A Week of Bridal Showers

 After a wonderful week in Salmon, my wonderful mom and sisters threw me a shower in Utah with more family and many wonderful friends. It was so much fun. The best surprise of all was when my mom walked in and then.... Em and Brooky!!!! I thought they couldn't come and was so sad but there they were. They have been planning this for weeks ("...been plannin' this for years!!!- Sandlot) and I had no clue!!! I was so happy to have my favorite women with me for the weekend! So, thanks Mom, Em, Sara, Mary and Brooky for an amazing weekend of girly stuff, girly chat and great fun!

 The shower was Saturday afternoon and it was so fun. The food was delicious. You can never go wrong with Nachos, fruit and cookies!! And cinnamon bears!

 My great extended family came and I thank them for the support! Hillary, Rachel and Tessa (with her fake school baby!!)

Many wonderful work friends, ward friends, old roommate friends. I just feel very blessed to have amazing people in my life.

 And I just love this girl!!!! Have to have a picture of here! My partner in crime, Rayne and one of my dearest friend. And the girls that have I have grown to love, my dear roommates! Thanks for always being there! I got so many great gifts. Some very practical things and some that are just...FUN! Thanks so great friends and family for the wonderful support during this wonderful stage of my life!

 After the festivities died down, we scrambled around town until we found this....a place to get pedicures! We introduced Mom, Em and Mary to them! Brooky was so good the whole time and just kept saying "nails" "wally" (water) and "pretty"

 I have the best family and can't describe how much I love them! Thanks for a wonderful weekend and for all the gifts! They will definitely help as our wedding grows closer and closer!!! So excited for this day to come and am so happy to have been able to share a great weekend with close friends and family!

More Salmon Fun

 We're all back together again!!! So fun! The same weekend Nathan came home, I had a bridal shower and Josh had prom. It was a fun weekend for sure and can't wait for the next one. Here is our studly brother ready for the prom. He was defintely the best dressed. He said he hardly got to wear his hat because everyone else wanted to wear it! I sure love my brothers! (just a quick update on Josh...he got second in the shot put in the district so is off to state in Boise! We are so excited for him and can't wait to watch him throw on Friday! Good luck Josh!) okay, so back to our fun weekend in Salmon...

And now it is Bridal Shower time! We had so much fun. I was thrown a recipe shower and it was a brilliant idea. Tyler and I started working on the kitchen the other night. Wow!!! 5 bags of popcorn, 4 large bottles of maple syrup, enough pasta to last us a year. And that is just the start. I got some great recipes and so many ingredients for them. It was such a fun shower and I am truly grateful to the people in Salmon for the love and support I have been shown through out my entire life. I grew up in a wonderful ward full of amazing people and I am truly grateful to have these great people in my life!

There were many wonderful recipes and gifts that were given. Everyone was so thoughtful. One of the gifts that I wish cherish forever is an recipe book given to all the nieces by my mom's sister, Sharyn. 15 years ago she compiled a recipe book made up of recipes from members of the family, most of all from dear Grandma Jolley. 65 years ago when Grandma and Grandpa were married, she couldn't even make tomato soups. Up until the day she passed away, she made mountains of delicious food for everyone. Our favorite days were working cows days because we knew Grandma would spend all day making a delicious lunch. Bread, rolls, chocolate chip cookies, meatloaf and slush are all some of grandma's recipes that we love. And I am thrilled to have the book to hopefully continue her legacy (and my mom's legacy) of cooking delicious food for the people I love.

A wonderful weekend full of wonderful friends, recipes and food. Thank you Candise for a great shower and for the wonderful "family" of Salmon Idaho who helped Tyler and I stock our pantry and help create many wonderful meals as we start our life together!

He's home!!

He's home!!!! We waited in anticipation for Elder Stokes to come down that escalator! Oh it was such a sweet reunion! He absolutely loved his mission and loves the people of the Philippines. I am so proud of him the man that he has become. He grew so much in so many ways. We had a fabulous time just listening to him. Sometimes I felt we just followed him around like a little puppy dog! Sometimes I just needed to touch him, not really believing that he was really here!

 We're all back together again. We missed Seth a lot  :( He had finals and couldn't come. Our family has grown since Nathan left and continues to grow!

 Nathan had only met Tyler once and it was briefly before he left for his mission (even though I think Nate knew Tyler and I would be getting married) they got to know each other better over the weekend.

 The best buddies are back together!!!! I almost cried here when I saw Josh and Nathan hug each other again!

 Brooky meeting her Uncle Nate for the first time. It only took a few days before she ran up and gave him one of those open armed hugs and a kiss!

 Mom and Dad with their son back home!

It was a crazy busy weekend with my bridal shower also. (more on that to come) but it was so great! We just loved having our family back together again and am so proud of the missionaries. Missionaries forever change people's lives and I know that just as the people that are served are blessed, so are the people who take time out of their lives to go and serve!