A Special Day

It's almost been a week since Emma was baptised, but I wanted to share some of the pictures from the day. It was such an amazing day. I also want to record some of the details for her. She has written in her journal every day since her baptism, but there are some details that she may leave out. Hopefully it's not completely boring, but I feel like it's important for me to write so that she can remember the specifics.

We met in the chapel at 10a.m. Even having no adult clothing for those baptising, the meeting actually started on time. When we got to the church, we were told that after the baptisms the week before, none of the adult clothing had been washed. So it was a little chaotic to start with, but once we were all sitting in the chapel, it was wonderful. Emma was able to choose one person from her family to share their testimony. She chose her Grandpa J. (which I was relieved of given that anytime Emma gets to choose someone for anything, it's usually me). Fortunately, I didn't have to walk up to the front to speak. Grandpa got to do that. And then, she chose a song for the congregation to sing. She chose Love Is Spoken Here. It sounded amazing. Of course, I cried.

From there, we moved into the Relief Society room where the baptismal font is. It was quick and easy. One dunk. Then, after we hurried to get her dried off and in her dress again, we ran to the Young Women room for her confirmation. This was my favorite part of the day. Emma was baptised and confirmed by her dad. He did an amazing job and the Spirit was so strong. Later that night, while having dinner, I asked the kids what they felt during the confirmation prayer. Both Josh and Emma said they cried. It was so great to hear them talk about what it felt like. There are moments as a parent that you feel proud of your kids and their accomplishments, but there is nothing in this world that compares to hearing them share their sweet testimonies. Josh kept asking Emma (over and over) what she thought of the actual baptism. I finally told him that she said the water was warm. "That's not exactly what I was looking for, mom," he told me. I caught the two of them talking about the day and their feelings several times throughout the day. Love it!

After Emma was confirmed, we were able to hear from Sister Wright (our Primary President and Emma's second grade teacher). She has been a blessing in Emma's life in so many ways. She was our angel that saved us at the beginning of the school year when Emma was struggling with being at a new school. She is someone that will be a part of Emma's life for a long time!

There were so many people there to support Emma. Our Home Teachers, her Primary Teacher, the Primary President, several members of her class, and all of our family! It was amazing to have everyone there for her day. She is also very lucky to have the Grandma's she has. Emma has 3 living great grandma's and 2 grandma's - four out of five were there. Grandpa B and Grandpa J were the witnesses for the baptism.

After lots of hugs and pictures, most of the family went to the Olive Garden for lunch. Given the situation with the economy, it probably would have been ideal to do a lunch at our house, but we did what Emma had requested. So, thank you thank you thank you to everyone that came to support her. It was a little crazy with our big group being at a new restaurant, but it just meant more time for us to be together.

Only In Utah

It's March 26 and I think the high today was 31 degrees. And, with the wind chill factor, it felt like 18 degrees. Hello! Last week the golf courses were full. This week they are covered in icy cold frozen snow. We fertilized the lawn Saturday. Josh started soccer practice three weeks ago and it's been canceled as many times as they've had it.

Call me a hypocrite. A couple of weeks ago I was loving the idea of daffodils and tulips popping up through the snow. Now I am cursing it. I went out to get in the van the other day to pick up the kids from school (4 o'clock in the afternoon) and noticed a potato bug crawling through the snow on the driveway. This morning, I had to scrape the windows of the car (after opening my frozen doors to get the scraper). The kids stood and watched a bird pull a worm from the frozen ground. The birds are chirping, but I am bundled up with ski gloves and snow boots! I don't know whether to leap with Spring Fever or curl up in a ball under a blanket with a cup of soup.

Yesterday, there was a segment on the Today Show all about "spring cleaning." Who could possibly be in the mood for spring cleaning? I would love to get out and clean my garage, but it's too freaking cold!

So, what does one do in March when it's in like a lamb and out like a lion? I finished a 550 piece puzzle, sewed 3 aprons and 3 scripture bags, spent hours on the Internet learning to scrapbook digitally, bought a lot of cleaning supplies (and never used them), watched Twilight on Blue Ray three times in two days, experimented with hair styles on my four year old, dropped my new Blackberry in the tub while bathing my baby, purchased a ton of "summer" clothes for the kids and hung them in the closet (where they still are), thought about going tanning... thought about going to the gym... thought about getting an eyebrow wax or a pedicure... and, surprisingly, gained 4 lbs. in the last week. And people say that a stay at home mom can't live it up!? If they only knew!


This is Josh at practice Tuesday, March 17.

And this is Josh after soccer practice on March 18. He plays offense and keeper for his USA team. So, at practice his coach had him in the box during a scrimmage. He went for a save and landed with a cleat in his leg. I keep telling him how awesome it is - it makes you tough when you have a cool bruise like that! Even now it looks pretty cool.

This is what actually made it to the D.I. It's a start. There is plenty more to be donated, but it sure felt good to take this much over.

These are some of the aprons I made. I have a cute customer on my etsy shop from Canada that orders aprons from me for any occasion. This was a request from her for a Mom and Me set for a baby shower. The baby one turned out so cute!

Now that it's midnight, I guess I will try to catch some zzz's. I have stalled long enough. Jer got me a laptop for Valentine's day and it's rather addicting when the kids are in bed and I have some quiet time. I find myself surfing the web, playing in Photoshop and blogging at the silliest hours. And I wonder why I've gained weight? No - I don't. I know exactly why. It's that case of Snickers I bought at Costco Saturday.

It's GREAT to be EIGHT!

Today is Emma's eighth Birthday! I can't believe my Emma is ready to be baptized. They always tell you that time flies and to enjoy your kids while they are young - "they" are right. It does go so fast.

Emma was due on April 6, 2001. She was born almost 3 weeks early, on March 14, 2001. She was born at LDS Hospital at 2:30 in the afternoon and weighed 7 lbs. 4 oz. (Good thing she came early - who knows how much she would have weighed by April 6th). She was going to be named Erin, however, when she was born, she didn't look like an Erin. We named her Emma Louise and gave her sister the name Erin four years later.
Emma got a new set of scriptures! She is official! Even as young as she is, Emm reads her scriptures every night and never forgets to take them to church.

Group hug! McKayly, Erin, Emma, Kailee, Caelan

Emm had a "princess party." The girls got to put make-up on and had fancy hair up-do's! Cari brought her Mary Kay supplies - they LOVED it!

If you know Emma, you know that she is a little beauty with a beast nestled inside. She definitely has a personality of her own. I am terrified of the teenage years with her. Hopefully before she turns 13, the screaming and stomping and slamming of doors wears off.

Here are eight things I adore about Emma:

8. Emma is the most compassionate and affectionate person ever! She loves everyone and meshes with people of all ages. Her best friend is her four year old sister, yet one of her favorite things to do is hang out with her grandma. She has two grandmas and three great grandma's and I have countless pictures of her loving them.

7. Another love Emma has is for animals. She collects FurReal Animals and has 13 of them now. But, I know if she had it her way she would have 13 real pets. Her dream is to work with animals in some way when she is older. As soon as she is 14, she can work at Hogle Zoo. Most kids look forward to getting their drivers licence, but not Emma. She just wants to be old enough to work at the Zoo.

6. Her hair. I know this is a silly thing, but I do. I love the girls hair. I always had thin straw like hair when I was young. She has a full head of gorgeous, thick hair.

5. Her giggle. This is something I can take credit for. My nickname when I was little was "Giggles." She definitely could take the name. It's contagious when she gets going.

4. Her talents. Emma is a natural at a lot of things.

3. I love Emma's love notes. I don't know that a day goes by that I don't get at least one love letter from her.

2. I love that Emma is a daddy's girl. Still, at eight years old, she loves one on one time with her dad. She loves to have "movie night" with the family so that she can snuggle with her dad.

1. And the number one thing I love about Emma is ... drum roll ... the dimple in her smile.

Happy Birthday, Emma Lou!

note to family members: Emma will be baptized on Saturday, March 28. I will send invites with where and what time.

Brynlee Babe

As usual, I have been crazy busy this week and am just now sitting down to blog about my new niece. I've been anxiously awaiting her arrival -probably not as anxious as her parents, but you know how it is when a new baby is born in the fam.

She was born Sunday evening at 6:44pm. She is a tiny little thing (takes after her mama). She weighed 6 lbs. 6 oz. and was 21 inches. She is absolutely precious. Congrats to Dev and Lyns! You made one cute babe!

America(n) On Stage

Emma has been asking to take clogging forever! So here's the interesting thing: I couldn't find an actual clogging class - they were all jazz/tap/combo classes. Now she's almost 8 and she had her first clogging competition Saturday (after only starting in December, mind you) and I found out that there are a lot of cloggers out there! Where were they all when she started asking 3 years ago? I'm so glad we finally found the teacher we did. April and I stumbled upon Jenny Powers with Xtreme Clogging while sitting at tumbling with the girls one night. We jumped on the opportunity and I'm so glad we did. Emma and Ella had so much fun at Thanksgiving Point. And, they surprised April and I by knowing their dance! The other girls in their class have been learning the dance since September, but Ella and Emma started in December. I am so proud of Emma - but even more, I'm glad she had fun. I have figured out that each child is so different and sometimes you have to try a lot of things before they find out what they really want to do. I think Emma has decided clogging is her thing.

They took 1st in Solo's and 2nd in Team. (April and I are guessing everyone took 1st and 2nd, but no need to tell the girls. They give all the soccer players the MVP Award and no one complains.)

Daffodil Days are almost here!

I'm so happy that it is March! We always seem to have one or two snow storms in March, but there's something about a blue sky, birds chirping and the daffodils popping up through the snow. It makes me so happy I could cry!

Jer has been in Denver for the last week, so I have been feeling overwhelmed with my motherly responsibilities. Why is it that when your hubby has to travel for work that everything else falls on the same week? I've been running from doctors appointments to dance and soccer and Young Women's and homework and so on... But, fortunately, it's Thursday and Jer is back and things can get back to normal. Okay, so still busy, but it sure is easier when there are two of you.

Josh's team started soccer practice again this week. He was so excited. Winter is rough on soccer players - especially when you can't convince them to play rec basketball to keep in shape. He did really well. I thought he would be out of shape, but he was so excited to be back to playing that he played hard and ran fast.

The girls always love going to soccer because they know there is going to be a playground somewhere close by. The wind was blowing, but that was okay because it still felt warm. It was good to get some sun.

Another reason I am super excited for March is my little sister. She is about ready to have her baby and I am so anxious. I know she is and she is probably sick of me calling/texting every five minutes, but I don't want to miss anything. We had a shower here last week for her. It was so fun to see all the family and friends that we haven't seen forever. Anne and Amy Astill, Karen and Julie Sabey, Jame, Leesh, Care, Rachel, Randi, Laurisa and her little guy, Cohen. It was great to see all the support Lynsee has from everyone - Linda, work friends, all of you! Love you guys!

above: Jamie, Karen, Julie, Rachel, Cindy

above: Rachel, Lynsee {and Brynlee}, Linda, Cari, Alisha

above: Randi, Laurisa and Cohen

above: Lynsee and babe

Mom, Me, Erin, Cari, Lynsee and babe, Emma

(This was at the shower at John and Lindas.)

Also, this month, Emma is turning 8. I can't believe it. She is so excited to baptized. Her birthday is March 14 and her baptism is March 28. It's crazy to think that Emma will be eight years older than Lynsee's babe. That's how far apart Lyns and I are. I was confirmed (back when they did that part in Sacrament Meeting the next day) the same day Lynsee was blessed. I don't know why that seems significant to me, but I get emotional when I think about things like that. Last week in YW, the lesson was on Family and it's hard for me to keep it together when I talk about my family. My sisters, my parents, my kids, my hubby. How lucky we are to have each other for eternity.

Anyway, thought you might want to share in my moment of cheer. I seem to get way freakin' cheesey these days on my blog. No more o' that. :)