Spring Break 2010

The kids & I just returned from our annual trek down to visit family in St. George, UT. It is two FULL days of driving each way - over 3 mountain passes (which tend to love having freak snow storms in the spring) and across 4 states. Thank goodness my kids are seasoned car travelers. They were awesome on the trip.

Our first day there - March 27th - was Emma's 8th birthday. She had quite the birthday bash!

In our church, children are baptized when they turn 8. So this was an extra special day for Emma. We chose to celebrate it in St. George so that as many of our family members as possible could be there to share in her baptism. Most of my family is in St. George, and most of Nathan's family is in S. California, so they were all able to join us. That was a special treat for all of us, especially Emma.

We decided to baptize her in the pool (heated!) in my parent's back yard. In keeping with Mormon tradition, we had a short program before the baptism. Emma asked her oldest cousin, Whitney, to give a short talk about baptism. She did a great job! (That's Nathan's dad, Gpa Russell, standing behind her.)

Then it was time for the big event. Emma & her daddy dressed all in white.

And a quick family shot.

Here they are, just before Nathan offers the baptismal prayer and dunks her under water.

After the baptism, Jared gave a short talk about the Holy Ghost. Then Emma was confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by her father.

And then . . . PARTY! The kids all shed their clothes and jumped in the pool. We lit the BBQ and feasted on hamburgers, salads, chips, soda . . . It was the party of the year!

Later, we went inside to sing Happy Birthday to Emma and watch her open her presents.

Emma is a very sweet little girl and it was obvious that she is well-loved by all those around her. I am so thankful to my parents for hosting this huge birthday party and making it all run so smoothly! And thank you to everyone who went out of your way to join us. It really meant a lot to our family.

The rest of our week was spent doing our regular St. George things. The boys worked most days at their Grandpa's store. We swam. We ate WAY too much junk food. And, of course, we hiked around the famous red rocks of S. Utah. "Animal Man" Micah spent most of the hike catching lizards. I can't believe how good he is at that.

After he catches them, he uses his mystical animal powers to tame these wild creatures. Seriously! I've seen him do it time and time again. This lizard has been tamed and spent the afternoon riding around on Micah's shirt. It's just plain eerie.

My cute kids on the red rocks.

On Monday evening, we went to a local Rec. Center with a fabulous indoor pool for their annual "Ducky Drop." This huge yellow bucket was stocked full of little rubber duckies, then filled with water . . .

. . . and dumped down on the waiting kids below. Each kid grabbed a ducky (which had a number written on it) and turned it in for a prize. It was crowded, but the kids had a lot of fun.

Adana & her cousin, Ella, with their duckies.

Emma with her ducky.

Jared & Micah with yet more duckies.

One final picture - of Jared with his little cousin, Preston. Such a cutie! (Both of them.) :-)