Baptism visits

We felt super lucky to have Grandma Judy, Grandma and Grandpa Keeler, and Aunty Liz come out for Zina's baptism.  We gave Zina the option to get baptized in Utah the next week, but she wanted to do it in Indiana because she "didn't want a lot of people there."  I think she was very happy with her visitors and her special day.

 We felt so lucky to have Grandpa come and play.  The kids loved playing with him but especially Davey who seems to have a hankering for his Grandpa David.  

Zina is the queen of dress-ups.

 Saturday after the baptism we took everyone on a drive through Indiana country to our favorite park.  It was a beautiful evening and so so so nice to spend it with family.  I'm still dreaming about it. 

 Mark even busted out the guitar. Whoa!  That only happens about once a year. 

He really must have been feeling it. :)

 I may have cut of his head but this is proof that the grandkids were loving having Grandpa here to play.

 Yes I was actually there!  (you can see in Davey's eyes that he is starting to get sick...really really sick)

 Poor baby. :(

 Then everyone started getting sick. 

Ug. I hate being sick.  

But we made the best of it and we hope everyone comes back again someday. :)

Zina Elizabeth Thomas

 My Zina is growing up.  This girl is sweet, spunky, feisty, shy, and happy.  She has been known to have a very short fuse at times and we are still working on channeling that frustration into something a little less volatile.  Zina turned 8 on the 14th and started 2nd grade this year.  Her dad really felt like she should attend school, so despite my wanting to home school her we sent her off.  She seems to like it, all though tells me often that she would rather be home schooled.  I would love to make that a reality in her life again sometime soon.

 Zina turned 8 this Fall and we celebrated by taking her to Conners Prairie as a family and we all loved it.  She was happy with her barbie furniture, new clothes, and scriptures along with a nice scripture case and some new reading books from her Grandparents.

 On Sept. 28th Zina was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I am so proud of her!  Her maturity and responsibility amazes me on so many levels.  She is a natural mother and loves to nurture (and boss) her little brothers, she sets her alarm and gets up at 6:30 on her own every morning.  She doesn't have to leave for school until 8:40 but she likes to get up early so she can have more time to read... :)  Her favorite books are currently Fablehaven, Spirit Animals, and Owls of Ga'hoole, in that order.   Zina loves to play soccer and can be found most evenings rain or shine outside with her Dad and Wilson playing soccer.  It won't be long until Mark doesn't have a hope against the Wilson/Zina team.  I am so grateful for my tender-hearted Zina and her sweet testimony of prayer.  Her prayers have solved more than one problem in our family.  I love her faith and can't wait to watch it grow and blossom as she grows.

Aunty Liz, Grandma & Grandpa Keeler, and Grandma Judy all came to be with Zina on her baptism day.  Somehow those pictures must all be on Grandma Nancy's camera?  

We were so glad that they came!