Beautiful Day for a Baptism

Emily turned 8 on Thursday and was lucky enough to be baptized  2 days later.  The day was gorgeous just like Emily who wore the special white dress Pauline made for her.  

Emily requested this photo be taken.  I hope she always emulates the Savior just like this picture

Max gave Emily the sweetest note.  Ever since Max was baptized they've been talking about what it would be like for Emily to be baptized.  In the dressing room right after the baptism Emily,who was all smiles, said "Max was right that was fun"

The bright side

In our house we like this book "It Could have Been Worse."  It's basically about a mouse who is on his journey home and runs into a series of mishaps, getting bruised, soaked and covered in prickles.  What he doesn't realize is all of his mishaps saved him from predators that were after him.    One time when Bart was going through a hard time he said "I keep thinking about how it's like that book "It could be worse".  

Well I had one of those weeks last week.  

1.  I dyed my hair back to blonde and in the process it's progressively gone a weird shade of orange.  It's a good think I have brutally honest sisters who tell me how bad it looks and a niece Bentley who said "Collette did you dye your hair blondish orange".  Apparently that happens sometimes but it could have been worse, it's fixable and all of my hair could have fallen out.

2.  Jane being the wonderful daughter dusted my steps.  In the process she used a little too much wood polish which dripped on the the floors and caused my wood floors to turn into an ice skating rink.  I discovered this as I took a hard fall.  My bum was a little bruised for a few days but what was more devastating was my phone took the fall with me and cracked the screen pretty bad.   It could have been worse my phone still works, although visibility is poor, and there were no trips to the hospital.

3.  While I was putting my keys in my purse my key to the Pilot snapped in half.    Yeah for the replacement being over a hundred dollars.  It could have been worse because luckily I was driving the civic at the time and wasn't stranded at the SLP staff meeting.

4.  I got deathly ill on the drive home from that same staff meeting.  As soon as I got home I spend a lot of time "praying to the porcelain god".   I was so blessed that Bart arrived home a couple hours later and took over chasing our 18 month old terrorizer around.    As I was lying in bed with my stomach turning I ironically felt this overwhelming sense of gratitude.  First that it could have been worse and it was Monday morning and I'd be home by myself still having to chase Aaron around.  Second that it could have been worse and  it would have struck the next weekend and would have put a damper on Emily's baptism.  Lastly I knew it would go away in a day or two and it could have been worse and I was pregnant feeling this way for the next 4 months.  

Anyone for a Chocolate Kiss?

Forget lipstick.  Jane prefers left over chocolate icing for her fashion statement. 

Date with my Emily to the Conference Center

Nona was in charge of her stake's dinner social that they held right before the General Women's meeting for the church.   Since the age was expanded to 8 and up, She invited Emily and I to go (shh.. don't tell that Emily is still only 7 for a couple more weeks).   Emily was so excited that Nona invited her to a party.  She got even more excited when I told her we would ride Trax up to downtown.   It was so wonderful to get to spend a few hours giving my full attention to Emily.  Emily taught me a finger game on the train ride up that was totally new to me and which Emily smoked me every time.  We then hurried over to Nona's stake center that was right behind the conference center and had a lovely dinner.  Emily was wide eyed that the dessert table that had the biggest variety of treats she had ever seen.  As we were eating dinner I had this thought that since we were so close to the Conference Center we should go stand in the standby line and see if we could get in.   We hurried across the street and as I stopped to ask an usher where the standby line was a lady walked by and offered us 2 extra tickets that she had.  We gladly accepted and shuffled in.  Emily was amazed at the awesomeness of the building.  She stood in awe at the big wall size painting of Christ in America.


It was a very special moment when the 1st speaker had all the 8-10 year olds stand and sing the 1st verse of "Teach me to Walk".  Emily was all smiles and whispered "This is my favorite song".     I absolutely loved hearing so many women's voices join in and sing the 2nd verse.  After the meeting I was talking to Emily about how she felt and mentioned how I really felt the spirit when they sang that song.  Emily said "I felt it too then but then it got really boring".     I guess she is only 8 after all.

When the meeting was over we walked around temple square and worked our way into Deseret Book to pick out what type of Scripture's Emily wanted for her baptism.  We then went to Godiva's Chocolates and picked out some truffles to  share with everyone in our family, boarded the train and sped home. 

I hope the church keeps this meeting the same and we can make it a tradition that will soon include Jane. 

Grandparent's program

Emily invited her Grandparents to her Grandparents day class program.   Her Grandpa's both had other plans but her two Grandma's came.    What a special day for Emily to preform many oldies but goody songs,  put on a dance program and then spend some time in her classroom with her Grandma's. 

Emily was given this piece of paper to fill in and share during the program.  "Did you know my Grandma............  Earlier in the week Emily stayed home sick with a sore throat.  All by herself she wrote her own little talk.  It went like this "My Grandmas are the best in the whole world.  Did you know my Grandma Becky is really good at playing the piano and my Grandma Nona is really good at sewing.  Can your Grandma's do that?" 

Emily was first up in the program to share this.  After the dancing and songs I guess they took the Grandparents back into the classroom.  There the Grandparents had a chance to tell a 2nd grade memory and then share their feelings about their grandchild.   I heard that Grandma Becky shared how much she enjoys playing piano duets with Emily.  Nona shared how special it was that she watched Emily for a few years while I worked and that made them extra close.     My mom shared the memory of when she was in 2nd grade her mother use to make her puffy petticoat dresses.  One day while at recess she was on the tall metal slide and her dress got caught on the slide and she went down the slide and her skirt part of the dress came unraveled and stayed at the top.  Nona shared about how she broke her arm in 2nd grade. 

Bart, Jane and I were lucky enough to attend the dress rehearsal the previous day.  It was amazing to see all these 2nd graders know ever word of the many songs and stay right together.  Those teachers spent so much time to create such a special program that will long be remembered.

She's a good friend

The other night as we were at a local skating rink supporting Emily's school I sat on a bench with Aaron and watched Emily run into a couple of friends.   Immediately they took off together to skate.  I noticed one of the girls wasn't comfortable on skates and needed this walker thing to stay upright.  How impressed I was with Emily and her other friend Victoria.  They took this girl on the skating rink and helped her along so she could be part of the fun.  That's the kind of friend Emily is!!!  

As Emily gets ready to be baptized in a few weeks I cant' help but feel so proud of the amazing girl she has become.  Of course she's still the same "strong willed" Emily who hates to be told "No".  That same strong will also makes her a great student who is driven to succeed.  I love the big smile on her face when she comes home beaming with 100% on her spelling test or that she has passed off another rocket math sheet.  She just finished subtraction and  will start multiplication. Emily's very responsible and independent.   I think she enjoys being in charge of her life.  In the mornings she gets up on her own, dresses, packs a lunch and watches the clock and leaves at exactly 8:20 to catch the bus.  She has yet to miss the bus which helps make our mornings stress free.  When she gets home she often gets right on completing her "things" so she can have her privileges.  These involve her homework, reading and piano.     I'm also so impressed with what a kind family member she is.  She's the first to share any treat she has and is so great to always include Jane in her play.  She continues to adore Aaron, even when he sneaks into her treat stash or destroys her things.  The other day Aaron ripped one of her precious drawings.  I saw her instant frustration and anger and expected her to lay into Aaron but instead of acting on it she took a breath and simply said "Oh well it's just a paper."    Yesterday while we were at the store she said  "I really want to give daddy his favorite treat for April Fools Day".  She took her own hard earned money and while we were running errands she found a big box of milk duds bought it and wrapped it up to give her to her dad in a week.  That's how thoughtful Emily is! 

How lucky I am to be Emily's mom.  I can't wait to see what great things await her!!!

Always Cleaning Never Clean

Yes this is another post of Aaron making a mess.   I would like it on the record that this one was on Bart's watch while I was in the shower getting ready for church.  

 I love bottles that twist open and have lots of stuff to pour out

Oh...... Hi dad  (busted)

Doesn't this look like fun!!!