Overheard

At our house, Tuesday evening...

Addie: Mom, why do you keep crying?
Me: Because I feel sad and I am worried about my brother.
Addie: Is that why the phone keeps ringing and you're crying on the phone?
Me: Yep.
Addie: What happened mom? What happened?
Me: I just feel sad because Uncle --- made a bad choice and hurt Aunt ---'s feelings. She is sooo sad, at that makes me sad. But I will be okay, honey, and we will say prayers that Aunt and Uncle will be okay, too.
Addie: (after mulling things over in her mind) Well, if Aunt---is sad, someone should give her a hug.
[Awwww...doesn't that break your heart?]
Me: Auntie's sisters are visiting her and giving her lots of hugs to help her feel better.
Addie: Oh, that's good.

Then today, Addie and I were putting all the gifts we have received by mail under the tree, and she came to the ones from Aunt---, who has us for Christmas this year. Addie remembered what we had talked about the night before: "Mom, I wish Aunt---- lived in Montana so I could hug her when her feelings get hurt."

I know Dr. Phil always says not to burden kids with adult problems, but I wanted to answer her question--she obviously knew something was wrong. I hope this was appropriate and she is not worried (I was such a little worry-wart--I hope she doesn't inherit that!).

So yeah...there's been a definite damper on our Merry Christmas around here, but we are doing our best to make it festive and joyful for the kids and remind ourselves that, when you really think about it, this is what the joy of the Christmas season is all about--the fact that this baby was born to die for our sins and take upon himself the pains of his people so he could succor them in their hurt.

"...In all our trials born to be our friend...

He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger,

Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another,

His law is love and His gospel is peace..."

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Auntie & Uncle...we are praying fervently for you.

Weekend Fun

Saturday was a special day (actually, so was Friday night--we had the Melin Agency Company Party at the Lighthouse Restaurant in Corwin Springs. It was absolutely delicious gourmet food with a little SE Asian/Indian infusion..I had tilapia on a bed of delicious lemon-mint rice). We went to our ward breakfast on Saturday morning, where we enjoyed some yummy sausage-egg casserole with hash browns and juice, a slide show, carols, and Santa. Addie sang Christmas songs with the Primary kids (below)... ...and then we headed to Helena for an early celebration of Laura's (& Lisa's, but she's in AZ) birthday. We took a big Costco Pizza, then went to the Carousel for Ice Cream and fun. I think everyone had a good time.
Aunt Laura is just a BIG kid (she's turning 15 for the 17th time!)...she had a blast on the Carousel! Here she is throwing the rings into the clown basket (with Heidi, Addie & Rich).
Jared & Heidi
Addie & Gabriel
Santa came to greet all the kids at the Carousel, but after four visits with Santa, Heidi is so over it.
Addie on a bison
Heidi on a trout
Jared on a Bobcat...

We visited a little longer after all this fun, sent poor Darrin off to his night job (he slept while we were at the Carousel), and headed home at about 6:30pm. We got ready for Sunday and enjoyed church a lot. I was surprised when James fit into his darling outfit from Aunt Judy...

Look at that suave boy!

What a great weekend!

Laura & Lisa, I hope you have a FABULOUS BIRTHDAY!

PS: I used to think James was huge until I read this.

Because I Love You...

...I will share my favorite secular Christmas song of all time:

Fairytale of New York.

Seriously, the orchestrated chorus and the tin whistle never fail to make my heart skip a beat and my tummy flutters. Just beautiful. And funny.

Merry Christmas!

PS: Happy Birthday, Cousin Brent!

In your honor, just one more Christmas Pop Song, from a

Long Time Ago When We Was Fab.

How many pop stars can you name from 22 years ago in this video? CRAZY!

And it just occured to me how funny this song is, although the sentiment and purpose was kind--"Do they know it's Christmas time?" could be countered with, "Do they CARE it's Christmas time?" Um, probably not, but it's good to feed people, regardless of their culture or religion, right? ;)

Totally Awesome Santa

Last year, Santa came on a fire truck with gifts for everyone... This year, he(she) came on a stick horse wearing sunglasses, shouting, "Get your OWN baby!"
Addie's third visit with Santa this year (or Heidi Claus, as she's known around here)
James checking out Addie this afternoon.

PS: Happy Birthday, Sara! We love you! Hey, did you know your birthday is on Santa Lucia Day? COOL!

Behold the Cuteness, part 5

Here's our big boy...14 weeks old!

Laughing at mommy

Grinning at mommy

Finding his hand...

...and then his thumb...

Oh, how he loves the thumb!...

...and his Daddy!

One more thing...

I forgot to tell you that Sweet Baby James turned Three Months Old last Tuesday (he's almost 14 weeks!). I have pictures to post, but I need to upload them first. So may I just say that his hugeness continues...the boy is 14 pounds, 9 ounces and 25 inches long! But he is so snuggly and sweet, every inch, and I am so grateful to have this little joy bubble, especially at Christmas time.

Week in Review

Last time I posted, it was Family Night. That was a fun night! This week was Addie's first week of pre-school and she is loving it. She gets to eat breakfast and lunch at school and gets out at 1pm, so it's a big leap from the 2-hour pre-school she is used to. But like I said, she is enjoying it a lot, and Heidi loves having mommy and daddy to herself a bit, too (mommy while James naps, Daddy at lunchtime). This schedule also allows me to get a lot done, too, since James takes a nap right about when Addie gets home, so Addie and I have about an hour of computer time then we go feed James around 2pm and we lay down and read stories or watch a kid show before starting dinner and afternoon clean-up. So far, so good.

Also, this week I found out that I will have a new niece this spring! My sister, Sara, is having a baby girl (third child, first girl). Of course, it will be ages before I get to see her since Sara lives in Michigan, but I am still excited! So my cousin Lacy, my friend Mary, my sister Sara, and possibly my cousin Kate are all having baby girls pretty soon. Good times!

We also had our Relief Society Christmas Luncheon on Saturday for which Jenn & I decorated a table. The table turned out really cool on a really slim budget (almost everything was made from paper or ribbon, with a tower of beautifully-wrapped and tied gifts as the centerpiece), and the luncheon was so nice. We did a readers' theatre of the Women in Christ's life, and it was really nice. I sang Mary's Lullaby (the Easter Pageant version) and I totally started crying while I was singing! I choked out the words, but I was so embarrassed! I guess the emotion of having a baby son at Christmas time really got to me! But it all turned out alright. I'll have a chance to redeem myself when I sing it in sacrament meeting on Christmas Eve (which will probably be WORSE!).

We are having so much fun with the girls! They are just WIRED for Christmas. They got to see Santa again, this time at the bank during the Livingston Christmas Stroll (it was warm enough to actually stroll this year). After cruising around downtown on Friday night, we picked up Anna, our new favorite babysitter, and Rich and I went to Bozeman to finish Santa shopping. We got everything for the kids except the small Cars character cars that Addie wants. We are so bummed! We have missed three truckloads of them at both Walmart and Target. We wanted to get her Lightning McQueen, Mater, Doc, & Sally as stocking stuffers (they are small and only about $3) so she and Heidi can play Cars together (they already do, but McQueen is an old red Matchbox Corvette and Mater is a GI Joe Jeep with a tow cable on the back from a Happy Meal).

I wanted to keep track of the funny things they do to the nativity set downstairs, but this year all that has happened is Baby Jesus and the shepherd have disappeared. I am hoping to find them in the toy box when I clean it out this week (to donate and make room for new stuff, of course).

Last night we took some fun pictures of Rich's sister, Angie, and her family (they live across the street). They brought over an antique sled that belongs to Davy's mom and the pictures turned out pretty cool.

So that's about all I have to update. I gotta go finish up my Christmas stuff--my deadline is Wednesday, and then it's smooth sailin'--just hanging' out with my kids, baking, etc. Good times, y'all.

Fotos of the Grays

This is my brother-in-law, Davy, my sister-in-law, Angie, and my nephew and niece, Danny and Rosalie. We took these in our living room last night and I think they are PRECIOUS!

Saturday: Holiday Fun

On Saturday we attended both the December Farmer's Market AND the Holiday Bazaar at the fairgrounds. My Crafty Friend, Jen Claar, had a candy booth at the Bazaar. We bought these Smoremen for the girls... They loved them!

Addie with Santa at the fairgrounds...
...She asked him for a Fur Real Chimp.
Heidi with Santa at teh fairgrounds...first she said, "You come my house? You want cookies?"
...then she said, "Santa, are you happy to meet me?" He laughed, and when he asked her what she wanted for Christmas, she said, "Cookies." (which is a total lie because the only thing she does with cookies is crumble them up and eat any chocolate bits she might find, or lick off the icing).

Melin Family 2006

Monday: Family Night

After a ham & potato dinner, we enjoyed a replay of the First Presidency Devotional and decorated our tree with Gram & Gramp Melin.Addie
Heidi
The girls with Grandma
Me handing out ornaments
Grandpa & James (Pete & Repeat) watch the devotional...Grandpa kept asking James is he's excited to drive the ranch truck...so cute!