Hannah and Jaxon's Baptisms

One of the main reasons we went to Utah in July was to be there for Hannah and Jaxon's baptisms.  As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), we believe in baptism by immersion by one holding authority when a person has reached the age of accountability which is eight years old.  Hannah who is Kevin and Angie's daughter, had turned eight in May and so she could have been baptized then.  Jaxon, Cameron and Anne's son, turned eight in July, so Hannah--even though she had looked forward for years to being baptized, decided to wait until Cameron and Anne's family came to Utah in July, and they could be baptized together.  It was truly a beautiful day to see two of our grandchildren baptized.

Kevin and Hannah

Cameron and Jaxon

Jaxon and Hannah opening their baptismal gifts.  Everyone was so excited for them. 

Jaxon with his sister, Sydney

Ella, Sydney, Lauren, Tyson, and Preston

Kade, Ella, Sydney, Lauren,  Preston, and Tyson 

(Each time I took the picture, another kid jumped in!)

Hayden (Hannah's cousin on her mother's side), Ella, Sydney, Hannah, Lauren, Preston, and Tyson

We only have six granddaughters out of 24 grandchildren, and here are four of them together:  Ella, Sydney, Hannah, and Lauren

I actually took this picture after the baptism.  Those older kids got changed out of their Sunday clothes so fast, I didn't get them when they all looked so dressed up.  Anyway, here is Grandma Laura, Parker, Carter, Connor with Koda peeking out of his shirt, Grandpa George, and Kade

Jaxon, Gavin, Lauren, Ella, Hannah, Sydney, Mason, and Preston

Grandpa George and Grandma Lauren with Hannah and Jaxon.  They were just beaming.  They were so excited for this big day!

Grandma Debbie and Grandpa Richard with Jaxon

Grandpa George and Grandpa Richard with Jaxon

Anne and Cameron with Jaxon

Jaxon's whole family:  Anne and Cameron, Jaxon, Mason, Sydney and Gavin

Hannah with her Grandma Marti and Grandpa Robert

Kevin and Angie with Hannah

Kevin and Angie with Connor, Lauren, Hannah, and Kade.  Their oldest son, Taylor, is on a Spanish speaking Mormon mission in the Pennsylvania area.

Kevin and Hannah right before the baptismal meeting began.

Cameron and Jaxon

The meeting was going so beautifully.  I even hate to tell about this because it is so embarrassing.  But, after the two were baptized, the three little grand daughters went up to the front to sing a beautiful song about baptism.  I needed to put the words for the song on the stand in front of them, and I was behind the piano at the time because I was going to accompany them.  In my haste to get their music to them, I caught my foot on the piano coaster and started falling forward, then backward, then sideways, with everyone gasping, especially me!  It felt like I was falling for ten minutes!  But luckily, just as I was going down, I caught the handles of the baptismal doors and steadied myself before I landed.  I was upright and so relieved!  But, I know if those doors hadn't been shut, I would have been in that baptismal font that day, too!!! 

Anyway, here is the result from the girls:  (Notice those doors handles behind them.  They literally saved me!)

Lauren and Sydney got the giggles so badly, and little Ella tried to hold the song together.  In addition, I guess little Mason ran into the door as someone was trying to take him out and he just said, "Ow!" and went right on.  He is the toughest little guy!  Anyway, I felt so badly that I had destroyed the beautiful meeting.  The Bishop was so kind.  He said, "Sister Copeland, you didn't ruin the meeting, but it will definitely be a baptism we all will never forget!" 

After the meeting, we all went to our family favorite to eat: 

Chuck-a-Rama 

It was so great to have four of our children together at one time--it's getting increasingly difficult for that to happen with everyone spread out from China to Washington State, to Utah, to Texas, to Florida

Here are Kent, Alison, Cameron, and Kevin

I only wish the other three could have been there, too!

My sister, Natalie, and her two children came, along with my sister Beth's son.  We loved having them there, too. 

Since my sister is twenty years younger than I (did I really admit that?), she has always been closer in age to my kids than to me!  But she's so great--she gets along with me as well as my kids.  We all love her!

Here is my sister with her son Nathan and my sister Beth's son, Matt, who was visiting them.

Here is Natalie's daughter, Brooke, with Hannah.  They love each other, too!

Ella has so much fun with the girl cousins when she comes to Utah.  We never even know she is around.  They keep her entertained the whole time!

I guess the reason we love Chuck-a-Rama so much is that everyone can eat anything they want and it's so casual when you have such a giant group.  It can get pretty crazy!

Little Cannon slept through most of the party.

Another special guest that came was Rhonda who has been a family friend for many years.  Thanks, Rhonda, for coming!

Natalie really makes me laugh sometimes. 

She posed this for her dentist husband, Kent.

I think it's safe to say we all had a great time!

I think even John had fun--even though Chuck-a-Rama isn't his choice for the food.  Hah!

After we came home, we just let the kids run and have fun in the backyard.  The dads got out and played with the boys and had fun, too!

And here was Papa George just chillin' and taking it all in.  He hated to see it all come to an end because he had to fly home the next day--budget time at the school district, you know.  I would be staying out West for a couple more weeks because I had time off between summer school and fall, but I know he would have loved to stay longer.  When you're grandparents, you just treasure the time you have with your family.  That's worth more than all that money can buy!