby Davis and Peggy Rae Black Davis. He was the youngest of four children including Robert (Bob) Byron, Donald Harold and Jane Elizabeth. His childhood was spent in several different locations, including Salt Lake City; Logan; Challas, Idaho; Sparks, Nev.; and finally, American Fork. He graduated from American Fork High School, where he served as senior class president. After high school he served a Spanish-speaking mission to Philadelphia for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He then attended Utah State University, where he met his eternal sweetheart, Andrea Ruth Larsen, while singing with the LDS Institute's Sounds of Zion performing group. They were married Sept. 14, 1979, in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple. After graduating from USU, he studied medicine for two years in Guadalajara, Mexico, and then received his M.D. from the Ross University School of Medicine. He completed his residency training at Providence Hospital in Southfield, Mich. He started his medical practice in Logan in 1992, specializing in family medicine. He lived in Hyde Park for seven years before moving to North Logan in 1998. He was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, during the summer of 2003. He retired from his medical practice in the fall of 2004 right after receiving the Physician of the Year award from the Cache Valley Medical Association.Ted was a respected and well-loved physician in the Cache Valley medical community. He cared deeply for his patients and their families, and his love was reciprocated by them. He delivered more than 1,200 babies during his 12 years of practice.He cherished the summers spent working together with his family at the Pickleville Playhouse live theater on the banks of beautiful Bear Lake in Garden City, Utah. He appeared as an actor in numerous productions and assisted in the construction of several of its buildings. He loved to watch his children on the stage and took special care of Pickleville's nightly Western Cookout. Ted found great joy in the simple things of life. He had a deep love and appreciation for nature and its Creator. Some of his favorite memories happened while camping, hiking, off-road motorcycling, hunting, skiing, cycling and riding his Harley. He was a faithful member of the LDS Church, serving in many different church callings. He lived seven years after being diagnosed with ALS. Through the course of the disease, he never once complained nor did he spend a single day in self-pity. With unearthly patience and dignity, he found ways to serve and inspire those around him while honorably loving and caring for his family. The effects of his faithful example cannot be measured.As Ted always said, "ICBW" (it could be worse), "CYMB" (count your many blessings), "123" (I love you), "Daylight's a-wastin'," and "Forget yourself and go to work."He is survived by his wife, Andrea; sons T.J. (wife Erin Cartwright) and Derek; daughters Chelsea (husband J.R. Haynie), Sharli (husband Andy King), Whitney, Tyrali and Makenzie; and mother-in-law Betty June Larsen. He was "Papa Wee" to grandchildren Carter, Tanner, Elliot, Hayden, Brooklyn and Mckenna. He was preceded in death by his parents Byron and Peggy, father-in-law LaGrande C. Larsen, and grandchildren Lydia and Landon Haynie. He will be missed by many other family members, close friends and colleagues too numerous to name. His family wishes to express their appreciation for the overwhelming amount of support and love they have received during Ted's disease and since his passing.

When life hands you strawberries........Make Jam!!!

Teacher appreciation week brings the annual question: Do I give separate gifts for teacher appreciation day and the last day of school? Or is one nice gift enough?
I decided one nice gift is great. I ordered 3 gallons of strawberries from the Washington Farms I made jam and biscuits and sent a basket with the girls for their teachers. Both of them loved it. Yahoo! Score one for the Baugh girls.
I did not make the strawberry jam all by myself. I had the cutest little helper. Emma Grace was everywhere present. She measured, stirred and poured. She is a sweetheart, not to mention the cutest cook in the kitchen.

Old enough to sing the blues

Mrs. Miller (the music teacher) & Savannah Mae

Savannah has really dedicated herself to the school chorus program. Mrs. Miller asked her to please sing a solo that involved a speaking part. Savannah was happy to oblige. She needed to dress like the famous blues singer Billy Holiday. We looked up her picture on the internet. Savannah thought it would be so great if we painted her face black! I had to catch my breath. She meant it sincerely. It was a great teaching moment. I still don’t think she understood why that would be offensive to some people.
Her solo was so cute. She sang the blues. She really got into it. I’m so proud of her. It’s hard to sing like that in front of your peers. SHE WAS AWESOME!!!
She said that for days afterward teachers would stop her in the hall to tell her what a talented girl she is. When I went to do the Friday folders I had more than one teacher ask me if Savannah was my daughter. When I confirmed the accusation I was showered with praise for my baby. Gotta be honest, it’s hard not to let emotions show when people compliment the very things that mean the most to you.
Hopefully Savannah will never have the desire to sing the blues, but if she ever does, she knows how! Billy Holidays’ got nothin’ on Savannah Baugh.

Just Us Girls!

Ivy Jeanne and her favorite Aunt Betsy

Betsy, Becca, Mom, Karen and Ivy

Betsy and Ivy

So, for my moms’ birthday Karen used her time share to book us a room in Phoenix for a weekend. We met on Friday and played, shopped, and sat by the pool until Sunday. It was a blast. I’m one of those lucky girls that really likes her mom and sisters. I felt so free! Becca is super pregnant (super cute pregnant, no fair!), and Karen had her baby with her (4 month old Ivy Jeanne). I had…….ME! It was fun. We laughed hard, we cried hard, and we just had fun. Ivy may well be the sweetest baby in the history of the world. She shopped for 3 days straight. I only heard her cry once and that was after a super long day. She really is an angel baby. It was a great trip and it was fun to catch up with my sisters. We live so far apart and none of us are very good at long distance relationships. But, it's surprising how fast we can remember that a sister is always your best friend.

Sand....EVERYWHERE!!!

Mike has these dreams of our yard looking like a golf course. He spent lots of time, energy, and money spreading sand all over the front yard. Bless his little pointed head; his putting green is going to have sandcastle shapes all over it.
Our kids have had countless hours of entertainment pretending they’re at the beach. All this fun is great unless you’re my wood floors, or my shower, or pretty much any nook or cranny on the premises. We have sand everywhere! I can’t wait for the grass to grow through the sand and make it magically disappear. I have learned that a beach house is nice for vacation, but I prefer a grit free bath, thank you very much.
I did really feel bad for Mike when we had a huge rain storm that washed tons of his beloved sand out of our yard, down the street, and into the cul-de-sac at the bottom of the hill. I wasn’t there, but I would have lovingly helped him shovel it back into the wheelbarrow and haul it up the hill to be spread again in our yard.
Here’s to a putting green! Good Luck!

Gymnastics

Savannah and her friend Grace

We got a babysitter to come watch the babies so that we could show Savannah how special she is.

Savannah and her coaches.

A Gymnast
Patience is a man’s greatest virtue, or so the saying goes.
A gymnast must have said it, for a gymnast surely knows
That in this funny sport of ours discouragement runs high;
And at times the very best will find this virtue’s passed us by.
When hands are ripped and throbbing, when every muscle’s sore,
Can a gymnast still have patience to limp in for more?
When you’ve lost old moves you used to do,
And progress seems so slow,
Can you still have faith in better days and not feel sad and low?
Can you admit you’re frightened, yet not give in to fear?
Can you conquer pain, frustration, and often even tears?
When someone else does something you’ve tried so long to do,
Can you really feel glad for them or just pity for you?
And when success seems far away your efforts all in vain,
Can you force yourself to wear a smile and disregard the pain?
If despite the tribulations you can say, “I won’t give in!”
Maybe someday you’ll discover that it’s now YOUR time to win.

Savannah had her end-of the-year banquet for gymnastics. It was really nice. We were able to get a babysitter and enjoy an hour or so with Savannah alone. They had it catered, the food was great. I really just think everything tastes better when someone else makes it and cleans it up. They had a slide show of the girls playing on a big screen in the corner. All kids love to see themselves in pictures. After we ate the coaches said something about each of the gymnasts and gave them a trophy.
Moving Savannah to this gym was a good decision. She has made some good friends and the coaches are fun. She’s learning how to work hard to achieve her goals. She also enjoys the physical benefit of all her hard work. She loves to tell about shattering all the school records and talking smack to the boys. It’s especially sweet when the school gym teacher tells her just to stop doing sit-ups, “There’s not enough time for you to do as many as you can. Great job, Baugh.”
I agree, Great Job, Baugh.