Finley's second day on the planet.

I thought that I would post more pictures of Finley now two days old.   First I need to start off with "the day with Aidan".  I waited until Mark got home from work before I went to work (late) at 10:00 am.  He then watched Aidan until 4:00 pm when I got home.  Mark said the funniest thing when I arrived "Thank you for coming home".  I think he's not used to the high energy and patience needed for the all day haul (he went to bed early, haha).

We took Aidan for a visit with his mom and dad and got the bonus of visiting with Finley.  Aidan is very curious about this new baby.
Here I got a photo of Finley with her eyes open.  But no picture of her dimples.
Jodi's friends Wendy and (I'll fill in later when I remember her name) brought her by a gift of lots of cute bows for Finley's hair (hand made).  They were I great idea and ohhh so cute.  Jodi already requires lots of pink, and now lots more for Finley.  I don't think she'll have to glue the bows in very long, look at all that hair.
My parents were visiting also, (they were there when we arrived) they stopped by on their way home from working at the Regional Employment Center where they spend three days a week.  Perfect time to take a four generation picture (we took several, none with all of us looking at the camera).  Robby's mom was there also and gladly took the pictures for us, thanks.

Finley Jean Baird has arrived!

                                                Finley Jean Baird

September 23, 2008 10:55 am 6 lbs. 5 oz.  18 1/2 inches long

                                      Mother and Daughter and doing great!!

Jodi has had very high blood pressure the last couple of weeks (compliments of her father), the Dr. has been keeping an eye on her.  Monday the Dr. decided it was safe for the baby to be delivered, and induced Jodi 9 days early to side step any problems with her blood pressure.  I'll let Jodi tell you the details of the birth, I just want to hold Finley.

It was during the lunch rush that Jodi called to let me know of her birth.  With the encouragement of Peggy (partner (boss) at work) as soon as lunch was over and the $$ counted I left early to head to the hospital, I was the only one there this time so I held her most of the time.

Later in the evening Mark and I took Aidan to the hospital to meet his new sister and see his parents.  When we arrived--it was a party! you can't see everyone that was there, but the room was full.  So nice to have friends and family that care.  When we were leaving, 2 more friends arrived.

                                        Here is the new Baird family!

Aidan was fascinated (for a minute) then he resumed running around the curtain and entertaining everyone with his enthusiasm.

We even tricked Papa into holding her (he likes to hold them when they are a little bit bigger), but he obliged for a picture. 

Aidan has been very good while we have had him.  Papa had him all day today while I was at work, which is great for Aidan, it's Papa that he wants.  He truly loves his Papa and I bet Finley will too.   --So do I!

End of the First 'Trek' Day--Thursday

Thursday we stopped for lunch and just as we are finishing up a mob came into our camp and demanded that we "mormons" leave (silly priesthood leaders in bandanas over their faces and dress shirts) but the youth thought that it was a hoot and we packed up quickly and headed out again.  After many long hours and miles (while still running) we arrived at the camp for the night.  They had planned games for the afternoon.   But in our weakened state we all declined.  I started on dinner with the help of my youth, (Buster, showing off for the camera) (stew with carrots and potatoes and canned beef, I smuggled in seasonings to help with the flavor since I didn't pick the menu) and corn bread on the side.  We cooked all our meals except the PB&J's at lunch time in a dutch oven.  We didn't have to carry the oven, just the food for the day.   While the food was cooking we relaxed , sang hymns (the youths idea), read scriptures (again the youths idea) and visited with others.  When the food was ready we dished it up, savoring the comfort of a hot meal.  The comfort didn't last long as the heavens laughed at us and started hailing on us and continued hailing on us while we ate.  It was still so hot out, but we had wild, wicked weather.  It cleared up and spirits were now high that they had their bellies full.  Boys are so easy if you keep them full.  We were the only family that didn't have leftovers, they ate everything, even 1/2 the chocolate brownies that I smuggled in hidden by our tarp.  I think that running for hours in the sun contributed to their eat everything in site state.                            (Looks like mandarin oranges, but it baby carrots)(Visiting with the Fugates, he was the official videographer for the trip)

So off we went to the barn for a hoe down.  The youth said that they wouldn't dance they were too tired.   But the caller was great and he had everyone up and dancing for about 2 hours.  Silly pioneers.  After a fun night of dancing and skits we headed off for a family devotional.  These youth are amazing and so thirsty for the gospel, what a joy to share this family time with them.  There are no pics of our sleeping arrangements, but at the camp we paired up with another family (Crystal & Kevin Matheson) and the boys/men took their tarp to one side of the camp, and the girls/women took our tarp and we headed across the camp to sleep under the stars for the night.  We had 10 girls, Crystal and I with our sleeping bags spread out and ready for sleep, hoping exhaustion would set in.  Lights out at 10:00 pm.,  10:25 pm. we could tell the girls were asleep and then it started raining!  RAIN!  Like true pioneers we now crunch everyone close together so that we only take up half of the tarp and flip the other half over us.  I'm just grateful I wasn't one of the girls in the middle completly surrounded by bodies with tarp over your face.  I was at the fold with my head poking out (I don't like confined places).  Even with the rain it was really hot in there, so i slept (using this term loosely) on top of my sleeping bag with the tarp on top of me, and the rain hitting the tarp feeling it hit my face.  The rain would stop for 1/2 hour or so and start again for 1/2 hour for several episodes during the night.  Needless to say it was a long night and we got heavenly intervention to make sure that we got the whole pioneer, outdoor experience.  That was the shortest/longest night in a very long time.  My youth talked about the rain but they never complained about it (they were truly amazing).  The next day was truly beautiful or at least it seemed that way at 5:30 am when they got us up, no sweater needed. So I did survive my first full day as a pioneer.  And I'm so grateful that I had been asked to participate.  Grateful for my 10 kids that now call me "ma", and grateful for a new and different day.

A resounding YES on Proposition 8

I am voting YES on California Proposition 8.

I am writing this post for two reasons, 1st to state where I stand on the issue, 2nd to respond to another blog written in opposition to Proposition 8.

There are many reasons but I will site my main reason.  My true conviction and beliefs follow the doctrines of the Restored Church, The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day-Saints.  I am not a blind follower, I have studied it out carefully  and found the truth to be revealed to me personally.  Therefore, I will follow a living prophet!  He has revealed to us and I quote "We ask that you do all you can to support the proposed constitutional amendment by donating of your means and time to assure that marriage in California is legally defined as being between a man and a woman.  Our best efforts are required to preserve the sacred institution of marriage"  this is signed by 3 living prophets.  Who am I to justify or reason in disagreement with a prophet of the Lord.  I believe him to be a watchman on the tower.  He sees and understands things that I can not, we always don't understand why he is asking this of us but his abilities and insights are always on point.  We can find ourselves on the left-hand or the right-hand of the Lord, the decision is ours.  Heavenly Father gives us everything that we have and the only thing that we can give back to him is our will,  we have two choices, and I choose wholeheartedly to follow the living Prophet Thomas S. Monson who is the spokesperson of the LORD, and in Amos 3:7 it states that God reveals secrets to his prophets.  In 2 Nephi 2:27 it speaks directly about the consequences of our choices and I choose to follow God so that I might obtain Liberty and Eternal Life.  I also would like to direct you to Mosiah 3:19, it is not always easy to put off the natural man and become as a little child but worldliness is open rebellion against God.  Be careful in all decision that you make.  I know that the Prophet is looking out for our best interests and I will follow him.  I vote YES.

Connie Hendrickson

First day of the Pioneer Trek (Thursday)

On Wed. evening July 10, 2008 we met at the Stake Center to be introduced to our family, name our family (the youth picked "The Knights" in honor of my past pioneer ancestors), make a family flag (isn't it cool), weigh our buckets (they couldn't weigh over 15 lbs. and the lid had to fit on) in preparation for the three days ahead.
We started off at 6:00 am Thursday morning, this pic is before our kids arrived (they didn't arrive until 7:30).  We had 10 youth in our family, a very eclectic group of youth from various backgrounds, but we always had a very cohesive family and they always looked out for each other, that said-- they were the best.   Our 4 boys are Buster Imbach, Mark Duncan, Russell Withers, and Josh Casper, our 6 girls, Tyaan Haslam, Adele Leslie, Katlyn Koyszyk, Sarah Noble, Beverly, and Theresa, (sorry I can't remember your last names).  I now need to comment about the two words I had never imagined myself saying on this trek that were said frequently at the beginning  "STOP RUNNING"!  I soon let them run thinking that they would tire out and stop themselves but then realized that they would be running the whole way.  Their energy level needed to run, so run the must.  We were the first handcart in our company and the others weren't so keen on running, so we would run ahead and then rest while the other companies caught up.  It was over 100 degrees that day with very little shade, I did make sure that everyone drank plenty of water and sports drink but we weren't with out some problems.  Our family had the first health issue and our family took care of it's own.  (OK new-bee problems, I want the pictures added here, but they went to the top)(Help), (oh well I'll finish up this part), our strong boys helped Katlyn into the handcart (she couldn't walk any father) and they willingly added her and began the trek again.  I watched with awe at never a complaint but happiness from both sides of the handcart inside and out.  Boy was I grateful that I wasn't riding in the back, sitting on the buckets and stuff as they pulled/pushed her over this road (while they ran).   About a mile later they put her on one of the quads that they had following us while they were taking pictures and video of this whole experience and took her to the base camp for the rest of the activities later in the day.

Great Friends

Closest Picture I could find of Midas being in a  Sunday Outfit (at Mark's senior show at Cal Poly).  The reason for this decision is to thank him for all he has done for his ward (hey, I'm not even in his ward).  Ken was released as Bishop last Sunday, Sept. 7 he is truly one of the most spiritual men that I know, always serving with a true love of the Lords work and always giving his all.  He is an inspiration to me.  Thanks for being such a great example!

Before I continue with my summer escapades, I want to spend a few minutes blogging about one of my greatest gifts, my friends whom I shall call by the name given them from my son-in-law "The Midas'" I guess that makes Lisa--Danae (Midas' wife)!  They have been my sanity for the past 19 years.  When ever life is crazy and Mark and I need a safe harbor (boat reference, ha ha) we enjoy the company of truly great friends.  OK, so we also enjoy them in calm, or whenever we can find the time to get together with them.  

 They called us up on Friday 29th and invited us to go kayaking with them the next day, they had their sail boat docked in Newport, YES was the immediate answer.  Our son was visiting and later he called to see if he could come along because his wife had to work.  Now a double pleasure.  The Midas' had two double kayaks so Scott needed to rent one, and then off we went for an adventure in the deep blue sea.  The weather was wonderful the ocean was gorgeous  and off we went.  This was Mark's and my first time in a Kayak together it took me a minute to figure it out and a little frustration on my part because i just wanted to know how to make the boat do what i wanted immediately, but very soon we were in unison.  Out of the jetty and into the ocean and down the coast.  I saw sea lions lots of seaweed and a fish jump out of the water, and oh yeah, lots and lots of houses that were just too big, but they were amazing.   About 2 1/2 hours later we were back at the dock, a little red, and allot sore, but very content.  We then headed for the beach for a rest and chat.  Amanda joined us for dinner at a little Mexican restaurant and then with perfect timing a call from BJ's pizza where we had left our name so we headed there for dessert (not needed, but thoroughly enjoyed) for the pizza cookie sundaes, yum, yum.  What a great day, wonderful friends and family too.

Going With the Theme of Things

This is a quote of something said by Scott Adams (the creator of Dilbert; as shown to me by our son Scott):

"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep."

(as found on http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/show/11609)