Clyde's baptism day

This wee handsome gentleman was baptized at the end of September:

(Chuck and Clyde on their way to the baptism)

Clyde started the day with a bang, going on the Circle of Torture ride (possibly not its real name) at Linder Farms, where my dad sponsored a couple of hours of fun for everyone that morning:

Seriously, this looked awful but apparently Chuck and Clyde liked it. Nutters.

The corn mazes were a popular attraction, as always:

 And cousins from both sides came together for a fun barrel ride. Don't ask me why Jack was fine riding solo here but insisted I climb in with him the following week when we went back...

The tower of haphazardly piled tractor tires enticed the climbers amongst us:

The cute Blue kids had a great time trying the zip line and ... racing tractors??  

(Can you tell I'd left by that point and am just stringing this together from the pictures?)

Dad and Sam's fam...ily... checked out the petting area and the pony rides. How cute is Bailey the Cowgirl?

Both grandpas got a chance to try the pumpkin catapult; my dad and Clyde combined their strength with some pretty far-flung results :).

And then it was time for the baptism!

Just Clyde and his friend Deion from our ward were baptized that day, which made it nice and quiet and personal. The boys had lots of support from our ward: Brother Trent Swallow (from the Bishopric), Sister Shelly Swenson (primary president) and the Swenson family, Sister Maria Horsewood (primary presidency) and Brother Cade Horsewood (ward missionary/Cub Scout leader), Sister Lois Beesley (former primary teacher), Brother Rich York (current primary teacher), the Haws family, the Nelson family, Brother Bradley, and Elders Wilson and Lagunza. (Their wonderful Wolf leader Sister Kathy Eckert was so sad that she'd missed it, and gave Clyde and Deion special 'baptism presents' the next week!)

We were grateful that so much family could be there as well: Grandma Pam, Uncle Sam (who spoke about the Holy Ghost after the baptisms), Aunt Terri, Bailey, Hazel, Miko, Grandpa Braden, Grandma and Grandpa Izatt, Aunt Melissa, Mallory, Courtney, George, Lily, Uncle Lee, Aunt Aleesha, Bri, Eli, Aunt Amanda, Uncle Steve, Anna, my Aunt Iris and Uncle Larry, and my cousin Ryan and his two daughters Kara and Rachel.

We took some family pictures afterwards, much to everyone's enthusiasm. Jack was particularly thrilled!

 Izatt side! Everyone but Kevin (had to work that weekend) and baby James (made his debut about three weeks later). The three above shots are what I got, the one below was from Melissa's camera/editing skills :).

  We waited to get pictures with my dad until the next day at Carma's blessing when Quinn and Eden could be in them, but here's my side of the family with my mom:

 And one more, because I like how devious my two middle children suddenly look - Jack is possibly about to snap Chuck's poor neck and Will is rubbing his hands together, thrilled with whatever plot he's about to unleash. I sleep with one eye open, I tell ya... (just kidding, I have a teething baby and a naughty vampire-of-a-preschooler; I don't sleep!!)

And here's just our family. I almost stuck 'little' in there but suddenly that doesn't fit - we have four kids! Multiple genders! (well, I mean, just the two...) A son old enough to be baptized! We're legit, yo!

 

It was a great day to be with our sweet Clyde Monster as he took such an important step. We love you buddy!!