Blessing Ellie

On Sunday September 25, 2010 I got to enjoy watching my husband exercise his Priesthood for our family by blessing our daughter. I loved every bit of it. Most of both of our families attended (we each were missing a sister) even though it meant a lot of traveling and quick turn around time for most of them. We had family come from Idaho, Utah, Washington, Alaska, and Okinawa. We enjoyed a fun weekend with a chaotic home full of people, going to the hot air balloon festival activities with them, eating great food, and especially having so much family together at church.


We had a fussy 6 week old, so we didn't get out to see many of the hot air balloons as they take off around 6:45 or 7:00 in the morning, but many family members did enjoy watching them in the morning, or whenever we happened to spot one outside.We tried to go to the night burn. If you want to see what it's like, look at our post from last year. We enjoyed watching the hot air balloons light up as we walked to the stadium where it is held each year, and just as we got there - it ended. They called it on account of the wind. Somehow, I don't know that the kids really minded. They seemed to have a pretty good time anyway.
The next morning brought what everyone had come for. Baby blessings are especially amazing moments for me as our entire family attends church together. It means the world to me each time it has happened. Steve brought me to tears as I heard the love and emotion in his voice as he blessed Ellie Jaylin Bennett. It was a beautiful and special time for our little family.
Here are some pictures of Ellie in her Blessing outfit. I made her little bow just for her special day and was proud I could contribute by adding something personal. Now the whole outfit will be put away so that she can have it someday. (Minus the headband the bow is on - we only have a few of those!)

Steve declared that the only proper way to welcome a Bennett into this world was with the flesh of a beast - his words, not mine. So, naturally, we celebrated with a 16 lb. prime rib after church. It was so large the rotisserie couldn't turn the meat and we had to cut it in half and bake the second half. Most of the 16 lbs. was consumed that afternoon and all of it was DELICIOUS!
After lunch we took the kids to the Prosser park and everyone seemed to have a great time!
We really loved watching the families mix and adopt each other while everyone was here.We were especially glad to see these two become fast friends!
Sunday night we brought out the fire pit and everyone got to roast marshmallows.
It was a great weekend! It may have left us feeling like this...
But it was well worth it to have a moment like this.
Thank you to all of our family members who put in so much effort to be here for Ellie's special day. We love you!