Belated Fotos

While I was packing for Helena last Thursday, I found James sitting quietly on this step stool in the kitchen, occasionally letting out a hearty "Ho, ho, ho!" I asked him what he was doing and he said, "I am waiting for the children. I Santa." So sweet...he smooshes my heart sometimes.James as Santa on 12/10/09

(PS: those are Addie's boots)
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When we got home from Helena Saturday afternoon we attended the Nutcracker Tea Party at the Depot. We had pomegranate and cinnamon tea with cookies and other snacks then watched some great dance scenes from the Nutcracker and some other musical performances.

Here are the girls getting snacks

Rich & JamesYUM!

Addie, Me, and Heidi

Between performances, tehy played Christmas music and let the kids dance. Here's Addie with some other girls on the dance floor.

Addie spinning (the depot looked so pretty)Heidi danced with one of her best pals from school, Tova.

(I don't know where our pix of the dancing went...hm...maybe I'll borrow some from Jenn)

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My Relief Society lesson on Sunday went over pretty well (I tried presenting it as a cantata--poetry and spoken word and scripture with related hymns). It was our last lesson from Teachings of Joseph Smith, which was thick stuff. Next year we will be teaching by principles and that sounds more like a piece of cake. Also on Sunday, I discovered my little baby Kim (remember her from THIS post? Okay, she's not a baby--she's almost 23--but I still love her) is ENGAGED (!) to a boy from North Carolina (!!). I know, you're all, "LUCKY!" and so was I. Said young man was at church on Sunday and we had a most delightful visit, and today he is taking her home to Boone (I know, it's the Charlotte mission, and you may have heard "Duelin' Banjos" in your head when you read "Boone", but it 's still beautiful--how fun for Kimber!). I just keep thinking, if I am this happy for a girl who is NOT my daughter, I am super excited to meet my future sons-in-law. Congrats, Kim & Matthew--your good news cheered up my whole week!

Tonight I am headed to the Kiwanis Club cocktail/white elephant party. Don't be jealous. Also, I taught early morning seminary today and will do it the rest of the week. Again, don't be jealous. Even tho' I went to bed at 10, I still needed a nap at 1pm...I don't know how the kids (or their teacher, my dear friend Melissa) do it!

HELENA 5-0

We went to Helena on Thrusday night to attend a reception for the Montana Law Enforcement Academy graduates, and we stayed over Friday, too, to attend Matt's graduation from MLEA and watch him take the oath to become a Helena Poilice officer. I was surprisingly moved by the whole thing, and so proud of my brother! Officer Postum waiting to receive his diploma
After graduation-our family with Officer Post

Me & my cutie baby brother!Matt & Amie makin' a Maj Sandwich
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Later that night, Amie & Mstt hosted the annual Montana Cousins Party. We had yummy pasta and salad and bread, then did a white elephant gift exchange with all the kids...Laura played Santa...

Jake, Jared, Adeline, Aunt Laura...

Aunt Amie

Heidi, Sam, James, Jacob, Jared, and Addie

James was so excited to get a big-boy toy like GI Joe!

Sammy got boxing gloves (which he used A LOT)

Nana made each grandchild a beautiful embroidered pillowcase

...and she bought all the big girls matching scottie dog jammies.

We had a wonderful time! We got home to Livingston just in time for the Nutcracker Tea party at the Depot and had a blast. I will post TONS more photos later, but I really have to go to bed NOW before my cough and headache turn into full-blown illness! I've gotta sing and teach RS tomorrow and go to Addie's Choir concert (so excited) and visit teach my sisterfriends...must rest, but be back soon...

"But Inside, It's So Delightful..."

Last night I put on "Ella Fitzgerald Wishes You a Swingin' Christmas" to psych myself up to clean up dinner, and before I finished, Heidi and James were sound asleep (Addie was at choir rehearsal with Rich). It was just too adorable, Heidi all snuggled up there, so I took a picture, and made a video after I'd finished the dishes... Heidi sleeping
This candle makes having a fake tree bearable because it smells JUST LIKE a real tree. I love it, and when Albertson's has a 2-for-1 sale, the Village Candles are only $6.50 (I am kind of a candle snob, but I just don't see the point in buying candles that (a) aren't HEAVILY scented and (b) don't smell FABULOUS burning). Totally worth it.

Here are two videos-- one Addie made yesterday while Heidi & James were bugging her (she was doing her homework in the office and I told them they were not allowed in the office, so they kept sitting by the door and she caught them on video). The other is the one I mentioned above, Heidi sleeping on the couch on a peaceful winter's night to my 2 favorite sounds--Ella's voice and the dishwasher running!

Heidi Asleep By the Tree 12.07.09 from MelinFamily on Vimeo.

Silly Siblings from MelinFamily on Vimeo.

Meet Jim Post

My mind was officially blown today while listening to folk music on Yellowstone Public Radio and the announcer said, "the latest from Jim Post..." SAY WHAT? My dad has a secret folk singing career??? When I got home I googled, and this is what I found: Hilarious. Learn more about Jim Post HERE and HERE.

A Beautiful Sight, We're Happy Tonight...

Just got home from the Downtown Christmas Stroll--so fun!--and got the kids to bed. I thought I'd blog while the Christmas letters are printing... Thursday night, Addie made this tropical cream pie. We wanted to bake a pumpkin pie, but we were out of evaporated milk. Ad had a meltdown about that, so I thought maybe a cream pie would work since we did have pudding, heavy cream, bananas, and I was putting pineapple on the homemade pizza and would have leftovers. She whipped up instant banana pudding and stirred in bananas, pineapple chunks, and shredded coconut and filled the pre-baked shell. Then she whipped up some heavy cream and sugar with a dash of vanilla and coconut extracts and I spread it on the pudding for her. Then she had the idea to sprinkle the top with coconut and garnish with the banana slice and the dollop of whipped cream. It was really good and so cute! Playing "Cookin' Mama" on the wii is paying off big time!
On Wednesday, Heidi lost her first tooth at school, but she lost the actual tooth. On Thursday, one of the "helpers" in her class had found it and put it in a little plastic box shaped like a tooth that hung around her neck and she brought it home. She wanted a pillow like Addie's (it hangs from the bed post so the tooth fairy can get to it easier), so between 7:20 and 7:45, I whipped up this little pillow. It has an embroidered flannel tooth applique that doubles as a pocket for the tooth. We tucked her in after taking this picture, and the tooth fairy brought her a whole dollar!
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Tonight we went to the stroll, as I mentioned earlier. I was/am feeling pretty sick, but dearest Deb picked up my girls from school today and played with them from 3-5 so I could take a long nap with James. I took some emergency and some cold meds and slept over 2 hours, and felt pretty good. So we headed out. First stop: Santa...
Heidi looks pretty naughty in this shot!
Then we walked down the street to the Murray Hotel to hear "The Polar Express" read by this conductor (we stopped at Truex Furniture to see excerpts from the Nutcracker danced in their attic on the way).

The Murray was packed, but cozy, and we found some standing room near the Holms and the Claars.
James seemed to be in awe and loved ringing his bell and making train noises with the crowd.

Love this sign at the front desk!

On the way to see Frosty the Snowman, we saw this spaghetti tree in the window of Adagio restaurant.

Heidi & Addie with Frosty the Snowman at the Grabow building

James with Frosty

Here we are (Heidi is on my lap) riding on the Yellowstone caroling bus. We rode around town looking at the lights and singing with 12 strangers, and it was FUN!

Here I am with the kids in front of the Yellowstone Bus--I want my own bus! They are so cool.

After the bus, we went inside Pura Vida salon where they were doing funky holiday hairdo's. Rich took this through the window of the salon--see me & Heidi in the background watching Addie get funkified?

James has some cake & cocoa while waiting for the girls

Heidi got tinsel-y pony-braids and a hot pink flower!

Addie got cool little top knots and 3 crazy ponies...the girls loved thier crazy hair so much, we took our Christmas card picture right after this.

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All in all, a very fun night. Now I must finish up some mailing prep and hit the hay for another busy celebrating day tomorrow (starting with the ward breakfast)!

More Holiday Fun

Aunt Audrey said our cousins in Australia love to watch our videos, so I am trying to post more. Here are some from Sunday and Tuesday.

Sunday night I was making little Christmas scrapbooks while my funny kids played "Nativity" and made up songs. Heidi was singing by herself for a LONG time before I could catch her on camera, so I really missed the sweetest things she was singing, right along with the melody and perfectly in tune. Oh, well...this is still pretty cute:

Made Up Christmas Songs from MelinFamily on Vimeo.

Transcript of Sunday night nativity playing video:

Heidi: (sings) I am s child of... God, and He loves me, He loves me

and He got born on Christmas

Christmas 24

And I love Him and He grew up to be a smart boy

Addie: Now! You gotta sing a special song, but it can't be the Child of God...

Heidi: [Hums "Away in a Manger"] (sings) He gave me a family to live in

and He, and He...This Christmas He got born...

James: [while Heidi sings] I was this truck (Mack from Cars). I was a nice truck.

Heidi: (Still singing)...and He grew up to be a big...BOY! (runs away, calling BABY!)

Addie: Now it's time for me to sing

Heidi: Baby (calling to James) This way! Get away from the older deers. The older big deers, You're reindeers.

Addie: (joins Heidi and James playing Reindeer) I was an 8 year old. I was a girl... (Big stretch for Addie)

THE END.

I babysit my nieces Rosalie and Hannah, and nephew Danny on Tuesdays. All the big kids go to school, so it's just Hannah and James early on. Hannah was so excited about our decorations this week--she and James watched the train for about 10 minutes (man, it's really loud in this video!), then cut a path of destruction through the house before I laid them down for naps. But it was still pretty fun.

Tuesday Christmas Train from MelinFamily on Vimeo.

Ah, memories...

I still know every word of this. Best line? "The sweater has that slightly goat-like smell which all teenage boys possess..."

Slumpy

I am in a bit of a post-holiday funk, which is silly cuz CHRISTMAS IS COMING, but I just need a "spark" or sumthin. Prolly I'm just really super tired but not sleeping well and my chiro benefits ran out the same time as my budget, so Tylenol is my new best friend for now. Waa, waa, waaa. Sorry. I really am grateful and happy and feeling some seasonal glow coming on. I'm just too tired for real blogging. So instead I wanted to share this little video that cheered me up so much today. I have quite a few friends who are waiting for a baby or have had the experience of "getting the call," and I thought you would enjoy this. It's a bit of joy for the general population, too, and big belated thanksgiving to all the birth moms who give this most beautiful gift. Watch it and smile along...

Crazy Weekend Fun

Playing Rudolph from MelinFamily on Vimeo.

Festive Friday

Let me preface my preface by saying

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DARRIN!

(he's my BIL & we luv him!)

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Let me preface the story of this post by reiterating that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I married into a family that doesn't make it a big deal, but they LIVE with Thanksgiving, so I have learned to adjust. I love Turkey. I love North America, my Land Bountiful, and its history. Also, as a grown up with my own house to manage, a certain rhythm has developed in our traditions. One of those beats is that we decorate for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. Some people think this takes away from TG, but I feel like it's a natural progression. Because if I count my blessings countdown-style, number one always ends up being my faith/ the gospel of Christ, and how appropos to begin to celebrate His birth and all He's made and done for us on the day after Thanksgiving (after we've been pondering providence and abundance from His hands).

Okay, so one thing that will NOT be a tradition with us in Black Friday shopping, although it was fun to try it out this morning. Grandma Melin had the kids sleepover at her house after TG dinner last night, so Rich and I came home, planned out our routes and lists (we had subscribed to bfads.net a few weeks ago), snuggled up and watched a movie, slept a little, then headed out at 2:20am to our first stop (Old Navy at 3am...Rich took a picture and I'll post it here when I upload it). We finished there by 3:25am and stopped at IHOP for crepes (and watched an episode of Arrested Development on Rich's phone) before the 5am openings of Walmart and Target. We got to Walmart at about 4:15 am, rocked it by 5:20, then stopped by Target (which was INSANE, so we didn't buy), and made it to Michael's for the door opening at 6am (where we met up with Aunt Debbie and her girls). We finished at Michael's at 6:40, grabbed some envelopes at the Staples next door, and were hiding the loot in our room by 7:26am! So I have now been awake for 33 hours with only 21/2 hours of sleep. Yay, me. But, like the kids on the DisneyWorld commercial, "I'm too excited to sleep!" And WHY, you ask? Because I'm in the middle of THIS:

Decking the halls and fluffing my fake tree so the kids can decorate it when they get home from Costco with Rich & Uncle Mike!

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When Rich started bringing the Christmas boxes down from the attic, Heidi started making a decoration cheklist for us. It was so amazingly adorable, I scanned it so you could see it, too (click to enlarge).

I LOVE THAT GIRL!

She was serioulsy standing in the living room with her marker making check marks as we unpacked her favorite things--so funny! She inspired me to post a few of my favorite Christmas things...

[Heidi's self-portrait with her Christmas bear]

I found this box of ShinyBrite "unbreakable"ornaments in my Grandma Layton's closet the evening after her funeral in Thatcher (Feb 2007)...I love the packaging even more than the bulbs, so I just set them out in their cute vintage box and think of my cutie "unbreakable"Gram.

I love my Baby Jesus.

I love that he comes out of his manger, because when I was little, I loved to sit and hold the Baby Jesus from my Grandma's nativity in my hand. Now my girls do that, too.

I love this vintage Christmas card. Three years ago, I visit-taught a much older sister in my ward (she's great-grandma to my local nieces & nephews) who lives out on a ranch. She always gave me preserves in vintage jars, and she gave me this super cool card for Christmas 2006. I hang it up every year.

This is another favorite card from Tryst Press which I treasure--love, love, love it! I had it in a frame, but it just wasn't right, so I hung it up this year where people will see it and read the beautiful poem ("Love came down on Christmas/ Love all lovely, Love divine...").

...and I love my Fisher-Price Little People Nativities...how can you not? We have two sets--one with music, one without, and the kids have fun playing with them each year (remember THIS?). They are so cute!

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I forgot to post this picture last week with Addie's bday/baptism pix...

This was taken Sunday morning 11/22 as Papa Jim and Gramm Becky Layton were heading back to Idaho, and Addie was heading for church. I love it; so glad they were here for her special day!

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I'm gonna go try for a nap B4 the kids get home...hope y'all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!