Special Day for Leah

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, children choose if they would like to be baptised when they are 8 years old.  At the age of eight, they are old enough to know right from wrong and make good choices.  They are at an age where they can be held accountable for their choices, good or ill, and repent of their wrong-doings.
If a child chooses to be baptised, they are interviewed by their Bishop to see if they have faith in Jesus Christ.  They must believe in His Everlasting Atonement and have a desire to keep the Ten Commandments.  The child must be willing to enter into a covenant with God to obey His commandments, repent of mistakes, serve, love and comfort others, and stand as a witness of Jesus Christ in their life. 
If this is their desire, they are baptised by immersion (meaning all the way under the water) and then are given the Gift of the Holy Ghost by a man holding proper Priesthood Authority. 

Leah turned eight.  She wanted to be baptised.  She has a special faith in the Lord and, of all our children, loves the scriptures more than any.  She makes many connections in her mind with the world around her and the stories and principles she learns from reading the Bible and Book of Mormon.  She is a precious girl who likes to make others happy.



Here she is all in white with her dad who will baptise her. 

She is excited, and proud.

And she really, really loves her Daddy. 

Here  we all are right before the baptism. 

And again!

Grandparents and Christy arrive. 

Elias couldn't stop hugging Leah. 

What a nice picture of all the Andrews!

Proud girl with her hugs from Gramma and Grampa.

Leah asked Gramma to give one of the talks

at her baptism service.

Posing by herself--a moment of shyness.

Now she's more confident!

Angel.

They love each other so much.

There is a lot of emotion in this picture.

Elias looks up to Leah and thinks she is a princess.

He was so excited for her to get baptised.

More hugs.

Of course, Elias begged to have his own picture.

Ham.

Mimi and Jordan arrive and give Leah hugs.

Poppa is giving the other talk. 

Leah was completely set on who she wanted giving talks.

Leah's three best friends take a picture with her

after the baptism:

Rebecca, Emma, and Mia.

If there were ever four friends I would

keep together forever, this is them. 

Elias and Jordan know why they really came to the baptism!

Dessert!

Elias with his friend Wanda at the baptism. 

Congratulations Leah! I am proud of your choices!

You are a wonderful young lady and I love you!

Hunting for Easter Candy

Here are the Easter Pictures.  I'm now only a month behind! 

At Aunt Christy's for an egg hunt:

Happy Easter. We like Candy. We are waiting to fill our baskets.

Can we go yet?

Leah shares her eggs with Elias.

"Um, Mom. I can't pose now!  I need to find eggs."

The Onlookers.

"Yes! I got a lot of sugar in here!"

I'm really not as calm as I seem. 

I like this picture of Leah because her feet are both in the air!

"I have to climb trees to find my loot!"

Is that something in the tree up there?!

Mckay got it.

Baby Lamby.

Elias finds Baby Lamby.

Elias really loves Baby Lamby.  He has a big Lamby at home.  He bought big Lamby for his birthday--picked her out himself and fell in love with her.  He is a stuffed animal fanatic.  He loves each one as if it were real.  He names them all and talks to them and takes turns sleeping with them.  You know you are super special to Elias if he offers to let you sleep with one of his animals. 

Thanks for the goodies Grampa and Gramma!

Now we are at Mimi and Poppa's for an egg hunt. 

Waiting on the couch while bigger people hide candy outside.

First Elias is allowed to run off the deck and into the yard.

Next: Here comes Jordan.

Leah follows the smaller boys.

Mckay is really eager to get out there because

we have given the younger three kids a one-minute head-start.

And Ryanne just meanders slowly down the stairs. 

She is confident that her superb searching skills will

lead her to many more treasures than any of the other kids.

Mimi watches the fun. 

Aurora watches the hunters too.

Elias is checking out Jordan's stash and wondering if he has more.

Blue jeep and two blue-striped boys.

Jordan is having fun.

Mckay licking his lips.

"I can't find any more.  Can someone help me?"

"Can't you guys see them?  They are everywhere!

An after-the-egg-hunt hug for Raroo.