Cambria's Baptism Weekend

Dave and Brooklyn's oldest daughter Cambria just turned 8 and what a treat it was for Mary and I to be there to celebrate!

The beautiful birthday girl.

We got there on her birthday, October 18th. She had a little family present-opening and then it was off to Chuck E. Cheese's.

Her big present was a pair of rollerblades!

Xochi (age 3) posed for a picture at Chuck E.

Mary won a ton of tickets--actually, all the girls did.

Brooklyn challenged us to a basketball tournament. Look at how she and her mom have the same form!

Brooklyn and my dad.

Brooklyn and Dave--are you seeing how she dominates each round? She was amazing and had a personal best of 65 points that night.

My mom and dad did awesome.

After we got home Cambria blew out the candles on her cake.

I hope she wished for a lot of family to visit because that one came true.

Adorable sisters Maya and Xochi.

Brooklyn's mom was nice enough to take a picture with me in it!

 The next day we went to San Francisco's Chinatown where we had lunch at Cambria's favorite restaurant. Cambria spent birthday money and my mom bought all the girls something pretty for their hair.

It was a beautiful cloudy day.

Cambria's favorite dish is shrimp with candied walnuts. It was delicious.

Cute Xochi.

Saturday was the baptism and it was awesome to see all the friends who came to support this very special girl.

The program.

One of the smartest, funniest, most beautiful girls I know.

The Cook side: Grandpa Jim, Brooklyn, Maya, Mary, Cambria, Rebecca (me), Dave, Xochi, and Mopsie.

Some of the many children who sang "I am a Child of God" as a special musical number.

My brother did a wonderful job baptizing and confirming her a member of the Church. I couldn't keep from crying. I told my mom it was nice to witness Cambria's baptism on the heels' of my own boys' because I was truly able to enjoy the Spirit. (As the mom, your mind is in overdrive when it's your own affair, you know?)

Mary and I just loved being able to spend time with the Cooks. Mary was such a good big cousin to the girls and their mom messaged me later to say, "All three girls were sobbing after you left until they fell asleep. Caima went on and on about Mary and how much she missed her. 'I feel rich when she is here by me and when she's gone I feel poor. I feel full being with her and now I feel empty.'" How sweet and heartbreaking is that? I must confess to feeling the same anguish at leaving my family because my heart truly, truly felt "full" in being with them.

It was a wonderful weekend and I am so, so glad Mare and I got to go.