ELI'S BAPTISM!

I may or may not have been stressing over this day since we went to the "It's Great to be 8" meeting. My boy needed a good looking suit, he needed a special day to remember, I needed to have all the yummy food there and I really wanted to make sure he had a good support system - he ended up with about 80  people in attendance.

First thing first - got the suit - then got it altered. Then Eli picked his program with a little help from his mom and dad. Then it was time to take pictures for the invitations - Jon did such a great job for us! He is so handsmee!







Then it was on to making the video and gathering all the decorations and centerpieces - Thanks Richelle and Regina for all the help!






















Finally food time! Street Tacos!!! Uncle Norm Germaine and Cara really saved us! She took me shopping to the Mexican market in Mesa and we got everything we needed and then he cooked it all for us. They loaned us table and chairs and when he came over during the baptism to drop off stuff - he saw that a string of lights had fallen and he hurried and hung it back up for me so that everything was perfect. Love them!

We had Street tacos with carne asada, cilantro, onions, cheese, mini tortillas, limes, bean dip, cilantro rice, chips and salsa, sodas, water bottles, cupcakes, m & m cookies, donuts in the shape of the #8, rainbow colored licorice, cake pops, rainbow swirly suckers - it was fantastic and everyone loved it.

I get crazy ideas in my head and when I do - I don't stop until it's done - my parents and Jared hate it :) Now the baptism was at 1pm but I wanted these fun party lights strung across my backyard - funny part is no one could even see them cause it was day time but it didn't matter to me. In order to have these lights I had to get an electrician to come out and install an outlet for me. I found one, he did it and then he fell through my ceiling - that's right - he stepped off a beam and went right through it - now there was a big hole into my attic from the patio! Friday night - the night before - I had people outside patching it and painting it until 10pm so it would be all fixed - which was fine they were there that late because I was still working on setting up and getting everything ready.





The morning came and Eli was so excited to be baptized! We were so happy for him. The baptism was perfect and I wouldn't change a thing. Stephanie and Kati sang a beautiful version of "I Am a Child of God" and it really brought the spirit into the room - I remember looking over and seeing Grandma Joyce and Richelle with tears rolling down there face. Sister Kearsley taught Eli and the other kids about being clean and dirty like pennies and they got to come up and try - they loved it.

After the baptism everyone came back over to our house to eat. Then after they all left it was off to the twin's baseball game and then Eli's baseball game. It was a perfect day for Eli and one I hope he will remember always.

 

 Uncle Nathan thought it was really cool to see all the doves up on the Stake Center and the meaning behind them as he was heading over to our house - thank you for taking a picture!