Adam's Baptism

Adam's baptism was wonderful. Adam and his cousin Taylor were baptised on the same day and it made the experience all the more special. Taylor turned 8 in March of 2008 and waited patiently for 4 months for Adam to turn 8 in July. The whole baptism weekend we were so grateful to Taylor for his unselfish decision to wait to be baptised jointly.

Mike, Adam, Taylor and Uncle John (My younger and much taller brother)

I was supposed to crop Taylor out of this picture, but I think he looks so cute waiting there on the side.

And now, it is Adam's turn to wait in the wings.

Taylor was baptised first, and as soon as my brother John entered the water with his amazing son I began to weep. Can you tell I am a bit of a crier? I was just overwhelmed with love for family and the strength of the Spirit that I felt. In my mind, my brother John will always be 14 years old. (I know he is married to a wonderful wife and they are expecting their 5th child...please don't try to confuse me with the facts...John is only 14, to me. Got it? Good.) I was just overcome as I saw John perform the saving Priesthood Ordinance of baptism.

My quiet weeping, I fear, became a bit more audible when Mike entered the water with our sweet Adam. I cannot express how grateful I am that Mike is a worthy Priesthood holder and could perform the saving ordinance of baptism for Adam.
Adam got his new glasses right before the baptism weekend. He kept saying how excited he was to have glasses like Taylor and admonished me not to tell Taylor beforehand. He told me repeatedly, "Taylor will be so surprised."

Evan's best friend from before we moved from Virginia, Cheyenne, was able to be in attendance and spend some time with our family.
It didn't take long for Brian to try to monopolize all of Cheyene's attention. Mike and I fear that we may have a bit of a womanizer on our hands.
It was so, so wonderful to see everyone.

Back row: Grandad Perry (Mike's Dad), Aunt Cherry, Aunt Jean, Uncle Tom (when I introduced Uncle Tom to my brother Frank, he said with his mouth agape, "It's Santa!!" Uncle Tom smiled and said he gets a lot of looks from children around Christmas time) and Mike. Front row: Grandma Joyce (Mike's Mom), Adam, Evan, Cheyene and Brian. Notice Brian is holding Cheyene's hand. What did I tell ya? Womanizer.

Here is Taylor's wonderful family. I love this picture of them. Look at Amy's cute pregnant belly. I have tried in earnest to dislike Amy...you know the type, 0% body fat...adorable when pregnant...up to date on all of her scrapbooks...but, try as I might...she is just to wonderful to dislike. (Oh no, now I am paranoid that you will think I really have tried to dislike you, Amy...I am totally kidding, but you do amaze me!) Many, many thanks to Taylor's family for making the baptism weekend so special. We love you all, so, so much.

Hooked on Phonics

You may find this hard to believe but, the other day Adam and Brian got into an argument. You may also find this hard to believe...but I was trying ignore them. After a few minutes of aggressive banter between them, Brian felt that he was proven right about whatever they were arguing about and Adam was wrong because, as Adam fled the room angrily Brian called to him:

"HA...HA, ADAM!"

Then I heard Brian say to himself, "Ha.....Ha." and he began making a "huffing noise" like, "Huuuh, huuh, huuuuuh..." then he turned to me with a beaming smile and announced excitedly, "Mom! 'HA' starts with H!" I was gleeful as I realized that the aforementioned, "huffing" noises were my Brian trying to sound out the word, "HA".

Well Brian, if Kindergarten is teaching you nothing else...you are learning the phonetics of properly insulting Adam.

Brian (September 2008) 5 years and 4 months old

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Since the Child is Practically Twelve...

Reader beware: this may come across as a totally braggy post and it isn't meant to.

I figured it is high time I blogged about Evan's 11th birthday. I could have titled this post, "Evan is Eleven" or better yet, " 'Evan from Heaven' is Eleven". What? Too much with the rhyming? When Evan was born, one of the nurses at he hospital nicknamed him, "Evan from Heaven" and the name kind of stuck. I have always adored that nickname, but Evan doesn't seem too pleased with it as of late. So, let's just parenthetically title this post, "Evan turned 11 on July 2oth and I am just now getting around to blogging about it because I am a lousy blogger."

Evan, my sweet boy, I cannot believe you once looked like this...

(1o months old holding on to the bird cage stand that you knocked over shortly thereafter) Look at that sweet face!!!

and now you look like this...

Seen here with your adorable little cousin, Alex.

One of the many things that we love about you is your wonderful sense of humor. Just the other night you cracked us all up at the dinner table while we were having a discussion about nicknames and where they can come from. You announced to all of us, "I think we should have family nicknames!" Then you pointed to each one of us in turn and said, "Peasant, Peasant, Peasant, Peasant"...and then pointed to yourself and proclaimed proudly, "King Evan". Your father and I looked at each other and shook our heads before I asked you, "Where did you hear that, from school or something?" You replied nonchalantly, with a huge grin, "I just made it up, Mom." I should have known.

Recently, we were walking through a parking lot and you informed me that your name wasn't, "Evan" anymore....you said your name was, "Big Billy" (for readers of this blog, Evan pronounced "Billy" like, "Bill-laay".) You sauntered through the parking lot referring to yourself as, "Big Bill-laay" in the first person. For example, I said, "Okay 'Big Bill-laay', just hurry up and get in the van." To which you replied, "Big Bill-laay can't be rushed." You stayed "in character" the whole evening and I chuckled to myself throughout. When you and your brothers were all in the bathroom brushing your teeth (I was in there trying to force inspire Brian to brush properly) a gigantic thunder clap was heard outside. You screamed, "Run for your LIVES!!", and then you froze for a second and said calmly, "Wait a minute...Big Bill-laay never looses his cool." and you went on brushing your teeth and only started to smirk when you saw me laughing. Seriously son, where do you come up with this stuff?

Last year at the end of school, I was invited to the 5th grade honors assembly where you were going to be getting an award for academic honors and recognition for having held an office in the (mandatory (?) in Georgia) 4-H program. It was a really long assembly and after about an hour my mind began wandering just a smidgen. (I know, I'm sorry...but, I was totally attentive when you got your awards, and I was very, very happy to be there). Toward the end of the assembly, a teacher representing the Spanish program named Senora Escalante got up and was extolling the virtues of one stellar student. She was telling how this child helped others around them and was enthusiastic about the program and was incredibly positive and...

As she droned on about this student I was thinking things like:

"Hmmm...I am so glad Asher didn't have to be babysat today...he would be so bored..."

"I need to stop by the grocery store on the way home...should I pick up romaine lettuce or iceberg?..."

"Romaine...Mike likes romaine better...

All of a sudden the teacher said, somewhat tearily, which at first I found strange, that the child that had been such a stellar student and she wishes she had more like him was:

"Evan Marshman"

I immediately burst into tears and began digging through my bag like a mad woman to retrieve my camera. The award was meant to be a surprise but...I felt some guilt for not suspecting. I was really proud of you, Evan. It made me really happy that your teacher thought you were such a stand out student. When you went to accept your medal I was crying because I am so grateful for the person you are, and the person you are becoming. You continually make Dad and I so proud, and grateful.

Here you are receiving the award for "Excellence in Spanish". Sorry, for the poor quality of this picture. Perhaps, if your mother had been ready with the camera she would have taken a better one.

Here you are wearing your medal with your 5th Grade Teacher, Mrs. Sharon Meaders.

I hope you had a fantastic birthday, and I am sorry it has taken me so long to post this. You are such a funny and great guy and a wonderful example to your brothers.

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Baller-Bow-Rina

Earlier in the summer, Adam bought a bow with suction cup arrows at a street festival.

This morning Brian said to me, and may I quote, "Look Mom!! I am a 'baller-bow-rina'! My skirt is made out of Adam's bow!" (side note: it is a good thing Adam wasn't inside to see Brian's "skirt".)

Is it just me, or is it a little ironic that he is using a piece of weaponry as his tutu?

Pshaw. Who says my boys aren't in touch with their feminine sides?

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Brian (5 years and 4 months old)