Alex’s Baptism

It finally came, the most exciting moment of April (at least in Calista’s opinion).  We have been planning this trip to Spokane for over a year, but our actual dates and time were finalized just a few months ago.  Darron and I decided to try to keep a tradition going where we attend our kids’ baptisms and bring along their cousin of the same age.  (This will only work one more time, though since Darron decided to have a fourth child and I did not.  I’m thinking our whole family should attend Grant’s baptism.) 

Since flying was not in the budget like we did with Isaac’s baptism two years ago, we drove.  My mom was awesome enough to drive with us and let us use her new Explorer.  And since we had the room we asked Calista if she would want Téa to come along as well.  Notice I didn’t ask her if we could bring Piper, too?  I wasn’t that gracious.  I thought it would be good for Mark to have some one-on-one bonding time with Piper for four days. 

We left Thursday morning bright and early so we could drive straight through to Spokane.  We made it in pretty good time and Darron and his family decided to meet us in Coeur d'Alene for some Café Rio.  It had been almost a year and a half since I’d seen this guy. 

He is sucking on a lime but still smiling!  He totally hammed it up for the camera.

So this was Friday morning’s event.  My kids were trying to turn Darron’s kids to the Dark Side (with all our electronics, that is).  

Any time I pulled my phone out to check emails or take pictures Grant was right there next to me wanting to see what I was doing.  I swear he has a radar for it.  So, we had some fun with it…

He gives such great smiles.

Since Darron makes his own schedules and only works four days a week, he has Fridays off.  Worked perfectly for us!  Alex stayed home from school so she could hang out with us and we picked up Isaac from school at lunch time so he could come to lunch with us.  Family is way more fun than school. 

We ended up at an Asian fusion restaurant called Mustard Seed.  It was really good.  I actually convinced Téa to try something she’d never had before and, what do ya know…she loved it!  But if you put shrimp on anything, she will pretty much like it. 

This little creation is something typical of my brother.  A little ‘parting art’ for the waitress.  If you can’t tell, it’s 2 toothpicks jammed perfectly between the tines of 2 forks, all balancing on 1 toothpick in the salt shaker. 

After lunch it was off to one of Darron’s offices.  It’s new and he was really excited to show it off.  It turned out awesome.  He picked out all the paint colors, cabinets…everything.  I fell in love with the tile.  So much so that I took a picture and I want it in my kitchen as a backsplash.

The Doc is in…

My brother his cool.  We have a lot of fun when we are together, and when we aren’t together we are talking on the phone at least once a week having fun.  I’ve never known someone to quote Jim Gaffigan so much, but it sure makes me laugh.  Hot pocket…

Those would be Isaac’s bunny ears.

As if you needed to see yet another picture of us together.  Well, tuff.  Deal with it.

We decided the weather was too nice to pass up a quick hike.  (And we needed to kill more time until Grant and VaLynn were done taking a nap in the quiet house).  We headed to a sweet conservation area just off a main road.  Within minutes of walking I totally forgot we were just a few minutes away from traffic and businesses. 

Téa found a cool fallen tree.

Darron just thinks he’s cool. 

Me, I know I’m cool.  Even hiking 1.5 miles in flip flops.  That’s how cool I am.

Each kid had to have a walking stick.  Téa was around somewhere with hers.  She just didn’t want to be in a picture.  She might as well be a teenager already.

After leaving Dishman Hills Natural Resources Conservation Area we headed home.  The rest of the day the cousins played together and the adults chatted.  Saturday was the big day for Alex’s baptism.  Poor kid had to wait until 5 pm, though.  I’m so glad we were able to be there and support Alex.  We were also able to hear Isaac since a song with a girl from his ward.  He did an awesome job.

Here are all the kiddos after the baptism. 

Can you tell Grant was super happy?

I’m thinking we look alike-ish…And we even matched with our greens.

Téa stole the camera for a few minutes and this is what I found.

Me, Mom and Darron.  Mom is the shorty in the family.

Unfortunately, we all had to leave the next morning.  Calista and Téa had to get back for school on Monday so it was another full day of driving straight through.  They were awesome in the car, thanks to electronic devices and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone on CD.  It was sad to leave.  I miss hanging out with my brother. 

While the two older girls and I played in Spokane, Piper played with Dad.  She called it her Daddy Daughter Date Weekend.  I’m pretty sure they ate out every meal, which is Piper’s favorite thing to do.  They also spent time at the Dinosaur Museum…

Gotta love this girl.  And I think Mark actually did something with her hair while I was gone!  So proud.

Turns out she was an angel for Mark the whole four days I was gone. Figures.  She’s definitely not an angel all the time for me.  But I actually started missing her after day two.  Didn’t expect that!  Now all our vacations are done until June.  That’s depressing.