My life is a gift

I've been listening to the audio book American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us. I referred to this book in a post a few months ago as I mused about my feelings about religions and how they interact. Since then I've continued learning and writing about this topic though so far I've kept it to myself. I guess you could say I'm on a personal journey that I want to share with others once I'm sure of my footing; In other words to adequetly express in writing what I really mean. Anyway, I wanted to share this fun video of Ryanna singing. This is one of my favorite primary songs and one I remember learning when I was a little bit older than Ryanna. I am the primary chorister right now in my ward and love teaching these songs to the kids. I was thinking just yesterday about the shift in America and parts of the world away from organized religion and toward personal spirituality. There are vast and complex contributors to this shift(something that takes over a hundred pages to explore in American Grace) and though I feel an absolute place for religion in my life I

Quintens Birthday... 5!

I think I deserve 'father of the weekend'

I bought Ryanna her first set of scriptures in her first journal because she loves to read and write and the picture is her first entry after I showed her how to fill out a journal, including her signature.

If you leave anything within Kai Eli's reach....

At least he is eating fruits and veggies... he eats everything!

Second time in two weeks Ryanna is in The paper :)

Bath Time!

I think of the scene in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days where matthew mccaunaghy says, in response to kate hudsens make believe photo album, "our kids are.... attractive..." -Bri

Spring 2014 Baldwin Family

First, Here is Nikki dog and Quinten.  Shelly is in the Background.  The dogs have a large area in the back yard, but yearn to get out when the kids are around.  Nikki loves to run and play with the kids.  She is probably the most gentle dog around kids that I have ever known.  Kai will tackle, pull, pinch and kiss the dog to death.  She just loves it.

A better View of Nikki

Shelly and Nikki get along just fine.  Shelly was 'princess' and still is.  She is a lap dog, loves to cuddle daddy at night when the kids are going to bed.  She is loving and always happy to see us.  

You can see Kai crawling around.  He is very safe around the fire.  Quinten loves to light sticks on fire and watch them burn out and smoke.  Quinten is going to be a fire fighter.  Him and daddy saw a fire outside of the fire pit, so they got the hose and Quinten had the time of his life putting out the fire.

Kai crawling around.  You cannot keep this kid indoors.  Last fall when it was getting cooler he would still just sit in the hose water and splash around.  He loves water, loves being outdoors, riding bikes, and is a constant joy. :)

Ryanna is always smiling and a great big sister.  As we were trying to get this shot Kai ran behind Ryanna and she knocked him over.  She helped get him up, and a testament to how tough Kai is, he just got and kept playing

Ryanna loves the outdoors too.  She is always begging to go on bike rides and walks.  She is a happy girl, and a good girl.  Couldn't ask for a better daughter.  She has already written a 80+ page book.  FIRST GRADE!  She loves school, loves church, and takes care of her brothers.  

More Pictures to come.  But can we just say that we LOVE SPRING!  And by the pictures you would probably think we don't have grass.  I'll make sure to get some pics of the wonderful green grass :)