A pretty big day

I have a lot of blogging to catch up on, but I wanted to make sure this was blogged now.

This past Saturday, February 2, 2013, my little Gabby was baptized a member of our church! It was absolutely beautiful and perfect. (If you don't mind 12 degree weather and a blizzard!) It was a little treacherous to get to the church because the weather was really bad, but we all made it there safely and were able to enjoy a very lovely program. My mom and sister Tori had come the week before and Nate's mom and step dad flew in the night before. It was so nice to be able to share such a special event with so many loved ones (although we missed all the ones that were not able to make it).

 Gabby wanted to be baptized in a dress, like I was, instead of the jump suit. So, I made a really simple one and she was happy with it.

 I am so proud of this young lady! She really was so ready for this day and I had to keep reminding myself that she was only 8. She is just so mature for her age! We had the sister missionaries come give her a special baptism lesson and she gave half of it for them! They were amazed at her knowledge and depth of preparation.

Isn't she so adorable?!

 Gayle got Gabby this beautiful dress for after and I thought she looked like an angel!

It was a wonderful and monumental event in our home and I am just so grateful that I get to be the mother of this amazing young lady! I love you Gabby girl!

Snow much fun! (haha)

It is a good thing we like snow, since we live in Cleveland! We have had a good year of snow so far and we have loved playing outside in it. I really do love the snow. I don't love it all the time, but I love that my kids love it!

 Poor little Evie was so sick, but she LOVED being outside!

 This picture totally represents the girls personalities. Gabby is lovingly doting on Evie, Lily is trying to bury Evie in the snow, and Evie is just patiently wondering what is going on :).

They didn't even mind the cold, especially since we got hot chocolate and hot apple cider after!!

Ahoy thar matie!

 Those of you who know Lily well know that she has mostly friends that are boys. She just gets along with them better. She has friends that are twin boys and they just adore each other! They had a pirate party and Lily was SO. EXCITED. to go to this party!

 While there, she got this snazzy eye patch that she wore for two days straight. She also got some tattoos. Those tattoos stayed on for almost a month, and she didn't mind one bit!

I sure love this crazy girl! Life would be SO dull without her!!!

Decorating for Christmas

 *Bear with me as I continue to play catch up on the blog :)

Every year, since I can remember, we have gotten our Christmas tree the day after or the day of Thanksgiving. As a child, this was driving into the mountains to cut one down, then it was going to pick one out and now it is putting up a fake one. (But only until we are done with Residency, THEN I get a real tree again.) This year, since we went on a little vacation after Thanksgiving, we put the tree up the Sunday following Thanksgiving. As always, the kids were so excited they could barely contain themselves! (We had to wait until Evie was in bed so as to make it a little easier on us all.) This year was Gabby's year to put the star on.

 Dad helped by digging through all the bags, boxes, etc. to find all our favorite ornaments. (We have a few too many for this tiny fake tree, but we did the best we could :)!)

 

The kids were really happy with the way it turned out. Once we are done here and get settled, this tree will be the "kids tree". I am very much looking forward to being able to have my tree, with matching ornaments and all the things I think should be on the tree. (But that is still years away... )

 Another one of our favorite Christmas activities is making treats! We did a lot of holiday baking, but the kids and Nate LOVE the white chocolate dipped pretzels. Maybe it is because they eat as they go, or that they get all messy while they do it, but whatever the reason they really do love it!

 We even let Evie join in the fun!

 Can you tell which ones Lily sprinkled?!

Catch Up

 (I had to use a different browser to get the photos to upload, so if anyone knows why it isn't working in Windows, let me know)

I have been trying to get caught up on this blog for a while and I have written this post three times now and lost it for some reason or another.  I am hoping this is the last time!

Nate's mom and step dad were able to come visit for Thanksgiving and we were so excited to spend some time with them!! The men had to work, but we finally found some time and ran up to Kirtland. It was cold and a little late so we weren't able to take the tour but we had fun anyways!

 Thanksgiving was delicious! We loved being able to spend it with family!

 Everyone all hungry and ready to eat!

 As soon as we were done eating, we hurried and cleaned up and jumped in the cars to head up to Niagara Falls! (Gayle had NEVER been!!) It was late when we got there, so we called it a night and got up early the next morning to head over to the falls. It was a cold and windy day, but we didn't mind too much!

 I told you it was windy!

 After Niagara, we went over to Palmyra, NY. I just love being able to visit places that have such meaning to us in our church history! This is the Palmyra Temple, you can see it standing at the entrance to the Sacred Grove. (At least when the trees are all dead....)

 Taking a pit stop before going into the Grove.

 I seriously LOVE these kiddos!

  

 Even though it was fall and the leaves were all gone, it was still so beautiful and so peaceful there. I just love that place!

 So glad these two were able to come and make such wonderful memories with us! We had a blast and will remember this trip forever!!!

 This special young lady is going to get baptized in less than two weeks! While we were in Palmyra at the church history sites, she was very pensive and kept talking about how excited she was to get baptized. She wanted a picture of just her sitting in the Sacred Grove. I am so proud of this girl!

 

The next day we went to the Grandin building to see the publication site of the first Book of Mormons. It was definitely worth the trip!

 They let the kids fold a few pieces of paper to see how it would have been done back when the book was published. They loved it!

We had such a wonderful time. We were able to do and see so much! I am so so glad that we had this opportunity to take Nate's parents to these wonderful places! Thanks again for coming and for the great memories!

Help

Is anyone else having issues with Blogger? For some reason I can't upload pictures from my computer anymore. The option just isn't there. HELP!!!!

Flower Girl

Every once in a while you come across a teacher that ends up being more then just a teacher. Last year Gabby had that experience. We met Kate Berge at a get together for new students and Gabby loved her from that moment on. About a week into school we had an ice cream social where we get a chance to talk with teachers and staff. Kate came up to us and said, "I know this is a little weird, but can I ask you a person question?" I was intrigued, so of course I said yes ;)! "Are you guys LDS?" I sat there stunned. I managed to stammer out a yes and then asked how she knew and what she knew about LDS people. She said that when she taught preschool she met a family that were LDS and they had become friends. She said she figured we had to be because of the way Gabby conducted herself and how she openly and unabashedly spoke of her love of God and her family. That was a real compliment and our friendship grew from then on. Gabby invited her to church and she came. We had her to some other functions and Gabby even brought her a Book of Mormon. Then with everything that happened last year with Evelyn she was there for Gabby and our family and we grew even closer. During the summer I got an email from her saying she had gotten engaged and wanted Gabby to be the flower girl at her wedding!! We were thrilled and this opened up more opportunities to discuss the differences in our religions (she is Roman Catholic) and have some very open discussion. I have to admit I was a little nervous about it, but Gabby was never worried at all! We went to the showers, the rehearsal, everything and we had a blast! I was so honored that she would want my sweet little Gabby to be a part of her wedding, but not all that surprised. (Gabby is pretty special :)!) She treated Gabby like a princess! She even had her come get her hair done the day of the wedding with her. (All the kids got to come tag along since Nate was at work and I couldn't find a babysitter two days after Christmas).
Here she is all ready to go!!!



 I tried to get some pictures of her coming down the isle, but I wasn't in a great spot and I didn't have my good camera :(.

Coming into the isle with the Bride's mom (who is currently battling stage 4 breast cancer..:(!)

Gabby and the greatest teacher, Mrs. Kate Berge Duhanich!

At the reception Gabby was the first one introduced and she had to walk through all these people she didn't know, but it didn't phase her at all. She is a pro at this! 

After the dinner there was dancing, which I have to say was Gabby's FAVORITE part! I think Nate was super embarrassed to be out there, but it made his little girl happier then he will ever know!!

It was a fun experience and not one that I think any of us will ever forget! I am so proud of my little girl and the wonderful person she is! She is such an example to me and I am so grateful to have her in my family forever!!! I love you Gabby girl and am so proud of you!!!!