Calvin's Baptism and Ice Show

Today was a long time coming! Calvin had a hard time deciding if he wanted to be baptized. Once he finally decided and was excited about setting a date, we had to push it back for Grandma's radiation treatments, and then we had another date set, which was cancelled when Andy had to go to Israel for work. So, months after turning eight, Calvin was really excited for his big day.

Nicky sitting reverently in the chairs we'd set up. He thought it was so great, that he forced Autumn and his bear to sit with him.

I forgot to take pictures of the rest of the house. We kept it simple but had fresh flowers and a gold eight and pictures of Calvin set up. 

Our family before the service started:

Andy and Calvin, ready for their big day!

One of my favorite things about today was that for her brother, Autumn asked if she could sing a solo. Calvin also wanted his cousins to sing, so we did a group song, with Autumn doing a solo at the beginning and end. It turned out so great. Autumn was so loud and brave, and I wish I had a recording of her doing her amazing solo. Here they are practicing before the baptism started:

Grandma and I gave talks, and the service was short and sweet. Calvin wanted to keep it small, so he handpicked his favorite people. We were so grateful they would spend the day with us.

After the service, all but a few of them came over for refreshments. It was a beautiful day, so the kids played in the backyard, we had delicious treats, and the grownups enjoyed chatting.

It was the perfect day.

And then we had part 2.

Almost a year ago, tickets went on sale for Disney's Frozen on Ice. I thought it would be fun, so I bought tickets, thinking I would give them to the kids for Christmas. I forgot. I would have forgotten about the whole thing completely if I hadn't put it into my calendar.  So after a long morning, we drove to Salt Lake and settled in for the show.

Before it even started, the kids had talked their dad into popcorn, pretzels and cotton candy. At halftime, they got snow cones, ice cream, and another pretzel. Basically all they wanted to do was eat and buy things.

Calvin was bored before it started. About ten minutes in, he was asking to go home.

The problem with the show was that it was the movie rehashed on ice. It would've been fun if they'd used the characters to do a spinoff or something, but it was the exact same story line. Not to mention the 30 minute long intermission in the middle so people could buy more stuff. 

Autumn was the only one who liked it. She was happy and loved it, so that makes it worth it. She's looking adorable in her Olaf hat.

The beginning was promising when a bunch of random Disney characters danced and sang.

And then Frozen live went on and on. It felt longer than the movie.

Then the reprisal. 

Then we made the long drive home. That was our first (and hopefully last) experience with Disney on Ice, but it was mostly fun to spend time together.

Autumn made me this when we got home. It's her own concoction of fresh squeezed orange juice and carrot chunks. It was sweet of her, but it reminded me of what my gallstones looked like. 

It was a fun, family filled day. I'm proud of Calvin. I love the kiddos, and I'm so grateful to be their mama. Days like today are too few and far between.

Hat Thursday

Today's Dr. Seuss celebration involved hats!

Here's Autumn:

Every few weeks I help out in Autumn's classroom, and I was at the school today, so I got to snap a picture of both of the kiddos together. 

Calvin was trying to be Freddy Fazbear:

He was disappointed. People kept calling him Abraham Lincoln.

And, Nicky's current collection is this colorful variety of woodland creatures:

Wacky Wednesday

This week at school the kids are doing weird dress-up things for each day to celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday.

Monday was crazy socks. Tuesday was wear green. Today was Wacky Wednesday. This is what Autumn came up with!

She's most excited about her shirt being inside out and backward! Happy Wednesday, wacky girl!

Gymnastics, Sunsets, and Writing Group

Autumn wanted some pictures today at gymnastics, so here she is balancing before class:

 Practicing cartwheels:

 (she's the cute little green dot!)

Andy and the boys met us at Chick-fil-a, so the kids could climb around in the play area for a bit while Andy and I tried to have adult conversations (nothing steamy, just literally trying to be two adults talking without constant interruptions.) 

And on the way home, we saw the most amazing sunset, so we stopped to enjoy it for a few minutes.

My favorite new thing is our "Writing Group." I'm working on a book app with a developer, and it's content I've never written before, so Calvin was helping me with the plot. He said, "we should have our own writing group!" So we got together, wrote for two five-minute bursts, read a chapter in a book about writing for kids, and then shared our stories. It was so much fun! I love the imaginations these two have!

Calvin: A Lego's Life and Time Eyes (one eye sees the past, one eye sees the future)
Autumn: PB&J Eating Ghost and The Disabled, Out of Control Robot

Brilliant, right? I hope it's something we keep up with, because we all loved it, and it was a fun new way to interact.

Fish Baby and Matchbox Cars

He'd rather be in the tub than anywhere else. He'll stay there for hours, until the water is frigid and his skin has turned to prunes. If Autumn or Calvin try to get in with him, he screeches like a banshee until they get out. He needs his space. He needs his water. He's our little fish baby.

The collection of the week is the matchbox cars. They are in a giant Ziploc baggie that must go everywhere--to bed, in the tub, in the car. He won't let us leave the house without them. And if he's in the car and they spill, they need to all be picked up and repackaged before he will exit the car. He's a particular one, this little guy!