Another Weekend Adventure

Friday at 4pm, we drove to Laurel (just west of Billings) where we would park our camper for the night (a la Cousin Eddie) and leave our kids to be babysat with our friends, The Egelands, while we attended the temple. That's how the temple looked when we left at 9:30pm.

*aside*

After the temple, Rich needed to buy a razor, so we stopped at Walgreen's. Now, if you live in a town with a Walgreen's, you're thinking "Big Whoop," but if you haven't set foot in a drug store for 10 years, you're dizzy with retail overstimulation like us. We spent almost an hour in Walgreen's, completely fascinated by the sheer variety of merchandise, especially stuff we hadn't seen any where else. Besides, I have always had a "thing" for drugestores, but Walmart and Target have made them kind of obsolete. I remember when a big Osco opened in Tucson (8th grade was it?) and me-n-Sooz just went to town in there with our babysitting wages, buying gallon jugs of Sea Breeze and cotton balls, and Noxema, and Aqua Net, and...well, you get the picture. I really went down memory lane, and I am so glad I have an equally-nerdy husband who also gets excited at drug stores and sundry shoppes! ;)
Anyway, we went back to the Egelands and saved them from our children, then spent a cozy night in our tent in front of their home. Mike Egeland is a mechanic and James was fascinated by his garage. Mike even let him "drive" this Hudson he's working on. James was so excited to see "Doc Hudson" (from Cars). Then we headed down to the Billings depot to see Thomas.

This dude marks the downtown Billings skatepark.

James was SO EXCITED!

He even got a Thomas tattoo on his arm!

Heidi and Addie were excited, too!

We waited in line for a piture with Thomas...

...beaming with excitement!

When it was our turn, Heidi was pouting, so just Addie & James went and posed with Thomas.

Shot of the Day: James with Thomas!!

We also saw Sir Topham Hat, superintendant of the railways (and Rich's next halloween costume, methinks).

The girls loved the jumping castle, but James wouldn't go in.

James like playing with the train sets inside the depot.

All over the Isle of Sodor!

James made a conductor friend and got to explore the train.

Caboose!

***

After Thomas (9am-11am), we took the kids to HuHot Mongolian Grill for lunch.

They made their own plates of noodles with meat and veggies...

YUMMY!

Even James gobbled up the good food!

Then Daddy bought us s'mores for dessert!

oops! Heidi's marshmallow is on fire!

mmm-mmm-good!
***

After HuHot, we went to The Reef indoor waterpark (at the Wyndam Hotel) from about 12:30pm-5pm. It's $16 per person, but we had 2-for-1 coupons, so the whole fam went for $32, and it was worth every penny!!!!

Two big slides for people over 48"

Addie just coming off the purple slide

The kids play area (with 4 slides for people under 48") had this fun giant bucket that continually filled and spilled.

Here are my girls waiting for the big splash! (I love this photo!)

We could not keep James out of the wave pool/beach...he loved it!

He also loved these little play canals

Great action shot of Heidi

Heidi plugging the sprinklers

Addie under a water fall

A Beached Whale's got my baby...oh, wait, that's me and James playing on the beach (w/o worrying about sunburns this time!)

Heidi is such a water baby! Even though she is only 47" tall and one lifeguard wouldn't let her on the slide, she went right back up and talked the other lifeguard into letting her slide and she went on all the slides about a million times. Alone!

Addie was determined to get across these lilypads!

Here she is trying it with Heidi

You go, girl...

James tried, too.

Here are Heidi and Addie coming out of the purple slide on a double raft...

WOOO-HOOOOO!

Best waterpark I have ever been to! Clean, fun, safe, affordable...2 thumbs up!

***

After the waterpark, we had dinner at the Subway inside Walmart and did our shopping there (because the Laurel Walmart ROCKS!). We picked up our trailer at the Egelands and headed home, arriving about 9pm, exhausted! Time for some more downtime...

(I say that half-jokingly...really, my cough is still way-bad after 8 weeks & another round of antibiotics, so I'm going to have to chill a bit and find out what's really wrong...shucks!)
We get to hang out with our favorite Laytons this week! My bro, Sam, lovely SIL Kristen, and wee prince Owen are flying up for a visit from AZ. We simply cannot wait!

What are you doing this week?

Homeswapping

I told Rich that what I want for my birthday is a membership to a homeswapping site on the internet. He thought that was funny, but I am convinced that's the best way to take our kids to see our favorite parts of the world. Rich said it would be so cool if there was an LDS homeswapping site, and I agreed. So today, just for fun I googled LDS homeswapping and VOILA! There is a site, although it's just starting up and there are no homes in the U.K. yet (where we want to go). I registered in hopes of finding a New England or D.C.-area exchange for our Yellowstone adventure home. Go have a gander by clicking HERE--spread the word, register if you're game, and if you know anybody in the U.K. who might want to come play City Slicker in the wild west for a few weeks, tell them to register, too!!!

Summer Family Holiday, part 3

On Friday, my bro Matt came to Livingston with his boys Sam & Jake, and Lisa's boys, Cody & Tyler. They arrived while I was at work, and when I got home, everyone was heading out to camp at the ranch. I was about an hour behind them, picking up some things for the campout and getting myself & James ready. The sky continually threatened rain, but nothing ever realy fell... Here's the boathouse ... ...and the rest of the ranch under threatening skies

James fell asleep on the way out to camp (it was 8pm, in his defense).

Our favorite pyro had the fire going (Cody & Marshall)

Another fabulous sunset (and a UFO)

the moonrise

That's me lounging in our new Cabela chairs, laughing at Cody's Mexican accent.

Sam pushing James in the little car

***

Cody started the fire early the next morning...apparently the kids were FREEZING in their tent (poor little skinny folks)

Ally & Jake eating their cereal, fireside.

Cody & Tyler

Cody forgets his belt...

Sam & James enjoy some Saturday morning cartoons in the new camper.

Nana helped Grandma Melin clean out the root cellar (jars from 1980)

Sweet Sam eating breakfast

James, Sam, & Jake throwing rockets

Nana swinging James

Papa tempting James with a peach

Amie & Matt

***

I had to go to work, but everone else went swimming at CHICO!

The gang in the pool (about 99 degrees...not so refreshing!)

Papa Mark & Jake

James

Cousins waiting for treats

There are some super cousin buddies when we get together with the Postums

Heidi and Jake are inseparable, and Sam & James are getting that way, too. Here are Heidi and Jake on the way home from CHICO...

...my thoughts exactly!

***

Thanks again for all the fun, guys!

Come back soon and FLOAT the river!

FLASHBACK: Primary Activity May 30th

Jessica Holm (daughter of "Aunt Debbie", my valiant first couselor & amiga) posted some sweet pix of our activity day, "I Am A Builder"--CLICK HERE to see them. We used the ideas at THIS link and customized them for our ward. It was a WONDERFUL activity--Debbie was in charge and it was awesome and memorable as usual!

For our fall activity we are planning an applefest at the ranch...saving 16.9 oz bottles for each child to take home some cider, brainstorming ways to make it a gospel theme (I like "When We're Helping We're Happy" with a theme of working together...we'll see).

Some Addie Wisdom

Yesterday I let my bro and nephews play the wii when they came in from camping around 11am. I was in bed (coughing) and Addie was laying next to me complaining about being bored. [I make the kids at least TRY to Keep the Sabbath until after naps in the evening (you know--sundown-to-sundown--we call this our Jewish Sabbath and it works pretty well, as long as we START it on Saturday night), so it was unusual to have the game going and she was jealous].

"Mom, can I play the Wii when they are done?"
"No. It's still Sunday, even if we stay home sick."
"Why?!?!"
"It's time to think about Jesus. Does playing the wii help you think about Jesus?"
[looong pause]
"Well, when we play wii we can make people, just like Jesus makes people, so we are trying to be like Jesus."

TOUCHE, my lass, touche! I told her that was a good try, but she would have to wait a while (we played Book of Mormon Go Fish instead). She's a clever one!

Summer Family Holiday, part 2

Thursday (the 2nd) was the big Parade and kick-off for the Livingston Roundup. We started the day by staking our claim (with camp chairs) along the parade route and picking up some ice blocks and treats. At about noon, we went ice blocking with Nana and Papa while Daddy Rich finished up work at the office... Nana was brave...one of the first to slide down the hill!
Abby wiped out!

Ally, James, Me and Abby watch Belle and Addie slide

Heidi at the bottom of the hill

Isabelle and Heidi (again)

Ally gives it a try

Addie was so good at sliding!

Papa even took a turn!

Cute Little Belle

Belle, Addie, & Ally hitting the bottom of the hill

This is a picture of Addie from the Picnic. I forgot to post it with the picnic pix, but I love it because it's a sweet, natural smile from her--great shot, Papa!

After ice-blocking, we stopped at the park for about 45 minutes as we made our way to the parade

Ally, Abby, and Marshall on the swing

Belle, Heidi, and Addie on the swing

James chillin' with the train...

We headed over to our parade chairs at 2pm-ish...

Nana and Papa at the Parade

(Nana's wearing the crowns we made at Crafters Club this week)

Parade Gang part 1: Belle (with her crafters club wand and crown), Marshall, James, and Addie waiting for the parade

Parade Gang, part 2: Ally, Abby, Heidi, Me, and Nana (Rich & Gram & Gramp Melin were still on their way, and papa took the picture)

James tried to run away, but Abby caught him.

The Holms, Carters, and Gramma Suzie Blatter were right across the street from us. Here's Heidi with Aunt Debbie.

Ted Turner, the Grand Marshall

Ladies Liberty for Peace

Our parade gang reflected in the hub cap of a classic chevrolet

PIPERS!

CLOWNS!

COWBOYS! (champion roper)

Revolutionary Band!

After the parade, we had a little BBQ and I took a nap before the 10:30pm fireworks. I missed this sunset!

And that's the end of Day Two with Nanan & Papa. On Day Three, Matt joined us with Jake, Sam, Cody, and Tyler to camp at the ranch...

Summer Family Holiday, Part 1

My mom and Mark arrived in Montana last Saturday and visited with Matt's family & Laura's family in Helena til Tuesday, and they arrived here in Livingston late Tuesday afternoon. We made a yummy Swedish dinner and hung out until sundown, then the next day we had a picnic at the ranch... Nana brought James some little metal trains from her miniatures collection in a little tin printed with trains and he instantly loved them. I thought it was cool for him to have some Southern Pacific trains...
he played with them all night, even while we were watching the sunset and the deer in the front yard!

Train Lover!

This is how the sunset looks from the adirondack chairs on the porch.

And this is a close up of Tuesday's sunset by Papa Mark.

***

On Wednesday, we had a picnic at the ranch. This is Isabelle with Papa Mark.

Nana at the picnic table (with Ally, James, and the water jug).

Me and my Lynners!

Me and My Sweet Baby James-Peanutbutter face

James being silly for Nana at the picnic table

The view from the picnic table near the new treehouse.

Ally & Abby swinging under the treehouse.

James and Belle in the treehouse.

Marshall digging on the roof of the root cellar.

Belle doing pull ups under the treehouse.

My gorgeous niece, Ally.

The view from our walk around the river bend to the beach....

[there's the beach]

Kids throwing rocks into the Yellowstone River.

Addie and Abby at the beach.

Belle, James, and Heidi at the beach

(see the main part of the ranch & the house there in the upper left)

Sandy James

Silly Boy!

Heidi rinsing her feet in the river

Sweet little Ally

Our ranch neighbors have the craziest dogs! They are mad about fetching sticks, so when I saw Marshall pitching sticks into the river I said, "You'd better watch out or a dog is gonna come running to play fetch with you!" Sure enough, about 20 seconds later, the Olsen's black dog showed up ready to play with the kids. Well, the kids LOVED it! That crazy dog went after everything, even into the river, even two sticks at a time! In this photo, Addie, Abby, Ally, Belle, and Heidi are cheering on the dog as he retrieves a stick from the river.

Belle was fond of the command, "Drop it!" when the dog came back, and that's what she's saying in this picture with Heidi, Addie, and James.

And finally, James decided he wanted to play fetch, too! He makes a sweet little puppy!

That's the end of DAY ONE with Nana and Papa (these are their photos, too). I'll post more when I get a minute...

For now, we hope everyone had a wonderful Independence Day (we enjoyed Sam's fotos of the Sierra Vista celebration...wish we'd all been together!!!!). Thanks to all our loved ones who came to be with us...you made our holiday special! I'm feeling especially grateful to live in the free-est part of the land of the free, and perhaps the most beautiful. Ya gotta love July in Montana!

A Week of Cousin Fun

It's been a long and busy week since we had our Beartooth adventure LAST Saturday! We came home so I could do Sharing Time and celebrate Father's Day with a Hawaiian dinner on Sunday, then Monday we (me & the kids) drove down to Lehi, Utah, to pick up my nieces, Ally and Belle. I was going to come home on Wednesday morning, but Tuesday night Cousin Brent's lovely lady friend, Autumn, offered to do some work on me to relieve some of the pain and inflammation I have been dealing with. So I postponed the trip home til Thursday and enjoyed some Autumntime! (she is fabulous--VIVA LA SWEETIE!) I also had fun just being with Jill and her kids at their cute new house (Drew was at Youth Conference).

The drive home with 5 kids was not bad and the kids have been pretty great. It's so nice to have built-in playdates for the girls everyday. I had a sublime moment yesterday when Heidi and Belle were playing "Cookin' Mama" on the Wii and giggling themselves silly, and Addie and Ally were having a swinging contest outside (also laughing like crazy) and James was happily playing cars upstairs by himself...happy kids, happy mama! (I know it goes both ways)

So last night we had our ward BBQ at the park, then I took the girls on the Downtown Art Walk while Rich set up our new Tent trailer (where we would have a campout in the driveway last night). Tell me these are not the cutest little cousins ever, complete with DOUBLE RAINBOW!

Heidi, Ally, Addie, and Belle on Main Street

eating frozen yogurt from Chadz Coffee Shop
Ally inside Chadz

Addie inside Chadz

Heidi inside Chadz

Belle inside Chadz

Crazy flowers (look closely) outside Pinky's Cafe

Arist at work at the Parks Reece Gallery (painting Chief Joseph).

Our new pop-up tent trailer, complete with a king bed, a queen bed, 2 twins, a potty, shower, sink, fridge, and furnace!

Today (Saturday) at the ranch where Daddy and Uncle Mike finished up the Pirate Ship treehouse!

(Belle, Ally, and Addie)

(Look how high the river is!!!! The kids were shouting "Land HO!")

Come play with us! Grandpa's vision is finally a reality and we're LOVIN' it!

(notice the garden that needs a good weeding back on the right...that's what we're doing for daily chores on Monday & Tuesday! We only did one row today)

***

That's all for now. We are having a super-fun time! We wish all our cousins on both sides could be here with us!

Driving Videos

Part 1

Top-O-The-World from MelinFamily on Vimeo.

Part 2

The actual Beartooth from MelinFamily on Vimeo.

A PLETHORA of FOTOS

So...it's been an eventful week with Richard's birthday and Father's Day and our Beartooth Campout. Here are some recent photos, beginning with stuff from Wednesday:

You know how I like to make little embroidered quote pillows, right? And you know how our family LOOOOVES the movie "Elf", right? So I made some Christmas pillows (well, actually I just embroidered the quotes on muslin, but they will soon be pillows) with our favorite Elf quotes on them! Have a gander...

I got adorable holiday fabric at the quilt store--it'll be so FUN!

Here is a gorgeous rainbow out our back door from Wednesday night.

On Thursday, Addie and Heidi decorated a birthday cake for Daddy.

Ta-Daaaah!

After the kids' dinner, Rich made a wish while they sang...

I think he wished we coudl go to Bozeman to see "Land of the Lost" and eat Taco Bell, because that's what we did while Jessica H. babysat for us like a true HERO.

***

On Friday afternoon, we headed southeast with Uncle Mike & Christina to camp at the KOA in Red Lodge, MT...

Addie & Christina

Addie, Christina, Heidi, and James around our campfire

Addie in the "porch" area of our tent

James & Heidi found the "doggie door" to our tent.

Mike taught James how to roast a marshmallow without setting it on fire.

...but he didn't learn how to EAT the marshmallows!

YUM!

Christina gave Addie a fireside crochet lesson

Daddy was silly!

Mommy was cold!

Uncle Mike was cheezy!

Rich cooked up a yummy breakfast the morning

Pancakes in a can are NOT the best...but breakfast was great!

Kids in their jammies by the creek

Girls in their jammies by the creek

Heidi, James, and Addie on the bridge behind our campsite. They were waiting for Daddy to pack up and for the KOA pool to open!

Super James!

Mike & Rich hard at work!

Daddy threw the kids around the pool from 10am-11am...

Here's James

...and Heidi...

...and Addie!

Mikey came, too!

[Mommy just watched and embroidered and got a sunburn on her right side!]

***

After swimming, we dried off, got dressed, and headed up the Beartooth Highway!

Look at that glacial lake! GORGEOUS!

Christina and James at the first lookout

Mike, James, Addie, Christina, Heidi, and Jamie

at the first Beartooth lookout.

Addie & Heidi freaking me out at the lookout.

Check out the snow on the side of the road!

Here we are writing "MELINS" in the snow wall

(and we can thank Rich for all these awesome bum-shots of me--UGH!)

Heidi on the glacier

James on the glacier

Christina, Mike, and James at the glacier

***

While we were driving from Red Lodge, the Grays (my SIL & family) and Gram & Gramp Melin were driving over from Yellowstone Park! We met them right at Crazy Creek.

Jame s and Grandpa on the Crazy Creek trail

Rosalie & Heidi

Addie & Crazy Creek (that is white WATER behind her, not snow)

Me and the Beartooth from Crazy Creek pull out.

***

And that is ALL for this week. Tomorrow morning the kids and I are driving down to Lehi, Utah to pick up my nieces, Ally and Belle for some long-promised cousin fun! I can't wait!

So it's time for me to re-pack the van I unpacked last night and head south. I better hit the hay. Best of weeks to all-y'all!

Who Blogs

I’ve read/heard a few people go off on bloggers lately (and many times before), saying that it takes a special kind of narcissist to be arrogant enough to think the world cares about one’s thoughts or doings. I realize that there are a million reasons why people blog, and as many different types of bloggers, but I wanted to speak for myself (and probably most of the bloggers I read--regarding teh "Famiyl Blog" or "mommy-blog").

My blogging life began with weekly emails (back in the 90’s before blogger) when I moved away from loved ones and needed an efficient way to keep in touch. As I collected more to share (I moved to a new and interesting place, had three children who do noteworthy things each day, etc.), it seems technology advanced to suit my needs. I love that I have a central location to post stories and photos from my life, and link to all my dear ones who are doing the same thing.

I happen to know that my grandparents check their family’s blogs at least once every single day. I think of that often when I set aside computer time for myself. I really do try to find something to post for them (and time to post it) every day. Sometimes I have a lot to say—my own opinions, things weighing on my mind; other times I have great stories or photos of the kids. Sometimes I have nothing to say but I am still alive. The point is, I know that my loved ones are looking for word from me because I am looking for word from them. I am genuinely interested in their everyday lives. In fact, I am genuinely interested in most everyone’s everyday lives. People, in general, are totally fascinating to me. I love reading how similar others are to me. I love reading about lives that are totally different from mine, too—lifestyles and adventures I will never know. It’s like blogging was made for me—it saves e a lot of trips to the library for biographies!

So then I was thinking about the kinds of people who say the kinds of things about bloggers that lump us together as arrogant and self-centered nut jobs (which is not entirely untrue, I’m just saying it’s a pretty broad generalization, which I will answer with a pretty broad generalization). I think I know this “type” of person. I think there is a certain degree of projection involved in one’s attitude about blogging. People who love blogs and blogging are “people-persons,” and especially “family-people,” and they expect to find others with the same attitude online. People who hate blogs and blogging tend to be uninterested in the lives of others, and just don’t connect with the private or mundane side of life. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. You know, different strokes for different folks and all. You get what you give. you know.

I just write to share my daily life with people whom I wish were a part of it. Since we can’t be neighbors and all up in each others’ bidness (and maybe that’s for the best), we can do it virtually via the blog. I am not asking or assuming that what I write will be of interest to anyone but my loved ones with whom I have shared my address, and who have taken the time to log on and read up. And even then I’m not making any promises! And I, for one, DEVOUR all the news, thoughts, and photos posted by y loved ones. To my critics (if there are any critics of “the family blog”), I mostly feel like saying "If you don’t like it, don’t read it." It’s pretty simple.

LET THE WILD RUMPUS BEGIN!

I say that because (a) we are about to take the kids camping near Red Lodge then drive over the Beartooth Highway to Yellowstone tomrrow (it's free to get in the park tomorrow)--home in time for dinner and Sunday prep! and (b) I saw this trailer last at the movies with hubs and it made me cry with delight (just like the Narnia trailer did a few years ago). There are few childhood memories I love more than reading this book!!!!!

Too Much iCarly...

I am about to take the Hubs on a bday date, but I just wanted to direct your attention to the "web show" (click to watch...be sure to click the pause button on Addie's music box on the right of the screen) my girls filmed today. It's posted at Addie's blog and it's pretty funny. They are so silly! I love them!

(click here to see their inspiration)

Many Moons, Many Junes...

Today is Rich's 38th Birthday.

We always get to celelbrate his birthday and his fatherhood in the same week, so here are some of my favorite pictures of him with the kids over the past 8 years...New Daddy and Addie, November 2001
He's also a fun Uncle...Rich & Ally-Bug, December 2001
Daddy & Addie, Summer 2003 in MO
Daddy & Addie on his birthday, June 2003 at Pine Creek

Daddy & Baby Heidi, April 2004

Dad & his Girls, May 2004 in the Family Bed

Addie & Daddy, June 2005, Yellowstone
Daddy & Heidi, June 2005

Daddy & His Girls, June 2005

Dad & Addie, June 2006, MO

Daddy swimming with the girls at Nana's, June 2006

Heidi & Daddy, June 2006

Daddy rocking Sweet Baby James, October 2006

Daddy saving James from dress-ups, January 2007

Daddy dancing with the girls at Midsummer Fest in Lindsborg, June 2006

"Happy Birthday, Daddy!", June 2007

James, Rich, & Jamie taken by Addie, June 2007

Walk Like An Egyptian at Museum of the Rockies, June 2007

Daddy & James on Beartooth Highway, July 2007

Birthday Barbecue, June 2008

***

Cute Daddies, part 1

I have so many sweet pix of my hubs and brothers with their kids, I thought I'd find some and post them in honor of Fathers Day Sunday. I just found this one for today, reposted from my brother Sam's blog. I love how sober little Owen is looking at his Daddy in this one...so sweet!

We Survived Crafters Club!

But FIRST...the headline of the day is:

Addie got a HAIRCUT!!!

Addie's been asking for years to have her hair like mine and Heidi's (bobbed), but she also wanted ponies and braids and "princess hair" so I always talked her out of it. She finally convinced me to let her have short hair for the summer, so we went to see Kim Tubbs and both got our hair done last night for Family Night (I know, not much of a FHE with Rich and James and Heidi at the museum and me & Ad getting haircuts, but we had a fun night together).
I have been running around like crazy all morning, so my hair looks a little sad, but I caved and got blonde highlights. I was trying to be more natural, but let's face it: my natural hair now is a hideous brownish gray that is just plain sad. Depressing, even. So I will keep it lighter while I can, cuz, hey, it's sunny (my hair, the weather, AND my disposition--heh, heh)!
***

Today we made Fathers Day cards and Krispy-Treat-Ties for Crafters Club. Three of Addie's friends from school didn't come (which I was kind of glad about since I felt a tiny bit under prepared this morning), so we had a small crowd and had lots of fun. This is how Addie's Tie turned out.

Here Ad's friends Hailey, Gracie, and Kelli decorate their ties.

Haily used the "scraps" from her tie to make a treat for her mom.

We wrapped them all up in cello-bags and ribbon, and taped the cards they made to the front.

James "helped" Heidi and her friend, Ember at the table.

Hailey, Gracie, Addie and Kelli...these girls have been pals for 5 years!

We had a great time! Next club meeting, we are making patriotic stuff to wear to the parade on July 2nd. Good Times!

[[later I will post more fotos and vidoes the girls took on Addie's blog]]