Tuesday, November 30, 2010


Before another holiday hits, (tomorrow) and I need to post about a special day.
I have been putting off documenting this day.
Not because it wasn't a special day.
In-fact it was very special.
A day that we or at least I felt a taste of heaven.
It was Gage's blessing day.
The reason i've been putting it off is because
we may are maynot be struggling with changing his name....
And if we do I'll let you know.
Are we the only ones that go through this AFTER a babies' born?
i think we might be.
 Anyway. 
Don't judge.

Much like other religions do christenings (except we don't believe in baptizing babies)
In our religion when a baby is born it is a tradition to give him a name and a priesthood blessing.

Devin gave him his blessing.
It was truly, truly beautiful.
When I think of this day I smile and feel the need to talk about it in a quieter voice because it was that special to me.
 Instead of doing it at church we blessed him at my parents house in Oregon.
home.
I love my home. 
a beautiful fall day 
in the country
surrounded by family
my sweet new baby boy 
dressed in the same outfit that his brother was blessed in.
perfect.

All the men in Gage's blessing circle:
Great Grampa Calvin(my gramps), Grandpa Orton, Devin, Uncle Nick, Grampa Dave(my dad)

A home truly can be a heaven on earth.

I would like to rephrase that last sentence. 
Home can be a heaven on earth and then my huge 17 yr old brother Joey barrells through the house and through all the family saying:
"I'm gonna kill that CAT!" 
(we don't have animals in the house, and a new gray barn cat snuck in the house)
Sorry Orton family of cat lovers.

We tried to get a family pic of this special day.
Failed.

ya these pictures stink,
 But it was THAT one
OR 
this one:

Devin's sister and her five little K's traveled all the way from Boise to be with us.
Thank you.
That meant a lot.

Let's just say their name's cuz it's fun...
Klora, Kendra, Kyle, Krista, Kaleb.
specially when you say it faaaast.


Of course Grandma and Grandpa Orton never miss a special occasion.
i love this picture.

i'm sad I didn't get um ANY of my family...they were all runnin around everywhere.
I will tell you my mom looked extra beautiful that day.
Really.
Perhaps the reason this day just had an extra special spirit to it was that all of us adults 
attended the temple that morning.
My little sister Ashley is going to be a missionary! 
And in preparation went through the temple for the first time.
So special.
All my family, grandparents, sisters, parents, friends all dressed it white.

Thank you Ashley for letting our baby share the spotlight with you on this special day of yours.
If I could tell anyone, live your life to get to the temple!
It was a taste of heaven and I thought of every family member not there, for whatever reason and wished they were there.

Anyway back to home:
My mom made tons of food....


Except for the pumpkin roll. That was made by Devin's mom.  Since all of my babies are fall babies, 
she has made a pumpkin roll at each blessing. Even when we lived in Missouri.
lovely, tasty tradition.
I only took pictures of the dessert table.
A couple weeks before I said: "Mom, I'm thinking I'll make one or two little desserts for refreshment afterwards." 
Mom: "Oh you want to do food?"
Right then and there I knew I had opened a can of worms.
Except it wasn't worms it was my mom's plethora of tasty fall soups and chile and pumpkin rolls and veggie platter, fruit platter, desserts and a bunch of other stuff she prepared/bought and forgot to bring up from the basement because THERE was NO MORE ROOM FOR MORE FOOD!
She did this at all our weddings too.
What can we say?
 She is a mother of 7 children. She knows how to feed a crowd, and feed them good.
Under preparing or taking it easy is just not even possible for my mom.
NO matter how hard her daughters try to get her to.
Love my Mother.
Thank you.


Look who's guarding the dessert table.
Cache was guarding it from Naomi
and Naomi was in turn guarding it from "Tash."
After everyone left, Sarah and I went upstairs and tried to work with what little light was left to take some pictures....not so good.
Low lighting = grainy pictures.
But some are okay. 
 I told myself I was going to retake them... but he grew outta that outfit in like
one day.


Deer in the headlights
still love it though. 

Whoops how'de that one get on here?
:)



OH man I just love Danny.
This was the moment they stared into eachother's eyes for the first time and in baby talk said:
"Hey our mom's think we're gonna be best friend cousins, but I'm just tellin you now, Uncle Sam's light saber is MINE!"

 It was a peaceful blessed day,

 WE just love you sweet baby so much.
You are so loved by your parents and brother and sister.

So thankful you're part of our family.


8 comments:

Nick and Sarah Leonard said...

Oh his pictures turned out so cute. Thanks for posting the one of Danny looking at Gage. It will go perfect on Mom's Christmas calendar.

Oopsy. Ignore this comment mom ; ).

I love all things you said about Mom. They are so true. I CAN'T WAIT to all be together again after Christmas!

Zana said...

Very cute posts!
But this in not a comment it's a question...A while back you mentioned some game about questions that was really fun & I'm trying to find a game for a Christmas present to a sis so if you have a moment can you give me the name of it?
Thanks if you can and no worries if you have no idea what I'm talking about b/c I don't always trust my memory! :)

natalie spratling said...

Oh, Amie, you made me cry. Family is everything. We so love you guys and wish we could have been there for that special day for both Gage and Ashley. I can't wait to see all of you at Christmas time. What ever you wind up naming your sweet precious little one it will be perfect as is his name now:) Happy December 1st. Hugs and kisses from Montana

sillynicolegirl said...

What a special day! I love the pictures of baby Gage, he is a very handsome boy. And I love that you were home with all the fam, isn't that the BEST?!? Much love your way.....

Meg said...

You are such an amazing person Amie. I'm so glad I got a little slice of you while you lived here. I just wish it could have been longer. You always inspire me with your pictures and words.
Thanks

CB said...

Amie I am so glad you found my blog. I never know who in the ward has blogs so I am glad you commented!
Cache is such a little man - He just cracks me up. It's fun to see your whole family.
I LOVE that picture where Cache and Naomi are guarding the dessert table - the kids are so cute and the view out the back window there is soooo pretty!
Neat that you got to do Gage's blessing at your parents home. Very very special.
Now why do you need to change his name?
I haven't had that happen but with one of our boys we didn't name him for like 5 days. We had the hardest time. The hospital kept calling us and asking if we had named our child yet - it was hilarious.

Lindsay said...

I LOVE the picture of Danny and Gage, so cute!
And it is so true about your mom. Sarah, Carley Chandler and I all had our graduation party at your house (I don't know if you were there for that). Pretty sure your mom did everything. She is my idol. Her and Ardythe Wood :)

Kara and Chant said...

You have a true talent for blogging. Those pictures are beautiful. He is a gorgeous baby. I am so glad it was a special day. Hope you are doing well.