Vaughn's Blessing Day

Saturday night John, Angelica, Vaughn, Leo & Gudelia came in around midnight to spend the night here in preparation for the baby blessing festivities that would happen the next day.  Sunday morning Angelica, Gudelia and I prepared the food for the luncheon to be held at 11:00 a.m.  Angelica got chicken breasts boiling while Gudelia and I began cutting the vegetables.   Gudelia asked if I would like some homemade tortillas.  OF COURSE I WOULD!!!!!  She then left the veggies to us while she made some wonderful tortillas.  John & Bob got tables and chairs set up and pretty soon we were ready!

Our luncheon consisted of Mexican Chicken Salad on tostadas with the most wonderful rice and tortillas.  The salad had shredded lettuce, sliced red, yellow, orange & green bell peppers, grated carrots, chopped celery, sliced avocado, sliced radishes, sliced onion and shredded chicken.   The food was so delicious!  And it was so pretty to look at!  We had 37 people here:  Great Grandma Nash, Great Grandma & Grandpa Robertson, Grandpa & Grandma Hernandez (Leo & Gudelia), Grandpa & Grandma Nash (Bob & me), Great Aunt Sherri, Great Uncle Bill & Aunt Valeria, Chiara, Emi, Jade, Madi, Sophie, Uncle Dave & Aunt Deborah with cousin Colton, Elder Gerald Lund & Lynn, Alex & Norma with their five daughters, Araceli, John & Mel, Jen & Brian with their son, Bill (John's old roommate), and of course John, Angelica and baby Vaughn.

Everyone enjoyed visiting with each other while we ate.  We even had two shifts at the counter!  For dessert we enjoyed brownies and cookies.

 The little ones enjoyed playing while grandparents looked on!

We then took pictures of those who would be in the circle for the baby blessing that would take place at the church.  They are:  Alex Juarez, Leo Hernandez, Bill Nash, Dave Nash, John, Bobby Robertson, Gerald Lund, Bob Nash.  How wonderful to know that all these men are worthy priesthood holders and can participate in such a sacred event.

We then tried to get everyone together for a group picture.  Norma's family was so fast we were able to take a family picture for them! 

 We finally got everyone together for the group picture.  I promised I would not get anyone's feet in the pictures, but...oh well.....it just happened!

We headed over to the chapel for our 1:00 p.m. Sacrament Meeting.  John gave a beautiful blessing to Vaughn.  What a sweet experience.  During the testimony meeting, Gudelia got up and with Alex translating, bore a beautiful testimony.  We were all in tears.  Alex then bore his testimony. We had several members of the ward give sweet complements of the blessing and testimonies that were given. Several of John's friends came for the blessing who had been on study abroad with him.  I enjoyed meeting each of them.  It was a very special day.

J & A & V's new apartment

Friday, I drove a truckload of stuff down to Provo to John & Angelica's new apartment.  Angelica was gone when I got there......she was teaching Zumba.  (She had gotten the okay from the doctor after her six week checkup.  What an amazing girl!)  I got to hold Vaughn while John unloaded my truck.  I called Dave to see if he wanted to come help.  He was almost at school to do some errands, but came straight to John's instead.  The two of them got the truck unloaded in no time!

Dave then helped John with a little furniture arranging.  They got the new stereo working and turned on some music.  The two of them then did "The Shuffle".  I wish I had done a video.  Oh well....these pics will have to do!  At least you can see they are having fun!!!!

Dave set to work getting things un-boxed in the kitchen while I put Vaughn's new swing together.  John went to Little Caesars for some pizza and root beer to reward our hard work.  Angelica came home and little Vaughn rewarded her with some beautiful smiles while he tried out his new swing!

Such a darling little boy!

Ward Baby Shower

My friends, Kris Mansfield, Jan Richards, Penny Linford and Ilene Barton asked if they could do a baby shower for Angelica and baby Vaughn.  Originally it was going to be in December, but that just got way too hectic.  They rescheduled for January 5th.  It was a really nice evening.  It was held at Kris' beautiful home.  Several of the women brought food and there were so many gifts!  I won't go into a lot of detail......the pictures say it all!  Let me just say that Vaughn was just as adorable as usual!  He slept through most of it.  We tried to wake him a few times so everyone could see him smile, but he was just too tuckered out.  (We had spent the entire day moving John & Angelica (& Vaughn) into their new apartment down in Provo.)  Here are some of the photos from the shower:

All in all.....there were about 20 women who came.  We got phone calls from several others letting us know they would not be able to attend, but had gifts for the baby.  This is truly a wonderful ward.

When we got home.....THAT is when Vaughn decided to wake up!  He loved being with Grandpa!

They are both so cute!

New Years Day and After

With New Years Day being on a Sunday.....we didn't really do much of anything exciting.  My darling little Elizabeth decided to do a little cleaning which was so appreciated!  She did a great job!

Daddy spent some time reading to little Robert while Elizabeth looked on.

Before Elizabeth leaves our home on every trip, she has to have s'mores at least once!  It has become quite the tradition.  She helps Grandpa light the fire, gets all the ingredients (graham crackers, chocolate, marshmallows), gets a plate and finds a hanger to roast the marshmallows.  In the summer we are able to do it outside, but during the winter, it is just so much easier and warmer to have our fun indoors.  And I am always amazed that Grandpa is willing to do it every time!

 The next day Grandpa and Elizabeth went for a L O N G hike up the mountain with Bosco.  They were gone for several hours.  They had hiked up a ravine to see where it led. It was new territory for both of them......and they LOVED it!  When we finally called to tell them they needed to head back because it was time to leave for St. George, Elizabeth hugged a pine tree and said she wanted to keep going.  Grandpa finally convinced her to start back.  On the way back she kept scrambling up large rocks.  Grandpa said she was like a goat.....she could climb anything!  He sure loves having a hiking companion!  He is excited for the rest of the grandchildren to get old enough to hike without having to be carried most of the way!