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!

Thanksgiving 2012

Our second big trip with our new van was down to Dallas to see Rick's parents and family for Thanksgiving.  Aundrea and Andrew as well as Rob came down so everyone was there but Dave, who is deployed.  We were able to skype him Thanksgiving Day and were so glad Aundrea and Andrew came.  Tracy flew up to help me and the kids drive down early.  We were there for a week.  The kids loved playing with Emily and cousin Andrew.  

Here is Rachel and Aaron playing with "Big Andrew" just to distinguish the two Andrews.

Here is Aundrea and I on Thanksgiving partaking in all the food we didn't have to make!

Here is Uncle Matt with Anson, Andrew and our cousin Ava at Thanksgiving dinner.  He was kind enough to share his room and bathroom with so many of us that week.

 We were so glad with Rick caught up with us on Wednesday so he could help wrestle the troops.

 

  Rachel was so glad to have some snuggle time with her Uncle Rob.  He's going to make a great daddy some day but in the mean time he's a great Uncle.

 We even snuck in a trip down to Houston to see Ashley's family before Rick got there.  

 We loved seeing Ashley in her home.  We are due on the same day but couldn't be more different in size.  Hmmm...who is going to go first!

It was a great road trip and we had a lot of fun with Grandma and Grandpa DeMille, Nana, Emily, Matt, 7 dogs all those who joined us for Thanksgiving dinner.  Grandma and Grandpa really wanted a grandkid photo for their Christmas cards but we had some non-cooperators.  Maybe next time!  Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Brinks, Hofer, Gilson, and Lione Homecoming

So before the great recession started Rick's work would hold a Prom every other year and invite all the attorneys and their spouses/dates to a formal event in Chicago.  We went to one of these when I was 7 months pregnant with Rachel.  It was hard to find a dress to fit then.  This year they again had an even that found me prego looking for a semi formal event.  The thing is Rick is a lawyer and so is everyone he works with.  This makes a semi-formal event FORMAL.  I looked everywhere for a dress but most stores have put their pregnancy section online.  You can't see them or try them on.  And because I knew I'd probably only wear this dress once I didn't want to spend a lot of money on it.  So after looking every where I found one online.  Mom helped me look for a dress and drape.  I ended up getting my hair and makeup done professionally as well.  I felt all dolled and pampered when we left. 

We decided to spend the night in Chicago so we didn't have to drive home late.  Diane and Dennis spent the night with the kids while we were gone.  So as in true tradition for me the commute took us 2 1/2 hours to get into Chicago and to the hotel.  We quickly checked in hurried over to the event.  We made it to the last few minutes of cocktails and then we went to dinner.  The tables were arranged for us to sit at certain ones.  We found our places and sat when I noticed an older couple sit right next to us.  Older couple in lawyer term means more seniority.  These people look like they could have retired a long time ago so very senior.  When they started they acknowledge Gerry Gilson for helping sponsor the event.  Guess who was right next to me, Gerry Gilson and his wife, Jamie!  It was a little overwhelming to be next to such an important person.  His wife is also an author of some 20+ kids books.  We had a lovely evening with them.  It was a great night out, a little scarey but it was nice to get to know the people Rick spends so much time with. 

Halloween 2012

We had another great Halloween this year.  Grandma Somers made the big boys' costumes this year, which made them doubly special.  

Anson is a green ninja, from Ninjago a lego series.

 

Aaron is a knight.

 I convinced Rachel to reuse her adorable ladybug costume from the dance concert this year.

 Andrew was superman.  Although if you asked him that night he told you Batman.  We're still working on that.  Pretty adorable face though, huh!

  I love that Rick takes the kids trick or treating and I get to stay home by myself and hand out candy.  It works great for everyone!  Happy Halloween!!

Family Day 2012

Family day sneaked up on my this year.  Every year we celebrate the day we were sealed to Anson.  We adopted him at birth and consider him to have always been in our family but we want to celebrate him and his unique part in our family.  So every year we try to do something as a family.  With the prego hormones running wild this fall we caught it just in time.  We celebrate on October 8th but this year that was a Sunday so we celebrated more October 9th, which this year was Columbus Day and the kids had off school.  Grandma Somers and I took the kids to Konow's Corn Maze and we did everything but the maze.  The kids had a blast!  

 All 4 kids at the water pumps racing their ducks down the gutter.

 Anson and Aaron climbing in the huge hay stacks.

 Andrew and I on a cow train.

 The corn silo was the biggest hit.  Here is Rachel running in the corn.

 Anson loved to swim and get buried in the corn.

 Andrew wasn't sure about the corn but once he got adjusted he was all in!

 

After a fun day we invited our special guest, Grandpa Allred to join us for our family celebration.  Grandpa sealed Anson to our family 7 years ago in the Chicago, IL LDS Temple.  We believe families can be together forever and it was a real treat to be able to celebrate family day to the person who made this possible for our family.  After dinner we joined Rick in playing a few games as a family.  We are so happy to be a family and are so grateful for temples to make our family together forever.