Gavin's big day!

 Saturday was a SPECIAL day for Gavin and our family! We appreciate everyone who came to support him and we enjoyed your company. We realized after our house full of company left that we only took pictures before the baptism when Grandma and Grandpa Willis were there. Oops! As I was tucking Gavin in that night we were talking about how he had to be baptized three times. I asked him if he knew why. He said, "because my foot kicked up the first time and Dad raised the wrong hand the second time." I replied, "yes, but do you know WHY that matters?" He wasn't sure. I asked him if he had ever noticed that sometimes the Sacrament prayers have to be said more than once and if he knew why. He wasn't sure about that either. We discussed how God requires things to be perfect---including us. I asked him if because he was now baptized if he was perfect. He laughed and said he wasn't. I asked him HOW he would become perfect (Mark had actually said something about that in his confirmation blessing, so it all tied together nicely). He thought about that for a few moments and said he wasn't sure how. We talked about how the Holy Ghost can help him every day for the rest of his life to know what he can focus on for the day to do a little better and to change just a little bit day by day. We talked about how Jesus Christ can help him to do that and because of the atonement, he can repent every time The Spirit brings something to his attention. It was a sweet way to end a special day. Gavin is such a joy in our home and tries so hard to be a kind brother. We are thrilled for this big step in his eternal journey! WE LOVE YOU, BUDDY!!!

Arches National Park

We snuck away for a few days starting Black Friday through Sunday morning and headed south.  Mark put together a small family vacation at Arches National Park.  We overall had a blast!  The weather was in the 40's, which was perfect, because once we got hiking we kept warm (and then some).  Most hikes were at least 1/2-1 mile.  We didn't do any advanced hikes, but we did a few that were moderate and I think we did all of the easy ones.  Here is Senn at the window arches.

Left to right: Leland, Sennika, Gavin, Dad, and Shipton at window arches.

Family selfie.  Seriously impressive to fit 6 faces without a selfie stick.:)

Leaving the park with Balanced rock, a beautiful sunset, and Dad's hands.

Left to right: Dad, Sennika, Mom (with Shipton), Gavin, and Leland

Mom and Shipton selife while Dad and the big kids go exploring

Mark and Sennika are the tallest people on the rocks in this one.  If I zoomed in any closer it was blurry. 

Le at Turrent arch.

Gavin at Windows arch.

Mom and Gavin selfie at Windows.

Gavin with both Windows arches.

Gavin at Turrent.

Gavin at Windows.

One more of Gavin.

Left to right: Le, Gavin, and Sennika about to hike to double arch.

Left to right: Senn, Gavin, and Le at couble arch.

The three kids are exploring somewhere under the arch in this picture.

Hiking to get a peek at Delicate Arch.

Gavin

Left to right: Senn, Gavin, and Le hiding in a pile of rocks.

Dad and the kids climbing a giant rock.

Le hiking to Sand dune arch.

Left to right: Gavin's back :), Shipton, Sennika, and Dad at Sand Dune Arch.

Mom and kids hiking back from Sand Dune Arch.

Mom and kids hiking to another arch.  (I can't remember the name of this one)

We made it!  Shipton and Dad's shoulders.

Senn with Shipton and Dad.

Left to right: Sennika, Mom with Le, Gavin, Dad with Shipton

Dad and Gavin selfie

At Balanced Rock. Left to right: Mom, Gavin, Senn, Le, Dad, and Shipton.

Left to right: Gavin, Senn, Le, Dad with Ship

Ship and Gavin making their own Balanced Rock

So was Le

and Senn too.

Mom and Dad selfie with Balanced rock behind.

Gavin's finished product.

Shipton's

and Senn's.

Mom with Ship.

On the car ride to Arches.  The landscape was beginning to really change. (and Dad's profile). :)

Left to right: Le (taller), Ship, Senn, and Gavin

Senn at the visitor's center

Left to right: Le, Senn, Gavin, Ship

Ship

Ship hiking

Mom with kids