Ava's Baptism October 10, 2009

We decided on Mexican food for the luncheon menu. I had my centerpieces from the Stake Mother’s Day buffet that I had to put to good use. However, with the food prep I had failed to set any of it out and it was nearing time to go. We had put on the invitation that the baptism started 15 minutes earlier than it really did to give family members more time to get up the canyon but this artificial start time had gotten in Matt’s head and he was pushing me along as I set centerpieces out at the last minute. I finally stated that we weren’t running late at all and quite frankly the hurrying wasn’t helping anything. (This turned out to be a blessing because since then I have been able to get out the door on my own schedule without lots of “reminders”). However, as I helped Ava change in the girl’s room I still felt so rushed and rattled inside. I suggested we say a prayer to bring in the spirit and help us enjoy this special day.

For the first time we got a baptism to ourselves. This was wonderful! In putting together the program we tried to include as many grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins as possible. The women folk mainly contributed food wise, but oh how it was appreciated. The program came out like this:

Presiding/Conducting: Bishop Ken Brand

Pianist: Lindsey Taylor-aunt

Prelude/Postlude: Carly Bocanegra-cousin

Opening Song: When I am Baptized…103

Chorister: Raegan Goulding-cousin

Opening Prayer: Ashley Taylor-aunt

Talk on Baptism: Katrina Bocanegra-sister

Thoughts on Baptism: Ava Bocanegra

Musical Number: Baptism…100

Sung by cousins in Primary
Chorister: Romney Goulding

Baptism performed by Matt Bocanegra-dad

Witnesses: Mark Bocanegra-uncle

Shafer Taylor-uncle

Testimonies of Grandparents:

Ray and Leslie Taylor, Mike and Donna Evanko

Confirmation performed by Matt Bocanegra with Bishop Brand, Ray Taylor, Mike Evanko,

Mark Bocanegra, Shafer Taylor, Cade Taylor, Brent Goulding, & Jon Geertsen.

I felt the spirit enter the room as soon as we started singing the opening song, mainly because I can remember so clearly my little four-year-old Ava singing that song. She even sang it during her talk in Primary once. It is definitely “her” song. I couldn’t contain the emotion. (Video taken September 16, 2005)

After helping Ava into her dress after she was baptized, I put a CTR locket around her neck. She had been hinting around about it because the other girls had gotten one when they were baptized. I already had it tucked away. It was special to have cousin Kei representing our Hawaii bunch and I so enjoyed the spirit brought into the room by the grandparents sharing their testimonies. My mom gave Ava a key to wear around her neck to symbolize that she has opened the gate. And I was so thankful to Katrina for agreeing to give the baptism talk but I let her sit out when the cousins sang (Primary age and under we deemed it). They literally looked like little angels up there. I almost felt funny taking a picture, but the bishop said it was okay.

I always treasure those days to see Matt using his priesthood power in our family. For this reason I so enjoyed the baptism and confirmation. We had all been so spiritually fed that we could have all gone home then, but naw let’s party!

Mexican works great for Harrison who needs to eat GF. Lindsey even made a GF dessert. We all enjoyed it as well as our Cafe Rio style lunch. I tried my hand at Tomatillo dressing, Pico de Gallo, Shredded Pork, and Lime Rice. We are the BOCANEGRA'S!

When Jamie was leaving she said something along the lines of 'good luck with your house' (referring to the 28 kids and 20 adults playing and eating) but I could honestly relpy,

"Days like this are what earthlife is all about."

Photo outing for Mom and Ava October 2, 2009

I was so thrilled to find a pattern that both Ava and I loved for her baptism dress. She is so particular about what she wears that I took her with me to find the pattern and material. It was more complicated than other dresses I had sewn but I figured it out in the end.

I finished sewing and pressing the dress just as Ava was coming in from school so I told her to hop in the shower so I could round brush her new bob before pictures and before we lost daylight!

We ventured out just the two of us to Old Town, the same place that I took the other girls baptism photos. I was getting some good shots but still wasn’t feeling it all the way so we headed up the street to the Midway Bridge. By now the sun was much lower in the sky and I was able to get some shots that I was for sure feelin. See for yourself.

Midway bridge

I had committed to going to the BYU game that night with Matt and thought I was timing it about right but got home five minutes after he had left. This wasn’t such a bad thing, Grayson got to go in my place and we had our usual Papa Murphy’s/movie night. Besides, Ava and I had a delightful time together.

Provo Canyon on a beautiful fall day September 2009

Callie Marie 10 months September 2009

My favorite stage of baby's first year has always been 10 months. I chose to get Callie's 1 yr portrait a little early for that reason. She was such a peach and the whole photo session seemed to take five minutes. She was already smiling so after the photographer posed her she could take the picture right away. When the gal tried to get Callie to take her thumb out of her mouth for the last photo, I said, “No! leave it!” I think these three poses capture her personality best. Callie…

One good thing that came out of that freaky Craft Fair Salt Lake City was this cute ‘shirt’ I bought that Callie wore as a dress

My Ava turns 8 Sept 11, 09

You can imagine how hard it was to not throw her birthday on the back burner with it being the same day as my Stone Soup activity, especially since it was her big EIGHTH. I did have to put the kibosh on a friend party though. There was just no way. I sweet-talked her into agreeing to celebrate on the following day (Saturday) in any way she chose. 

Birthday's are hard on the younger ones aren't they?

It wasn't long till the babes took over Ava's new purple bean bag. Mallerie got one in June.

Clean up had gone pretty smoothly after the activity other than I was stuck with the produce no one wanted. I was stuck with gobs of Swiss chard. I had chard coming out of my chard I guess you could say. I never did use it. I don’t know what it is and I didn’t want to find out. After the activity though we came home to enjoy birthday cake and more gift opening. She also wanted to do sparklers in the backyard. It was a gorgeous night and we all enjoyed it. After which, she requested we watch her new birthday movie downstairs: Hannah Montana. It was nice to sit down! I brought a sleeping Callie downstairs with me and rocked her. Matt said, “She was asleep in her bed!” But oh, I just wanted to HOLD her. I felt like I had neglected her and she felt so cuddly in my arms. I love to hold a sleeping baby.

Katrina's attempt at love

Saturday we all headed to Kamas pool minus Katrina who really isn’t in to swimming right now. Since it was Ava’s day I did whatever she wanted, “Mom, go down the waterslide!” I went down the waterslide. “Mom, go off the high dive!” I went off the high dive. It was a lot more painful than I thought it would be. That water really slaps your thighs. Plus even though I was plugging my nose the force of the water went up it anyway. I was sure the second time I could improve my posture and hold on my nose to make it more enjoyable. More pain. Even the low dive left my head spinning. For adventure I stuck to the lazy river or the waterslide. Grayson wouldn’t give the waterslide a try but Graham was eager to go with anyone who would allow him to. He even got away and went down by himself! I knew he had gone up the stairs and thought he would catch up with Matt and the kids but when they came down without him I let them know Graham was still up at the top. Before we knew what was happening Graham came spitting out the bottom of the slide. I was standing right there so I brought him above water. Underneath his dripping hair and lashes was the biggest grin, “I did it! I go big slide!” That was all the motivation Grayson needed, “I’m going to do it.” He did and loved it. It was a happy day for Ava and everyone.

9/09 Grayson says...

Grayson came in from school with huge red smears on his sleeve apparently from a run in with a crabapple tree. I guess at one point during the day he even wanted to call me to bring him a new shirt but his teacher said no. He told me, “So I said [in my head] ‘how would you feel if you had red smeared all over your sleeve?’ Then in answer to his own question, “Embarrassed!”

President Obama addressed all the school children across the nation. While my kids watched at school I tool part via the Internet. I followed closely and was impressed that Grayson did as well when he recounted accurately, “He told us that when you quit on school, you’re quitting on your country.”