In the weeks leading up to his baptism, Ephraim became very concerned that he wasn't ready. He was worried that he wasn't ready to keep the commandments, and make such a big commitment. He worried because he hadn't seen God. He worried because he was nervous about getting in the water. For awhile he decided he wouldn't be baptized. So we just kept talking about his concerns and told him that it was his choice to make.
Well, about a week before his baptism, he had a change of heart and decided that he would be baptized. We talked about what it meant, and helped him plan his program. Ephraim is a smart, thoughtful boy, and had really thought everything through.
His baptism day went off without a hitch. We were lucky enough to have a lot of support from afar and people, including Grandma and Grandpa, were able to participate digitally. Grandad and Grandma Vicki were able to come in person.
What follows is what Ephraim told me he wanted to remember about his baptism day:
His favorite thing about his baptism was going under the water. He said it felt good and the water was warm.
He remembers from the talks that Grandma Ison talked about the three "bears" of his baptismal covenant: Bear your testimony, bear the name of Jesus, and bear one another's burdens (help others).
He remembers Grandad Beckman used a radio to teach about hearing the spirit. Sometimes it can be hard to hear, and not very clear to you, but if you follow Heavenly Father, it's like using the tuner to get in tune on the radio and it can be easier to hear.
The last thing he told me he wanted to remember is that after the confirmation to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost he heard Jesus in his mind tell him that he was really proud of him for getting baptized even though he was really nervous.
We love this boy and are super proud of how thoughtful and good he is. We really enjoyed his baptism day.
It gets a little harder to write these updates as the years go by. It's hard to believe that it's been eight years since I snuggled my first born little baby Ephraim. I had no idea what the years would hold, but its been a wonderful, and crazy ride.
Ephraim is smart. So smart. He loves numbers, math, and animal facts. He will spend hours reading little animal factoids, and loves to quiz us on our knowledge of animals, and math. He helps me calculate tithing, savings and spending from his allowance, and is a great baking buddy, because he helps me make sure I get the fractions right when we double or triple a recipe. Sometimes he uses his smartness to try and get away with things. He is pretty sneaky, but not quite sneaky enough yet.
Ephraim really loves video games. Playing Fortnite is his all time favorite, and he will do just about anything to earn video game time. He talks about Fortnite a lot! He also will play some other games, but usually only if Fortnite isn't an option. We spend a fair amount of time talking about moderation, and the wide variety of things that life has to offer.
When given free time, he will often instigate wrestling with Asher. Sometimes he can be a little mischievous and mean, but most of the time they play really well together. He loves his cute baby Everest. Being in quarantine has really strengthened the bond between Ephraim and his siblings. They are really learning to play together and love each other.
Ephraim loves people. He loves to talk to his friends and family. He will talk to anyone, and really misses seeing his friends during quarantine.
Ephraim isn't much into reading stories and really does not like writing, but he will spend a fair amount of time drawing and inventing weapons and comics about various characters (mostly fortnite related), but he will write and leave notes around if he is sad, or feeling especially grateful. I like to find those.
Ephraim feels things a lot. If he gets hurt, he can be quick to anger, but he copes by trying to run and be alone to process his feelings. He can be overwhelmed by lots of sounds, or stimulation and needs a break. He is learning to recognize this about himself, and if he isn't too tired, he can cope by finding some space to get away. He also is getting better at expressing his feelings, and we have a lot of really good discussions about life.
Ephraim really turned a corner in school this year. He is easily distracted and his mind wanders, and a side-effect of this can also lead to him being disruptive, and saying out anything that comes to his mind, even if it is off topic. He worked so hard this year to make better choices and finish his work, and work on staying on task. He got his work done, and was more patient with his classmates and teachers.
Before quarantine threw a wrench into things he was trying out karate. He was improving so much on concentration and awareness. He earned his yellow belt. I am excited for him to do it again when quarantine ends.
You are an incredibly picky eater, and it only seems to get worse. At least he loves most vegetables, but dinner is a battle every night, unless we are eating brats, pizza, or mac n' cheese. You also have a huge sweet tooth and get in trouble often for sneaking treats.
Awhile ago Ephraim asked if we could see the Milky Way, so we planned a trip to go see the Milky Way, and because of quarantine we used it as a chance to celebrate his birthday. Ephraim has really enjoyed learning about the stars, and is excited to do some more star gazing.
Ephraim wanted to spend his real birthday playing Fortnite, but instead he woke up and tried being sneaky. So he lost his video game privileges. He was devastated at first, but then cheered up and had a really good attitude about spending the day fishing, and eating his favorite dinner (Brats and corn on the cob).
It's been so great learning and growing with you all these years, and I am looking forward to what the next years hold.
So I am about a month late, but better late than never. Our sweet Everest is three!
Everest has so much personality. She is extremely independent. She loves to make who own decisions and be in control of her world. If she is told no, or doesn't get to do what she wants, she will often cry like someone literally has broken her heart, but on the other hand, she can entertain herself quietly for hours, and that's why I call her my "angel baby."
Everest is obsessed with all things Frozen. She loves to pretend to be Elsa, and her favorite about Elsa is that she gets to wear a cape. Often she will say, "Me Elsa, You Anna!" She especially loves the Frozen Soundtrack. She calls the first Frozen, "Let it Go Frozen" and the second one "Water Horse Frozen." I love to listen to her sing along and chatter about her favorite Frozen characters.
Everest still loves to try on shoes and socks and run around the house, and she is constantly putting on funny hats and costumes. Often she will be found changing her dolls and barbies into various outfits.
She loves cute little things, and will tell me how cute and tiny everything is. One of my favorite things that she does is call all the bunnies around "bun buns."
She will color for hours, and really loves to stick stickers everywhere. She draws little smiley faces and stick figures everywhere (mostly on paper, but a few on the tile and couch), and they are seriously adorable.
If she sees a rock, she is compelled to climb it. She loves to climb, swing, and slide. She holds her own when jumping on the trampoline with the boys. She runs this funny little run where she swings one arm with all your might.
Everest likes to "watch a show." Frozen, of course, is a favorite, but she's also super into Dino Dana, and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. She doesn't do many other electronics, but occasionally Stephen lets her watch PBS kids on his work phone (which is an I phone). She thinks this is her phone, and occasionally tells me "Lost it, my apple phone" when she sees the boys doing electronics and doesn't have her own.
Everest loves to eat just about everything, and especially loves to dip things. She will eat the spiciest salsa forever just because she gets to dip chips in it.
She is getting so big, but she likes to tell me "I'm baby Everest," if I ever tell her how big she is getting. You often crawl around pretending to be a cat, and love to come have kitty snuggles with mom. Sometimes you snuggle and pretend to sleep and think that is very hilarious.
She is learning how to play with her brothers. She especially loves to play chase with Asher, and will yell, "Asher, come get me!!" to get him to play with her.
She is developing a sense of humor. If she thinks she is being funny she laughs this hilarious forced laugh. She really loves knock knock jokes, but she doesn't quite get that there is a punchline. It goes like this:
E- "Knock knock"
-"Who's There"
E- "(Something you see)"
- "(Something you see) who?"
E- (laughs) or "Eat (something you see) num num num!"
She has a good memory and talks about things that happened in the past sometimes. I get surprised by the things she can remember. One of her favorite things to remember is how she fell and hit her head while we were hiking earlier this year. "Get owie, going on a hike. Go to the doctor." She will randomly say this whenever she remembers, and also reiterate that this is why she needs to hold hands when we are hiking.
Everest was so excited about her birthday. She really understood what was happening, and kept talking about your presents and "water horse cake." She was on top of the world!
We are so happy to have you in our family!
How to describe my silly Asher?
You are so much fun. Sometimes I watch you and my heart just wants to burst with pride at how thoughtful and friendly you are, and other times, I just don't know what to do, as you try and push everyone's buttons.
Asher started preschool this year. He likes to tell everyone he is in "first grade" and is rather confused that there are two grades BEFORE first grade; like, how does that make any sense? He loves school, and doesn't like that he doesn't have school EVERY day. I don't know much about what he does at school, other than what he has for snack every day, because thats all he will tell me about. He is already counting down the days until Kindergarten.
He is a quick learner, and astonishes me with how quickly he can memorize entire books. His favorite books were The Pigeon Books by Mo Willems, but now they are Elephant and Piggie Books, also by Mo Willems. We read several every night, occasionally with some Dr. Seuss, and There is a Monster at the End of this Book thrown in. I love his love of reading.
Asher really loves his friends. He likes to ask everyone what their name is and tell them "My name is Asher: A-S-H-E-R." Every time we go to the park he will walk up and introduce himself to people until someone reciprocates and will play with him. He doesn't get discouraged easily. He loves to run and play chase or hide-and-seek most of all.
Asher likes to get a reaction out of people. He will make silly faces, and get right in your face if you don't respond. Sometimes he will push, just because, and often he will grab toys from Everest, just to make her yell at him. Asher has a lot of mischief in his little body, and if he doesn't have space to run and explore, it escapes him in less than ideal ways sometimes.
Asher is very physical. He doesn't play with toys as much as he likes to throw them. He loves to run, jump, climb, and explore. He likes to cuddle, and sit REALLY close to everyone. He likes to touch EVERYTHING, and really enjoys playing with sensory things, like play-do and slime. Asher has no concept of personal space, and will run and jump on anyone (something we are constantly trying to remind him not to do if he doesn't ask first, because he is a big kid, and can easily bowl over just about everyone.)
Asher loves music. He is often found singing a song, will dance anywhere and is doing really well learning piano.
Asher really likes playing Minecraft and Fortnite with Ephraim. He loves Sonic, the Hulk, Little Einstein's, Frozen, and Mickey Mouse. His favorite colors are Green and Purple.
Asher loves animals, and wants to pet every dog he sees.
Asher is branching out with eating, although he still prefers meat to vegetables. He will try a lot of things, but loves ice cream the best.
Asher has loved Sonic for a long time, and when a new Sonic movie was coming out so close to his birthday, he quickly settled on a movie birthday. He got to bring 4 friends to the movie, and couple other friends came along as well. Asher picked out his own cake and we ate it and sang Happy Birthday in the courtyard as soon as everyone came out from the movie. It ended up being a perfect birthday party. Very little work for me, and Asher loved it so much.
Happy Birthday Ash-man! We love you so much!
