Cali and Cheyenne got baptized this week!

The service was beautiful.  Their friend, Elizabella Francom was baptized at the same service so we worked together as families for the program.  Savannah conducted the music and Elizabella's mom gave the prayer.  Then Grandma Elton gave a lovely talk on baptism after which the Elton and Francom families sang "A Child's Prayer" together for the congregation.  Meg played violin too!  I think it turned out well.  It's such a lovely song.  Then Elizabella's ten-year-old brother, William, gave a talk on the Holy Ghost.  He did really great.  Then was the baptism.  Beth said "Oh boy!  It's my favorite part!"  Cheyenne and Calianne and their dad were all in white. Everything went smoothly.  As I helped them change from their wet clothes into their dresses, they both said they felt great!  When we returned to the chapel, the confirmations were done by Kevin.  They were beautiful blessings.  Then Sarah played the closing song and we were done!  We took lots of pictures.

We were so grateful for all the family who came to make the occasion extra special!

Happy Girls!

Grandma Gazdik

Cousin Kayla who got baptized last month and came from Las Vegas.

Grandpa Skinner and Maria

Grandma Elton

Afterwards we had a yummy breakfast at our house.  The morning was so nice, we even ate in the backyard.  We were so happy to have so many family members come and celebrate the day with us.  Thank you!!

In other news, we had another busy week.  Megan had her first tennis meet.  I thought she played GREAT!  She lost, but watch out for next time!  She is practicing everyday after school and practicing that violin, too.  Go Megan!

Mariah played soccer twice.  She won once and lost once.  She also has been busy applying for student council at the elementary school.  In order to apply, the kids have to write an essay and perform at least five hours of community service outside their immediate family.  She found out on Friday that she was chosen by the teachers to be one of the six student council members.  She was so excited!  I would say I'm proud of her, but I'd be proud of her just for applying and I'm proud of all the cool kids at Brookside.  I do think it will be good for her.  I am excited for this opportunity for her!

Sarah had two tennis meets this week.  One she didn't get to play in and the other one she and her partner lost.  She is playing doubles now with a junior named Hannah.  They have gotten to be great friends.  Sarah comes home from tennis saying that she and Hannah laughed so hard that she could hardly hit the ball.  I am glad she is having so much fun.

Savannah had a cross country meet on Friday after school.  She ran in a huge invitational.  The varsity race she ran in had over two hundred runners.  Exciting!  She ran a great race.  She ran three miles in 23:32.  Go Savannah!  She also worked three days last week and is keeping up with her schoolwork.  Yay!

Cali and Cheyenne are not big fans of third grade, so far.  They miss summer vacation and they miss second grade "when school was fun."  I'm not sure what is so different this year, but it is a hard adjustment for them!  They sure play hard when they get home.  They always have a friend with them.  It's a sacrifice to stop in order to go do piano lessons or do homework!

Bethany has started preschool.  I taught last week and then she only had one day this week because of labor day (we are meeting on Monday and Wednesdays since ballet is on Tuesdays).  We have a small group this year -- just four children -- three girls and a boy.  She has really enjoyed it so far and we have high hopes of teaching her to read!  She has been big on telling me how much she loves me this week.  "I don't ever want to lose you!" she tells me as she gives me her giant hugs.  She is good at lovin'!

Ben didn't set anything on fire this week.  Yay, Ben!  He still stays very busy and gets very dirty every day.  He likes to barrel into us, running at full speed, and grab our legs in a fierce hug, then run off again.  He is great.

I spent most of the week cleaning up the house and finishing the dresses I sewed for the girls' baptism.  They picked their own patterns and their own fabrics.  I love how it shows their different personalities.  Didn't they turn out cute??  Sometimes sewing does turn out well.  :)

My mom and sister arrived on Friday night and stayed for the weekend.  It was so fun to have them here.  Maggie brought her three girls, Rebecca, Emily, and Elizabeth, and my mom brought Amy's daughter, Kayla.  We had such fun together.  Mom, Maggie, and I talked and went to the quilt shop and talked some more.  We even watched a movie together Saturday night and Saturday afternoon we went on a walking tour of downtown Springville.  Now I'm sure you all are jealous you missed that!!  Actually, it turned out really fun.  We saw some cute shops, Grandma bought us all ice cream at Hogi Yogi, and we finished off at Springville's own tiny pioneer museum.  Those girls could really have fun anywhere.

Playing Apples to Apples.

They blended right in with the founders of Springville monument.

They sang "Do-Re-Me" here because we said it reminded us of Sound of Music.  Touring your town can always be an adventure even if you are not in Austria.

It has been a full week.  We are so grateful for all the good in our lives and all the good families and friends and for Cheyenne and Calianne and the beautiful young girls they have grown up to be and their desires to do what is right.  Life is good.  It's been a good week.