Lauren Turns 14!

Today's post is dedicated to my oldest child, Lauren.

Dear Lauren,
I am so very proud of the smart, beautiful young woman you have become! I love all you kids so much! But, I will always have a special bond w/you I think because I had 6 1/2 years w/you as an only child. I still remember the day of your birth pretty much minute by minute! I was so scared not knowing what to expect & hoping to be the best mom I could be! I've watched you grow from a cute, chubby, happy baby to a shy, adorable, really well-behaved toddler to a funny, happy, smart young girl to a nice, artistic, beautiful, outgoing teenager! Now that you are a teenager, I know we definitely don't always "agree" on things & you think I'm overprotective, but I promise someday when you have your own child/children you will understand! Just know, that beyond all that I still love you more than you know! Oh, and I know I don't always tell you but you are a great BIG sister!
Love, Mom



Lauren Taylor Melle

May 5, 1997

11:58 p.m.

7 lbs. 4ounces

21 1/2 inches

Now remember some of these pics were BEFORE digital!

A couple hours old.

Mommy w/Lauren.

Daddy w/Lauren.

This was my Grandma(father's mother). Lauren was the only one lucky enough to get 8 yrs w/her. When she died their were only 4 other great-grands & they were too small to really remember her.

I think she was only 1 or 2 months in this pic. I look so young!

I still have this swing to this day! It also had a bassinet for when they were really small, before they could sit up. I used it w/all 4 of my children!

Lauren's 1st birthday!

Hi!

1st dance recital! She was 3.

Lauren's 5th Birthday!

Kindergarten pic.

Lauren's 1st Thanksgiving w/her baby sister, Laci. She was so happy to finally have a sibling!

Lauren's 1st Communion.

Her 4th grade pic.

Lauren holding Braedon for the first time!


Lauren's 5th grade graduation.

One of many dance recital pics.

Lauren holding Rylan for the first time.
Lauren was in the delivery room for all 3 of her siblings!!

Lauren at Whitney's farm.

Last years dance recital.


Last summer



HAPPY 14th BIRTHDAY LAUREN!!

Love you,
Mom

Almost Wordless Wednesday!

Last week I was in the kitchen washing dishes or something & I thought to myself the boys are kinda quiet. So, as I walked around to the living room this is what I saw! I hurried & got my camera & snapped these 2 pics. Braedon was actually trying to teach Rylan how to use the computer! It was the cutest thing! I always kid around that Braedon is going to be my little computer genius , he's so good w/all electronics! Maybe I'll end up w/2 little computer genius's?!

Allison

Dressers Made Over

A couple weeks ago hubby & I drove by a tag sale & saw these 2 dressers. We pulled over & asked how much & the woman told us we could have both for $40 bucks! I was like SOLD! I wanted another dresser or two for the boys room because one of them that was already in there was on it's last leg.

We got them home & I got to work. Sanding them & yes, I spray painted them. It's so much easier then regular painting.

Here they are after in their bedroom....
(yes I know I am missing a knob, just need to find a screw for it)

I'm happy with the result.
What do you think?

Hope everyone has a great night!

Allison

Laci's 1st Communion

Laci made her 1st Communion Sunday morning. The weather turned out great, warm & sunny! I was so nervous it was going to rain, we've had quite a lot of it in the Berkshires.

I was up until 4 in the morning the night before getting the house ready for the party & Mr. Rylan was up at 11:30 - 2:00 a.m. I guess he thought it was playtime, needless to say I was not a happy camper! I then was up at 6:00 a.m. to get myself & all the kiddos ready. Hubby had fallen asleep on me at like 12:30, I was a little ticked but he had just gotten through working a 14 1/2 hr. day so it was understandable! But then he got up at 5:00 a.m. to make st. shells, potato salad & sweet potatoes for the party.(hubby is a cook) I am pretty proud of all of us for actually getting to the church on time, we had to be there by 8:45a.m.

Now on to all the pics....

This first one was right before I brought her to join all her classmates. It's one of my favorites! She is wearing the same dress Lauren wore for her 1st communion.

Here she is w/her cousin Jenna.

And here she is w/her friend Jedziah.

Braedon came outside w/me to wait for Laci to start their walk so I could get some pics.

We bring all the kids down to the church hall then the priest leads them on a walk to the front of the church. This gives parents a chance to snap pictures.

Yup, she started off hiding her face, until I whispered for her to knock it off! I don't know why she was acting shy, especially because if you know Laci, normally she is far from shy!

Coming to sit w/us in the pew.

Rye kept wanting her to hold him during the mass, it was pretty cute.

Here she was up on the alter w/the rest of her class getting ready to sing.

And here's the whole class.

My baby girl. I couldn't stop taking her picture!

Receiving communion for the 1st time!

Checking out what Father had given them.

After the ceremony was all over.

You wouldn't know from this pic that they usually are fighting.

My 4 babies, Rye was getting a little ansy at this point.

Opening presents. Here she is opening the Chamilla bracelet my sister got her.

She received lots of jewelry, which of course she loved!

My sister-in-law got her this beautiful snow globe!

So so proud of our little girl!!

We had a nice party w/lots of food, family & friends! I made her cake but hubby cut it up before I could get a pic of it!
All in all though we had a great day!

Allison