Showing posts with label Family Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Family Life. Show all posts

Monday, April 16, 2007

I love you people, I swear...

...it's just that life has required a lot more LIVING this week than OBSERVING. I will post again soon, but for now, here's an excerpt from an email I shot off to a girlfriend while I was in the throes of The Weekend. How are all of you? Comments will be appreciated, and Michelle, if you read this, I promise to answer your email TONIGHT! Part of it (the part about wood floors) could be answered here (I love my wood laminate, but if I could have real hardwood--like walnut or something, I totally would. And a maid to clean it, while we're dreaming).

GRRRRL....so awesome to hear from you! I have had the day from HECK, and it's almost 10pm and I am still sitting here in the sweat pants and torn T-shirt I did yard work and wood hauling in this morning, if that tells you anything.

Heidi turns three tomorrow, and HOLY HANNAH, I hope the threes aren't as terrible as the two's! We have all kinds of stuff to do for church tomorrow, but I am excited to have cake and presents tomorrow after naps and watch the new Charlotte's Web with her (the DVD is one of her gifts and it is one of my all-time fave kid books). She'll have a small party/BBQ with fam & friends Monday night. I'll have to send pix of the skirts and headbands I made for the girls--they are wearing them to church tomorrow, even though they are "play skirts" (can be worn to school).

About cleaning windows--yes, I clean them every year. I usually use newspaper and windex in the inside, and then I use that Windex hose stuff on the outside. It does a pretty good job except if you have windows where your sprinklers spray and leave hard water spots. I usually go back over any bad residue with the newsaper and windex outside, too, and I even had to use a green scrubby on one basement window.

I actually have wood laminate floors, but I used to have wood and I swear by Murphy's Oil Soap and the Vileda mop that folds in half with the washable pad. I love it and I love the smell. I still use it on all my wood furniture because it works and the smell gives me happy childhood memories (I can still sing the song from the commercial if you care to hear it..."I've
been using Murphy's Oil Soap on this wood floor of mine, now the dirt is finished but the finish is fine...").

I have to get to the tub and to the bed ASAP, but I will just tell you that all the sibs are doing great, some better than ever. My sister (who was also my best pal) went to detox, rehab, and just graduate with her 90-day chip from NarcAnon. She is totally of pain killers and has fully recovered from a hysterectomy she had in January and I am really excited to see her again and have her be truly present AND pain- free for the first time in years! My crafty friend Jenn is coming with me to Utah--MORMON MECCA-- because she has never been to SLC (WTF? And she calls herself LDS!) I am excited to show her around because, frankly, Salt lake is tons-o-fun.

Keep in touch and let me know how the housekeeping goes. ...Jamie

Sunday, April 08, 2007

Easter Part II: Dressed Up for Church

You probably know that we go a little crazy about special days around here. This year for Easter, I was so proud of myself for showing such restraint. We only gave the kids a few plastic eggs filled with fruit snacks and jerky (hey- they LOVE the stuff, and they'd already had way too much candy this week anyway); they each got a book and a small, bouncy stuffed animal from the Target Dollar section (they were super cute and fit into church bags). I also didn't buy any new Easter clothes for them this year--Addie wore a pretty dress from Michaela Claar, Heidi wore an Addie hand-me-down, and Bubby wore a cute outfit that was a gift from Grandma Becky when he was born (Thanks, Becky--isn't it CUTE!?). The day was topped off by the fact that THE SUN CAME OUT FOR EASTER! If that's not the most beautiful symbol of the day....! Here's Addie looking so grown up, I almost cried!
I'm not sure what the girls were looking for, but this picture reminds me of THIS picture from Mother's Day two years ago.
Heidi, my little joy-bubble!
Here they are climbing around at church--love Heidi's face!
My three little duckies...
Sweethearts in the Sunshine!
I love all three faces in this picture!


Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Week in Review: Tuesday in Springdale

It snowed all night Monday night but the sun came up in the morning and melted the snow away. We got ready and headed out to the Orton's ranch in Springdale.A shot of blue sky above my mini-van on our way out of town
Here Summer takes us and the Larsons to the barn to get ready to feed the baby cows. Some of the mommy cows had twins and they can't feed both babies, so Summer has to bottle feed them.
Here's Heidi with her mud-protector bags on her feet in the barn.
A sweet little calf begs for milk
Summer Orton helps Heidi and Cailin Orton feed the calf
Jenny Larson and Addie feed the calf
Heidi is just as excited about the mud!
On the way home, we saw all these deer near the Orton's
This is the school house (still in operation) in Springdale...I think it's so cute and Cailin is so lucky she gets to go to school there!

Week in Review: Saturday in Billings at Cousin Ryan Melin's Wedding

In teh lobby of the Baptist Church: Me, Mom Melin, and Aunt Judy
Cousin Dan & Addie
James Ole over Grandma's shoulder
Bride and Groom: Nikki & Ryan Melin
The awesomest cowby wedding cake ever, complete with Cowgirl Bride Barbie and Cowboy Groom Ken (the reception was pretty fun, held at the Billings Depot with a delicious catered Italian Dinner).
Heidi was hosting her own Boogie Session at the back of the reception with a bunch of other kids--she was so rowdy, we headed home right after dinner.

Week in Review: Friday Night at the Park

On Friday night we decided to have a family date and not get a babysitter, so we took the kids to the park and for a long walk before dark. James mostly hung out in his stroller, enjoying his sisters' antics...
The girls rode the fun swing,,,
...spinning and swinging and sliding...
Heidi tried to get brave and ride the tall bumpy slide herself...
...Heidi got scared and wanted Addie to help her...
...Addie tried to coax her down...
...but Heidi made Addie go first--which was a little scary for Ad...
...and Heidi, too! But Heidi was laughing by the time she landed at the bottom!
Afterward, we walked up and down Main Street (by our old apartment) and then shared a blizzard at Dairy Queen, where we saw the Larson family from our ward. It was a fun Date Night with all the kids!

Monday, March 26, 2007

Another Old Video to Make You Smile








Bubble Monsters on Vimeo

Pictures of a Monday

Heidi went on a date with Grandma Rosalie this morning and she came home with these daffodils for me...what a great way to start the week!
Tonight, James sat in hs chair and kept me company while I cooked up the stir fry we had for dinner (the girls also helped me make Crab Rangoon wontons like we had the Arakawas last week)
Look at my cutie pie in his highchair!
Here's the yummy dinner I made for mi familia for Family Night
Rich used a power raker to liven up our lawn and then he cleaned up the garage for FHE.
The girls were outside "helping" dad while I made dinner. Do you LOVE Heidi's dirt-n-snot Hitler mustache? That girl...ugh! Nothin' like a little mudpie appetizer.

Sunday Night Ballet

Here are Rich and James on Sunday night
Rich always makes that weird face when he's saying CHEESE)--MY BOYZ--

While the girls were getting ready for bed last night, they wanted to dance along to their music box that plays "Silent Night." It was hysterical.The Dancers.
The Picture of Grace
Addie jete's
Heidi pirouettes...


...and Mommy and Daddy snicker silently and applaud their ballerinas!

Sunday Evening at the Ranch

On Sunday at about 5:30pm, we went out to see how the ranch looked after they removed all the rubble from the barn fire. The kids enjoyed the swing and looking at the river. Addie took lots more pictures and they are posted on her blog. Addie swinging
Addie with Heidi doing a Run DMC pose
James Ole loved watching the trees in the wind! That wind blew in a rain storm that watered all our grass and flowers over night and gave a fresh and sunny Monday.

Saturday, March 24, 2007

Behold the Cuteness, naptime edition

Just a Lazy Saturday at Casa Melin...Daddy's mending fences in Big Timber (after that big Derby fire last summer), Mommy's editing the newsletter, and the kids are just chillin' in the spring sunshine!Bubby rolled over from his tummy time and
crashed like this on the living room floor ...

awww, so sweet! (look at those squishy elbows)
Addie and Heidi playing "elephant house" under the dining room table

Saturday, March 17, 2007

Erin Go Bragh

Happy St. Patrick's Day!
The Melin Kids wish you a fun St. Paddy's

Love From Addie, Heidi, & James

Addie's wearing a Floggin' Molly T-shirt!
Heidi says, "Erin Go Bragh!"
And Bubby's shirt says, "Rub My Belly for Good Luck!"

Have a fun day and get in touch with your Celtic roots. We're celebrating by having a corned beef an cabbage dinner wiht the in-laws and watching Darby O'Gill and the Little People (since Flogging Molly is playing Phoenix this St. Patrick's Day--Sambo & Special K are going and we're GREEN with envy). And now I am off to Super Saturday!

FAMILY LETTER 07.28.19

Dear Loved Ones,                                                                                                        We have just ...