Baptism Day Memories

I am going to try to write as much as I can about Kadences big day so that she can remember and look back on it when she's older.

All morning long I think she had a smile permanently attached to her face.  She was the most excited I'd ever seen her and I didn't think that was even possible.  This girl knew without a doubt she wanted to get baptized and she couldn't wait until it was time.  While she got ready she kept saying, "Mommy I'm just like an angel!"  She was so sweet and kept thanking me for her dress, her sandals, her jewelry, her party decorations, making her hair look nice, etc.  I think I heard "You are the best mommy ever" about a million times.

When we got to the church she was in her dress and we took a bunch of pictures.  We then had to change into her baptism jumpsuit in the bathroom.  The floor was soaking wet so we couldn't change in the stall, instead we changed in front of the sink.  I put her jumpsuit on wrong and didn't realize it until we saw another little boy with the zipper in front so we quickly fixed it.  We took some more pictures and got ready for the program.

All the kids getting baptized sat on the very front row of the chapel with whomever was performing the baptism.  Shelby insisted we sat on the row behind her.  Another family had a little boy sitting there and it seemed like they were saving the row, but the mom overheard Shelby and had her son move so we could sit there. I felt odd sitting on a row all by myself, but Shelby didn't want to sit anywhere else.  Kadence was able to choose someone to talk and she chose Curtis.  He talked about the Holy Ghost and did a great job! He also didn't make me cry which I appreciated. 

After the talks were done the person conducting the program called each family to the room with the font.  There were 4 children being baptized and Kadence was second so we had to sit in the chapel and wait for a few minutes.  As I looked up to Kadence I realized that she was welled up with tears.  I called her over to me and she told me they were happy tears.  

Kadence's name was called and we followed her to the font.  She stood at the door and greeted everyone.  She had so many there to support her that we filled the whole room.  David walked her down into the font and held her.  As he said the prayer and dunked her under he realized it was going to be harder to get her to be fully immersed than he thought.  Her foot came up but her head wasn't even close to under.  He then shoved her down trying to beat her foot coming up.  Because of her back, she can't bend which made it a little tricky.  He only had to do it once though!  Jeffy and Aaron were the witnesses.  This was Davids very first baptism that he's preformed.  As Kadence came out of the water she sounded like she had held her breath a long time and was making some noises...."Ah....Oh....Uh....Water went up my nose!"  It sounded so loud because of the way the font is so it echoed.  

As I took her to change she told me that water must go up your nose when you go under so far like she did.  She told me she felt so good and still had the cutest smile.  In my rush to try and not be slow (due to having to have to do Kadences hair) I took off her jumpsuit, dried her off, threw on her dress and heard a "Mom, do I need underwear?"  YES!  No daughter of mine will go commando, especially at church! We hurried and she looked cute and felt so beautiful.  

We loaded into the RS room for confirmations.  It was just her and another boy from our ward, Sammy.  The bishop asked each child their favorite song and we sang Kadences pick of "When I am Baptized" as an opener and Sammys pick of "Families are Forever" as a closing.  Kadences confirmation was incredibly beautiful and powerful.  There was so much that was said and David still felt he didn't portray it all.  He said that he got the impression that she will do something great that will have a large impact while on earth, but he didn't know how to properly put it into words.  He did to an extent, but I guess the feeling was overwhelming.  She's such a special girl with a contagious happiness.  David preformed his first confirmation and Uncle Brian, Jeffy, Curtis, Aaron, Robby (family friend), Ryan (home teacher) and the bishop stood in the circle.

Shelby was feeling bad that she couldn't do anything important on Kadences big day.  It wasn't that she was jealous of the attention Kadence was getting, but she wanted to help make her day special.  I finally realized that she could bless the food for the luncheon.  She was so excited to have something important to do.

I asked Kadence a few questions tonight so that I could write her answers:

Me:Were you excited or nervous for your baptism?

Kadence: Excited, but nervous we'd have to do it twice...which would be ok.  Everyone makes mistakes.

Me:How did you know you wanted daddy to baptize you?

Kadence: He was just the right one....because he's a good dad and I love him so much.

Me: How did you feel getting ready this morning?

Kadence: I just kept thinking I can't wait!

Me: What did you learn from the talks?

Kadence: That baptism and the Holy Ghost are important....way important.

Me: Before you went in the water, what were you thinking and feeling?

Kadence: I thought "This is going to be fun!" and I felt I was choosing the right thing.

Me: Was the water warm or cold?

Kadence: Uh....

Me: It was way warm because your jumpsuit was warm still when we took it off.

Kadence: Oh ya, it was warm!

Me: Did you go all the way under the first time?

Kadence: Ya, but my head didn't touch the bottom.

Me: What did you feel RIGHT after you came out of the water?

Kadence: I just thought "I finally get the Holy Ghost now!"

Me: How did it feel when daddy confirmed you?

Kadence: Really REALLY good!

Me: What was the most special part of your day?

Kadence: Getting the Holy Ghost

Me: What was the most fun part?

Kadence: Getting to see family and friends!

Me: What do you never want to forget?

Kadence: Me happy crying!

Baptism Day!

The big day was finally here and Kadence was SO extremely excited to be baptized as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  We made sure she knew what a huge decision this was and that she understood fully everything it entailed so that she could decide if she did in fact want to be baptized.  At some points it almost seemed like I was trying to talk her out of it, but it is a big decision that shouldn't be rushed into so I wanted to be sure she wanted to.  Never once did she waiver in her certainty.  I have a lot to post about her big day because I don't remember a ton about my baptism so I want to write as much down as I can so she can hopefully remember hers.  (Especially since her memory isn't great)  Because I have a lot to post I will this post as the basics and then another with the fun little details.

I made her a book for people to sign that is full of her baptism pictures and includes the date.

 A long time ago it was decided that both girls wanted a "big cake" for their baptisms so big cake is what she got.  We went with a rainbow theme because "When I am Baptized" is her favorite song and it talks about rainbows.  I love that the girls love each other so much which is evident by the little hand Shelby placed on her big sisters shoulder.

 We did rainbow drinks...

 We had 6ft subs, chips, and fruit.  Kadence wanted blueberries to go in the little bowl instead of fruit dip.

 It looked like a gay pride party instead of a baptism, but she was thrilled!

 She wanted to sit in the birthday chair but was worried someone would sit in it so I made a sign.

 Kadence wanted her picture of the temple to be put up on the mantle.

 Shelby spent weeks putting together a baptism book for her sister.  She even held it together with one of her paperclips from her collection....which is a HUGE deal.  It was the sweetest thing to watch her put it together.

 Seriously I am the luckiest momma ever!

 Kadence wasn't in the mood for a ton of pictures, she just wanted to get baptized so she doesn't look too thrilled in some of the pictures.

 Grandma and Grandpa Joy

 She was seriously the most excited kid I'd ever seen.

 Uncle Brian, Aunt Janis and Great Grandma Judy.  

(I felt so bad making Janis take this picture as she had just found out her brother was life flighted after a head on collision up Logan canyon.  I just wanted Kadence to remember they came for her big day and I knew they would be leaving soon.  Luckily she's a great sport and is probably the kindest person I've ever met in my life.)

 Cutting the cake!

 Uncle Curtis!

 She loved the cake, and thought it was hilarious I took this picture.

 Taycina, Nicholas and Silly Jeff

 Allison, Ryker, Aunt Barb, Katie, Aunt Eileen, Maddie and Kaleb

 Megan, Odessa, Mrs Jill, and Davisson

 Desirea, Brent, Addilyn and Emi

 We got great grandma Neal to sign up for Pottermore and see what Harry Potter house she would be sorted into....Hufflepuff. 

 Sherri also got sorted but into Gryffindor.

 Aaron was playing with the kids magnets of course.

 I just want to squish them until they scream.

 After much coaxing great grandma Neal let us take a picture. 

(I told her she had to take it before I would let her leave the house)

 Jeffy

 Parker, Katlyn, Aaron, Rachel, Kalli and Kylah

It was a super great day full of family and friends.  We are so blessed to be surrounded and supported by so many.  I didn't grow up knowing my extended family but I am so grateful that my girls will have memories with cousins and aunts/uncles.  I'm so incredibly proud of the choice Kadence made and her excitement was so contagious.  Love her guts!

Moms and Muffins (March)

I was so excited to get invitations to join my girls for Moms and Muffins at their school.  Unfortunately Shelby had the stomach flu so it was just Kadence and I again this year.  That is a great thing except that Shelby has been looking forward to this for two years!

Kadence chose the chocolate chip one and I went with classic blueberry.  I love sitting and just talking to her while we eat muffins.  I think it's a great thing the school does.  I did a make up moms and muffins with Shelby when she was feeling better but didn't take any pictures.  I love my girls and I love spending time with them.  I love that they don't mind me going to the school and sitting by them.  I hope they never turn into bratty teenagers who are embarrassed by their parents.  :)  

Moab (March)

We had planned to go to Boston in March for David to go to a Teaching Convention and to visit my family, but due to the stomach flu making David miss class he couldn't miss to go to Boston.  We had to cancel our trip and work it around his class.  We were going to be getting home a day and a half before Kadence's hospital adventure and we were really looking forward to spending quality family time together.  Because of that we decided to go somewhere closer so we could still make memories.  We decided to go to Moab with Jeff, come home for his class, then leave in the morning for California. It wasn't what we were looking forward to, but it was still a lot of fun.  When we arrived we went to the "golden arch" for dinner. 

 We hiked to delicate arch as well.  (I have more pictures but they are on Davids computer)

 We were only there a two nights but the girls were exhausted from all the fun.

 We decided out of nowhere that we would take a sunset hummer tour.  It was a great choice!

 Both girls wanted to keep their hands up, but Shelby was beyond dedicated.  She kept them up clear until our first stop which was about 45 minutes in.

 Pictures never do justice, but it was absolutely gorgeous!  The tour guide took us up a huge hill backwards, made sure we went down a hill with our eyes closed (even his) and told us a lot of the educational facts that we had no clue about.

 It really was a spectacular end to our first day and I'm so glad we did it!

 We went to eat and Jay's Roman Orgy was on the menu....I didn't chance it.

 The next day was windy, but we managed to have a good time anyways.  We tried more local restaurants, went to Canyonlands and swam in the hotel pool.

I was hoping to have blogged it a while ago so that I could add more details, but getting it on here at all is at least something.  The girls had fun and so did the adults.  I am excited to go back again in a few years.