Hailey's Baptism

October, 8th 2011, Hailey was baptized. It was a fabulous event. We spent weeks planning, buying a beautiful white dress, having many Family Home Evenings on Baptism, making invitations, cleaning the house, preparing the program, and then having a wonderful day. 

A few weeks before the baptism I took Hailey to Temple Square in Salt Lake City to take some pictures of Hailey around the temple. It was around 6 pm on a random Wednesday and not very many people were at Temple Square. She looked so beautiful in her white dress. She walked and acted like a princess. We talked a lot about the church and life in general. It was wonderful private time. I took her in the visitor's center to the statue of Christ and told her that is where Ben proposed to me. She sat on the same chair I did, almost 13 years ago. I took her to the temple doors and her little hand shook as she reached to touch the door knob. She cried afterwards and said she could feel the Holy Spirit very strongly. It was a wonderful sweet time. 

Hailey was able to be baptized with her friend Myah Smith. They were only birthdays in September, to be baptized in October. She was baptized by her Ben. Many, many families came to support her. We had many of her neighborhood friends. Our home teachers (brother Moore and brother Caughlin), her primary teachers (Sister Anderson) and the Primary presidency. My visiting teachers. Our good friend Craig Mattinson conducted (he is in the bishopric). Abby Mattinson play the piano and Grandpa Powell lead the music. Shelli Smith gave a talk on baptism and Grandma Powell gave a talk on the Holy Ghost. Hailey, Aubrey, Myah and Beckham sang "When I am Baptized" while my sister, Stephanie, played the guitar. Grandma and Grandpa Place came, Grandma and Grandpa Powell, Jen, The Morgan family, the Mercer family, Rachael, Ryan, Jett, Becca and Hannah, the Okerlund family and the Herrera family. There was so much love and support it was overwhelming. After the baptism everyone came to our home for lunch. I had made a movie of Hailey's first 8 years and played it for everyone. It was a wonderful day!!!

Hailey and Ben before the baptism.

Hailey and Myah on their baptism day.

Hailey at the temple

Hailey's first time to touch the temple doors. 

Hailey's 8th Birthday

Hailey had a fantastic 8th birthday. It was really a week of celebration. The Friday before her birthday Grandma Powell took her out on a special date. They had lunch, saw a movie and shopped til they dropped! Grandma bought her some darling outfits for school. Saturday we went to Lagoon in the afternoon. Ashley stayed home with Ben so I could ride all the rides with the girls! We had a great day! Monday was Labor day and we swam at Grandma Places and had a BBQ. Tuesday was Hailey's actual birthday. Hailey woke up to a special egg and bacon breakfast then, I met Hailey at school to have lunch with her and I brought her FAVORITE Costa Vita enchiladas. We ate in the lunch room with all her friends and they all cooed at Ashley. Hailey was thrilled to be able to walk Ashley around in the stroller on the playground and show her off to all the kids. Wednesday was the big friend birthday party at the Lion House. 

When I turned 8 I had my birthday at the Lion House too, it is kind of a family tradition. To my surprise, Ben's family also has this tradition and Lindsey and Hilary had their 8th birthdays there too! That made it all the more special to continue with the family tradition of having a Lion House Birthday! The girls dressed in their Sunday best and we went out to the Lion House. It was so fun to see the girls giggle and get excited about being in the "great big city". We had to walk through the Joseph Smith Memorial building to get from the parking garage to the Lion House all the girls ooh and awwed at the big chandelier, they felt so fancy! It really added to the fun of the day! At the Lion House the girls got to have a little tea party and play pioneer games and take a tour of the house. Then, they pulled taffy and we did presents and stuff. At the end Hailey got to chose a beautiful doll off the fireplace mantel to take home. She chose a blonde girl with a blue dress. It was a great day and she had a fantastic birthday!!!!  

All the party girls in front of the Lion House

In our private little party room

All the girls got to wear Pioneer bonnets. They are darling girls!

Hailey and her cake!

Toddlers and Tiaras- Here we come!

I love to go to the Davis County Fair. We go every year. I love things like that (flee markets, bizarres, etc.) I love the food, I love the atmosphere, I love the animals, I love the whole thing, and I especially love that it is free! 

This year I invited my little sister Heather to come with us. Heather is 9 nine months pregnant and needed to get out of the house. So, being the awesome sister that I am, I invited her to come with us to the fair in 100 degree heat! The night before we planned to go, I looked online to see what the days activities were going to be. Low and behold, it was the Davis County Cute Baby Contest! I called Heather and we laughed about entering in Ashley and her daughter Melia. We decided "heck, why not?" I picked out one of my favorite outfits for Ashley, a green dress that really brightens her red hair. On a whim, I decided to be silly and paint her toenails bright pink. She really fought me on this and I was getting frustrated. I thought of the moms on TLC's "Toddlers and Tiaras" that spray tan their daughters while the daughter screams. Oh no, I don't want to be that mom! 

We arrived and entered our kids. They were entered by age group and gender. Then, when your group was called you had to walk up on stage and stand there (feeling really stupid). The announcer lady said, "now remember judges, this is on looks only. This is a Cute Baby Contest." (Ummm . . . let me tell you what, when you are standing on stage, hocking your precious angel, it is a really weird feeling. It is one thing to audition for something yourself and put yourself out there, it is a whole new ball of wax to put your innocent baby up there. I don't know how the TV moms do it.)  Ashley's group was small, but voila! She won!!! During judging she reached out her hands to the judges and smiled really cute! (the judges were the Fair Royalty) I'm pretty sure she melted their hearts. She got a big blue ribbon and a $50 gift certificate to Target!!! I was thrilled! Oh, now were are for sure going the pageant route! I've got a little money maker on my hands . . . wait, no, back to the ill feeling of hocking your angel. It was really fun to win though, I won't lie. 

I wasn't able to snap a really cute picture of her, but here she is with her big blue ribbon! First place baby!

Next it was Melia's turn. Her group was much larger that they had to split it into two different categories. Melia and Heather were right up front. Melia wore a darling red dress with flowers that Stephanie made for Kali. Melia has a darling personality and started dancing to the music. She is a little dolly. Viola! Again! Melia won second place! She got a pink ribbon and a $25 gift certificate to Target! Pretty awesome to get paid for going to the fair!

Melia is center on stage with a redish dress and yellow ribbon across it. Poor pregnant Heather is sitting on the stage with her. She was so cute dancing! And the girl on the left with the yellow sunsuit came and gave Melia a hug!

The whole day was really fun! We saw the animals and went to a really stupid Rattle Snake show. We always have a good time at the fair!

Bear Lake Palooza

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times . . .

My folks own a condo in Bear Lake. We go up two to three times a summer. Usually it is just immediate family but as it turned out this month, only Stephanie and I (and our little families) were going. We decided to branch out and invite the Powells (Mom and Dad Powell and Ben's sisters Hilary and Lindsey and their families) and some of the Mercer family (Darrin and Angela and their kids). It was a going to be a big crowd. Thus, Bear Lake Palooza.

We arrived on Friday and put the boat in the water. Mom and Dad Powell went to the marina to put in their jet skis. By the time we arrive from the beach with everyone to meet Mom and Dad at the marina, Dad Powell had fallen from the dock to the jet ski and had complete torn his knee. An ambulance was on it's way. Great start to a vacation. The medics took Dad Powell to the Logan Hospital and Mom Powell followed in her car. Needless to say, their vacation was ruined. Dad needed surgery and they returned to SLC that night and he had surgery first thing on Monday. (he is recovering well now). 

So now our vacation was already a bummer. But we kept on keeping on  . . . all in all it was a fun time. Here are some pictures from our trip.

Hilary and her son Jonas on the tube. Check out Joe's smile, he is such a cutie!

Loren and Hailey double knee-boarding behind the boat. Hailey loves to knee-board but this was her first time actually getting up holding the rope by herself. You HAVE to click on this picture and make it big, we were going slow for Hailey and Loren needed us to go MUCH faster. His facial expression is hilarious!!!

Bronson and Hailey double knee-boarding. 

Loren tried to wakeboard with Kali. She hated it. It was quite the sight to see him holding her while doing this.

Ashley LOVED the boat. This was her fist time really going and knowing slightly what was going on! We were on the boat for about five or six hours at a time and she was really a good sport! She loves driving with her daddy.

After the weekend, everyone else left, but Stephanie and I stayed with our kids until Wednesday. This was my morning wake-up call. 

My little beach bum.

The go-karts were finally open! We all had a great time trying this out. Bron was gearing to go!

All the girls. (Ashley, Hailey, Kali, and Aubrey)

I stepped away for a moment and told Stephanie to watch Ashley in the high chair. When I walked away she was eating avocado and noodles. When I came back, Auntie Stephanie had introduced her to Double Stuff Oreos!!! Yum!

Yes, we do live at Lagoon

LAGOON BABY!

I know, I know . . . .I know what you are thinking: "Kristy goes to Lagoon a lot" and it is true. This is, I think, my third Lagoon post this summer, but I mean really, is there anything better than Lagoon? Wait, don't answer that. The beauty of living in Farmington (and having season passes) is that you can go to Lagoon on your way to the grocery store. (yes, that is something we have done.) We go to Lagoon for an hour to four hours, depending on the day. It is actually really great. We've taken time in Pioneer Village to really study all the artifacts and not feel bad that we are missing out on ride time. We enjoy the stage performances and sometimes just have fun at the splash pad. It is great! We pack food in and don't spend a dime! It is great summer fun! I just have to thank Grandma and Grandpa Powell for the millionth time for the season passes that gave us for Christmas. We are getting our use out of them!

On this particular Lagoon trip, this was our "Ashley Day" at Lagoon. Usually I just keep Ash in the stroller and she naps or people watches, but on this day, we decided to put her on all the rides she could go on! She already loved the train and even I have taken her on the Log Ride, which she loved too! Here are the official "Ashley Day" Lagoon pictures!

Hailey and Ashley on Bulgy the Whale. Hailey looks like an amputee on this ride, I'm sure this is her last year she will fit!

Sisters = best friends

I loved this picture of Hailey and Aubrey, I think it shows the love they have for each other. They are truly best friends (sometimes worst enemies) but mostly best friends!

Aubrey and Ashley on a Space Ride

In theory, Ashley was big enough to go on Jumping Dragon. Hailey really wanted to take her on it. Ummm, yeah I think it gave me an ulcer. Waaaaaay too much for Ashley. We will wait another 5 years for that one.

Hailey and Ash going for a drive ;)

I especially love this picture because it shows their amazing hair color. I always assumed I'd have blonde or mousey brown haired children. (I didn't set out or envision married a redhead.) Sometimes the beauty of their hair color takes me off guard. There is no red about it, it is ORANGE, but I love, love, love the way it shines in the sun! Even baby Ashley has this glowing head of hair.

Ashley and Aubrey on the Tug Boats. Hailey was too big for the boats and I'm sure this will be Aubrey's last year.  Next year Ash will have to go it alone. 

Wedding of the Summer

 . . . and you thought Kate Middleton had the wedding of the summer. You were wrong! Kate's got nothin' on these beauties! (Pippa either!) 

For weeks my daughters and their four friends in the neighborhood have been planning a "wedding". I'd hear the girls say to each other "lets hurry and clean our room so we can go plan the wedding." As long as they got their room clean and played nice, I really didn't care what they were doing. So on and on this wedding planning went. They talked about it day and night and I pretty much ignored the whole thing. Days went by with wedding plans. Last night I found Hailey in the kitchen at 10pm with a bowl of water and cracked eggs. What the heck?! I was promptly told that the wedding was tomorrow and she had to make the wedding cake! I quickly put the x-nay on that, and told her she had to go to bed! We would deal with it in the morning. First thing in the morning, while still laying in bed, I heard the girls talking in their room about the wedding. Low and behold the door bell rings and it's two neighbor girls in wedding dresses with hair and make-up done!!! "It's time for the wedding!!!" shrilled through the house. 

What's a mom to do? I got my sorry butt out of bed and made a freaking cake. First thing in the morning! Hailey and Aubrey cleaned their room, got their "wedding dresses" on (which consisted of full slips and shrugs) did their own make-up (quite a sight!) and went to the neighbors house so the older sister could do their up-do. By the time they got home, I was frosting the cake. (I even put it in a bundt pan to make it pretty). I was deemed the wedding photographer.  Apparently it is a garden wedding. 

The brides (the grooms are make believe)

The brides and the maids of honor (I guess if it is not your "turn" to be a bride, you are a maid of honor)

The wedding cake!

Someday they will laugh at how seriously they took their "wedding day." It's fun to be a girl!

Western Nut Lagoon Day

For those of you who don't know, my dad owns Western Nut Company. (okay, if you didn't know that, then you really don't know me and what are you doing reading my blog?). Every year Western Nut had an employee appreciation day and my siblings and their kids all come. (so by default we kind of call it Place Family Lagoon day). Yeah, yeah, my girls and I go to Lagoon almost every week, but still, Western Nut Lagoon day is the creme de la creme of Lagoon experiences! Nothing in the world is better than Lagoon with cousins!!! We were there when it opened, and we stayed till it closed! (well, at 5pm, after six hours, I did get a babysitter for Ashley and Aubrey. But Ben, Hailey and I partied with the big kids for five more hours!)

Kim's daughters, Becca and Hannah with Hailey and Aubrey waiting for The Bat

 My girls ADORE their older cousins and the teenagers as are SO WONDERFUL to the girls. Aubrey is too scared to go on Colosus, so while we waited for the other girls we ran into the cousin teenagers. They were so great to jump on Music Express with Aubrey so she didn't have to wait for the others without going on a ride. She was in heaven going around with them!

Aubrey and Skylar (with Rachael's friend Mike) on Music Express

 Half way through the day we met up with Ryan. He hung out with us for the afternoon.

Ryan, Hailey, Becca and Hannah on Rattle Snake Rapids

Aubrey and Ryan having fun!

Becca, Hannah, Aubrey and Hailey in the Lagoon jail. (which really was used in the late 1800's for people causing a ruckus at lagoon!)

I am so lucky to have such a tight-knit family that lives so close by. We have our fair share of issues, but I feel truly blessed to see my daughters and their love for their cousins . . . all of them!!!!