Horton Boys, Part 2! : Happy Long-Awaited 8th Birthday Chancie Boy!!!

October 28, 2002 Chance came to our family after a relatively easy labor and delivery and has been a blessing, and a crack-up, ever since! We love you Chancie Boy! He has been anxiously awaiting this 8th birthday, so he could be baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He was so excited to be able to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost also. My sweet little boy has been bustin' his tushy trying to get his BOM read before he turned 8...he almost made it, but will most definately finish before he turns 9, at which time he will receive the "Seagull Award" (an award our Stake Primary Presidency gives out to children who read the entire Book Of Mormon before the age of 9) which is amazing! I am so proud of him for wanting to accomplish this feat...and he retains what he reads...just incredible!

On the morning of his birthday, he opened his goodies...looks like someone had a little too much fun shopping for Chance at the ASU Team Store! He loved everything! (He also got his very 1st suit to wear for his baptism.)

He was given the choice of breakfast in bed or breakfast at Ruby's diner (since the kids were on fall break they are always off of school on his birthday). He ate Cinnamon Roll French Toast, and if that wasn't enough sugar, they brought him a birthday sundae as well! This boy can EAT!! Shocker there, I know!

He received birthday $$ and Target gift cards, so he wanted to dart out to Target and buy Harry Potter Lego sets!

Next up, thanks to the Santa Anas again, we went over to friends' Chene family and went swimming. Kathy made cupcakes and we sang to Chance and he had a blast that day swimming and playing with friends. So sweet of Kathy to think of Chance. We also had hot dogs for lunch. Chance said "that was the best day ever!"

Dinner? Well, Chance LOVES spaghetti and meatballs! So, that is what he chose for his birthday dinner!

And more sugar!!!!! He opted for vanilla ice cream with crumbled cookies on top (fresh baked chocolate chip cookies that his primary teacher, Sis. Roxy Hubbs had brought over for his birthday)! MMMMM.....eat up Chancie Boy! (Did I mention this kid loves food???)

When daddy arrived home that night he had been to visit the new Dallas Cowboys stadium. He got Chance this genuine Tony Romo jersey there in the team shop. Chance is 'collecting jerseys'...He's well on his way! He was grinning so widely he couldn't stop smiling! It was awesome!

The 1st weekend of November brought the date of the baptism! Papa Brad arrived with Chance's new scriptures in hand, and you would have thought he had that scripture case specially made for Chance, huh? Awesome Papa! Chance was completely thrilled, as you can see! Auntie Courtney and Uncle Jared weren't able to make it to the baptism since they had just moved to OR, but they sent him Scripture Mastery stickers and Chance has since had a grand time putting them in his scriptures!

Kylie and TJ asleep on our sectional...I thought this was disgustingly sweet. Well, they ARE newlyweds!

Tim playing with the camera while we were at the church waiting for people to show up and open the church building!

This is the announcement/invitation I made for Chance's baptism. He loved them since they were ASU colors...obsess much Chance???

At the baptism........for the record-these were the folks in attendance at the baptism and/or after party:
Hurst family, Murphy family, McCune family, St. Clair family, Cook family, Smith family, Grammy & Papa, Uncle Troy & Aunt Dee Dee, Kylie & TJ, Nanny, Papa, Uncle Ried, Izzy & Sophie, Miss Connie, Mrs. Hockert, Sis. Hubbs, Bishop Anderson. What love is all around you Chancie Boy!!!

Mrs. Hockert SHOULD be Mormon. She loves to go to church on fast Sunday and is such a sweet spirit. She was kind enough to take the time to come to Chance' s baptism to support him. We heart her!

Bishop Chris Anderson...he doesn't like to get his picture taken...can you tell? He is such a great man...we are truly fortunate to have such a neat man as our bishop.

Miss Connie! Previously Chance AND Luke's preshool teacher, she graced us with her presence at the baptism. Yay for Miss Connie!

Chance here with Sis. Roxy Hubbs. Notice she is only a few inches taller than Chance. This lady has been Chance's primary teacher since January. She has been the most positive influence to my little boy...her spirit, her love for these kids, her love of the gospel and the scriptures...all of this exudes from her. Because of this, Chance asked her to speak at his baptism (stake baptism with 2 other kids) on the Holy Ghost. She took care and kindly made Chance a comfy fleece quilt adorned with, of course, footballs, to remind him of The Comforter, the Holy Ghost. He loves this lady and always will.

St. Clair family...great family friends. Chance, Trisa, Corie and Zack.

We decided to go to the beach after the baptism and have a bonfire and chili and hot dogs! Num Num! Papa Brad ended up making all of the chili and getting all of the hot dog stuff for us...classic Bradley. Thanks pops! Now, if only we remembered a lantern so we could SEE the food!