The Time Has Come

It's been a fun ride. It's been exhausting at times. I've been ecstatic to share my family with you. It's consumed a lot of hours throughout the years.
'It' is better known as 'The Blog'. There are some things I love to sit back and enjoy doing and blogging is not one of them. Oh, I love sharing my stories, pictures of my munchkins and projects I have done, but the hours I spend on here take me away from interacting more with my munchkins so I can make even more memories.
I have decided to cut blogging out of my schedule and replace it with more family time. You can still find me at A Sheltering Tree with my mother and sister.
Abundant 'Thanks' to so many of you who have shared in the excitement and drama of the family with which God has blessed me with, so abundantly, and I do believe I am needing to invest more time with them. Who knows? Maybe somewhere down the road I'll find time. Until then....

Blessings, Melanie

Hearts & Love

Found this fun idea (below on right) online and decided to make one myself ---
And I had an extra frame so I made this one (below on left) to put in the kids bathroom ---
Don't know if any of you remember the board I made for our living room to hold all the Christmas cards we receive...then I did a Thanksgiving project for it in November with the family and now we did a Valentine theme for February.
Wanting my kids to memorize God's Word, I decided on 1 Corinthians 13 as our project. We traced out hearts, used sticky-back foam to cut smaller hearts, circles (well, something that resembles a circle!) and squares (definitely easier than circles!). I added the phrases found in this chapter that represents what love is/is not.
Example: Love beareth all things....love believeth all things...love hopeth all things...and so on.
I was excited when I found Valentine ribbon left over from last year. The kids whole punched the hearts and I attached to ribbon....and now here it is on the board.


Although we just would say these verses aloud, at least they were familiarizing themselves with God's Word.

Hobby Lobby supplied me with the decor for my candle holder...

_______________
I realized the pictures I took of our Valentine's Day Cards and Meal never made it from the card to the computer...oh, well. I'll at least jot down what we did so our family can remember.

My mom was here last week so she was able to help the kids and I make their Valentine cards....owls that had a pencil attached. It said, "I'll owl-ways be your friend." (Found in Family Fun Magazine) Landon surprised us by wanting to sign his name plus Morgan's (Mom told him the letters) on a lot of them. It was such fun having my mom be with us during that project.

On the 14th, I made heart shaped rice krispie treats. I already have a plastic 'heart themed' bowl to use for strawberry (pink) covered raisins, a white dish with red cherries on it, and red square plates for the main course. I read the munchkins 3 books about love after our meal.
_______________

Here is a flashback of 2.14.2008: Ham & Bean Soup with HEART shaped corn muffins and yummy cupcakes...Morgan was eight days old.

Sarah Morgan turns "Wee"

Three/Wee...it's all the same to Morgan!

Since I was coming home from the hospital on Morgan's birthday, I went ahead and had her gifts wrapped (and the icing made for the cupcakes for her party the following evening).


She has really been into babies, etc. lately. Actually, before Camron arrived on the scene, the boys, along with Morgan, would play house and you could here them crying like babies - and they were really good!!!

Hospital Gifts for the Siblings and Supportive Spouse

Wanted to get the munchkins a gift for when

they came to the hospital to meet munchkin #4.
(These gifts were to come in handy depending on
how long their visit would...keep 'em entertained!)

Boys got a Target Dollar Spot bucket, light-up yo-yo and then legos from the toy section...
Sarah Morgan gots a boy baby doll and bottle...
Daddy got a couple treats (which he opened not too long after birth. Ha. It's tough having a kid!!) and Camron can wear the sleeper that says 'I love my DADDY'...
Here are all the gifts that ready and waiting...And now for them opening their gifts...gifts were a hit!...
Mommy has a boy baby and so does Morgan...

And Baby Makes Six

God has once again granted Shawn and I another desire of our heart!

Announcing newest member of the Clemens Clan:

Camron Lucas Clemens
Birth Date/Time: February 4, 2011 @ 11:01 a.m.
Weight: 8 pounds, 13.5 ounces
Length: 22 inches long

As Auntie said, "Big Sister"..."Bigger Brother"...
"Biggest Brother"...

Of all the joys that lighten suffering earth,
what joy is welcomed like a newborn child?
Dorothy L. Nolte

Shawn's parents...
My mother....(don't have a picture of my dad holding him. I am sure my mom does)...
Auntie (Emily)...We gals have to stick together! We're outnumbered...

There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children.
One is roots; the other, wings. (don't remember who wrote this)
Nurse getting his hair combed after his bath...Shawn surprised me with a dozen roses...This is truly a husband who loves his wife. You could feel the metal bar under the mattress!...

My loyal sidekicks...Diaper Duty...Lugo delivered 1,2,and 3. Thompson helped baby 4 arrive safely....
Nurse for 3 of my deliveries....also had another nurse that helped with Landon and Camron but don't have a picture of her...
A few guests...

Charles thought Shawn needed a gift, too!The one and only princess and her new baby brother. She got the crown as a gift after the siblings got to ring the nursery chime bell for Camron's birth...
Getting ready to go home...He only got to wear this 2 times - already too long for it!...
Carseat ready for baby 4...it's been a good one...
We're home!...
Came home on Morgan's birthday...finally, together at last...