KALEA’S BAPTISM DAY

Kalea’s pictures have been sitting in my camera waiting for me to post them! Life has been so busy that I am now just getting to it. Not because it isn’t special. It was one of THE MOST SPECIAL DAYS that I am recording.Kalea was baptized on April 28th in Chapel Hill, NC. We are so proud of Kalea’s decision to be baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In our church those who choose to be baptized wait until they are considered accountable for their own actions, which is begins at 8 years old. Kalea has talked about this day for a very long time. It was an easy choice for her to make and we were so proud that she did. She had chosen her Grandpa Alo and her Aunt Candice both to give talks. Grandpa Alo talked about Baptism and how we are clean and pure after we are baptized. He also explained that since we are not perfect that we make mistakes and sin. It makes us feel unclean inside. But because of our Savior Jesus Christ we are able to repent and can be made clean once again.

Kalea was then fully immersed in water and baptized. After she dried off and was dressed once again we heard a beautiful musical number by Aunt Candice, Lillie and Holly on their violins.

Aunt Candice’s talk was about the Holy Ghost. After we are baptized we are confirmed a member of the church by the laying on of hands. We are also then given the gift of the Holy Ghost. It is there as a companion to help us. It gives us a strong warm feeling when we feel the Spirit, or it can warn us of danger or bad choices.

We ended with a song, “When I am Baptized” and a closing prayer by Grandmother Simpson. Afterwards we had a big lunch of BBQ Pork sandwiches and Buffalo Chicken sandwiches, potato salad, coleslaw, fruit and veggie platters, fruit punch, and cupcakes. It was a great time and we are so grateful for everyone who came out to support Kalea. She even had some friends come from school! The day was just so special and we are so blessed to have such a wonderful loving family.

Here are a few of my favorites…

Not the best picture of our family… oh well.

Uncle Lane and Aunt Stephanie even flew out for Kalea’s Baptism!!

Cute friends from church!                                     Cute friends from school!

          Grandpa Simpson and Grandpa Alo 
           

EASTER PORTRAITS… sort of

The best pictures are the ones that are more real. No posing, no cheesy backgrounds. So for Easter, I wanted fake. I didn’t want real… but boy did I get real.

STRIKE A POSE

Kalea has her baptism dress and I wanted to take a picture for he special day coming up. I think we got some good ones…

These are my 3 favorite. What a gorgeous girl.

A DAY AT THE FARM

Every year NC State has 3 days of farm filled fun. I have taken the kids each year. At first it was Kalea, with Mia being the baby. Then it was Mia being the big kid and Landen in tow. Now Landen is my big kid and baby Alana. It’s been fun to watch each kid’s reaction to the farm animals, holding baby chicks, the big tractors, and of course having an ice cream treat. Landen is especially fun to photograph… you’ll see why.

THIS is Landen’s “Mario” pose. He has been obsessed with Mario since he as a toddler… thus the pose.

Tractor time! He was feeling pretty impatient for his turn so we made crazy monster faces.

Here he is in his own world playing… and of course chatting with the cow.

Landen sitting in time out. I am such a mean mom… he ran away through 2 tents, outside, and hooked a right. I had Alana in her sling and we ran after him. He got in so much trouble for running away and had to sit on the dirty steps for a time out. Once he showed me he could be good…

… we got ice cream.

Landen loved the baby chicks. He was really gentle and sweet to them. I love this little guy.

KALEA’S 8th BIRTHDAY

This is a special time!! Kalea turned 8 years old and is getting baptized soon! We celebrated Kalea’s birthday over Spring Break. Some of the kids who live in our building were around so we ended up having an impromptu party. We painted finger nails, had a pizza dinner, cake, and sang to our birthday girl. It turned out to be a really fun day. Christian came home from class with a house full of children. SURPRISE!

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The very next day we did this…

She was pretty nervous, not to mention that there were tons of people watching. I finally had to tell them to not watch her (just call me Mama Bear) and after a few minutes of deep breaths, she did it!