Great, Greats

Sarah Jane had the privilege of meeting all of her living Great Grandparents on a trip she and I took to Boise during the middle of March. What a wonderful experience it was to spend time with my daughter and some of my favorite people.

On our first evening in Boise she met Papa and Grandma Weldon. We even had the privilege of staying the night there with Great Grandma while Papa had a sleep apnea test done. It was wonderful to see my grandma care for her in the same way I am certain she cared for me. She definitely hasn't lost her touch as Sarah was very content while we were there. Grandma kept kissing her in the crook of her neck; just as I knew she would.

The next day we went to Great Grandma Bigelow's house. It was a bitter-sweet experience for me because just a few months ago Grandpa passed away and I so wanted him to meet her. I have so many fun memories with him and wanted my children to eat ice cream, go for walks, and receive Pony Girl rides from him. It was wonderful however for her to get to spend time with Great Grandma, who is one of the greatest grandmas around. Whenever my sister takes her kids there Grandma has toys and books lined up for them to play with. Well when Sarah and I arrived she had brought up her rocking chair so that she could rock Sarah Jane. So sweet! Grandma also kept saying, "I am just cross that you live so far away. The next time I see her she won't know me. I am just cross." I love that.

On our way home rather than fly all the way to Los Angeles, we flew to Las Vegas where Richard was waiting for us. He drove down so that we could go meet his Grandpa, Sarah's Great Grandpa Ernie Atchley. He is 93 years old and it was wonderful to spend the afternoon with him. It was well worth the drive back to Los Angeles, rather than a short flight, and Richard thought it was worth the 8 hour day-trip.

How lucky Sarah is to have so many grandparents. I hope she fosters wonderful relationships with them like I have. They have so much to teach her and lots of love to give. Sarah in total has 4 living Great Grandparents and 4 living Grandparents...she's just as lucky as I was, except that I lived near all of mine. Sadly, she doesn't live near any of hers, but has received many visits, and I show her lots of pictures. Don't worry Great Grandma Bigelow, she WILL know you too!!

Grandparents are GREAT!

Sarah Jane Atchley, 3 months with her Great Grandma, Marcella Weldon. How I didn't manage to get a picture with Papa as well, I am not certain, but I do know I am mad that I didn't!!!

Sarah Jane with Great Grandma, Marjorie Bigelow.

Sarah Jane Atchley and her Great Grandpa, Ernest (Ernie) Atchley. Richard's middle name is Ernest after his grandfather.

4 Generations...Ron happened to be in town while we were there so Sarah was able to have a photo op with 3 very important men!

The Second

Richard and I received an email from his sister Suzanne this week. Her daughter Jessica is interested in family history and so Ron sent all the information he had completed about his family to them. This is what the email said...

"Dad just sent me his family history. Did you know that your Sarah Jane Atchley has a great-great-great-great aunt named Sarah Jane Atchley? She was born about 1862 in Tennessee. She was baptized in 2001 in the Las Vegas temple. She is George Washington Atchley’s sister. That’s all the information Dad has. Jessica now calls your daughter Sarah Jane Atchley the second."

We had no idea when we named her but think that's pretty special. Thanks for doing the work Suzanne and Jessica...without you we would have never known!

Over the Hill...

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday dear Richard,

Happy Birthday to you.

We love you we do,

We love you we do,

We love you dear Richard,

We love you we do!

You look like a monkey and you smell like one too.

It's Richard's 40th Birthday today, however noone really believes me when I tell them that he's THAT OLD. They all think he looks much younger than that. Or maybe it's that they think he acts much younger! :) Who knows people may think I look older than he does. I have questioned doing this post as I didn't want to embarrass my private husband, but decided I would so that our posterity can read about what a terrific husband and father he is.

40 REASONS WHY I AM HAPPY YOU'RE MY GUY...

1) Taking the trash and recycling out every Sunday even though you despise doing it

2) Sorting through the recycling when I just toss it all in without any kind of order

3) Humor…you’re always good for a laugh

4) You enjoy mountain biking…if I could only get you to love road biking then we’d really be the perfect pair

5) You love ice cream more than I do—Grandpa Bigelow’s probably smiling down when you eat those triple scoops faster than I can eat a single scoop.

6) Your love for Sarah Jane

7) You dislike pets as much as I do—we will be on the same page when we tell our children “No, you may not have a dog for your birthday!”

8) The “huh-huh” noise you make when we have our picture taken

9) You don’t poke fun of my ditziness or silly comments: For example when I told you about the lottery billboard and I thought they were advertising that you could win $9. I thought that seemed crazy to pay for a billboard for such a little prize and then I realized it was $9, ooo, ooo! You just laughed and said, “I don’t know that you should have shared that.”

10) You go to work everyday without complaint so that I can stay home and mommy Sarah Jane. There are days I think I would like to work, but most days I am grateful for this gift you give Sarah and me…our days are wonderful!

11) You always disapprove when I talk negatively about myself in anyway.

12) Simple

13) You tell me you love me everyday; more than once!

14) Serve in the temple, even after a long day at the office

15) Never complain about my cooking (or lack thereof lately)

16) You are a real handyman—you enjoy taking things apart and can fix just about anything!

17) You clean up your beard/gotee at least “every other day” because you know I like it that way.

18) Don’t care what other people think

19) When we are going out you make sure to change it up a bit and put on something different than you wear everyday since you know I get tired of the same old thing.

20) You would rather hang out with us than anyone else. When I want couple friends, you are willing to go out with others, but don’t need to because you are quite content with just us.

21) Offer to watch Sarah so I can do things by myself

22) You encourage me to continue doing things I enjoy

23) You help me understand the Book of Mormon. When we read together you always explain what is or has taken place.

24) On Sunday mornings you feed, burp, bathe, cloth, and play with Sarah so that I can take as long of a shower as I would like, shave my legs, eat breakfast, and try on every dress in my closet before opting for the same one I wear every week because it’s the one that fits the best right now.

25) After I try on every dress you don’t mind that all the others are all over the bed and floor and you then tell me I look lovely in that same old dress. You must be sick of it by now.

26) You help me prepare my Sunday School lessons

27) You let me sleep in the car—as if you have a choice

28) Your smile makes me happy!!!

29) You opt to spend your Christmas money on your daughter instead of yourself

30) You give thoughtful gifts

31) You’re frugal so I don’t have to be (as much)

32) You’re slow to anger

33) You apologize when you are in the wrong

34) You give good hugs

35) You eat breakfast with Sarah Jane so I can exercise

36) You have learned to ask all the right questions so that when you come home with information/a story about someone, you can tell me all the details I will want to know.

37) You make the bed?!?!

38) Your black leather couch is in the den and not the front room

39) You are honest in all your dealings

40) You honor the Covenants you have made

Love, Your girls

Borrowed, But I Just Had To

In January Lisa-Marie and Cindy came to visit and meet Sarah Jane for the first time. Lisa wrote both an adorable pre-trip as well as a post-trip song and I just had to have them!

I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane
Well, here is a recap of my FABULOUS trip to L.A. I apologize it is another little ditty but I've had this song in my head since leaving and it needs to get out. So without further adieu...

I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane.

Sung to the tune of...you guessed it, I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane.

All my bags are packed, not so ready to go

I'm standin' here outside the car door

I hate to wake you up to say goodbye

But my kids I'm missin', I can't believe
The plane is waitin', it's ready to leave

Please don't grow up without me, I could die

So kiss me and smile for me

Tell me that you'll remember me

Oh these darn tears why do they have to flow

'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane

I don't know when I'll be back again

Oh, babe, I hate to go

There's so many things we did for fun

Great pedicures to name just one

A great shopping trip to top the list

Hangin' with my sisters is always funny

Loved napping with you on my tummy

Please know that immensely you will be missed

So kiss me and smile for me

Tell me that you'll remember me

Oh these darn tears why do they have to flow

'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane

I don't know when I'll be back again

Oh, babe, I hate to go

Now the time has come to leave you

I'm so blessed to have met you

I dream that we will live near by one day

I Dream about the days to come

I'm sorry March is so far from

Until we meet again I'll have to say...

kiss me and smile for me

Tell me that you'll remember me

Oh these darn tears why do they have to flow

'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane

I don't know when I'll be back again

Oh, babe, I hate to go

I'm leaving on a jet plane

I don't know when I'll be back again

Oh, babe, I LOVE YOU SO!

Posted by Lisa-Marie
Wednesday, January 9, 2008

I'm Off to See the Baby...

Sung to the tune of: Follow the Yellow Brick Road(Hint: when singing L.A., sing as LA, as in la la la la. It flows better!)

Follow the right concourse signs, follow the right concourse signs.

Follow, follow, follow, follow, follow the right concourse signs.

I'm off to see the babythe beautiful baby of LA

You'll find she is a BABE of a babe if ever a babe there was.

If ever, oh ever, a babe there was, the babe of LA is one because

because, because, because, because, because,

just how truly darling she was. (and still is!!!!!!!!)

I'm off to see the baby, the beautiful baby of LA!

Wish me luck, I'm a little nervous about:

airports, and traffic and gangs oh my!

airports, and traffic and gangs oh my!

airports, and traffic and gangs oh my!

I'm off to see the baby the beautiful baby of LA

You'll find she is a BABE of a babe if ever a babe there was.

If ever, oh ever, a babe there was, the babe of LA is one because

because, because, because, because, because,

just how truly darling she was. (and still is!!!!!!!!)

I'm off to see the baby, the beautiful baby of LA!

Posted by Lisa-Marie
Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Quote of the Week--Cheesy, Sappy, Downright Pitiful...

but, what out of my mouth since becoming a mother isn't?! :)

About a month or so ago, on a lonely Tuesday evening (Richard serves in the temple) I was of course watching The Biggest Loser. Additionally I was probably eating something--nice work, watching Biggest Loser whilst becoming the Biggest Gainer. Anyway, Jillian (my favorite trainer) decided to bring in the big gun with her team members. I was really touched by her introduction and only hope these things can be said of me one day.

"So guys, I am bringing in someone to meet you today. The person that I am bringing into the house is probably the most significant person you will ever meet while you are here on campus. There's only probably one person in the entire world other than myself that I would feel good about working with you that I would defer to under any situation, in any circumstance, that I listen to without question and that I would trust with my life. With all that said, there's someone I want you to meet...MOMMY!"
How do I foster such a relationship?! Things to ponder...

QUOTE OF THE WEEK...Out of the Mouth of Babes

It is compliments of Connor, my 3 1/2 year old nephew that we will enjoy a humorous quote this week...and because he's so funny, I couldn't put just one. I did not have the privelege of overhearing him speak all of these, but they make me laugh and I must always remember them. As I think about these silly things he says, it makes me anxious and excited for Sarah to grow into toddlerhood.

I have heard it said that inorder to be healthy you should get a daily dose of laughter and I am certain that parents of toddlers do just that!

• At Lisa's house they have a list of words they don't use. Some of the words on the list, to name only a few, are--hate, stupid, and butt. If ever you use one of these words, either Sirri or Connor will quickly reprimand you for doing so. One day Lisa made Connor mad and his response was, "Butt, I say butt to you!"


• Sirri and Connor were in the back seat of the minivan and Sirri informed her mom that Connor was sticking his tongue out at her and that he wouldn't stop. Lisa began to ask/tell Connor to stop, when he replied, "Mom, I'm just doing my tongue work." The remainder of the drive Connor kept sticking it out and back in again like it was some sort of daily exercise he had to get done.


• Connor was sent to the time out chair a few various times while we were visiting Boise this past week. Often when in time out, he would make loud noises, scream for attention, or ask Lisa over and over again if, "Mom, is my time over yet?" One timeout in particular stands out in my mind. He kept telling Lisa that he was going to pee his pants. He even went so far as to say that he was peeing his pants already. At times he sounded like he was crying. I might have given in. Lisa, however, being the smart mother that she is, ignored his antics. When his timeout was over, off he went to play. Lisa reminded him that he had to go to the bathroom, to which he replied (with an enormous smile I might add), "Oh, I don't have to go anymore."
• Connor was doing something that Lisa didn't like and she proceeded to tell him, "Connor, I do not like that one bit." Connor's response was, "Well, how about 2 bits mom?"

I know most moms and dads experience identical situations daily, but being a new mom, it just gives me something to look forward to/dread. The bad part is that I know myself and I won't be able to keep a straight face...which I also know will only make my children want to do and say more of such things!

Look Ma, No Hands

For all her viewing public that complains whenever I do a post that doesn't include a picture of Sarah Jane. We think this is pretty entertaining. We were having dinner a couple weeks ago and Sarah's pacifier kept coming out. She learned to put it back in with her shoulder. She did it over and over and over again. It was pretty cute.

Her newest thing is that she will be smiling and giggly, just having a terrific time, and if you get a camera out to take a picture of it, she stops whatever she is doing and goes stone cold. Hilarious. My mom says I was the same way...like mother like daughter I guess!

And Aunt Patty says her pictures don't do her justice. So for those of you who think her pictures are adorable, just you wait...you ain't seen nothin' yet!!!!!