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Before church:

(a kid/animal umbrella fort in the living room)

and after church:

(Emma and Carter enjoying the "warm" day… and you can't see, but Carter had no shoes on… and didn't care one bit.)

What's not to love about Valentine's cookies?  Especially if you eat as you decorate.  Just ask Carter.

Saturday was the day of the science fair.  And when I say day, I mean DAY.  Like we left our house at 12 and got home at 5:30.  But it was really well organized and Zach had the time of his life.  He had worked on his project for 3 weeks, doing a little at a time and doing it all by himself (designing, building, typing, gluing, everything!)  He built boats out of small milk cartons and tested them in the local rec center pool to see which one worked best.  Highlights for him of the big day included the t-shirt (of course!), talking to reviewers (I am always amazed at how comfortable and confident he is in situations like that!), the electricity presentation by the MN science museum (he got chosen to help "make" electricity by cranking a wheel), and seeing his friends' projects.  I loved him pointing with his pencil when he explained his project to everyone who stopped by.  He is counting down till next year when he plans to make a light saber for his project… I told Nate that since I helped with this year's… next year it's all Dad.

I had spent the morning moping around because I had no clean clothes that fit over my expanding belly, when I was rescued by a girl scout in our ward who had come to see if we wanted to order – and receive on the spot! – any girl scout cookies.  um, yes!!!  So my clothes still didn't fit, but I was full of cookies and that, my friend, changes everything.

There is no better word to describe these two.  They have the best of times, and the worst of times… usually within minutes of each other.  (The"zamboni" driving in the kitchen was a perfect example… I had to put the camera away to break up a fight.)  And Carter chooses Emma now practically every time he needs to get dressed or put his jammies on – she is a great helper (and makes it way more fun than mom.)

Why not do both?  Even if it costs you 50 cents, which to this girl, is a lot… She was all smiles, all day.

Scouts is a whole new world to me!  Zach has been SO excited about it all.  He set a goal to get his bobcat badge before the first pack meeting (so he could start working on his wolf requirements) and finished it in 4 days!   Our first pack meeting was a funny experience – with a few surprises.  Nate was surprised it was an hour and a half long (he had come straight from work and was running on about 2 hours of sleep and no dinner); Zach was surprised to be held upside down while receiving his award; and I was surprised to have to pin it on him (I was fully anticipating that the only pregnant picture I would have to post was the baptism one, and I at least would have done my hair!)  

Congratulations to our cub scout!  We're proud of you, Zach!

Carter has actually had a hockey stick just as long as everyone else.  He just has finally decided he wants to use it.  I think he hits the puck better than I do.  And he LOVES to give Emma "stick fives" (aka high fives with the sticks).  I know you all might be sick of ice rink pictures, but we aren't… so I am sure there will be more!

Although we had been anticipating Zach's baptism for a while now (and I had had plenty of pregnancy-induced nightmares about forgetting things and showing up on the wrong day), I was totally unprepared for what a special day it was.  
Zach was baptized with Kace from his primary class on Sunday, Jan. 23.  We showed up a little early to make sure the font wouldn't overflow, which turned out to be a good thing since the singles ward had missed the stake calendar and set up a dinner in the RS room and turned off the font.  Luckily, there was plenty of time for them to relocate and Nate to finish filling the font.   Zach had been so excited to invite friends and teachers – and was extremely excited to have them sign his baptism book from Grandma and Grandpa B.   Besides Grandma and Grandpa Adams, some friends from church and his primary teachers, he also had his school teachers from this year and last year attend (neither of whom are members and both of whom we think the world of!)  It meant a lot to him, and to us, to have them there.  

The program was nice.  We sang Zach's favorite baptism song (Jesus came to John the Baptist) and Grandma Adams gave a wonderful talk about baptism.  She gave Zach and Kace (and Emma and Carter) little padlocks with keys as part of her talk, which they LOVED (and which kept Carter and Emma busy and reverent the remainder of the program!)  Then the boys were baptized.  I had been to lots of baptisms (especially lately, as Zach's friends have been getting baptized) but it was so neat when it is your kid.  It makes me smile just thinking about it.  While the boys and dads got dressed, the missionaries spoke about the Restoration.  Zach was really excited to have them there, too.  Then Kace's grandpa gave a talk about the Holy Ghost, and the boys were confirmed.  The bishop and Primary President made some remarks, Grandpa Adams said the closing prayer, and we had cookie dough brownies and milk (chosen by Zach) afterwards.  

Zach had been talking and talking (for months, actually) about getting a journal and writing in it when he was baptized, so we gave him one for the special day and let him stay up and write in it when we got home that night.  His sweet words that he wrote are an absolute treasure.  As parents, this was one of those big-ticket days that we will always remember.