Abigaill got baptized!

On January 4th 2014, Abigail was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

We gave her her own copy of the Book of Mormon last summer and she has been working her way through it herself. She made it to the very end of 2nd Nephi.

We gave her the choice of if she wanted to get baptized and she wanted to.

Abi wanted CTR cookies and pink lemonade for the after party. So, I stayed up late making these cookies. It was hard but totally worth it when I saw the look on her face the next morning.

It was awesome to see her baptized by her dad. 

Many of our family were able to make it. It was very special.

Afterward, everyone came back to our house and had treats. 

Abi opened a few gifts.

My parents gave her a really nice triple combination with her name on it and scripture marking pencils.

Doug's parents gave her the cute pink scripture tote, tissues, bracelet, and articles of faith card.

Brent and Karen's family gave her the baptism memory book.

Dan and Steph gave her a cute card with gumballs. 

We decided to get a picture of Abi with the men that were in the circle with her, but most of them had left already. We decided to at least do it with those that were still over.

My dad, Doug and Abi, my brother in law Dan.

It was a very special day!

Baptism photo shoot

It was so hard to believe that it was time for Abi to be baptized!

She was going to be baptized on January 4th so I spent the last few days of December getting the invitations together. 

We went over to the Timpanogas temple to take pictures.

These were some of my favorites.

Night in Bethleham and gifts

That evening we were all going to my sister's ward for their Night In Bethlehem presentation.

My brother Brent and his wife Karen came over to our place first to give Abi her gift.

My kids just love their Uncle Brent.

We signed the scroll at the night in bethlehem and then gave a can of food for our taxes.

We sat on blankets on the floor and they provided dinner.

It was really great.

The next morning I took a picture of Abi with all of her gifts from us, and both parties.

General Conference

This year I forgot about doing anything for General Conference until the day before.

I pulled out some things I had in our gift closet (where I store things that I get on clearance throughout the year) and made a quick trip to the store for some goodies. 

I also pulled the GC board out of storage but I didn't take the time to change the people that had been released and called... maybe by next spring that will be done.

Maddy started the day as MinnieBelle being silly as usual..

We set up their fort and they both immediately climbed in and snuggled.

Last year I had things they would open when certain people spoke. This time I did a 'store'. They earned points for being reverent during a talk, filling out their papers, and being able to put subjects the speaker had talked about up on the board. When each talk was over I would ask two questions. One hard and one easy about that talk. They would get points for the right answers.

Then between speakers we would pause it and they could shop.

Salt Lake City Cemetery

After our factory tour we drove to downtown Salt Lake City and had a picnic at a park near the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

Then we went over to the cemetery. First we visited my Grandpa's grave. He died 13 years ago on July  1st and this was the first time I have taken the girls to visit his grave. My mom brought along an old family picture from when she was young to show the girls her father.

Then we drove around visiting some of the other graves here. We stopped by the Christmas Box angel.

Heber J. Grant

David O. McKay

Gordon B. Hinckley

This was the back of his monument. The girls and I went back there to read the little plaque and another family started taking pictures in front of it so we were stuck back there for a minute. The plaque said that the monument was made from the excess stone left over from the temple and conference center.

We saw a bunch of coins on the monument so Karen looked it up to find out why. She told us that people leave coins there to let the family know that they have come to pay their respects. So, she gave Abi and Maddy each a penny to put on.

Temple Square Part Two

The two big sisters...

the two little sisters...

On the Temple grounds there were many more fountains for Abi to want to touch...

doing her scavenger hunt...

After walking through Temple Square we went to the Church History Museum.

We toured the main section first and then ended in the kid section. Maddy loved dressing up in the dancing area and dancing with her cousins. Abi not so much. She did it once and then was off to play...

These pictures are a little blurry but they made me laugh. Maddy was sticking out her little bum and shaking it looking in the mirror and then laughing so hard.

Fishing...

Mckenna, Courtney, and Maddy's temple...

Abi's temple...

Then it was time to make dinner for the missionaries. 

Maddy gathering fresh eggs...

working together to set the table...

feasting...

This picture is a little blurry too but Courtney was making the funniest face as she pet her little stuffed friend that I had to add it...

They have a section where you draw something that makes you shine. You leave it there and they will add it to this big tree they have. 

Abi's picture

Maddy's 

After the museum we walked back through temple square and headed out. Such a fun day!