SPRING BREAK-SPENCER'S BIRTHDAY&BAPTISM!!

Saturday was Great Spencer's 8th Birthday! He wanted crepes for breakfast, and after that treat, we went over to the park for the Annual Syracuse Easter Egg Hunt--SO nice to have so many chaperones since we had a different area for each age group (Maddie and Brent were NOT thrilled that it only went up to age 11!).  Though there were 22,000 eggs there, there must've been thousands of people there to share them w/(we told Spencer it was his biggest birthday party yet!).

We had a relaxing day at home finishing up preparations for the rest of the weekend, and then headed over for Spencer's baptism @ 5.  It was fun to be joined by Sarah & Dean's family and a few friends from the ward.  Grandpa Duncan gave the first talk, and Brent did a great job speaking on the Holy Ghost.  The children had practiced singing "I Am a Child of God" w/ Maddie playing the descant on the violin.  Lucy and Anne fighting over a piece of candy led to a few uncontrolled giggles from the would-be singers, but then Lucy managed to come in for a bit of the chorus at the end.  At least we had a cozy crowd--and not too many witnesses!:)  We had lasagna (Spencer's new birthday favorite) and a great donut cake back at home, where Nate & Stacey's family were able to join us.  It was a great day--Spencer really took the day and opportunity to be baptized seriously, and was just happy the whole day. 

Spencer also got to celebrate @ school w/ a poster and treats:

For Easter, I found a little scavanger hunt w/ primary songs and scriptures that I'd made when Spencer was Lucy's age, so redid it for the morning as a way for everyone to find their Easter baskets.  Nate & Stacey were kind enough to have us over, so we pooled dinners together and enjoyed Easter and Tyler's birthday all together.  It is the PITS having family leave once we grow so accustomed to having them here, but it was such a good visit--G&G are amazing at always getting dishes done and keeping children happy--it was like having real in-house angels.  We decided they're well-prepared for upcoming mission time, as they are such a happy two-some, even living in cramped (and crazy) living quarters for long periods of time, and overcoming jetlag, different breakfasts, unending cardgames, and other strange tortures.  They are so upbeat and easy going (definitely the "Flexible Grandparents" that Katya dubbed them!) and such good examples of quietly living GREAT lives, w/o the fanfare or fluff that distract so many of us.  We loved having them here, and I'm SO glad to be such friends w/ my parents! What an asset! After a few tears of goodbyes, I tried to cheer myself up getting some clearance spring decorations (the only ones I had---a gift from Stacey while engaged--were too broken) and re-hanging my dogwood wreath in honor of our love for GA (and the people there).  Family IS the best!!