Puppy Love

- Our English Mastiffs and their NINE puppies -

"Xander" - Alexander the Great
185 lb./30 in. neck (standing on hind legs he measures 6')

Hakuna Matata

For my birthday, my incredible man took me to see the Lion King on Broadway at the Murat Theater. My incredible parents and in-laws took care of the kiddos. Thanks!

Yep. The time has come. I was extremely sad to have someone wish me a Happy Birthday. Once was okay. I enjoyed the "extra" attention and of course, the gifts. But you can stop with one wish. Two just brought on the unstoppable agony of remembering that I turned another year older. Not just ANY year older, the big two-five older.

A QUARTER-CENTURY!
Ahh...at least I can feel better when I peer into the mirror and see all those "lived in" face wrinkles and just try to blame them on the fact that I ain't gettin' no younger! So, I guess I should take to heart the Lion King's phrase -Hakuna Matata (no worries) - and enjoy the ferociously fast ride (downhill!) of life!
Happy Birthday to me!

KrazE KiddOs

Morgan is 10 months old!

Look who found her way up onto the dishwasher door!

And that said person looks mighty happy atop her new seat!

Here are a few pictures of her brothers having some silly moments with her accessories...

Here I thought Ethan was doing better remembering stories and facts he heard from his teachers at church. Really, he had. Seriously, he isn't - again. Let's see...

Ethan learned about a baby being born (The Christmas Story) during Junior Church. He told Shawn and I that the baby was born and was lying in the hay. "Where did he stay?", I asked. Ethan answered, "A place that looked like wood...a cave? There was no crib." (We filled in the missing pieces about "no room in the inn." This is where the "no crib" part came about.) His interpretation of the wisemen went like this - "1 and 2 and 3 men were going in the barn to see the baby." "I don't know", was his reply when asked what the men brought to the baby. I asked him what the baby's name was. He didn't know. After being asked this twice, I tried to give him suggestions:
Me: "John?"
Ethan: "No."
Me:"Justin?"
Ethan: "No."
Me:"Jesus?"
Ethan: "Jesus? No! Noah!"

Shawn had warmed up a pecan pie for dessert so Ethan said, "I want some ping-pong pie!" (PECAN pie!)






Best one of the week: "My belly hurts; it has a headache!"

P for Progress

Shawn dug the footer for the M.B. and garage - all by himself...I was proud of him. He sees something once and then does it...

Thanks to all the family who helped out while they were around for Thanksgiving!

Without Their Love

HAPPY 33rd ANNIVERSARY, MOM & DAD!
(which will occur this weekend)

A wedding anniversary is the celebration of love, trust, partnership, tolerance and tenacity. The order varies for any given year. ~Paul Sweeney

The difficulty with marriage is that we fall in love with a personality, but must live with a character. ~Peter Devries

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. ~Marcel Proust

Love one another and you will be happy. It's as simple and as difficult as that. ~Michael Leunig

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Countless times Shawn and I have had conversations about "copying" a beautiful marriage. You know whose name comes up EVERY time?...Without a doubt, my parents. To pen the words from an above quote by Michael Leunig: "..it's as simple and as difficult as that."

Mom & Dad,
I love you. Without your love for God, without your love for each other, and without your love for children, I would not exist. Thank you for raising me in such a loving atmosphere of what a marriage should be. Your daughter, Melanie Lynn

Happy Thanksgiving

Turkey in the barnyard, what does he say?
Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble all day.
Turkey on the table, what do I say?
Yummy, yummy, yummy, yummy, yummy all day.
Turkey in my tummy, what do I say?
I ate too much on Thanksgiving Day!
-author unknown-

The unthankful heart discovers no mercies;
but the thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings.
-Henry Ward Beecher-

Secret Formula

NINE MONTHSAt Cabela's with her daddy -
who made sure she had a camoflauged rag doll before leaving the store!Pawpaw cuddling with one of his princesses...

All conked out in her big girl seat...

Sarah Morgan is such a bright spot in our lives (she shares this spotlight with her 2 big brothers).Her most recent well-child appointment showed her weighing a whopping 22 lbs. 2 oz. and measuring in at 30 inches in length. When people ask me how old she is they are like, "Wow! She is BIG!" I just tell them that every time she cries I give her food! Ha! That is just a joke, by the way! Although, if her Pawpaw Clemens is around when a baby cries, this is his secret to a happy child. (inside joke here!)
Eating is one of her favorite pastimes, along with being entertained by her brothers, climbing, standing up, and sending warm smiles to everyone.