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.