It's Great To Be Eight!

I had absolutely no clue that putting together a baptism required so much preparation and work! I whipped up some invites(My awesome friend Tracey helped assemble them!) and mailed them to family but I forgot to take them to church to give to our ward family. (So if you are wondering why you did not receive an invitation, it is because they are sitting on my kitchen counter! ) Even with all of the of cleaning, food prep, finding a place for the luncheon, and hoping that Ashley's dress got here on time, everything turned out perfectly! It was like Christmas for Ashley! She had this count down to her special day and she was extremely well behaved. I am sure it was a result of all of the Family Home Evenings and family scripture study about baptism. It hit me on her eighth birthday that all of my efforts to teach her and prepare her for baptism weren't adequate enough so we had a month to cram it all into her brain! It amazes me that at age eight, children understand baptism and the covenants they make. It is such a wonderful foundation for their spiritual growth.

Ashley's baptism was absolutely wonderful and perfect! The grandmas gave the talks, Holly Baker played the piano, and her grandpas said the prayers. I can't believe that so many of our family and friends came to support us. My grandma and grandpa Powell, My Grandma Jones, both of our parents, ALL of my sisters, the majority of Michael's siblings, all of Ashley's cousins, my cousins, and even the Baker's from our ward in Naples drove from Utah to attend. Ashley's primary teacher came over from Parachute and a lot of our ward family was there too! Seriously, how cool is that!? What an amazing support system! I feel very blessed to have so many incredible people in my life! Speaking of incredible people, my friend and hero Tracey made so many delicious goodies for the luncheon! She knew that people would be traveling and that I had a lot on my plate so she made brownies, rice crispy treats, cheesecake, and brought a water cooler and helped set up for the luncheon. How did I get so lucky to have such cool friends? Our friends, the Kings, lent us their dance studio for the luncheon because stake conference meetings were being held at the church. That was an answer to prayers because there was no way that many people were going to fit in my house!

My grandma DeeLo has this really special tradition of giving her grandchildren their first set of scriptures with their name inscribed on it when they are baptised. I still use mine to this day. They are very dear to me and are about to fall apart from years of use. Now she is continuing the tradition with her great grandchildren. Ashley also received a lot of beautiful gifts from her family and friends.

Since I was playing hostess with the mostest, I wasn't able to take very many pictures but my mom and father in law took some. So I am going to beg them to send them my way and I will post more later. Here are a few from our special weekend!

My mom writing in Ashley's Baptism Journal.

He's growing that beard just for me!

My dad and May!

Gram Betta and grandpa Mark!

My grandma Powell and my mom!

Royeal, Almaron, and me!

Rondee,Tiffany, and me!

Randomness

I have SO many things to post about! Unfortunately, I have to be all responsible and get ready for Ashley's baptism this Saturday. (Which isn't really happening because I am sitting here blogging instead of scrubbing toilets, cleaning bedrooms, and putting away the mountain of laundry that seems to have taken up permanent residence on my couch!)

So here is some random pictures of the last few weeks to pacify you until I can fill you in on all of the interesting things that go on here at our house like our first family photos in YEARS, Ash's eighth birthday and baptism, blah blah blah!

One last dinner with Elder Gardner before he went home. He is THE coolest missionary ever!

Seriously, this little boy is so full of life and adventure! He cracks me up on an hourly basis!

She fools everyone into thinking she is sweet and innocent!

Hallie! It's what's for dinner!

He said he was a Power Ranger!


A pre-birthday slumber party for Ashley with her friend Kylie.

Raggy Runner

My friend had a similiar table runner and after examining it, I decided that I could throw one together with scaps that I already had. It was a piece of cake to put together and it gave me a crafting/quilting fix that was desperately needed. I also got to teach the Relief Society ladies in my ward how to make them at Enricment night! Besides some aprons I made for the high school play last year, this is the only thing I have made since I have moved to Colorado. I feel so pathetic! I have this quilt I have been working on for a few years that is just begging to be finished. I am fired up and ready to get it done!

A Whole Lot Of Woman Needs A Whole Lot More!

Just thought I would share a song and video that I am in love with! It is my anthem and makes me want to get up and shake what my momma gave me!

This one goes out to all of the

BIG GIRLS!