Leia's and Eli's first day of school.

We were slow to post this. Leia is in Kindergarten and Eli is in Second Grade.

Cornbellies Farm

On Monday we went to Cornbellie's. We love fall and the cool nights. Leia and Eli were wizzes at the corn-maze. We enjoy their company so much. I am always amazed at how they grow up so fast.

Hay Ride

Duck Racing

Tyler's Big Thrill

Tyler and some guy friends took a trip to Zion National Park two weeks ago. This included a lot of repelling, swimming, hiking and fun times with friends. Unfortunately the camera meet its demise on the first swim so there are no pictures to share. A big shout out to brother-in-law Evan for organizing the trip. The next big thrill came today when Tyler went paragliding. This was made possible by long-time friend and instructor Jonny. Leia was the only family member who witnessed the monumental event but apparently she wasn't too impressed. She said "It was a big waste of my time!" (She was mad she wasn't able to fly)
Landon Instructor JonnyTyler View of the Salt Lake Valley

Mommy tag

This is Leia answering questions about Mom.
1.What is something Mommy always says? "Besides I love you?" Put your shoes away!
2. What makes Mommy happy? When I pick up Liza's poop (the dog).
3. What makes Mommy sad? When I take off the buckets of her statue (I have a metal statue from Cambodia that she is always rearranging).
4. How does your Mom make you laugh? By saying the baby swims in its pee. (We're not even going to explain that one)
5. What was your Mom like as a child? Poor
6. How old is your Mom? 20 something
7. How tall is your Mom? 6 feet 5
8. What is your Mom's favorite thing to do? Sleep!
9. What does Mom do when your not around? Sleep! (Ok so I'm pregnant, give me a break)
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? Singing. (Too bad I can't sing worth anything)
11. What is your Mom really good at? You're good at too much stuff that I can't decide.
12. What is your Mom not good at? Nothing.
13. What does Mom do for her job? A nurse
14. What is Mom's favorite food? Her healthy yogurt! (I've recently discovered Greek yogurt and I don't share very well.)
15. What makes you proud of your Mom? When she makes my bed for me.
16. If your Mom were a carton character who would she be? Sonic (who?)
17. What do you and your Mom do together? We sleep.
18. How are you and your Mom the same? We both have a lot of freckles. (Do you mean beauty marks?)
19. How are you and your Mom different? I have sandy blond hair and my mom has brown hair.
20. How do you know your Mom loves you? She says "I love you."

Tag Anya, Sadie, Ella, Erik S.

Oh Baby!

As many of you already know and most of you probably suspected by the looks of me, I'm pregnant (12 weeks)! After 4 consecutive, unexplained miscarriages we were prepared for bad news at my doctors appointment yesterday but thankfully we got just the opposite. We saw the cutest, alien appearing baby there ever was and he/she was healthy as can be! We're on the 2 week checkup schedule and we'll be crossing our fingers. Remember to send good vibes our way!

Pioneer Day

We had a fun twenty-fourth of July. We went to the parade and we went to a rodeo. The kids loved the rodeo they have talked about it ever since. In the evening we went to a neighborhood party the Christensen's threw. It was a lot of fun. There was live music and entertainment and games. All and all it was a good day but everyone was very worn out by nightfall.

All the kids Leia, Ella, Eli and Sadie.I often wonder what the little man is thinking about!
Leia and Ella chatting
Leia and her aunt Haley. Strong resemblance!

Bastian Week Wrap Up 7-20-08

Eli and Leia Give the week review. Really I am just looking for ways to keep them occupied:)

eli's "radio" show

He Had a Bad Day

It is amazing how much Eli and I (Tyler) are the same. As we were walking to church we came across this toy in the road and simultaneously Eli and I started singing a song we hear a lot on the radio by Daniel Powter Bad Day. We laughed the rest of the way to church. We have the same sense of humor and it is fun to see him mature, not that my humor is mature.

Happy Birthday Pop!

This was your model pose!

Tyler's dad on the left, mine on the right.

Happy Birthday Pop, you're 56 and handsome as ever! Thanks for passing on the good looks :)
You've done a great job raising all of us. I have many fond memories. One in particular is being pulled on a sled behind the truck while you zipped us around on the icy streets for hours. That was fun - but HOW did we all survive? I love you!

Happy Birthday to you, you live in a zoo:)

Sleeping Kids

Last night I snuck into the kids room, as we do every night, to turn off their reading lights. Leia had her book all still open and i thought she was still reading as I got closer i realized she was fast asleep. I grabbed the camera and found it much easier to photograph our camera hater while she was asleep!

I then snuck into Eli's room and there he was light still on and reading. That boy can read! He reads until we make him stop every night. Last night he was freshening up on his scouting and was reading his scout book. It is so fun for us to be parents and watch our little kids grow up. I watched Leia asleep and wished there was a way to stop them at this age.

Popsicles and Watermelon

I came home from work today around four and as I walked around I noticed a lot of wooden popsicle sticks all over the ground.
I went in the house and got half a watermelon and the kids and I went to work.
It has been so hot here that all you can do is eat Popsicles and watermelon. I have had way too many otter pops and I can't do anymore sweet and sticky sugar water. The problem with consuming so much sticky is it attracts creatures. Eli doesn't mind he has fun killing them and examining there corpses.
All the while leia just kept eating! She ate at least four!

Life Flies By!

I was laying in bed and I couldn't get to sleep. It is really hot in our house and we hate running the AC. I am amazed at how fast time flies. We have been married almost ten years and our kids are all growing up. I feel at times that life is just going and I wish I could stop life and just hang out for a while. It reminds me of a Greg Brown song, "Spring Wind".

I lived awhile without you, darn near half my life. I no longer see our unborn children, born to you my lovely wife. But yesterday I had a vision, beneath the tree where we once talked, of an old couple burning their love letters so their children won't be shocked. Love calls like the wild birds-- it's another day. A Spring wind blew my list of things to do...away. My friends are gettin older, so I guess I must be too. Without their loving kindness, I don't know what I'd do. Oh the wine bottle's half empty-- the money's all spent. And we're a cross between our parents and hippies in a tent. Children go to sleep now-- you know it's gettin' late. I know you don't like to miss nothin' and school ain't that great. Oh, I'll dance with you when you're happy, and hold you when you're sad, and hope you know how glad I am, just to be you're Dad. Darlin' it's been a hard go but I think we'll be okay. I know I say that all the time like everything else I say. Oh, I've been gone so often, but every time I miss you, and I don't really know nothin', Except I like to kiss you.
I wish I was as poetic as Greg Brown but I am glad I don't look like him

Back to the family, we went camping a couple of weeks ago and we are ready to go again it was so nice to get away!Miriam and Eli. Poor Liza having her face all squeezed!

Tyler and Leia. She was so grumpy on this trip!

Leia was especially grumpy when we hiked!

We had chili and Leia had two bowls at the sa me time.

We went with some neighbors. Miriam and Shelby and Shelby's new little baby.

Eli strikes a pose.

Elijah David Bastian's Baptism

The little Bastian family.
Handsome Eli

Eli was baptized this weekend! He was so excited. The day turned out wonderful. My favorite part was when he asked Tyler if he could do it again as soon as they got out of the water! I wish they could stay this innocent and young forever.

Eli and his proud sister, Leia!

Eli is so handsome in his new suite and tie! He is definately a lady killer.

Oops.

I am not as good at this blogging thing as I should be I have fired myself and will soon have a replacement. We have had a busy time and we haven't posted any of it. Here are some photos of what we have been up to.
We went to Boston and Leia was a flower girl at Jen Miriam's cousin's wedding. It was a wonderful trip and we had so much fun with all the cousins out East.
Leia graduated from preschool. Eli and Leia were in their first play , "The Wizard of Oz." and Leia has turned five. Eli has also had a birthday and he will be baptized on the fifth of July! Luke is doing well in Spain he completed a year in May and we are excited that he is out but will be happy to have him home. Leia and Eli had a big piano recital and they both did great! it was Leia's first recital ever. We have been busy!