Relief Society Dinner

Our Relief Society dinner in March was "purse" themed?  Missy was asked to make a cake and this is what she came up with.  We knew she wouldn't have a lot of time, so she went with a cupcake cake instead.  So cute!!!

St Patricks Day 2013

Green milk and green banana bread for breakfast!

Yummy!!!

The rainbow of fruit will the pot of gold at the bottom... half eaten!  :)

Green lemonade...

I thought I was brilliant this year to go for some green chili chicken enchiladas!  Yummy!

Ewwww!

We invited the Ausitn's over and had a great time with them!

Fuzzy and Kennadie art...

Wow!!!

Fun night with great friends!  We sure miss being next door!

Webelos

Corry came to teach the Webelos boys about being an engineer.  Then he let them take some plans and come up with ideas of what to do.  They had a great time and were so excited about it.  He let them take home some plans and one of the boy's mom told me he wants to be an engineer now and work harder in math and science.  Mission accomplished Cor!  Nice work!

Alli's Baptism

Missy made this cute cupcake cake for Alli that I found here.

And she made, with help from everyone this cute wreath I found here.

Gold dust on her hands!  Hahaha!

Alli loved the cake!

My beautiful girl... so excited for this day!

Lovin our girl!

With her awesome teacher

Alli and her Daddy

With her teacher from last year

Lovin' the grandparents

My camera died trying to get a group shot...  :(

Thankfully the ward mission leader had a camera and took a few for me!

Then immediately worked again after?  What????  Scotty riding with his 1st grade teacher in her beloved bug!  He was so excited!!!!

Yup, that's how we roll!  Two full plates!

or just eat straight out of the bowl!!!

Great day!  Alli felt the spirit.  She felt clean and pure.  She spent the day surrounded by family and friends!  Our house handled it's first major party (about 80 people) with style!  Love love love my new home and how comfortable it is!  love love love my friends and family!  Honestly my family is my greatest treasure and the friends who shared that day with us are family, although not by blood, but by love!  Thank you everyone who made Alli feel special and who participated with us!  Love you all and love my Alli and am so pleased with her good decisions!  

Corry's New Calling

The night we celebrated Alli's birthday, we also told the kids about Corry's new calling to the Bishopric.  This was the response from Missy...

For 5 minutes straight...

I gotta say when they called us into the Stake President's office, I knew it was for something big, but I was still taken off guard some.  For months, Corry has been feeling this coming, and I blew him off.  We were moving into a new ward for heaven's sake!  It would be awhile before he was called to a Bishopric!

So in our church, there is no paid clergy.  We believe the Lord calls you to serve, through your Bishop/Stake President, to serve in some way for the greater good of the church.  We are divided into congregations (called wards) by geography (our current ward geography is a little off).  Anyway, a Bishop presides over a ward along with his 2 counselors.  Corry was called to be one of the counselors.

Like I said I was a little surprised.  Not because I was surprised it was Corry, just surprised the Lord didn't call someone who actually knew anyone!  I ran a range of emotions.  I was so pleased with my good husband.  I am pleased with who he is, how he lives his life, who he is trying to become.  I was sad knowing that with an already hectic work schedule it would be that much more I wouldn't see him. I was frustrated with myself for not jumping in as much with both feet into this new ward.  He already loved it. People already knew who he was because he came in and said, I am here, what can I do?  Mostly I just was sure the Lord would help us to balance our time and be together.  I was sure the church was true and I was even more sure that we were where the Lord wanted us to be.  We moved at the right time, to the right place, because he had a need there for Corry to fulfill.

One thing Corry has said to me a few times is that he has realized the Lord doesn't call anyone special to the Bishopric.  I told him I agreed and disagreed.  He does choose ordinary men and helps them to do extraordinary things.  But, to be able for the Lord to use you in that way, you have to be worthy of the position.  You have to be a covenant keeping person, a good person.  You, my dear, are that and I think you are extraordinary!  Love you much my Corry and I will support you in any way I can.  Here's to jumping into this new ward with both feet and getting to know everyone!

My baby turns 8!

This is what I held in my arms 8 years ago...

She started growing...

Finally the day I thought was so far away 8 years ago, came way to quickly.  Have I taught her enough?  Is she prepared to make and keep covenants?  One thing I do know, she loves her Savior.  She loves her Heavenly Father.  Hopefully that is enough for now.  In our church, children, when they turn 8, choose whether or not to be baptized.  She wants this, but just as at most life altering moments, my mom insecurities come out.  There is so much to do, so much to teach, so much to love.  Have I done it?  

Thankfully I am not alone in this quest.  I was never so grateful, as this year.  Because of our crazy life the last few weeks and Alli had been sick quite a bit, I was not able to take her picture in her baptism dress.  As it worked out, I have amazing friends and asked them to do her hair and take her picture.  They were wonderful and did it for me.  Julane took her after school to get ready and to do her hair, then Sarah took her to the temple to take pictures, the day we moved!  After, Sarah even asked if I wanted her to do the invitations.  What a blessing to me!  I just didn't have time!

So my little one grew up into a lovely girl of 8...

This is such an Alli expression to me!!!

Then her actual birthday came!

Corry was out of town, so we were celebrating the next night, but I still wanted it to be a special day for her.  So after gymnastics, I took her to pick out her new scriptures.  She decided on the quad that has: The Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price all together in one book.  She was so EXCITED to get it!  And so excited to get the one with gold on the outside of the pages and get her name engraved in gold!

That night we opened her awesome CTR towel for her baptism from her Virginia aunt, uncle and cousins.  She loves it!!!

Then the next day we really celebrated with her favorite dinner of waffles!  love that girl.  Then we hurried out to get to the movies on time to see Parental Guidance (so funny), then it was back for present time!  Full night!

Love this beautiful Alli of mine.  

She is the most emotional of my children which is her greatest strength and weakness.  She feels things so strongly.  She gets so emotional when we talk of our Savior and she wants so much to live with Him again.  

She loves to sing and dance around the house (usually to the group One Direction).  

She loves GOLD!  

She loves tumbling class and loves to practice her moves.

She loves to snuggle.

She loves to use the ipad for homework.

She loves to play with friends and cousins.

She loves to do anything crafty or arty.

She loves candy and junk food.

She loves to wear dresses.

She loves breakfast.

She loves noodles, especially spaghetti and meatballs.

She loves bread (that's my girl), especially a good crusty bread dipped in olive oil and vinegar.

She loves Nutella.

She loves babies and little children.

She loves life and gets so excited for new adventures.

I love this girl.  I love her smile (missing half her teeth) and I love her laugh.  I am so grateful she was sent to me!

Happy Birthday Tootsie!  Love you lots!