Stuart's Blessing (and penguins)

Stuart was blessed by his dad last Sunday. We were blessed to have lots of family in town to share this occasion with us. My mom flew in from New Mexico for the blessing. She was supposed to get in Friday night, but her flight was delayed and she missed her connection, so she made it Saturday morning. My brother Josh, his wife, Leila, and their daughter, Cora, drove up from Houston. They got in late Friday night. Cynthia and Jared and their kids drove down from Pea Ridge Friday night as well. Aunt Jane and Robert were at the blessing, but were not able to come over afterward (hence, they are not in the picture). An'mere made it back from Texas just in time and of course we are lucky enough to have David's parents live so close. Sunday morning when we walked into the chapel Thomas started crying. He finally calmed down, but when his daddy got up to do the blessing he started screaming again. Luckily, a nice sister from the ward took him out for me so I could hear the beautiful blessing David gave Stuart.

After church everyone came over to our house and we had a nice dinner. Mom went back to Houston with Josh and Leila. It was great to spend time with family, even if it was a quick weekend visit for most.

The Saturday before Stuart was blessed, we had planned on going to the park, but the weather didn't cooperate, so everyone came over to our house and we played. Thomas enjoyed playing with all of his cousins.

The Friday before Stuart was blessed they opened a new penguin exhibit at our zoo. They had a members-only preview party on Friday afternoon. We went and so did every other zoo member in town. The line was really long (for those who know, it was all the way back to the giraffes), but we had a good time. We ended up going back to the zoo on Monday because Cynthia and her family were still here. There was no line at all and we got to see them a lot better (of course that may be because it was freezing!). Thomas's new best friend is An'mere. He had to have her hand wherever we went at the zoo on Monday and likes to ask about "Mimi."

Stuart is growing up fast. He is a good baby and we love having him around. He is smiling a lot now. Thomas always keeps track of his baby brother. If he doesn't know where he is he says, "baby?" I love my family!