Bam It!

Recent conversation with Savannah:

Me: "What did you just say Savannah?"

SK: "I said Bam It."

Me: "Um, that kind of sounds like another word that's not a really good word. Maybe we shouldn't say it."

SK: "Well, actually it is a good word."

Me: "What does it mean?"

SK: "It's the word you use when things just don't work out like you want them to. You just say BAM IT!"

If she only knew how often I could be saying, "Bam It, Savannah!"

My Sisters Keeper

Morgan was born the year after Carl went back school and it was "our plan" to wait to have anymore children until after Carl finished Grad School. Fortunately, we listened to the quiet promptings that allowed Savannah Kate to come into our lives at a time that was really crazy and we were really poor. When Savannah was 18 months old and shortly before Carl graduated I had to have a hysterectomy. When I watch Morgan and Savannah together I am so grateful that in this instance I got it right. They are truly the best of friends and have been since we brought Savannah home from the hospital. They are only two years apart and there has never been a moments jealousy. They always have each others back.

They help keep each other honest.

For example: Yesterday...

Me: "Morgan, what happened to your toe?"

Morgan: "Nothing."

Savannah: "Yes sir, you wrote on it with a marker."

Morgan: "No I didn't."

Savannah: "Morgan, its not good to lie. Yes you did."

Me: "Morgan, tell me the truth did you color your toenail?"

Morgan: "I didn't."

Savannah: "Yes she did. Morgan you need to tell the truth."

Me: "Savannah, did you see her color her toenail?"

Savannah: "Look at it mom its her handwriting!"

Morgan quickly fell apart and couldn't tell us why she didn't tell the truth but that she was very sorry.

Right now as I write this I can hear them playing in their room together. What could be better than a sister that is not only your best friend but your conscience as well!

Father Like Son

My little boy is turning into a young man that is every bit as good as his dad. Last night Tanner had a friend over after school he stayed for dinner and then I took them to the theater so they could see the movie Mall Cop. I dropped them off and told them I couldn't imagine it being sold out but that I was going to run into Bath & Body before I went home and for them to call me if it was. I drove around to the other side of the mall and reached Bath & Body at the same time Tanner did. He looked a little like he was going to be sick. I asked if the movie was sold out and where his friend was. Tanner said they had gotten into line right behind a group of kids from school and one of their uncles was buying tickets to Gran Torino and did they want tickets. Tanner's friend said yes and Tanner said I will see you guys all later. I wanted to scoop this kid up in my arms even though he is bigger than me. On the way home he said I think I had one of the strongest spiritual experiences I have ever had tonight. Every part of me said you can't go to that movie its rated R and than a voice said your mom is here go find her. I am so proud of him and his desire to do the right thing. How easy for him to have just gone to the other movie - we would have never known but Tanner has figured out something that took me well past thirteen to figure out... He would know and more importantly his Heavenly Father would know. Last night I looked up to my son in more ways than one!

Husband Tagged

Catching up on my blog and reading everyone elses I found that I had been husband tagged and didn't know it. So here is everything you may or may not have wanted to know about my sweetheart...

5 things he loves:
1. Projects that he can design, plan & do all of the work
2. Spicy food
3. College football

4. Rock Climbing
5. Doing the right thing

5 things on his to do list:
Just in the past six months Carl has done 2 things that have been on his list for a long time...

1. Fishing in Alaska (July)

2. Visit Maine in the Fall (October)

3. Open his own practice

4. Build shelving in Krista's craft room

5. There is always Bishop stuff on his list

5 foods he enjoys:
1. Oreo cookies w/ a big glass of whole milk

2. A good steak dinner

3. Nerds Blizzard

4. Spicy (He & Tanner just did the spicy burrito challenge at a local Burrito joint and it was nothing - so hot they made them sign a release!)
5. Anything that I cook (so he says)

5 things you might not know about him:
1. He has never yelled at me in fifteen years

2. He stresses about his student loan debt

3. He has never seen a rated R movie

4. He snores if he is sleeping on his back

5. He is a hobby photographer and especially loves taking pictures of flowers

5 places he's lived:
1. Provo, Utah

2. North Edwards, California

3. Wenatchee, Washington

4. Pullman, Washington

5. Omaha, Nebraska

5 quirky things about him:

1. He talks with his hands - infact I don't think he can talk without them

2. He is really organized & clean except for his dresser and car

3. He can't stand ketchup & feels very strong about it

4. If he is working on a project he lays in bed & can't sleep thinking about it

5. He is so good, patient, kind - no drama with this boy - it's actually a little quirky!

5 people to tag:
Anyone who I would tag has already done it - but if you haven't - Go for it.

NORMAL

Sunday I had one of those days that wasn't one of my best days as a mother. It actually wasn't the whole day just the last hour leading up to leaving for church. My voice was already horse from the cold I have so when I started screaming it was even a little startling to moi. This sweet child was the straw that broke my back. One could use such adjectives to describe her as spunky, demanding, willful and bossy! I am told that these are all traits that if channeled correctly they can be very positive attributes - we are doing our best! I had told her what she could take for a small snack for church and her idea of snack was more like a lunch. I finally went off and amongst other things I yelled, "I don't give a rats butt what you take Savannah because you are going to end up with whatever you want anyways!" She quickly replied, "OK, and Mom, hot dog!" (We have code words at our house that we use when someone is fighting or just not being nice. Savannah's code word is hot dog.) I have to admit it made me pause and probably prevented my head from beginning to spin! Everyone is quietly going about getting ready for church and Tanner is cleaning the basement doing whatever it will take to prevent another outbreak when Savannah says to Morgan, "Sometimes I wish I had a mom that was normal!" At first my heart felt a pang but after a day or two of contemplating "normal" my heart says that is exactly what I am! Normal by definition is functioning or occurring in a natural way; average - though they may not be our finest moments even the very best of mothers on occasion lose it. What Savannah should wish for is a mother that is abnormal! For me I pray that those normal mom moments come a little less often and with more time in between and take comfort in the fact that someday my Savannah will grow up to be a

"normal" mommy too!

The Bairds Are Back!

(Carl's Surprise 40th Birthday Party in September)

I have been getting so much flack about the fact that I haven't blogged for close to nine months that I decided I needed to either a. shut the thing down or b. blog. So hear I am. It started to get a little overwhelming when I thought about going back and catchng every one up on what we have been up to. I'm not going to do that - suffice it to say that we have been busy... work, church, school, family, children, friends. Our lives are rich and full of all the stuff that really matters and you can throw in some crazy while you are at it. In this new year I hope to be a little better at letting everyone know what the Baird Buzz is! Here is to 2009!

Arizona

Just wanted to touch base and let you all know that I am in Mesa, Arizona right now not only where it is warm and sunny but more importantly where my newest niece is. Emmerson Kate arrived April 15 and I was lucky enough to come for a visit. She is beautiful and by far THE best baby ever, including my own four babes. It has been so much fun to hang out with Shaun & Jenni, hold Emmie and play with big brother Weston! I won't be going home until the 30th so check back then to find out all about our busy April....