A Baby Blessing and a Birthday

(Chloe 4, Haley 5, Kate 7 months, Annabelle 2 months, Breanna 7, Mandy 3, Ryan 2, Dallin 5, Layton 8 months)

This past weekend we headed up to North/South Carolina to visit family and to attend our niece Annabelle's blessing. We spent Friday evening and Saturday with Nathan's brother Curtis' family. Layton and Kate were so cute playing together. Every time that Layton looked at Kate, he got this huge grin on his face. I think he really liked being around someone his size. He is definitely all boy though, we had to watch him pretty carefully with her because he can be kind of rough. She didn't seem to mind though, she just seemed to be content no matter what.

Sadly on Saturday, it was cold and misty all day long, so we didn't get to do any fun outdoorsy things like we had wanted. So instead Maren, Kim, and I went shopping. I actually got all of my Christmas shopping done except for one item that I had to order online. I was pretty happy about that, especially since we got some pretty good deals. I love good deals. In fact, I loved a really good deal on some princess dolls that they had at the Disney Store that I actually went back three times to get different princesses for Mandy and even a prince doll for Dallin. I'm telling ya, I love me some good deals!!!

Afterwards we of course watched the FSU vs. UF game. Even though it was disappointing to watch FSU lose, in the end, for my sanity, it was really OK that the Gators won. Whenever the Gators lose Nathan is always in such foul mood and complains and complains and complains. So at least I didn't have to hear any whining and complaining about football. Yay!

On Sunday we attended Jon and Stacy's ward and got to hear Annabelle's blessing. It was really beautiful. Baby's blessings always are. Babies are so sweet and innocent and pure and it is so wonderful to hear what blessings Heavenly Father has in store for them. However, all was not lovely and good for me that morning, because shortly after the blessing I had to take Layton out of Sacrament meeting because he began fussing, as usual. While walking him in the hallway he pooped and got it all over his clothes. So until Sacrament meeting was over, I walked around with a naked baby (except for a diaper) because Nathan had the keys to the car and I didn't want to walk back into Sacrament meeting to get them. Well, at least it wasn't as bad as the previous Sunday when he not only pooped on his own clothes, but also all over mine. Ah, the joys of motherhood.

After church, we went back to Stacy and Jon's house for lunch and we had a little impromtu birthday party for Mandy since Sunday was her actual birthday. I can't believe my little girl is 3. I know it has been said a million times before, but kids really do grow up way too fast. Can't you tell that she is a girl after my own heart? One her very favorite gifts was, you guessed it, money. She loved her "dollars". She loved all of her gifts and thanks to everyone who was there to wish her a very happy 3 year old birthday!