Parties and Celebrations...

Our Fourth of July weekend was crazy fun this year. We partied and celebrated 4 days straight.

 

Friday

First up: Celebrating 3-year-old Logan!! We started the day with some hitting practice at the golfing range, one of Logan's favorite things to do. He has his own clubs and everything- he's legit. ;)

Then him and Daddy got dressed in their superhero shirts and we went to swim at the Mercer Island Country Club with two of Logan's favorite people- Uncle Critty (who works there) and Auntie Aleigha. We watched Critty play tennis, swam, munched on some grub and did a few cannon balls. Logan was looking like a big boy with his new haircut and we practiced saying "I'm 3" all day. 

After swimming- DQ ice cream cake at Critty and Aleigha's. Mmmm...

 

 

Saturday

I just love our Fourth of July traditions. Each year we head to Nonie and Grandpa's- Three Tree Point in Burien. There's BBQin', Bocce, football, and memories made in their beautiful backyard overlooking the water. The neighborhood is covered in Red, White and Blue and the streets and beaches are packed with people celebrating. A band rocks out on the corner and when it gets dark fireworks are lit off the barge right in front of us. We left this year feeling pretty lucky to be a part of it- perfect way to spend the holiday.

 



Great Grandpa Ray with Rudy



Down the street where the band plays

Playin on the beach. Little L did some serious rock-throwin' :)

 



 

Sunday

This was a special day. In our church, babies are given a blessing by their Father and other men who hold the Priesthood during our Sunday Sacrament meeting. (They are later baptized if they choose when they are 8 years old.)

During the blessing, each man in the circle placed a hand under Rudy and softly bounced him while Jeff spoke a beautiful blessing. Jeff and I talked about certain things that we felt were important to us to include, but a big part of it involves Jeff listening for thoughts and impressions to come to his heart and mind from the spirit- certain blessings that we may not have known will be important for Rudy to have.

How grateful I am for the wonderful, good-hearted men that stood in that circle with Jeff. It touched my heart to have Rudy upheld by the hands of so many men who are so much of what I hope for my boys to be- humble, kind, full of service and have firm testimonies and relationships with their Savior.  

And it is times like these that I fall deeper in love with my husband. It requires discipline and sacrifice to be worthy of that Priesthood, and I am deeply grateful for his dedication to it. 

Some things I wrote down that were said in Rudy's blessing:

That he may develop a strong testimony of the gospel, as well as a sound understanding of the Word of Wisdom; That he will have a healthy body and help others to do so; That he would do well in school, again helping others to do well also.

Jeff blessed him with a love for his brother- that they would be great friends. I felt the spirit especially strong during these words and my testimony of eternal families was strengthened.

So many times during Rudy's blessing it was mentioned that he would be kind and helpful- and I felt like this was speaking to the kind of man he would become.

It ended with a reminder that we love him and that his Heavenly Father does too.

Men in Rudy's circle:

Uncle Critty, Our Bishop: Dave Every, our Home Teacher: Jeff Bell, and some of Logan's friends' Daddies: Nate Bushman, Brady Houston, Brandon Dickinson and Cameron Garner.

Oh and it is tradition to hold up the baby after the blessing so everyone can see him and his sweet outfit. Jeff held him up like the monkey held up Simba in the Lion King. Awesome honey. That was the cherry on top. Haha.

 

 

Monday

We decided to forgo the traditional family Birthday bash this year and just party it up with all of Logan's sweet friends and cousins.

We met at Volunteer Park in Seattle for an Avenger's themed party and some fun in the splash park! 



 

 

 

 

...And then we crashed and slept harder than ever before.

:)