Will's Baptism Day

Will had been waiting patiently for his baptism day. We had postponed it from November when my Grandma Miller had started to really decline. He had been looking forward to this day, and we had spent a lot of time at home talking about baptism and the covenants we make with our Heavenly Father. Will had some very special people come to his baptism, and some of them traveled pretty far just to be there. His Great Grandma Mary Hitchcock, Two of his Great Aunts, Terry and his cousin Mariah, and Great Aunt Marsha and Uncle Mike. His Aunt Julee and Uncle Dan drove all the way from VA to be there, and they brought two of his favorite cousin friends Ceseley and Natalie.

 A couple weeks before his special day, Will decided who he would like to speak and what music he would like to sing. I made a program in photoshop (I had never done that before, big learning curve for me!) and he approved it. :) He also asked me to make a few of his favorite cookies to share with everyone for after the baptism, devils food cookies, lemon chunk, and chocolate chip. 

It was a simple and beautiful service. Will's feet popped up and he had to be immersed twice--something he had said he hoped wouldn't happen. His Nonna spoke on why it's important to be baptized and that when are we are promising to do our best to be like Jesus and help others. And his Pa talked about how it feels when the Holy Ghost talks to us and how we can recognize those good feelings and warnings and know who those promptings are coming from. When the Primary President gave Will a chocolate bar with a red pencil scripture marking pencil. She asked if he knew why we marked our scriptures. Jack raised his hand and he said, "So you know which ones you've read, and you never read them again."  It was pretty cute and funny. 

 We are so proud of him and the good young boy that he is. I know the Lord is proud of him too. Will is very caring and wants everyone to be happy and safe. He is almost always smiling and he really does try very hard to do his best and make good choices. Love him to pieces!

 Love these two best of friends

Brothers

This one just makes me smile. I love how Will is holding Sam's face to look at the camera.

Been having the weirdest cravings lately...

I put this photo on Facebook to announce the nearing arrival of a new little sweetheart due March 27th. I'm 14 weeks today.  I've been sick and moody, and sick and moody, and sick and moody. My poor family.  I have thrown up more with this baby than any of the others. My record for throwing up in one day is 6 times. Usually I just feel horrible all day. I was happy that at least with this baby I would have good days mixed in with the bad. That helped to make it no so miserable. Finally outta the first trimester for the last time. Feels GREAT!

Preschool Grad

Jack graduated from preschool last night.

He had told me he was nervous when they first began practicing for graduation about having to be on the stage, but after a few practices, he decided he could do it, and that was that. The night of the graduation, he said the prayer before dinner. In his prayer he asked Heavenly Father to help him not be nervous and do a good job. It was sweet.

On the way to graduation something happened. MENTAL BREAKDOWN.

He informed us he would not get on the stage, and that he would be sitting with us. We did our best to alleviate his nerves, but nothing worked.

You see, when Jack decides he can't or won't do something, there is nothing you can do. There is not a thing in the world you can say, nor any amount of money you can offer--Nonna said she wasn't going higher than $20-- no delicious reward you offer for indulging in afterward that will change his mind. He is his own person.

When we arrived I took him inside hoping I could still sway him. With the rest of his friends getting their robes on, Jack refused to dress. I pleaded. He stayed firm. Back and forth, back and forth. Sigh. We went to find a seat to watch. Nonna and Pa both did their best to try and get him to change his mind, but it didn't work.

Mrs. Anne, the preschool director, came and asked Jack if he would be willing to just walk across the stage when they called his name. He wouldn't have to sing or even put on the gown or cap if he didn't want to. He willingly agreed like this was no big deal at all, and went back with his class.

He did not sing. He did put on a robe. He did not wear the cap. He did come up when they called his name. And he wants to be an Astronaut when he grows up.

Little Guy, I'm pretty sure you're going to do big things.

Final 3 Days

Our last few days in Scotland we did more relaxing, a little hiking, a little picnicking, the fanciest dinner I've ever had,  a lot of driving, and we visited Edinburgh. Unfortunately, I didn't take many pictures from this point on unless it was with my Iphone, and even of those I have very few. It was a very beautiful area (of course!), and mostly because of a fear of not being able to capture the beauty, and, if I am being honest, the fear of having to edit/organize all the photos!

June 17th

We went to visit Stirling Castle where William Wallace overtook a much larger English force. We walked around the old city, and toured some old churches, jails, and a very large graveyard. On our way back we saw a sign to pick strawberries, and bought some sandwiches from their bakery and headed back towards our hotel with the hopes of finding a place to picnic...so easy to do in Scotland. After we ate we explored around the Loch. Then we drove back to Balquhidder and stopped by Rob Roy's grave and walked around the church there and found a waterfall not too far off.

I didn't take this, I wish! But this is the castle with the city just below it and that is the William Wallace Monument. 

June 18th

We went on a few hikes on our final day around the area where we were staying. and then drove a little ways to Callander and walked to Bracklinn Falls.  It was a really pretty town that had a very hometown feel to it.

June 19th

We drove to Glasgow and found our hotel. We then walked to the train station to get a ride into Edinburgh. We were so tired by this point that I didn't have the energy to do much, plus we felt the time crunch to get back to Glasgow. We walked along the Royal Mile then up to the castle. It was pretty incredible to see this entire city built out of granite.  There was a man dressed up as William Wallace doing a bit that we watched that was very entertaining, and some rock band that included bag pipes.The thing I mainly remember about being there, was just all the different cultures and languages we heard. I love stuff like that, and I love people watching...I just hope no one is ever watching me! As we were trying to find our way back to the train station, we walked down a large stairway and each step was a different shade of granite, unpolished of course, but really beautiful. We finally found the station hoped on our train and then walked back to our hotel for the night. As we were walking back, we happened to walk right in front of one of our church buildings there! Made me wish we were staying through Sunday!

Loved, loved, LOVED our time there! Of course it would take a lifetime to explore all the beauty there is in Scotland. I was amazed by all the water. Every where you looked there was a loch, or a waterfall, or a stream. And If you didn't happen to see water, if you went around a bend in the road or over a hill you would. So incredibly stunning. This world is an incredibly beautiful place! Thanks to Patrick for the surprise and trip of a lifetime. He knows in order to get me there he'd need to surprise me. XOXOXO

But nothing beats coming home to a house full of boys!

Kindergarten Graduate

Can't believe my little Will has graduated Kindergarten. Such a sweet sweet moment. He has overcome so much in his short little life. I'm so proud to get to witness his accomplishments, and watch him as he struggles and thrives. He has taught and continues to teach me so much about life and myself. He is a book reading fool! and loves making new friends. I can't wait to see him continue to grow and learn. So proud of you Will!

Selling the House

Early in February we became interested in a piece of land in the Rockvale area. Patrick had been looking for about a year and finally found something that we thought we'd like. We signed a contract and started preparing to build a house--something I never ever said I would do. We started making preparations to get our house on the market. We listed it on the housing market today. Bitter sweet day. There have a been a lot of memories, good and bad, made here. Excited for the next step but grateful for the lessons learned and memories forged here. We will really miss this quite cul-de-sac with some of the best neighbors and good people I've had the privilege of meeting.

New Adventure

 

We signed a contract in February on some land in the area. We feel really lucky to have found it since we had been looking for about a year. We absolutely fell in love with it. And each time we go visit, we love it just a little bit more.  We will start the building process soon and the sad and tedious process of getting the house we are in now ready to sell. We are excited and a little sad at the same time. We weren't looking to move so quickly, but it is a much better deal if we go ahead and build instead of waiting. We are going to miss our neighbors and our little house on the cul-de-sac.