A Third Grader! And a Student Teacher!

School started very early on August 11 this year!  We had two starting school this year- Wes starting student teaching at Spanish Springs High School and Liam starting third grade in SWAS. Liam was a little bit nervous about starting a new school, but we went ahead of time and met his teacher and saw his classroom so that helped ease his nerves. SWAS is a program within the district that is a special school for gifted kids. The curriculum is all project based. It's a really cool program. Liam's class is a combined 3/4 class and he knew one of the kids from our previous ward.  The school that his program is in is a really nice school and very close to my grandma and grandpa's.  WE knew the change would be great, but change is always nerve wracking.  The most exciting part for Liam (and least exciting for mom and dad) is that he no longer has to wear uniforms.

So here are my boys on their first days of school. Both of them had great first days!

When I am Baptized...

Liam has been looking forward to his baptism for, literally, years. He's been planning his program, etc, since his last birthday.  For some reason, I can't get the file of his invation to upload, but my friend Natalie Perry took beautiful baptism photos for us up at the temple. This was the one we used for his announcement.  I love all of them that she took.







This last pose was Liam's idea.
 

The day of his actual baptism ended up being a little hairy for me- I had to have emergency surgery for an arterial bleed in my sinuses the day before secondary to a surgery I had two weeks prior to that. HOWEVER, I had my mom who cleaned my house top to bottom and my in-laws arrived and helped us prepare.  My mom and my grandma made beautiful temple and 8 cookies for everyone to enjoy. My mom had also given me a beautiful bouquet of white flowers that were perfect on the table. We had everyone over for dessert after the baptism. It was lovely.

 



But let's back up a little bit. Here are some photos of everyone before the special event!






























 

Liam was so so excited to be baptized by his daddy. It was a very full circle moment for me.  When all of the children gathered around the font to watch Liam get baptized, the spirit was so strong. Liam is a spiritual giant. When he met with the bishop, the bishop was so impressed the Liam had taken the time to learn about the symbolism and history of baptism. I truly feel that Liam 100% was ready to make this decision on his own. I am so proud of his desire to follow Christ.  Liam also met with the sister missionaries to discuss baptism and he asked the most poignant questions and has a strong desire to know the doctrine of the gospel. His faith and desire to learn is so pure. I'm so proud to be his mother. He teaches me every day.






I was blown away by the number of people that came to Liam's baptism from our ward family. It was a beautiful symbol of being part of a larger family and of being surrounded by people that are always there to love and support you. I'm so thankful for all of those who love and support our son.

For his program Liam had La Resa Darrington give the opening prayer, the bishop gave a talk on baptism, Sister Natalie Perry gave the talk on the Holy Ghost (he even sent her a text without me knowing to ask her- I have zip to do with that decision), Grandma played the piano- I like to Look for Rainbows and I stand all amazed, and Addy gave the closing prayer.



Natalie's talk was perfect. She talked about the HOly Ghost being a flash light and gave Liam a flash light.

At the end of the program, after he had received the Holy Ghost, Liam went and shook everyone's hands. And then he told us "I feel so so good. I've never felt so good in my whole life." That's about how I felt as well. What an awesome thing- to witness your child feeling the full impact of the gospel.

Backyard Pool

We spent a lot of time in the backyard pool this summer. All of the kids love love loved it.  It was a good summer.

A Cub Scout!

Besides his upcoming baptism, I think the most exciting part of Liam turning 8 for Wes and Liam is that he became a cub scout! His very first evening at cub scouts, he built a rocket and his won!  When the boys got home, they got working on all of his scout stuff!  It was so cute.

Swimming lessons!

For their birthdays, both Liam and Addy got swimming lessons from my mom and dad. We had so much fun watching them swim swim swim!  They took lessons at deer park, the same place my mom did when she was a kid!













And Finn tried to break into the pool from playing in the park with dad while the kiddos swam: