REDNECK FUN

 As great and fun the baptism was, it was stressful pulling it all off. I made the invitations, the programs, some of the food, all the main stuff I had catered. I did the flowers, and decorations. Plus I had 12 guest to feed for the weekend. If it wasn't for my Mom and Rachel and all there help with making food every meal and cleaning up, I would have totally lost it. Thanks Rach and mom for ALL your help that weekend. So after the party we needed a stress relief. We went and blew stuff up. Steve really wanted to take Matt out to shoot, so we headed out to a shooting range. Matt was having a great time out there, I'm pretty sure he shot more than anyone. Steve helping Dallin, it's the first time he has shot this gun.

 He's got the hang of it now.

 Spencer was there with his gun in hand.

 On to bigger and better.

 Alright I'm going to brag a little. Anyone who knows my Mom knows she is a little competitive which makes her great at everything. She hit 4 of the targets, we now call her 007, oh wait.... She's been making us call her that for years.

 I take after my Mother, I hit a couple of targets and this was my first time shooting the rifle. I nailed one of the farthest targets on my 3rd shot.

 Steve's a show off,he hit the farthest target on his first shot. Kind of sexy, well i think so.

I wish I had some of the pictures from Rachel's camera. She was there too, and I might add she looked awful hot with a gun in hand. Send me some pics Rach.

Finally Eliza's Baptism

 I feel so blessed, and someday Eliza will realize how lucky she is to have so many people who love and support her. I know it was a sacrafice for people to get here for her baptism, and it meant so much to me, and our family to have you all here. I defiantly felt the love, so thank you. Picture above, my Little Liza Lou. I am so blessed to be her mother, she is such a good girl. Below, Eliza and her main man.

 I love this picture of us, it makes me smile.

 The Codner Clan.

 These two girls are the very best of friends, so are there mothers. Kind of fun how that worked out. It also worked out they they were the only 2 scheduled to be baptized on the morning of June the 4th. We made it very personal for them. It was really a great service and I'm so happy we were able to share the experience with the Graham family, I love them!

 

 All the family who came for the baptism, Eliza is one blessed girl.

 My Mom, sister Rachel and myself. I just want to make it clear I am the younger sister. Ha, Rach now everyone will know.

 Eliza with her BFF's. Emme was so sweet to come all the way from UT to support Eliza. We love you Emme.

 Those crazy boys. Dallin kind of had a rough time, with all the attention Eliza was getting. Also she got so many presents and he never gets a thing, POOR KID. I did try to do some special things for him, but they were overlooked with green eyes.

 Rach and her favorite niece.

 We love these two boys, Taige got to stay with us and come to the after party.

 Thank goodness Debbie was here to decorate the cupcakes. I was running out of time, and instead of staying up till 5 in the morning trying to get everything done for the baptism and party. I was able to go to bed at a reasonable 3 in the morning.

 Behind the cupcakes are the bouquets we used at the baptism. Liza and Tabby had matching ones.

 Eliza at her party, she invited a couple of her friends from school, and we invited some close family friends.

 Aunt Mel and Uncle Sam, who came in from UT.  Poor Aunt Stacy came too, but got terribly sick and couldn't make it. I was so sad for her and she was very missed.

 SISTER'S, can you tell?

 I love this picture of Gretchen and Madison.

 and Sabrina

 There was a intense backyard baseball game going on. I was busy hosting, otherwise I would have been on second for sure.

 My Mom went down and got in on the action.

Uncle Jer, Aunt Amy and Zack came all the way from Texas. I know it was a big sacrifice and again I feel so blessed to have had them here. It really meant a lot to our family. Also as you can see, Ame's was such a huge help. Couldn't have done it with out her, loved having her around. I even trusted her to make the cupcakes and she did them perfectly. She filled the cups perfectly and didn't leave any nuts and bolts in them. She really has come a long way :)), love ya Ame's

It was a fun party, with GREAT FOOD (that always makes the party), great family, great friends, it was a perfect day.  I forgot to tell you about some of the baptism. We woke up late, but thank goodness I stayed up till 3 in the morning getting everything done. Eliza's witness were her two Uncles, Jerame and Sam. My Mom gave the talk at the Baptism and made it so special for Eliza and Tabatha. She told them how great it was to have the Holy Ghost and what he would help them with through out their lives. Especially, let them know that they have a Father in Heaven and that Jesus Christ came to this earth for them to be forgiven of sin. She also shared 2 stories when the Holy Ghost spoke to her. One of the stories was when she saw a picture in her mind of hitting a little girl on a bike, and swerving the car to the left to miss hitting her. Within seconds of that running through her mind a little girl on a bike came jetting out from behind a car and right in front of my mom's car. She already knew what to do. She swerved to the left and just missed her. Eliza still talks about that story. My last but one of my favorite events of the weekend was when Eliza's friend Sophie got up in sacrament meeting to bear her testimony, and just said the cutest things. She is 8 and stood up in front of 100+ people and just owned it. She said, "I am just so proud of my 2 friends Eliza and Tabatha. I just love those girls. Where are they? (she's looking all around) Oh, there they are! I'm so proud of those two girls, for making the choice to get baptized, They are just my great friends and I am so proud of them." Honestly, she was the star of the month at church. She is so full of joy, and such a fun, caring girl. It made my Sunday. There was a lot of other great moments, but those were my favs.

Eliza's Birthday

JUNE 1st

Eliza had a big surprise for her birthday. Her Grandma, Uncle Matt, and Emme came into town and picked her up from school. She was so excited to see them all. That night, we had baseball games. Then we had a family birthday party, she got a new bike. Turns out Emme has the same one. Her birthday was on Wednesday, company started to flow in after that. Ame, and Jer got in Thursday morning, Rachel that afternoon. Debbie, Stacy, Mel and Sam got in late Thursday night.  Let the party begin.

Eliza's Tea Party

I really hate blogging out of order, but I wanted to put up Eliza's birthday party. It was so much fun decorating for this party. I spent LOTS of time making it cute and girly. I think time well spent! My deck was transformed into an angelic, delightful venue, only fit for my Eliza'Lou. I had so much fun setting this up for her and her friends, to enjoy an afternoon together being, "Little Ladies."

Eliza helped with the place cards. She wrote all her friends names out, picked out where they were going to sit. She put so much thought into it. Example; Tabatha, her BFF sat to the left of her, she had to give her a pink plate, with the gloves that had  pink trimmed lace. Kiarra, had to have a blue plate because she is a little bit more of a tom boy. She did this for every friend. I think she is so sweet and thoughtful.

 I wish I would have uncovered all the food before I took the pictures, but I didn't, so oh well.

I decided to try and get fancy with my tips (frosting tips). I played around with them for a little, until I taught myself how to make flowers and a couple of other styles.

 I had to set up 3 tables, Eliza invited 9 friends. So in order to seat everyone comfortably and with company I added an extra table. I wish I had one large one to out them all at but I didn't. I hope no one felt left out.

 First, we made hats. Then we went over Emily Post table manners. I took my opportunity to go over etiquette. I HATE bad table manners. Eliza read them to her friends.

 After, etiquette. We went out to the backyard, went on a walk around the lake and fed the ducks.

 When we got back we were still waiting for 2 friends to come, so we opened presents and then started to eat. They showed up just as everyone was sitting down. I made everyone fancy glove, but I made Eliza's to match her tea party dress.

 I spent all day yesterday making the food for the party. I made mini chicken croissant sandwiches. Mini corndogs, and chicken nuggets.  I cookie cut cheese, into the shapes of stars and flowers, for crackers. I mixed strawberries and raspberries together, put them into individual cups and sprinkled powder sugar on them. I also put cherry tomatoes into little cups. I made cupcakes, and these adorable baby cakes that I died Eliza's favorite color blue and filled them with vanilla frosting.  At the end of the party I had a candy bar, with rock candy, a fruit bouquet made of suckers, and licorice,  for them to fill up their bags. No sugar at all! Right?

 All the girls in their hats and gloves. It was the perfect day, except for one thing. The WIND. I am so tired of it. That's my only complaint so who am I kidding such a fun party for Eliza and great friends.

My Testimony

On the car ride home from church this Sunday, we were talking about all the testimony's that were offered in sacrament meeting. I mentioned that I don't like to stand up and give mine, because, I don't like to cry about my feelings. My Mom said I should. So, for all of you who read my blog, which is mainly my family and friends (those that matter to me) here it is.
Lately I have been trying to pay attention to feelings, like at Eliza's baptism. I could think, of no place, I would want to be, than in the young women's room at my daughter's baptism. It was very peaceful, and just this calm sense of joy, through out her whole program. One testimony, that was offered, struck a cord with me. Bishop Gilliland was talking about over coming sadness after he lost a child. While, I don't suffer from the sadness of loosing a child, there are things, that I still carry from my past, that make me sad. I still have a hard time, letting go, of shame, and guilt.  Which ultimately lead pain and sadness. The bishop, talked about the Holy Ghost, as the comforter. One day he and his family knelt in prayer asking for some relief from all there, pain and sadness. It clicked with me, that maybe??? that's the one thing I haven't tried. It's so simple I've heard it all my life, yet for some reason I was still reaching out to family, friends for guidance. Thinking to my self, "But, I'm doing so much better. I'm fighting everyday to be the person I want to be."  I'm saying prayers, reading Scriptures, going to church, all the things I'm supposed to. I just haven't knocked on that door yet.  I was grateful to be in the room, to hear that testimony. It's just what I needed to hear. Answer to my prayers.  I've been telling my kids the last few days the definition, (in my words) to testimony; "what you know to be true." This is what I do know. I know that I have a Heavenly Father and Savior, who love me. I know that they answer prayers, even my personal prayers.  That miracles, "Great Miracles," happen on in my life, my families lives, and all over the world. I know that when I'm sitting in church, I have the feeling that this is were I should  be. I know that Joseph Smith, a 14 year old boy went into the woods to pray. He had a specific question, and it was answered by Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, in the Sacred Grove. I know that Thomas S. Monson is our latter day prophet, here on this earth, to guide us in these last days. I am so blessed to have a Father and Mother who live the gospel to the fullest every day. They have always loved me unconditionally and been such a constant in my life. They are a wonderful example of the gospel. I have wonderful brothers and sisters, who love me despite all my weaknesses. A husband, who honors and loves me. There is no one on this earth, who knows me better. He is still my best friend, and my first go to guy. I couldn't make it with out him. I have 3 wonderful kids, who make me want to be better person, a better Mom, and a better friend. They are the light and joy in my life.
I'm grateful, (not really I don't know if I'm there yet). I'm defiantly on a journey in this life and I'm just so grateful I don't have to do it alone.
I say these things, in Jesus name, Amen. And while you all couldn't see me, I'll let you in on a little secret I did cry a few times. Love you all.