Just a few weeks after being back in the states, we had Rhea's baptism and Thomas was ordained a deacon of the Aaronic priesthood. Rhea turned 8 and Thomas turned 12 while we were in Angola, but we thought it would be best to share these special moments with family, in English, back home.
We're glad we waited. It was a special weekend with G-ma and G-pa P and Grandma B and cousin Bryson.
Everyone arrived on Thursday night, so we took the metro in on Friday and spent the day in D.C. Rhea and Savannah went to school, but Bryson and Thomas talked us into letting Thomas skip school to spend time with his cousin. Good decision considering the fun they had palling around D.C. together!
It was so nice to be back in the city and see some of our favorite buildings like the Botanical Garden, Smithsonian Castle, & the Capitol building, and to have cool fall weather instead of hot and humid July weather like we had two years ago when we lived here!
A quick lunch at a McDonald's kiosk sort of place that had a selection of 3 or 4 different meals we could choose from. Awesome idea!
White House behind Bryson:
Everyone arrived on Thursday night, so we took the metro in on Friday and spent the day in D.C. Rhea and Savannah went to school, but Bryson and Thomas talked us into letting Thomas skip school to spend time with his cousin. Good decision considering the fun they had palling around D.C. together!
It was so nice to be back in the city and see some of our favorite buildings like the Botanical Garden, Smithsonian Castle, & the Capitol building, and to have cool fall weather instead of hot and humid July weather like we had two years ago when we lived here!
A quick lunch at a McDonald's kiosk sort of place that had a selection of 3 or 4 different meals we could choose from. Awesome idea!
White House behind Bryson:
I couldn't get enough of the Washington Monument with the different looking sky throughout the day or the fall leaves!
It happened to be Veteran's Day as well, so at the World War II and Korean War memorials, we witnessed tributes to some veterans. It gave a little more meaning to the visit of those memorials that day!
Again, I couldn't get enough of the beautiful architecture, fall colors, wide open spaces and grassy areas! Oh, how I've missed them!
We finished the day off at a Vietnamese restaurant at the Eden Center close to home.
Saturday morning we woke up and got ready for the 9am baptism. We felt so blessed to have the support of not only our family, but also our primary president and Bishop that helped prepare everyone for that day, and they both attended. We are also grateful for Shelyn and Sylvia (Rhea's friend from Primary), and Adeana and Barry, a couple from the ward, that were sweet enough to come and support us once they found out about it. Everyone could have found every excuse why not to come, but they didn't, and for that we are grateful! Both grandmas spoke and gave beautiful talks, and with the songs and baptism and confirmation, I felt the spirit very strong. I know Rhea felt it too and will always remember how she felt.
Grandma B bought Rhea her scriptures, journal, and towel with her name embroidered on it. So generous and wonderful for Rhea to have her own of all of these things!
After the baptism, we changed our clothes and enjoyed a lunch at IHOP before heading to the Air and Space Museum in Dulles. A fun afternoon!
Sunday, our last full day together, started with a beautiful trip to the Washington, D.C. temple. I used the opportunity to get pics of each of the kids, especially Rhea in her baptism dress and Thomas in his suit before he got the priesthood that day. And I wanted to get a few pics for Bryson as well.
We loved our fun and memorable weekend with our grandmas and grandpa and cousin Bryson. We appreciated the sacrifices they made to come and visit us and to be a part of our family's memories!
It happened to be Veteran's Day as well, so at the World War II and Korean War memorials, we witnessed tributes to some veterans. It gave a little more meaning to the visit of those memorials that day!
Again, I couldn't get enough of the beautiful architecture, fall colors, wide open spaces and grassy areas! Oh, how I've missed them!
We finished the day off at a Vietnamese restaurant at the Eden Center close to home.
Saturday morning we woke up and got ready for the 9am baptism. We felt so blessed to have the support of not only our family, but also our primary president and Bishop that helped prepare everyone for that day, and they both attended. We are also grateful for Shelyn and Sylvia (Rhea's friend from Primary), and Adeana and Barry, a couple from the ward, that were sweet enough to come and support us once they found out about it. Everyone could have found every excuse why not to come, but they didn't, and for that we are grateful! Both grandmas spoke and gave beautiful talks, and with the songs and baptism and confirmation, I felt the spirit very strong. I know Rhea felt it too and will always remember how she felt.
Grandma B bought Rhea her scriptures, journal, and towel with her name embroidered on it. So generous and wonderful for Rhea to have her own of all of these things!
After the baptism, we changed our clothes and enjoyed a lunch at IHOP before heading to the Air and Space Museum in Dulles. A fun afternoon!
Sunday, our last full day together, started with a beautiful trip to the Washington, D.C. temple. I used the opportunity to get pics of each of the kids, especially Rhea in her baptism dress and Thomas in his suit before he got the priesthood that day. And I wanted to get a few pics for Bryson as well.
We loved our fun and memorable weekend with our grandmas and grandpa and cousin Bryson. We appreciated the sacrifices they made to come and visit us and to be a part of our family's memories!
0 comments: