Choose the Right

This week Cooper got a special note thanking him for being well behaved while waiting in line. Because he got the note, his name was entered into a drawing. This morning he was one of ten kids from the whole school chosen to get a prize.

It's been a rough year for our boys, so this is proof that Cooper made at least one good choice during the school year.

The Women, part 2

Look, it's four generations of strong willed women! Here's the version of this picture we took three years ago.

Peace

When we got to church on Sunday Sophie was not in a good mood. In the last month we've learned that she is quite good at communicating her needs and wants, and in the few minutes before church began she was communicating at full volume. I had visions of not being able to hear the blessing over her screams. So I did the only thing I could think of: I whisked her away to the mother's room.

In twelve minutes she went from being an angry baby to being clean and fed, which equals happy in her world. Still, I was nervous.

When the time came, Bryan carried Sophie up to the front of the chapel. During the blessing I didn't hear a peep from her. I wondered if she'd gone to sleep. I was able to hear everything that Bryan said. Afterward, Bryan told me that she was wide awake and watching him during the whole blessing.

One thing that Bryan said that stood out to me was that Sophie would bring light and happiness and peace into our family. I think her calm demeanor during her blessing is a beautiful display of that peaceful nature.

Family Ties

When we found out that Sophie would be born in December, I realized that there was a chance we could have a baby blessing and a baptism on the same day. And that's just what we did. We're thankful that so many family members could join us for these two important events.

This picture was taken after the blessing and before the baptism. 

Dressed In White

Yesterday was a very important day for our family. I don't have access to many pictures yet, but I will share two that should give a good idea of what happened.

Event one:

Event two:

Generations

Do You Hear That?

We discovered something magical. The sound of running water acts like a tranquilizer on Sophie. She hears it and within seconds she's succumbed to slumber. It's awesome. I am currently listening  to the sleep-inducing sounds of a water white noise app.

Now, if only it would encourage her to sleep for more than two hours at a time...

Dazed and Confused

Over the last few weeks several people have asked me how I'm doing. They ask it in a probing, head-tilted-to-the-side-to-convey-caring kind of way. I've given the same answer to each one. In a sing-song voice and a smile on my face, I say, "Tired."

And that's precisely what I am: tired. So tired. I don't expect to be anything else at this point. I also don't have any lofty plans like cooking dinner or cleaning my house. I did manage to prepare a meal a few nights ago. We dined on macaroni and chicken nuggets. Gourmet, I know. My visiting teacher came over this morning and I asked how she felt about doing some service. Then she helped me fold the six loads of laundry that were piled in my hallway. That's the most cleaning I've done in a while. But again, I figure that's how things should be right now.

So if you happen to see me and I look like I haven't slept in weeks, or talk to me and I sound distracted and confused, just remember, I'm really tired.

Do Your Best

Tonight was the beginning of merit badges, pine wood derbies, and blue and gold dinners for our family. Peter and Cooper both have their sights set on being Eagle Scouts, not because they know what it means, but because eagles are cool.

Peter is a little disappointed that he doesn't get to sell cookies.

Keeping the Sabbath

Sophie went to church for the first time yesterday. We got lots of "Oh my goodness, I can't believe you're back already!" types of comments. Peter brought several classmates over to see his baby sister and at the end of Sacrament meeting both boys told her that they'd be going to class, but would be back soon. Sophie and I spent a lot of time in the mother's room so she could eat, but otherwise she was happy to sleep in her car seat.

I snapped this picture of her when we got home, just before I changed her out of her church dress. I remembered taking a picture of Phoebe wearing the same dress, so I did a quick search and found it here. It wasn't planned, but both girls wore this cute outfit on their first day of church.