Haley's Baptism

Haley Marlena Helms was baptized on her birthday, June 16, 2012.  We were very fortunate to have so much family come and participate.  Grammy and Nana gave Haley special jewelry to wear and Aunt Katie sent the flower for her hair.  Haley was baptized in the dress that Nanny Helms made.  It's the same dress that Aunt Callie and Catherine Bailey were baptized in.  Because the entire bishopric was out of town, Pop Pop conducted the baptismal service and Brent performed the baptism and confirmation.  Nana played the piano, Grammy gave a talk, Papa gave the prayer and Allie and I performed a musical number.  The entire service was performed by family.  It was a very special day!

We are so glad Mamaw could come for the baptism.

Haley and Allie with Grandma and Papa.

Brent's been looking forward to this day for a long time.  He spent lots of time talking with Haley about what it means to be baptized.

Grandpa and Nana

Grammy and Pop Pop

Emily wanted her picture taken too!

Aunt Kathy with the princesses.

Happy Birthday Haley!

Sarah Kathryn tried to blow out the candles too.

I DID IT!

I DID IT! I finally published a new post!  Obviously, much has happened since May.  Some of which will be included in later posts with the accompanying pictures.

In August (I think), we visited Uncle Ric, Aunt Kat, and Tootie in Atlanta.  It was the most relaxing weekend Brent and I have had in a long time.  Kat is notorious for her hospitality and as usual her cooking was excellent.  They put up a pool in the back yard for the kids, which the kids are still talking about.  Joseph even swam without his floaties on.  The kids jumped in and out of that pool as much as they liked all weekend.  We had a bbq and just enjoyed the company.  Uncle Ric had me burn our names in my grandparents swing that he built.  Joseph and Emily keep asking when we're going to see "Unka" again.

Here we are with our crew!  We don't get very many of these pictures.  I should blow it up, print an  8x10 and consider our family photo done for the year.

Joseph is so good to Sarah Kathryn and she loves her big brother.  She likes to play with his toy dinosaurs and make growling noises like Joseph does.  She's definitely watching him.  Joseph watches to make sure Sarah Kathryn doesn't eat things off the floor.  He tells her, "No No baby" and gives her a toy she can plan with.  In the picture below I caught them behind the chair.  Joseph was "reading" Sarah Kathryn a story.

Haley made this crafty little door hanger for our house which she was very proud of.  She loves that Sarah Kathryn has her blue eyes and blonde hair.  Haley calls the baby her "Mini Twin."

Allie continues to enjoy cooking.  Lately she been swiping my new issues of "Southern Living" looking for new recipes.  In this picture she's eating a piece of the vegan sweet potato pie she made.  It was excellent.  Her next project is caramel apple tarts.

I just want you to know that sacrifice brings blessings.  I know that some grandparents will consider this new post a blessing.  The sacrifice is that I've been listening to the kids squealing and screaming with delight while they've been jumping on my bed for the last 20 minutes, which means my room is a disaster, the baby has been crawling on my bathroom floor and there's clean laundry everywhere.  I hope you enjoy it!

Visiting Bubo

At the end of April we drove to Clearwater to visit Bubo.  She looks as fabulous as ever.  She really enjoyed watching the children and talking to the girls.  Bubo rocked Sarah Kathryn to sleep and thought it was a special treat.  Bubo now has 5 great great grandchildren.  Brent and I try to take all the children to visit Bubo while they're still small enough for her to hold.  It was a fun visit.  Even Josh held the baby and I think everyone else was mesmerized by the amount of energy 5 children have.  Uncle Scott, Aunt Kelly, Josh, Uncle Steve, Aunt Maria and Aunt Ann were all nice enough to meet up with us for the short time we were there. It was a good visit.  As always, Bubo was the 

hi-light.

Allie the Brave

Allie received money for her birthday and decided to use it to have her ears pierced.  She didn't cry and said it didn't hurt at all.  She was pretty tough.  I caught her checking her reflection all day yesterday and this morning she told me that she wanted to get her haircut to show off her ears more. The earrings are cute on her, but you can't really improve perfection.

Catching up...

As you can see, we've been enjoying the spring weather.  I don't know what we would do without this swingset!

A few weeks ago, Joseph helped Brent mow the entire yard.  It took Brent twice as long to finish, but Joseph loved it.  He cried when Brent put the mower away.  I think Brent was proud of that.

Allie made homemade wheat bread for her cooking lesson and it was the best bread I've ever tasted.  She has a definite flair for cooking.  

Here are pictures of Allie and Brent's birthday.  Grammy and PopPop were visiting and Great Gran and the neighbors ate dinner with us.  You can't see her face, but Allie was very excited about the Barbie and My Little Pony.  Brent's such a good sport to let Allie have the spotlight on their birthday.  Emily kept trying to convince me that it was her birthday too.

As some of you are aware, we have battled Emily's hair for quite some time.  Every morning I brush out her matted hair only by pinning her down and yanking her hair with the brush.  It has to be done, but it's not much fun for Emily or me.  So yesterday I did something about it...

TA-DA!

The pictures don't really do it justice, but she looks totally glamorous, like a movie star.  She let me style it for her this morning and we put a sparkly clip in the front.  Adorable!

What's even  better than not having to brush her hair, is that Emily has been more communicative since her haircut.  I think she feels more like a big girl and definitely more sassy.  She loves her haricut and likes to tell everyone about it.  She's only three, but it definitely proves that sometimes a change on the outside can help you feel better on the inside.

Sarah Kathryn

What Little Boys Are Made Of

Remember the little poem about sugar,spice and all things nice?  That is what little girls are made of.  For the most part that is true...but that's another post.  Little boys are supposed to be made of snails, puppy dog tails...something of that sort.  This is a falsehood.  Little boys are made of RUBBER!  I know Joseph must think he's made of rubber, but I'm convinced. To go along with his busted a lip a couple of weeks ago, Joseph now has a nasty black eye. Where did he get it?  At the art museum!  Who gets a black eye at an art museum?! I'm still debating whether or not to post a picture of it.  To complete the ensemble, this morning he fell off the top of the fence and got a bloody nose.  You're all probably thinking one thing by now...Laura is a terrible mother.  I don't know that I'd go so far as terrible, perhaps inexperienced.  The truth is I'm a girl and I don't think like a boy.  I would never have expected Joseph to do any of the things he's done lately b/c girls don't think to do stuff like this.  Maybe Brent should stay home and raise Joseph for the next couple of years and I'll go to school.  Brent probably would've seen all this coming.  

Perhaps our next house should have a privacy fence, but this might only be an invitation for Joseph...a new challenge for him to conquer.

I used to think I wanted a bunch of sons and one daughter.  I am so glad for four daughters and one son.
I am also glad that God watches out for my little boy.  I guess we'll raise him together.