Isaac Wesley

Isaac Wesley born 9/15 (Tues) weighing 8lbs. 4oz. and 20.5 in. long. Thank you all for your prayers and kindness.

Baby Boy!!!

Baby Born Just Born

Welcome Baby Boy Vance

39 weeks, 6 days

Why do we even have due dates, anyway? I think they just cause stress more than anything! I actually thought yesterday was the day. I was contracting all afternoon, and then around bedtime it stopped. I was actually glad, because I was TIRED! But today I'm thinking I need to go on a long walk or something.

Really, this pregnancy has been a pretty nice one. A couple of months ago, I started praying that I would have more energy to be able to take care of my family and home. Heavenly Father truly answered my prayer. I definitely have days that are more tiring than others, but wow...I cleaned out my closet (that was a crazy job), pulled down the wallpaper in Danny and Nate's room (getting it painted is another matter), and got almost two months of homeschooling done early so we could take a month off around baby time. We've been doing some serious dejunking!

It's been great to have Jon home right now too. His company began closing the KC division back in 11/07 but they asked him to stay on with 3 other guys until things were pretty much finished up. So he has been out of work since 8/1. Thankfully, we've been putting in a stronger effort to follow the counsel of our church leaders and have prepared for this time.

Anyway, I just really want to hold this sweet little person in my arms. I want to sing to him and nurse him and kiss his widdew (little) cheeks. Come on buddy...come join the family!

Can You Believe This Girl?!!

Ready for church?

Thankfully, this was after church!


Jon's always got some sort of project in progress. He's got this big pile of compost in the driveway that he's using for our planters and he's got it all nicely covered up with a tarp. The compost is still exposed around the edges of the pile and, unfortunately for me, Mary Jane didn't take that as a hint that she shouldn't play in it. It happened to be on a Sunday, so she was wearing her pretty little pink jumper...

Co-conspirators

Mary's classic stinker face!

What exactly am I teaching them when they get their church clothes all dirty

and I say "SMILE!" and take their picture???

But really, haven't we all had the urge to just get good and dirty! It all came out in the wash anyway (mostly), their giggles and shrieks were priceless, and they're only this little for a short time.

Danny's Baptism

My little boy was baptized! What a wonderful, happy day it was! It sprinkled in the morning, but the afternoon was beautiful and sunny. Danny was happy and excited with a dash of nervousness.

Grandma and Grandpa Vance, Uncle Chris, and Uncle Matt made the long trek from Utah in one day to be with us. They really made it extra special. Grandpa was a TOTAL surprise. He shouldn't have been able to come due to medical treatment he is receiving, but they were able to work it out for him to come. They kept it a secret! When they got to our street, they let him out at the top of the street and then they all drove down to our house and came in. Grandpa walked around to the back door where everyone was in the kitchen. Jon's back was to the door so he walked in. Jon still didn't look thinking it was one of the kids. Then his dad commented on something he was saying....well, Jon whirled around and, needless to say, was completely thrilled and surprised!!!

We had such a fun day all together on Friday. Then Saturday afternoon was the special day! Uncle Chris gave a talk on baptism and Grandma Vance on the Gift of the Holy Ghost. They were so sweet. Uncle Matt and Grandpa were the witnesses for the baptism.

Jon could hardly find his voice as he stood there in the water with his oldest boy. He is a wonderful, sweet father. His children love him so much...as do I.

As Jon, Bishop Tanner, Grandpa, Uncle Chris, and Uncle Matt circled around Danny and placed their hands on his head, I could feel the power of the priesthood and felt so grateful for a husband who is good, and worthy to serve as a priesthood holder. As such, he serves in the church, but more importantly to me, he serves our family.

Daniel was all smiles. I love my boy so very much. He is good, and truly wanted to be baptized. We have taught him during scripture time, family home evening, and just at odd times what it means to be baptized and to receive the Holy Ghost. He developed a strong desire to receive these ordinances. Jon told Daniel that a person makes their own choice to be baptized or not to. I felt very proud of Danny when he made the choice to be baptized, even though at the time, he felt very nervous about it.

After the baptism, we came home and he opened some gifts. Grandma and Grandpa gave him a blanket that she made which included his name and baptism date on it!

Uncle Chris and family gave him a Primary Songbook with his name embossed on it. A friend of ours gave him a tote box and a gift card to Ace Hardware (since his interests include pulleys, levers, and other simple machines), we gave him his own scriptures with his name on them, and then Jon gave him his own Swiss Army knife (he instructed him in safety before he let him have it). Danny was very happy and grateful to receive these gifts (especially the knife).

My boy is growing up.