Merry & Bright

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here, what with the huge snowfall on Tuesday and having our home all decorated. We started early this year because we are going to Arizona for Christmas and we wanted to enjoy some Christmas at home, too.

Of course our big "at-home" celebration is this weekend. We're so excited for our second-annual Montana Cousins Party, which is a slumber party this Friday-Saturday night. We have a big ham dinner, a cocoa/cookie bar, Christmas music and movies and a yummy breakfast and white elephant gifts in the morning. I am so looking forward to it, and from then on it's just party, party, party (Well, except the part where we drive 20 hours, but the new ipods, laptop, kids' DVDs and Christmas booty will make that fun, too). Can't wait to see you, Postums and Lehmans!

I emptied my camera again and found more Heidi gems, so I will post teh hidge-podge of pix for your viewing pleasure.

Heidi & Cousin Rosalie
Two Silly Girls
(Heidi is glad that Rosie is just across the street!)

Addie's First Grade Thanksgiving Program

Addie the friendly Indian (11/20/08)

Heidi's Recent Photos

Daddy on 11/30


Play Doh Pal

Unpacking the Nativity

James being naughty (he's climbing in the kitchen)

Abominable and Yukon Cornelius, with Hermey, Clarice, adn Rudolph in the background (this set was Rich's gift from my mom last year).

Clarice and Rudolph

Heidi and Addie with Heidi's bedroom tree

James, Addie, and Heidi (I took this at Heidi's request last Sunday 11/30)

Addie took this photo of Heidi and her tree.

"I Can't Believe My Eyes!"

Heidi handed me this picture last night and said, "Look, mom--she's saying 'I can't believe my eyes!'" She slays me.

An Interview With Heidi

Copied this from Jill...interview conducted at 8:39am on December 4th:

1. What is something mom always says to you? Uh, I love you
2. What makes mom happy? Doing good things
3. What makes mom sad? Doing bad choices
4. How does mom make you laugh? Funny Faces
5. What was mom like as a child? You were like me. You were a little crazy and you liked to hold hamsters
6. How old is your mom? 28
7. How tall is your mom? 68
8. What is her favorite thing to do? Snuggle with her little Lynners
9. What does your mom do when you're not around? Go on a nap or take care of Bubby
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? Getting in graduations
11. What is your mom really good at? Making cookies
12. What is your mom not very good at? I don’t know
13. What does your mom do for her job? Washing clothes and dishes and the hotel
14. What is your mom's favorite food? Guacamole
15. What makes you proud of your mom? Doing reaaly, really good things
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? Conny-nonny-jo
17. What do you and your mom do together? We play together and bake muffins
18. How are you and your mom the same? We both have some work to do (spoken like a true Melin!)
19. How are you and your mom different? We are different girls, and I am small and she is big
20. How do you know your mom loves you? Because you’re Jamie Melin, you’re my mommy.

Love Came Down at Christmas

On the first day of Christmas, Jamie gave to you...

a really fun Christmas song/video to watch

{inspired by Rob & Geo's '07 Christmas card, which I have just framed and hung as part of our holiday decor...LOVE SHALL BE OUR TOKEN!}

My Practice Baby

Check out this post aboout my darling niece...that photo of her just kills me! Isn't she lovely???I can't believe she's growing into a young woman so fast. Ally, we love you so much. We know the past couple of years have been challenging, and the challenges will continue, but you can keep your faith strong and remember who you are and how many people love and support you. Then you can overcome anything and keep excelling. It was so great to watch you and Addie have so much fun together last week. I am grateful she gets to have such a cool cousin to be her example and friend! Have a great birthday!

'Til We Meet Again...

Rest in peace, Elder Wirthlin.

Behold The Cuteness, Christmas edition

Here are the Melin kids before church today...so sweet.

We had a nice Thanksgiving dinner with my SIL's family across the street (we're so happy to have the Grays back as neighbors--how fun to have cousins across the street!). Rich & Mike put Christmas lights up on the house, the kids ran wild with their cousins, and I got some Christmas and Primary stuff in order. We have enjoyed Christmas music and movies and decorating every night of the Thanksgiving break. Know what I am really feeling thankful for? Snuggling up with my girls for a long winter's nap two days in a row (Saturday and Sunday, while Rich took a turn enjoying the quiet and finishing his own projects--he is so awesomly productive). I swear there's nothing better! They make a "mommy sandwich" under our big flannel camping quilt and we watch a Christmas movie until we all fall asleep, and then we wake up as the sun is setting after 4pm. Then we get back to work on "Christma-fying" the house, staying up late doing more decorating, gift-making or wrapping, or house-organizing for the coming festivities. I wish we could do that everyday! I am so in love with my family.

Utah 11.21-11.23

After I went to the doctor, Addie celebrated her 7th birthday with her cousins James, Addie, Ally, and the Tinkerbell cake
Addie's new Barbie movie

Addie's new Barbie

Addie's new sweater (and she got cute bracelets from Ally and from Melanie)

Cousins! Liam, Ben, Belle, Heidi, Ally;

James, Spencer, Melanie, Maeby; Addie

Before the doctor on Friday, we went to lunch at Chadders in AF. Here's Ben eating his burger.

Heidi and Jack has so much fun together!

Daddy & James (Addie is behind James holding up her shake).

***

On Saturday after the girls' brinch and the boys' trip to Cabella's (and a nap), we headed down to Provo for the wedding reception of Christian Buchert & Amy Holt.

James & Addie love to boogie

Ya gotta love my face in this pic--I am enjoying the company of the lovely Becca Buchert.
I am sad to report that this is the only photo we took of the bride and groom (but you can see them in their beauty here and here). This is "Big Heidi" and "Little Heidi" checking out the wedding cake.

Here's Auntie Georgia and wee Anna Buchert (Becca & Martin's sweet baby)

James hugging Auntie Heidi (she came to the wedding from New York and had never met James)

Heidis Hugging

Again, not sure what face I am making there, but Addie and I are sure happy to see Heidi!

[when I get a minute, I will write in more detail about our little mommy slumber party after the reception...my joy at hanging with the Buchert girls was monumental--I love them so much, tho we really missed Becca and Georgia and Joh!]
On the way home on Sunday, we stopped to eat at IKEA, and Heidi found this giant elephant (which we have been looking for for 2 years). Who could resist? Santa came early, and Heidi snuggled him all the way home.

November in Retrospect

I just realized while uploading last week's pictures that I haven't unloaded my camera ALL MONTH. So here's what we did at the beginning of November: Daddy & James hung out
James played dress ups with his sisters on Parent-Teacher
conference day (11/7) when everyone was home from school.

Poor guy...that's a skirt on his head.

On PTC day, Heidi and Addie were very busy being fairies and crafting all manner of stuff down at the craft table.

On the first Thursday of each month, Daddy has to go to Bozeman to lead the Emergency Preparedness Committee, so I let the kids choose dinner. Usually it's ramen or stir fry, but for some reason they've been asking for Kid Cuisine since Rich let them choose fromzen dinners a few months ago. Well, being the sly mom that I am, I saved the trays and I made chicken nuggets, chocolate pudding, corn, oranges and cottage cheese an served them up Kid Cuisine style. Nobody knew the difference.
I took a picture of these canisters because I finally threw them away. We bought them at Williams-Sonoma when we got married, used the mixes, then refilled them with Bisquick and used them for decoration above our cabinets in every home. I love the graphics, but I am going for less clutter, so it's a fond farewell to our little WS friends.

Addie had a fun cookie-decorating play date with her friend Kendall on 11/12

Addie hates it when Heidi tags along

Kendall, Addie, and Heidi making cookies.
James hiding from his sisters under my desk

My doctor gave these glasses to James when he came with me to my last appointment. Heidi looks awesome in them!

And so does Addie!

Oh, To Grace How Great a Debtor Daily I'm Constrained to Be!

My heart feels full of thanks today as I prepare for Thanksgiving. If I find a moment, I will pour it out, but in case I don't, let Mr. Nielson show you what gratitude looks like...wow (CLICK HERE).