Kylee is 8 and Her Baptism

Craziness has unleashed itself and I intended to do this post almost two weeks ago and it hasn't happened, so as the girls claimed the family room for playing I decided it was now or never and never was not something I wanted.

Kylee turned the big 8 this year. We tossed around a bunch of different ideas of how to celebrate but ended up keeping it simple and cheap. So, on Kylee's birthday we had waffles for breakfast and she opened her presents. It is always interesting to me what is important to my kids on their birthday and what can just slide. For her this year it was Taco's for dinner, her birthday sign, and opening presents before school. Luckily we could accommodate those requests. It was fun to watch her joy over her presents. They were all really simple, but she loved them. She got some shirt making stuff from Tia and a easy primary song book, 20 packs of gum, and a date night from Gaupo and me. We sent her off to school for the day and I think she had a good time there. Gaupo was working late that night, so when she got home from school he was here and we made tacos for dinner. Then we had her requested pumpkin pie after. Then unlike when I usually crack down on homework as soon as dad leaves, we went and introduced ourselves to one of our neighbors who had little girls. Then we went to the park and then I did make them come do homework. But we did play a lot first. It was a pretty simple day, but she was pleased and I think she felt celebrated, so success I would say.

Before school presents: Kade, Abby, Kylee, Tia

All the presents are open.

Kylee eating Tacos.

Tia and Kylee with Pie

Kylee with her pie.

Family Pic with pie

Tia and Kylee

Me and Gaupo and Pie

Kade and Abby with Pie

Abby and Kade. These two are so funny. They play together pretty well, most of the time.

We were able to baptize Kylee on March 7, 2020. Grandma and Grandpa arrived on Thursday night around 8:15. It was fun to see them when we got home from Activity Days. We weren't sure when they would arrive, so that was a very fun surprise to have them there. Friday morning Grandma helped me take the kids to school and then we played with the twins all morning and had lunch. I was going to get the kids out of school at 2:00, and probably around 1:30 Oma and Papa arrived. So, when I brought the girls home they had such a fun surprise of having them here. Both sets of grandparents were really bad at keeping me posted on when they would arrive, but it was a treat when they finally did. Anyway, when the girls got home Grandma and Grandpa took them to the carwash which the girls loved and then got a quick fix done on Gradma's glasses. While they were gone I worked on getting dinner together. Then when they came home we all played and chatted until the twins woke up. Then we went to the park. That night we had breadsticks, lazagna, green beans, and strawberries for dinner. Then we had chocolate crockpot cake for dessert. It was a birthday dinner #2. After dinner Kylee opened her presents from her grandparents. It was fun to actually have them here for that. Then we put the twins to bed. During that time Oma had been heating towels in the dryer and once the twins were in bed we had a little moment. Oma wrapped Kylee and Tia in towels and asked them how they felt. Then all of us other shared how the spirit speaks to us. It was a very good little experience together with lots of good insights. I think it made a good list for Kylee to reflect on for ways that they Holy Ghost may speak to her. After that the girls went to bed and we visited until eventually everyone headed to bed.

Papa and Kade at the park

Grandma and the twins at the park.

Papa and Kade

Present time: Gradpa, Grandma, Tia, Kylee

Present time: Papa, Oma, Kylee, Tia

Saturday March 7 was baptism day. I awoke early to get my scriptures read and try to finish preparing my talk on baptism. I really wanted a visual to show Kylee. I didn't want something extravagant just something to keep her attention and help her see what we were talking about. Nothing was coming to me, but I prayed about it. The answer came as an idea to do the gate and path and kingdom of eternal life with legos. Then use more legos to represent the covenants we make that can help keep us on the path. I thought it was great. It worked for the most part I think, but it was simple enough it didn't really matter. Anyway, I finished up that and got ready. We had pancakes for breakfast. Then we still had a little bit before we needed to leave, so I decided that was the best time to take pictures. We got some good ones and everyone was in a good mood.

The actual baptism program turned out really well. Grandma played the piano. Tia gave the opening prayer. I gave a talk on baptism. Kylee, Tia, and Tori Jacobson sang,  "Today I Will Be Baptized." From what I could hear they did great. Oma says the most amazing thing was to hear Tia sing every word of that song. Really that is no small miracle. Tia gets pretty distracted sometimes, but I was praying she would be able to do this, this one time and she did great. Kylee and Tori also did well. They were loud enough to hear and sang all the words. I was so pleased. Then Kylee was baptized by her dad. I remember being baptized so vividly that is was really weird to now be the grown-up of my memory. I wasn't the kids, I was the mom and Gaupo was the Dad. It was really pretty cool. Oma gave a great talk about the Holy Ghost and then Gaupo confirmed Kylee a member of the church and gave her the gift of the Holy Ghost. Then Bishop Copple said a few words. Then I said the closing prayer. We had Kylee's favorite cookies--chocolate chocolate chip, banana oatmeal chocolate chip, and snickerdoodles--for treats. It was a really simple fair. I didn't have anything fancy going on but it was perfect and nice. I feel so blessed we got to do it because by the next weekend all church buildings were shut down because of the coronavirus. We seriously just got it done.

Tia, Kade, Kylee, and Abby

Kylee

Kylee again.

Kylee and Gaupo

Grandpa, Kylee, and Grandma

Me, Kylee, and Gaupo

Papa, Kylee, Oma

Tia, Kylee, and Tori Jacobson

Gaupo and Kylee

Kylee, and Me.

The whole group. Grandpa, Grandma, Kade, Gaupo, Tia, Me, Kylee, Oma, Abby, Papa

Kylee with her witnesses Papa, and Grandpa.

Anyway, after her baptism we came home and had lunch and then played in the backyard while the twins slept. Honestly, that was only thing that was a little weird was that my kids didn't have any cousins to play with after the baptism it was just them. So, the next time I might make sure we have some friends over if we still don't have cousins around, but really it was fine. They had a great time playing out there with themselves and Grandma. During naps we went to a new to us park and walk. Then we came home and played until the twins woke up. Then went to our normal park and then had grill food for dinner. That night we all teamed up and played video games together. Then the girls went to bed and we adults stayed up for a little while chatting and things and then headed to bed.

Tia, Oma, and Kylee eating lunch

Playing video games.

Sunday was a pretty typical Sunday, except I came home from church pretty grouchy. The RS lesson was getting on to Ancestory and trying to show a large group how to do family history. I couldn't participate because I was holding Abby. So, I pretty much sat in RS out of duty not really getting the spiritual discussions that I love so much to have at church, so by the time I got home my patience was thin because it took a lot of it to stay in RS. Don't get me wrong I love family history. I would love to learn more about it, just not at church while taking care of a baby and I can't get the help I need. Anyway, we took a pretty long walk after lunch and that helped me mellow a little, so the rest of Sunday was really very good.

Monday morning was back to real life for part of us. The girls had to go to school and Gaupo had to go to work. We had to say good-bye to Grandma and Grandpa.That was kind of hard. Its kind of fun to have them all to ourselves and enjoy the fact they can't do anything, but just play with us. However, they needed to go and get back to stuff at home. After they left, I just played with the twins for a bit and then talked my mom and dad into going shopping with me. We went to Walmart to get Kade a new church outfit. Then we went to Hobby Lobby to look at clocks. They didn't have anything, but I found a super cute canvas print of a boy kissing a girl on a bike. I feel in love with it and got it so I can put it in my room. It is so cute. I should take a picture of it, but I love it because it captures how I feel about Gaupo and I and bikes. Anyway, I still didn't find my clock, so talked them into going to one more store called 'At Home.' Here me and my mom had a great time looking at all their giant canvas prints. I got some fun ideas for the girls bedroom, but we will see what actually happens there. I also found a clock, which we finally hung yesterday and it looks so good! After shopping we went home and had lunch. Then at some point during naps I asked my mom if she wanted to go see the model homes right by my house. So, we walked over there and enjoyed being together looking at model homes. I worried I might like them more than my new house, but it turns out the answer to that is no. I love my home way more. It doesn't look like a model home, but that's because its blank and I have a fresh start to do what I want with it. Anyway, we got back and talked with my dad for a bit until the big girls got home. Then we had soccer practice, dinner, family home evening, and bed.

Tuesday Oma and Papa left and life was suppose to return to normal. It kind of did I started to get things done and thing, but then life as I new it changed because of cornavirus. I kind of want to write whole post about that, so I think I will just leave it at that. The baptism was so wonderful. It was wonderful to have family around to support us. It was so great to have Kylee make her first covenants. Its been fun to teach her gospel things because I feel like she gets them a little more and that it might be a little easier to see when she isn't quite doing things right. Tia did a great job of letting Kylee be the special one. She was right next to her the whole time, but overall did really well. Those two girls have a quite a special relationship that I hope never goes away. I wish I had written about this special day sooner because all my thoughts and feelings would be so much fresher, but it was a great day and I really hope Kylee does remember it always.