ellie starts 1st grade

This year we were staying with my parents for a week when Ellie started school. It was fun to have my parents be part of the action. Ellie was so excited but as we walked down the hall she squeezed my hand "as hard as she was nervous."


Most of her nervousness dissappeared as soon as she saw Alliviah, Courtney, and Brielle - her friends from last year. Mrs. Vickers is her teacher and seems like a great teacher.

In her classroom. Brielle is in the front of the line. She's so cute and her and Ellie try to have playdates everyday after school. She lives in our ward.


Brielle, Charise and Ellie after getting off the bus. 1st grade is a big adjustment. This is what Ellie did for the first couple weeks when she walked in the door. Actually the first week she couldn't even make it to the door, she just fell over in the shade in our front yard. She's so cute and smart and always tells me funny things about boys and says,"Promise you won't tell anyone?"

taylor 4 months

13 lbs.

grandpa bagley

My grandpa (mom's dad) passed away August 20, the day after I got back to Utah. I had meant to go see him that day and my dad and I were at Costco when we found out. He was suffering so we were glad he could be free from pain. The funeral was wonderful. My cousin Sarah, pictured, is the youngest grandchild and had a special bond with grandpa - stronger than I realized. She read a letter she had written him when she left for college and it was so sweet. My uncle John spoke as well and talked about life as a farmer. My grandpa struggled in this life and I hope he is feeling peace now.




Chocolate (stress relief) and the newest member of the Grandpa's legacy.

Obituary:

Lowell Edward Bagley 1924 ~ 2011 Lowell Edward Bagley, 87, of Annabella and Orem, Utah, passed away on Saturday, August 20, 2011 in American Fork, Utah. He was born in Koosharem, Utah on April 16, 1924, to Edward Merrill and Ruby Arminta Olsen Bagley. He married Aleith Anderson on February 9, 1946 in Richfield Utah and their marriage was later solemnized in the Manti LDS Temple. Lowell attended CSU, U of U, USU and BYU. He served valiantly in World War II as Sergeant Company K 11th Infantry 5th Division 3rd Army and among many other honors and medals was awarded the Silver Star. His family is so proud of his service to his country He loved and respected the beauties of nature and was very mindful of caring for and protecting this earth and it's resources. Lowell is survived by his wife and their six children: John Edward Bagley and Phyllis, Koosharem, Anne and Michael Morrey, Orem, Renee and Karl Thomas, Provo, Mignon and Kent Nicol, Orem, Marian Castleberry, Orem and Lisa Elaine Bagley, Orem. He has 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grand-children, and one great-great granddaughter. Lowell was a wonderful grandfather. He is also survived by his sister Melva Harward, Salem, brother, Jay Merrill and Devonna Bagley, Logan, and sister Carolyn and Howard Edwards, Park City. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Elaine Bagley and Fern Jeanette Johnson and his brother Dr. Lell O. Bagley. Lowell's family and friends will honor him with a visitation from 7-9 p.m. on Friday, August 26th at the Sundberg Olpin Mortuary, 495 South State Street, Orem, and also a funeral on Saturday, August , 27th at 1 p.m. with a visitation beginning at 11:30 a.m. at the Suncrest 5th Ward Chapel at 130 North 400 West in Orem. Lowell will be laid to rest in the Orem City Cemetery 1520 North 800 East with military honors. His family is thankful for the special times we had with him and for his examples of hard work, honesty and generosity. We are very grateful he is no longer suffering and we look forward to being with him again. The family would also like to express heartfelt appreciation for the care and kindnesses shown to him by the Smedleys and the Staff of the Beehive Home of American Fork South. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.SundbergOlpinMortuary.com.

mccall

We took a little detour on the way home to Utah, via McCall, Idaho. The Bankhead's were going there for their annual trip with the Dickersons so instead of flying home then driving 10 hours a couple days later to Idaho, we opted to fly right to Boise and drive to McCall. Jann and Lew were nice enough to send Courtney out to help me the last couple days in Knoxville and she flew with us to Boise. Bless her, is all I can say. We were so sad to leave Justin behind, I felt so badly for him. We've been apart a lot and we've done the month long thing before too, and to be honest I'm usually just fine thanks. But this time has been really hard for all of us, probably because of little TayTay in the mix. Justin can't wait to get home to her.

Anyway, McCall was all I imagined and more. It was gorgeous, relaxing, and yummy. Like drinking a cold glass of water after being in humid Tennessee all summer.


The six things Grandma and Grandpa live for.


We stayed on the ground floor of the lodge which made it so convenient for napping babies. Ash and her nugget bum Rusty.


Cody with Lewie on the tramp and Braden making a "Vo-tino" (volcano) with me.


Tubing is always a hit and can you just imagine (those of you that know Cody) what was going through his mind as he watched this float plane come in. "How do the batteries work if the plane gets wet?"


Pretty Ellie, and Scott, Jaime and Courty

Can't wait for next year!

nashville temple

The first weekend in August we made a little trip out of ward temple day in Nashville. Friday we took off and drove 2 hours to a great little water park. It was the coldest day of the year (of course), but it turned out to be a good thing since the rainstorm cleared out the crowds. The kids loved it (waiting for Jess to post so I can steal pics of the water park, hint hint). After, we drove to our glorious hotel rooms, crashed, and the next morning got all the kids ready in church clothes and went to the Stake Center for ward prayer at 9:00.

Cute side story: That morning I was riding down the elevator with my kids and Kelty. A woman slipped in with us. Here I am, with a baby, a 6 year old, and what looks to the woman like 4 year old twins. The kids were un-characteristically well behaved and Kelty asked the woman, "Are you going to breakfast? We are." She replied no, that she was going to get coffee. I held my breath hoping Kelty wouldn't say something about coffee being bad - she is super outspoken. She didn't, whew. But she did say, "We are going to the temple!" The woman smiled at her. Awkward moment. In the bistro, the kids quietly found a place to sit together while I ordered (again, very unlike them - ever). As the woman left she said to me, "Your children are amazing!" I let her think they were all mine, haha. Maybe a seed planted? Who knows.



At the stake center, which is in the same parking lot as the temple, the kids had crafts and pictures taken and were looked after by the Young Men/Young Women. Our ward is notorious for getting almost the whole ward to Temple Day each year, every primary kid was there. It was quite humbling to see how excited the ward was to go, and what a big deal they made out of it. Walker smashed his finger in a door while we were in the session. There are six doctors in the ward but they were all in the same session as us. Luckily, the temple president was also a doctor so he was called over to look at it. It was broken but there was nothing they could do about it. Poor guy. We skipped our plans of seeing downtown Nashville and headed home, which was probably a good thing anyway because I was exhausted by the time we got home.

baby

Just some more pics from the pick your own farm.

theatre in the air

Just a fun memory I wanted to record. The kids loved watching movies outside with popcorn and m&m's at the bottom. Just try not to think about the giant spiders hanging overhead.