The Festivities Continue

JJ’s 8th birthday festivities got off to an awesome start with our road trip to Dallas but things only got better!!

Monday

JJ was surprised by Grandma and Grandpa when they called her down to the office at school and “kidnapped” her.  They went to Red Robin for lunch and JJ got a a special birthday Sundae.  

After school they took her to the mall and she got her ears pierced.  She has been asking for a while when she could wear earrings and I told her that she had to wait until she was old enough to be responsible.  I however, have known for a while that she has earned the privilege of having her ears pierced.  I knew that getting it done on her 8th birthday with Grandma and Papa would be very special.  She was a little nervous at first but was very brave.  She looks so cute with her new earrings. I was right that she was responsible enough for earrings.  In fact she was too responsible.  That night she could not fall asleep because she was worried to even touch her ears to her pillow.  We had talked to so much about not touching them we had sent her into a panic.  I forget that I can cut her a lot of slack because she naturally wants to do her very best.  Grandma and I explained that touching her ears to something would not get them infected only “playing” with her earrings was off limits.  She felt much better after that and was able to go to sleep without any more “butterflies” in her tummy.  I was so proud of her and am glad she has had this experience.  She is growing up so fast!

We celebrated her official 8th birthday that night with our family and our friends the Loyd’s.  JJ helped me design this awesome dinosaur cake in honor of her birthday trip to Dinosaur Land State Park.

Tuesday

My Mom and I got to have some girl time on Tuesday shopping and eating lunch together.  Grandpa held down the fort at home and watched Biddy when she got home from pre-school. That evening Burke and I got to have a date night before we picked Grandma and Grandpa Great up at the airport and dropped them off at their hotel.  While we were away the girls had a movie night with Grandma and Papa.  It is so nice to have built in babysitters around. 

Wednesday

We sent the girls off to school and picked up Grandma and Grandpa Great for a tour of the Alamo.  It was nice to enjoy their company without the kids running around.  I love them so much and it meant a lot to me that they made the trip to San Antonio.

We took a leisurely stroll along the river walk and enjoyed lunch at our favorite Mexican place.  My mom got more then she bargained for when she broke the “ do not feed the birds” rule.  One persistent duck kept pecking her on her bottom until she gave him another chip.   No matter how much we tried to scare him away a few minutes later there he would be pecking away at her. 

When the girls got home from school we took everyone to the SAS shoe factory and had lots of fun shopping at the general store, eating 5 cent popcorn and taffy and checking out the fun displays.  Their great discounts made it possible for my grandparents to stock up on their favorite shoes.

 

The girls love spending time with their Grandma Great.  She knows how to spoil them just right.

 

Grandma Johnson and Aunt Angie flew in later that night so we had a full house!

Thursday

That morning Burke was up at the crack of dawn to smoke a Baptism Day Brisket.  Not your usual tradition but brilliant none the less.  No one loves brisket more then JJ!!  The girls headed off to school again and Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa Great, Grandma Johnson, Angie and I visited Mission San Jose.  Once again I was surprised by how nice it was to tour the mission without the kiddos.   It was a beautiful morning  and I loved spending it my family. 

After the mission we made a few stops to pick up some things for the baptism and headed home to greet the girls and prepare for the upcoming evening.  Burke’s brisket was perfect and we enjoyed dinner al fresco with our family filling up two entire tables!!!  After dinner my Mom braided JJ’s hair in a crown braid- the same way she braided my hair when I got baptized.

 

Then we gathered in the living room to open some pre-baptism gifts.  Grandma Johnson gave JJ a wonderful journal that she could fill out to always remember what she was like when she was eight.  She also received a special baptism bracelet from her that she could wear after she was baptized to always remind her of the special covenants she was going to make.  Burke and I gave JJ a special book called White Dresses and a picture of the Temple that was for all the girls.  I wanted her to know that after she was baptized her goal was to prepare to go to the Temple.  There she would once again wear white and make special covenants with her Heavenly Father.  Her baptism is just the first step on the path to Exaltation and we are so proud of her.