First Day of School

Jane started the third grade this week!! Wowza. I totally remember the third grade. I can't believe I have a kid old enough for the third grade. She is so excited. The fist day was wonderful. We all got up on time, had happy, excited attitudes and even made the bus despite it coming 15min. early. It was a great start.

Jane is my little animal girl. We have had a summer full of frogs, salamanders, newts, baby birds, spiders and to top it all off, Jane caught a snake today. It was on our neighbors driveway. She was so quick. She just reached out and grabbed it. We spent some time tonight looking through a reptile book that she reads religiously. We didn't find one that looked quite the same.

Our neighbors think we have a zoo next door. One day I answer my door to a neighbor girl almost in tears. When I asked her what was wrong she said "can I keep my frogs at your house?" How could I say no?

I loved growing up catching frog, snakes and lizards. I hope that my kids will have the same fond memories that I have. Thanks Mom for fostering that love of critters!

Raspberry Days Chapter Two

Chapter Two The storm

The day was beautiful and very busy. It was really fun to be busy. My Grandma Baird came and helped at the booth with us that day.

Around 6 O' clock the some really black clouds rolled in. Next thing we know a huge storm hit us. It got real ugly, real fast. There were the nicest people in my booth. Every one was grabbing platters and putting them on the ground so they wouldn't blow over. Once we got everything on the ground we pulled the tent down and covered everything with tarps.

Mom and I look quite happy in this photo. I was surprised when I saw it. I had been crying just before it was taken. It was really had to watch a lot of my hard work get broken and destroyed!

I love this photo of Kali. She was holding down a tarp, being slammed with wind and sharp rain.

Okay, so the photos don't really show how bad this storm was. After we put everything under tarps to wait out the storm, the town storm warning siren went off. Then search and rescue came threw and told us two people had already been hurt and taken to the hospital, everyone needed to completely clear out. My sweet friend Heidi and her friend Holly came over and helped us load everything in my trailer. After we got all cleaned up we went to helped other people take down there tents. It was really awesome to see so many people come together. Nothe'n like a natural disaster to bring out some good in people.

I am forgetting to give credit to Matt, my Dad, Dallen and Seth for coming to help us take down the fort. After we got back to the condo we were soaking and frezzing! We didn't have a hot tub so we got in the big bath tub. Dad made us a nice hot dinner. It was extra yummy. :)

Over all I had 6 platters brake, a few rings get lost, and some tags and labeling ruined. Not bad considering it was the worst storm in 26 years! ( I don't know that for a fact, that's just what I heard, ha ha!) I just LOVE my family!!! Thanks for all the help and good times!

Welcome to Leila Bird's Nest at Raspberry Days

I think I am going to have to do this post in a series. I have a lot of photos. So here we go, chapter one.

The Booth

We got everything set up early thursday morning. I once again, don't know what I would do with out my Mom and Kali. They are both such hard workers. They helped me set everything up. Not only that, They ran errands, picked up things I forgot, worked the booth, gave me moral support and were tons of fun to be with!!!

I loved that my turquoise chairs and mettle porch table worked out perfect for the booth.

This was one of the trees I had some of my necklaces hanging on.

Some of the platters.

A shot of the booth from the entrance. One of my favorite things about the booth was my window pain sign. It is kinda hard to see in this photo, but it made me happy every time I saw it. I happened upon it in a little antique store in Layton. It was already painted the cutest colors.

We hung bird cages from the top of the tent. They looked supper cute. It was funny, I had some people ask me if they were for sale.

Photos of the inside of the booth.

I felt like I was sitting in a boutique all day. It was so much fun to sit around in all the cuteness. All the cuteness that I created. If felt great. I had accomplished something that didn't just get messed up again or eaten or thrown on the floor. It was all there, waiting for someone to take it home and love it. I know that might sound silly, but at the end of each day I look around my house and wonder, "what did I accomplish today". Most the time even though I feel like I was working my tail of, I don't feel very accomplished. Creating these items for people to love, well it is an instant gratification.

First lost tooth

Eli has lost his first tooth. I think he has been dreaming of this day because he knew he would get money from the tooth fairy. The whole day really was funny. I woke up to Jane asking me where the video camera was. After I asked her why, I got the camera and came out into the kitchen to find Eli standing by the stair banister with a boot tied to his tooth. The plan was to throw the boot over the banister and the tooth would be pulled out. Oh, and we had to video it, just in case it was funny enough to send into America's Funnest Home Videos. We did video it, but it didn't work. The day went on. Late afternoon, I found Eli in the bathroom working on the tooth. He wiggled and twisted for an hour and finally, out came the tooth. Victory!

Tantrum

So, I had a total melt down the other day to my mom and my sisters. It was kinda ugly. I threw a flat out tantrum. I was going up to see Tay and swim at the pond with Kali and the kids. I got there almost two hours after I had planned. On the way up to Brigham City, I talked with Matt on the phone about how I had not been to see his pumpkin patch for a long time. I sensed in the conversation that he felt bad. I don't know if that was true or just my own guilt talking to me. After I got off the phone I worked my self right up. Feeling like I can't do everything I want to do. Maybe all that I have taken on this summer was catching up with me. Once I got to Taylor's house I ranted and raved to my mom and sisters about how I just can't do anything but stay home, how can I possible have more than four kids some day, I feel like I am drowning. I really was being a pill. Anyway, they kindly put up with my tantrum and Mom took my kids up to the pond and let me cool down for awhile. I felt so much better after my rant, time out from my kids and being in the presence of my calm, loving mom and sisters. I knew the whole time I could have made a better effort to go see the pumpkin patch and life is just crazy with four kids. All the craziness just welled up inside me. My mom is always serving others and pushing herself too, well far beyond what I can handle. I never see her lose it. I think I have said before she has super human strength! I am always so grateful for these wonderful women who love, support, comfort, listen and sometimes give me a candy bar. I can't thank them enough for all that they do for me! It was so much fun to see Kali this weekend and get to spend time all together.

To Many Cheese Burgurs

My Mom has this app. on her i-phone called fat booth. You take a photo of the person and put it into the booth where they eat to many cheeseburgers and come out looking like you have gained three hundred pounds. The kids thought it was hilarious. It mostly just made me not want to eat to many cheese burgers or in my case, donuts!

Big Momma

Jumbo Jane

Enormous Eli

Big Baby Walt

Oh, Baby!

It has been one exciting day today. Taylor had her first baby. Baby boy. Taylor is such a trooper. She can withstand so much more than I can. I just think she is amazing. She labored a long time at a 5-7 before she got her epidural. Finally around 8:00 p.m. This cute little bundle arrived.

Eli and Jane were so excited when I told them Tay was having her baby today. I went and sat with Tay and Zack for a while at the doc and when I got home, Eli ran to me and said where is the baby? I told him it wasn't here yet and he said well lets go see it. I think he was confused. I thought it was so cute that he was so excited to see the baby. I wonder if he is hoping this little guy will make me baby hungry again.

Tiny little guy, 5lb. 11oz. pounds and 19 inch. He was so wide eyed the whole time I say him at the hospital. He kept sticking his little tung out; it was so funny. He has quite the little mop of hair as well.

I love watching Taylor with my kids and I think she is going to be a wonderful, SUPER mom. I am so excited for her and Zack. Congratulations you two!!