And Here's Melanie

It's Melanie! She is definitely one of my favorite people. Melanie is sweet, clever, creative, friendly, gentle, honest, loving, emotional, talkative, inquisitive,energetic, courageous but cautious, and beautiful. I couldn't have asked for a better big sister to all my children than Melanie. She has such a great capacity to care for everyone around her. She helps her sister with things without having to have me ask her. And she loves to make her baby brother smile. I am so grateful for Melanie.

Here are a few pictures of things Melanie has been doing lately. With all the patriotic holidays we have during the summer, it wouldn't be the same without some artwork up. Melanie let loose and got super creative.Melanie and Noelle have been taking a fun tap, ballet, and tumbling class over the summer through the Town of Gilbert. I had to make sure I had them in a class together because these two are such great friends. Melanie has really enjoyed dance. There are a few occasions were she has been having a little too much fun and not listening enough. The teacher doesn't seem too upset by this, and I think it's because she isn't the only one in the room having problems (I'm pretty sure the ENTIRE class was having too much fun and not enough listening last week). I am helping Melanie learn that it's good to make friends (which she definitely has during this class) but it is also extremely important to know when to play and when to listen. She is learning. I'm so proud of her.

If silly were a sport, Melanie would be an All-Star. Melanie has a sweet giggle and a huge imagination. She loves to do silly things that make others giggle.

Here, "Rapunzel" is napping on my bed.

I just love my Melanie!

A few Melanie-isms

A week ago we headed to the zoo first thing in the morning. On the way there, we saw a beautiful hot air balloon flying in the sky. Melanie told me: "We don't want to take an airplane to Hawaii. We should take a hot air balloon. We can lay a blanket down and watch a movie in the basket while we go"

Melanie is always telling me what she is doing to be when she grows up (a mom) and different aspects of this. Recently she has informed me that when she is a mom, she is going to move to Wyoming, because it's a beautiful place. "But don't worry mom, I will bring my kids to visit you sometime".

I am always telling the kids to remember to shut the bathroom door when they are done because there are buggies in the bathroom from our potty, and I don't want Oliver in there getting sick. So yesterday Melanie looks as me and says "Mom, my tushie is hurting me. The buggies in my tushie are biting me, mom!"