And Number 5 is finally here!

Annoucing the arrival of the new son of Catherine and Aaron, as yet unnamed. I think I'll call him A.J. (for Aaron Jr.) until something becomes official. I can't just keep saying "him"; although Deborah and Elizabeth both were unnamed for a week after their births--the hospital personnel kept hounding us for a name so they could send in the birth certificates. But names are just so important!

He was born about 1:20 pm, Saturday, May 19, 7 lbs 14 ounces, 20 inches, blondish, wavy hair--enough for the nurse to use a comb when she bathed him (a new implement as far as newborns go for the Sullivans!), and healthy--all ten toes, etc. Hopefully, pictures will soon appear here!
Catherine said labor went so quickly that he doesn't have a cone head.

I'm on my way this evening to Wisconsin to do the grandmother thing--play with Connor and Brenna, hold the baby, cook some meals, and enjoy myself immensely. I can't wait!

Disney--Days 3 and 4

Day three--Epcot. Tired feet. Hot. Grateful for any shade. Loved Soarin'. Did it twice since that is what we went to first as the park opened. Other amazing things--Mexican mariachi band; a group that played on garbage cans and lids; a playful fountain; Kevin and Deborah did the Moon mission (they said I WOULD NOT like it). And African drums; English street actors; and hundreds (it seemed) of school classes there on field trips.
Day Four--Magic Kingdom, again. But this time it was from 8 a.m. to 11 pm. We were tired after the evening fireworks, but as we noticed all the crowds leaving the park we just couldn't pass up the chance for short lines at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain. We left when the park closed (knowing full well that the next day was Sunday and we could REST our fatigued bodies).
The Bailey girls--as now constituted.
Oh how hard the work is to really have fun!

Recent Reading

Reading to the girls has been one of the best things we've done (right after family home evening and family scripture reading). The list of books continues to grow. Recently we read Wilson Rawls' "Summer of the Monkeys". This is a story that Grandma Mildred Bailey always read to her 4th grade classes. Now I know why. It is funny and folksy. Then we read "Princess Academy". We enjoyed it as well, though it is about 180 degrees different from Summer of the Monkeys. But it different than I expected. It was about poor girls from a mountain region who are being tutored and trained because one of them will be chosen to wed the prince because of a prophecy by the kingdom's magicians.

For our book club, we read "A String in the Harp", a Newbery honor book. I related to it right away as a family relocates to Wales from the U.S. and the unexpected trials they encountered. Ancient Welsh myths enter in, so it combined fantasy as well. It was a good read!

I love a good book!

Bird Hotel Update

They hatched about 2 weeks ago, and now the nest is almost full with growing little babies--four of them. When they are asleep it is hard to tell what is what. And now the robins have rebuilt their nest in the nanking cherry tree--right at eye level and there are two blue eggs in it. I love it!

Happy Birthday!

I don't do birthday parties anymore. But sometimes, we come close. I found a cute pinata at the store, and had leftover Halloween, Valentine, and miscellaneous candy to put in it (it wasn't full, believe me!) The safest place to locate a blindfolded person with a wooden stick was out on the end of the swingset. Alice got first go at it. Everyone had a turn. And then another turn. And then Elizabeth knocked the tab out of the top so it couldn't hang from the rope anymore. That pinata just would not break! So we set it on the wooden beam, and allowed hits without being blindfolded. Finally, one end of the rainbow broke open!
Finding wrapped candy in all that bark and mulch took some doing. Alice had one friend from school, Kelly Olsen, and we also invited the Davidson girls (Ruth is 6 and also had her birthday the same day, and Grace is 3--they live a block away and their mom is my visiting teaching companion).

But that wasn't the end of the day! Alice chose to go to Texas Roadhouse for her birthday dinner. Because you get to sit on the saddle. The food is also good, but secondary.
Later that night, after Elle and I got back from Mutual, we had her strawberry-glazed angel food cake with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. Yummm!

Day Two--MGM Studios

I've waited a year to post these pictures... but not on purposed. I just never got around to it!

On day two were were at the gate 30 minutes before opening and practiacally first in line. This was our modus operendi every day--it added to the fun when you are first in the park and can choose whichever ride you want and there is NO line! Star Tours was fun, but so was the car chase show, and the Rockin' Roller Coaster with Aerosmith.

But the ultimate thrill was the Hollywood Tower. (I think this was taken the second time we went to MGM--on our last day, since all our clothes are different). I even got the shot with the elevator door open up on the tower. Riders are in the elevator and get to experience free fall. I only did it once. While Deborah and Kevin went on it several times, the girls and I enjoyed ice cream cones or saw a stage production of Beauty and the Beast.

By the end of day two, our feet were beginning to get tired. But wait! Epcot Center is tomorrow!

A Year ago today...

Can it already be a year? The day after Alice's birthday last year, we flew to Orlando, and by 5 pm we were standing in line for Splash Mountain! The people at the hotel (where we bought our 6-day pass) thought we were crazy to head to the park with only 5 hours left of the day. Weren't we tired from traveling? They just didn't know about the Bailey family--we can pack more activities in one day than just about anyone! (Just ask anyone who has been with us on one of our cross-country driving trips!)

Having Deborah with us made the whole trip even more fun--she's game to try just about anything if there might be even an iota of fun in it somewhere. Ah, the obligatory picture of the Magic Kingdom castle--just to prove we really were there.
In a year or two, it would be fun to take the extended family, grandkids and all! This grandma won't mind sitting out with a stroller while everyone else rocks out on the Aerosmith roller coaster.

Deborah and Brushfire

Deborah sent us the following links, so you can see her in action on Youtube! "It's not really the best sound recording, but it's all right. Just from somebody's little camera. Oh, Susanna Around the World is from our show in the Madsen Recital hall in March." The show with B minor is from Long Beach, California.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBoGajHLiLw B minor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MsOMfKQnow Oh, Susanna

Elle and the NIJO concert

For the past semester, Elle has been attending 2-hour NIJO rehearsals every Friday evening. (Boy, does that hamper what we can do on a weekend!) They recently had a 1-day tour (and got out of school to do it, yippee!), and a final concert.

What, you might ask, is "NIJO"? It is the Northern Iowa Junior Orchestra, with 6th-8th graders (and some extra-talented 5th graders), representing 14 different schools, with entrance by audition. Typically, the students are in Suzuki Book 4 or above, so they are pretty proficient. And they have a GREAT conductor. Mr. Schilke has a wonderful sense of humor, works well with these kids, and loves music. You would think they would HATE giving up their Friday evenings for four months, but they actually look forward to it! That's the difference a good leader can make.
Elle is the first chair violist. Who knows where her music will take her? She does have some yearnings to go to BYU and play the fiddle in a folk group--I wonder where she ever got that idea?!?

The Bailey Hotel

Wow, I have some time this morning to get caught up on some of the things I've wanted to blog!

Now, on our front door (which I painted white last fall, after being dark green), a pair of finches have built a nest (at the top of the wreath).

It is too high for me to see into the nest, so one morning when the bird flew off the nest, I reached up with the camera and snapped a picture. Three eggs!
Then a day or two later, four eggs.

We're waiting for the eggs to hatch now. And the finches have been able to keep their nest hidden from the sparrows. Some years we have to remove large sparrow eggs, and even once, a starling egg. It's fun having nature right at our front door.

Ground-breaking for the new Stake Center

A couple of weeks ago, the ground-breaking was held for our new stake center. It was a blustery day, but the rainy clouds disappeared and the sun came out just in time.
The brethren came to the site from the priesthood leadership session of stake conference, so I got to catch Kevin arriving, with Steve Oesterle. (And our Toyota Camry).There were shovels aplenty--some silver, some gold . After a few words telling the history of the stake and the need for a new stake center, the shovels were ready.

Everyone was happy--with the exception of the youngest daughter of a family in our ward. She was not so certain about this all. When the new building is ready to go, it will only take us 60 minutes, instead of 75, to get there. I'm always happy with less travel time!

Now, this is Spring!

Alice, endulging in her love of reading while enjoying the spring sunshine.

What's missing on this apple tree? Blossoms! There just aren't the blossoms that should be adorning the trees right now.

Some of the tulips and daffodils made it through the terrible freeze, but not all. Some heads have tried to bloom still, but their stems were frozen, and mushy, so they have no strength to stand up. Most of my daffodils are yellow varieties, with one bed of these apricot-colored beauties.

So, Spring has actually come, though it has been up and down--80 degrees for a couple of days, then 45 degrees, then back to 80. One day the weatherman is saying "this is really strange, this storm is like a mid-winter storm," and then a week later he says, "this is strange for this storm is like a mid-summer storm". (We got 5 inches of rain in 3 days--some areas are flooding.) Nothing has been like a regular "spring storm".

This is April???

In March, we had a few warm, nice days and the flowers were duped. They popped up almost overnight, promising to look their best ever. Then April came. A strong wind came from the northwest; temperatures dropped. It stayed below freezing--way below freezing--for almost a week. My beautiful daffodils, crocuses, and hyacinths were flattened. But if the sun shown for a bit, even though it was still so cold, the flowers valiantly opened up.
And now it is snowing. We actually have 3 more inches of snow since Elizabeth took this picture this morning. And more snow is coming.
Cars were slipping around in the heavy, wet snow. In delivering Alice to her early morning orchestra practice, we saw several places where car tires had left the road and made their own way. It will be great snowman snow!This cedar waxwing has been hanging around, eating the berries off the juniper bushes. Today, he is just sitting in the bush--all fluffed out to keep the snow off. Guess I'd better get the snow shovels out of the attic, again. We thought we were through with them for the year. At least school hasn't been cancelled. That would be the final straw!

Music, music, music

We recently participated in the ward talent show. I played the "Mom" and Alice and Elizabeth played the "daughters." I know, very difficult roles! I was reminding them to practice their music, so they mozy into a lack-luster rendition of a Mozart minuet. I retreat into the background, and seeing that "Mom's gone!" they launch into a couple of fiddle tunes. At my return, they switch back to the minuet, and finish it, with a final comment (and a wink) about how they really enjoy practicing. The audience liked it a lot!


At the same talent show, the Suzuki Mamas played. (And Kevin accompanied us on the piano, so technically, it was the Mamas and a Papa). Mercifully, there is no picture available. And I'm not going to share any audio of our rendition of "Song of the Wind". For those of you not familiar with the Suzuki literature, this is the third song. There are five of us in the ward who were willing to show how little we know (though we have tutored our kids who are now pretty good).


After doing the gig at the talent show, our group has decided to continue to meet weekly! (It's our adult Suzuki group lesson?!) Elizabeth says it isn't fair--our group is FUN. We practice our bow holds, and try to abolish pancake wrists, and strive for good tone. And we love it! Of course, there is a lot of chatting/playing, or chatting/chatting/playing, but we are improving. One of the moms has only been involved with Suzuki for 6 months, and I've been involved since Deborah was 5 years old. We all go home feeling relaxed and happy. (Stress-reduction is a part of being involved with music--unless you are performing!)

Then this week, Alice had her Festival performance for Cedar Falls Schools. Her accompanist, a UNI student, was not very proficient or used to accompanying. (I'm putting this as kindly as I can). She started before Alice did and didn't wait to let Alice catch up, so the first 8 measures were way out of sync, and she didn't know about the repeated sections. Alice was pretty flustered, though I'm sure the judge will take all that into account. It was still a good experience for Alice. She's only a 4th grader, and the Festival is typically for 5th-9th graders.

AND the answer is...

For all of you waiting on pins and needles, here is the answer to the contest.
a. Ryan (no mistaking that lovely olive complexion!)
b. Alice (in a borrowed crib, on borrowed sheets, in our leased house in France.)
c. Elizabeth (was she the center of attention, or what?!?)
d. Catherine (I love the double chin!)
e. Justin (for once, the Kmart photo shoot was a success--I love this picture.)
f. Deborah (in the dress Grandma Widdison crocheted.)

Who's who? Part II

Okay, so that was too hard. So here it is, redone, with each child's picture taken at 2-3 months of age. This should be a little easier. The order is the same.

a. (everyone agreed that this was Ryan. Correct!)
b. Who is this?
c. At least we know it is a girl...

d. And? e. Now can you tell who this one is?
f. And lastly?

Oh, how fun it is to see all these sweet little ones. Wish I could give you all a hug right now!

Who's Who?

As we anxiously, but patiently await the birth of the newest member of the family, I thought it was time for a test. Who is who? (And it is fun to see all these pictures side by side and see the similarities and differences in each of our children.)
a. b.
c.
d.

e.
f.

I know, it might be a little unfair as three are "hospital" pictures--pretty early in life--and three are taken a couple of months later.

Oh, by the way, no prize. Just personal satisfaction.

Can we be forgiven?

Well Ryan, Justin, & Deborah, this will really make you jealous! On our recent trip to Wisconsin, we went to......

an.....

outlet mall!


I know you'll never forgive us for not taking you with us to the...

Dress Barn!

Bath & Body Works! (They still had Pearberry lotion. I stocked up. Try to look surprised at Christmas.)

Carter Children's Clothes!

And, the real reason we drove the 45 minutes to Oshkosh...

the one and only American Girl outlet store. Alice enjoyed that store.

And it was all the more fun because we had a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old with us (neither of whom thought shopping was all that great). But it all turned out well with a hamburger at Culver's (delicious) and then a mint shake from McDonald's (it was McDonald's--what adjective would you use here? Certainly not "delicious". Maybe, "okay--for the price"). At least it kept me awake as I drove back to West Bend.

Spring has sprung!

Our first crocus bloomed...

on March 21st! Now there will be some flower blooming somewhere in the yard until it freezes next fall. Already the daffodils are up and ready to open. And this year, the rabbits didn't eat the crocuses that Justin helped me plant just after his mission, out in the woods behind our house. It's fun seeing the bright purple out there.

Spring flirted with us for a week or two before making it official. Robins arrived, the snow melted, and the faintest green buds began appearing on the willow trees. Then March 21st came, and suddenly, the air was humid (goodbye dry winter skin!) and warm. We turned off the furnace.

Then, over the weekend, summer arrived!--(82 degrees on Sunday and Monday). I'm not looking forward to the heat, but I hope to get used to it early this year to be ready to visit Guam. I can't wait!

Leisure Time in Wisconsin

We took walks (having to walk in the roadway because the melting snow made the sidewalks pretty sloppy).

We experimented in making "shamrock" cupcakes for St. Patrick's Day. They were delicious! (We used balls of aluminum foil to help form the clover leaf shape inside the tin, but on the outside of the liner. Does that make sense??)

But the best part was all the help from the kids. I think a few fingers got licked in the process.

Then there were more walks--especially to walk the dog. Alice shot this Wisconsin sunset.

We're glad that Catherine and Aaron are willing to put up with us visiting! Of course, we did let Aaron win at Phase 10.