Joshie's Baptism Pictures!

Joshie's Baptism

I can't believe that my oldest is 8!  Where did the time go?  He has been so excited for this day for months and could hardly wait.  While me on the other had thought that it went by too fast.  It was a wonderful day!  My Wonderful parents and by Gorgeous sister drove the 11 hours all the way up from California just for the 3 day weekend to be here.  Joshie's Uncle Marlin also came for his big day.  Joshie got to share his special day with a good friend of his from his primary class, Taj.  It was fun to see both boys so excited that they were glowing.  Both boys were baptized and confirmed by their Dads.  Amber gave the talk on Baptism and had the Dads dot them with blue paint to show the effects of sin on our souls and then gave them a wipe to show how baptism cleanses our souls.  It was a really cute idea!  Grandpa Fitzgerald gave the talk on the Holy Ghost and bore his testimony to the boys.  The Spirit was so thick in that room and I'm sure the boys were able to recognize it as well.  I pray that they will always remember that feeling as they look back on the Wonderful day of their Baptism.  Thank you to the friends and family that were able to come support these boys and for those that sent their love and support as well.  Thanks!!!!

Grandma and Grandpa Fitzgerald with 2 of the 4 kids and all their Grandchildren!

Joshie Starts Cub Scouts

He has been waiting for this day for a long time.  James has been telling him all about the fun stuff that he will do in Scouts and he just was so ready to start!  Here he is on his first day.  They learned about snow flakes and then worked on Achievement 1 Feats of Skill.  Now every Wednesday he comes home asking when he gets to go back. 

Washington Trip

Since Joshie was 1 we hadn't had the chance to get up to Washington to visit with James' Grandma and Grandpa.  We found a time that we could go up with Mark (James' Dad) and jumped in the car and went.  We were only there for a couple of days but those days were filled with:

Snuggling with Grandpa

 Playing Soccer

 Generation Pictures

 This Little Piggy and Dancing with Great Grandma

 

Playing with Cousins and an Aunt

 This is my favorite picture!  It's like a Mini Prom picture!  We didn't even pose them.  We asked them to hug each other and then look at the camera.  This is what we got.  Cute, Cute, Cute!!!

First Day of School

 Yes I know this post is only about 2 months late.  Joshie actually started July 26 and Eliza started 1 1/2 weeks later.  (The kindergarten does testing that week so that is why she started later)  

Joshie is now in Second grade in Mrs Asay's class.  Their are 5 boys and 19 girls!  So I would say they are definitly outnumbered!  Most of the kids were in his class last year too.

After waiting and waiting (which she thought would never end) Eliza finally got to start Kindergarten.  Her teacher is Mrs. Loveland!  Eliza has been begging to read forever and had read most of the Level A books that Joshie's 1st grade teacher, Miss McClellan, owned.  She did have a rough start to the day.  She was so excited that I was not prepared for tears.  The problem was that she set her backpack down by the wall and when they all lined up she couldn't get to it.  She was so worried and didn't know what to do so she broke down.  She was fine once she got into class though!

Eliza & Jimmy.  Jimmy is not only in Eliza's class but lives right next door.

Kaitlyn and Eliza!  Unfortunately, they are not in the same class but are really good friends!

SWIMMING LESSONS

Over the summer the kids got to take swimming lessons.  They went 2 times a week for a month.  We decided to put Aubrey in Level 1 and Joshie and Eliza in Level 2.  They loved it!!!

Aubrey was not sure about getting in the water with someone other than Mommy but the head life guard directed me to a corner where Aubrey couldn't see me and within a few minutes she was fine.  From then on she had no problems getting in the water but still didn't like to put any part of her head in the water or lay back to float with someone holding her.  They still recommend she stay at Level 1 next time around.

Eliza and Joshie both did SUPER well!!!  They were like fish!  Eliza could almost pass everything off in her level except being able to go from point a to point b without having to stop and put her feet at the bottom of the pool.  They also recommended she stay in Level 2.  Joshie probably needed to start in Level 3 but he still had fun and learned a ton anyway.  It was not long before he was swimming quite a ways UNDERWATER!!  That was a skill that they said they learned in Level 3.  Joshie will be moving to Level 3 next time around. 

 

 

Even Lilly got her own swimming lesson.  We never signed her up but after a few lesson I noticed that a few other Mothers with kids in lessons were bringing younger children to play in the kiddi pool.  So I asked if it was okay to bring Lilly during swim lessons and they had no problem with it.  Turns out that she LOVES water and has NO FEAR of it either.  Part of the kiddo pool was only a few inches deep and she loved just laying down on her back.  They she saw a few other kids jumping off that section into the 1 1/2 foot section and the next thing I knew she decided to try it.  She was tall enough to stand up but wasn't able to figure that out.  I immediately grabbed her and she started laughing and wanted to try it again.  She did it several times and was never mad that she would go underwater.  SILLY LILLY!!!  I better keep an eye on her when we are near water!!!

(June 2011)

Memorial Day

Uncle Marlin invited us over to his house for a BBQ this year for Memorial Day.  He was excited because he wanted to show us his new smoker and he was planning on making chicken and pork.  HMMMM!!!  Before we headed over to his house we stopped by the Salt Lake City Cemetery to visit some of James' Ancestors.  There we visited  Annie Lenore Simpson and David Smith Anderson (James' Great Grandparents) and Annie Sophie Smith and David Patterson Anderson (James' Great Great Grandparents).

Then we headed over to Marlin's where the kids helps pick some flowers with Auntie Joan to make bouquets for more of our ancestors.  Keith, Neal, and Rachael also joined us.  Joshie got James and Keith going in a mini soccer game.  Neal and Rachael were moving the next day to New Hampshire so we were glad we got to see them one last time before they moved.  We are going to miss them being so close.  

Aubrey Fern is standing in front of her Grandma Fern's Childhood playhouse build by her Father.

Once we had eaten dinner and finished making our bouquets we headed over to two more cemeteries to visit a few more ancestors.  I'm not sure how everyone fits into our family but here we visited  Chloe Oviatt and Joseph Hyrum Jensen, Frank Mel Roscoe Jr, Myrtle B and Ira Oviatt (James' Great Grandparents), and Carmen Hubbard Oviatt Rosco Johnson.

Our last stop of the day was to visit Aunt Margie (Marlin's wife).  She has a perfect view!  From her grave site she can see 3 temples.  Draper, Jordan River, and Oquirr Mountain.  Out of all the people we saw today she was the only one I knew when she was living.  She was a very kind person but not afraid to share her opinion with her.  I'm sad that she was never able to meet my kids.  We tried several times to get together with her but they always managed to fall through.  We miss her but know she is in a happy place!

(May 30, 2011)