Gwenevere's post

Mama wants me do blog so here I am. uhh I don't know what do write so here is a pic of Rocket, a friend's cat. 

Gwenevere’s Birthday

 Gwenevere turned 13 this week.  We celebrated throughout the week.  Monday her actual birthday was also Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  James had to work, I woke up early to make Gwenevere a cheese quiche for her birthday breakfast.  We where still late to Piano and the quiche wasn't that great tasting.  Sorry honey.  Elli gave Gwenevere a peace lily plant for her birthday.  and after Piano lessons we but invited friends to come play at the signal point boat lunch in Lowell. 

 

We roasted marshmallows, snacked on food and the kids explored all over.  Edgar fell and cut his head. It bled pretty hard for a while but he seemed to be okay.  

Oliver gave Everett and Edgar dinosaur toys  

as we drove home from the lake we stopped by Fred Meyers to pick up ice cream.  Gwenevere had haagen ice cream when she went to visit her cousins Daniel and Dalynn's family in Utah and had been wanting haagen ice cream since.  as we walked out of the store we say the beautiful full moon rising in all her glory so I made Gwenevere take pictures with her birthday moon.  

When we got home no one was really hungry since we had been snacking all day, so we skipped dinner and just opened presents and age Ice cream.  

Papa got Gwenevere a compass 

Everett got Gwenevere a felting book

We went all out with chocolate syrup, ice cream cones  and mini Oreos.  It was a fantastic ice cream treat.

After ice cream, everyone brushed their teeth and got ready for bed.  I put Edgar to sleep and when I came out of the boys room I found the rest of them hanging out on Gwenevere's bed with Papa.  We said family prayers and went to bed.  But the birthday celebrating continued.  

We wanted to take Gwenevere to sushi for her birthday but our favorite sushi place was closed on Mondays so we waited till Tuesday to take Gwenevere and the whole family out to dinner.  Yummy.

When we got home the amazon package with Gwenevere's birthday presents arrived so she opened up another gift.   

Wednesday, James asked to go hiking in the woods, so we packed a picnic lunch and got in the car.  Not 100% sure where we would go, but as we all sat in the car it became unanimous that we should attempt Kentucky falls again. 

We didn't make it to the second falls because we had to get back in time for Gwenevere's Gymnastics but we still had fun.  We saw a salamander, and lots of fun mushrooms.  

After Gymnastics we celebrated with the sparkling cider Gwenevere got as a birthday present from the Brazil family.  

Thursday we celebrated Gwenevere's birthday by going to the movies to see Sing 2.  It was awesome.

Not part of the birthday celebration but still an event worth documenting.  Thursday night or should I say Friday morning at 2am we woke up to the smoke alarms going off and smoking coming from our intake vent for the furnace.  We searched all over for the source of the smoke but never found flames.  Since our furnace is gas I could imagine a gas explosion happening any minute.  To be extra safe, we woke up the kids, got them out side and called 911.  Thankfully, no gas fire expulsion happened and it was decided that the smoke was the furnace's last hurrah.   

around 4 am in the morning we call crawled back in bed, (everyone in Papa and my bed),  turned on some nature documentary and fell asleep.  James had brought in the two space heaters we kept in the attic so we could stay warm. James took the day off to sleep in, and call the furnace repair guy.

Friday was another homeschool day, with James at home we also played some board games. 

  

happy Birthday Gwenevere,  I love that we got to celebrate you over and over again.  You are patient with your parents, a great helper around the house and wonderful example of self directive learning.  We are proud of who you are becoming and the love you share with others.  Happy Birthday!

Everett age 8

 Everett talking to Papa.

Everett:  I don't like things that don't end

Papa:  yeah?  like what?

Everett: like space, it just goes on and on and on and I will never know all their is to know about space.

 Papa:  Everett I can't wait to for you to learn how to read.

Everett:  yeah I really want to read, I just don't like learning how to read.  

Papa:  Someday you will know how to read.  Just keep trying.  

Edgar paints a tiger face

 

It's enough

 Sometimes I feel like I should do more for my kids.  Like karate, dance, swimming, sports.  especially this time of year when the ballet productions begin.

But then I watch my girls jump on the trampoline for hours choregraphing their own dance and I smile and think to myself.  It is enough.  

Everett's Baptism

Everett was baptized on Saturday.  It was a crazy whirlwind of events but it all worked out.  back in July Everett expressed his readiness to get baptized.  I was so excited and relived to hear that he was ready.  With the pandemic all baptisms in the area had been changed from a stake baptism day to individual baptism to keep things small.  that was exactly what we wished for.  A small and imamate baptism.   

communicating with the primary president was another story.  to say the least it was a mess.

in August a month before Everett's 8th birthday I reached out the primary president once again to ask if we could schedule a baptism for Everett.  first they said yes.  then they got word from the Stake that starting in September they would not longer have individual baptisms but all kids had to be baptized on the Stake baptism day.  This announcement came the same week James' ICU covid cases where at the highest they had ever been for the last 1.5 years.  After a quick discussion James and I decided to postpone scheduling Everett's baptism until the covid cases settled down.  

After letting the primary president know that we needed to postpone Everett's baptism she asked the bishop if we could make an exception.  The Bishop got permission from the stake president and in the middle of September we got permission to do an individual baptism for Everett.  YAY!  But we couldn't make anything official until the Bishop returned home from his vacation at the end of September.  

Late September Bishop Bevens came over to visit with our family.  He agreed Everett could get baptized and asked that we do it in 10 days!   Oct 9th.  

as life goes all the kids got sick the week of Everett's baptism.  just a cold but still not fun.  Bishop agreed we could continue with the baptism but I was extra thankful that we kept the baptism small.  

Thankfully we where able to have family come out for the baptism. 

My mom flew in Friday Oct 8th.  

Saturday morning Grandma Thomas and the kids got ready for the baptism while James and I went to the church building to fill up the font and set up for the baptism.  It was so peaceful.

Everett picked out the pictures of the Savior holding a Lamb 

Everett's first pair of Scriptures.

Grandma Thomas and kids arrived around noon.  Grandpa Roemhildt arrived shortly after and the Bishop came around 12:30 to set up a zoom meeting for family to participate from far away.  That was the best.  I'm so thankful we could have family far away watch the baptism.

Those who attended the baptism in Person included.  Grandma Sandy Thomas, Grandpa Rob  Roemhildt, Grandma and Grandpa Cox, Bishop Bevens, and the Winder Family (Ben Everett's Friend) and Ellie (Gwenevere's friend who played the piano for us) and Cousnins Miles and Charlie.

I wish I knew all the people who joined in on Zoom.  Here is a list of those I know participated.

Great Red Grandma (Nancy Wilcox), Great Aunt Cindy Packham, Aunt Rebecca Baertlein, Sarah Day, Dalynn Thomas and Girls, Aunt Alisha, Aunt Grace, Uncle Andrew, Grandpa Thomas, Uncle Luke, Papa's cousin Callie Jacobson, Aunt Laura, Uncle Will, Amanda Meikle, Aunt Tessha, 

around 1pm we had everyone logged onto the zoom link and we began the service.  

Bishop was very kind to include those on zoom in his conducting.

I was very grateful for Gwenevere's friend Ellie who played the piano for our music. 

Here is the program

Welcome to the Baptism of             

 Everett Bennett Roemhildt

Presiding and Conducting .......………………..………… Bishop Bevens

Opening Song  ………………….....………...…I am a Child of God

Opening Prayer  .….………….…….Mother, Elizabeth Roemhildt

My baptismal covenants……………….………..Charlie Baertlein

Special Musical Number  ….………………....……...Gethemene 

Baptism of Everett Bennett Roemhildt 

By Father, James Roemhildt

Witnesses: Gwenevere and Grace Roemhildt

A time of reverence while those who participated in the baptism change into dry clothes.

Confirmation of Everett Bennett Roemhildt 

By Father, James Roemhildt 

Testimony Sharing 

Closing Song……………..Book of Mormon Stories (last verse)

Closing Prayer ………………….…………...…Dumpa Roemhildt

 

The program was lovely.  Cousin Charlie explained what a baptism covenant is for.  Then we sang Gethsemane< Everett's Song, before he entered the waters of baptism.  James was worried the water would be cold so we filled the fount on the warmer side.  it turned out to be very warm maybe too warm.  ooops.  

Charlie's address on Baptismal covenants. 

Before the baptism

Our primary president snapped this phone of Everett getting ready for his baptism

When James baptized Everett he forgot to let Everett plug his nose.  Everett came up out of the extra warm water a little bit mad.  James and Everett went and changed clothes.  

When they finally returned James gave Everett the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Bishop then invited friends on zoom to congratulate Everett.  so we took a minute or two to chat with those on the zoom call.  

Then we invited those in person to bare their testimonies for Everett.  

Finally Dumpa gave the closing prayer and we went outside to eat cookies and enjoy the beautiful autumn day.   

I never got a picture with Everett on his special day but his day will forever live in my heart.  

I I am Grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrifice.  I'm so glad Everett had the desire to be baptized.  and I am ever thankful for the love of family and friends who supported Everett on this special day.  

In preparation for Everett's Baptism I had lots of little spiritual promptings of things I wished to bless Everett with.  So in addendum to this journal post.  I leave with you Everett a mother's blessing.

Everett my son, I bless you with humility.  Be thou humble in they yearnings and the Lord, thy God shall lead thee by thy hand.  repent quickly that you may always feel the presents of the Holy Spirit.  Your Savior is your best friend.  He is your big brother and will always be there for you.  Your Heavenly parents and earthly parents love you very much.  This is the blessing of my heart.