This weekend was such a sweet one. Full of downtime, family time, a time of celebration and rejoicing, and a time of rest. We are so grateful for it all.
Friday night was take-out night and movie night for our big boys. Even though we loved all of our holiday fun and happenings, it's been nice to settle back into our regular Friday night routine. It's a favorite for the whole family. And I know it'll be even more fun once Layton can enjoy the tradition and actually sit and watch a movie.
Saturday morning I had a hair appointment and bought groceries before coming home to pick up my guys for some party shopping! Terrell had the boys ready and we hit the road with our lists in hand. Party City isn't exactly a fun store to take all 3 boys but in the month of January it's a must-visit and there is absolutely no avoiding it. At least our suffering is worth it because it's all for a good cause. Haha. We *think* we have almost everything we need for both Garrison's party and Layton's. Yay!!
Saturday afternoon we had a little rest time before getting ready to go out and celebrate my Nanny's 81st birthday. We got together at our local Mexican restaurant with family and had a fun time talking, eating, laughing, and celebrating. We took tons of pictures and these 2 are the best we got. Ha.
Why does Layton look like the biggest toddler I've ever carried on my hip? Hahaha. I'm not sure if it's just us but he seems to be SO big. He's heavy and solid and weighs almost as much as Austin. Guess we'll see what his numbers are at his well check coming up.
It was a fun and pretty delicious party. So thankful for my grandparents and the birthdays we're still celebrating with them!
Sunday morning was the sweetest, most special part of our whole weekend. Garrison Cade was baptized. We arrived early and got just a few pictures "backstage". He was nervous, excited, and ready. =)
There were 7 people total baptized and one of them was Uncle Frankie! Such a special morning for our entire family.
Garrison went first since he was the youngest. And apparently the water was a little chilly! It looked like it sort of took his breath away. =) Our sanctuary is OLD and so is the baptistery. So on a morning as cold as Sunday morning was, it was tough to get the water as warm as they wanted.
This was right after Brother Garth announced to the congregation that Garrison said it was cold. Haha!
Our pianist got these next pictures for us because she literally had a front row seat.
I love this one. Baptism doesn't make you saved but it is a symbol of your salvation and a public profession of faith. If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord", and believe in your heart God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. Romans 10: 9-10
Raised with Christ to walk in newness of life. Thank you Jesus. The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Psalm 126:3
I stayed in the sanctuary to watch Frankie before going back to get Garrison changed. Such a sweet morning for our family! The best kind of celebration is one of eternal value and Sunday morning was a testimony to God's goodness and His saving grace through His son Jesus.
One of the most special moments of the entire morning happened after I had gotten Garrison changed and ready to head to Sunday School.
Quick note: His entire SS class came in to watch him be baptized. It was the sweetest! We are so thankful for his teachers and their influence on him for Christ. It's my prayer that all my boys would grow in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man (Luke 2:52) just like Jesus, and I know Garrison's SS teachers are helping him to do that and as his parents we are just so, sooo thankful.
Back to the most special moment. =) We kept Austin in the service to watch Garrison and Frankie and then his Sunday School teacher was planning to take him out after the baptisms so he could head to Sunday School too. And it just so happened as Garrison and I were leaving the Annex and coming into the room immediately outside the sanctuary from getting him changed and ready for SS, Austin was leaving the sanctuary and coming into the same room immediately outside the sanctuary. Totally a God orchestrated thing. They saw each other and Austin ran to Garrison and they literally embraced and were just so happy to see each other. Austin was thrilled to tell Garrison he saw him be baptized and Garrison was so proud that Austin was proud. It was so special and precious for me to witness their special moment. My boys who love each other so much and who can share moments that are so special and so specific to them. It had nothing at all to do with me but I was there to see it and witness their joy and love for each other. It was priceless to me as their mama. =)
And I just can't say enough about our baptism committee. They were wonderful. So helpful, so reassuring, so on top of things. They made the morning go smoothly and were a huge help and blessing to us.
After church the whole family went out to lunch together and we were so thankful for the surprise of having other family members come to church and lunch too. Such a sweet, special day that radiated of God's goodness.
Sunday afternoon was lazy. We rested, I snuck in a nap, and then the boys played lots of indoor basketball.
The cuteness from Layton with his new cheese face is overflowing! =)
Yesterday we all had the day off together and we were so thankful. Every member of the family besides Terrell was under the weather. We all have some kind of little colds and just weren't feeling our best yesterday. We made the decision to stay in all day long and never left the house once. And up until supper time it went really well. We did laundry, we played, we rested. Layton got into stuff and the big boys watched a movie and it was just a really, really laid back day.
While I was warming up supper that I'd made the day before things fell apart. There were meltdowns, complaining, crying, and all the drama. Ha. But we still considered our day at home a success. Once we got everybody fed and bathed, things were all good again. =)
We are so thankful for our sweet weekend, the memories made, and the celebrations enjoyed. Now we're just hoping we can all get through this short week without a visit to the doctor or having to miss school!
Have a great Tuesday!!
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