The Miracle

I wanted to share this beautiful Easter song by Shawna Edwards.  The lyrics are thought-provoking and the message is true!

Family Van Evening.

I decided to tackle my next Spring cleaning project.  Last Thursday, I deep cleaned the entryway (washed walls, put away all but absolutely necessary winter items, made (FINALLY) a slipcover for the entry bench, and cleaned the floors -- also finally ordered a rug that will actually fit in there and on Friday, Stanton and I completely deep cleaned our bedroom -- including rearranging all the furniture (it looks SOOO much better and BIGGER). 
The kitchen has been a considerably huger project (I haven't even moved the stove and fridge yet) and has taken me all day -- I'm not even close to done yet, but I'm getting there.  Kiki came over and helped me do some of it, as well as played with the kids (it was a district day off for the kids).  Anyway....our dinner plans went out the window with the kitchen in such disarray (the cupboards all look amazing...it's the countertops that are a mess!), so I piled the kids in the van and took them to Sonic for dinner.  It was 6:15 by the time they started eating, so I declared tonight "Family Van Evening."  We had a prayer, opening song, and scripture, then I gave the lesson right there in the car.  :)  I'm so glad I spent some time planning the lesson last night -- today completely slipped away from me!  I ended up not feeling like any of the Apostle songs I found last night were working for me, so I just made up my own.  It is to the tune of "Nephi's Courage."  It goes,

"Prophets and apostles really are great folks,
Monson, Eyring, Uchtdorf, Packer, Perry, Nelson, Oaks,
Ballard, Scott, Hales, Holland, Bednar, Cook,
Christofferson, and Anderson all teach us where to look."

We sang it about a million times and by the end, the kids were starting to get the hang of it!

We pulled into the garage and had a fun activity where they earned chocolate chips (our treat) for different parts of their getting ready for bed routines.  When they were all done, we played "Who Am I" (a family favorite game) with the fun facts I found last night.  It was a lot of fun and the kids kept saying that this was the funnest Family Home Evening ever.  Love that.

PS, Stanton is visiting his Grandma who is really doing poorly right now, which is why he was absent from our Van Evening.

I call it a win on this night -- and now back to the kitchen!

Want to Remember...

I'm working on our Family Home Evening for tomorrow (for FHE this year, we're going right along with the Primary themes each month - it gives us an opportunity to know what the kids are learning about, teach them in the home first, memorize the themes and scriptures, learn the songs for the program, and it makes it pretty simple to figure out what to do for a lesson each week).
Tomorrow, we're going to learn about the 12 modern apostles and the First Presidency.  We are going to talk about General Conference and what we can learn there.  The song I used to learn the 12 apostles is outdated and I can't make it work with all the new syllables in the new apostles' names, so I'm looking for a new song to teach the kids.  I think it's really useful to know the names of the apostles.  (To my non-LDS friends, I know this all sounds like mumbo-jumbo to you!  I apologize and am readily available to decipher any of it for you if you're interested!).
Anyway, I found this cute video on YouTube that I want archived here.  I don't think I'll try to teach it to the kids tomorrow -- it's pretty lengthy for our lesson span -- but I would like them to be able to watch it and enjoy it.  And I don't want to lose track of it.  :)





Here's the one I think I'll use -- it's quick and concise.



I don't think we'll actually watch the video, but I will practice the song tonight and tomorrow so I'll be able to teach it to the kids.

I'm not sure what else we'll do.  I'm considering using the Apostle Fact cards linked at the bottom of the page HERE to learn some fun things about each apostle. 

Any bright ideas?  Last week, we did a game where the kids took turns telling everyone directions I would whisper in their ear.  That helped them understand that a prophet is someone God uses to give us directions.
We then played a little charades game using quotes from a few of the prophets/apostles.  It was a lot of fun. 
Guess what?  The kids had the EXACT same activities in Sharing Time today.  This is why I'm so glad we're doing our Family Home Evenings this way this year!  Out of the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses shall my word be established.  And I love that they're learning these things at home first.

Anyway, those are my fabulous ideas for the week (har).

Conversations

I think I might be caught up after this post!  Phew!

January

Cannon:  Jesus wants us to eat healthy foods because they make our body strengthLy.

Chloe is fantastic at convincing Cannon to do something or helping him calm down from a tantrum.

Chloe as we were making Mickey Mouse shaped rice krispy treats that were kind of a pain since we had to smoosh the ears onto the circle for the head and they weren't sticking very well....Lily put one in the pan and it came apart:  Lily!  You forgot to use elbow grease!

When I'm out sometimes, the kids will call my cell phone.  If I don't answer, they usually hang up after the message recorder starts recording, but they don't ever leave a message.  This particular time, I heard Lily on the voice message (but it was NOT a message she was leaving me) saying to Chloe:  I will BUST you!


Disneyland

Chloe wrote several pages in her school journal that were so descriptive and hilarious.  I will definitely be saving that journal in her school years file.
One of the cutest things she wrote was that Lily was doing her math homework while we were driving and that she thought it should be called her math "drivingwork" because it was driving her (Lily) crazy and because we were driving.

Brigham kept himself busy drawing pictures of Mickey Mouse and monsters.

Cannon played with his cars on the couch.

Lily worked on her math homework.

(Just a cute little moment in the life during our travel to Disneyland).

The girls were discussing the "best places on earth" and were disagreeing.  Lily was saying that Yellowstone and Hawaii were the best and Chloe felt that Hawaii and Disneyland were best.  I had to agree with both of them and point out how lucky we are to have traveled to each of them.  They agreed with that and then Lily said: Yeah, and McDonald's!
I wasn't quite as eager to agree with that one.  :)

 In St. George, on our way to Disneyland, we stopped for ice cream at Nielsen's (a tradition I can totally get behind...).  We told the kids that we'd eat our ice cream, get them ready for bed, tuck them in, and then drive to California while they were sleeping.
Lily:  Can I sleep on the bunk?
Stanton: Yes.
Lily:  This is the life I've wanted...

Brigham as we were leaving Disneyland our first day:  Disneyland is the place where dreams come true.  Pause  But why didn't any of our dreams come true?

Riding the tram to the Park entrance, the voice came over in Spanish to say "Para su seguridad..." 
Cannon turning to me excitedly:  We already have a goody bag!

Cannon after hearing a couple we were chatting with on the tram mention they were going on the Teacups ride:  We are NOT gonna go on the Teacups again!

February

Cannon to Lily, who was teasing him about having to marry his sister when he grew up:  I don't want to marry my sister.  I want to marry myself!
Lily:  You want to marry yourSELF?!
Cannon:  No, I want to marry Mom...

Brigham: Do you know why we have to close our eyes when we make a wish?
Me:  Why?
Brigham:  Because our wishes might be on our eyes and we don't want anyone to see our wishes because they might not come true.

Bishop Stephenson at Chloe's baptismal interview:  Do you obey the Word of Wisdom?
Chloe:  I think so.
Bishop Stephenson:  What do you mean, "You think so?"  Do you drink alcohol or smoke?
Chloe:  No.
Bishop:  The Word of Wisdom is not taking in the wrong things and eating the healthy things.  So, do you obey the Word of Wisdom?
Chloe:  Yes, except sometimes I sneak marshmallows out of the pantry.

Brigham trying to convince Cannon to go get jammies from their room together:  Cannon, will you come with me to get jammies?
Cannon:  Okay, but first I have to spank you!
Brigham:  Okay.
He bent over, Cannon spanked him twice.
Cannon:  Okay, let's go!
And they happily walked to their room together.  Cannon is the funniest, weirdest kid!

Me:  How was preschool?
Cannon:  It was great.  We had a snack -- crackers and water.
Me:  Ooh, fun.  Did you do anything else?
Cannon with a mischievous grin on his face:  Oh, I forgot...and we ate garbage....

Cannon to Brigham, who was eating a bag of Craisins from the pantry:  What are you eating?
Brigham:  None of your beeswax.
Cannon crying to me:  Mom, I want some beeswax!!

Cannon is on a weird kick lately where he insists on wearing two long sleeved shirts every day.  It's weird and has got to be so uncomfortable, but he likes it, so I just do the extra laundry because he's cute.

Cannon who thought he was teasing the girls:  Girls go to Jupiter to get more...candy bars.

Cannon:  Mommy, when is all of our hair ever going to turn yellow like Chloe's?

Cannon:  Can I go to or have XYZ?
Me:  Maybe.
Cannon:  Maybe YES?
He does this ALL THE TIME.  It's super cute.

Brigham quoting a scripture we've been memorizing (well, an abbreviated version of it -- 2 Nephi 2:27) as a family:  Wherefore, men are free to choose liberty and justice for all through the great wall of China.
It's supposed to say, "Wherefore, men are free to choose liberty and eternal life through the great Mediator of all men."

Cannon:  My face looks like a coconut, right?

March
 

Lily:  I'm tired all the way down to my toe bones.

Chloe sighing on the morning of her baptism:  Well, today is my last day to be naughty.  Pause, another sigh... Oh, actually yesterday was my last day to be naughty......

Chloe's Baptism Pictures

Emily Chadwick spent her Saturday afternoon capturing these beautiful pictures of Chloe in her baptism dress.  We ordered several and had them set up around the great room during the brunch after her baptism.  I was so grateful to Emily for taking the time to do them and doing such a great job.  This is a milestone to remember and I hope Chloe will be able to look back on these and think of what a beautiful thing she has experienced these last few weeks.

I'm just adding every single one of them because they are just too precious to exclude any.  Also, to justify Lily's recent complaints that "everything is ALL about Chloe right now..."  Yeah, it is.  And it'll be your turn next year, my dear!

Stake Conference Talk - Stanton

Continuing our weekend of huge things going on, Stanton was asked to speak in the Sunday morning session of our Stake Conference the day after Chloe's baptism. 

Here is his talk:

Stake Conference Talk 2012

Yesterday, I had the sacred priviledge of baptizing my first Child, Chloe.  What a wonderful, spirit filled day it was.  Chloe glowed for the entire day.  Her eyes were magically bright as we talked about it before we went to the Church.  We said a prayer together in my Study, I prayed first, then she offered a prayer. In my prayer I asked the Lord to give Chloe a witness from the Holy Ghost that what she was about to do was true and good.  I prayed that she would recognize the spirit if it gave her a witness.  We arrived at the church, prepared.  Dressed in white, feeling clean and excited.  When it was our turn to go into the waters of baptism, I looked across the font to the other set of stairs where Chloe was waiting. There was a look of excitement and nervousness on her face.  I walked into the warm water and crossed over to where Chloe was.  I extended my hand out to her and lead her into the waters of baptism.  We walked to the middle of the font and I looked  into the audience on the other side of the glass.  Her sister, and brothers and cousins, all sat on little chairs, looking down at us with wonderment.  Family was there, the spirit was there and as soon as a hush came over the room, Chloe and I clasped hands as we had practiced several times before.  Two of her grandpas stood as witnesses.  I raised my right arm to the square and as thoughtfully and reverently as I could said: "Chloe Rose Allen, Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.  When I was finished, I looked up at the witnesses for a nod of approval, then down at my sweet little daughter.  She plugged her nose and I submersed her briefly under the water.

Shortly there after, my good bishop, family and a friend, layed our hands on her head and we confirmed her a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints and said to her "recieve the Holy Ghost".  Then my mind was open, and I gave her a fathers blessing in the name of the Lord.

The Power of godliness was made manifest in the ordinances that were preformed.

With the experience of Chloe becoming a member of the Church, and in combination with this calling to speak, I have given myself to reflection on what Chloe is officially embarking on and what her destination is meant to be.  She has become accountable, and an official member of the Church. A covenanted member, and she is entitled to the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. 

Ahead is a great Journey and an adventure, and off in the distance, if we all look, as participants in this same covenant, we can see our promised destination.  The destination is what we are to become. It is what we promise to head towards.   Like a towering peak that can be seen from a hundred miles away.

The course in each of our lives is unknown.  The terrain is filled with times of wonder and happiness and certainly momements of trial and difficulty.  It is like an hundred mile journey, with many rivers and hills to pass. There are clifts and mountains to cross.  Large expanses, open fields and forests of trees.  But off in the distance there will always be that peak, towering high into the sky.  The destination. Our intent and promise.  The goal.  The guiding point.  Sometimes in our journey we wander off coarse, and sometimes we feel lost.  Sometimes the forest seem thick and there are many, many, distractions and sometimes we loose sight of that guiding peak.  But we know its there.  If we look hard, and diligently we will see it rising in the distance and we will never be completely lost.  Sometimes we may have to climb to higher ground to see our way, but it will always be there.  Ever present.   Unmovable.

This peak is the Rock of our Salvation.  It is Jesus Christ. The perfect Son of God.  The redeemer of the world.  The Savior of mankind.  All of our covenants are to assist us in become like he is.  He is our hope and guiding star. I know He lives!! He gives us guidance if we look to him and follow him in Faith.

So What is Faith. Faith can be one of the most simple doctrines to understand and one of the most complex.  There are different types of Faith, but the Faith that we need to focus on is "Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ". 

Faith is the First in a triad of virtues. Preach my Gospel explains that when we have Faith in Christ  "we accept and apply His Atonement and His teachings.  We trust in Him and what He says.  We know that He has the power to keep His promises."

Faith in Christ leads to Action.  It is what causes us to move along the path in our quest for the promised blessings and try as hard as we can to pursue His correct path for us that leads to eternal life.  His atonement has created the enabling power that gives us the fuel to move along the path and the ability to see clearly and the Hope that we can get there.  His attonement can release us from the chains of sin that try to bind us down into despair and doubt.  These are the great destroyers of Faith and Hope..

Satan, the great deciever.  The enemy of our soul, desires for us to be miserable.  He doesn't want us to gain our promised blessings, and he works constantly to destroy our Faith in Christ and our Hope.

He creates in us feelings of doubt because it destroys hope.  He causes us to fear that we can't improve because that destroys faith.  He knows that if he can destroy our faith and hope, that he will claim us His and that we will be unhappy.  He dispises us.

"O, my beloved brethren, remember the awfulness in transgressing against that Holy God, and also the awfulness of yielding to the enticings of that cunning one.  Remember to be carnally-minded is death, and to be spiritually minded is life eternal." 2 Nephi 9:39

As long as we are able to breath and think and live on this earth, there is always an ability and a cause to have hope.  No matter how much guilt, fear, discouragement, doubt, feelings of inadequacy or sorry, no matter how great the transgression, there can be a way out. 

Do we get lost along this quest?  Do we loose sight of Christ, the rock of our salvation,  and his great attonement?  If any of us are thinking yes, you are not alone.


Jacob in the book of mormon spoke to his people about this.  I can just imagine the people living in Jacobs time.  This is fifty years after Lehi has left Jerusalem.  Jacob is the younger brother of Nephi.  This small group of people have  come to a foreign land.  They were alone, just a small group.  Some felt that perhaps the Lord had cast them off.  They felt lost.  Alone.  And that maybe the lord wouldn't keep his promises to them. They were Lacking in Faith and Hope.  Jacob, after teaching them of the Promises of the Lord, using the scriptures says:

"And now, my beloved brethren, seeing that our merciful God has given us so great knowledge concerning these things, let us remember him, and lay aside our sins, and not hang down our heads, for we are not cast off; .....23. Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves-to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life.
24. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will of the devil and the flesh; and remember, that after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved."

The savior likewise has given this tender counsil of hope to his flock:

D&C 6: 33-37:
Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward.
34. Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail.
35. Behold, I do not condemn you; go your ways and sin no more;  perform with soberness the work which I have commanded you.
36. Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.
37. Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven.


As we have Faith in Christ by doing good, praying, making covenants, keeping the commandments, We can receive a perfect brightness of Hope and be filled with the pure love of God.

Mormon Explains this process:

Moroni 8:25-26:
25"And the first fruits of repentance is baptism; and baptism cometh by faith unto the fulfilling the commandments; and the fulfilling the commandments bringeth remission of sins;
26  And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God."

He also said concerning this love that we need to :
Moroni 7:48:
 "pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are the true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. "

The Journey is meant to be a journey of purification.  Of Becoming.  The destination can be reached through the Grace of Christ.  I so witness to you.  In the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Baptism Day -- Chloe Rose

This is a day we have looked forward to with excitement and nervousness both.  Chloe made her first covenant with her Heavenly Father on March 3rd.  It was such a beautiful day and she glowed with goodness and light and the gift of the Holy Ghost.

The stake baptism meeting was at 9:00 in the morning, so we were so thankful to family who woke up very early to travel here in time!
I had the neat opportunity to give the talk on baptism.  It was really special to be able to think about the subject and what Heavenly Father wanted these children to know about it.  I felt so guided as I wrote my talk.

Chloe told me this morning that she was excited and scared today.  I think that's a good description of how we all must feel!

I love 2 Nephi 31:5-7.  In it, Nephi teaches that Jesus was baptized to “fulfill all righteousness.”  He did that by showing humility, choosing to obey God’s commandment to be baptized, and making that covenant with Heavenly Father.  He set the example for us!

Heavenly Father has called little children holy.  He says that little are without sin.  He has also taught that at age 8, you become accountable.  You understand right and wrong much better and begin to be able to make right choices most of the time.

He trusts you to be able to make this first covenant with Him!  This covenant is your opportunity to show obedience – to show you want to follow Him and follow His son, Jesus Christ. 

Some of the ways He asks you to show your choice to follow Him are to:

o  Love and serve those around you.

o  Look for those who might be sad or lonely and be their friend.

o  Share your testimony with others.

o  Learn about His Gospel by going to church, praying, and reading our scriptures.

o  Paying tithing and fasting.

o  and Learning His commandments and choosing to obey them.

Heavenly Father wants you to be able to do those things because He loves you.  So, when you choose to make the covenant of baptism, He gives you special help!

o  He promises to always forgive you when you know you’ve made a poor choice and want to change.  And even better, He promises to help you change!

o  He promises you the gift of the Holy Ghost, which is just amazing.  The Holy Ghost will help you choose the right and keep your promises if you choose to listen for Him.

o  Heavenly Father promises that He will renew His covenant with you every week by giving you the sacrament.  This is another amazing gift because you get to remember the promises you made and start fresh every time!

You children are ready and prepared to make this covenant with Heavenly Father.  Think of yourselves like Nephi:

“I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them to accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.”

He has prepared a way for you and you are beginning your adventure on that path!

Heavenly Father is real and really loves you.

Jesus Christ is real and really did suffer and die and live again for you.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints really is His church on the earth—restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith.

The Gospel is true and you are part of it!

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Chloe was the last child called back to be baptized.  We all gathered around as Stanton and she walked down the steps into the water.  She grinned from ear to ear.  Stanton said the baptismal prayer, Chloe plugged her nose, and then Stanton immersed her in the water.  She came back up a new creature: a covenanted disciple of Jesus Christ.  

We went into the dressing room, dried her off, got her into her white dress, and then she sat in a chair as her father, uncles, grandfathers, great-grandfather, and friend laid their hands on her head and confirmed her a member of the Church of Jesus Christ and gave her the gift of the Holy Ghost's constant companionship.  Stanton gave her a father's blessing that was beautiful.  The Spirit was present and beautiful.  

Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of God is manifest.  - Doctrine and Covenants 84:20.  We felt it in this ordinance of baptism and confirmation for Chloe.  And she felt it, too.

We came home all aglow and had a wonderful brunch with all our family and friends.  The egg casseroles weren't done (of course!), so we were running around, turning up ovens, heating up skillets to scramble the egg casseroles, and trying to get things under control.  It all turned out fine in the end, so no harm done.  The food was awesome.  Chloe loved watching her slideshow and talking to all her guests.  It was just a wonderful day.

 Chloe and Stanton in their whites.  Her hair was in braids, then brought over and tied on opposite sides.  When she came up out of the water, she shook her head (like a little doggy) and her braids flew right out!  It was really cute.

 Any chance to play with cousins is pretty much heaven!  Everyone enjoyed the slideshow while we waited for the food to cook.

(Clockwise LtoR): Grandma Judy & Grandpa David, Grandma & Grandpa Rose with a memory book they gave Chloe, my Grandma and Grandpa Rose and Cindy, Grandma & Grandpa Rose with Chloe.  It was SO special to have my grandma there with us.  Thanks, Mom and Dad for making it so they could be there!

Cindy and crew stuck around for the afternoon, which was way fun.  It was just a perfect day.  That night, Stanton went to our adult session of Stake Conference while I got the kids to bed (I joined him for the second half).  While tucking the girls in, they asked if they could ask some gospel questions to me.  For the next half hour, we felt the spirit as we talked about really neat things.  I learned from the Spirit as it gave me answers to their questions.  It was really neat.

Thank you, Dear Chloe, for giving our family an opportunity to have a day like this one.  You are a wonderful example to your siblings and they look up to you.  Thanks for being the child you are.  We love you! 

(oops, I messed up my formatting when pasting in that talk.  Oh well....done is better than perfect, right?) 

King Charles the Fluffy turns 1!

Charlie turned one on March 4th, so we had a little (and I mean LITTLE) party for him.   It consisted of pulling some new toys out of the packaging for him.  He didn't seem to mind, though, and had a great time chasing the toys as everyone threw them.

He's a good dog and we sure love having him (most of the time!). 

Happy birthday, Charlie!

Birthday Celebrations!

Since it was an 'even' birthday year for Chloe, there was no getting out of throwing her a friend birthday party.  She helped plan some of the activities and we ended up having a great time, in spite of my anxiety about entertaining a gaggle of 2nd grade girls. 

The girls all walked home from school to our house together.  It was darn cute to see those giggly girls all walking together!

 

We had a snack and then played a fun game that Chloe made up --"Pin the Tie on the Prophet."  It was a really fun game that the girls all loved.

 Our next activity was decorating aprons with puffy paint.  Oh, I was so clever (HA!) and laid out tablecloths on the floor so we could contain the mess.  I'm sure you can guess how that went.  :)  There is paint on walls on rooms we never used.  And I'm sure a few mothers cursed my name when their daughters came home with aprons so thick with paint they would take days to dry and jeans covered in the non-washable stuff.  But hey, the girls had a blast with it.  They loved it, in fact!

Chloe got spoiled with super thoughtful gifts from friends (and siblings!).  This is such a cute and sweet group of girls -- they had zero drama the whole 2 hours.  Love that.

Our last activity was an ice cream bar.  I just scooped each of them a huge bowl of ice cream and set out several bowls of candy toppings -- then let the girls loose.  They were on sugar overload and I don't think a single one of them finished their treat!  Instead, they went outside and ran around the backyard in the beautiful weather.  Success!  

It was a really fun friend party -- 7-8 year olds are pretty darn fun to host.  Especially this group of them.  What great kids.

After we got all the girls home, I threw together Chloe's birthday dinner (Chloe will ALWAYS choose spaghetti for dinner).  We had a salad and breadsticks to go with the spaghetti and enjoyed the yummy meal as a family.

After dinner, we cleaned up and had Dave & Judy over for cake and ice cream.  She also opened her birthday presents during that party.

 She received her own set of scriptures from us and a messenger bag-style tote from Dave & Judy.  We also gave her a nightstand (the ONLY thing she asked for for her birthday -- I found it at the DI and spray painted it-- on her birthday---late much?!).  Cindy and family gave her a placemat with her picture on it and sweet compliments on the back.  It was a good birthday. 

 Sweet Mary and Shelbi came with Dave and Judy.  It was a lot of fun to have them over!

Chloe liked her cake a lot.  I liked how easy it was to put together.  :)

The next day, my folks came down to celebrate with Chloe.  We had a really fun day with them.

Chloe was thrilled with the easel they gave her and enjoyed putting it together with Grandpa Rose.  The kids absolutely LOVE any time they get to spend with their grandparents.  They definitely lucked out in that department!

It was a great weekend of celebrating!

Our Chloe Turns 8!!!!

How....
Tell me how this little tiny baby became a lovely young lady so quickly?!

 She could not have been a more adorable, petite, perfect little baby.  So sweet.

 Oh, how tiny she was.  Look at her buried in those stuffies!  And do you see Dolly?  That yellow dolly has been Chloe's comfort and friend for 8 years and there's no end in sight for their loving relationship.  Thanks, Mala and Barb (Stanton's co-workers at CHOB) for such a thoughtful gift!

 She was the smiliest kid.  And her bright eyes were something people always stopped to comment on.

 I can't believe how young she was when Lily was born -- just 14 months (and she didn't have any teeth yet!).  She was so tiny when we moved into this home, just 2 1/2 -- and even though she was just 2 1/2 when Brigham was born, she looked so grown up.  We expected too much of her for that reason, but oh, how little and sweet she was!

 She was just 4 1/2 when her third younger sibling was born.  That was the longest year of all our lives, but then she started school and this is where the montage in my mind begins.  These last few years (from 5 to 8) have absolutely blown past us.

 Somehow she's gone from Kindergarten to 2nd grade and has hit all those fun milestones that make those years so fun.

She's challenged us many a time and forced us to become better parents.  I appreciate her for it.  She has deep feelings of goodness in her heart.  She seeks truth and really loves it once she gains an understanding of it.  She has been a really amazing child to have in our family. 

It's hard to even think of what the next 8 years will bring...and how quickly they will go by.
For now, we will just enjoy this remarkable young lady that Heavenly Father has blessed us to love and raise.

Happy Birthday, Dear Chloe.  You are the Daughter of a King and will be one of His great disciples.  We love you!