Andi's Baptism

 Andi was baptized on Feb. 5.   We had a good turnout for her baptism.    We missed my parents but we were glad that they got to zoom in and watch.   We are so proud of this girl.  

Stephanie made a doughnut tower for her luncheon to go with the pizzas, salads, fruit, and cookies.  Jennifer was a big help getting the luncheon all together. 

Emme came to support Andi.  We were so glad she could come.

Some of Andi's Cousins:  Smantha, Samuel, and Joshua (Bryan's Kids). Toby, Hazel and Aspen (Nate's Kids). Andrew and Amanda (Kristi's Kids). 

Krissa and Charlie came too.  Charlie is Andi's friend.

Mrs. Nelson (first-grade teacher) and Mrs. Kloppel (her second-grade teacher) came to her baptism. 

The day started out with this beautiful sunrise.  

18 Packages of Reese's Peanut Buttercups

Devin went to a friend's birthday party.  He wanted to give his friend a giant box of candy.  We found one in the Valentine section.  It had 18 packages of Reese's peanut butter cups in it.   The box had 18 ways to show love on the back.  We taped over them with duct tape because it was weird to have that written on the back for a gift he was giving his friend at a birthday party.  But they were so funny.  We laughed out loud.   

1. Spell out I love you with Reese's Cups

2. Cut each Reese's cup into a heart and eat the leftovers for yourself

3. Give someone this box

4. Forget rose petals, cover the bed in Reese Peanut butter cups

5. A Romantic candlelight dinner of Reese Peanut Butter Cups

6. Give them your last Reese Cup

7.  Fashion and Engagement ring of Reese's Peanut butter cup

8. Write a poem about comparing them to the taste of Reese's Peanut buttercup.

9. Deliver a dozen Reese's Peanut Buttercup to someone and keep the last six for yourself.

10.  Draw little hearts on each Reese's Peanut buttercup with frosting

11.  Share this box with the person who gave it to you

12. Dress up like Reese's Peanut buttercup and deliver a Reese's Gram

13.  Don't steal any of Reese's Peanut buttercups from this box

14. Share a moonlight Reese's Moment

15. Dress up like Cupid and gently toss Reese's Peanut buttercups

16. Write a love song...and don't tell them it's about your love of Reese's Peanut cups

17. Deliver this box on horseback

18. Show yourself some love and don't share any. 

 

Temple Trip

 We went to the temple on Friday night at 9 pm to go and do baptism for Pappy.  It was such a neat experience to do work for someone that I knew, that I love.  It made me teary-eyed thinking about him, about how much I miss him and how I hope he chooses to accept the ordinances that we did on his behalf.  The spirit was really strong for me that day.   I think this was a good experience for the boys as well.  

Andi's Art Work for Art Week at School.

 

Andi's Art Work from school.  She drew a unicorn and then she wrote this poem.   I think she did a really good job. 

Pretending

 Andi found a pirate ship that used to be Garrett's.  He let her play with it.  She had the best time pretending that the seashells were fish, and the marble was the treasure and her unicorns were the crewmates.  She didn't know I was taking this picture.   I love her creativity and imagination.  It makes me happy that she still likes to do this. 

Devin is 14

Devin turned 14 today.   He is such a great kid.  He is helpful, thoughtful, smart, funny, and he is now taller than both me and Jeremy.  He did a friend party,  He got 3 desserts for his birthday.  He got oreo dessert for his friend party.   Cheesecake to eat with his family.  And when we took him out to Red Robin he got a free piece of Ice Creak Cake that was huge.   Andi loves celebrating birthdays with everyone.

Turning 18

 We have been celebrating Garrett this weekend for his 18th birthday. We took him to Rodizo on Friday night  and enjoyed a Brazilian Feast.

Then on Saturday, to celebrate on his actual birthday he wanted to go and make Candy at Just Add Chocolate.

Then we came home and opened his pressents.  He got some games, a wallet, and some gift cards.  And Grandma Doolittle sent him new headphones since his other ones broke. 

Then for dinner I made pork chops and rolls.  Then he had a mint ice cream cake.   

So hard to believe that he is 18.   He is a senior in highschool .  He works a job. Plus he will be starting MTECH next week.  We are very proud of him.   We know he will achieve great things.

So Many Tender Mercies

Garrett was in a car accident on Tuesday.  He was going to work and his diabetic alarm went off and he looked at his pump to see what the alarm was.  When he did he swerved and ended up running into a tree.  The air bags deployed.  The car is smashed and looks pretty bad, but Garrett walked away with just several bruises and scrapes and he is stiff and sore.  It truly is a miracle that he was not badly injured or he was not killed and that no one else was involved in the accident.    

It was a tender mercy that the car had airbags.

It was a tender mercy that our neighbors were nearby and could help him.

It was a tender mercy that Jeremy could get there was quickly.

It was a tender mercy that we have full coverage on this car, even when we had discussed taking off the full coverage and changing it to liability.

It was a tender mercy that he was not hurt.  

It was a tender mercy how many people reached out to us to make sure he was ok.

These are the phone calls that make this mama's heart hurt.  

8 is Great

Andi turned 8.  On Friday we celebrated with her by opening up presents from us and siblings, and Grandma Doolittle.  She got some fun things but I think she really loved the bag she got to color from Grandma and Grandpa Doolittle.  And she was super excited about the fish tank. 

The next day we celebrated with her friends.  I made her butterfly cakes because we were taking her and 5 little friends to the Butterfly biosphere at Thanksgiving point. 

I got all the girls butterfly wings, and a butterfly headband and a butterfly wand.  They wore it to the butterfly biosphere. 

The girls liked the chance of holding the butterflies. 

It was a great way to celebrate with Andrea.