Landon Reese Turns 2

Happy Birthday to you....Landon!
What a fun day we have had celebrating Landon's second birthday. This morning we hopped out of bed (well, the boys did!) and got ready to go out to eat with Scott, Kristina, Konrad, Reagan, and Makenzie. After we devoured our yummy food, the dad's took the anxious boys and headed for Escapades. (Play place for kids that has tunnels and slides - fun! I did this when I was 5 months pregnant...and yes, I fit in the tunnels!) The girls took off for the mall...found some great sales!
After we shopped until the babies started needing fed, we met up with the guys. Gathered the troops together after a few more minutes of heavenly playing, we went home to take naps before the birthday party. Landon fell asleep before we arrived at our destination.
Around 7:00 p.m., family poured in...Great Grandpa and Grandma Clemens, Nana and Papaw Clemens, Uncle Scott and Aunt Kristina and cousins, Mamaw and Papaw Kuhn and Auntie. A time of blowing out candles - which we lit over and over so some of the other kids could blow out candles, too! - and undisciplined cake and icecream eating, drinking iced coffee (diet starts Monday!) and fun-filled laughter continued for hours.
Landon loved opening his gifts and playing with his cousins. Oh! The pictures of Landon and mommy trying to kiss....camera could not capture all the sweet kisses but we tried anyway!
- - - A great time was had by all - - -

Ethan Chandler

Shawn and I having a conversation with Ethan -

Shawn - "Did you go potty outside?"

Ethan - "No, I didn't pee outside."

conversation continues while Ethan keeps saying "pee" repeatedly.....

Melanie - "Say, urinate."

I repeat myself a few times because he does not obey.

Melanie - "Say, urinate."

Ethan - "I'm a ten."

Again I repeat myself...

Ethan repeats himself:
"I'm a ten."

It dawns on me that he thinks I am telling him to say he's an "eight" !!!

Urinate
Translation in Ethan's mind: You're an eight
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The other day I told the boys to stop chewing like cows.
Ethan's response: "Oh, only animals chew like that?"

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Ethan, who is used to seeing only round neck openings on shirts, was wondering about his daddy's V-neck T-shirt he was sporting.

Shawn: "It is so I can get my head in there."

Ethan: "Yeah, we have to have holes in our shirts so we can put our clothes on. If we don't have holes in our clothes, than we would have to go around naked, and that would be embarrassing!"

My Saturday Surprise

On Saturday morning, I was awakened by my cell phone ringing. My sister was almost home from her trip (with the seniors) to Florida. My parents were out of town so Em was going to stay with us for a few hours before they got home. As I was cleaning up breakfast (bacon and eggs and yummy donuts) Shawn asked me if I wanted to go shopping. Of course! He explained that he wanted to get me an Easter outfit since he knew I always got one growing up. (I was okay with not having one this year -my choice- and had told him so.)
After a few stores, we finally found a mannequin dressed with an outfit he liked! (To those of you who know Shawn, this is the way he loves to shop! He says he likes to see it on "someone" haha)
As we were walking back to the truck, he told me this was my Valentine/St. Patrick's/Easter/birthday/Christmas gift. :-) I explained to him later that the store managers are not going to put the sale items on the mannequins! :-)
Anyway, I was excited to receive a new outfit and have an outing with my hubby...and Morgan, of course.
Enjoy the pictures taken on Sunday (notice me in my new outfit...and Morgan with no tights in the bottom picture...her bowels were working and her "deposit" decided to leak out of her diaper!)

Happy Easter

Ethan and Landon helped me (yes, they really did!) with these cupcakes. We took them to church to pass out to their friends. They were really easy to make and I enjoyed making them. I found this cute idea from the Betty Crocker website. -- If Landon knows it is picture time, look what I get to put up with! And his two year picture is coming up on Tuesday! Oh no! :-))

On a serious note, I want to add how thankful I am for what Jesus did for me. My father told the story about a lady from IWU who wrote that she was grateful for her 7 year old son, and that she was also so very glad that God gave His son for us. I am sure she was thinking, "How did God give His ONLY son?" I know that has been on my mind. I can't imagine willingly giving either of my boys. God truly loves and cares for us.
My cousin, Andrew Cessna, makes tapes for the elderly, the shut-ins, or for whomever wishes to have one. He has 4 or 5 songs on each tape (one tape per month) and also puts time in gathering Scripture, a poem, or story to add interest to the tape. Anyway, the theme of this month was the cross. I believe he had Marc and Melodie Sankey singing a medley on the blood of Jesus. One of the songs mentioned that the blood of Jesus will never lose it's power. Aren't you glad that although Christ's death was so many years ago, the love of the Father and His Son is still just as powerful today as it was back then? It keeps reaching and reaching....
Here are the titles or phrases of the songs that they sang-
Nothing but the blood
The blood cleanseth and always will
Love grew where the blood fell
It will never lose it's power
My favorite lines .... "Sin died where the blood fell" ...."It (blood) will never lose it's power"
Melodie, do you remember this arrangement? :-)
~Have a joyous Easter Sunday~

Spike

I have started putting bands in Morgan's hair. Look closely at this picture and you can see a small spike! I even left hair out for "bangs". :-)

Thank you, Doctor Lugo

I had my six week checkup today, and I had to get Morgan's picture with the doctor. I have one of each of my boys with him, so of course I had to get hers, too. She had been smiling earlier, but now she wasn't as happy...oh well, at least we have the picture, smile or not. At least the doctor is smiling. :-)

He asked, I answered "yes"

Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Six "long and glorious" years ago Shawn asked me to be his wife. Obviously, you know the answer to that question!
I was in my senior year of school (just switched from a school I had attended all my life to spending my last year at a new one). My parents thought that Steve Craig was a wonderful man and principal so we ended up at his school - that was also where Shawn was residing, whose father just happened to be the pastor of the church/school.
After just a few weeks at our new home, Shawn asked me out - as friends. As friends, on our 3rd date, he asked me to be his girlfriend. As his girlfriend, six months later, he asked me to be his wife. His parents had our family over for Sunday dinner (also St. Patrick's Day) and Shawn got down on his knee and proposed. Thus followed a beautiful watch (and a smooch! oh my!) Seven months later there was a wedding celebration. Now, 6 years later, I am glad he asked, and I am glad I answered, yes!

I made the cake for our St. Patrick's Day Dinner.....Chocolate Chip Cake with Chocolate Icing...anyone joining us?

Will Morgan look like this?

Is this what our girl will look like in a couple of years?....to be continued...come back in 2 years!

Picture for Grandma C.

Thought my Grandma would like to see this outfit on Morgan that she had sent....so cute! Thanks, Grandma!

My Talented Sister

Of course, I taught my sister everything she knows...yeah, right! I think my parent's are the ones who get to take the credit, huh? Emily just competed in the ACE Regional Convention and did incredibly well. I thought I would make her a "congratulations" cake. After eating my "gift", Emily said she is going to place high every year - if it means I will make her a cake each time. We shall see, lil' sis, we shall see.....
1st - Mixed Duet (with Ivan Newton, Shawn's cousin)
1st - Female Trio (with Shannon Root and Katie Graf)
1st - Small Ensemble
1st - One act play (with 4 friends)
2nd - Solo
2nd - Volleyball
2nd - Short Story
5th - Essay

Family Fun

Friday evening we were able to drive to Gas City to visit with my mother's sister and brother-in-law (Melodie and Ray Satterfield) and their daughter and family (Pam and Glen Asbury). We had a fantastic time...ate at Cracker Barrel then went across the street to Burger King so the kids could play in the play area while the adults talked. Well, as you can see from the picture, one of the adults went back in time and became a kid...only in his "big kid" body!

My children in all their craziness...

Before we had breakfast this morning (which isn't saying much since I like to sleep in!) Ethan, who had been told before NOT to place this certain object on his head, came into my bedroom in a state of panic. This racket was really stuck to his head....still has a mark on his forehead where daddy pulled it off. Poor kid....I thought it was hilarious and just had to whip out my camera!

Landon was having fun with Morgan's pacifier...and the other picture...don't ask me what he was trying to prove with that face. The reason I took the picture in the first place was because he was leaning over next to his sister and I couldn't resist getting the shot.

Daddy took the boys outside to play after supper. A fun time was spent on the trampoline, riding the four-wheeler, and hitting the baseball. Mommy had a fun time - indoors - cleaning up supper in the blessed quietness, playing the piano, and reading. Morgan was the perfect angel who slept in the swing so mommy could relax.

Morgan Helping Her Daddy

Shawn was involved in the Muncie Home Show this year. He was kinda iffy about it since it was new territory for him. He thought up a neat display to show the different kinds of work that he offers, and presto - his guys build him what he needs. He is so creative. I wish I would have gotten a close up of his "creation"!!! Anyway, I was able to go Saturday night for a few hours while Nana and Papaw Clemens kept the boys. (Thanks a bunch!) People were asking where they could sign up for the "drawing of the baby"...maybe she helped daddy's business! By the time we got home, the boys were wiped out, as you can see!! (Thanks, Grandma Cessna, for the adorable dress Morgan was wearing in the picture!)

My Mom - she's at it again....

My mom loves to give gifts, and of course, I love to receive, so we make a good team! :-) I had told her I was interested in learning to decorate cakes so she was going to check out the price of some of the utensils needed. Wouldn't you know it, she came back with everything I needed to get started. She is so sweet! Thanks, mom! Here is a picture of the teddy bear I just did....thought I would get a picture of it before it was devoured!

This and That

Picture 1: We had some ice earlier this week that stayed on the trees. When the light was shining

on the trees, they were beautiful!

Picture 2: Due to sickness (in both families) Shawn's sister, Stephenie, wasn't able to come see Morgan until this week. Kade thought it was great fun to get to hold his cousin!

Picture 3: Nana Clemens holding her grandDAUGHTERS....the 6 grandSONS were around the house somewhere! :-) Makenzie is 2 months older than Morgan.

Picture 4: All the boys go to the "play room" at Nana's, but NOT Landon! He loves to be with the adults...especially if there is food around! Here he is having some "one on one" time with Papaw Clemens....doing what they love to do! :-)


Morgan had her one month doctor visit. She is 21 1/4 inches long - 10 lbs. 13 oz. - She is finally getting on a schedule - thank goodness!!! Mommy is very happy with this. You know me and my schedules....haha!!!

Overheard in the van:
Morgan: "Waa, waa, waa...." (she is wailing because it is time to eat!)
Ethan: (sitting in the back eating) "Do you want a chicken nugget?"

Landon, get your finger out of your nose!

Most of you are already aware of this fact: Kids love to pick their nose.

Well, my Aunt Marsha (dad's sister) came to Muncie to see Morgan. The boys really took to her and were just soaking her up. If you know Marsha, you are aware of a missing finger (childhood accident). She always is telling stories of how she lost it....and not all of the stories are true! :-) Take this one for instance. She told Ethan that she got it stuck up her nose! Ethan believes everything you tell him since he is still so young, and boy, did this bother him! And, of course, Landon is sitting on my father's lap, with, you guessed it - his finger in his nose. My aunt told Ethan he had better tell his brother to get his finger out of his nose. So, Ethan marched right over to tell his brother. Unfortunately, it did not have the same effect on Landon.

It was fun getting to be with my aunt for a few hours. She even spoiled me like she always does. She bought me a gift card (such fun) and a ton of clothes for Morgan. She also bought some cute zip-up jackets for the boys. Thanks, Aunt Marsha!