Adam's Super Date

Tammy and I like to take each of the kids out on "dates" a couple of times each year.  It allows for some fun one-on-one time and we all really enjoy them.  Every few years we try to do something extra special that we call a "super date".  Last month, I got to take Adam on a "super date" to Utah.

The first day we spent in Provo at BYU.  It was fun for me to show Adam around all the places I used to hang around during college.  It was also fun for me to see everything new about campus ... a lot has changed in the 14 years since I was there.  Being a sports nut, Adam was especially interested in the sports facilities.  Here he is at the soccer field.

Here's Adam in front of the Maeser building (the first building on campus where the original Brigham Young Academy was started).

Since I was a computer science major, I had to take him to the Talmage building computer labs where I had spent much of my college life.  I was surprised to find a giant Kung Fu Panda in the lobby.  BYU has one of the leading computer animation centers in the world and I guess the guy that created Kung Fu Panda was a BYU grad, so he donated this statue.

After a fun day on campus, we met up with Tammy's grandparents and aunt and headed to the BYU versus Utah State game.  It turned out to be a defensive game with not a lot of points, but in the end BYU won so we came away happy.

Saturday and Sunday was our church's general conference. Tammy's grandpa managed to get us tickets to two different sessions - the Saturday evening Priesthood session and the Sunday morning general session.  Here is Adam with his great-grandpa outside of the conference center Saturday evening.

Adam and I enjoying the evening together.

When we arrived Sunday morning, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir was practicing and warming up for "Music and the Spoken Word".  One of the best parts of being there in person is to hear the choir (especially for Adam because of his great love of music).  It was fantastic (and the speakers were great too of course!).

 Heading out of the conference center, we got this great shot of the Salt Lake temple.

Here's Adam practicing for the future!

Sunday afternoon, all of Tammy's extended family gathered for a meal and game night.  We had a fantastic time and it was fun to see everyone again.

On Monday, we had planned to head up to go hiking in the mountains, but Adam decided he'd rather spend
the day with Grandma and Grandpa, so we stayed at their house and played a rousing game of ethnic rummy (during which I had a amazing come-from-behind victory).  Grandma & Grandpa were great hosts for us all weekend.

The whole weekend was a fun and memorable time.  I appreciated the time I could spend with my boy whose growing up much too quickly (can you believe he'll be 14 in February!).  I'm proud of who he is and the way that he lives his life.  He's a great example for his little sisters and brothers and really helps shape our family for the better.

Ben's Baptism

One of the special things about turning 8 in our church is that you get to be baptized.  We do not baptize children until they are eight because we do not believe they are accountable until that time.  We believe the atonement saves all children who die before they are 8 years old.  That is a beautiful thing to me.  Our wonderful Ben chose to be baptized and make a commitment to keep the commandments and try to be like our Savior, Jesus Christ.  He also received the gift of the Holy Ghost which will help guide him throughout his life.  He was also welcomed as a member into our church.  It is an occasion to be celebrated.  
Ben was born on the same day as his cousin, Lawson so it was only natural that we celebrate the day with my brother's family.  

We asked Ben and Lawson if they wanted to get baptized together on the same day or have their own separate services.  They both wanted to do it together.  We traveled to Wisconsin so we could all be together for their special day.  Ben was baptized by Greg and Lawson was baptized by his father (my brother) Todd.  We were thankful that my grandparents could be there and also, my sister-in-law's parents, the Fromms.  We have seen them enough they seem like family, too.

The service was great.  Todd, Deanna and I sang.  They are pros so it was really fun for me to sing with them.  Then Lawson's Grandpa Fromm talked about baptism.  The boys were baptized by their dads.  Then I gave a talk on the Holy Ghost.  Then the boys were each given a special blessing and the gift of the Holy Ghost.  We enjoyed a great lunch prepared by Deanna afterwards.  The Ebberts had many friends who traveled to be there as well as many friends from church.  It was fun to sit around visiting with family and celebrate these two wonderful boys.  It's funny because Lawson and Ben are about as different as two boys can be, but they still get along well.  We are so grateful for Ben and we are so grateful for the Ebberts.  We have loved having them in Iowa for the last several years and now Wisconsin.   

My awesome sister-in-law, Deanna, made this great announcement for us to send out

We arrived at the church before anyone else so we had some time to take some pictures

The fabulous five

It is rare for Greg and I to get our picture alone together.  this is pretty close (note Jacob and penguin in the background)

Adam bribed Jacob to stay out of the picture.  We are so proud of you Ben!

Lizzy

I love this picture.  I could have cropped it, but I like that I am in the background with my kissy face too.

Having a little fun

The most wonderful family in the world

Greg and Ben dressed in their whites

Todd, Greg, Lawson, and Ben

Cousins

Ben with his Great Grandparents.  They have made it to all of children's baptisms and baby blessings.  How we love and appreciate their love and support of our family!

What a great day!

Finches and Ebberts Sunday after church

It just wouldn't be an Ebbert event if we didn't have a picture like this.  I especially love Todd's crazy face.

Time Out for Women

The weekend after Ben's birthday I had the opportunity to traveling with my dear friend Leah to St. Louis for Time Out for Women.  It has been 7 years since I have been able to go.  Leah's family lives across the river in Missouri so we spent some time there with her family.  It was really fun to see Leah "in her element".  It was quite amusing really.  It was so much fun.  There is this crazy sculpture Leah's sister, Tara, just had to show us.  This kind of sculpture just begs for a picture like this:



Next stop was this awesome football stadium at the college where Tara works.  It made national news with its maroon and gray turf.  It really was pretty amazing.  I knew Adam would be impressed, and he was.  Touchdown for me!


A quick peek of the arch as we cross the river.


Tara improved our look with a little makeup and jewelry.  She is always so generous and I am glad I have gotten to know her through Leah.  She really would do anything to help anybody.


So we went to this local Italian restaurant for dinner.  I ordered a salad for dinner.  This is what I got!  It was absolutely enormous!  I didn't even eat half of it.  Leah ordered pasta with the same result.  Totally huge plateful with no possibility of even finishing it.


At "Time Out for Women".  It was such a fantastic event.  It really filled me up.  I was so grateful it worked out to go with Leah.  We enjoyed having time to talk.


Because there was only two of us, it made it easier to find awesome seats.  On Saturday we sat right on the front row in the middle.  It was amazing!  It enabled Leah to get pictures like this one of "Mercy River".  If you ever get the chance go to "Time Out for Women"! It is really a wonderful weekend that will refresh you and charge you up to be better.  Thanks for a fun time Leah.

Ben turns 8!

Our wonderful Ben turned 8 years old!  Our children are growing up.  

Ben is such an important part of our family.  He has such a strong desire to do what is right.  I love that about him!  He is responsible and quick to do his chores.  He is so patient with Jacob and really does a lot to help Jacob.  He is really interested in learning new things.  Adam likes to tease Ben because one of the most common phrases we hear out of his mouth is "I read in a book that...."  He doesn't read a lot of fiction, but he really enjoys non-fiction.  He has thrived as Greg has taken the time to teach both Lizzy and Ben some computer programming.  Greg held class for them for several Saturday mornings.  It was something Ben really looked forward to and really did well at understanding.  I think he thinks a lot like Greg.

Ben also really enjoys playing the piano.  He really took off this summer and probably sits down to play more than any of the other kids.  He was student of the week a few weeks ago and he put on his information sheet that he wanted to be a pianist when he grows up. It makes me so happy that he loves music so much.  I used to worry that he would have a really hard time playing piano because of his hand tremors, but he hasn't had any problems with it.  In fact he is getting so good sometimes I am unsure who is playing, if it is him or one of the girls.

Ben is kind, loving and responsible.  He is pretty quiet outside of our home, but comfortable and happy as can be at home.  He really is an amazing kid.  We are so thankful to have him.

True to form, Ben enjoys being with or family so much more than playing with friends, so he wanted just our family to go to Incredible Pizza.  Eight is a very special birthday so we obliged.  We went on his actual birthday, a Tuesday night.  It was awesome.  Saturdays are packed at Incredible Pizza, but Tuesday there was hardly anyone.  We got passes so the kids could do all the rides as many times as they wanted.  It was really fun for all of us.

The kids are enjoying the bumper cars.  Even though this was not their favorite, it was still fun, especially for the younger two.  I love Adam's face in this one.  

One of the favorites for the night-- a motion simulator.  There were a few different courses it would take you through so the kids all tried to experience them all.  

More Motion Simulation

After Incredible Pizza we had a quick present opening session and then some cake and Ice Cream.  It was a late night, but a fun one!

Below are some random pictures Anna took of Ben one day while they were playing outside.  I love this boy!  Happy Birthday Ben!