Great to be 8!

Loubird was baptized Jan 4, 2015

I feel bad that every year I seem to use the excuse that his birthday falls right after Christmas and that is why my lack of preparation for his parties is very minimal.

But really it's so true.

I was beyond stressed when two weeks before his baptism we still had no finished suit (it was being altered), I had taken no pictures, no invitations were ordered, menu was not planned, cute little decor or treats or nothing was thought out and I then came down with step Christmas Eve.

I actually had a mini crying session in the middle of the night feeling like such a failure and that I would be letting him down on his big day.

A very wise friend gently reminded me none of those things were holding any significance to the baptism itself and even if none of them got done it would still be a glorious day.

I never did get pictures taken or invites sent out.

I grabbed a few nic nacs the night before that represented our Luke, grabbed a quick baptism book for people to sign along with his current picture I have displayed at home.

Thanks to amazing family, the food was delicious, the suit was done just in time and my best idea yet we rented out the Hyde Park Civic center for his luncheon afterwards.   Which meant I no longer had to concern myself with a clean organized put away home.

Nope it could remain the bomb of Christmas presents it was and not one person would be the wiser.

And this sweet boy loved every second of his day.

A lesson to his momma that sometimes less is more especially when it comes to important days like this.  He felt the spirit, his parents felt the spirit and he was supported by all those that love him.

I loved this day.

My makeshift Luke shrine......

Oh and his silly momma forgot hair gel, combs and whatever else to tame that mop of his after the baptism.

So yeah, he looked straight from the font for the rest of his day and he never looked more handsome.

We have the most amazing family who came to support him that day, I am so grateful to be surrounded by such love.

Luke kept saying "I just love my special lunch and special day, isn't it great mom!"

Sweet Lance and Cars were the first two to sign his book and congratulate him on his baptism.

They were both so excited to do so and so very sweet to Luke all day.

It warmed my heart, what a gift to have older brother/cousin to look up to and love.

My four favorite ladies right here!

I was so grateful to share my testimony and memories of his special day the next day during fast and testimony meeting.....here are the thoughts I wish to remember about this day.....

I stood to the side of the font to receive his implant and hearing aid from Eric before he entered the water and after he had heard the prayer.  Tears filled my eyes for a few minutes because even as he entered the waters of baptism and he comes out pure and clean, a fresh slate..... he is still not perfect.  Not in this state, not in this world.  Why the technology we place in his ears is miraculous and a blessing and quite frankly had his dad and I a nervous wreck that we would drop those oh so pricey miracles in the water.  They still do not replace whole healthy ears, he will never in this life have that blessing given to him.  But through the covenants and promises made this day he is walking the road that will lead him back to his eternity with a strong, healthy and whole body.  Thank you father in heaven for your oh so perfect plan in my little boys life.  It was heaven on earth today.

Christmas 2014

Christmas Eve really the whole week leading up to Christmas wasn't really my favorite.  I ended up getting sick the Monday going into the week and just couldn't seem to shake it.  I was so achy, with a horrible sore throat, a fever that kept coming and going.  But as long as I stayed up on my medicine it seemed to stay at bay.  I was determined to not let it ruin my Christmas this silly flu bug.  So I had big plans that week to bake, wrap presents, last minute shopping you know and instead every night I lay miserable on the couch watching my to do list fall further and further behind in the busiest most magical week of the year.  Finally the morning of Christmas Even I decided I just couldn't take it anymore and took myself into instacare wondering if I had strep throat.

  

So I go they do the cultures. It comes back negative.

I will be honest I was so mad.

I wasted my whole morning waiting in that stupid office when I could have been home with my family doing fun Christmas things all to be told there was nothing I could do but keep being miserable until the bug passed.

So home I went and tried my best to be happy and upbeat for my little excited clan.  Thanks to Eric's wonderful help the Christmas all got wrapped, cookies were bought for Santa and all the last minute errands got done in time.  We headed to Grandpa Cherry's and thankfully thanks to Advil I felt pretty good all night.

We came home, got all snugly in our new Christmas jams, opened one present under the tree, read Luke 2, tracked Santa, laid out his milk and cookies and off to bed these babies went.

I love watching them give each other the gifts they picked out for one another.

I can't ever decide who is the cutest in these scenes the happy giver, or the happy receiver.

So precious......

Christmas morning came bright and early around 7 am, we actually had to wait for dad who had left around 6 to pick up a special Santa surprise.

Once he arrived home we tore into those presents.

I need to figure out how to get the video from my phone on the arrival of our newest family member Blackie.

Luke's one request this year from the big guy was a puppy.

And that Santa came through big time.

This little guy was just made for our sweet hearted Loubird.

It was the highlight of the year watching Luke love on his new little friend.

Him and Lance loved taking our little buddy around on Christmas introducing him to all of our family members.  I have to say those first few weeks with a new pup are all kind of a blur much like a new babe.  He took some adjusting to, mostly for Eric and I.  The kids adored him from the start and the boys especially are so awesome at taking care of him.  They take him out for potty breaks, walks, feed him and my personal favorite tossing his poop over the fence with the shovel.....haha it's awesome watching Luke do this task.  So funny.

Boys best friend for sure.

My heart melts watching them together.

Kel moved to Arizona last summer and boy these two made up for many lost cousin moments over the two weeks their family was visiting for the holidays.

These little ladies are two drama peas in a pod and I love them.

As usual my hodge podge collection of pictures did a pretty poor job of detailing our day.

But it was beautiful and I did manage to feel slightly better.

Though imagine my surprise when on the 27th of December the clinic calls me back to say oh by the way your strep test was actually positive.

So yeah sorry family probably infected you all over the holiday but hey at least it was a good one!

And ten days later my strep was gone.....only to come back three weeks later.

It's been a really awesome sick winter for me.

But Christmas?  Christmas was good.