Elliette`s Baptism

We were able to have another very special day, with Elliette choosing to be baptized.  It was a cold and snowy Nov 1st but a special day that we were able to share with family and friends.  Elliette was so excited, especially as she was at her cousins baptism the week before.  

It was a beautiful and simple service, that Elliette was able to ask her family members to participate in.  She was baptized and confirmed by her daddy, and she asked me and Nana to give the talks and her Grandpas to say prayers.  It was so special!

Elliette was able to pick out the pattern for her special baptism dress that her grandma made.  She has wanted something with sleeves a little longer like this.  She got a special necklace that says Grace on it.  It is her middle name and is also her scripture, found here.

I love this line-up!  So special to see our family as it was in that moment, as it keeps changing so fast.

This is Elliette's favorite part of her dress!  She spins like this every time she wears it.

My sweet darling girl, making such important choices in her life and growing up way too fast!  We are sure glad to have her in our family!  She is such a great inspiration to us all to be better peacemakers and to make good choices, she is so full of energy and life!  We love this girl!

It Has Begun!

We have begun our first year of playing community basketball.  At first I was concerned about the big commitment of 2 weeknight practices and every Saturday games but it has been a great experience for all of us!  Kyndal has had fun, had great improvement and the whole family loves going to her games.  It really seems like mine and Paul's childhood was spent in a gym watching and playing basketball and it already feels like home for our kids.  Elliette is looking forward to playing next year and we have basketballs all around the house and van, being dribbled regularly.  It is a lot of fun!

We have also enjoyed going across the street to the church to play some basketball.  It is so nice to be able to practice some things together.  We even had a night to play some basketball with Ashley and her in-laws, some adult 3-on-3 and with the kids too.  The kids loved getting some instruction from Auntie Ashley and Uncle Graeme.

Their team has also seem great improvement this year, They have won 2 games so far this year and have a few more games to go in the season.  Kyndal actually just scored her first basket this last game and earned our whole family a trip out to 5 guys burgers and fries.  It was so great to celebrate together and was a great event for Kyndal.  Her shot was even from far back, at the top of the key, it was impressive!

So here we are, a basketball family.  We are quite a sight out, all of us at her games.  Sometimes there is a second gym free for the kids to run around but other times they just get out to run at any break in play, they all get out to run up and down the court.  Each basketball game is quite the family event!

Our dear Kyndal after a game!  She is sure growing and learning and I am grateful to be able to be a part of it!