Labor Day

We took a quick trip to the aquarium in Tennessee.

 

We saw every sea creature imaginable.

We caught butterflies.

Seth, with the children, in the butterfly garden.  It was absolutely gorgeous.



I think we will all be dreaming of fish tonight.

It rained and rained and rained!  Laurel and Savannah giggled the whole day under their new pink umbrella. Even I did not care that I was getting wet.  It was great to spend the day together as a family and rest from our labors.



The Calm Before The Storm

We love this boy.

Never a dull moment.

Landon went missing.  I went searching.  This is what I found. 
I said, "stay right there while I go get the camera."
He said, "otay."
Little Stinker!

When I Am Baptized

I like to look for rainbows whenever there is rain

And ponder on the beauty of an earth made clean again.

I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain. 

I want to be the best I can and live with God again.

I know when I am baptized my wrongs are washed away,

And I can be forgiven and improve myself each day.

I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain.

I want to be the best I can and live with God again.

Laurel's sweet friend, McKinley sang this song right after Laurel was baptized.

What I loved most about this day, was Laurel's excitement!  She was so excited that she was being baptized and I'm so proud of the girl she is becoming.  She loves to hear stories from the scriptures and she loves Jesus.

It was so sweet that her daddy was able to baptize her.  It was such a special day for both of them.

(One huge regret:  I did not take pictures of everyone that came to Laurel's baptism.  There were many friends and family who came to support Laurel and it meant so much to her and to us.)

I was going to take Laurel outside for an eight year old photo shoot.  When I turned on my camera, I found these pictures that Savannah had taken of Laurel.  Looks like they got my camera and had their own photo shoot.  And who knows when I would be able to make one happen, so I decided to use these somewhat dark, sweet photos instead!

We are so proud of you, Laurel!

A Makeover Party!

A makeover party is what Laurel requested and boy, oh boy was it one fun, hopping party....

The invitations were sent and the favor bags were sewn.  Making favor bags for all of Laurel's friends is my favorite part of planning a birthday party.  I have watched most of her friends grow up from babies and their moms are some of my best friends.  I love doing something special for them.  And I loved that I was able to use my leftover fabric!

Welcome to Laurel's Salon where you can get the works!  You can have your hair styled, nails painted, and makeup applied!

Did you think Laurel and her mom ran this salon by themselves?  No way!  Laurel's mom had lots of help.  Our hairstylist was Brianna, one of Laurel, Savannah and Landon's favorite babysitters.  She did a fabulous job of making the girls look beautiful.  She also made each little girl a flower barrette.  They loved her!

Our manicurist was Miss Annie!  We think she is just about the best thing ever!

Our makeup artist was Laurel's Aunt Audra!  We were just so stinkin' excited that she was here from Utah!  Laurel loves her and wishes her mommy knew how to do girl's hair the way Aunt Audra does.

Sweet sisters!

I'm sure Seth was thinking, thank goodness we are having him a little brother.

After everyone was finished with their makeover, we got a group shot before heading upstairs to walk the runway.  The girls put on a fashion show for all the moms.

This part was so much fun and it was so fun to be behind the scenes helping the girls get dressed.  It was so fun to listen to the things they had to say.  And I need to give a SHOUT OUT to my awesome husband for letting me go crazy with these birthday parties.  I asked him if he would build me a runway for this fashion show.  I wanted the girls to be able to step up on something and walk a runway.  You know, do some twirls, some dancing, show their personality.  Well, he did not even blink and told me he could do that.  Well, Friday night rolled around.  Hello, the party was the next day!!!  I looked at him and said, "you need to get busy on that runway, don't you?"  He very cutely said, "I have it all figured out."  All of a sudden I was really nervous that my vision and his vision were not coming together.  I must say he put together a runway with not one bit of hammering nails involved.  He never ceases to amaze me!

Laurel and her daddy

The fashion divas!



Birthday girl on the runway.  Oops, turn sideways.

Happy Birthday Laurel!
We love you sweet girl!



A Special Visit

About a month ago, I was getting ready for Laurel's Eighth birthday.  I was planning her birthday party and also her baptism.  I was having a pity party because none of my family would be at her baptism.  Mom and Dad are coming for a month after the baby is born and could not afford to come to her baptism also.  So, I was hormonal and just feeling sorry for myself. 
About 3 weeks before the birthday party/baptism weekend, my sister Audra calls and says, "Lori, I have been thinking about Laurel's baptism for weeks now and Linn and I would like to come and I would like to be one of the speakers!"  I busted out laughing, because you see, my sister does not like to publicly speak.  My exact words were, "You don't speak!"  She laughed and said that she was serious.  She would do this for Laurel.  Then I started crying.  I told you I am one hormonal woman right now!  This meant so much to me and to Laurel.  They flew from Utah the Thursday before all the events.

They were both such a big help.  Linn, Audra's husband,  knew that I had a lot of errands to run on that Friday so he told me not to worry about the house.  He deep cleaned my house!  That's right girls, he deep cleaned!  I had the basics covered like a clean toilet and clean sheets but he got areas that had not had attention in a while.  And it looked GOOD when I got home.  Now this is just some selfless service and I had no shame letting him do it!   I told Audra while we were out that I was just giddy knowing someone was at home cleaning my house!  And Linn was giddy when he saw that rainbow vacuum cleaner!  You have to love a man like Linn! I told him I owed him blue bell ice cream for a year.

Landon fell in love with Linn.  He called him "bubby" for "buddy."  I could go on and on about this visit.  It was great having family here and I think we all bonded.  Thanks Audra for acting on the inspiration to come.  You and Linn made the birthday party and baptism so special and one that Laurel will never forget. 

A helping hand

Savannah came home yesterday with this recognition.  She was so excited!  I wasn't surprised.  Savannah has always loved helping people.  When she was in preschool, she would come home and talk about this little boy in her class who cried alot and didn't speak.  She would say, " I held that little crying boy's hand today."  I just thought it was a little boy who was sad and missing his mommy.  One day Savannah and I were in Wal-mart and this lady with a boy Savannah's age came up to me and said, "I am Gunnar's mom.  Savannah and Gunnar are in preschool together.  Gunnar has Autism.  I just wanted to let you know that we have prayed and prayed for an angel and this little girl is Gunnar's angel."  I could not have been a prouder mom!  I later learned through Savannah's teacher that Gunnar had not let anyone close to him, much less hold his hand, until Savannah.  He was drawn to her and she was able to help him calm down.  Savannah helped out with Gunnar's speech therapy as well.  Gunnar was also an angel for Savannah that year. 

At the beginning of this week, Savannah came into the kitchen and said, "my back hurts so bad."  I asked what she had done.  She said, "It must be from stretching back to help that little boy who can't ever get his pack opened!"  I laughed and told her she might need to change her position when she is helping him.  I love her sweet personality and how she loves to help others.

First Day of School

Laurel and Savannah were so excited to start school.  Especially Savannah because she is in Kindergarten now!  She has been waiting for two years now to go to the "big school" with Laurel. 

We love Laurel's teacher, Ms. Harris.  She has been teaching for 24 years and seems to still love teaching.  We got to go meet Ms. Harris on Laurel's actual birthday, August 8th.  When Ms. Harris found out that it was her birthday, she grabbed Laurel and hugged her and sang happy birthday to her!  I think she is going to have a great year.

Savannah's teacher is Ms. Conn.  We have heard great things about her.  Savannah said some of the funniest things that first day.  She put on her backpack and said, "I can't believe I have a real backpack now!"  Before she got out of the car, she said, "Now mommy, I want you to go home and get my baby and cry."  She got in the car at the end of the day with the biggest smile and said,  "that was the most exciting day ever!" "I did not even get a one (a warning)!" The next day she came running into the kitchen and said, "goodmorning! I was so sleepy when I woke up and then I remembered it was a school day and I told myself, get up you have to go to school!"   She asked if I was going to walk her to her classroom.  I told her I thought I would just drop her and Laurel off in carpool.  She raised her arms up, formed a fist and brought them down with a "YES!" 

I think she is going to be just fine!