Neta's Baptism - June 7

My Princess Neta
Following her brother Jesus Christ

We have always had the kids' baptisms on their birthday and that tradition didn't stop with Neta. Her 8th birthday fell on a Sunday. We had her baptism at 6:30.

After church ended at 4, we rushed home with kids so that we could have dinner, taco salad, before getting back to the church at 6:00. Mom and I prepped the meat and cut what veggies we could cut (and not have them go bad) on Saturday so we just had to warm meat, chop tomatoes and set things out.

We all went to the Scott's backyard and had dinner out and people eating by 4:45. Everyone got their fill and we were back at the church by 6:00 (we had to turn off the baptismal font before it overflowed into the bathrooms). 

Neta had invited two special friends and both came, which made Neta (and her mommy's) heart very happy! As you can tell from the pictures. As soon as she saw them, Neta ran up and gave them hugs.

Neta loves Pat Paff

Jessica Wingate & Neta are buddies

Of course we took family pictures as well. First of the Scott Zoo crew

Siblings!

Family photo time

Papa and his princess

Then of grandparents, aunt and cousins.

Hibbert Grandparents

Scott Grandparents

Aunt Kimmie

Neta with Walker cousins

The whole Scott and Walker crew

Grandma Hibbert gave a talk on baptism and Raychelle Walker gave a talk on the Holy Ghost. They were wonderful and then everyone piled into the Young Women's room to watch the baptism. It's been a long time since I've been on the outside of the glass instead of on the inside, about six years ago when Aurora was baptized. 

When we started the service, with the songs and talks, we were in the Relief Society room. After the baptism, everyone was in the chapel. So many friends and family were there to support Neta and our family. 

Eric, with the Melquisedec priesthood that he holds, with other worthy brothers from the ward and family, confirred the Gift of the Holy Ghost on Neta. After the closing prayer, we shared three cakes and two buckets of ice cream with all those that came.

Three cakes to share

decorated by Grandma Hibbert

This cake is decorated care of Neta

Mom, Pat and Jessica helped me get plates prepped with cake and then Xela and Hannah helped dish up the ice cream. We had just enough ice cream for everyone and the three cakes allowed us to take about half home.

I'm so grateful for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and that now, each of my children are baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If we can but hold on to each other and out covenants, we might just make it to the celestial kingdom and be a forever family. I hope we can reach that goal. 

Visit from Grandparents Hibbert - June 5 and 6

I took Friday, June 5th off as my parent came to town for Neta's baptism. We had been working on the house next door all week, prepping it for our friend, Patience, to move in. We've been ripping up floor, working on the bathroom, some electrical and putting down a new floor. We were up until 3:30 am on Thursday (technically Friday) finishing one of the bedrooms while starting on the other. It's been a lot of tiring work, but it has to be done.

Anyway, even after about four hours of sleep, I was up and ready to see my folks. We were able to get a little more of the floor down before my parents arrived. They said they just wanted to hang around the house, so that is what we did.

Grandpa Hibbert playing our new favorite
backyard game: kickball

Grandpa Hibbert playing pitcher

After about 15 minutes, Grandma told Grandpa he ought to quit so he didn't sunburn his head. The crew came in to play Farkle, a dice game, and build with dominos and Jenga blocks.

On Saturday, we were able to get the bedroom closet done and kitchen floor almost done before Mom and Dad got up to the house. The kids were watching the 25th anniversary of Les Mis when they got there. We finished watching that while putting down floor and then I was able to converse with my parents while the kids did a little more help with Eric. When it was my turn to help Eric finish up the floor, the kids and Eric watched some home videos.

For dinner, we ate with the Scotts and the Walker cousins were there as well, a total group of about 22 people. Because dinner wasn't going to start until around 7, my folks went and grabbed some burgers for our family to eat while waiting. We called it first dinner.

When Scotts were ready, we went over and partook of more of the fruit and corn on the cob than anything else. My mom had purchased a small cake and some chocolate cupcakes for Neta's birthday, so when it looked like people were winding down with the main meal, we brought that over and everyone sang happy birthday to Neta.

When the cake and the meals were done, the cousins went to our backyard to play some kickball, boys v girls. My poor garden is going to have to survive summer backyard sports. :)

Kaleb, Becca's boyfriend, was great; he kicked home runs.
He also kicked it into the garden.
That was an automatic out, per the umpire. :)

Caleb Walker is on first base.

Boys look on as Ro pitches a ball.

Caleb kicks it and heads to first.

As the day darkened, we summoned kids to baths and bed in preparation for Sunday, Neta's birthday and baptism! I can't believe my baby is 8!!!

Lunchtime drive to the temple - June 3

The Indianapolis Indiana Temple is almost done!!! It is a 20 minute drive from work and I was feeling particularly needful of a peacefully inspiring place, so I took my lunch break to the temple.

I drove the 20 minutes and then, because it is a secure construction location, I couldn't go into the parking lot. I was told by the security guard that the best place to view the temple was at the CVS pharmacy across the street, so I drove over there.

I love to see the temple!

He was right! I sat there for about 15 minutes and just cried, partially out of excitement and partially out of the need for an emotional release I assume. I brought my eye make up from home as I had a feeling that I would need it.

The open house starts on July 17 and then it will be dedicated on August 23rd. After that, I will have the opportunity to go to the temple before or after work, depending on the open hours. I am so excited to have the House of the Lord closer to home.

Slip-n-Slide fun - May 26

Getting the pool up this year, with a broken pump and broken filter, is not likely to happen. So, while at Walmart one morning, I decided to grab a $10 slip-n-slide.

After a full day of lawn work at the properties, I put the slip-n-slide out for the kids to play on and cool off. They all seemed to enjoy it, although the younger kids slipped a little more than the two oldest.

The youngest go sliding first

Graigry jumping for joy.

Slippin' and sliding the afternoon away

Everyone had to take a turn;
that a little harder for some than others.

Xela takes a dive

With no one wanting to make dinner, Little Ceasar's was on the menu. Pizza kiddie poolside - just what the kiddie's ordered.

Eating pizza in the pool

Holiday Park - May 16

Eric had a service project in the morning and Nate needed to visit a nature center as part of his World Conservation Badge for cub scouts. So, I piled all five kids into the Camry (not the safest thing to do) and we headed to Holiday Park.

We hadn't been in there in  I don't know how long. They have amazing playgrounds, suited for various ages.

We call this one the spider web

Can you find the kids in the tree?
Can you guess which kids they are?

After some playtime, we went to the nature center (the reason for coming) and the kids played in there for a while. Then we went on a hike down to the river, the White River. The kids love water and so I told them they could wade in the edges there. They found a bunch of shells and had fun.

"Can we get in, Mom?"

"Alright, but keep on your flip flops."
Out they venture

Exploring the island on the other side.

Xela and Nate shell hunting

The kids found some cool shells of which I said they could take only a few home. We hiked back up to the park, using a different trail, and then headed to the car. I wanted to get home before noon, which is when Eric would be home. We got home around 11:45 and I promised the kids, while in route home, that we would try to come again on Memorial Day when everyone, including me, had the day off.

Mommy's Lunch Surprise - May 12

The first partner of Church Church Hittle & Antrim passed away end of April and his funeral was held on May 12. The office closed from 10 - 2 so those that knew him could attend the funeral and life celebration services. The current managing partner said that if we didn't know Mason Church we didn't need to feel obligated to attend.

I took the opportunity to surprise the kids and visit them, those at Little Flower anyway, during their lunch hour. I got to go to lunch four times, starting with Neta. Then we went to recess. Neta is quite the hoola-hooper!

 Nate and Graigry had the same lunch hour, so I bounced between their tables. Graigry gets a lot of food from friends who supposedly don't want them. He went and played kick ball at recess so sadly I didn't get a picture of him. I hung out with Nate and played a little wall ball with him before going in to eat with Ro.

I didn't get a picture of Aurora either. It was fun to see each of their faces as they saw me. That look of "what are you doing here?" made me smile. Wish I could visit them at lunch more often.

Afterwards, I went to the house, rotated the laundry and grabbed some ice cream to give to Eric, who was working on one of the properties. I knew he would appreciate it. He was a little surprised to see me home (I didn't tell anyone of my plans because I didn't want anything to jinx the plan or anyone to alter my plan. I like doing surprises for the kids AND having out of routine days at work.

May Memories - Nature, Pinewood and Twinderella

According to the pictures I have, there were a variety of small events at the beginning of the month, so I'm going to put a collection of pictures as highlights.

With the weather being cool and not cold, I like to either roller blade or walk during my lunch break. There are several nature trails, but one is just two blocks away from the office, so I hit that one most often. Here are a few pictures I took one day while listening to the most recent general conference talk by Elder Holland.

I love the reflection of this water

It's fun to see the wildlife in the middle of the city.

We combined pack meeting and pinewood derby, seeing as we only have three active cubs. It made things easier on us and the boys seemed to be okay with it. Here are a picture of the "winners circle." Nate, Gavin Turner, and Ryan Shipley. The boys always have fun designing their cars and racing them down the track.

Family member that had cars were invited to bring them and race them as well. It think this video shows one of Neta's races.

Aurora was the "star" in the Little Flower musical this year. They did Twinderella and she was Cinderella. She VERY much enjoyed herself; she loves acting and singing so it was great for her. The production itself was what you'd expect from a play with 5th - 8th graders and there were some audio problems, but whatever.

The cast of Twinderella

Cinderella herself with flowers
from her young women leaders

"Cinderella" and her twin, "Bob," with a
photo-bomb by Hollie
one of Ro's good friends.

It will be interesting to see what other productions Aurora gets to participate in while in high school. She had to give us student council in order to do the play (only one after-school, school activity per child - life is crazy enough without adding to the chaos more than necessary).

Spring Fever Mayor's Bike Ride - Apr 11

Xela and I signed up for email alerts on biking events in Indianapolis. As soon as we received the email notice for the Spring Fever Ride, we got on and registered everyone. It was a ten mile ride starting at Ellenberger Park, going to Garfield Park and then back via a different route. Riding bikes is something we all enjoy and this time we registered early enough to get t-shirts!!

Much to Neta's dismay, we connected the extra wheeler to my bike. The last mayor's bike ride that we did as a family, last June, we let her ride with her toddler bike and she and I were, literally, the last ones to get to the halfway stopping point. At that point during that ride, she got into a cop's car for the last four miles. Eric picked her up before the last short stretch so we could meet up as a family, but we didn't want to do that again.

I reminded her of that event and so she relented and helped me pedal. Eric stayed at the head of the group with Xela and Ro (which was going too slow for their liking - Xela likes to ride!) while I hung out toward the end of the middle with the boys and Neta. They all did a good job and finished the ride.

After the ride, we stopped at the church to clean it, it was the Elder Quorum's turn and we were the only ones that showed up. Good thing there were seven of us and that those who had their activity that day had cleaned up after themselves. It didn't take too long (some of the kids still whine about "Do we have to?"), but the kids were...

TIRED!!

We grabbed some Little Ceasar's pizza on the way home and enjoyed dinner outside then started the usual routine of Saturday night baths. I love doing things as a family. :)

Good Rain Storm Fun - April 8

We love playing in the rain; another memory from my childhood revived. On this day, there was so much rain that you could wade in our basement. Eric got the bucket head out and we sucked up gallons and GALLONS of water, hauled them up the stairs and dumped them by the garden in the back yard. After the basement pond had shrunk, the kids went out and played tag under the thundering clouds and crying sky.

Sadly, my phone camera doesn't stop people in action, so the majority of the pictures that I took are blurry. Here are some of the less visually frustrating pictures.

They played tag and tried to toss a football

The clouds got a little darker.
I had them stop so I could get a non-blurry picture.

Xela and Nate are the blurs
Graigry and Ro are the ones in better focus.

I jumped out to move the Camry
so we could get better pictures.
It was WET!!!
A few times the kids fell on their hind parts
while running on the grass.
SO FUNNY!!!

This picture is so you can see the depth of the water
Add this is just outside our back door.
It was a little deeper in the basement. :)

Here is a short video of the memory created under a stormy sky:

And a video just over 2 minutes. Watch for Xela to slip! :)

Playing in the rain is so much fun!! Others might think it is dangerous or an invitation to get sick. You can't live life in fear of what might happen. Enjoy your time together and take advantage of fun times as they present themselves. :)