I Like to Look for Rainbows...

 What a special day!  Sydney got baptized in Brisbane on May 30th, in our ward chapel at Kangaroo Point.  It was such an amazing day filled with the spirit.  We gave her the option of waiting a couple more months and getting baptized in Utah when our extended family could be there, but she decided she really wanted to have the experience of being baptized in Australia.  Now she'll always be able to tell people that cool fact about her.  And I'm so glad she did.  It turned out really great!


A friend in our ward here is photographer and offered to take some pix in her confirmation dress before the baptism day.  I was glad we got the Brisbane temple in the shots (right next to our ward building) and some of the cliffs above the Brisbane River with the city skyline in the back.  I love how they turned out.  Amy, the photographer, really let Birdy be herself and captured her personality!  And what an awesome personality it is!!!!  I posted some of our favorite shots.

Leaning on a palm tree at the temple!

Such a beauty!  And what's even better is that her heart is the most beautiful thing about her!

This is the special bracelet she was given from Grandma So Jo at her baby blessing.  She wore it then and we have pix of it on her arm.  It is a trinket to always help her remember her 3 special white dress days! She will wear it once again at her wedding.  We will probably tie it in her hair, or on her garder or something.  It's such a sweet, special, little accessory; I love what it represents.  I don't even know why I packed it with us, because I thought she would wait til we got back to be baptized.  Guess I was inspired.  It looked so precious on her arm.  And it brought Grandma So Jo along to the event.  Everytime I saw the bracelet, I thought of my mom and how much I was missing her.  She would've loved the day.  It was so filled with the spirit.  And my mom has such a sweet testimony that she brings light with her wherever she goes.  She would've loved the music, the talks...all of it.  I know it was hard for her to miss the baptism. Syd and my mom are so close.  I love their relationship so much.  It's very special.  My mom is without questions one of my very best friends and she is the most amazing woman I know.  I love her so much!  This bracelet brought her to close to us on this special day.

 

The Brisbane River and the skyline of our Brissie!  Amazing!

I love these shots!  So Birdy!

Yep, that's Syd alright!

I let her pick out her dress.  She is so stinkin cute.  She doesn't like to be too fancy or frilly.  She wanted something simple but unique.  Everything we looked at online was waaayyy too puffy, sparkly, fancy.  We found this crocheted maxi dress and she fell in love with it's vintagey simplicity.  I love that she has this adorable style.  A bit of a tomboy, and proud of it.

Like I said, tomboy!  If there's a tree in sight, she just can't resist a climb.  I couldn't say no even in her beautiful dress.  I love this pic, because-- well, it's her.  Beautiful and brave and adventurous!

Oaklee got all dolled up for the photoshoot.  Even though I kept telling her, it was Birdy's baptism pix.  I guess she figured she could sneak into a few. And...she did! She has on every accessory in our house.


She cracks me up!


But look at these 2!  Best friends for sure.  I love them to infinity and beyond.  

Those are Syd's sandals she insisted on wearing and yah...that's my black bracelet that she has fastened onto her ankle.  Hilair.  She makes anything look good.  Such a fashionista.  I love this pic of these 2.  They are so stinkin funny. 

Brisbane River and my sweet girl.

Wasn't really planning on pix...hence the bun, but I'm glad I got this.  I am smitten with my kids.  Birdy, is our peacemaker and I feel grateful every single day to have her in my life forever!  I love you, Birdy B.

 What can I say about my girls???  Absolutely beautiful inside and out!

I'm one lucky momma!

I'm so in love with this shot.  Oh the leg pop--I honestly think she can't help it-- Oakers, you're too cute!

 We had debated having Syd's baptism in the ocean somewhere on the Gold Coast.  But when we left it up to her, she chose to have it at the chapel, because there were people she really wanted to invite and have at her special day.  She invited a couple non-member friends and it was great to have them with their families there.

Sydney is fearless when it comes to missionary work.  She wanted to invite her 2 teachers from school here in Brissie.  Ms. Mcguire from year 2 and Ms. Lindsey-Smith from year 3.  I couldn't believe they came.  How sweet is that?  It was so special to have them there.

Syd with our dear friend, Brother Leo.

The whole night was very special.  Syd asked me and Parker to speak.  Park's talk was on the Holy Ghost and it was really great.  I was proud of him.  He's only 10 years old and has spoken at a baptism.  I thought that was really cool.  Birdy really looks up to Park; they are very close friends and it meant so much to her to have Parker speak.  He talked about when he got the Holy Ghost and how it has helped him in his life, especially this year in Australia.  His testimony is so impressive.  I love listening to him share his thoughts and bear testimony of the Savior.  Sydney and Oaklee and their 2 friends (Celia and Sadie Adams) sang a medley of "I Like to Look for Rainbows" and "Trying to Be Like Jesus"-- my mom did the arrangement--she is so stinkin talented.  It was so beautiful; I just cried through the whole thing.  Syd sang a solo during the Rainbow song and her voice was clear and perfect.  The spirit was so strong.  I was one proud mama!  I loved seeing both my girlies up there singing.  Both voices were wonderful!

Friends at the baptism

Here's our crew!  Baptisms are just one of the steps to keeping us together forever! 

I was so thankful that Lex could perform the baptism and confirmation.  It's so amazing seeing them together in the water all in white.  I felt the same at Park's baptism.  This ordinance is such a big deal...it's huge.  Such an important step!  

This is Sister Montague.  She is serving with her husband here.
They are from Farmington, Utah.  They have been like
step-in grandparents to our kids.  She adores Syd.

Baptism in Brisbane!  Awesome as!

Afterward, our ward always has a big refreshment time in the gym.  Syd only had one idea for refreshments...Tim Tam Slams!!!  Those are pure Aussie.  Tim Tam cookies used as straws in milk or hot chocolate.  You bite off the ends and suck the drink through the cookie til it gets so soft that it collapses on itself and you have to slam the soggy cookie into your mouth before it dissolves into your milk!  Yumm!  We had fun slamming Tim Tams with the ward.  Our ward family is so supportive.  There were tons of people there to be with Syd on this special night!  I love this girl to pieces.  (xoxo, oodle-de-doodle!)  What a wonderful night for our family!  Proud, proud mom moments!