We Love to Visit the Temple

We enjoyed MLK day. I got up early for my last PT session with Kenny G. He had me doing lunges. My legs were sore the rest of the week, like to the point that stairs were my nemesis. I hate ultra sore muscles. I finally got the oil changed in the van, the light came on back in November. I settled in for a long wait because the truck is out of action. Evelyn was intent on having a “Wicked” party with some of her school friends, Maleena, Finley, Sophie, Lyla, and Izzy. I am thrilled she made more friends this year. All the kids and I went to the Dollar Tree for some party supplies. Phillip got some “Mater Coffee” which is code for Root Beer. Amelia found tiny Martinelli bottles, that was a must have for the girls. I love a good dollar store run. Evelyn’s party was really fun. They watched the movie while doing pedicures and eating copious amounts of sugar. After the movie the pack of girls played upstairs and outside until 4:30 pm. Amelia wanted to have some fun so she and Ambree went on a picnic in the back of the van. It was too cold to be outside but that did not stop those two! I worked on editing some photos and decorating the front table for Valentine’s Day.

The rest of the week felt off knowing we had school on Friday. Blech. Josie found a monkey she named Poppy at Dollar Tree. She really wanted two, one of each color so we went back before her violin lesson Tuesday night. Evelyn went home from school Tuesday around 2:40 after throwing up in class, gratefully out in the hall and in a trash can. Emma taught me Evelyn’s ukulele lesson so I could pass it on. Each night we are looking up at the sky to witness the “Parade of Planets.” All the planets are visible in the sky right now. With the planetary alignment, the destructive California fires, floods, and even Inauguration Day, the sign in the sky seems even more auspicious. 

The boys went snow camping up at someone’s lodge in Pinetop for a Stake YM activity. I hear they had much fun in the snow and staying up past 3 am. The boys got pizza for dinner. That sounded so delicious that we ordered pizza for us at home. I stopped to get root beer and noticed ice cream on sale so picked up several cartons to share. We snuggled on the couch in PJs watching Castle in the Sky. That was a much needed movie night. 

Saturday evening Evelyn finally got to do baptisms in the Temple. The temples are really full right now with lots of other families taking their new YM and YW to do baptisms. Evelyn chattered non-stop all afternoon wondering if it was time to get dressed, what she needed to bring, what to wear, what the temple would be like, etc. We made it to the temple right on time, a miracle like usual since I started dinner later than expected. Evelyn tiptoed into the temple! Justin baptized Amelia and then Phillip. Phillip got to baptize Evelyn and Everett for the first time as a priest. When it was Evelyn’s turn I was worried her feet would not touch the bottom! Her chin barely skimmed the surface on her tip toes. She had shining eyes and looked gloriously happy floating there with Phillip in the font. Phillip did a great job baptizing for the first time. I hope those two remember that experience. Later we joked in the van that Phillip could’ve just pushed Evelyn’s head under the water, doink! Ha ha. We stopped at Sonic for some treats before heading back home. Josie was the odd man out, she went over to the Ostler’s until we got home.