Happy 49th Birthday to me ♥

♥ Melody

Happy Birthday, dear Matthew!

Matt brought it to my attention (several times) that we hadn't actually celebrated his birthday. I looked through the pictures... and he was right. 😞

So! On Sunday, Steve bought a Dutch Apple Pie and we sang Happy Birthday to Matt.

Now, I'm sure that we sang Happy Birthday to him on his birthday. And I know that I made him his favorite food.. about a month ago.. and declared it his birthday dinner. So all that was lacking was the blowing out of the candles.

So now, it is official. Matt is 17!

Happy Birthday, Matt! I sure love you and am proud of the man you are growing to be. ♥ ♥ ♥

♥ Melody (A.K.A. Matt's mom)

Happy Birthday, Dear Jessica!

Jessica's birthday was on Thursday. She was a good sport and went to WalMart and got a box of Jello cheesecake (her fav!), and I made it while she went to pick up some to-go lunch at The Family Tree, along with one of their BIG scones & extra honey butter. (All my treat, of course.) We ate lunch, played chess, and hung out until Steve got home. Then we sang "Happy Birthday" and had the cheesecake. After that, Steve and Jessica played chess while I went to take some Taco Bell food to Amber & see Brynley. Jessica is bummed that Brynley couldn't wait 2 more days to be born on Jessica's birthday. :) How I love this dear daughter of mine! She brings fun, and silliness, and a touch of easy-goingness to our family, and I am so grateful she is one of mine. ♥ ♥ Melody

Happy 6th Birthday, Miah!

Make a wish!


Birthday Presents


Breakfast on the Trampoline
Happy Birthday, sweet Miah! I hope that you have a wonderful year being 6!
Love you,
Grandma Mema (AKA Melody)

Happy 21st Birthday, Jared!

Happy Birthday!! I can't believe that you are 21! In my mind you are still my peanut butter sneaking, all fruit from nursery eating, hump-a-lumping tree climbing kid. I love you so much!
♥ Mom (Melody)

February 12th - "44"

He turned 44 last week. I saw the first grey hair in his beard (finally!!). And I think he is handsomer now that he was 20 years ago when we met (and he was looking good back then!)
Happy Birthday to my sweetheart, my best friend & confidant, Steve! ♥

♥ Melody

3/52 & 4/52::January 29

3/52
Michael Holding Mercedes

A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2015

Josh handed Mercedes over to Michael, and he stood there and held her. Josh told him that he'd make a great babysitter :) He wasn't quite sure what to do with her once he was holding her, so he just held very still :)

P.S. In the background: Can you see the Catan board? Josh and Hayley brought it at Christmastime. It is my new favorite game!! Since it was my birthday, everyone felt obligated to play with me at least once :)



4/52
Michael on Mommy's Birthday

A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2015

Michael still calls me Mommy most of the time - mostly in the context of, "I love you, Mommy", which he says several dozen times a day. :)
Sometimes he calls me Mom, but not often - mostly if I've been teasing him and he is exasperated (in a funny, happy way - I try never to frustrate him)

(And yes, I do have a goofy, happy, silly look on my face. I'm not sure what Steve (or someone else in the room) said, but that was the smile that happened :) 45?! Wow! Middle aged. Crazy. And I'm in such denial!!)

♥ Melody

Happy Birthday to Emily and Hayley! :: October 3

On Sunday, we celebrated Hayley's 24th and Emily's 18th birthdays.

Bill came by for a few minutes, but he wasn't feeling well, so we sang Happy Birthday and had them blow out their candles before we ate dinner, then Bill went home. He is feeling better now though. Jared and Ruth came over and stayed and ate dinner, hung out, and had cake.



The beautiful birthday girls


Steve lighting the candles


I cheat - I had 1 candle in the ten's place and 8 candles in the one's place for Emily, and 2 candles in the ten's place and 4 candles in the one's place for Hayley


Make a wish!!

I love these girls! I teased them and said that they were twins. Just born a couple of days apart. And a few years apart. By different mothers. :) It is fun that their birthdays are only 3 days apart, though! (except that they might get sick of sharing a cake one of these years!)

Dear Emily,
Happy Birthday!! I can't believe that you are 18!! It was just yesterday that I remember you wearing your favorite yellow dress with your parasol and the puppies yanking on the back of it as you ran down the sidewalk. You were such an adorable little girl then, and you are a beautiful young woman now. I look forward to watching you grow just as much now as when you were little. I am excited to see where life takes you, and I hope that you have all the happiness in the world! I love you very much! <3 p="">



Dear Hayley,
You are so dear in our lives! You are so sweet and thoughtful You are such a good mommy to my grandbabies and such a good partner for Josh. Thank you for being you!! I hope that this year will bring you all of the joy and happiness that it can hold! I love you very much! <3 blockquote="">



Happy, Happy Birthday girls! Thanks for being such an important part of our family!

♥ Melody

Michael's Birthday::13!!::July 20

These pics seem to sum Michael up pretty well :) He loves the *idea* of his birthday. He loves the treats, cake, ice cream, and presents. On most days, he even loves attention! But on his birthday, it all seems to bug him a bit.





We already realize that he's not going to blow out his candles. Ever. So we blow them out for him in unison.





He loves his presents, but he's going to look every other direction too.

And as for the attention: by the end of the day he is just bugged and wants to be left alone. Pretty interesting attitude from a boy who has to get everyone's nose that we come in contact with and is known by name at Walmart by strangers to me (and the kid is with me every waking hour of his life!) Hahaha! Funny, funny boy!

Happy Birthday, Michael. You are very loved and valued in our little part of the world, especially by me! ♥

♥

Happy Birthday, Dear Bentley!::11/52::March 24

Last week was Ben's 1st birthday. We celebrated at Chuck E Cheese.

Karen went all out having a Sesame Street themed birthday party & preparing the cupcakes to look like Cookie Monster and fruit and vegetable trays that looked like other muppet characters. We all enjoyed snacking on the fruit & vegies and dip, and she even bought us some pizza too.









After playing games and waiting for everyone to arrive, it was time for the candle & cake! Ben wasn't sure what to do, but loved watching the smoke afterward :)
~ Also, this is the pic I'm using for week 11:



He wanted to eat his cupcake with both hands! :)



He was a very careful eater, and wasn't very messy even after eating half of his cupcake. This look on his face reminds me of Arnold from "Diff'rent Strokes", "Whatchu talkin' 'bout, Grandma Mema" :)



And then a hug from Chuck E. himself. Ben wasn't quite sure what to make of the big guy:



I can't believe a year has gone by since he was born! It seems like only a few weeks ago that he looked like this:


I'm so glad that he is part of our family! He is such a fun little guy! Instead of walking, I'm pretty sure he's going to bounce around like Tigger, since he likes to bounce more than walk! He has the biggest smile for everyone he loves. Instead of talking quietly, he prefers to yell :) Such a sweet little guy, and he has Grandma completely wrapped around his little finger. Happy Birthday, dear Bentley! Grandma Mema loves you! ♥

♥

Silent Sunday:: Happy Birthday to Me::January 26

♥

This Moment::January 17

Grandma Mema (me) with Mercedes Brielle just a little while after she was born

Mercedes Brielle born:
January 16, 2014 @ 6:49 p.m.
7 lbs 3 oz
19.5 inches long

Welcome to the world, Sweetie Pie ♥

♥

Happy Birthday, Dear Aiden!!::January 15

Josh and Hayley celebrated Aiden's birthday last Sunday and this is how it went:

Hayley made Batman and Robin decorations since Aiden wanted a Batman themed birthday & she did a fantastic job!



















Then it was time for the cake:







His favorite part is the frosting :)

















Time for presents!!

From Uncle Matt:


From Grandma Mema and Pops:




From Nana Kc:


From Uncle Michael and Ian:






Time for a quick pic with Michael:


And Bentley had some celebrating of his own to do:






Happy Birthday my Honeybunches Aiden! We all love you a LOT!

♥