New Month's Resolutions

Happy New Year! Just so you all know, I am spending my New Year's Eve in my cozy little cottage sipping hot chocolate with an unholy amount of marshmallows on top and watching my dear little hubby play Final Fantasy on the XBOX. ...that is if my little munchie decides she'd like to sleep for a while.
SO... I've never been very good at making and keeping resolutions that are meant to last for an entire year. I've decided to break up my gigantic list of goals over the course of the each month. That way if I fail I won't be letting myself down for a year. Just a month. And I can start over the next month. Brilliant, eh?!
My resolution(s) for January are as follows:

Lofty goal #1: Clean out the garage so we can park both cars in there, thus avoiding the inevitable treasure hunt for an available space outside.

Near impossible goal #2: Restock my bow supply with new styles so my dear faithful clientel won't get bored with me.

Ashamed for not doing it already goal #3: Be more faithful in my Relief Society visits each week.

Totally a stretch goal #4: Begin designs for a hair bow catalog. I'm thinking about branching out a little and trying to find people that would like to be sellers for my stuff so I can stay in my lovely little dwelling and worry about nothing but burning my fingers with hot glue and feeding little mouths all day. I'd really like some feedback on this one.

Last, but certainly not least goal #5: Try to keep myself awake and sane when my sweety has to go back to work this month. *sniff* I've been SO spoiled to have him home for two months. It's going to be really depressing to send him back...so begins the daily grind. Only four days left until I have to start doing stuff by myself again.

That should satisfy my over-zealous resolution needs for this month. I shall return and report the last week in January...unless I find myself totally overwhelmed in which case I may just decide to throw in the towel..which probably needs to be washed anyways because as we've previously discussed in detail...I'm not so good at staying on top of my laundry. *sigh* Wish me luck.

Her First White Dress

Saturday, December 27, 2008
Today was Amilynne's blessing day. We were so fortunate to have so much family able to attend. So much, in fact, that we had to schedule the church building to accommodate all of us. We packed the Relief Society room during the blessings and took over the gym with our potluck afterwards. Jared's brother, Kyle, blessed his daughter, Cami, at the same time. Six of Jared's nine brothers were able to attend. It was so cool to have all of them in the blessing circle.
Ami looked so beautiful...just like a little doll. Her Grandma, Beverly McClellan, made her the most beautiful little ensemble for the occasion. She crocheted it all by hand. It took her four months to complete and I think it was worth every minute. It will be one of my treasures and keepsakes.
She was given the blessing by her doting father, Jared Lainhart. The blessing was beautiful and inspired. She was blessed with a deep understanding of the atonement of Jesus Christ and the ability to make good choices. She was blessed with the gift of charity and counseled to follow the example of the charitable women in her heritage. She was counseled to be baptized and marry in the temple to a worthy young man with whom she can raise a family with.
I am intensely grateful for the gospel and more specifically the priesthood. What a wonderful gift to know that the power of God is at the fingertips of my very best friend and eternal companion as well as so many other men that I am privileged to have in my life. There is nothing sweeter than to see a tiny infant cradled in the arms of the man you love and given a tender heartfelt blessing by the power of the spirit.

All the men that helped bless our little Amilynne: (from the left) Danny Lainhart, Jeremy McClellan, Mike Dill, Kyle Lainhart, Steve Tidwell, Eric Lainhart, Jared Lainhart, Deland Lainhart, Ryan Tidwell, David Lainhart,David Lainhart, Allen Lainhart, Eli Lainhart

Amilynne's First Christmas

Family

Christmas just wouldn't be complete without all the people we love...and it wasn't quite. Wish the rest of you were here! We love you!

Ryan Lacie and Baby Hailyn Tidwell

Mom & Dad McClellan

Us!

Jeremy Jade Jayna and Jackson McClellan

Ryan Emilee Chancellor and Baby Bump Ence

HO HO HO

Santa visited Nannee's house while we were there! It appears that he rode in on a reindeer sized Great Dane with a velvety black coat. According to Santa, Rudolph decided to take the year off so he had to find a replacement and Ruger just happened to be the right size. As you can see from the pictures, Santa was a hit with almost everybody. He even got in some smooches! I'm telling Big Steve!

Christmas Morning

Christmas is awesome! There is nothing more fun than watching little kids on Christmas morning. My kids think they made out like bandits. It takes so little to impress them when they are this age! ;) Luke was super excited about his new Batman guy, Spiderman sheets, and Flippin' Frogs game. Ana got a "poofy princess" dress that she begs incessantly to wear, The Little Mermaid movie, and a butterfly barbie. Olivia has been the MOST fun this year. She was so excited about her new slippers that she has refused to take them off. She's slept in them. We've had to negotiate bath time without them. She also got a little dress. When she opened it she looked at me with the most serious face and said, "Oh...my...gosh!" SO FUNNY this girl! She is also very happy about her new big girl panties and potty seat...we'll see how excited she is when it's time to use them. ...and we can't forget to mention Mrs. Potatoe Head.

Tutu Sweet

My Little "Dixie Chickens"

Rock Band finally came out with some new downloadable country songs! Finally, something worth singing! Luke and Ana were having a blast rocking out to the Dixie Chicks while Dad played the guitar.

Ami... in "MINT" condition

This was a rare peaceful moment at our house. I'm 1.5 weeks chocolate free and four days milk free and yet...the sadness continues. For all her screamin' she still manages to be incredibly sweet. Maybe it's just 'cause she's so cute.

...her cheeks are really starting to puff, don't you think?

I LOVE IT!

ps...Auntie Amie and Auntie Heidi....you have to come see me if you want to bite them! :) I know you want to!

What do Harry Potter and food storage have in common?

They both live in little cubbies under the stairs!

During the spring of this year, we put in wood floors. A week later, our neighbors (we share a wall in our condo) let their toilet overflow...all night long. The water came through the wall to our bathroom and completely destroyed our new flooring and some of the drywall. The soggy drywall had to be cut out leaving gaping holes in the walls. So, why am I smiling? Because we have great insurance that paid for everything! AND...one of the holes revealed a rather large plot of undiscovered territory just waiting to be claimed! I called up my brother, Jeremy, and put him to work. First, he fixed my floors and then he put in the midget door. Thanks, again, Jerm! I love it! So much space just for our food storage. Now I just have to get more food to store. If something were to happen right now we'd be chawin' on hard red wheat and rolled oats. It wouldn't be so bad if we were horses. A work in progress...that's what it is. Like so many of my unfinished projects. But it is exciting! Who knew #10 cans and dry non-fat milk could be so inspiring?

Seven years ago a knock came at my door. I peered through the peep hole, excited about my future. The guy I was meeting was going to change my life forever. ...everything I ever wanted in a man. He was going to be tall, dark, and handsome just like the few of his brothers I knew. He had to be charming and witty. I didn't know much about what I was to expect except that he had just returned from a mission and he was cute.
What I saw through that tiny little window in the door could not have prepared me for the way my life would change. He was short. His blond hair was receeding. His clothes were wrinkled and old. I hesitated to open the door. But then I thought, how bad could he be? By the end of the night I knew. It was bad! Sarcastic. Cheesily helpful (he did the dishes...who does that?). Just flat out weird. This was not going anywhere!
The next night we double dated with his younger brother. We went bowling. Anyone who know me knows that I despise the sport heart and soul. He bowled an incredible 219! I....well, lets just say I should have asked for bumpers. After that embarassing stroll down greasy alley ways, cigarette smoke, and exasperating noise, I was given some relief...or so I thought. We went to Baskin Robins. You can't go wrong there, right? We ordered and as we waited we talked. That conversation ended with Jared saying: "I like you and I'd like to take you out again, but I'm looking for a wife. If you aren't serious let me know now so I can move on."
WOW! I didn't know how I felt about that. After I got home and had a chance to think about it a little I decided that I liked his honesty. It was refreshing. In fact, there wasn't anything fake about him. I knew that he wasn't going to hide anything from me.
The rest is history. We were married a few months later on December 15th and I've never had a moment of regret.
I love his humor, his crooked smile, and warmth. He has never said anything mean or hurtful to me. He's not afraid to hug, kiss (or goose) me in public. He is a snuggle machine. I love how his Wyoming accent comes back when he’s with his brothers. I love that he takes his priesthood seriously. I am thankful every single day that he goes to work to pay the bills and insists that I stay at home to raise our little herd of kids. He is a fun and fabulous father.
All in all, I think I’m a dang lucky gal!

Ami Hungry

...and here we see Livi attempting to feed her baby, Ami. Ami, obviously, did not care for Olivia's brand of beverage. We are still working on teaching her not to feed Ami..."She's still too small and doesn't have big girl teeth like you do."
"But Ami nungwee!"
"Then Mommy will feed her."
A frown and a very big huff later, "Ooootay." Stomp, stomp, stomp.
"Thank you big helper!"

Loathsome Laundry

I just have to send this question out into the cosmic void...DOES IT EVER END??? I think I did 12 loads of laundry. What you see here is only the tip of the ice berg. Perhaps I'll do better keeping up this week. :)

Eat Your Wheaties!

Livi was cracking me up (again) today. While she was noisily slurping her Cream of Wheat from the spoon she kept chiming..."is yummy wishus!" (translation: "it's yummy delicious!")

Fantastic Four!

Amilynne had her four week check-up! I can't believe she's already a month old. I can almost feel her growing in my arms. She is now 8 pounds 2 ounces! She has also turned to the dark side :( .. My sweetest little "hart" is a crabby patty! So sad...oh well. Atleast I know the drill, right?

MY FAVORITE THINGS!

Girls in big hair bows with blue fluffy tutus,

Sweet scented candles that make home smell fufu,

Silver and gold jewels and all kinds of bling,

These are a few of MY FAVORITE THINGS!

You are all cordially invited to come to my party featuring:

*Lia Sophia http://www.liasophia.com/jossie *Scentsy Wickless Candles *For Giggles n' Grins Bows n Stuff www.forgigglesngrins.com

Saturday December 13th, 2008

From 11 AM - 1 PM

Sorry if I wasn't able to personally hand you an invitation, but I still want you to come!

If you need directions email me at forgigglesngrins@gmail.com.

PS...if you can't make it to the party you can order online! Oh, the convenience of modern day technology!!

Politics and the Ten Commandments

America the beautiful,
or so you used to be.
Land of the Pilgrims' pride;
I'm glad they'll never see.

Babies piled in dumpsters,
Abortion on demand,
Oh, sweet land of liberty;
your house is on the sand.

Our children wander aimlessly
poisoned by cocaine
choosing to indulge their lusts,
when God has said abstain

From sea to shining sea,
our Nation turns away
From the teaching of God's love
and a need to always pray

We've kept God in ourtemples,
how callous we have grown.
When earth is but His footstool,
and Heaven is His throne.

We've voted in a government
that's rotting at the core,
Appointing Godless Judges;
who throw reason out the door,

Too soft to place a killer
in a well deserved tomb,
But brave enough to kill a baby
before he leaves the womb.

You think that God's not angry,
that our land's a moral slum?
How much longer will He wait
before His judgment comes?

How are we to face our God,
from Whom we cannot hide?
What then is left for us to do,
but stem this evil tide?

If we who are His children,
will humbly turn and pray;
Seek His holy face
and mend our evil way:

Then God will hear from Heaven;
and forgive us of our sins,
He'll heal our sickly land
and those who live within.

But, America the Beautiful,
If you don't - then you will see,
A sad but Holy God
withdraw His hand from Thee..

~~Judge Roy Moore~~
The above is a poem written by Judge Roy Moore from Alabama and I just loved it. Judge Moore was sued by the ACLU for displaying the Ten Commandments in his courtroom foyer. He has been stripped of his judgeship and now they are trying to strip his right to practice law in Alabama. Hooray for Judge Moore. God bless him for his courage!

Ami goes to town

Amilynne's first visit to Dr. Duddy (whom we LOVE!): 6 lbs. 6 oz. 19.5in. tall. Hooray for our little girl! She's healthy and strong. It's sad to think that she's already growing up. I had to put away all the preemie clothes. She doesn't fit them anymore.

Muffin Tops

Yesterday I was so fortunate as to have one of my favorite people stop by. Kirsten was in the neighborhood and she brought muffins. I love muffins. Blueberry, lemon, banana, chocolate chip...you name it...I'll eat it (except for poppy seed. For some reason I just don't like poppy seeds) Anyway, Kirsten brought me a bunch of super huge, super delicious, super fantastically moist muffins from Costco...you know, the ones that are bigger than the state of Texas? So yum! It was so nice to have a friend visit. I've been home for several weeks not wanting to take my newest little pumpkin out in December to mingle with the colds and flus...I mean people...that are so packed in during this fun holiday shopping season. Thanks, Kirsten, for bring me your sunshine! ...and muffins!
In a separate but yet somehow related topic...I got my jeans on yesterday! Granted, they were super low cut and had the "comfort fit" elastic stuff woven into them so I was able to suck it in and still stretch the fabric together just enough to get the zipper up and the button snapped. The little teeth on the zipper were clenched so tightly I thought they were going to have an anurism and I'm stunned that the button didn't shoot off and break a light fixture...BUT I GOT THEM ON! Now, how does this relate to the delicious calorie laiden morsels that my sweet friend brought me yesterday? Muffin top! For someone like me who has never experience "muffin top" or don't know what it is, it can come as quite a shock. Muffin top is when your stomach and/or "love handles" hang over the sides of your jeans. ...not quite as cute as the delectable pastries they are named after. And yet, I will still continue to smash, stretch, tuck, and otherwise squeeze myself into my jeans.
Here's to muffin tops! ...crunches to follow