Carolyn's baptism was so special amazing. How blessed I feel to have such an amazing daughter of God that was sent to our family. Carolyn is amazing with so many special spiritual gifts. She has an amazing ability to want to be good and be in tune with the spirit. She is an amazing missionary and has an amazing ability to want to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. She loves people and is such an amazing friend. Lots of people were there today to support Carolyn in her very important day.

Lots of people came from both long and short distances for the special day. Michelle Jeppesen and her four children; Andrea and her Lilly; Grandpa and Grandma Owen and Becky Ashton; Grandpa and Grandma Randy and Carolyn Kim; Great Grandma Della Hansen; Chantal Kim and her two children; Chis and Janeil and their five children. Also who came for Carolyn: three friends that aren't in our ward that we know through school (not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) - Yvette and her 2 children; Monica Reynolds and her two boys (we have driven her son (Nathaniel/Brother for the past 2 years to and from school. He is a sweet boy); Shannon and her daughter Carmen (Carmen is a friend of Carolyn's from school). Also who came for Carolyn - the Vickerys (they drove an hour to get there - Micah Vickery was Carolyn's "Prince" when she was 3), the Hosfelts (Kaylen was in an old ward and drove a little ways to get there as well). Also Carolyn's friend from school is who in the stake - Summer - came to the class. From our Reunion Ward: Millie Webb, Crawfords, Muirbrooks, Christoffersons, Riewarts, Waites, Buffington (Carolyn's primary teachers), Pearsons (Carolyn's best friend Kaycee's family),

Angela wrote in her journal today:

"I like Carolyn. Carolyn got baptized. I love Carolyn. I like Carolyn when she stays."

It was a very special day for Carolyn. In the program we sang as a family "I am a Child of God." The first verse Emily sang by herself the first line "I am a child of God and he has sent me here" Then Angela sang all by herself "has given me an earthly home with parents kind and dear" then as a family we sang "lead me guide me walk beside me help me find the way. Teach me all that I must do to live with Him some day." Chantal and Michelle said they started to cry during Emily and Angela's part. They both sang so beautifully. Angela's old primary teacher (Sister Pearson) said that she was blown away by Angela. She belted out a beautiful song. Lots of people were amazed that Emily could sing on her own and loudly and so cutely. After that, Carolyn sang the first line of the second verse. And then Daddy and me sang the last verse. It was so sweet and I felt the spirit while we sung. After we sung, we learned that Emily was mouthing the entire song. She only sung when she needed to, but stood up there mouthing all the parts. How adorable. It was amazing. The girls did an amazing job and I felt that we were children of God while we sang. And I have some amazing children of God for children :)

After Carolyn was baptized, she told me two things that stick out in my mind. First, that she felt Great Grandpa Lloyd Hanson there. Second, the water was warm. She said that she loves it was warm because she felt warm inside as she was baptized.

Carolyn's blessing to receive the Holy Ghost was amazing to listen to. Some of things said were...

I had to just live vicariously through Andrew as he constantly sent me pictures from Harry Potter Land in Florida. Some "work" trip :)

Today was the big 8 for Carolyn!! We love our girl. When we went around today saying one thing we love about Carolyn...

Daddy - That Carolyn was voted the most for "class clown." She is very intune with the spirit. Carolyn asked what "intune" means...Daddy said it's just like music when instruments are intune - they are playing the same thing. Carolyn and the spirit are playing the same thing. I loved that and such a beautiful and true description of Carolyn.

Mommy - That Carolyn loves to make good choices. She wants so much to be good.

Angela - I like Carolyn.

Emily - I like Carolyn

Today Carolyn got to call all the shots for what we do. This is what she wanted:

1. Eat Fruity Pebbles for breakfast

2. Spend over an hour prepping with Mom for her School this summer (she's going to teach Angela, Emily, Savannah, and Corrina school this summer. We spent the time making their homework packets, writing books for them, creating activities, etc.)

3. Opened Presents

4. She got a game called "Mancala." We took turns playing against her. (what a fun game!)

5. She went on a date with Daddy (to get a smoothie).

6. We rode bikes (mom included - I love riding bikes) to our near-by park. We played a game to see who can climb the highest on the equipment (I think Daddy really was the winner of that) and then played "Lava Monster" with the neighbor kids.

7. Went to the Splash Pad. There we had a picnic and played. Daddy and Carolyn played baseball for like an hour. It was fun.

8. Carolyn really hates to shower and bathe. So, the girls got to soap themselves up and run through the sprinkler for their cleaning.

9. Played on the Wii (Angela and Carolyn got that for their birthdays).

10. Watched Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (we ate her favorite dinner while watching (Chicken Enchilladas) and Pepperment Ice cream and white chocolate (she's not a cake fan).

11. Worked on our family puzzle together.

What a fun day Carolyn put together for us! We love our sweety and are so excited that she is 8. She is amazing me as she prepares for her baptism. Just as Andrew said - I think that one of her spiritual gifts is that she and the spirit are intune and playing the same thing. Love you, Carolyn!

First day of Summer.

Sweet!

Angela kicked off the day with her pulling out her math packet she got from school. I love that girl. Oh, how I loved "home schooling" today. I tried to make tricky 3rd Grade Challenges for Carolyn....tricky Challenges for Angela (1st grade) ...and Emily was cute as she did her learning time as well :)

The day ended with me being able to meet Andrew at the temple. We got to go earlier so Carolyn and Angela were still awake when we got home. Andrew is such a goof ball and a goofy dad. He danced with the girls to "High School Musical" music and then put a pillow over his head so that his head was completely covered by a pillow. Then, he chased the girls around the house being a "tickle monster." What a goof pot.

Andrew met with a Recruiter today as well. We have been so blessed with working with Ernst and Young and have felt very blessed by them and well-treated. However, we have received personal revelation (esp. during General Conference last month) that we need to move to a different company. It's exciting but I am sure a little scary for Andrew.

Andrew and I started "Insanity" workouts a few days ago. Did I mention that yet? I love exercising with Andrew and then talking after. We had some crazy rain and lightning tonight. After the girlies went to bed, Andrew and I exercised together and then sat on the porch drinking Gateraide (drenched in sweat, by the way) and talking. I love Andrew. He's my best friend. We talked a lot about Carolyn's birthday tomorrow. She gets to pick everything we do and I am pretty excited about it :)

Today Emily and I had a conversation that melted my heart. We were snuggling and she said, "I love you forever. You are my sweety forever." I feel the same way about her :) Oh, I love being a mom.

My heart-meltage didn't stop there. Angela has been melting my heart all day. It started with this letter she gave to Carolyn before she went to school:

She had secretly gone up to my room and wrote that card to her on her own and gave it to her before leaving for school. How sweet. And how amazing how well she is writing on her own.

Then, she went on throughout the day to secretly write more letters:

She melted my heart today, too :)


Today was Angela's graduation!!! Oh, it was wonderful! In it, the kindergartners each said what they wanted to be when they grow up and what advise they had for kids coming into kindergarten. Angela said she wanted to be a teacher and they will learn their ABCs and 123s. She looked so cute and beautiful in her graduation and I am so proud of my Angela! She worked hard this year! :) And I am SOOOOO excited I get her home ALL day now for the next few weeks. I LOVE summer!!!  Next year will be really, really tough for me to have her gone ALL day long. Really tough. However, I know Angela is excited and feel it's where the Lord wants us to be. So, I know I can feel comfort while missing her so much when she's gone all day.

After school to celebrate we played at Turnberry Elementary Playground for the last time after school (because the boundaries have been switched and we have to leave the school). The kids went home and played waterfight with the neighbors. And I fixed Angela's bike with her bell on it (Nana and Ponka Kim (Carolyn and Randy Kim) gave her a bell - she loves riding her bike. Then, Angela was so cute and pulled out a big math packet her teacher gave her and sat next to me. Emily drew pictures for Hannah (Angela's friend from school. Emily is sooooo soooo cute. She is constantly drawing pictures for people. Esp. kids in Angela's class. She also drew pictures for both of her nursery teachers this morning. Oh, how I love her and her heart). While they did that - Carolyn and I played a game of chess that took about an hour and a half (partly because the board got messed up twice).

When Daddy got home we played Harry Potter Scene It. The girls are starting to catch on that I never really win games so no one wanted to me on my team :) The girls and Daddy totally won...but it was fun. And funny to see them fly around screaming like Harry Potter at the end of the game.

LET SUMMER BEGIN!!!!! YAY!!! :)