Anson's 8th birthday and baptism

Yesterday was such a wonderful day I couldn't wait to get the pictures up and blog about it.  Anson turned 8 and in our church that is the age we believe God considers them old enough to make their own decisions about being baptized and knowing the difference between right and wrong.  Anson was so excited about getting baptized.  He had an interview with our Bishop a couple weeks before and could not sit still the whole time.  He came right home and made this adorable lego setting of him and Rick in the baptismal font with people watching .

As the day approached he became more and more excited.  He got us up before 7 to get going on presents and festivities.  (Originally his plan included sleeping in.)  We gave him some lazer tag guns, a DS3 game and a book.  I think we'll need to invest in more lazer tag guns, they were a hit for all the boys in our home!

The baptism was yesterday as well at 4 pm.  Here he is with Rick before being baptized in their whites.  

Here is our family at the baptism.

Anson has a wonderful 2nd grade teacher this year, Michelle Kubiak.  We had invited her and she had called earlier that day to let us know she had a conflict and would not be able to come.  She miraculously made it and we were so glad to have her.  Anson lit up when he saw she made it.

We had Grandma and Grandpa Somers, Grandma and Grandpa Blackham as well as Rick's cousin Larry, Amy and their kids Lucy, Jane and Annie at the baptism.  We all went to Culvers after the baptism so Anson could get shrimp for dinner.

Grandma Blackham is our family historian currently.  She made Anson a beautiful binder of his family history including pictures of several generations. 

Grandma and Grandpa Somers just got back from Peru the day before Anson's birthday.  They brought him a YELLOW jacket.  He LOVED it; his favorite color has always been yellow.

Anson wanted a chocolate cake with mint frosting.  We were not quite sure how mint frosting would go over so we split it and had half chocolate frosting half mint.  It was yummy!  Anson had gone out to find a new tie for his baptism.  It was tough finding one to fit him, but not look babyish.  This one had yellow so win all the way around.

We had a wonderful turn out at the baptism.  Anson was the only one being baptized and yet we packed the room of friends, family, and teachers.  We love Anson so much.  He came to our family through inspiration and has truly blessed our lives.  He is a great big brother and is full of so many wonderful qualities.  I couldn't be more excited and proud of him for being baptized.

Christmas 2012

Merry Christmas to all!  The Christmas season is the best time of year to have kids.  Everything is wonderful and magical and it is so much fun to see their reactions to everything.  We had several events in the month of December that were fun and new.  

Our neighborhood and school friends, the Conoboys always invite us to go to their Christmas party.  We were finally able to although Rick had to leave early to get to a church baptism.  Santa visited and gave presents to the kids.

Here we are with Santa.  Even Andrew got into it and overcame his stranger danger fear and accepted his present from Santa.

As part of Rachel's birthday present Grandma Blackham took Rachel and I to the Nutcracker in Naperville.  Rachel loved it and it was fun to have a girl time.

Every year Grandma Somers makes some kind of Gingerbread creation with us.  This year we made two so one could go with Grandma and cousin Andrew back to her home.

Rachel also had her Preschool Christmas concert.  It was adorable but not many
pictures turned out well.

Christmas morning was great.  The kids still let us sleep in on non school days.  We finally woke up at 7:45 and asked them if they were ready to see if Santa had come.  Luckily he had come!

Andrew got a Captain America shield, which is hysterical to see him work it.

 He also got a bat cave and yes a few more cars.

Rachel's favorite party of Christmas is getting and giving hugs to everyone who gives her a present or she gives a present to.  That doesn't happen often in a family of boys!

Anson and Aaron got DS3s and a few games.  They were thrilled and were able to bring them on our road trip after Christmas.

I love Anson's face as he opens his gifts.

After a morning of opening presents, Grandma and Grandpa Blackham and Kristen came over.  For dinner we went to the Somers.  It was great to spend time with all of the family there.  It was great to have Aundrea, Andrew, Rob, and Laura home for the holidays.  We missed having Dave home as he is deployed right now.  It's great to be around Grandparents for the holiday to be able to spend time with all our family. 

Rachel turns 5!

Rachel turned 5 in December.  She counted down the days all year and was so excited to finally be 5.  She got to have her first friend party and was thrilled to pick a Pinkalicious party.   She loves the books and LOVES pink.  We opened a few presents on her birthday.

Grandma Somers made Rachel a beautiful pink, purple and beautiful blue quilt.

 We gave Rachel a new Leap Pad.  She loves reading ebooks and playing games on it.  

She was sick the day we were suppose to have her party so we were so glad all of the girls could com the following weekend, December 28th for our Pinkalicious party.

 Of course we had to read the "Pinkalicious" book to begin our party.  We had Ali Laub, Maddie and Catie Zafir, Lana Carlisle, and Lily Gliske at her party.

We played Pink, pink, pink, purple (Duck, duck, duck goose) to get our tiaras and wands.

We had a Pinkalicious pinata.

Aunt Aundrea helped us out with a Dance Freeze party.

We decorated our cupcakes and ate them after our lunch of pizza, grapes and pickles (all from her book-the girl turns pink from eating too many pink cupcakes and has to eat non-pink food to get better).

Here the girls are enjoying their cupcakes!

 It was a cute party.  We love our Rachel; she is growing up so fast.  She fills our home with joy as one of God's happiest spirits.  Happy birthday sweetheart!