Take a Trip Back in Time with Mel

Today i am turning over a new leaf. I am going to catch you all up on what we have been doing over the past few (i am emberassed to say) months. First things first: Jessica won a million dollars on Deal or No Deal. It was totally awesome and i am so excited for them.
Secondly, we have had an awesome summer and early fall that has been packed with some really fun things so i will start with late July when the girls got to go to Grandma and Grandpa's for a few days, just the two of them. Spencer, Dan and I didn't know quite what to do with ourselves. So here's a few pics. And stayed tuned this week for more while i attempt to catch up.

Spence got to have his Daddy all to himself. He loved that. We even went shopping to get him a bike helmet. He has insisted on wearing one, and all we had was the girls old PINK one. Not that he cares about that at all but i think the neighbors were starting to give me wierd looks.

We met up with Grandma Jo Lynn half way and boy was Spencer glad to see his sisters. Actually he was pretty happy to see grandma too and he wanted to take her home with us. They had a fabulous time and got spoiled rotten, just what a trip with grandma is all about.

DEAL OR NO DEAL

I don't usually watch Deal or No Deal but tonight i will be glued to the TV. My Brother's wife is the contestant!!! I am already nervous about it. Of corse it was taped over the summer but they have been totally silent about it. I am bursting with curiosity. Ross in one of the supporters and their baby girl Brooklyn is in the audience. All i have to say is YOU GO JESSICA!!!! 7pm NBC, i'll be there!

Things I Learned from My Dad

I gave a talk in church the other day and as I was preparing for it I began a small list of things that I learned from my dad as I grew up. Not that I have put them all into practice yet. They are as follows:

1. If you think you can do it yourself, then do it yourself.
2. Bend with your knees
3. A good garden will produce ripe tomatoes by the fourth of July
4. Patience and logic breed better understanding and better resolution
5. Rube Goldberg isn't just a man; he is a way of life
6. The harder you work the better off you will be.

I am sure that many of you can think of more, but these are the ones first came to mind.

Summer Fun

Wow, summer is flying by without much posting going on. Here is a little of what we have been up to. I will post more on that subject soon.

The girls have had a great time at swim class this year. They love their teachers and i love that it is outside. It's my way of adding a little piece of California to their childhood. Look, there is even a diving board!

With their swim caps, swim shirts and goggles on the girls look like twins. So funny. But it helps them to stay warm on those chilly mornings.

SHAKE YA BOOTY

I was walking by Spencer's room the other day and heard him singing to himself. I was thinking how cute he was when all of a sudden i caught the lyrics. "Shake ya booty, shake ya booty", is what i heard. Hmmm where did he pick that up from, it couldn't possibly have been from moi?!!! As a mother of three i have been making a concerted effort to eliminate words such as "booty" from my everyday vocabulary. But apparently it had slipped out at some point and as a result i have a 2 and-a-half-year old who can be heard singing those very words to himself once in a while. He's too funny. He has developed quite a talent for speaking (or singing in this case) with his binki in his mouth. Here he is with two binkis! What am i going to do with him?

Birthday Update

Our technological woes are over (for now) which means that i finally have the pics from Dan's B-day to show you.

Good Morning sleepy head!

Yummy, breakfast in bed.

We had a very quiet and relaxing day. Dan got what Chicagoans call "Bags" for his Birthday. We had friends over- the Woods and our great friend Zeke(Megs was out of town) - to play that, have ice cream sundays, sugar-free of corse (who new there were so many sugar free ice cream novelties out there, WOW), and play Settlers of Catan until all hours of the night. I think Dan had a good time.

Cweam Cheese Cwackews

Have you ever tried Julia's Famous Cweam Chees Cwachews? They are totally yummy! All you need are some crackers, some cream cheese, and a butter knife, oh yeah and an adorable 4 year old to spread it on and make it delicious. Here is my little mini-me, being the mother and making everyone her specialty. If this child was ever left home alone there is no way she would starve. All she needs is a stool and she can make anything and find anything.