Goodbye, More Concerts and Celebrating!

Sadly, Elder Hatton got transferred to a new area. He came over to say goodbye with Elder Packard. They have been a great duo and we have all loved having them here. Elder Hatton only has 2 transfers left in his mission and promises he will come back and visit us after he is released.

Sara, Elder Packard, Laney, Daniel, Susanna, Elder Hatton and Andrew

They are going to miss each other bunches. They became best friends. Elder Packard was so sad.

Such sillieness! The boys will miss goofing around with Elder Hatton.

Laney gave him a crown.

Elder Packard wished us a very special goodnight. Hahaha!

Some times loving your brother looks like a dog pile.

It's beggingbe to look like Christmas!

And birthday time for the twins!
Presents!!

A Fight The New Drug sweatshirt for Freddy and Bluetooth warning for Andrew.

Lilly came for some girl talk with Sara. We've missed her since she's been away at school .

We attended  Daniel's show choir concert. He did an incredible job! Valley Vista High School has a great choral program! They had great dynamics and sound as well as awesome dancing!

 Gram and Papa came, and loved it!

Krista, Sadie, Kailey and Jackson Baker came. They are huge Daniel fans.

Two of Daniel's best friends, Isabelle Hunsaker and Matthew Lundberg.

Daniel was born for the stage! His choir teacher was so proud of him and absolutely loves him!

This is Daniel's awesome choir teacher, Preston MacDonald. He did an incredible job with these eager kids.

Saturday morning was our ward Christmas party. It was a Who-ville Christmas theme. The boys were in charge of the frosting for the cookie decorating. They did a great job making and coloring the butter cream frosting. I love that my boots are not afraid to follow a receipe.

Coby Larson, Ammon Fleming, Jonathan Magill and Daniel

Devry Mills, Kendall Fechter, Laney and Lindsey Baker

Nicholas Summers, Noah Fechter, Andrew and Freddy
The cookie crew!

My babies, they are getting so big!

Susanna and Danica Mills

Santa (Neil Short), and Susanna

Laney made cookies that looked like Sarah Magill, the blonde one, and her sister, Sara, the redheaded one.

Susanna with the younger Baker kids, Sadie, Kailey, Jackson and Charlotte, by age, and Santa!

After the Christmas party, Josh and Miles came over to celebrate the twins birthday with us. Freddy and Andrew wanted them to come and play with the Lionel train set that Aunt Kathy and Uncle Alan gave us. We love getting them out every Christmas! They had a ton of fun!

Sam and Vivi came over too!

The trains truly are one of their favorite parts of Christmas.

It has been a while since they had wrestled with Sammy. They love him bunches!

Then it was cake time! Somehow I didn't get a picture of the cake, but it was a tres leches cake, covered in shredded coconut.

It seems like everyone we go to take the farewell pictures with Josh and Miles, somebody tickles Josh. These guys are all so great!

I love all these kiddos!

That evening, Daniel had another concert. Everyone went to see him perform, since they were at a youth devotional with Elder Gong  during the first one. I had my first concert for GCC at the same time. My parents came.

Sunday, after church, I had my second concert, Coco and Carols. I really enjoy singing everyday with all these great college kids. They treat me so well and make me feel like one of the gang.

That's me just left of center, in the front row, behind the mic. This is Chamber Singers.

Grammy came and sat right in the middle of my family. She documented that Sara was the only one who stayed awake. They later said the music was so peaceful that it put them all to sleep. Ha! They were really tired from a busy weekend. I get it.

This is Brigham Fish and his soon to be wife, Callie. They are so cute together and so in love!

My little cuties!

The fam, with my buddy Lucas Miles.

Lucas, Steph and Sebastian
I'm pretty much a dwarf next to them.

Such sweet guys!

Lance Ballard is another favorite. He is a ridiculously talented pianist and singer.

I have really enjoyed this semester at school.

Sam and Vivi went ice skating! They sent me these cute pictures.

Sara and Sebastian went to an Institute party for the young single adults. They had a good time!

Sara and Brynn Wilde

We survived another week!!! Wheew!

Still Thankful

Sunday evening, we had our traditional carnivore post Thanksgiving turkey. Andrew and Dad roasted it with rosemary. We eat it right out of the pan, just tearing it apart and eating it. It is fun and super yummy! Andrew's girlfriend, Lauryn, joined us. I'm pretty sure she thinks we are crazy, but she loves us anyhow.

They made mashed potatoes to go with it.

They had fun playing Settlers of Catan after turkey.

The week was full of MCO rehearsals and 6 concerts. It was amazingly wonderful! There will be a separate post for all of that.

Saturday morning, Sebastian got baptized! He asked Papa to baptize him.

He had lots of friends from school come to support him.

Liz and Daniel Walker, Sara, Sebastian, Lucas Miles, Paul Walker, Brigham Fish

Josh, Freddy, Liz and Daniel, Sara, Sebastian, Laney, Lucas, Paul, Brigham, Andrew

We sure love this guy!

Sebastian and his sister, Sabrina and his mom, Amanda.

The baptism was awesome! Elder Brooks gave the talk on baptism, Papa baptized him with Andrew and Freddy as witnesses. Then Sara, Laney and I sang The Olive Tree accompanied by Amye Godfrey. Brigham Fish gave the talk on the Holy Ghost and then Sebastian bore his testimony. He spoke for about 10 minutes, excitedly sharing all the things he has been learning, especially about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He loves it all! Then we had refreshments and visited. His mom was especially touched and so happy for him. Sebastian is such a ray of sunshine!

Freddy, Madeline Kidd and Andrew 

(She team teaches their Sunday School class with me 

and she also goes to school with us as a music major at GCC.)

Elder Brooks, Sebastian and Elder Allen

Susie cannot get enough hugs from this guy.

Sebastian and his best friend, Miles!

So much love!!

Daniel jumped into this picture.

After his baptism, Dad and I took Freddy and Andrew to Red Robin's for their birthday burgers. Josh Jordan, Sara, Sebastian and Miles joined us. 

The waitresses sang happy birthday to them.

They loved it! And shared their birthday sundae.

They were so cute!

Sunday, we went to church with Sebastian to be there for his confirmation. He asked Rich to confirm him. It was a sweet blessing and Sebastian was so grateful and excited to have the gift of the Holy Ghost. It was testimony meeting so Sebastian shared his testimony about his baptism and all he was learning.

Elder Allen shared in his testimony, that 1 1/2 years ago, he was serving in a family ward in the area where Sebastian lives. As he and Elder Brooks drove up to Sebastian's house for Thanksgiving dinner, he reminisced about how he had previously tracked on the same street and had no luck. Back then, he and his greenie companion had had a long, unsuccessful day and decided to knock on one more door before calling it a night. He said that they knocked 3 times before someone answered. They had a nice conversation and taught him a lesson but then the guy told them it just wasn't the right time for him and thanked them for the pamphlet and Book of Mormon. They were so bummed to go home without a follow-up appointment.

As he and Elder Brooks pulled up to Sebastian's house on Thanksgiving, he realized that it was Sebastian who had spoken with him and his companion 1 1/2  years ago. No wonder they had found each other familiar when they first met. They just couldn't figure out where they would have met previously. It was a crazy awesome story!

Elder Allen, Sebastian and Elder Brooks

Just to add to all the wonderful things of the week, Sunday evening, Daniel modeled his choir tie and suspenders for us, minus his shirt. It was pretty funny!

What a nut!