First Day of 1st Grade

With the whirlwind August we had, September sprang upon us. We didn't get to meet Bayley's new teacher before the big day, so I was a bit apprehensive. But, just like his kindergarten teacher promised, she was perfect. Bayley likes that she is pretty and wears different clothes every day. High praise.

He's excited to find out what the field trip will be, to have PE twice a week, to eat lunch in the cafeteria, and to raise tadpoles! He likes sitting at his table where there is no one behind him to bother him, and sitting with Tyler, his friend from kindergarten.

More next week when Busy Bees pre-school starts. In the meantime, Hayden and I are enjoying one-on-one time. We even went to the zoo!

Elynor Pritchard Bayley (1927-2007)

Elynor went home to be with the Lord on August 27, 2007 after a tedious battle with Alzheimers. She was born in Santa Ana, California. During her childhood her family moved often, drawing Ely closer to her three sisters. Ely felt blessed to be born into such a loving and close-knit family who nurtured her love of gardening and art.

Ely attended art college, and while she loved her studies, she missed her family. When it got to be too much she called home. Her mother said she needed to finish out the time she signed up for. Elynor took matters into her own hands...asking that Daddy be put on the phone. He picked her up a few hours later.

Back at home a young man who worked at her fathers gas station caught her eye. Elynor and Chuck were married in 1947 in Reno, Nevada. They raised three children in San Jose, California; Mark, Steven, and Kathryn. In 1977 Chuck 'retired' and bought a cattle ranch in Eagle Point, Oregon. Elynor worked as a telephone operator in California and transferred to Oregon.

Elynor was grateful her sons and their wives also moved to Southern Oregon, keeping her grandchildren close. Elynor loved babies, and was delighted when she became known as 'the twins' grandma. Dedicated to Eastwood Baptist, her church family of thirty years, Ely loved the life she created in Oregon.

The church and her grandchildren became especially important after Chuck passed. Ely depended on her church community, her sisters, and her family to keep her spirits high. Weekly Bible studies and doughnut dates became the norm. She was ecstatic when her life entered a new stage, that of great grandmother to what became a brood of five boisterous children.


Elynor was laid to rest on Wednesday, surrounded by as much of her precious family as possible. She was thoughtful enough to leave hints as to what she wanted and pre-plan as much as possible, including selecting the hymns, writing a prayer, and requesting turquoise carnations. True to herself until the end. We love and miss you.

http://www.legacy.com/MailTribune/Obituaries.asp?Page=Notice&PersonID=93500312

Wildlife Safari

On their way back from Medford, the boys got to take a trip to Wildlife Safari with their very brave Daddy. Not because he had to drive by lions and wait while a rhino crossed the road, but because it was just him and the boys...WOWZA!

The boys were excited by everything, making sure I knew that this time, a rhea did NOT try to get in the car. Good to know.

Even better, he treated them to lunch at the Noah's Ark restaurant. They had the best time! Their only complaint was that the grizzly bear exhibit was closed...we think they had cubs...

What to title this one...

On the 101 list is a cemetary...I thought we'd walk through one. Instead, the boys were along for the burial of Grandpa Bob. He is in a cemetary with his parents, so we got to see all of the heritage that goes into such a place.

Because none of us, especially Grandpa, go for the weepy weepy thing, we had a reception at my grandparents best friend's home. We all swapped fun memories, trying to make one another laugh the way he would.

The boys did a great job of keeping a smile on Granmda's face, whether because of hugs, kisses, getting them to chase her, or stealing her cake.

In Memory...Bob Sovel

Robert B. “Bob” Sovel

Bob Sovel, age 83, passed from this life on Tuesday August 21, 2007. Bob was born in Stockton, California August 15, 1924 to Bialystok-born Sol Sovel and his wife Laura Raffail Sovel, their only child.

Bob enjoyed his athletic years in school and loved boating, golf and dancing. He was a fun-loving man who adored his family and made many loyal lifelong friends.

In addition to his wife of over fifty years, Doris Sovel, Bob is survived by three daughters, two sons, eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. He was loved, and he will be missed, by many.

~~~

God, full of compassion, dwelling on High,

grant perfect rest under the sheltering wings of Your Presence

to the one who has passed….

May their soul be bound up in the bond of life.

Make them welcome to their eternal home.
May they rest in Your Edenic Garden of Delight.
Please, Master of Mercy,
envelop them in Your comforting, protecting wings forever;
Bind up their souls in the Bond of Life.
For You are their Portion, their Inheritance.
May they rest securely in Peace,
and we say:

Amen.
_______________

May His great Name grow exalted and sanctified in the world that He created as He willed.

May He give reign to His kingship in your lifetimes and in your days, and in the lifetimes of the entire Family of Israel, swiftly and soon.

May His great Name be blessed forever and ever. Blessed, praised, glorified, exalted, extolled, amighty, upraised, and lauded be the Name of the Holy One Blessed is He.

Beyond any blessing and song, praise and consolation that are uttered in the world. May there be abundant peace from Heaven and life upon us and upon all Israel.

He Who makes peace in His heights, may He make peace, upon us and upon all Israel.

Where Mommy grew up...

We broke up the California trek by staying over at the folks place in Medford. The boys love it there...partly because there is a hot tub PopPop is willing to get into nearly every night!

BUTTERFLIES!!!

Bayley has been talking about taking in the butterfly exhibit at the zoo since his kindergarten class did a project last year. Unfortunately, every time we thought to take him it was closed for one reason or another. Finally, we made it and it was the perfect day for it.

Nice and warm, so the butterflies were flitting about. Hayden even was interested for a bit thanks to a Magic School Bus video he watched with Bayley's class.

The butterflies like light colors, so were attracted to the back of the sheet they handout to help kids identify the different species. They were also in love with Grandma Bobbie. She had them all over her!

Bayley had one land on his head...not that you can tell from the picture. The butterfly is hovering just after takeoff... A couple got friendly with me, so Bayley took a shot of one on my shoulder.

Afterwards, the boys loved all the normal zoo things -- hippos on parade, elephants eating cheerios, and black bear sitting in old tires. The treat of the day was lunch at the zoo...which we won't do again. Not sure why that is so poorly done. The rest of the zoo is fab.

We're counting the Butterfly exhibit as our Animal Rescue Center. All of the butterflies are endangered and part of what they do, in addition to educating those who stop by, is help in the breeding and continuation of dwindling species.

Airshow weekend!

This town revolves around airshow weekend! What made it doublly great this year was the kids day pre-show. The air museum opened up and lots of the participants came to the airport to let the kids have a hands on experience.

Hayden loved the purple plane. Both boys got a chance to sit in the jump seat and play a bit with the controls.
Bay loved working the helicopter and seeing the drag racer. I think Hayden was most impressed with the free Krispy Kreme donuts. What can I say? He's Hayden.

Sprinkler!

That's how we do it in the 'hood. Sprinklers in the front yard. What can I say? It's not as if the neighbors will mind. They are there too!

Keep Them Moving!

I wish my camera took better pictures inside the rec center. I can't seem to get a decent picture of the boys in their swimming class. Hayden has started to swim a bit on his own, and Bayley got to go down the waterslide solo - no life jacket! He balked at jumping from the diving board though :)

Tennis was great fun for both boys. Bayley is getting really good! That probably has something to do with why he likes it so much. Hayden has fun with it. The days they get the lolipops are his favorites!