Lexee's baptism

Lexee was baptized and became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on Saturday March 6, 2010. She was so excited but she said she was just a little nervous. She was definately the princess of the day. She loved all the attention her family and friends gave her. We felt so loved by all who attended. Her dad baptized and confirmed her giving her the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Cody blessed that Lexee would listen to the Holy Spirit to make good decisions. He also blessed her that should would strive to walk in the footsteps of our Savior. I am so thankful that Cody honors his priesthood and is able to perform these saving ordinances.

Details of the baptism: Aunt Ness gave the Holy Ghost talk. Grandpa Thompson and Grandpa Baldwin witnessed the sacred ordinance. She chose her dress and wanted a flower in her hair. We held the luncheon in the cultural hall afterwards. She told me she wanted Spaghetti and Meatballs and caramel apples. Our entire Primary Presidency and her Primary teachers were both there as well as the 1st counselor of the Bishopric. All of her immediate family was there. Aunt Susan, Aunt Pam, Uncle Grant, Uncle Scott and Aunt Delynn as well as Melissa, Michael, Jamie and Elayne made a special effort to come. Our special friends The Mortensons, The Taylors, The Moffitts and The Graysons also joined us for. We missed those who couldn't make it and are so grateful for those who made the special effort to share this day with us. We are particularly thankful that Grandpa Baldwin was discharged from the hospital and able to be there.

We are so proud that Lexee made this important decision. I am so thankful for the opportunity that we have to be baptized and receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

Happy Birthday Lex!!!

Our sweet little Lexee turned 8 years old on February 24th. She was really excited about her birthday. She turned to me and said, "Mom, I think for my birthday I want to come home and see all of my friends jump out at me and yell HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Yep, she asked for her own surprise birthday party. I told her better luck next year since she told me this news the day before her birthday. For her birthday we had a family party and her aunts and uncles and Grampa and Nana came over. Grandpa Baldwin was sick so he had to stay at home, and Grandma stayed with him. Lexee stands about 42 inches tall and weighs 49 pounds. She is growing into a beautiful girl. She loves dancing, drawing, and cooking. Her favorite foods are candy, candy and more candy, spaghetti & meatballs, and caramel apples. She passes her days by painting her nails, putting lip gloss on and playing games like Uno. Her favorite subject in school is Math and she is really good at it. She is in the 2nd grade. Her school friends are MiKayla, Camila, Zoey, Mariah & Kiley. She takes really good care of her baby brother. She changes a great diaper and can make the best tasting bottle ever. We love you Lexee! Happy Birthday!!!

"Hey Co~ I want to learn a new skill..."

So last Monday, Cody had a spontaneos day off work so we went to lunch with former co-workers. I began feeling useless since I don't work anymore. I decided I needed to learn a new skill... Yep Cody was totally on board....sort of.
Within the next two hours our bathroom went from that to this.
-toilet- gone, mint green vanity- gone, mint green squared vinyl flooring- gone
I began painting on Tuesday morning finished at 10:30am. Then I started trying to cut the cement board. Man that's heavy stuff. I carried it from the garage to the front room, that's as far as I got. Then after calling Dad, I realized that we had bit off more than we could chew. So I made a call to Alli's brother who came and tiled for us.
By Wednesday night we had tile...real tile.
Next came the vanity, which Cody screwed to the wall, then the sink, then the new towel racks, floor boards, culk and reinstallation of the toilet.
WARNING: Don't lean on the sink. The sink will fall off...we still can't seem to glue it down (plumbers putty and construction adhesive~worthless)
WARNING: Don't pull too hard on the towel racks as they will fall.
WARNING: There is no toilet paper holder but you can find rolls and rolls under the sink.

So...my new skill learned was realizing that I don't and can't remodel and should never be allowed to try. I understand this now and won't try again. I guess my new skill is learning to fold 'em (cards...when you don't have a good hand and you need to walk away from the poker table)
Cody said the next time he has a day off he is going back to work, when he's not here I don't plan these fun project :)

Next project: Now that we have seen tile work, I know we can do it~ KITCHEN FLOOR IS NEXT

So it's been 3 months...

Where have we been and what have we been doing for the last 3 months. Just a run down of things happening missing the camera.
~In November, I finally graduated with a Bachelors in Human Services. I am thrilled to be done and now continue to fill my day with Primary stuff. The week of graduation I was called as the Primary President. After a short run with Heather Sharp as her first counselor and a longer run with Alyssa Earl as her first counselor I was called in early November. The job has kept me hopping and I love every minute of it. I have huge shoes to fill and hope to fill at least half and I will have accomplished my goals. The baby blues are finally a thing of the past.
~Cody continues to enjoy his work at Kennecott. The union signed another 7 year contract with a slight fear of strike. He turned 33 at the end of December and really thought long and hard about those he knew of that died at this ripe old age. He then remembered they they (Jesus and Joseph Smith)did not die of natural old age causes. :) He picked up a truck that he has always wanted and now says he has everything his heart has ever desired.
~Braeden is counting down the days until baseball sign-ups.
~Talan is counting down until he can play "real baseball on Jake's team"
~Lex danced her heart out at LA Dance Company's Production of The Christmas Carol. We are looking forward to a spring filled with competition, camp and spring recital.
~McCoy is anxiously awaiting his ability to crawl.

Ice Skating

It's kind of like Rollar blading only "colder"

Helmets and a walker~A must for first timers. Cody's is to the left... Ok he did a great job mentioning that he was feeling old.

Enjoying every minute and eventually ditched the walker.

Almost 6 months old, McCoy is enjoying life. He laughs, sits almost independently and rolls over. He still loves the big green and the bath. He will only sleep if he is swaddled tight. He laughs at his brothers and sister who love and protect him. He weighs 12.6 pounds and is 24 inches tall. Still below the growth chart but growing strong. He is developing perfectly and a joy to have in our family.

Happy Birthday Talan!

YAY he finally "turned to 4"! He is such fun kid to have around. He continues to play and run. He is the best "bull" and loves to play ball inside or outside. He will often say, "Mommy don't cry or else I will to." He will also follow "I love you" with "infinity I win". He will refer to himself in the third party for example, "All of the Lexees are mean to Talans". He went to the Doctor this week and was found to be very healthy. He weighs in at 39 lbs and 32 inches tall (both 25th percentile). He makes up in personality what he may lack in height :) He lights up a room and makes anything he does fun!

Christmas Day we spent with Grandpa and Nana.
Really enjoyed her Littlest Pet Shop & Craft kits.

First Christmas and first Sunday outfit from Nana. Talan not so impressed yet. He was a little later when Grandpa pulled out his dirt bike. He only freaked out a little when he saw the training wheels which were promised to be taken off really soon.

Surprised the most by his PSP and now a new game.

We were so blessed this year. We celebrated our Savior's birth the entire month of December so we wouldn't be too sad that Cody had to work. We still missed him but we are grateful for his job. We had a great Christmas Holiday and enjoyed the simplicity of the season.

Christmas Eve

We are getting to be a really big family so we decided to have Christmas Eve at Grandma and Grandpa Baldwin's church. It was so fun and 100% successful.
Grandma and Grandpa gave the boys these green bouncy ball things and I can't think of more fun for two little boys to bounce their way across the cultural hall and back nearly all night long! They had so much fun!

We played BINGO, ate really great food and enjoyed playing the chimes. We were really blessed this year with health and a new addition to our family. We are also so excited that Marci is expecting in the summer.

A picture says a thousand words

Cody worked this year dayshift on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. So we decided to give the kids our gifts on the 23rd. On Christmas Eve morning I woke up and went downstairs only to find my almost 4 year old jamming to "MERICAN RIDE ON A MOTORCYCLE" Which is really American Ride by Toby Keith on his new IPOD (that he has since lost).

The Polar Express 12/14/09

First time taking a ride on the Polar Express.
Dressed in jammies and ready to go!

Festival of Trees 12/5/09

Every year we love to go to the Festival of Trees.
Loved the stroller, loved the lights and loved the icing too!

What a pair!

For the most part the kids really enjoyed the Festival. They loved making the crafts and seeing Santa from afar as well.

Let the Season begin 11/30/09

Real versus fake? Cody votes for fake as he brings in our Griswald tree in this year.
Seriously, Talan put on the Santa hat and said, "Ho Ho Ho Braeden sit here, what do you want for Christmas?"

Finished!

I couldn't have posed this better! To see Christmas through a child's eye is priceless!

West Valley Christmas Parade

The Day after Thanksgiving parade was a great start to the Holiday season.
She did great and loved every minute of it.

We are so proud of her!

Bath Time

Just over 4 months and finally enjoying bath time.

Halloween 2009

So proud to be his Dad!
Jumpin' Jack!

Nice face Coy! He was a biker.

She searched and searched for the perfect costume and finally decided on Flower Power.

Trunk or Treat. Aren't they supposed to be out of the car?

Cornbelly's 10/24/09

Hayride
Bull Ride

Cow Ride

Go-Cart Ride

Fun at Cornbelly's where the kids took us for a ride!

Left at the Gas Station10/17/09

Self Portrait. So after Gardner Village the kids dispersed among a few cars. We met at the gas station and the kids switched cars again, leaving me with Lex and the baby. Brae had gotten out of my car and I thought he was headed to Grandpa's. We drove away and the feeling came over me that I didn't know where Brae was. So I pulled over and checked with Steph and Dad and realized that none of us had Brae.... So I whipped around and sped back to the gas station where I pulled in and saw him turning around to go back into the store to "call the police and tell them that you left me here." I honked and motioned for him to jump in (I was trying to pull off that I had been there waiting for him, but he didn't buy it)He jumped in QUICKLY stated, "I am so telling DAD!" Sorry Brae!!!

Gardner Village 10/17/09

Sportin' their Halloween shirt courtesy of Nana & Grandpa we headed out to Gardner Village for some photo op's.
OK So on the count of 3 jump!

A smile you can't help but fall in love with!

Left to right: McCoy, Lexee, Talan, Ashlee, Taylor

Dani, Matt & Happy Parker

Awww Gotta love the color Orange with the big K!