It's Great To Be 8

She's FINALLY 8. She thoughth it would take forever for her birthday to come, but she got there. The big 0-8.
For one of her gifts, she and I spent one afternoon shopping for her baptism dress and going out to lunch. She got to pick.
We went to the Olive Garden.
And got a beautiful dress.
She was a hilarious shopping companion. I tried to get her to pick a really pretty dress with lace and beading, but she would have none of it.
We got a very simple but elegant dress (and hey, it was also the least expensive!)


Here is her birthday interview:
Favorite thing to do: READ!!! of course she says.
Favorite book to read: Junie B Jones and Ramona
Favorite color: Pink
Best friend: Gracie and Olivia
What she wants to be when she grows up: A nurse
Least favorite chore: Folding the laundry
Favorite scripture story: Captain Moroni

As we all know, once you're 8, you get to be baptized. She was thrilled at the idea and we could hardly keep her contained on Saturday, since she had to wait until 4:30.
By the time we got to the church, she was so wiggly she could hardly sit still.
Grandma Terry and Grandma Williams gave talks after the spotlight by me.
She was baptized by her father.

I had my first opportunity to go back and help with one of my kids after the baptism.
(I have to insert here that we were very speedy. Annika was dried off, dressed up and spiffy in her seat before Burke got there. Ha! He doubted me.)
After the baptism, all of the cousins present sang I Am A Child of God, and then Annika was confirmed by her dad.



Here is her testimony: I know the church is true. I am glad that I have a family and that I am baptized so that I can be redeemed from my sins. I am very blessed to have a family, friends, and food.

That's it, people. Short and sweet.

She looked beautiful that day. I hope she always remembers it as a special opportunity for her father and her to participate in an ordinance to help her return to live with her Heavenly Father someday.
Thank you to all those who were able to be there, and for the best wishes of those who couldn't.

Love Is In The Air

Both my laptop and my blog are being resurrected! Thanks to Aaron for helping me with my laptop. I have missed it.
Hopefully I will be able to catch up on my blogging a little easier now.
I will just start with what is going on now, picking up later what has happened for the last four months.

Today was the big sixth grade dance for Nathan. The teachers made the boys and the girls dress up in their nice clothes. They have been working on learning different kinds of dances since December. There was one dance where they boys and girls danced together: the Virginia Reel.


The rest of the dances were line dances (YMCA, the Bunny Hop, the Electric Slide).


Nathan insisted on wearing his suit.
He looked very handsome, but I was a little concerned that it would come home with mustard all over it and holes in the knees.Much to my surprise, he and his suite were both clean and in one piece when I showed up to the dance.
He was adorable (I am biased).
The girls were all so cute too. And tall.
It was a great afternoon to see him thriving and happy with great friends and an awesome teacher this year.