A great Great-grandmother

This week we drove down to the St. Pete area in Florida to visit a very special lady.

David's grandmother - my kids' great-grandmother.  She'll be 90 in April.

Grace has been so excited to go see her "Great great-grandmother."  She was too young to remember that GreatGrandmother came to visit us in Omaha when Grace turned 1.  And she doesn't remember seeing her when she last came to Charlotte for Christmas.  So Grace has been talking pretty much nonstop about seeing her again.  In fact, I think she's more excited about visiting Great Grandmother than she is about going to Disney.

In fact, the night before our trip Grace and I were talking and she wanted to know if she would get to meet Great-grandmother's daddy.  I told her that he had already died so we couldn't meet him yet.  Then Grace wanted to know if she would get to meet Great-grandmother's husband.  I told her no, he had died, too. 

Grace replied, "That's so sad.  Does Great-grandmother have any children?"  And I said, "Yes.  Pappy is Great-grandmother's son."  Grace paused for a minute and said, "But Pappy doesn't live with Great-grandmother!  Who lives with Great-grandmother?"  I told her that Great-grandmother lived alone and that's why we were going to visit her.

Grace teared up and said, "Momma, that's so sad!  Great-grandmother must be so lonely!"  After a moment, she followed with, "But I'll make her so happy when she sees me!"  And indeed she did. 

Benjamin baptized

Today is a very special day.

Benjamin will be baptized today!

I'm very excited to have our youngest baptized.

Both of the girls were baptized around their first birthday so both sides of our family could be together.

But Thanksgiving week worked out well.  And having Benjamin baptized is one more thing I am thankful for this year. 

David's dad and my dad both took part in the sacrament.

Benjamin was entertained playing with his Daddy's pocket.

Then we were called up front for our vows. 

After which Pappy baptized Benjamin.

Then Granddaddy Freddie said a prayer.

And we sat down and soon took the younger children to the nursery.

I am so grateful that both of Benjamin's grandfathers were able to take part in the sacrament today. 

David and I take our vows very seriously.  We know that our children need Christ and we promised to pray for them, to be a godly example, to teach and raise them in the nuture and admonition of the Lord so that one day they will make their own profession to follow Christ as well.  That is what is most important.  Regardless of whether they grow up to be doctors or lawyers or stay-at-home moms, I pray and trust that each of my children will grow up and become true believers in Christ. 

Retaining wall garden

Grace helped me plant our retaining wall garden today.

We planted arugala, kale, spinach, romaine, and red cabbage.  I can already taste homegrown salads.  Yum!

Chloe enjoys the fire with Puppy Friend

Chloe adores our fireplace.

So much so that we moved her little bed beside it.  And now she actually uses it.

And she doesn't mind sharing either.

Because apparently, Faith thinks that Puppy Friend likes to nap beside the fire, too.

Hope busted my Nikon. Not exactly.

My sister has the oddest luck.  Electronics simply don't work for long when she's around.  And it's not like she drops or breaks them.  They just don't like her and simply die.  Take my Nikon for instance.

I've had it for 5 years or so and never had a problem with it.  But then I took this picture of her holding Benjamin.

And then this picture.  And then boom!  My Nikon gives me an error saying, "Press Shutter Release Button again."  Huh? So I press the button again.  Same error.  So I turn my camera off and on again.  I take out memory cards and batteries.  All to no avail.  I research it online and come to a sad conclusion.  My trusty, reliable friend is dead.  For good.  And I'm convinced it's because Hope has an electrical imbalance...  It's not really her fault but what are the odds that it finally goes kaput when I'm taking a picture of my sibling with a long history of killing all things electronic?  Curling irons, cell phones, laptops.  Anything that requires batteries or a plug only lasts so long where she's concerned.  But I love her anyway and will take this to mean it's time to upgrade...

Tired

I managed to really wear the girls out today.

Both of them curled up in my bed and fell sound asleep.

And I left them there until dinner time.  Naps are too few to not take full advantage.

Going for a walk

It's always fun to go for a walk around the neighborhood.

Grace pulled Faith in the wagon while I pushed Benjamin in the small stroller.

We stopped by the lake.

And enjoyed the view.

Then Grace pushed Benjamin in the stroller while I pulled an empty wagon.  Faith ran ahead as the leader.

Then played on the playground for a while and it was time to head home.

Faith tried to pull Grace in the wagon but she was much too heavy.  Somehow I managed to tow all three kids, a wagon, and stroller home safe and sound.