Almost the Whole Gang

Everytime we gather as a family we try to get a picture including everybody.  Here we got everyone, except Tony who was on an errand to the store.

I only wish we had a picture including the Hibberts who came, too.  Next time we'll do better in the photo department.  

Finley's Blessing

Sunday afternoon we headed to Sacrament meeting where Finley was blessed and Tate received the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Eric had a lot on his plate this weekend!  Both children's blessings mentioned living confident lives and being good examples.  I had a hard time hearing the end of Tate's confirmation because Avery was whispering a question in my ear.  I think she was asking if when girls get confirmed all the moms get up to bless her since the boys all did it for Tate.  Something like that.  

After the meeting I wanted a family picture.  Eric and I just held the squirmy boy and fussy baby and tried to grin through it =)  Uncle Trav assisted Finley in her first photo bomb.

It was a sweet day and a hug THANK YOU to everyone in the family who travelled far to support our family.  We absolutely love family gatherings and can't wait for the next one!

So Bre and cousin Lane really miss each other since we moved.  Every time they are reunited Avery gives him a big hug and lifts him off the ground.  He's not petite, and Bre always tells me about their greeting and adds that she doesn't know how Avery hefts Lane =)

The kids were beyond excited to see all of their cousins.  I love watching them play.  After the baptism on Sunday, we had pizza and went swimming at the hotel Nana was staying at.  There was some miscommunication, though, and half of the crew ended up swimming at grandma's hotel.  Oops!  We decided to just stay where we had already started swimming since everybody was already wet.  

Sunday morning we played the candy bar game and it was pretty funny to watch the kids in their excitement.  We'll have to do it again sometime.  

The only negative of the weekend was that it didn't last longer!  We need a week for everybody to play.

Tate's Baptism

This past weekend was a whirlwind of fun.  All of the Stoddards and Nana and Papa and Carley's family joined us for Tate's baptism on Saturday, and Finley's blessing and Tate's confirmation the following Sunday.  Eric baptised Tate and it was really special.  Grandpa and Papa were the witnesses and said the prayers.  Grandma and Bre played and led the music.  Uncles Travis and Tyler gave the talks and did a great job.  I'm so happy for Tate who chose to be baptised a member of the Church.  He's such a good boy with a really kind and curious disposition.  As the program started and all the attention was on him, he turned to me and smiled and said that he was embarrassed, but I think he meant nervous.  He did good and was most excited to have so many cousins to play with!

Life with Finn

It has been a sweet couple months with Finn.  We spend most of our days and nights feeding and sleeping in the rocking chair. I have been so confined (happily), that Henry has resorted to doing the grocery shopping and cleaning around here.  It actually really cracked me up when Eric and I were like, "Where's Henry?".  Then we found him just a few feet away from us silently, and visibly quite bothered with the mess he had made, attempting to clean his spilled milk with a tiny napkin. His little arm was scrubbing furiously.  He's such a sweet and helpful little boy.

Soccer Saturday

Grandma and Grandpa came to visit last weekend for Tate's 8th birthday and to see Avery play soccer.  It was a chilly Saturday, but Avery still had fun running and kicking the ball around.  We only had 3 players, so the other team gave us one of their best players.  She's in the 5/6 year old league where they don't keep score. 

Henry was in an ornery mood and pretty much did the opposite of whatever we said.  The picture of him walking was when he was crossing over into the playing field after being told to stay outside of the soccer field lines.  Funny kid.

We are settling in here and feeling more at home in our ward at church, and in our neighborhood and school.  Tate's 2nd grade only has 19 students!  He told me that, unlike in Kennewick, the kids are quiet and listen to their teacher.  I'd rather sub here if that's the case!  He does have a great teacher in Mrs. McCollum, and she even lives right in our neighborhood.  Tate is also enjoying Ninja Zone at the gymnastics gym, which is where he runs around doing obstacle courses and learning ninja stuff.  Tate's birthday was Friday, and our neighbor, Mercy, who is also in his class, shares his same birthday.  So her mother and I made some "8 is Great!" notes on a baggie with two small donuts inside making the shape of the number 8 and delivered them to class.  Then, we had pizza movie night as is our usual Friday night activity.  Eric and I took him to the local science museum, which was pretty neat, but our time got cut short because Finley woke up and needed me to go home to feed her.  Even if it was short, it was super nice to have mom and dad here to watch the other kids while we went out with the birthday boy.  On Saturday I took Tate to the toy store to pick a gift and he chose a laser maze game that he's wanted ever since he saw it at a toy store in Kennewick.

One of my favorite parts of mom and dad's visit was that dad hung up a bunch of my wall decor in the kitchen.  It is such a happy kitchen now!  I love it.

Avery is liking kindergarten and gymnastics a lot.  I think she'll be relieved when soccer is over.  Since so many kids have been missing games, she has had to run much more than she would like even though she's a great runner.  Her birthday is coming up, too!  We'll have a family party for her, Tate, and Lane, next weekend when all the family comes for Tate's baptism and Finley's blessing.

Henry and Finley and I enjoy some quiet time at home when Tate and Avery are at school.  It's odd having 4 kids now.  I have to count them to keep track of them when we leave the house.  With 3, I could keep an eye on them a bit easier.  With 4, I have hit the counting stage!