A Visit from the Crew

We were lucky enough to have Ragnar's parents from Germany, and two sisters who live in Utah and one of their sons come to Texas for Ella's baptism. We were so grateful they took the time to support Ella in her decision and take time away from work and school. We enjoyed our time playing and catching up with one another. Here are a couple pictures from the weekend.

Cavin and Jonas played Tipp Kick which was Ragnar's favorite game growing up!

We tried to teach everyone a new game...it was somewhat successful ;)

We played Ladder Golf

We jumped on the trampoline....

Oma gave Channing a makeover! She got to wear mascara and lipstick and was in heaven with her "clip on" earrings that she loved wearing!

On May 26, 2014, Memorial Day it was Ragnar's father's birthday! We had our traditional breakfast donut! Then we went to IHOP to eat some more! We then went to the pool which was CRAZY crowded and then my parents and sister came to join us for a BBQ to celebrate Hellmut's birthday!

 Dads catching up!

Aunt Natalie observing the chaos!

Ella was "helping" Daphne cut the watermelon...um not so much...

 Happy 67th! We are so glad we got to celebrate it with him!

After dinner....wii time....

They've got some good moves!

Didn't get a picture of Daphne dancing with Ella, but she's got some pretty impressive moves and taught her an EFY dance that Ella is still dancing to!

The weekend went really quick and Tuesday came and it was sad to see everyone go. Ragnar's family doesn't do so well with goodbyes....the tears start flowing... Here he is with his mother.

 Father and son.

 Nothing like your parents!

Sister love....

 Only 2 of the 4 sisters. We missed the other two in Europe.

 And don't forget Jonas. The other kids were already at school, but had a great time playing with their cousin!

We were so grateful they came and it is always great to see everyone. Daphne was able to stay a few extra days, so we hung out and went to an Astros baseball game Thursday night.

As long as the little green mascot above...not sure his name, was far away Channing had fun..if he came anywhere near us...oh dear you would have thought she was dying!

We love our Aunt Daphne!

 We didn't stay for too long with it being a school night and having the kids with us. Although it was a pretty nice night out for Houston, you would have thought the kids were dying of heat the way they gulped up water at every drinking fountain!

Go Astros!

It was a really fun week and I am glad that we got to be around family and that they were able to come. We sure do have a wonderful family on both sides and we feel very lucky!

Ella's Baptism Day!

We were so excited when Ella decided that she wanted to be baptized. She has always been a very obedient girl who wants to do what is right, so it was no surprise to us what her choice would be. She decided a few months after she turned 6 that she wanted to make a goal to read the whole Book of Mormon before she turned 8 so she was ready for her baptism. We worked together as a family and every night read enough so that we finished The Book of Mormon on her 8th birthday. We are so proud of her for setting a great goal and for working to accomplish it. We took some pictures in the Spring before she was baptized and here are a few and then some pictures from her special day!

Her baptism day was Saturday, May 24, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. She was able to get baptized in the same Atascocita church building that I was baptized in as a child which I thought was neat. Her grandparents from Germany, Oma and Opa Hartzheim were able to come and also her Aunts from Utah, Daphne, and Sandra and her cousin Jonas. We also had her grandparents here Grandma and Grandpa Speers and Aunt Natalie. Some friends who attended were the Childs Family, the Packer Family, the Petersen Family, the Towles Family, Kristen and Mary Elizabeth Zill, Luke and Greg Knight, The Pierce Family, Bishop and Sister Tate, Tina Vennebush, and Brittany and Brad Raiford. It was Memorial Day weekend so many of our friends couldn't make it, but we were glad to have those there that could. Her Grandma Speers did a talk about baptism, her Aunt Daphne did a talk on the Holy Ghost, her cousin Jonas played "He sent His Son" on the piano, and her father baptized and confirmed her a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Her grandfathers were witnesses. It was a nice day and she felt special. 

 Ella with her father before the baptism.

Our little girl is getting so old!

Ella with her Oma and Opa Hartzheim

Ella with Cavin and Channing

Ella with her Grandma and Grandpa Speers

Aunt Natalie with Ella

Ella with her Aunt Sandra and her cousin Jonas

Aunt Daphne and Ella

Our family!

She did great and got in the water happily and it was a great event!

 She is now a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

 A little bit of a picture overload but such a special day! We are so proud of her and so grateful for her family and friends that came to support her and participate in her special day!

The End of Another Gymnastics Season!

Ella did gymnastics again this school year and although she went back and forth from loving it to just enduring it, she was glad she stuck with it. 

Here is what she considers her biggest accomplishment, the splits ;)

Going into her cartwheel

wahoo!

Ready for the awards ceremony!

She did it, she completed another year...and I think her last ;)

Her proud brother and sister who have supported her on the sidelines every Monday afternoon!

Ella and her Coach Kiara

This is her friend Macey who she took the class with, her other friend Emily in her class moved the month before.Yay for gymnastics, but it looks like we are on to trying out dance!