Tziporah Elizabeth's Baby Blessing

 Getting ready for her big day.  Booties handmade by Michelle Fitzgerald.

 Freestone talks to Tziporah when everyone else is worn out by his rambling.  She always listens.

 Ruby, resident photog.

 Araceli feeding her sister.  One great thing about bottle feeding is that everyone gets a chance to bond with the baby.  I love it.  I still have my Tizzy time, though.  Best of both worlds.

What a beautiful day for a baby blessing!  Scott and I went out to City Creek with Trajan last night (he was only here for the weekend from Paris!) and came home to find that the kids had cleaned the house and readied everything for the blessing day.  We love our kids!  When we left, we heard ourselves saying, "OK Golda and Ruby, just relax and have fun.  Oh and Golda, you haven't practiced.  And can you guys watch Ptolemy?  And keep the house clean and..."  They are such good kids.  Their tasks - and more - were all done and they were all playing a game in the back yard when we came home.  Scott took them to Burger Bar for grape shakes to thank them.

This morning there was a peaceful spirit about our house as we got Tziporah dressed in her beautiful outfit, complete with the headband we bought last night while we were out.  Scott walked to the church with Tziporah in order to spend a few minutes alone with her before the blessing.  She was wrapped in a soft, white blanket that Marlene crocheted especially for this day.  The two of them made quite a lovely picture.

Scott gave a very eloquent and heartfelt blessing, talking about the good examples Tziporah has all around her and blessing her to have a keen awareness throughout her life of her divine nature and Heavenly Father's love for her.  He told her to develop her talents and look to her parents for guidance.  Everything he said was perfect.  I always get emotional when I see the men gathering for the priesthood blessing.  It is so heartening to see our fathers, Bruce and Felshaw, all of our brothers, our dear friend Mike Scheuller, and the members of the bishopric gathering to shelter our tiny baby in their arms to celebrate her life.  To give her a name and a blessing.  It is such a simple ordinance, yet so profound.  I was glad we were able to do the blessing today, with Trajan here.  Our family and friends are so important to us, and days like this seal our bonds tighter.  Not to mention the food...

 Jennie and Emily.  I love how our two families have so many ties.  It's always fun to get together.

 Jeremy, Ryan, Bruce, Michelle, Clint

 Uncle Trajan flew out a couple of hours after the party.  We will miss you, Traj! 

 Lexie, Ruby, Jennie

 Tziporah's King-side BFF, Rolayne.  She looks scared of Uncle Scott, and this was before Scott changed into his GREEN pants!  Tziporah's Dopp-side BFF is due in a couple of weeks.  Good luck, Nikki!!

 Emily, some happy kids and Trajan

 Two beautiful girls

 Marlene made this blanket especially for Tizzy.  It's a work of art.

Jeff, Ry, Bruce, Michelle, Richelle, Jeff and Clint

The brunch at our house was nice.  Marlene brought her famous brown sugar muffins, plus two giant coffee cakes.  She is amazing!  Everyone contributed generously to the plentiful spread.  Thanks so much, everyone.  Richelle, the Samoa bundt cake definitely lived up to the hype!  The adults had such a great time talking, we didn't notice that the kids had gone on a grand-scale adventure out in the trails behind our house.  I walked out there to retrieve them and had a moment to take in the beauty of the day, all by myself, walking along the trail.  It's so close to the house, but you can imagine you're in the middle of nowhere.  I forget we have such secluded beauty so close.  It was a little zen moment.  I love it when the kids explore.  On the way back, I told them stories of exploring with my brothers as a kid.

Tziporah's blessing day was the kind of day that makes life soar.  I wish Icould have talked to everyone more, taken more pictures, thanked everyone better and given all "the loved ones," as Freestone says, more hugs.  We had a good visit with the Kings and Coco's kittens and a good visit with the Scheullers to close out the day.  We thank all of you for sticking with us for the seventh child.  We promise, this is the last blessing!