I don't know how Mormon baptisms work in other states but until we moved back here I always just assumed that we would get to pick the day our kids got baptized. Sadly, that's not the case. We were given the day after Halloween as the day for the twins baptism. I was less than thrilled with that day because I am not a morning person. Especially on the weekends, and who wants to wake up early the day after Halloween and set up a baptism? If that sounds like your kind of fun, then in my opinion, you are crazy. Sorry.
We got the baptism invites out nice and early and then I basically just procrastinated and waited until the very last minute to make a decision about food for the baptism. We lucked out that we were the only baptism scheduled for our Stake Center that day so the twins had the baptismal font and the primary room all to themselves and we were able to invite as many people as we wanted and set up a table of treats IN the primary room instead of having to organize a luncheon somewhere else. But nothing stresses me out more than buying food for large groups of people. My first choice would have been to skip the food part all together and then have just our immediate family go out to lunch after. But this is Utah and I guess here everyone feels the need to keep up with the Jones' and do what is "expected" of them. I felt like I was "expected" to put food out for people. My choice for food was to do a breakfast: bagels, fruit, juice. You know, the kind of food you'd want to have left over. But Kendrick felt like cookies and brownies would be easier so that is what we did. Because why not fill people up with even more sugar the day after Halloween? I'm sure parents at the baptism LOVED us...not!
The baptism itself was truly special and so fun to be a part of. We love being the parents of twins because everything is new. Everything is a learning experience-baptizing two boys was no different. Kendrick baptized them both. Jack first, then Myles. My dad and brother were the witnesses. Our neighbors and good friends, Dean and Tiffany spoke and one of our favorite sweet older couples in the ward gave the opening and closing prayers. My friend Carissa, did Jack's spotlight and my friend, Erica did Myles' spotlight. Tons of people from the ward showed up and even Jack and Myles' Kindergarten teacher came. They were so excited about that!
I am grateful beyond words to everyone that came. Even Kendrick's uncle and his cousin's family showed up. My uncle Matt drove down all the way from Bountiful, my uncle Mike brought some of his kids before he had to take them to a soccer game. For being the day after Halloween, I was so impressed with everyone that made it there bright and early. Thank you to everyone who sacrificed their morning by coming to support the twins! They felt so loved.
Jack
Myles
My parents and the twins (my cute mom bawled her eyes out the whole time-love you mom!)
When Taylor was baptized we thought it would be cool to take her to her favorite Temple and have her photo taken in her baptism dress. The idea is that someday she will go back there to have her Bridals taken and she will be able to have the two photos side by side. The twins apparently thought that was a neat idea because they requested the same thing for when they were baptized. I honestly thought they would forget about it. But they didn't. For 2 years they kept reminding me that I had "promised" them that they could go to their favorite temple and have their baptism photos taken. My fear was that one of them would choose the Bountiful Temple and one of them would choose the Provo Temple. As fun as it would be to drive through 3 separate counties to do photo shoots at two different temples, I knew it would stress me out. I lucked out though when they not only agreed on the same temple but when they both chose the temple in our old neck of the woods, The Oqquirh Mountain Temple. Which is maybe a 15-20 minute drive away. I don't know why they like this temple so much. But I think it's sweet that they do since we lived just a 10 minute walk from it when they were born. I caught a glimpse of what these two might look like in just 11 short years when they are missionaries and I loved it, it brought tears to my eyes! I am grateful for these handsome boys and for their sweet spirits. They honestly do impress me on a regular basis.
After their photo shoot I took them by our old townhome. We only lived there for 1 year but it is the home where we survived having twin premature newborns. I had to get a picture of them in front of it 8 years later. After that we decided to go get a treat. I took them to the new HUGE Schmidt's pastry cottage in South Jordan. I used to love that place when I was little. I have such a weakness for sugar cookies. The twins each opted for a cinnamon roll bigger than their heads and a milk and I chose a pumpkin shaped frosted cookie. We laughed and laughed and had such a fun time. It was an awesome memory and I'm so grateful that these boys like hanging out with their mom...
I think their baptism announcement turned out so cute! Go check out nattysuedesigns on Etsy. My friend, Natalie is amazing!
Tuesday was the twins Birthday. It was a super long, exhausting, wonderful, busy and fun day. I also watched Dex and Oly that day. So today I have a mountain of laundry. And I am talking a MOUNTAIN that touches the ceiling... and no desire whatsoever to touch it. So I am blogging about the twins Birthday instead of folding all our clothes. Seems like a perfectly acceptable reason not to get caught up on laundry, right? I mean, this is for posterity after all.
I decided when the twins started school that they would always have the option to chose whether or not they even wanted to go to school on their Birthday. Since Tay and Easton have summer Birthdays and get to be at home, in my mind it is only fair to give the twins the same option. Jack chose to go to school. Myles did not. If I'm being honest I sort of thought it would go the other way around. But Jack was super excited to have all the Birthday attention to himself and Myles was totally content just chilling at home with his new loot. So everyone was happy.
We had to wake up early to squeeze in the morning Birthday routine of presents and breakfast before Jack and Tay went to school and then Myles decided that he wanted to spend the morning at the park, playing soccer with their new soccer net. After that we came home and he built his new Lego set and then ate his Birthday lunchable and watched a movie. It was kind of a boring day. And because I had Dex and Oly, and Easton is in half day Kindergarten, I didn't feel like I had the ability to take Myles anywhere. Plus, then there is the whole concern about being fair and not favoring one twin over the other. I didn't want to take Myles out to lunch or something while Jack was at school...even though Jack chose to be at school. As far as problems go, that's a dumb one to have, I know. But we ended up just staying home. I kept asking Myles if he was happy and having a good day and he said he was, so hopefully his 8th Birthday will go down in his memory as one of his favorite Birthdays...
When Kendrick got home we met up with my parents, and my brother and his wife at Boondocks for some arcade fun. We talked everyone into playing laser tag and Kendrick and I won the kids a TON of tickets by playing games we kick trash at. For him it's basketball. For me it's shooting. After Boondocks we ate dinner over at In and Out Burger. The boys tasted it for the first time on Saturday night when they went to their first Utah football game. (I will include those pictures as well...)
Since their first taste of it, they have been craving it. They are so their father's boys.
While we were at In and Out Burger, Tay got sick. Then she ended up puking all over the garage when we got home. It was sad. Poor girl just ended up just taking a bath and going straight to bed even though Richard and Tiana came over to eat Birthday cake with us. And poor Kendrick ended up having to hose down the garage while I got the cakes ready. When all was said and done we didn't end up doing Birthday cake until like 9:30 at night. The twins didn't end up even heading to bed until 10:30 and Richard and Tiana stayed and chatted with us until 12:30. It was a really fun evening, but we were all so tired the next day.
The next night, Richard and Tiana took Jack and Myles out to dinner at Famous Daves and to Gamestop to choose a new video game then out to ice cream at Culvers. Our kids are spoiled.
I am so grateful for our sweet boys. I am glad they had a fun Birthday. I love the years where I don't have to plan friend parties and we can just hang out as a family. I will be so sad when this time of our life is over and our kids won't want to hang out with Kendrick and I on their Birthdays anymore. Yay for the boys only turning 8 and still thinking we are cool!
We love you Jack and Myles!!!
Their first Utah game...
Birthday morning...
Boondocks...
In and Out...
The rest of that evening...
Famous Daves and Culvers with Richard and Tiana...
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