Happy Birthday, Mallie!

My cute little Mallie turned ONE today!  I can’t believe how fast that time went!  And, I can’t imagine life without her!  And, neither can the rest of the family!  Her brothers and sisters dote on her, and love her to death!  Her daddy has a soft spot for her…  :0)

Oh, my goodness!  I just LOVE this little munchkin!

She enjoyed sitting on her present!  :0)

Look at this cute little face!

She LOVES her little push along thingamajig.

Happy Birthday, my sweet little Mallie!  (Feel free to stay this little forever!)  I love you!

Ghosts

Ivon was having fun with my camera, trying the different modes it has.  And, he came across this neat little effect:

How creepy is that?!  Just in time for Halloween!  It’s funny, too, because this was taken at my Mom and Dad’s house.  Mom is a genealogist…

I’m not too sure how he did it.  The camera was set on Portrait- ISO 100, and the camera chose the aperture and shutter speed.  The light was low, no flash.  Ivon would have the kids stand really still for about three seconds, and then they’d run!  The shutter speed was really slow… Don’t know.  We couldn’t get Mallie to hold still for three seconds, though- and then I’d have to pull her out of the shot…  I am going to take a photography class soon, and hopefully I can figure more of this awesome stuff out!

Hannah’s Baptism

My sweet little Hannah was baptized today.  Such a wonderful experience!

For the program, her and the other little girl who was getting baptized, sang “If The Savior Stood Beside Me” by Sally DeFord.

If the Savior stood beside me,
would I do the things I do?
Would I think of His commandments,
and try harder to be true?
Would I follow His example?
Would I live more righteously
if I could see the Savior standing nigh,
watching over me?

If the Savior stood beside me,
would I say the things I say?
Would my words be true and kind
if He was never far away?
Would I try to share the gospel?
Would I speak more rev’rently
if I could see the Savior standing nigh,
watching over me?

He is always near me,
though I do not see Him there,
And because He loves me dearly,
I am in His watchful care.
So I’ll be the kind of person
that I know I’d like to be
if I could see the Savior standing nigh,
watching over me.

I think I have a new favorite Primary song!  Two beautiful girls, (who happened to be wearing matching dresses), bearing their testimonies through song.  The Spirit was so strong in there!  Their voices were so clear!  She did such a good job!  (She was SO nervous about it, though!)

Isn’t she pretty?!  I LOVE my sweet Hannah!

CUTE!

When she was baptized, it was amazing!  Such a wonderful feeling that comes into the room- I can’t even begin to describe it.  To see her step into the water, and watch her Dad baptize her, and bring her up out of the water!  SO wonderful!  When I went to help her out of the water, she looked up at me with those BIG, beautiful blue eyes and gave me a gorgeous smile!  I hugged her sweet, wet head…  I LOVE THIS GIRL!  What would I do without her?!

Hannah, I am so thankful to be your Mother!  I am SO thankful for your sweet, sensitive spirit!  I am so thankful that you will be mine forever!  And, I thank our Heavenly Father for you and your brothers and sisters all the time.  Thank you for being such a good girl!  You are a wonderful example to me, your Dad, and your siblings!  Honestly, I don’t know what we would do without you!  We love you so much!

Happy Birthday, Ivon!

Ivon turned into an old man today.  :0)  Just over night.  :0)  And what a day we’ve had!  He baptized Hannah this morning.  (That’s in the next post.)  We then had lunch with the Van Duren/Cullumber clan.  Then, Ivon wanted to go to KSM guitars to go look at guitars and drums.  (I thought I’d indulge him- it was his birthday after all.  And then, it felt like we were breaking the Sabbath or something, because of Hannah’s baptism earlier, making it feel like Sunday, and then we went to the store…  :0)  )  Then, we went to the Book Table to look at their broken pianos, (broken baby grand pianos that they wanted tens of thousands of dollars for), and their guitars- which were awesome!  He got to play a couple really expensive guitars- he was SO excited!  Then, we went to Callaway’s for dinner.  We came home for cupcakes and ice cream.

He he!  I put all the candles we had on his cupcake!  The kids LOVED it!  Especially when Ivon started waving his hand through the flame.  (He’s SUCH a great example.)  After we sang to him, he clapped his hands over the flame to blow them out, and ended up getting wax on his hands! :0)

Anyway, Happy Birthday Ivon!  Love ya TONS!

Dad’s coming home!

He’s getting picked up right now!  YAY!  He’s been SO down the last couple days.  He’s tired of being sick, tired of being in the hospital.  He’s doing much better physically- they’ve stopped the bleeding, and the infections are under control and being taken care of.  He’ll have to be on his antibiotics for two more weeks or so.  But, HE’S COMING HOME!