Certifiably puzzling

We've been puzzling and certifying.....
I looked back through the pictures I have on my camera. The past few weeks have only been puzzles and certificates.
We finished (we = Gene and the kids) a 3-D puzzle of a castle. We've left it up because it was so complicated. It's just the right size to play with polly pockets and lego guys. Who knows how long it will last...but, it's fun to have around for now. It may fall victim to one of my cleaning frenzies and disappear forever into the "I don't know where it is....I haven't seen it in a while VOID" You never know when one of those is going to hit me. My next step this summer is calling waste management for a large dumpster and filling it with everything that we haven't touched since we moved into this house 11 years ago.
I digress......the other puzzle is a great one my parents got Gene for his birthday of our address. I tried to put a piece of paper under so you could see our house on the map is in the shape of a house. Too cool.
On to certificates. Emily won 3rd place in Knox County for her safety poster she created for cyber safety. Gene completed 3 years of training as a Unit Commisioner and received a new knot for his uniform and certificate and tie tack! Jacob received a certificate for outstanding writing. I didn't get to read it yet. He said the teacher kept his story, but I can hardly wait to see what it is for. Yeah, Go Borden Team!

Baptism day

White tulips from Dad for her special day.

Caris, Skylar, Tara, Brooke.....Maddie, Audrey, Emily, Emma V. and Emma C.

Yes, he's grumpy in Tara's baptism photo too.

Emily and Gene

French braids and curls.

Emily wanted to be baptized as soon as she could after she turned 8. "it's too hard to wait" she said. So, last Saturday Jacob and Gene went at 11am and filled up the font...turning the water on and off to make sure it was warm enough. She did indicate it was "just fine" as opposed to others recently in that same font that said it was "too cold". Thank you to everyone who sent cards and gifts and attended. It was a really special day and she was happy. I got a little fussy over her hair and she very matter-of-factly turned to me and said, "Mom, it doesn't matter if my hair is crooked, it only matters if I have a good baptism." The activity day girls (ages 8-11) sang a song "I feel my Savior's love". We had some treats afterwards and it was overall a great day. She is such a sweet girl who loves to give. She can never give or get too many hugs. We love Emily.

Emily's 8

Birthday after birthday....I'm not able to keep up this year.

Emily celebrated her 8th birthday......she never said "it's great to be eight" but, I know that is what she was thinking. She had to go to school, which was a little bit of a bummer....her "mom won't say NO to me today" was a little different. It was still a special day anyway. She got some great gifts and chose to go to Wendy's for dinner. Her friends at school were sweet and she got a birthday book "Fancy Nancy". She wore her "cattitude" shirt too. I"ve had to practice saying how old my kids are now that they've all just changed......10, 8 and 7.......10, 8 &7......10, 8 and 7.