Bye Bye Snowmen

These snowmen were the highlight of the most recent snow storm for the kids walking around our neighborhood.  There were two of the, each about six feet tall.  Even though most of the snow had melted, these two giants were holding on.  But today when the warm wind blew through and started melting them, Jeremy and Kelton decided to take a more active role in their demise-they pulled out his machete.  All three boys went to work chopping those snowmen to bits.  I love that my husband encourages my boys to be ambitious, wild, daring, and so "boy."

Big bed fun sled

What do you do when big brother receives a new big boy bed?  

Use his old mattress to go sledding down the stairs of course!

New adventures

Both girls are trying something new this year, YMCA sports.  Cambrie signed up for volleyball with Grace, Brynlee, and Olivia.  They've just been going for two weeks but Cambrie just raves about it.  She is having so much fun learning something new and just playing for fun with her friends.  

She had some great serves her first game, and a couple amazing returns that led to points for her team.  Every time she did something well she'd find us in the bleachers and give us such a happy grin.  

McKenzie is playing basketball with Molly, Brielle, and Aubri.  She's really enjoyed practice, learning how to dribble and handle the ball.  However on her first game she looked completely shocked by the fast pace of the sport.  About half way through the game she started getting the hang of it.  

She found the opponent with the matching wristband and did a great job of sticking to them like glue.  She really had the "arms up" instructions down pat.  

She even had a couple shots at the basket, and one of them went in!  She was jumping up and down she was so proud of herself.  

My Wednesdays and Saturdays are not completely packed with four different sports, but the girls sure are having a blast.

Strep and a little boy

Okay, maybe we should re-do this kid's birthday.  The poor kid has strep throat.  I wonder how long it's been bothering him, because he hasn't been himself for nearly a month.  I thought some Christmas detox was needed, but it appears to be more than that.  Poor kid.

Big girl play

I had to be sneaky to get these pictures of the girls.  They get really embarrassed when I pull out my camera to photograph what they do with their friends.  But I can't help it, they are adorable!

Daxton turns 2

Daxton turned two this weekend!  His birthday celebrations were spread out over a couple of days...simply because he was one cranky kid.  On his actual birthday, the girls took him on a train ride at the Orchard.  These were the first smiles we had seen all day!  

A day later we tried again with the celebrations, but he wanted nothing to do with it.  He spent church in the car driving around screaming and not even the promise of whipped cream was enough to calm him down.  He had actually stabilized until he saw me pull out my phone for pictures, then he just wanted to watch a show.  That kid!  

We tried again with presents.  He loves opening presents and has had a lot of practice the last couple of weeks.  McKenzie tried talking him into it, but was only somewhat successful.  

We gave him a stacking train, a Lego carnival set, and a sleeping bag for the trips we have planned this summer.  

The next day Kelton was finally able to give him the present he's been most excited for, a visit to Monkey Bizness.  Finally, more real smiles!  

Daxton followed Kelton around wherever he went playing copycat.  Kelton helped him get up some of the tougher climbs and they played for two hours.  

At least we had a positive finale to the weekend.  

So I don't dwell on how incredibly difficult this boy is right now, I'll share some things I like.  He loves reading books and will sit still for a long time while I read to him.  He likes giving "squeezes" (hugs), and gets a big goofy grin on his face.  He is a little copycat.  When we say, "Hi buddy," he repeats with the cutest little, "hi buddy," I've ever heard.  He has the cutest little toddler body and I'll be sad to lose the chubby belly and chubby feet.  And he's really fun to tickle.  Happy birthday Dax.

McKenzie's baptism

In preparation for McKenzie's baptism we went and took some pictures of her in her new dress.  Cydney came with Leesa and I and took the pictures.  She did an amazing job and I'm grateful she was willing to do that for us.  I think they turned out amazing and I had the hardest time trying to decide which ones to print up for her baptism invitation.  

After the invitations were mailed (a little stressful getting them out on time), all that remained was...everything!  I didn't have a chance to think about the logistics until Christmas was over, but it was all McKenzie had been thinking about.  When she woke up that morning to get ready she told me that she was more excited about her baptism than her birthday.  As people started arriving we took some pictures while her hair was still dry and before the snow started falling.  

Our family.  

Johnson grandparents.  

Some of the Johnson family. 

Rogers grandparents.  

Some of the Rogers family.  

She also had the chance to open up some of the gifts she received.  Hopefully she'll use the journals, books, jewelry, and towel to help her remember what a special day this was.  

As we loaded everyone in the car I noticed she was skipping to the car.  She was so excited she could hardly wait.  

We baptized her in my parents' building.  We had to do some coordinating with other wards in the neighboring stake to make it happen, but it was the only way we could get all the family there and it was worth it.  

Jeremy baptized her and confirmed her.  Bruce and my dad were the witnesses, and then the brothers joined them in the circle for the confirmation.  Dantley gave the talk about the Holy Ghost and did such a great job making the gift of the Holy Ghost understandable by using hedgehogs in his talk.  I was very impressed.  

All of the Rogers family this time.

Even more Rogers family.

The boys were getting pretty restless by this point!

Back at home everyone joined together to enjoy the occasion.  

Grandma and Grandpa Jay.  

Grandma-Great Stratford and Grandma-Great Pearce.  

Hannah made a baptism cake for McKenzie and it was absolutely perfect.  

Chaelyn brought CTR cookies and Leesa provided the M&M's.  All of the food was fabulous and I was grateful for all of the help.  

You could tell that McKenzie felt so special.  She shared her testimony the next day in Sacrament meeting and said that when she received the Holy Ghost she could feel it right away.  I'm so proud of this precious little angel of mine.