Road Trip- Day 3 Sunday

We woke up to a glorious, HUGE breakfast that Dane made while we were all still sleeping. This guy is awesome.

Next, sacrament meeting with the families.

And, no, I probably shouldn’t be taking pictures during the prayer. But tell me this little guys isn’t the cutest thing you’ve ever seen.

I couldn’t help myself.

Dane taught the Gospel Doctrine class…

and even had the missionaries help.

He is such a good teacher…and SO handsome!

Afterwards the kids came back from their classes and we got ready to go home.

The ladies made us another lovely feast.

Merrick chose to postpone his “birthday” cake until we came to visit, so we gave him our presents too and had a mini birthday party for him.

Then we headed back to church for the whole reason that we came to Arkansas…

Merrick turned eight…

and today was his baptism day!!

So proud of this sweet boy and his family.

Josh did the tech stuff so the folks back home could tune in.

April and Lily…

were in charge of the music.

The Bishop spoke.

I spoke too, but there is no physical evidence. Thank goodness.

What a wonderful day. Congratulations Merrick!

I sure do love these people.

 

Warrior Birthday Party

Jillian tried something new this year for her boy’s birthday. It was a family or group or company that puts on warrior parties. They are called Battle Birthdays.

They supply all the foam “swords” and shields and whatever else is needed for a bunch of battle games.

Now, you know perfectly well that all the people with any smarts about them stayed perfectly “put” undercover in the pavilion. No swinging swords and crazed warriors running around us.

Nope.

I will say though that it was fun to see all the enthusiastic engagement from the ummmmm….

grown men. 

Apparently, this was their kind of kids party!

In fact, I almost lost track of the kids completely because it was so much fun watching the big guys.

I think we need to find out if these guys do more than just children’s parties. If they do…we should definitely book them a few more times…

if you get my drift.

Check out this adorable cake that Jillian made with the little sour patch warriors on the top!! She is soooo good at making whatever cake the kids want. It’s amazing.

Happy Birthday boy!

We sure love you.

Grammy

 

 

Battle Birthdays on Facebook

A Piece of My Heart Garland

For Daney-boy’s birthday this year, I made him this Valentine’s garland for his mantle.

I know what you’re thinking…

“Why would a big burly dude like Dane want a froofy Valentine heart garland?”

Well, I’ll tell you.

See, this particular big, burly dude happens to lovvvve decorating for the holidays…


any holidays.

In fact, I’m sure, right this minute, he’s trying to figure out what I can crochet for Groundhog’s day or Harry Potter’s birthday or…or…or…

You get the point.

And you know what?

I’d probably do it too.

Because I have a special place in my heart for my sweet kids who all seem to adore making life a little more fun and having something magical to look forward to.

What I really hope is that they come by it…

naturally.

 

 

Note: The pattern I used is the Frilly Heart Coaster by Hygge Crochet Co.

My Pretty Puzzles

In that funny space between Christmas and New Year’s–I decided to pour out a pretty little puzzle.

There is something so soothing about turning all the pieces over, then setting them in little piles according to their shape.

Yeah, I’m one of those puzzle people who takes a few hours to organize all the pieces so that the whole experience is…you know…more orderly.

I believe the puzzle ultimately goes together much, much faster this way because it’s not so chaotic.

In fact, this happy little puzzle was probably two thirds finished when one night I woke to the sound of something very much like pebbles pouring onto the floor.

I flipped on the light and saw that old Hobbes had jumped on one end of my puzzle board and tipped it off the side of the little table it was on and just more than half of my sweet puzzle was on the floor in a broken up pile.

*sob*

The next morning, my sweet Rhenny boy helped me put it all back together and we even kept at it till it was finished! Wahoo!!

What shall I do with all this spare time? Laundry? Dishes? Take down the Christmas stuff?

Apparently not.

Heh, heh.

 

End of Summer Bake Sale

Little Miss Chomp wanted to hold an end of Summer Bake Sale. Well, in truth, she would have preferred it to be a BEGINNING of Summer Bake Sale, but it was put off–as these things often are–until there was simply no summer left.

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But she wouldn’t be deterred–the brave soul. She persevered and at last, at last, the day came.  Her mom and dad made goodies for her to sell and she even used her sweet little cash register.

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It was truly a hit. In fact, after seeing her “haul” I had to wonder if I’m in the wrong business.

Haa.