Goodbye May, Goodbye School!

Yesterday (Thurs.) was the last day of pre-school for Heidi AND for Addie. Addie didn't have a graduation ceremony at school, but she saw the pictures of Belle's, so she cried until I gave her her own graduation party at the house on Thursday night.I made her a hat and some cupcakes and hung up her school art. Grandma Rosalie brought her a card and a gift...what a special day!
Heidi's excited for CUPCAKES!
Our Special Grad (after cupcakes)

Congratulations, Addie!

You'll do great in Kindergarten next year!

P.S:

It's Matt's 26th Birthday and he's HOME from Iraq, safe & sound!

(Matt, we missed you at your Chico Birhtday Party--heh, heh!)

Also, you can click the vimeo "Melin Family" link in the post below and go watch other video clips of our family.

(Scroll Down for lots of new stuff)

Hooray! Life In A Northern Town turns 4 TODAY!...

how will we celebrate?

I think everyone should get presents, so here's my proposal:

• (1) Since I collect postcards, I'd LOOOOVE to see some in my mailbox over the next week! I know that postage has just gone up and it's asking a lot, but all I want for my blog-a-versary is POSTCARDS FROM EVERYWHERE! (and it doesn't have to be a "place" postcard--I love art ones, cartoons, and handmade postcards, too). I'll post the pretty pictures here and I can promise you a fabulous Montana postcard in return if you care to share your address or PO Box with me! Here's my office address:

Jamie c/o Melin Agency/ 1016 W. Park St./ Livingston, MT 59047

• (2) Leave a comment telling me about your favorite post(s) from the past 4 years (I realize that I need to take advantage of Blogger's new labeling system and categorize my archives, but I got these kids to raise and I'm adjusting to my new Primary calling...it's on my to-do list). My favorite commenter(s) (is there more than one?) will receive a FABULOUS white elephant gift with something thoughtful pertaining to your comment via USPS shipped on June 1st.

Stay tuned for more birthday celebration with posts like, "Where Are They Now?: People Mentioned in My Very First Post" and "On This Date in History: What I Was Doing on Other May 19th's"--sure to be entertaining.

THEN & NOW

Back in 2003, I didn't know how to post photos to my blog,

so here are some fun pictures from May '03... Addie eating ice cream with Daddy at the Pop Stand
Mommy & Addie camping on the Gallatin River
Addie feeding the baby geese at Sacajawea Lagoon
Dad & Addie camping at Pine Creek (that's mud on her eye, and marshmallow on her face)
Mom & Addie biking around Sacajawea Park with the Yellowstone River and Livingston Peak in the background. This is about one block from the apartment where we lived for 3 years.

***

Now...here are some overdue photos of May 2007
Addie and Heidi spotted a rainbow on 5/11...
...while Bubby jumped in his exersaucer.
Last Saturday at Geoff's graduation party, Addie & Heidi taught James about dandelions and wishes (they actually call fluffy dandelions "wishes" or "wish flowers").

All I Ever Knew...

Let me preface this post by acknowledging my dear friends who wish to be Mothers and are not, and/or who have lost their mothers and grandmothers. I always think about you on Mother's Day and remember the little squeeze my heart would feel each Mothers Day in my 20's when I thought I might never be a mother. Thank you for your influence in my life and for blessing my kids' lives, too.

Mothers, Grandmothers, Sisters, Aunts, Girlfriends, Stepmothers...enjoy.

Happy Mother's Day

(I know--JCPenney? Really? But it's such a great commercial, and this version of the song is so beautiful when you imagine it's about mothers!)

PS: Read THIS (click).

Dear Gabriel:

I had a great post planned for your birthday, I really did. Aunt Jill and I even talked about it. But you wanna know how we celebrated? Yep, Bowing to the porcelain god. Everybody over here got a wicked Norvirus and our tummies are still queasy! Shucks. But I hope it was an AWESOME day in your world and you can thank us later for NOT coming to visit you, cuz this virus stinks.

Happy Birthday, you big teenager!

Love, Aunt Jamie

Ah, Friday...

I took a much-needed nap today, hoping while I was asleep the homemaker's elves would come finish my work so I could enjoy the weekend, but those chumps never showed!

It's not so bad here--just some clothes to fold and floors to clean. I have been busy getting ready for the elders Quorum family party tonight--"Fiesta Quatro de Mayo," a Mexican potluck-n-pinata extravaganza. Being the First Lady of the Elders Quorum (okay, there are no ladies in the EQ, but I help my husband be their President) I felt the need to make a giant and fabulous pot of Tortilla Soup, complete with diced avocados and homemade tortilla strips. The girls and I also had lots of fun making huge tissue flowers for the tables. Ole!

Also, ON THIS DATE IN HISTORY...

(2004, to be exact), my niece Summer Melin was born in Texas (she and Heidi were due the same day!). She now lives in North Dakota with her two brothers and has a full time job being Cute and Sassy.

Happy 3rd Birthday, Sum-sum!

Guess what Summer got for her birthday? A COUSIN! Yep, Rich's OTHER brother and his wife welcomed new baby Jared to their family today. He has two big sisters (and we mean much bigger and a little older--his two-year-old sister weighed over 9 pounds at birth, but little Jared only weighed 5-11!) and Uncle Mark sure is glad to have another man in the house!

Congratulations, Melins! Yay for sweet baby boys!

Heidi's Family Night Party

Heidi had her friend-party on Monday night, which we combined with Family Night.

Here you can see the adults in our great room--there's Dad Melin, Angie, and Me on the left, and then the Sister Missionaries (Sister Bly-left, and Sister Hanna-right), with the Gonzales family in the middle.
Michaela Claar, Breana Arakawa, Addie, Boston & Alexander Winsor eating dinner in our backyard.
Me and James in the kitchen
Breana, Heidi, and TJ eat cupcakes...
...with Alexander, Danny, and Addie
Cakeface!
Presents! (Doodlebears, puzzles, dinosaurs)
Later, Heidi wore her Doodle Bear decoder glasses to bed...

Good Night, Crazy Birthday Girl!

Oh, to be THREE!

Heidi's Birthday was on a Sunday this year, so we just had a little cake and ice cream at Grandma's house that night... Here's the Princess with her cake (love that face!)
...and here is her REAL smile!
Opening her Aqua Doodle with Grandpa and Cousin Danny
The birthday girl was quite pleased (see her approving smile?!) with her cool book from her Great-Grandpa & Grandma Elrey...thanks for always remembering, Gram & Gramp!
James loved the rapping paper.

"Hallelujah, Here I Am..."

Hm, I just sang that title in my head and realized it's the lyric to a song I haven't listened to in probably a decade (anybody remember Fairground Attraction? LOVED 'em!).
your smile is a prayer that prays for love

and your heart is a kite that wants to fly

oh, hallelujah, here I am

let's cut the strings tonight

Anyway, we have just returned from a fun 4-day weekend in Utah and I have been working all day to get the photos up. It's not working out, so I jsut wanted to post this HOWDY and let y'all know that we are well and happy and all that.

TONS-o-love-and-thanks to my sister JILL and her family for the fine accomodations and fabulous company. We had a ball at your house, sister, and it's SOOOOO good to have you back! Also, shout out to my friend Jenn, who came with us, and served as SuperNanny when the kids were wearing their moms down.

I also want to tell my sister, Sara, and her family CONGRATULATIONS on their new baby girl! I have a new niece named Kathlyn who was born on Friday night in Michigan. I am sure she is gorgeous because Sara and Rob make lovely children, and Kathlyn's two older brothers are as handsome as can be! I'll post pix ASAP.

Also, a dear sister-friend of mine is waiting by her Grandma's side today, waiting and watching and helping her pass from this life, and I want her to know that my thoughts have been with her all day. I try to put myself in your shoes, my friend, and my heart gets way too heavy. I have been humming comforting hymns as I work today, as if maybe you could hear them...no tender voice like thine can peace afford...leave to thy God to order and provide, in every change he faithful will remain...sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored...when change and tears are past, all safe and blessed we shall meet at last...O Thou who changest not, abide with me... I hope (I know) He will abide with you today and throughout the coming days. I love you.

Poor James has a chest cold and I hear him calling. So for now, I will refer you to some of my favorite posts from this past few weeks...like this one from cjane to her SIL with cancer, or this one by Becca about naming her daughter Daffodil. I would like to dedicate the Regina Spektor song (read it here) on cjane's post to MY sisters and sisters-in-law. I love you chicas! I'll be back later, probably after I get my little sickies (who had WAY too much fun with their cousins this weekend) settled down and fed and snuggled and off to bed and after I make a nice fresh bed for Sam and Kristen to sleep in tomorrow night! Lovies....

Oh, and PS: THIS blog has been most inspiring to my creative side lately. What? You didn't know I had one? Well, I do--it's very unskilled, but gets an A for effort, and Miss Kelly (the owner of said blog) makes me try harder everyday.

On This Date in History...

...April 15, 2004, our Heidi Lynners was born!
Happy Third Birthday, Heidi!






Heidi's Third Birthday on Vimeo

On This Date in History...

...My Dear Georgia Bee was born back in 1964!

Happy Birthday, Amiga!

Here we are back in 1997 whenI was visiting Provo...

I'm waving and Georgia is biting an apple.

Erin Casper holding Brandon, Geo holding Sam Egan, Jamie holding Brittany Capser, and Heidi carrying Mags

...and here is a picture from a color-copied collage, which shows not one but TWO BIRTHDAY GIRLS...that's Georgia rubbing Heidi's belly (that's Maggie in there), and Heidi (another dear amiga and Georgia's SIL) had a birthday on Wednesday, so

FELIZ CUMPLEANOS, DEAR HEIDI

(sorry I'm so late, but there is an AWESOME card in the mail to you!)

Georgia, Enjoy your day! I am so sorry I have failed once again to get your package in the mail, but GOOD BIRTHDAY NEWS! I can deliver it in person next weekend! Please can we have a gathering sometime on Friday, Saturday or Sunday at which most Provo Bucherts are present and can play with my sweet baby James? I miss all yall so much. And what say ye, Utah Amigas? Anyone up for lunch on Friday 4/20? I'll be in Lehi, so e-me and I'll e-you my cell number and we'll rendezvous!

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.

It's the THIRD DAY of GRANDPA...

...and it's his ACTUAL birthday!

Happy 82nd Birthday, Papa Bill!

I had planned on posting a movie of the girls singing Happy Birthday to You, but since your sound isn't working, we'll have to send you a DVD later. At any rate, we hope you have (had) a great day and that you feel all the love from your posterity! (I chose this birthday card because it reminds me of Willie and Ett).

Here's how we celebrated your birthday:

7am: Shower, Dress, Breakfast for all 5 family members

8:30am: Daddy & Addie leave for school & work

9:00-10:15am: Mommy, Heidi, & James head to Heidi's pre school

10:30-11:30am: James gets his 6 month check up and immunizations from Dr. O'Hara; Heidi sneaks about 5 Dum-Dum lollipops in the course fo the visit.

12 noon: Special kick-off-of-Spring-Break linch at Addie's school, where the kids have created "The Big Kids Restaurant." They made french bread pizzas and salad for their families and we all had a yummy lunch (Rich came, too).

1-1:30pm: drive over to Bozeman, make a return at Target

2-3:00pm: Meeting at the HRDC office to get ready for Headstart Preschool's federal audit next month

3-3:4opm: pick up a few things at Walmart and meet up with a girl from freecycle.com who was in need of items for baby boy (I gave her clothes, bottles, blankets and a swing)

3:50: picked up (from another freecycler at MSU) a baby's "fish eye" mirror that allows a driving mom to see a rear-facing baby in his carseat

4:30pm: arrived home, checked message, felt relieved that my friend called and said I did not need to lead the Youth Choir for her tonight at the Easter fireside--she could do it, which meant no getting into Sunday dress, throwing dinner on the table, and running up to the church at 6:30: Instead, I got the girls some juice, a bottle for James, and we all went downstaurs and snuggled on my bed unitl Dad got home because we were TIRED!!!!

And I kept snuggling poor immunized James while Dad and the girls ate dinner and weeded the flower beds (still moist from the snow and rain yesterday). A very beautiful, busy day!

Hope yours was even better! Love, Jamie & Gang

"On the second Day of Grandpa, My Blogger gave to me..."

...A story about the best Grandpa in the world.

Gramp & Heidi 2004

My Grandpa (along with his wife, my Grandma) is probably my best friend in the whole world. He single-handedly saved me (time and again) from succumbing to The Natural Man side of myself (selfish, worldly, self-destructive, judgmental, obsessive, etc...). He also nurtured my talents and interests in small but significant ways. For instance, one time in 1984 we were riding in his car and listening to a tape of Strauss waltzes. I told him I loved this music, and when he dropped me off, he gave me the tape. It was the same for books, maps, sheet music, food... every time I showed an interest, he presented me an opportunity. I have tried to follow that example with my girls so they will pursue their interests and have full and well-rounded lives, and TONS of self-confidence and self-respect.


Another great lesson I learned from my Grandpa through actions, not words, was the Dr. Phil-ism "Do you want to be right or do you want to be happy?" Growing up, I had, as my dad put it, an "over-developed sens of justice," meaning things were pretty black-and-white/wrong-or-right on my little world. I could cry "NOT FAIR" and be pretty merciless at times because Being Right was so important to me.


Once I got into a disagreement with my grandma and I knew that I was right. So rather than respecting her and considering her feelings and wishes rather than facts and my own self, I argued with her. Grandpa talked to me about it later, not in a scolding way, but in an adult conversation. He said, "You should have listened to your Grandma and respected her wishes. Not because she was right but because she is your Grandma and because you love her." I felt like a tiny, bratty little ant at that point. I watched my Grandpa and reflected on his past behavior and realized that he lived that principle all the time, and not just with Grandma. The facts are that Grandpa is probably right about stuff 99% of the time, but he goes with the flow and lets people learn things by themselves, gently SHOWING or nudging us in the right direction, but never in a very didactic way...just out of LOVE...love for us and love for God.


I could make a list a mile long of what he has taught me, and back it all up with stories and quotes and scriptures, but right now in my life, this is the lesson that means the most. It helps me in so many relationships. It's a lesson I have to refresh for myself over and over again, but I need look no further than my Papi (Poppy) to remember how to let it all go.

Elrey Family 1975 (that's me and my Pops on the left)

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

I love you!

Love, Jamie

The First Day of Grandpa

I've decided to celebrate GRANDPA BILL'S 82nd BIRTHDAY (March 29th) with (a) the card we mailed off yesterday and (b) and THREE-PART blog-a-thon. So, Poppy, here's your first special birthday wish from Heidi...






Heidi Loves You on Vimeo

On This Date in History...

1978: My cute sister, Dana Lynn was born (that's her with her daughter, Leanne)

Happy Birthday, Naner...I miss you!

and...

1983: My darling sister-in-law Kristen was born. (Sorry I keep using wedding pix of you, Kristen, but I LOVE this one!)

Happy Birthday, Kristen!

PS: Here is a fun place to meet some Crazy Fun LDS bloggers.

Weekend in Photos: SATURDAY

As soon as I got home from Chico on Saturday, I got everyone ready to go to Helena to celebrate Jared Lehman's 6th Birthday at the Great Northern Carousel. Addie and Heidi were so excited to wear their spring clothes, even though it was about 58 dgrees outside. Addie in her her sporty new skirt and shirt

(which looks really 80's to me).
Heidi was excited to wear "short pants" and no socks!
Addie got spun around super-fast by her Cousin Gabriel on the carousel.
The birthday boy on a bobcat.
Rich and Heidi on the carousel (with Uncle Darrin in the background).

James watched gleefully from his seat...
...as Aunt Laura observed the opening of the gifts.
Addie oo'ed & ahhh'ed appropriately as Jared opened a cool birthday gift.
Happy Sixth Birthday Jared!

We took the Lehmans and their loot home at 5pm and hung out for a while at the house. Laura was so thoughtful and sent home treats for all the kids, as well as some great clearance scrapbooking stuff for me (THANKS, Lulu!). We got home to Livingston at 8pm, but we pretended it was 9pm since DST was sneaking up on us this morning!

Oh The Sweetness

I hope it's okay with Penelope's parents that I am uploading this gorgeous photo of her.

I simply can't resist!