Behold The Cuteness: Baby Genius

James tried on Addie's Graduation Hat...


James has graduated from toothlessness!
(his two wee bottom teeth came through two weeks ago)

Photos From a Walk...

...we took in honor of Larkin's & Gramma Becky's birthday May 16th.

Little Blue Eyes.

Sweet grin.

See more pix and video from this walk at Addie's Blog.

James & The Otter Pop

Otter Pops became the cuisine du jour last week (5/10-11) when Jill was here and everyone was throwing up. James tried one for the first time (video courtesy of Jill)...






James & an Otter Pop from MelinFamily on Vimeo

More Fun at Heidi's Party

James and Cousin Rosalie Share the Love







Cousin Pals on Vimeo

Pictures of a Monday

Heidi went on a date with Grandma Rosalie this morning and she came home with these daffodils for me...what a great way to start the week!
Tonight, James sat in hs chair and kept me company while I cooked up the stir fry we had for dinner (the girls also helped me make Crab Rangoon wontons like we had the Arakawas last week)
Look at my cutie pie in his highchair!
Here's the yummy dinner I made for mi familia for Family Night
Rich used a power raker to liven up our lawn and then he cleaned up the garage for FHE.
The girls were outside "helping" dad while I made dinner. Do you LOVE Heidi's dirt-n-snot Hitler mustache? That girl...ugh! Nothin' like a little mudpie appetizer.

Behold the Cuteness, naptime edition

Just a Lazy Saturday at Casa Melin...Daddy's mending fences in Big Timber (after that big Derby fire last summer), Mommy's editing the newsletter, and the kids are just chillin' in the spring sunshine!Bubby rolled over from his tummy time and

crashed like this on the living room floor ...

awww, so sweet! (look at those squishy elbows)
Addie and Heidi playing "elephant house" under the dining room table

Figgerin' Stuff Out

I must insist that you click on my Brother Sam's link over there on the right (or right here) and tell him how cute his wife is and that they should keep blogging because we love them!

Since my new camera has a very fun and easy-to-use video camera in it, I intend to post clips here in the future. Tonight after Family Night I taught myself how to do it, and hopefully it will work. Here's one of the first videos we made the day we got the camera.






James, Heidi, Gram on Vimeo

Behold The Cuteness: Half Birthday Extravaganza!

Our Roly Poly Ole Boy will be six months old tomorrow! He weighs 20 pounds and he's 27 inches tall and he's the sweetest boy ever! We took lats of pictures of him with our new camera last week... Here he is crying, "Put that camera down and pick me up!"
He's laughing at me in a big puddle of drool
James laughing at Addie
James doing the tongue thing he's been doing since he's been teething
Awww...Sweet Baby James
Ole Boy shows off his cleavage
Curious James...we also call him "Wee Bub" My Squishy talking to angels

Doesn't it look like he's been caught off guard in the tub?Interested in the camera
Bubby laughing at his sisters

...Happy Half Birthday, James!
We sure love you!
Love, Daddy, Mami, Addie & HeidiLynners

Poor James Ole...

We knew it would be hard to have two big sisters! James had to be Apple Dumplin' last night while the girls were playing dress ups at bedtime. Addie is quite the poser, while James just looks worried...

...and Heidi looks crazy!
(trying to get everyone to look at the camera...)

Hooray! Daddy came to rescue James and restore his masculinity.

Chubby Bubby

Just a quick note: yesterday before I took Heidi to her pre-school and went on a field trip with Addie's class, we had a quick check up for James, where he weighed in at 18 lbs 6 ounces. That's EIGHTEEN, people. I think my 14-month-old niece weighs that much. He is also over 26 inches, long, so he doesn't look particularly round, but he's a BIG BOY. As for the rest of us, we are also well and happy and squishy, working hard to clean up Christmas and packing up (AGAIN--ugh!) for a week with our Post cousins in Utah next week. (I am going to keep Audrey company while Willy is on a business trip next week--the kids are so excited to play with their cousins!)
Chinese chubby baby posters were a must have for New Years. Called "Nian Hua", or Chinese New Year posters, these Chinese chubby baby posters exudes happiness and strength.

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.

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.