My baby isn't a baby anymore :(

Today was Megan's first day in Primary. I can't believe that she is so big and is no longer in nursery. She didn't cry or anything. She was so excited and had a great time. She loves to sing and was very happy to sing with all of the other children. I can't believe my baby is not a baby anymore. It sure goes by fast. Yet another reminder to savor every moment.

Happy New Year!!!!!

As you can tell we all had a wonderful time ringing in the New Year! Clint and Kimberly got there later on and we had a blast. Melissa ordered a sub and we had all kinds of chips and goodies. The kids all stayed up past midnight even. They so loved celebrating with their cousins. It was great to be surrounded by family to ring in the New Year and great to have John there with us!

My kiddos crashed as soon as we got home a little after 12:30. What a wonderful way to start the New Year!

We survived Christmas :)

Well Christmas has come and gone. I have to say it was wonderful to have 5 days off in a row and to be able to spend quality time just enjoying my kiddos for the last part of it. I survived being without them on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. They had a wonderful time with their dad. I kept myself rather busy with help from those who love me.

John invited me to his families Christmas Eve dinner. It was wonderful. I so enjoy being around his kiddos. I got to go to temple lights with them the week before too. They are truly great kids. After the dinner I went to visit with my mom for a bit because I was having a melt down without my own kids. Then it was off to my dear SASTER's (Melissa's) house. I helped her finish the blankets she was making. She was almost done by the time I got there. So I didn't do much. The kids all love their blankets that she made by the way. She is amazing. I took Michele for a little ride with me to get the Turkey from my house. I was being rather silly and she was shocked to see Aunt Melanie acting that way :) LOL....it was fun. John called to talk to me and that made me feel better too. Then Melissa and I did lots and lots of wrapping. We were delirious at that point and had lots of fun being dorks like we used to be together back in the day. It was wonderful. I miss being able to play around like that with my dear sister. By the time I got to bed it was 2 A.M. I spent the night there. Then it was time to get up before I knew it. I enjoyed watching Melissa's kiddos open their presents. Then it was time to get ready for Christmas dinner.

Before I knew it Davyd was calling and wanting to drop the kids off early before 2 pm. It was great. Then everyone showed up at Melissa's for dinner. It was wonderful to have our complete family together, minus Clint's girl friend Kimberly though. We missed her. John joined us. It was so awesome to have him there. It was raining out and so the kids had to stay inside. We had a great time. Then the kids begged to go home and they opened presents at my house. Davyd left Friday morning so I have had them all to myself other than having to go back to work today. It has been wonderful.

Yesterday was my baby's last day in nursery. She will be a Sunbeam next Sunday. She is so excited. I am excited for her but I am sad that my baby is so big. She really isn't a baby anymore as she will be 4 in March :(. Logan will be in Senior Primary too. My kids are growing up so fast right before my eyes. It has been a reality check to savor these times with them no matter how stressful day to day life is as a single mom. It will be over before I know it and these will be the times I look back on and treasure. I want to make sure have as few regrets as possible.

Well here I am up late again. Morning will come to soon and it is another work day. So I will end this. I hope that you all had a Merry Christmas and I wish you all a Happy New Year. Love Love and more Love! Love ya mean it, Melanie

So I can't sleep

Well I am up with my Meggy right now. She is running a slight fever and woke up because I can't sleep and I'm on the computer. LOL.......she is curled up next to me in the chair right now. We just looked at Aunt Lissa's page and she keeps having me go back to it so that she can see "Bamwhip" Lol. I am over here hysterically laughing. I keep asking what's his name.......and she says "Bamwhip" Oh well I will let her believe his name is that instead of Bandit.

She cut her hair on Saturday so Mom had to fix it and add bangs. You will take note that her hair was pulled back yesterday before we cut in bangs. She told me she has Dora hair now. So cute. I will post pics of it later.

Poor Melissa had all my kiddos today while they are on Christmas break. She is a lifesaver. After I got off work mom had us all the come over so the kiddos could make Gingerbread men. She always tells the Gingerbread Man story on Christmas Eve and has the kids decorate gingerbread men. My kiddos will be with their dad this year on Christmas Eve so she did it tonight for famlily home evening. The kiddos had a huge blast like always. Mom made hot apple cider like she did for us growing up around Christmas time. I loved it and the kiddos did for sure. I hope Melissa posts pictures of it on her blog.

Ok well we will try to go to bed now.....I have to be up for work early. At least I won't have to work again until Monday :).... Merry Christmas to everyone. Sorry my cards will be going out late this year. Love you ALL!

Before and after pictures

Ok so I looked for the worst fatest picture of me of course it just happened to have Davyd in it. This picture was taken in September of '06. I weighed 164 then. The picture before that is of me in October of '06 the weekend after my 30th birthday. The new picture of me weighing 124 was taken in mid November of this year. So a 40 lb difference. Today I was 123.5. I am so excited!!!!!!

Halloween was Awesome!

I was so excited to have my kiddos for Halloween this year. Davyd gets them on odd years and I get them on even years. Last year nearly broke my heart being without them on Halloween. We went trick or treating with Melissa, Will and their kiddos (AKA the Wizard of OZ family) LOL. Melissa did an amazing job on all of their costumes. She is amazing! My kids loved being with their cousins trick or treating. Of course, we went by Grandma and Papa's because mom goes all out every year. She cracks me up in her witch costume with her voice changer and all of her spooky decorations. She is hilarious and the grandkids love it.

Then it was off to visit Uncle Clint and Kimberly for a bit. The kids love Uncle Clint. Then John called and wanted us to stop by. Melissa came with me for a little bit. It was fun. After Melissa left the kiddos and I had fun with John and his kiddos. It is so great to watch 6 kids actually playing and getting along with each other. John was wrestling with them so they loved that. We really had the perfect Halloween this year.

Thanks again "Saster" Aka Melissa for making everything so special for me and my kiddos like always. Love ya!

Logan got baptized on my birthday!

Ok, so I realize I am way behind on blogging. Life is just crazy. Logan got baptized on my birthday on October 18th. It was wonderful because Logan and my niece Shalyn got to be baptized together. For those that don't know Logan and Shalyn grew up together from the time she moved out here when she was like 18 months old. I used to take care of her while her daddy was at work when I stayed home. I did that until after she finished kindergarten and "Shayin" and "Ogie" as they called each other did everything together for the first part of their life. So, this was no different and very special.

What made it even more special is that my Dad was able to come out for a visit from Missourri and baptize them. It was truly a blessed experience. My step mom, Doris, even got to come out this time. It was great. Logan was so excited to get baptized by Grandpa Charon.

Melissa was awesome and planned the whole thing and hosted a huge luncheon at her house afterwards. It was amazing. Melissa is amazing, as always, and can do anything. I can't tell her how much I appreciate everything she does for me. She saves my sanity literally almost every day in one way or another. This was no different. I was a little depressed at the luncheon with it being my birthday and well the realization that I didn't have a "normal" family unit for my kids was really bothering me that day. Davyd did come to the baptism for Logan and bought his scriptures so that was good. That coupled with me turning 32 and realizing that my life is not what I would have ever imaged at 32 and knowing that my Dad was leaving left me a little melancholy. So I apologize for being a brat Melissa. None of it was intended at you. Love ya!

Logan kept telling me that he made a special covenant with Heavenly Father. He says he always wants to choose the right and listen to the Holy Ghost. I am so proud of him.