Old Hat

We made a big announcement to our kids tonight.  I thought it would be fun to present it in an interesting way.

Elsa was happiest when the box was closed.  Ignorance is bliss.

 I think the balloons, cupcakes and sodas ended up distracting them rather than contributing to the news.



Apparently, no matter how I try to dress it up, this announcement is old hat at this point.  "You mean there's going to be ANOTHER one?"  Thankfully, they became more enthusiastic as the idea (and sugar) settled in. 

The consensus is we all hope it's a boy.  Nadia said "we have enough girls!"   I wonder why she feels that way....

Rowan's Baptism

Honestly this day is really what is spurring me back into blogging.  The holiday season is a whirlwind of various celebrations for our family and it's really easy to get backlogged in recording all the birthdays and whatnot.  The baptism of my oldest child was a very sacred and special moment for me.  I never want to forget it.  We were blessed to be living in Utah during the holiday season when it happened, so many of our family were able to attend.  It was very comforting to be surrounded by people who love Rowan as he made this step.  Our ward holds separate, private programs for each child that is being baptized, but you are only allotted 30 minutes to get everything done.  I was a little concerned at first that we would be able to fit everything in, but we finished right on time.  In some ways, it was nice to keep it short and sweet.  I don't think the kids' attention spans could have handled much longer than that.

Steve was able to baptize Rowan and Grandpa Luke confirmed him.  I am so incredibly grateful for the righteous priesthood holders in my family who were able to support Rowan and perform these ordinances.  My children are so blessed to have their examples.

Speaking of examples, we gave Rowan the middle name of Elias for several reasons, one being that it means to prepare the way for others.  I am grateful for his example to his sisters of making good choices.  He is such a good boy.

 Elsa, the ever active crazy girl.  She actually did pretty well.  Here she is patiently waiting for everyone to arrive by playing peekaboo in the curtains.

 Nadia joined Chandra during the prelude music.  She can't wait to start piano lessons like her brother.  Krystal, Chandra, and Elaine took care of the music for the baptism and performed a fantastically beautiful rendition of the Children's Songbook "When I am Baptized".  I wish I could have recorded it.  Everyone who came has complimented on it.

Rowan's grandmas were both in attendance and gave talks.  My mom spoke on baptism and told Rowan how lucky he is to know of the plan in store for him and have the knowledge that this life is just one step of many we get to take and how that knowledge wasn't always available to her as a convert.  Steven's mom spoke of the different roles of the Holy Ghost and explained to Rowan how to recognize when and why the Holy Ghost is speaking to you.  I'm so grateful they both were able to attend and testify to Rowan of the importance of what was happening to him that day.  This was the first baptism my mom has been able to attend even though 6 of her grandchildren have already been baptized.  She was either in the mission field or working when they were baptized and unable to get away.  There are benefits to having your child born on a holiday.

When Steven went to baptize Rowan, he got a bit choked up and needed a moment before he could perform the ordinance.  We both were feeling the spirit very strongly and I'm so grateful for that.  Rowan luckily didn't have to get baptized a second time, as he kicked up his feet at the end.  He told me later he didn't want to get out of the water because it was so warm.  Apparently the changing room was quite chilly.

Rowan's home teacher and his best friend from school also attended.  It was a small intimate setting.

Austin Reynolds has been more than an ordinary friend to Rowan and I'm so glad he was able to come.  He lives with his grandma, who drives Rowan to and from school everyday and is constantly taking Rowan along on playdates.  We've been so blessed to know them.

I don't remember receiving gifts when I was baptized, but Rowan lucked out with his family.  Aunt Krystal and Isabelle gave him the sweetest card (pun not intended) and Uncle Darren (aka Mr Moneybags) sent Rowan a rather generous card.  Luckily I set Rowan up with a savings account this year and so he is learning to save his money for more important things.

Afterwards we all went to our house and had some brunch and visited before everyone had to hit the road back home.  We are so thankful to those who traveled and went out of their way to attend.  Uncle Randy even came despite having a kidney stone.  We also felt the support and love from those who weren't able to attend.  It was a moment where I really felt and understood the blessing of family support, something I lacked growing up.  I'm grateful that my children are being raised knowing and being friends with their extended family.

Treats came courtesy of the Provo Bakery.  I'm now a fan.

So is Elsa.

Ticklefest with Grandpa.

Apologies for not getting pictures of Vesta's family or Krystal, but they were there and we love them for it!  It was a great day!

Resolutions

I'm resolving to do better about blogging this year.  Whether or not anyone reads this blog, it's important to me to keep a record of what goes on in our family, even if it's not always the deeply personal events.  My hoard of pictures needs a story to go along with it!

Today was the first day that Elsa went to nursery.  She could have gone clear back in November, but we never were able to get that far through sacrament without a sleep deprived meltdown.  Thankfully our ward now meets at 9am instead of nap time and we've finally been able to take advantage of nursery.

 Elsa is such a mystery to me.  Our other children clung and cried through the separation and transition of nursery.  Elsa hardly glanced back.  She came home so hyper and happy that she couldn't take a nap afterwards, which is highly unusual for her.  Our other kids have had more experience than she has had of age appropriate playmates.  Elsa has had little to no contact with other kids her age as most of the kids that come over are a lot older than her, so I think that was a pleasant change of pace.  Regardless, I'm so happy that she is happy.  She was pretty shocked at first to realize that there was a room full of toys at church that we'd been keeping from her.

I tried to get a picture of her first day.  This is pretty much the only shot I got where she would stand still.  Discovering your nose requires some pretty intense concentration.

I have to chase her around or get someone to hold her to get a decent shot.  I guess the focused efforts of nose-picking dispel the ADHD concerns.

She's also gotten into the habit of imitating Miley Cyrus by sticking her tongue out on the left side.  Hopefully that is as far as her impression goes.

Always one to help, Nadia gave Elsa one of her birthday cards and tried to hold her so I could get a decent shot.  The girl LOVES the color red and I think she just looks so darn cute in it.

Steve tried to help hold down Elsa too, but she wasn't having any of it.  Elsa HATES being contained.  Car seats, shopping carts, being strapped in her stroller- all torturous for her and for me as well.  She really helps curb my shopping bug.

Christmas Visitors

A few days before Christmas we were happy to have some old friends drop by.  Dave Zincke was Steve's freshman roommate and they stay connected both as roommates and as coworkers throughout college.  I knew Dave and his wife Charity too as we often worked together at Wyview cleaning the married BYU students apartments after they vacated.  We had a lot of fun times together and it was good to have a small reunion of sorts.  We now have 7 kids between us.  Funny how time flies by.

My mom also came and visited with us over the Christmas break.  Elsa learned rather quickly that Grandma has a special phone with lots of fun games on it.  She learned to say "PHONE" pretty quickly and Grandma was only too happy to oblige her.

It's sad when your mom is more technologically advanced than you are.  Not only does she have an iPhone, but a pretty sweet tablet as well.  Kids flocked to her like bees to honey.

Two Birds With One Stone

I had signed up to volunteer in Rowan's classroom for their Christmas party.  I decided to combine the treat I brought in as both an activity and a mini celebration for Rowan's birthday.  We ended up making Snowman Sundaes and they turned out super cute.

There were two other kids in Rowan's class who would celebrate their birthdays over the Christmas break.  Rowan's teacher is a little old school and has the kids choose 8 birthday spanks or hugs or some combination thereof.  I'm not sure it would pass in a more stringent school, but Rowan thought it was fun.



When I got home, Nadia insisted on recreating a snowman sundae for herself.

 She decided to pose like a sneaky cat for this picture. 

Looking Snazzy

I try so often to get a good picture of all three kids together.  One of these days, I'll find the trick to it.

Apparently, it's not cookies.

I took Nadia aside one time, as she actually is willing to pose for me.

What a character.