More Cousin Fun

Last night Addie and Liana were so excited about their slumber party that they made a list of things they wanted to do and brought it to me. I will translate..."-Dress up and Dance and put make up on

-Draw Pictures

-Play with Pet Shop (Littlest Pet Shop)

-Make up stories

-Play Arbl(????)"

Addie was so disappointed that they didn't finish their list--"But MOOOOOOOM! We only did the first two things!" I countered with the fact that Liana will be here for 4 more days. :) I love having little girls!

***

Today we all agreed that the cousins desperately need naps, so we just had a quick little picnic at Pine Creek with the Texas Melins, Grays, and Grandma. Daddy even drove up on his lunch break! After sandwiches, Uncle Mark took us on a tiny hike to the creek where the kids threw rocks and sticks, and we even saw some deer across from us, peeking out from the trees.

Liana and Danny climbing down to the creek
Uncle Davy

Cutie Addie
Addie again
...and again!

Heidi climbing down to the creek
Heidi throwing rocks
Heidi saying "HI, MOM!"...
...and throwing sticks

James loves throwing rocks and making splashes!
But he had to finish his sandwich first
Danny, James and Liana contemplate jumping in the creek.

***

Melin Cousins + Pine Creek= TLA!

What a Week!

FIRST OF ALL: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!!!!

My mama rocks--she is celebrating her birthday today by having her fourth chemo treatment.

We're thinking of you, Nana!

***

On Tuesday I got a great haircut and color (YAY) but I don't have pix of that yet. On Wednesday I took the girls to get their haircut while Rich was picking up his brother Mark and family in Bozeman (they surprised Grandma--she didn't know all of them were coming). Addie wanted ehr hair short, and I didn't, so we compromised... Now she has a thick, shiny, shoulder-length flip
Heidi got her regular bob from Renee...
Cutie Pie!
James got a little restless, so I put a movie on for him in the car and watched him from the door of the salon like this.
Then we went to see our Texas Melin Cousins!!! Addie (6) hugging Sariah (3)
Four Girl Cousins-Heidi (4) Addie (6) Liana (5) and Sariah (3)

On Thursday, 8/14, we all went to the park in the morning. Addie and Liana went right for the tire swing!
WEEEE! We need one of these at the ranch!
Liana & Addie as Pompey and Sacajawea
Sweet Baby James

James loves the playground train!
Heidi loves to swing!
Sariah and Heidi waiting for a swing
James, Liana, Addie, Sariah, Heidi, Uncle Mark, and Jared on the bench swing.

The girls had a slumber party last night (Rich took pix on his camera, so I'll upload those later). This morning they had a lovely bubble bath together...
Foggy Lens!
Heidi took this picture when Uncle Jess came to visit us this morning. He arrived late last night from Florida and we were so happy to see him (but we miss his family!) I have to work tonight, but everyone is going to Jamie Anderson's wedding party bbq tonight (where Uncle Mark is the bestman) and then tomorrow we float the river and go to the wedding in the evening. FUN!

Saturday Splash

We decided that the next couple of weekends are going to be FUN, so we kicked it off with a family trip to the Belgrade, MT splash park (Belgrade is just a few miles west of Bozeman), then spent the afternoon at Bogert Park swimming, until a huge thunderstorm came and spoiled it! I had to work at 6pm, so it was probably good that we got home at 3pm anyway. Since all 5 of us were swimming at Bogert, we didn't take pictures, but I took lots of pix at the splash park since I wasn't splashing... Addie
Daddy & Bub
Heidi (probably screaming)
Addie at the red water canon
Running through the spray

James getting up the nerve to play in the water
Daddy helping James put his feet on the sprayers
My family under the "mushroom shower"
Daddy leads the girls on a march through the sprayers

Daddy helps James through the spray
Addie standing on a sprayer
Addie squirting Heidi with the green water canon
Heidi squirting Addie back

These buckets were a blast--Heidi watches Daddy and Bub get showered!
James got COLD!
Heidi squeals with glee

This is our only picture at Bogert Park--James in his towel as the storm began
...and here is James this evening after Sunday Naps

(going to heck in a handbasket--and howya like my grubby son on my grubby carpet?)

***

So we are gearing up for another week of summer fun. Uncle Mark and Uncle Jess are flying in this week for one of their best friend's weddings, so we will have lots of Melin fun this week. Then, of course, there's TJay's 6th birthday, and Nana's and Aunt Marietta's to celebrate this week, so have fun with that.

CHECK OUT what we did today :) [more soon]...

Quick Howdy

I am at the hotel for a short shift tonight. No posts this week, no photos. I've just been chillin' with my wee ones, trying to fly by the seat of my pants (which is the hardest thing for me). We have had lots of fun this week, like picnicking on the river banks in the sand near Carter's Bridge and throwing rocks for an hour, or going out in the country to visit the donkeys and mini-ponies, getting ice creams, having PBJ and peaches and chocolate milk for dinner while daddy was away at a meeting, coloring pictures to mail to loved ones, making doll houses from boxes, and setting up little Calico Critters cities, complete with zoos kept by Heidi. Oh, and napping while thunderstorms roll in--my fave. I can never get enough of my girls making a "mommy sandwich," snuggling me on each side and falling asleep for an hour or two in the afternoon (James likes to stretch out and sleep on his own).

We are all well, life is good. I started Curves again, and I'm feeling better (still foggy and unmotivated, but healthy at least), Rich is getting us all geared up for Europe, and I am getting the girls ready for school. We're worried about my mama tonight, hoping she's feeling better. Love you, Nana! We miss you so much...

More later, folks. Enjoy your weekend!

Too Much of a Good Thing?

Do I have too many blogs? Maybe. But check out my latest HERE.

So I'm home now...

I made it home at 9pm on Saturday night after leaving Vancouver at 6:30am (with Matt & his boys), dropping off Postums in Helena, and doing the last 100 miles with just me & James. I was so busy snuggling my three lovies all weekend, I didn't get to blog about the end of my trip or arriving home, so here are the last pix from Vancouver: Jill arrived at mom's with Abby and Marshall at 10:30pm Friday night. Even though Matt and I knew we had to get up early and drive 800+ miles with three little boys, we stayed up til midnight visiting with the fam (and saw Ben Folds on Austin City Limits)
We also took pix with mom...here's me & my mama
Mom & Jill
Matty snuggling mom
Matt being silly with mom

My nephews Sam & Jake, and James

This is how the backseat of my car looked at 6:20am on Saturday

(see mom's house behind us?)

***

When we dropped off the Postums, Amie had made a yummy dinner of ham & bean stew and had fixed up the house in Matt's absence. It was great to see her, but we were in a hurry to get home, so James and I jumped back in the car around 7pm and drove to Livingston. I forgot to move James up front with me, so he was right behind me, yelling "MOMMY" in his endearing way. I tried to take some pix of him while I was driving:

It was rainy all the way from Missoula to Bozeman, and the sunset was gorgeous.
Happy Trails!

It's so good to be home with my girls and my sweetie husband. I really missed him, and I am so glad we get to go on our honeymoon next month!

Mom, I had such a great time with you this trip. I know you don't feel good, but I am glad you weren't writhing in pain, either. You're such a tropper and I love you!

***

Remember THIS LITTLE BABY? Well, s/he is 11 weeks along and officially a fetus now! Her/his mom and dad got a peek this week and saw a little heart beating and arms flailing, so things are going really well. S/he looks like this:

Yay for babies! And speaking of babies, we recently learned that we can expect some new nieces/nephews on the Melin side in March. Jess & Kelli AND Mark & Elena expect their 4th babies in the spring. FUN!