EIGHT is great!

Andre turned 8 years old on October 9th.  What an awesome child I have been blessed with!  Andre chose to go to "Babe's Chicken Dinner" to eat.  It is fabulous Southern comfort food.  Of course he ate ribs.  We then had birthday cake and presents.  Jason splurged on Andre and got him a 3DS.  Someday my kids will read this and a 3DS will sound as silly as an Atari 2600 does now.  But anyway, its the latest cool thing in kids gaming/electronics.

The following day my Mom arrived to pay us a visit!!!  I was so happy, as were all of the kids.  I miss my extended family in Utah so much.  Just having her in the house brought me a great deal of peace, despite the stress of additional parties, baptisms, and having to re-plumb the kitchen sink myself on Friday before guests arrived.

I'll get back to the other festivities of the week but first want to cover the most important.

Andre was baptized on Saturday, October 14th.  His other grandparents, Guy and Debbie, had arrived the night before, so they were able to be there with us.  He asked each of his grandmothers to speak (Debbie on baptism and Sharon on the Holy Ghost).  I was very touched as Andre's eyes stayed fixed intently upon them as they spoke and he nodded his head in agreement and was all together as sweet, humble, and awesome as could be.  He was truly excited to get baptized.  The Allred grandparents gave him his first official set of scriptures with his name printed on them and a cool scripture case.  That night I found him asleep with his arm across the open book--Genesis chapter 3.  

Of course his father performed the baptism and confirmation.  I wish I'd been coherent enough to photograph all of our awesome friends and family who came to support Andre.  Besides grandparents coming from Utah, he also had Aunt Pam and Uncle Craig come from Houston, Aarison, the Hastings, Vicki and Dima, the Bouchas, the VerHoef family and others whom we dearly love.

 After the bishop held his baptismal interview with Andre, he came out and told me how impressed he was.  He said that Andre was much more prepared for baptism than most kids his age and that  he was amazed at some of Andre's insightful answers.  The night before his baptism, Andre carefully set out his suit and other items he'd need for the following day.  The whole service was a very spiritual time for me.  I hope it was for him.

Andre is only 8.  He throws his clothes everywhere and only some of his pee gets in the toilet.  He throws a small fit if he misses a spelling word and I force him to practice it.  He has man BO if he forgets to put on deodorant.  I only tell you these things because otherwise I might swear he is the closest to a perfect boy you could ever find.