Her Special Day

The big day was finally here.

Lindi Lou Goodman was getting baptized!

I feel like we dodged a bullet with the uncertainty of the corona virus.

Just a year ago the 8 year olds getting baptized could only have
 immediate family members in attendance. 

We were lucky that it played in our favor.

We were able to have a private baptism, not shared with the stake, with ALL

of our family members invited to come. 

It made it extra special.

I love how her invitation turned out.

Soft and feminine. 

That cute face helps a little, too:)

We arrived early to get these 2 dressed in their jumpsuits.

Set up her display table.

It dawned on me to see if Christopher and Jael wanted to join us through zoom

5 minutes before it started!

I'm glad they were already prepared.

They were set up waiting for the link, oops!

It worked!

Another perk to a private baptism was that Lindi got to pick the program!

She asked Aunt Valerie to play the piano.

Grandma and Grammy said the prayers.

Aunt Stephanie was the lucky one picked to give the talk.

Of course she couldn't have picked a better person.

I loved her analogy of baptism.

She said it's like cotton candy.

It's yummy and sweet, and looks pretty on the outside. 

But once you start eating it, you get sticky and messy.

Kind of like life.

When we find ourselves sticky and gooey from the cotton candy,

we have things like wet wipes to make us clean again and fresh again.

Heavenly Father gave us the ability to repent to make ourselves clean again.

The Holy Ghost can also help us to stay clean. 

She had a bag of cotton candy and a package of wet wipes for her to take home.

I wish I could share her whole talk.

It was beautiful and perfect.

The spirit was as strong as ever. 

Next was the actual baptism!

Dunk-a-roo time.

Lane and Rusty were able to be her witnesses.

All of the primary aged children sang, I Am A Child Of God.

Love that Casey snuck this picture.

She was confirmed and received the gift of the Holy Ghost.

We did not have a luncheon planned afterwards
(we have a tiny house to host 60 people).

I ordered cookies from Sassy's bakery as a take home treat.

They were darling!!

We were grateful for all of the love and support!
Her day couldn't have gone any better.

We tossed around the idea to go to the lake afterwards.

Oh ya, did I mention we bought a boat?!

We went with it and it turned out to be a good time!

A crowded good time at that.

It was still Spring Break for some, and the weather had hit the 90's for the first time.

We were lucky to get the last parking spot for boat trailers.

Poor Jesse and his girls had to park on the highway and walk down to the docks.

It was my first time driving the boat solo, off of the trailer, picking people up at the dock,

and putting the boat back on the trailer. 

The crowds did not help my nerves, but I did it!!

 

Lindi's Baptism Pictures

I can't heart eyes these pictures enough.

Stephanie nailed it with her photography skills.

I was bummed when we realized the gates
 were locked to the inside of the Gilbert temple grounds.

Didn't matter.

They couldn't have turned out better.

 

It is GREAT to be 8!

For months this day has been anticipated by this sweet girl.

The day finally came, she officially turned 8 years old.

We dropped Della of at preschool then treated ourselves to a pedicure!

Olive got to hang with us on her special day.

Never had I heard so much giggling going on. 

We picked up Della then ate some lunch at Kneaders.

I asked what she wanted.

"That place with good grilled cheese, grapes and a cookie".

Then things got real.

She officially graduated from little girl to practically a teenager with her 
new pierced ears!!

Don't tell her this, but I really wondered if she would actually go through with it.

She can be hesitant when it comes to things like this.

There was a moment of hesitation when it came time to sitting in the chair.

I said sorry, it's happening.

 I already paid for it!

With one nudge and a few blinks of an eye, she was hole punched and sparkly!

Dad came home from work and she opened up her presents.

For dinner she picked Zushi.

 

What a day! 
With the more to come the next day.

Breaking for Spring!

We like to stay put and not travel for Spring Break.

People pay the big bucks to come to Arizona this time of year.

Why would we want to leave?

I guess if a tropical place was a possibility, I would consider it:)

Casey and the boys kicked off their spring break at the dunes!

My whole family went with some family friends.

I wasn't feeling it this year.

It is so much work.

  Dealing with cranky little people who can't reason when they are
beyond dirty and tired with too much sugar running through their
system is for the birds.

In a couple of years we will be in the clear. 

We like to get day passes for a resort!

In the past we have spent the night, but not much sleeping happens when we do that.

We spent the day at the Grand, and well, it was GRAND!

Living their best life pool side!

And that Arizona sunset, dreamy!

We helped Grammy with some yard work.

Her strawberries were picture perfect!

The boys tackled picking the rest of the oranges from the tippy top of the tree.

Pool time with cousins!

We had to hike at least once that week.

My friend recommended Blue Wash trail.

Super easy and had water at the end, a must!

And if all of those activities weren't enough, the boys got to go
on a 2 day ski trip with Travis, Collin and Weston!

The only picture I have is of them carb loading on Panda Express the night before.