Life Snapshot - Gwen 5 years 7 months

Gwen!

* Gwen gave herself her first "kid haircut" about a month ago. I was sad to see her luscious long locks go but I am LOVING her new do. Zero maintenance and it always looks cute! I think we are still planning on growing it out long again, but this short haircut has been awesome and turned out way cuter than I anticipated.

* Gwen is loving her gymnastics class at the Lehi rec center. She has only been twice but I've never seen her so enthusiastic about something. I have signed her up for the summer session and hopefully it will be something that she will continue to enjoy.

* Gwen graduated from preschool a few weeks ago and I was so proud of her. She doesn't like being in front of a crowd, especially when it involves singing (hello mini me!), so we were so proud of her to sit up on the stage and sing as loud as she did. Way to go Gwen!

* Gwen is really hesitant about kindergarten, which kind of baffles me. I think it will be right up her ally and that she will love it, but I may have to drag her in kicking and screaming the first day. That'll be fun!

* Gwen is really in to art and wants to take art lessons. In Texas our bishop was an artist and had an art school but I am still looking for something here for her to get in to. I think she is pretty darn good, and if you've seen her "fairy" drawings, you'll probably agree.

* Gwen still has her good days and bad as far as --- um--- temperament goes, but it seems things are getting measurably better. There are some days when she is just so happy and good all day and it is amazing how much better my day goes when Gwen is having a good day. They always say "if mom ain't happy ain't nobody happy" but in this house it is more like "if Gwen ain't happy, ain't nobody happy".

*Gwen is excited for Disneyland - but not for the rides, just to meet the princesses and fairies. So I am excited we will have so many days there so that we will have time for me to enjoy the rides and for Gwen to enjoy standing in line to meet the fairies : )

* She is getting so close to being able to ride a bike without training wheels!

* She's still as smart and logical as ever

* Love her : )

Counsel for young couples who are getting married in the temple (Dad)

All,

Here's some counsel I give to young couples who come to me seeking a temple recommend prior to being married for time and eternity.  You married kids may appreciate some of the concepts.  You unmarrieds... may like to see what you need to think about as you consider a spouse.

Of course this is not an exhaustive list of things to do when you're married.  It basically represents 15 great concepts.

Enjoy.

Dad

http://bbbmetaphors.blogspot.com/2010/05/marriage-counsel-i-give-to-young.html

Life Snapshot - Ivy Jane 16 months

Ivy Jane! My life would be so incomplete without her!

* I know I should probably choose a picture of her with out her pacifier, but....she always has it in! She is the most addicted to it of any of my kids! Normally by this age my kids are only using it at night, but wowzers. Ivy is very distressed without her pacifier!

* What is really crazy about Ivy being 16 months is--- when Bentley was 16 months Ivy was born. I am so glad that I am not pregnant right now and that I've been able to enjoy Ivy's babyhood while feeling well.

*Ivy is still a baby to me. My other kids at 16 months felt much more like toddlers, but Ivy still only has two teeth, hardly talks at all and is still just SO tiny!

* She has learned to say "mama!" and "mom" and says them in such a pathetic way. That's the best word I can think of to descibe it...she just sounds so desperate when she says them that I can't help but stop and pick her up at her every beck and call.

* She is walking like a pro now and evening trotting (not quite running) at times.

* She enjoys wrestling with the family, and it really feels like she is a part of things now. The other day we all played hide and seek as a family and everyone had the best time even Ivy Jane.

* She likes to give kisses but only to me (I feel so lucky!)

* She is now sitting forward facing in her carseat. She barely weighs enough to do so, but we figure she'll be happier on our drive to Disneyland if she can face forward.

* She is cute as a button and I can't imagine life without her. I love this girl with my whole heart!

Life Snapshot Bentley - 2 years 8 months

Bentley, Bentley, Bentley. I LOVE this kid. He is at the most fun stage of life.

* He's smart as a whip - he knows all of the letters; upper and lower case. He knows the sounds they make and can tell you the letter that a word starts with.

* He likes to remind us that he is a boy. If you say something like, "Bentley, you are so sweet!" he'll respond with "I'm not sweet, I'm a BOY!"

* And boy is he ever a boy! He loves wrestling and "bumping tummies" ie doing a chest bump or whatever you call it. He is also pretty big in to punching and hitting. He'll tell you he loves you and then immediately punch you in the stomach. I am trying to learn to interpret his hitting as a token of love : )

* He adores Ivy Jane. I'll often catch him nose to nose with her and he'll say "Ohhhhhh what a cutie pie!" It's really cute!

*He's kind of a people pleaser, if he ever has a blowout and can tell I am frustrated he'll say, "Mom, I won't poop any more, ever ever!" it's a nice promise, but he can't quite seem to keep his word!

* He loves nursery

*When he wears a shirt or pjs that have a baseball on them he will walk around and say, very loudly "I'm a GREAT BASEBALL PLAYER!"

* He is doing better at eating things, thank goodness. Still not perfect but at least he will eat things besides crackers. Whew.

* He loves his cousin Bret and talks about him all the time!

* He loves the park!

* Kind of interesting that within the last few days he has developed an intense, seriously intense fear of bugs. He was outside the other day just screaming. I figured someone had hurt him or that he had fallen down. I went out and he begged me to pick him up because he was so scared of a potato bug. I can hardly get him to walk to the car from our house because he is terrified of bugs. I am trying to be empathetic since I have a paralyzing fear of flying, but man, it's kind of an inconvenient thing for a little boy to be afraid of.

I love my Bentley Boy. I wish I could freeze him in time and keep him like this forever (minus the hitting!)

WDR

I really wish there was an easy way for me to post blog entries from my regular blog onto this one. But, since I can't figure it out right now and I thought you all might like my entry from today, I'll just post a linky.

Winder Dairy Romance

Inspired by Dad (mom)

Dear Family,

Writing this entry after dad's entry below puts everything out of chronological sync but I must do it anyway. Dad's entry about Sunday inspired me to record our fun Saturday. If the BAWB is a family history of sorts, this should be included. What was once going to be a wedding day, turned into a wonderful day anyway!!

We started Sat. May 22 by having the pool cleaning and painting cancelled due to rainy weather. I didn't notice any tears from anyone (although I was really happy that Nick was willing to help since they were up from St. George. He gets credit for his desire and willingness.)

Janey and I attended a ward bridal shower for Gwen Yorgason given by Aunt Marion in her lovely home and most importantly, with her scrumptious food. Yum. Marion has the corner on how to give a great shower!

We got home in time to tend Gwen, Ben and Ivy while Blaine and Kristi attended the temple with her nephew going through for the first time. Nick, Bret and Clay showed up soon after (while Stef went to Provo to practice dance) so all 5 grandchildren were under one roof. There is something wonderful about that. We had a nice afternoon tending getting ready for the evening party. Rosey showed up soon after and played with the kids for a bit and then headed over to Gwen Y's to get her hair cut. She had enough hair (7 inches) to donate to locks of love. She came home with a DARLING shoulder length hairstyle.

Around 5 pm Blaine and Kristi got back, Warner came to join us, and Max got ready to leave. He had his date with Kristen and wanted everything to be just right. I helped him get picnic stuff together for their Ensign Peak hike and felt sorry he had to go but happy that things were working out for him weatherwise! Everyone pitched in to get dinner on the table. Dad cooked hamburgers on the grill and we had a tasty dinner.

After cleaning up, we gathered around for a Disneyland trip meeting/Stef birthday party. We started with a little gift for everyone. I had been at the public library on Friday where there was a book table with 25 cent books for sale. The one that caught my eye was a thick moving picture book about fairies. But after about an hour or searching I found what I thought was a fun book for each person. I liked that afterwards Kristi told me she thought that was as fun as Christmas morning (perhaps I heard that compliment wrong, but I liked it anyway.) I also liked it when after about a half hour Gwen whispered to me that I was the best grandma ever. She had just figured out that she didn't ever have to return the book to the library and that it was hers to keep! Anyway, I thought that was fun.

Then dad took over and we talked about our upcoming trip to Disneyland. Dad had prepared handouts and everything. We explained what is included in the "gold plan" and how the food will work and what some of our hopes are. Then we gave Stef her birthday gifts and she blew out the candles on the individual mint cupcakes I had made. They tasted yummy, too.

So it was a fun evening to be all together (well, except Max) He got home safely at exactly midnight. Thanks everyone for coming.

Love, Mom

A Fabulous Sunday

Hi Happy Family,

Yesterday was as a Sunday should be.  Full of church work, surprises, connections with family, a nap, and an éclair at the end.

Started out with Stake Presidency meeting at 6am and PEC at 7am.  These included discussions about things like boundaries, accepting a Tongan ward into one of our buildings, the dedication of the Magna Crops Farm, change of the YSA program, our Priesthood Commemoration Activity building fences, speakers for our upcoming Priesthood Meeting, a successful missionary fireside, construction going on in one of our buildings, and internet intallation throughout all our buildings.

Then Having power going down in all 3 buildings.  We were on the stand in the 8th ward, waiting for the meeting to begin, suddenly we were sitting in black.  The organ died.  Lights went out.   The organist, Steve STott, got up and went over and started playing his prelude music on the piano.  It helped so much to keep the spirit there...calmed the troubled heart.  I went out to turn off the alarm which had gone off due to power shut down.While I was there, we huddled, and agreed to move everyone to the gym.  So within 10 minutes a piano was in place, the sacrament was setup, chairs were up front for the speakers and officers, and chairs were setup in the gym for everyone else.  There was some light pouring in from the windows to give everyone enough light (though still somewhat dark) to feel safe and comfortable and we started the meeting.  Our speakers were speaking as loud as they could without yelling.  I conducted the business of sustaining new counselors in the bishopric.  And then we had the sacrament, and the first few speakers.  It was really quite magical.  About 45 minuts into the meeting, the power came on, and then we scrambled to get some microfphones.  The rest of the meeting was into microphones.  It felt like a sacrament meeting you might have on a trek, or at a really large family reunion.  I then found out that all 3of our buildings lost power.  And I was so happy to hear that all three of our meetings accommodated by continuing to hold church, even though they were also in some darkness, there was a good spirit.  I was especially delighted when we changed our opening hymn to "The Lord is my Light".

Then Setting apart a new Bishopric.  From Sacrament we setapart our new bishopric counselors ordaining one of them to being a high priest.

Then having a nice nap.I came home and slept to get up strength for part 2 of the day.

Then it was back to the church to perform a bunch of temple recommend interviews.  And especially nice was giving one to a couple going to be endowed and then sealed.  And one to Richard Yorgason going thru for the first time in preparation to his mission to Brazil.

Then being surprised by one of my hometeaching families sons, who was waiting for me to ask me to marry him to a girl he just recently started dating.

Then going home for a wonderful meal made by wendy and attended by Max, Janey and Warner as he was able to get enough work off at his new job at Aspen Grove to come home and spend time with Janey.  Max told us about how he and Nick taught in primary so the Women could go to a visiting teaching activity.  And he told us about his date with Kristin the night before... the date he had promised her a year ago he'd take her on.

Then Speaking at Seminary Graduation.  It was a great meeting.  Only 18 graduates this year.  But our percentages were high.  Just changing demographics. I got lots of really nice complements on my remarks.
http://bbbmetaphors.blogspot.com/2010/05/megametaphor-journeys.html

And then we ended the night with an éclair from the graduation.

Of course it didn't end there.  We woke up on Monday morning to snow.  Yes, on May 24th we had some of the biggest snowflaks we've ever seen.  Darn that global warming!

Thanks be to God for such a blessed and varied life.

Dance Recital (STEF)

Hi everyone, I think I told Nick or Mom I would let you all know about the dance concert, but please don't feel any pressure to come, just if you want to you are invited.

It will be at the Covey Arts Center on Provo Center Street and it will start at 5PM on Monday, May 24th. I think I will go on just before 5:30, so its just a shorty! It is a number I have choreographed to Bette Midler's version of Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.

It is free! Anyways- you are all invited, but don't feel any pressure okay?

Love, Stef

Party on Sat. May 22 (mom)

Hi Everyone,

I've talked to most of you about this but wanted to put it in writing anyway. Nick and Stef and family are in town this weekend and we would like to get together on Sat. May 22. We will have dinner, celebrate Stef's birthday (officially the day before) and talk about the upcoming Disneyland trip. Because of schedules we won't plan on eating until around 6:30. Bring your smiles and love.

Mom

Disney Trip-in out (Dad)

I'm assuming everyone's as excited as I am about our upcoming Disney adventure!  I just downloaded 2 iPhone apps for the trip.  If we were in DLand right now we'd only have to wait 30 mins for Autopia, 25 mins for Dumbo, 25 mins for Nemo Submarine, 20 mins for Indiana Jones, 25 mins for Peter Pan, and a mere 10 mins for Pirates.  If we were in California Adventure right this minute, We'd only wait 10 mins for California Screamin, 20 mins for Grizzly River Run, and a mere 30 mins for the new Toy Story midway madness ride.  Also, the temperature is 66 degrees.  And while that all sounds great, the downside about today is that if we went today we wouldn't get to go on Splash Mountain (down), Thunder Mountain Railroad is closed, and the new California Adventure show - World of Color (a nighttime lights & fountain extravaganza) hasn't opened yet...but will open on June 11.  So we'll look forward to our own big adventure!

The BIG Announcement (mom and dad)

The moment has finally arrived. We are announcing the Bret and Wendy Bassett 2010 Summer extravaganza! Thanks to Blaine and especially Kristi's expertise, we are booked at the DoubleTree Hotel in Anaheim, CA . We will have four (yes four) rooms to split up however we want!!! (All the kids could be in one room:) We check in on Sunday, July 4 and check out on Friday, July 9. It's fancy so wear your best swimming suit! There is a free shuttle to Disneyland. There is an outdoor pool and hot tub, basketball, volleyball, wallyball and best of all, warm chocolate chip cookies when we arrive.

More details to come but check out the link above. And again, a big thanks to Kristi for her efforts.

Dad and I want to have a trip planning party sometime before then. When are you in Salt Lake next Nick and Stef, so we can plan something?

Please confirm that you are able to go. These rooms are non-refundable!