Rachel is 2!

Happy Birthday, Rachel!  Our baby is 2. She is everyone's favorite little sister and she enjoys that title very much. 

We celebrated with birthday pancakes this morning.  Grandma and Grandpa Melius joined us before going to cousin Lydia's party later today.  They share a birthday, along with Great Uncle Doyle, so it is a good day for birthdays in the Melius family!

I found these great handmade tents at the craft fair this fall and the pink John Deere print had Rachel's name all over it. 

 

Happy Birthday, Rachel!

 

Progress

Here are a few more works of art from our gallery.  Nathan drew the football game, big hairy spider, and the flower.  He's a kid of many talents!  Landen drew the little United States map next to the big hairy spider, of course, and Teresa made the two princesses holding hands.

 

 

 I don't plan on posting much for the remainder of the month because I have been hired on the D. Melius & Family Construction Crew.  We're all moved into our little basement kitchen.  It's all snug and cozy and as convenient as possible. 

This is what remains of the upstairs kitchen.  You can see its whole history here--the green and gold paneling, the white I painted shortly after we were married, and the tan I reached over my pregnant belly to paint in 2007. 

I have had the same verse written on the kitchen door since last spring.

The time has come!  Wohoo!

Write it on the chimney . . . and the walls!

The kids have their first snow day of the year today.  Nathan and Teresa were especially excited to go out and play in the snow this morning.  

I prepared for the worst as Nathan started getting dressed. 

Usually Nathan's first winter experience involves him writhing on the floor kicking and crying because nothing fits right. 

He put on the new gloves and said, "They fit perfect." 

Wait.  Whaaaat? 

 I was so excited, I ran to alert his father. 

 "What should we do?" he asked. 

"My Grandma Joachim would say, "'Write it on the chimney,' I answered. 

(I really don't know where that saying came from, but it's always something my Grandma has said when something unusual happens.)  

And so, David grabbed a Sharpie and did just that! 

 

 

 

Operation Remodel is in its infancy, and to entice the boys to rip off the bottom wall trim, I told the kids they could write on the dining room walls when they were finished. 

Now it was their turn for "Wait.  Whaaaaat?"

We will have some very interesting artwork for the next few days.

All of the kids had fun working on their murals.

 

It's a first for any snow day here!

Teresa's first lost tooth

We did have some happy news tonight.  Teresa lost her first tooth!  Landen lost one of his in school today, too.  Nathan has a loose one. 

 

Watch for falling teeth!

My Uncle Sonny

My Uncle Sonny passed away this morning. 
I first met him when my parents took me along on their trip to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, when I was about 4 years old.  I instantly loved him.  He asked me what I wanted for breakfast, and after I requested tuna fish and bacon, that's what we had.  Even at a young age, the way to my heart was through yummy food. 
Shortly after we returned home from that trip, I began writing letters to Uncle Sonny and Aunt Carol, a practice that continues to this day.  I wrote more letters to them than anyone else in my life.  I shared all of the little and big things of growing up with them from my small town existence in South Dakota.  Sonny commented on the frequent smiley faces I would include, something I now do on my keyboard. :)
I only actually spent time with Sonny a handful of times.  He did not like to fly, so Aunt Carol would always come back to South Dakota each year alone.  When he did come back with her, it was always an event.  He would entertain my aunts and uncles with his comedy in my grandparents' kitchen, cook his fabulous southern seafood like NO ONE ELSE.  We talked too fast for his Southern drawl, but he adapted.  His presence was always a rare treat for us all.  A native of Mississippi, he gave us a different perspective on life. 
I had the wonderful privilege to attend Sonny's baptism and confirmation as he was received into full communion with the Catholic Church in 1999.  My mom, sister, grandparents, and I flew down to spend a long Easter weekend with them in Baton Rouge.  I will always treasure that time we spent together.  In typical Sonny fashion, it didn't matter that he had many responsibilities that weekend.  He asked each of us what we wanted to eat, wrote up a menu, and made sure each of us were adequately fed before our departure back to South Dakota. 
This is all too soon--it always is.  We knew his time was getting short.  I was hoping to get to see him one last time, but that time will have to wait until we get to the other side. 
I don't know if souls eat in heaven, but if they do, I am sure they are enjoying one huge and wonderful Southern feast today--shrimp at least four of five different ways, catfish, crawdads, black beans and rice, and hush puppies.  Maybe even tuna fish and bacon.
I love you, Uncle Sonny.
I will see you again.
And I'll have a menu ready.