Play or Torture?

I always have to keep my eye on Jackson when he is around Brenan. A lot of the time I freak out, pulling Jackson off the baby, or telling him to stop walking over the baby, but Brenan loves it. I can only count a few times when Jackson has actually hurt the baby. He really is pretty good with him, but I recognize that I always need to watch regardless. It sure is nice to see that they are connecting - sure to become best friends.

Brenan - 4 months old - Nov. 13th

He is so wonderful! I really can't believe we could be so blessed. He laughs constantly and stares at my every move. He is so perfect and loveable.

Bebo Boy

Jackson likes to stick his tummy out. He sure gets a kick out of it. I think he is funny too. I am sure that is part of the reason why he does it.

November 19th - Our Home

For any friend wondering, this is our home. Ok, we share it with our next door neighbors the Nelsons, but this is it. We have some grass on the side and front. Jackson especially loves playing swords with sticks with his daddy out there. 4 mornings a week, I stroll the kids down our little sidewalk to aerobics, and we swing on our porch upstairs on warm days while eating popsicles. Fun huh! We love living here. It is so close to the school, and let just put it this way, GREAT memories.

Halloween Trick-or-Treating

Here is most of the Melander family taking part in the trunk-or-treat. They sure are a crazy bunch.

Debbie is always willing to get on the fun boat, and of coarse, Bethannie is always on the fun boat, so...I guess that explains the socks. Natalie, the dead looking child in the night gown, is just creapy, Right? She just popped in this picture. AHHH!

Jackson and Brenan come along willingly to all of these fun activities. Jackson had me hold him most of the time while trunk-or-treating, but by the end I conviced him to walk amongst the other gobblins and ghosts.

Brenan with Kodi, my best friend's daughter. Just a skunk and a cow hanging out in the stroller.

This is Jackson's makeshift costume. Zorro-knight with a red cape and shield. We didn't have to go real trick-or-treating at all this year because of all of the trunk-or-treat parties going on.

Halloween at the Ranch

Jackson loves candy, especially suckers (which he asks for at the doctor's office and bank). The Halloween candy was hidden and then thrown away this year. I can't wait until he remembers that I have his trick-or-treat candy and asks to have it all himself. I'm not looking forward to it I must admit.

This picture reminds me of two years ago when Jackson wore this same cow outfit. I remember that Jackson was miserable this night at the Barnson's Ranch Party, and yes, Brenan was also miserable. He cried for about an hour with a tummy ache. That isn't like him though, so I knew something was hurting. Luckily he got better within a few hours.

This is Amber, Courtney, Jackson, and Randy. I am so glad to have two new in-laws in the family.

Grandma dressed as superwoman, Jackson as a dinosaur, and Daxton as a chicken. This was the only time Jackson wore this costume during the Halloween festivities for the month. It ended up being to small and it was hurting him.

Gardner Village in October

So we went to Gardner Village with my mom, sister, and brother. We acted really silly and had a lot of fun.

Cutest boy ever!

Wheeler Farm

This picture was taken at Wheeler Farm. The pony's name is "Marshmallow".

Jackson was strong and rode him all by himself. He loves animals. Jackson is saying "cheese" in this picture. You can tell that he enjoys picture time.

He's doing pretty good for 26 months old.

Rolling Love

I really can't get enough of Brenan's rolls. He is chubby and a very happy boy.

This face is a "Mr. Magoo" face. It is similar to the face my dad makes when he is trying to be really funny while telling a bad (really stupid) joke. It is also similar to Nate's fish face that is really scary, except Brenan is just plain cute here.

Reading books with Jackson is always a treat. He has many of the pages from "GO DOG GO" memorized. He is very smart. In this picture I found him in our closet, his favorite hiding place, turning the pages.

Jackson's 1st ... 9/30

Jackson has never swung in a big kid swing. Today he did it gracefully. Now I can push him and he doesn't fall off. Every day he seems to get bigger and bigger.

Priceless Laughter

This is the first video I've been able to get of Brenan laughing. It is truely priceless.

Lindsey Delcore's Reception in Cedar 9/20

Lindsey is of course naturally beautiful. She is one of Jackson's favorite play mates. She will go or do anything for him. At her reception they played hide and seek (Jackson hiding under the tables), they danced, and they played the piano together. Don't worry, the bruise on Jackson's forehead isn't abuse, he fell head first off of the stroller. Ouch!

This isn't the greatest picture, but all three of them are together, and those are moments rare these days. Brenan is a little over two months here.

Nate is sun burnt from a 3 hour tennis cherade earlier that day. He still looks cute though. This is the last time I will wear this dress until we go on a cruise or to a formal dance. Those events are few and far between, so down to the basement it goes.

Stake Conference 9/14

Jackson, Brenan, and I went to Stake Conference at the Conference Center ALONE! Luckily we saw some ward members and sat by them, but I really don't know what I was thinking. Jackson only sat still for about 10 minutes and then the treat bribes began. I managed to listen to a few thoughts. The prophet was there to speak, so it was SOOOO worth it, but hopefully next time Nate is around to come with us and not on a rotation.

Jackson and me are best friends. Brenan is sleeping in the stroller so I let Jackson play by the water a little. I need both hands free with this one. I wouldn't put it past him to jump right in!

Happy Boy 9/7/08

Brenan couldn't be a happier boy. In this video he is a few days shy of two months old. He smiles all of the time. It sure makes life rewarding. I love him so much. I think that my love capacity has grown. Jackson and Brenan both mean so much to me and Heavenly Father sent them to me and Nate for many reasons. One of those reasons is to fill up my day with joy. Jackson's "big squeeze" hugs and Brenan's smiles and now, at almost three months, giggles make blessings so apparent.

Grandma Holman's 75th Birthday

All the grandchildren stood to welcome Grandma Louise to her surprise 75th Birthday.

This is her being surprised and joyous. We love her so much. She obviously loves us too. She pretends to be Cherokee Indian (which she is partly) hollering, and howling like she is dancing around a fire. We especially love it when she starts speaking in her native crazy tongue. Silly Grandma!

Is Jackson going to be a cowboy? Who knows, he really loves cows and horses. Every car ride is is scoping the horizon for some. He sure looks cute however!

"I Am A Child A Dog"

Jackson has memorized a few songs since this one, but I really can't think of any song more beautiful. He sings it even more perfectly now, but I prefer it this way. His whispery, sing song voice makes me melt. Being a "child a dog (of God)" is the most special thing for him to remember and I am glad he know he is one.

Brenan - 1 1/2 months old - 8/21

His smile is always making my day. He is so happy and it is such a blessing to have his perfect spirit in our lives.

Friends

These are two of our best friends, Marissa and Aaron Gwilliam. They have twins, Cade and Conner. We miss them so much already because they moved to Washington for law school. We used to have lots of ice cream as we chatted late at night. Its only a few times in life that you form a friendship this special.

Happy Birthday To You

So we had another party at my mom's house for Jackson. Everyone wants to spoil him. Tyler my brother also had his 13th b-day so we sang to both of them.

Lindsey's Wedding

Lindsey married Randy Delcore in Park City on 8/8/08. Randy has a thing for numbers, so we also sang their song for them at 8:00 p.m. that night. We had a blast getting dressed up and enjoying her happiness. Jackson loved dancing with everyone and Brenan was cuddled by someone every minute of the night.

Happy B-day Jackson

Jackson had a make shift B-day party in the hotel the night before Lindsey's wedding. Everyone in Nate's family came and we ate cupcakes, sang, and wore hats to celebrate. Jackson's favorite gift was his scooter. He is now 2 years old and such a big boy!

Three Weeks Old - Aug. 4th

Do They Look Alike?

What do you think: This is a picture of Brenan, 2 1/2 weeks old, and Jackson, almost 2yrs old. They are both so hansom. I think Brenan looks a little more like Nate, but you can definitely tell they are brothers.

The Worst Is Over - July 27th

Jackson colored these letters for his Daddy. Nate has been studying many months for the USMLE Step 1 of the Boards. I didn't think I'd see the day, but the day he got his scores back came. We put up this banner about five hours before he got his score back. Whatever score Nate got, we knew he tried his best and exhausted every resource he could to reach his potential.

Of course, he did great! He reached his goal, which was to leave his options open to his choice of which field he could go into for medicine. Congratulations Natey Poo! We are all proud of you.

Having Fun NOT Listening To Mom - July 25th

Our second big outing alone we went to the zoo. Jackson loves the bird show, the giraffes, and the marsh (ducks). He also loves NOT listening to his mom. As we were exiting the zoo, Jackson decided to terrorize a few kids by getting them completely wet. In the end, he found a friend that liked getting wet. Whew!

July 24th - SLC Parade

Our friends Ryan and Annette Brown saved us a spot for the parade the morning of the 24th. It was a fun first for us. Nate doesn't usually like parades, but he had fun because Jackson was fun.

He goes everywhere with us, and he is a great baby.

July 23rd - Brenan 2 weeks old

Brenan -2 weeks old

Pre-4th of July Activity at the Army Base
Jackson loves snow cones and staining his face, clothes, and chest.

Jackson put on a show for everyone while we were there, of course. This was my first activity out by myself. Nate was on call for Phychology and had to go in, leaving me to go alone. It was still a tiring, great success.

"My Pop It Off!"

First Activities With Baby

Jackson escaped his confusing house with Grandma Kaye. They went to Liberty Park here in SLC.

Brenan, eight days old here, enjoyed the zoo. Not as much as Jackson, but he made it through the bird show and a train ride.

Kaye understands Jackson's energy. She says that Nate was just like him. Jackson loves to be entertained! He really does make life busy and worth living every minute.

Jackson talked about playing cars with Kimball, Nate's sort of cousin, for weeks. We all went to Jill's house, Nate's sort of aunt, for a delicious dinner.

July 13th, 3 days old. We went to the park for our first outing. I played tennis with Nate if you call stepping one foot in either direction playing. Jackson loves "playing" tennis with daddy, and Brenan loves sleeping.

July 15th, 5 days old. I love this outfit. It looks so comfortable.

My mom came to help me. Isn't this picture cute!

July 16th, 6 days old. Brenan is so sweet. He sleeps quite well at night, 4 hour blocks of sleep isn't bad at all.