Cutie Cousins

We post lots of pictures of our cousin fun here on the blog. We are sooooo blessed and lucky to have cousins nearby--Danny, Rosalie, and Hannah right across the street, Gabriel, Jared, Jacob and Sammy 2 hours away in Helena, and Ally, Belle, Ben and Jack a day away in Utah. We love spending time with them, and with Cody & Ty in the summer.

But we have lots of cutie cousins we don't see often, so we don't post much about them. The Ducketts and Melins in Texas ("Marlena's"), the Melins in Florida ("Jelli's"), the Laytons in Utah and Arizona, the Hamlins in Michigan, and the Posties in Australia. We miss them a lot, so I thought it would be fun to post a few of our favorite pictures of them. Here are some fun ones my kids love to look at:

First, a flash back to 2003...

This is Addie (almost 2) and Liam (2-1/2) on Petersen's trampoline in Utah (this was the week I found out I was pregnant with Heidi).

Here are Raef and Brady Hamlin on the beach in Michigan.

They belong to my sister, Sara...so cute!

Here are Raef and Brady with their little sister, Kaylee.

Here are the Texas Melins exploring TX/NM

(Elena, Liana, Sariah, Mark, Jared, and baby Samantha)

More Texas Melins--Liana, Saraiah, and Jared with their Daddy (Rich's brother, Mark)

Here are Matthew and TJay Melin in their washer in Florida.

Matthew (one month younger than James) is also known as a monkey boy, so I am sure this was his idea. (Hey, MY bro Matt--remember you used to hide in teh dryer all the time?). Their family keeps a blog (linked at right) so we keep up with them pretty well that way.

This is my niece, Maeby Post, with a kangaroo. Maeby is 2 months younger than James. My brother Will, his wife Audrey, and their kids Melanie, Liam, Spencer, and Maeby are having an excellent adventure down under!

Here is Spencer cradling a wombat...so sweet!

And here is our sweet little Arizona boy Owen Layton (son of my bro Sam & SIL Kristen), experiencing his first snowfall a few weeks ago. I've posted this before, but I'm telling you, this boy SLAYS with his cuteness. And James is obsessed with him (he is our surrogate baby brother, I think).

WE LOVE ALL OUR COUSINS & MISS THEM AT CHRISTMAS TIME!!!

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)
***
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)

***

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
***
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!
***
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.

***

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..."