Grace's Baptism Day

It is quite unbelievable that I have a child old enough to be baptized.  I'm still kind of blown away by that.  How did my baby girl grow up to be 8 years old?  I know every mother asks that question at every age.  Sorry Mom, your baby girl has wrinkles and gray hairs coming in...

I really don't know where to start on this post.  The weeks leading up to the baptism were incredibly busy and crazy.  Usually, I count myself lucky if I can just push and make it through the birthday parties.  But, as soon as Grace's party was over, it was on to the next thing, and quick.  It didn't help, that thrown in the mix, was having to teach the Relief Society lesson, a surprise announcement to split our ward, the Relief Society birthday party (which I was in charge of), a traveling husband, birthday treats at school, extra homework on top of extra homework, and out-of-town family arriving.  Did David break a water pipe outside an hour after Grace's party too?  

I have amazing friends and family who kept asking if they could help me.  I know I turned down at least a half dozen offers.  I didn't really do it out of pride, but mostly because I didn't have any HUGE tasks, just a million little ones, and it felt like giving one or two away wouldn't really make a dent.  I knew I could do it and if I could just make it to Friday night, I'd have my mom and sister at the house and it would get easier.  (Did I just give a lesson at church on finding happiness in the journey, no matter how difficult, and not setting tunnel vision for the end result?  hmm....)

Somehow, it all paid off, and the day of Grace's baptism, March 12th, seemed completely perfect.  The weather was incredible with gorgeous sunshine and no wind.  The house was pulled together and ready, the kids all got ready happily, and with plenty of time to spare.  I didn't forget to do a single thing; neither did anyone else.  I'm still amazed that everything went SO well.  I am sincerely grateful for everyone who did help me, who participated in the baptism program, and who came so far for the occasion.  Each contribution and gift was very much noticed, appreciated, and just perfect for Grace and our family.    

I know in the margins, things weren't totally perfect.  Grandpa Earl wasn't feeling well at all, but he rallied and was able to attend and participate.  Sean and Kate had a hard time sitting through the program and letting their mom play the piano.  Harriet was upset that we didn't take her with us to the dressing room afterward, and the DVD that I had set to start up with the push of a button, did not start.  But, Grace was unaware of all of these things.  For her, it was a perfect day, and for me, that made my day perfect too.

We had both of our extended families and a few families Grace knows from church over to the house afterwards.  It's always overwhelming to have a gathering like that where you see so many people in the same spot who mean so much to your family.   We didn't take pictures at the open-house, but here are the family who came to the church:

Grandma Debbie, Aunt Melissa, Cousins Kate and Sean

Aunt Jane and Uncle Richard

Cousin Evan - he gets his own picture

Cousins Evan and Janie

Grandpa Earl

Grandpa Earl and Grandma Barbara

I am just so proud of my Grace.  I wondered how much she really understood about baptism and making the choice to do it.  How much does any 8 year old understand?  But, she took it as seriously as she could.  She and I filled out her baptism scrapbooks last Sunday together, and I think she really gets it.  Of course, she has lots to learn just like the rest of us, but I'm pretty impressed with the little things I've noticed that she seems to understand.  

I loved being with her that day, helping her get ready and change clothes.  I love that she appreciated every detail of the program and knew that everyone who contributed loved her.  

Harriet was so sweet too.  I think my favorite memory of the day was when the 3 of us were in the dressing room and Grace was all ready, Harriet smiled at Grace and threw her arms around her sister in such a spontaneous way, you could tell that she was just overcome with happiness and love and so excited for Grace.  In my book, that pretty much sums up the main point of doing anything in life - to seek happiness and show love.  

(Harriet insisted that she get to be in a picture with just her and Grace.)

All about Grace

Well, maybe a little about David too:

David turned 36 on the first of the month.  We celebrated quite a bit.  David shares his birthday with our friend, Ryan, who turned 37, so we had the Wixom family over for a combo birthday dinner to celebrate the perfect number 36 and the prime number 37.  What nerds.   Too bad no one pulled out the camera since it was a first for the Wixoms to drive ALL the way to our house in Eastern Arizona (no, wait, just the west side of Albuquerque.)  We love ourselves some time with those W. people.  Harriet loves their little daughter Rylee SO much.  She wants to be a big sister more than anything and she would basically like to kidnap Rylee and keep her.  She was screaming at the end of the night "tell them she's our kid!!!"  

Then, on with the family birthday party.  We invited David's parents for a Sunday dinner to celebrate both David and Grace's birthday.  They love celebrating together.

On David's ACTUAL birthday - a super cool Tuesday evening...  We celebrated by... going to the school PTA meeting!  We know how to party for sure.  We had PTA punch and cookies for birthday dessert.  The real reason we went is that is when they award the student of the month certificates.  Grace was chosen from her class for February because she is so nice to everyone and so helpful.  Love that kid.  Don't worry - I don't have a bumper sticker to announce to the driving world that I have such an awesome student.  I'll just keep that to my blog and all-both of its readers.  Good job Gracie!!

Like I said... all about Grace, even on Daddy's birthday.

So, 2 days later, I started making Grace's cake.  I don't know how I got myself started in the cake decorating business since I'm really not that good at it.  Mostly, I just like doing it.  I've done it since Grace's first birthday, so the kids have come to not only expect it, but PLAN their cakes and parties for months in advance.  They love it.  I did a little, fairly lame, R2D2 cake for Grace last year when we celebrated with just our family right after moving.  Since then, I have learned how to make fondant - Grace came with me for the lesson, and she had grand plans to make a bigger better R2D2 this year for her birthday party with her friends.  It took me 2 full days, and it still was far from perfect, but I was pretty darn proud of how it turned out.  I wish there had been some adults around to appreciate it.  The kids had no idea how awesome it really was.  At least Grace was thoroughly happy and extremely excited about it.

Since she really wasn't able to have the full-on Star Wars party last year, she went for it this year and invited some kids over for a birthday Jedi Training session.  Again, not sure what I was thinking, but I looked up a whole bunch of ideas online on party blogs.  Everything sounded like such a good idea when I was imagining how it might go.

We covered the whole floor in the front room in bubble wrap.  This was one of the party blog ideas - create a "moon-walk" room.  Sounded good to me - my kids can keep themselves busy for dozens of minutes with a piece of bubble wrap.  We hung planets and stars from the ceiling.  It looked awesome and held up fairly well with a couple of kids on it, but once you had 12 kids in there being seriously wild, well, it kind of broke down.

One of Grace's requests was that she wanted a Jedi robe for her party.  I don't know when we started dressing up for birthday party themes either, but Halloween seems to have crossed over into the birthday season.  I looked at the cost of buying a robe and decided I could save myself some serious cash if I made it myself.  Oh, but I forgot I'm not that good at sewing, nor do I like it, and by the time I went back twice for enough fabric...well... it would have been worth it to just buy it.  Anything for Grace though - she was so happy.  She ended up with a pretty sweet Jedi robe for the occasion and Harriet pulled out the Padme costume from Halloween and popped in the princess Leia buns.  The stage was set to host the Jedi.

Thanks to another Star Wars mom tip, we bought pool noodles, cut them in half, bought some duct tape, and hosted a light-saber workshop.  No one could get hurt with a pool noodle, right?  Things couldn't get out of hand with foam and bubble wrap, could they?

Well, David took the biggest beating.  I had to step in and rescue him from 12 kids whacking him with their foam light-sabers.  They did kill the Sith Lord.  Whew.

Then there was some "pin the aim on the planet/ship/fighter" game.  This was actually kind of a fun "pin" game dividing up into teams to see who could hit the targets with the most points and win.  Definitely the most calm 15 minutes of the party...

Still had to feed them...

And open presents... I am so torn over the idea of opening presents at birthday parties.  It seems like these days when people host huge parties, invite the whole class and have 30 kids plus parents and siblings at their parties at some big party location, it is kind of impossible to open presents.  We found that out when we did the big going-away birthday party at the monkey time gym last year and had to take our gifts home for opening.  But, I have held to my belief that if you just have a few kids, in your home, you should still open presents.  

For the present-GIVER, I think it's so fun to see the person open your gift and see how excited they are about it and know that you provided that joy.  It's also a time when the present-receiver can express some genuine thanks in a way other than a canned thank you note (which are also important and have their own purpose.)  But, opening presents also leaves so much room open for comparing with one another, not having as much excitement over one present than another, having kids feel hurt that their gift wasn't as great as someone else's, and plain jealousy toward the kid getting all the presents.  Our world is really superficial and materialistic, and I don't want to promote that either.  What to do?  For better or worse - we opened the gifts...  Most of which were some serious Star Wars gear and legos.  One thing about it - Grace truly savors every single gift AND card.  She takes so long to open a present because she reads everything on the card, the package, and looks at every detail.  We had to rush her a little bit to save enough time for cake.  I'm quite overwhelmed, actually, at all that was given, and we are thankful for everything.  

 Time to cut that cake yet?  Instead of filling R2D2 with candles, I found this seriously awesome Darth Vader thing, complete with red light-saber candle.  It counts for 8 regular ones.

Triumphant Jedi Knights - all were trained.  None cried.  None went home in an ambulance.  Birthday girl had an excellent time, so did little sister.  I think that has to count as success.  

Happy 8th Birthday Grace!!!  You sure know how to have a great time :)

Happy 8th Birthday my Grace!

Dear Grace,
I've got plenty of blog posts to do for your birthday this year.  We've already had our family party and hosted your school friends for some crazy fun, and then we've got your baptism coming up next week.  It's a big birthday to turn 8 years old.  It's a lot for a mommy to have a girl turn 8 years old too.  So, for today, I think I'll just write my traditional birthday letter.  I'll catch up on all the parties later.

I seem to use birthdays to reflect on all the things you're doing and how you are growing up.  I think you are such an incredible person.  I would say that even if I wasn't your mother.  I am so proud of how you have handled the last year with all the changes you've had to make.  Since we moved just a few days before your 7th birthday, this last year has been full of adjustments beyond the normal ones you have to make as you get to be one year older.  I know some things have been really hard for you, but you've been brave and have gotten through it.

These are some of the things I love about you:
*you are your own person - you rarely do anything just because someone else does it
*you are kind and friendly to practically everyone - I hope you always keep this quality
*you get excellent grades in school, but what really makes me proud is having your teacher tell me that you were the first one to jump up to help her when the books fell off the shelf and you are always willing to help a fellow student
*you love learning, in fact, you prefer learning outside of school more than inside school
*you read more non-fiction than fiction.  It cracks me up that when you have to do a book report, you can't answer the questions because few if any of the books you read that week even have characters or a story.
*you love your long gorgeous goldilocks hair, but you hate to get it cut, brushed, or even pulled back in a pony tail.
*you actually love your little sister, even if you don't want me to know it.
*you have not given up your intense love for tigers, foxes, wolves, dogs, and horses.  You are always kind to animals and can't get enough of learning about them, seeing them, watching them, and having stuffed versions of them.  When you go to college, you will be taking your incredibly overwhelming collection with you - but, maybe I'll let you keep a few at home to keep me company.
*you have taken up learning music and are getting pretty darn good at playing the guitar
*you continue to go to karate class even though it is very long, late at night, twice a week, and you put on sparring gear and get beat up more than you beat up anyone else.  I will never get used to watching people hit and kick my little girl, but I do it because I know you love it for some reason.  I love your fierce tiger face when you are doing your forms.
*you are thoroughly convinced that you are, in fact, a Jedi knight.  I don't know how I am so lucky to be the Mother of a true Jedi, but I know that The Force is strong with you, Grace.  I hope you always use your powers in The Force for the good of the Universe.

I hope you have had a really happy birthday today, and I can't wait for your special baptism next week.  I love you.
Love Always,
Mommy

February. Mostly.

I know it's not the end of February yet, but we've only got one more week and I know this will be the only time I have to post.  The month has flown by.  Partly it's because I can't keep track of time with all the literal flying David has done traveling for work, and partly because we have been so super busy!

People keep asking me why I am so busy.  I look at other women with 4 or 5 or 6 kids, women who have jobs and careers outside the home, women who seem to have more on their plate than I do in other ways for sure, and I honestly don't have a good answer as to why I feel so busy.  This is the first time in my life I haven't worked (for a paycheck at least), or been heavily involved in volunteer work, or had little babies or toddlers, or a horse, or had a time-intensive church job, or a house that requires tons of yard work.  But, still my days are filled and full.  I like the full.  I don't always like the filled.

The girls are doing more and more in their individual schedules (more on that later), and we always seem to fill up any free time with some sort of activity or outing.  Now, I'm looking at March with all the birthdays, Grace's upcoming baptism, family visiting, and our normal schedule on top of it, and wondering how it will all come together.  I know it will, and I know it will be great.  But, I also know that I will be the one who has to make it happen the way I want it to be.  I'm a little bit intimidated.  But, I'm also trying to step back and look at the big picture and enjoy it while I'm doing it.  If I wasn't so detail oriented and OCD it would be a lot easier that's for sure.

Well, that was a long introduction to these fluffy pictures of our February outings.  With David's heavy travel, we do try to make the most of the time when he is home.

David went to the Dad lunch at Grace's school.  Here they are "enjoying" their corn dog cafeteria food.

Skiing - David has done A LOT of it.  He has also been mountain biking pretty much as often has he has been skiing.  Winter in NM is grand.  Grace has been skiing 3 times this year.  We went as a family last week with the Merrills and the Howards.  One more time and Grace will be better than I am.  She did all the green and blue runs that I did at Santa Fe.

Grace and her pal Christian on the ski lift.

Pizza, french fries, pizza, french fries:

let's just say skiing Santa Fe was a little more enjoyable than skiing Vermont - look at that sunshine!

Harriet.  sweet Harriet.  She skied for a total of about 5 minutes, I am told by the ski instructors.  I missed it.   But, she sure looks cute in those goggles with her daddy.

THIS is what we spent over $100 for Harriet to do at ski school all day?  Swing in the chair lift swing?  That's some expensive swinging Hattie...  (she's the one on the left.)

Well, whatever they did in ski school, Harriet and her little friend, Maren, sure wore themselves out.

Same weekend.  Next Day.  Another hike, another volcano:

Valentine's Day.  Harriet was SO excited.  She had her Valentines ready 2 weeks early.  She counted down the days on her hands, checked the calendar every day, and could not wait for that party.  I wanted to throw a fit when she came down with a fever the night before.  It was gone by morning, and she rallied and went.  Whew.  Check out this school.  Again - papered from ceiling to floor for the occasion. Her teachers are completely insane.  Harriet with friends Isabella and Marian:

Too much Valentine Party apparently.  Cute little aquarium Valentine box in hand (they are studying oceans right now in school.)

And... over to sister's party.  Remember the elementary school Valentine parties?  Well, they're not what they used to be.  They're not even "Valentine" parties.  Grace's class had a "friendship" party.  At least they got to have a party at all.  Someday, they will probably be gone for good.  I'm just trying to soak up as much of this kind of stuff as I can.  I am keenly aware that these years are short.

Valentines are also not what they used to be.  You should see what you can get in a $2 box these days.  They're pretty cool.  Here are 3D cards with 3 different images in them.

 Grace with friends Abby and Mikayla and little sis coming up too.

I know there were other things in the mix too - but these are the ones that seemed to make it to the camera.  Yesterday, we marked our 1 year anniversary of arriving in New Mexico to live here.  I really can't believe we've been here a whole year.  I still have things I haven't put away since moving.  I still have pictures on the floor of my bedroom with spackled holes in the walls waiting for an appropriate color of paint to go up before I hang them.  The year has just gone by way too fast.  David was commenting about our first year in MA.  Maybe it was because it was more than just moving, but the first time moving away from family that made it seem long.  Maybe it was feeling like I had moved to another planet.  Maybe it was because I was pregnant for most of that year.  I don't know, but that first year felt like a decade passed before it was over.  It felt like we lived in MA for such a very long time, but the time here just slips away before you can blink.  Maybe it has something to do with that sunshine.