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