growing up

It seems like Bailey has grown up overnight. Sometimes I see her and I realize she is speedily heading for her teenage years. This makes me feel a little sad. But I also look at her and see a beautiful, smart, creative girl who is my best helper and friend. I love how Bailey and I can talk about anything at all, how we both love to cook and love lying in bed together, reading or snuggling. We love to draw or paint together, sing duets and dance! We enjoy our girls day outs when we can be alone and shop or get a smoothie (Bailey's favorite). We also go to the library or to the movies. Some of our best times were when we took horse back riding lessons together. We struggled and were in pain at first but then we both got more and more comfortable and it was really fun! We talk about just going out to the ranch and riding for a girl's day or when we go on vacations we can go out and ride together. (Kelly is allergic to animals so I had to recruit a riding partner.)

Bailey's story started with a couple years of Kelly and I trying to get pregnant but having No luck. I went to a fertility doctor in CA and started on the road of tests. It was one of the hardest things I've had to endure. I can honestly say that when I took that pregnancy test that was positive, I cried, prayed, and was in shock and denial. I kept it from Kelly for a few weeks and then surprised him on Father's Day. We were overjoyed! My pregnancy was tough because I got really sick but not the typical nausea. Although I had these unpleasent "spells", I absolutely loved being pregnant! I studied constantly so I'd be ready for the "big day." She was born in the afternoon on January 20th (also mine and Kelly's 4 year wedding anniversary). How special to have her on our day! She was 7 lbs. 5 ou. From that day on I knew what pure love was. It was my greatest joy to have quiet days with her. Just the two of us. When I look back at her adorable personality, her love for music, dress up, acting and love for animals, I think, boy, not much has changed. She has grown bigger but her true self still shines through. She plays the piano, sings, and still loves dress up with her friends and Jenna. She has one friend who she makes up skits and songs with. It is always a hoot.

Favorite Bailey moments:

(Not a favorite then) She locked me out of the house when she was 18 months old. I had to have a neighbor climb through an upstairs window that was open.

She was missing one day. I looked through the entire house and couldn't find her. I panicked. Then at last I found her hiding under my clothes in my closet. She reluctantly came out from her hiding place and I couldn't believe what I saw! She had streaked her white blond mane with my mascara, drawn all over her face with my makeup! I was shocked, worried about the mess, but her facial expression was priceless and I started laughing!

We called her Peach for most of her life. She got this name because I couldn't eat enough peaches when I was pregnant so Kelly started calling my belly "peach pit" and then Bailey came out all peaches and cream with golden hair and white skin with rosy cheeks. A perfect peach!

One day while Kelly was watching Bailey (I was out) he said he couldn't find her, it was quiet, too quiet. Then he found her in the corner by the couch staring intently at a book mark with a picture of Jesus on it. She loved the Christmas when she could play with baby Jesus from our nativity and she'd carry him around everywhere! We'd find him in all kinds of strange places!

Her first pony ride. Kelly and I were busting up laughing until we cried watching her serious face like "I can do this, I will be strong, this is terrifying but I'm going to hold it together."

Taking Bailey to get her passport when she was 15 months old. We went to England. She was a trooper. She loves to travel and loves souvenirs.

When she was 18 months old, we were sitting in a church class together and she heard one of the girl saying "I know the church is true" and Bailey picked up on that and said "church is true" in her baby voice.

One day I walked into the bathroom and caught Bailey in there, looking suspicious, and then I noticed two breast pads down her shirt. This was when Noah was a baby. She would also nurse her dolls.

She memorized the entire Sound of Music soundtrack when she was 2 1/2-3yrs. old. During sacrament meeting she started singing "I am sixteen going on seventeen" I had to laugh!

"Whatcha doin Kel?" (2yrs.)

She loved makeup. I got some new products and we were looking through them for the 3rd time when Noah started crying in his crib. I said, "let's put the makeup away and go get Noah." Bailey said, pointing to the door, "Noah needs his mommy." She wanted me to go so she could be alone with the makeup!

Noah called her Bo Bo and then Bobe. It became a nickname. Also, Missy and sometimes Sally. (which were my creation)

"Hicky Ticky Tock" (Hickory Dickory Dock)

"The theater store" (Movie theater)

"Mommy, you're squishy just like the balls at my dance class!"

"I want to marry Noey" (Noah) again, in sacrament meeting!

In the tub she wrapped a plastic plate in a wash cloth and started singing "You had a birthday shout hurray!" Then handed me my "present".

"Girls choose the right, boys choose the left!" (31/2 yrs.)

We had a toy closet and every morning she'd open the door and say to Noah, "The closet is open for business!"

Bailey found a card from the Ensign magazine that had a picture of Jesus in the garden after his resurrection with Mary Magdalene. Bailey said that it was beautiful and asked if she could keep it. I said yes and she then took it to the store with her and then held it on the way home. After some thought she said, "Do you know what Jesus said to Mary in the garden? He said don't touch my hand I have to go to heaven first." I was amazed, to say the least. She was 3!

To Noah, "Stop tracing me!" (stop copying me!)

After watching a Reading Rainbow episode about Owen's Blanket, she quietly went upstairs and cut her Blankie into small squares. She rolled each square and tied them with a bow, just like in the book!

One Sunday before church, she found a "rollie pollie" in the courtyard. She snuck it into Sacrament meeting in her purse. I wondered what she was doing so quietly in her purse. She was playing with her new pet! I made her turn him loose before primary!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BAILEY!

will you marry me?

Venice, Italy (I was 4 mo. prego with Sam)

One of our funnest dates-Went to haunted house with Sam and his girfriend. I think we laughed all night long!


The proposal

Ricks College days. Hike with my sister Erika.

January 20th

At my sister's house. Our 3rd date or 3rd day of knowing eachother. My sister said, "I think he's the one!"

Kelly asks me this question quite often. I usually say "Sure, why not! After all, we have 4 children together." He likes to keep things interesting and that's what I love about him. We met on July 23, 1993 at our best friend's wedding. When I walked in the door, there he was in his tux (best man) and there I was, a brides maid to my dear friend, Kelly Bonk. I was instantly captivated and it only got more intense as the night progressed. We did alot of ogling and inquiry to our friends, "Who is he? Is he single?" Finally Kelly introduced himself to me and after the wedding was over, he asked me out to go dancing and of course I said yes! We got to the dance place and it only took one slow song...."This is no Ordinary Love (Sade)" and we were inseparable. After 3 days, we had to say goodbye as I was living in CT at the time. For the next year and a half we kept a long distance relationship while I moved from CT to ID for school and Kelly finished his degree in SLC. It was tough to be away from each other but it was also really good because we got to focus on our school work. We saw each other every other weekend sometimes every two weeks. One of my favorite things that Kelly did for me was one day, while up in ID, I was talking to Kelly on the phone, complaining about school, missing him...and 4 hours later, he came into the pottery classroom where I was at the time, and surprised me! He told me to pack my stuff and come back to UT with him! He drove 8 hours round trip to be with me and cheer me up! I loved that! What captured my attention from the beginning of our relationship was Kelly's maturity. He was responsible, smart, entrepreneurial, respectful and willing to do anything for me! I, in turn, was completely swept away. It was the happiest I'd ever been and I savored every minute with him. Both of us cannot deny how our meeting was "Love at first sight" if it can be explained that way. It felt like we already knew each other and fell into each other's lives with ease and perfect contentment. Kelly proposed marriage a year after we met while vacationing in upstate NY. Unfortunately Kelly put the ring in his luggage and it went to another state by accident! A very stressful situation! But he did get his luggage before popping the question while we sat in the gorgeous Sacred Grove. Looking back at how Kelly was then, I can see that the kindness and attention he gave then has only continued through our marriage of 14 years. He is a wonderful, supportive father, a true friend, a hard worker, a spiritual man, he is goofy sometimes, sarcastic sometimes, but very deep too. It's nice to know that the one person who sees first hand your weaknesses or flaws, can be the one who loves you most. It is a blessing to have a best friend in a husband or wife. Some of Kelly's letters then and to this day, have saved me from alot of grief. He is very sincere and expressive in his letters and I cherish them! One of our favorite memories is a trip we took to Carmel/Monterey for a weekend getaway. I surprised Kelly with the whole thing. I showed up at work, with our bags packed, babysitter with kids, and we set off to a weekend of fun! We were spontaneous-we went kayaking, we looked in antique shops, we hung out on the beach, etc. Our trips together are mutually the highlight of our lives besides our children. We love to go places and see new sights, learn history, adventure. After all these years, I am stronger and better because of Kelly. I love having a family with him, to see him in them. I love laughing and joking and being utterly ridiculous with him. But I also cherish our quiet time and our deep conversations. I am one lucky woman! In Hollywood years, we'd be married 30 years already! Quite an accomplishment, right? LNMW Kel!

ice, ice baby

Yeah, I know, cheesy post title but I couldn't resist! Who didn't like that song? For the past two Family Nights, we have been going ice skating at the Bountiful Rec Center. It is always a frightening feeling cruising around for the first lap and feeling like you are going to fall down any minute! It's even worse when you have a 5 year old clutching on for dear life and you are afraid you'll both go down in a sprawling heap. It's a good thing I'm not 80 years old or I'd be down with a broken hip as we speak! Bailey and Noah did surprisingly well. Sam fell, I don't know, like 100 times? But the crazy thing is he would just pop back up after each painful, very ungraceful fall. I had to bite my lip so I wouldn't start laughing! Is that bad? He was a survivor that night! If a social worker got a look at his bruises the next day, I would be taken in! So sad! It just proves that young ones are resilient and have a determination that is unparalleled! Kelly and Jenna watched us go round and round drinking hot cocoa and cringing every time Sam would crash into the plexi-glass to say hi! Bottom line, the kids love it, it's good exercise and it gives them incentive to get their homework, lessons done in a timely fashion! What could be better?

Burrrrrrrrr, it's cold!

Sunday we had single digit weather. It has been very cold these days so with that comes my craving for hot chocolate and.......PERO. Have you heard of it or tried it? I know this might sound weird but I REALLY like it! I love coffee flavored things and this reminds me of coffee but without the coffee! No caffeine, roasted flavor, made of barley, chicory and rye. There is no sugar, only 5 calories, and no fat. But you have to do it right. I add a little cream and voila! My mom and dad used to serve this after a dinner party in fancy tea cups with cream and sugar. I was always intrigued. So give it a try! I even got Kelly hooked!

starting fresh...

For those of you who read my newsletter every month, ignore this. I have to repeat myself a little. I have always been the New Year's resolution QUEEN! Because I journal, I don't miss the opportunity for a long list of things I want to improve upon myself at the start of every year. But I've learned to just choose a few. I can realistically meet my goals if they aren't too far fetched. So this year I am determined to get things done especially since Jenna will start preschool in the fall and Sam will be in school all day.

Here it goes:

1. Get my family history collage put together. (Framed, labelled photos of Passey's and Dale sides of family as far back as I can go.) I want myself, my husband, and children to be more familiar and reminded of where and who they came from!

2. Make healthy food for my family-Cooking Light Magazine! Cut down on processed snacks, be creative. We are doing pretty good here but I need to make a little more of an effort.

3. Family Prayer-EVERY night, TOGETHER!

4. Organize my closets, drawers, cupboards, one at a time, CONTAINERS! Wish we had the store "The Container Store" I would be in heaven, but there's always IKEA.

5. Be a FUN mom! Get out there and be crazy, involved more, show my kids that I LOVE to have fun.

There, that wasn't too bad.

Here are my quotes for a little reflection...

"Let nothing perturb you, nothing frighten you. All things pass. God does not change. Patience achieves everything."~Mother Teresa

I got this quote from Three Cups of Tea which is an incredible book that everyone should read. Every chapter started with an amazing and useful quote or proverb. This was one of my favorites.

"Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."~Ralph Waldo Emerson

I love this quote for the words "blunders, absurdities, old nonsense". I can dwell on stupid, careless things I say or do and I let it eat me up for days. Humor is the only remedy for this.

Have fun with your resolutions, goals, whatever you want to call them. The important thing is trying not always achieving.

christmas highlights

Christmas Day at the Plumley's

Kelly and I cooking good comfort food!

Cousins!

Sarah and Bailey and David Archuletta!

Christmas Eve with my sisters!

Grandma was a trooper to go out into the icy, windy tundra to build the first, official, snowman!
Awe....Christmas Morn!!!!!

Noah's favorite stocking stuffer!

And they gave him a binkie, and laid him in a manger...

Jenna's favorite present from Santa was her new 3 pack of Minnie Mouse underwear!

Bailey's favorite present from Santa was her Webkins!

Brighton

Shreddin!

Bowling!

Turned off the Wii!

Dinner at Cucina Toscana with one of my best friends in the whole world! What could be better?

Sledding with the Plumley's and Archie's-one of the funnest winter time activities!

My girls and their dress up fetishes!!!! The ensembles are endless!

Kelly and I before leaving to the Access Developement party!


We have some Christmas traditions that we enjoy every year and then there is just the spontaneous that we love too. I'm lucky that my mom provided a few of these traditions for us as she does every year. We enjoyed our favorite holiday treat which she has made since I guess her marriage to my dad?? She makes a German sweet bread called "Stolen." Have you heard of it? It is a round loaf of light, chewy white bread, with candied fruit, nuts and raisins, then topped with an icing and a candied fruit decoration which looks like holly. We slice it thin, toast it in the oven and spread lots of butter on the top! It is one of my very favorite Christmas indulgences. My mom is German so it is a way for us to remember our heritage. Speaking of German, another tradition is that we all sing Silent Night in English and then German and now we have added Spanish for my bro-in-law who is from Mexico and the 2 bro-in-laws who served missions in South America! We always act out the Nativity and now it is fun to have plenty of young, anxious children to play the parts! This year we had the perfect baby Jesus! Holly's little baby, Owen got the part because he is the BEST baby in the world! He just layed there and looked around. I don't know too many 9 month olds that will do that while laying in hay! Some other fun things that we do: We visit at least one elderly widow and bring her gifts. This is so fun for the kids and we all leave feeling a warmth in our hearts. We always go sledding, skiing and just play in the snow! This year I went snow shoeing! It was more work than I thought but very exhilarating! We always buy new games and books for the kids. We sit around after all the electronics have been played and challenge each other with a nice board game! This year we got Bailey and Noah The Darling Book for Girls and the Dangerous Book for Boys. They are so fun to read and to do activities from! Oh! I read a story to the kids which my mom read to me every year for Christmas. It's called A Candle in the Forest and it's my favorite Christmas story of all time! So, there is another borrowed tradition from my parents. Bailey and Noah listened but Sam and Jenna didn't have the attention span. It is long with no pictures. We did open one present on Christmas eve night-new PJ's! Everyone was very happy with their cozy new pajamas. This year I made Wassail for the first time and we all became addicted! I love it! I also got some great new recipes from a cookie exchange I went to at a neighbor's house. My favorite cookie this year was a chocolate pepper cookie (Martha Stewart). Absolutely wonderful! Kelly's favorite was my sister Erin's Gingersnap cookie with lemon glaze. Seriously the BEST Gingerbread cookie EVER! My mom made homemade marshmallow caramels that were a definite favorite. I don't know how many I ate but tread mill, here I come! I had a few dinner parties at our house and we enjoyed visiting at our friend's homes. We went to an annual ornament exchange at my friend Chaton's house and it was a blast as usual! Also, we had Kelly's Co Christmas party in Salt Lake at the first of the month-very nice! Our church had a Christmas breakfast that we enjoyed and the kids got to participate in the Nativity that they performed with songs, costumes and sweet angelic faces! We had a great gathering with Kelly's family where we exchanged gifts and ate wonderful food. We enjoyed amazing music heard at church and played by our sweet nieces and nephews, including Bailey! I love Christmas for all these reasons! And one more! I love hearing from our dear friends and family who live far and near, to see how their children have grown and to get caught up on their lives! It is always a treat! I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday! Happy New Year!

milestones

As you know, Noah is now eight years old and with that comes some big events, changes or milestones! First, Noah started Cub Scouts! He was very excited to join because he has spent a lot of time with Kelly and the older scouts on trips and at many weekly scout nights! He thinks it's really cool and Kelly is in heaven! Kelly is a huge advocate of Boy Scouts and he will be the perfect helper with Noah's projects. Noah has great leaders who really care about scouting which makes all the difference! Second, Noah was baptized on Dec. 6th! What a big day for him! He was so shy and nervous but once he got in the water he thought it was pretty cool. So it was a memorable, tender, spiritual event and we will look back on it as being one of our best times. We are proud of Noah for all the great things he is doing and for overcoming his fears, challenges and working hard!