Mel turned 13...over a week ago.

Mel's Zebra ring...

We coerced her to get out of the pool to open gifts, and she was none too thrilled at being in her bathing suit with wet hair for these pix. O well.

I still really find it hard to believe that this girl is a teenager now. In true teenager form, she's texting (but not ridiculously, tho she DOES manage to catch every text from her friends and somehow MISS the ones from me....hmmmm), she is primping and beginning to take an active interest in self care. And she rolls her eyes and acts rather annoyed with me. I have a solution for that. but I won't blog about it.

Yes, I'm a horrible mother. I'm just NOW blogging for Mel's birthday. Because she has managed to acquire David's HTC EVO phone, I think she can forgive me, us, for the busyness of the past week +.

We had her party the same day as our Memorial Day picnic. It was a nice, hot day to be in the pool. She got lots of nice things and money to spend on some clothing, make-up and whatever else struck her fancy. I think it's all gone now. dang.

So now I have 3 teenaged bodies in my house. In all honesty, so far, it's not as bad as I've heard. I do truly believe I have three of the nicest kids around so that helps. They've had to deal with a lot over the years and they're growing into some fine young adults. I do thank the Lord for that...a definite blessing.

In other news, I feel kinda crappy today. I think that's a good sign. I just need to have this baby. soon. I hope to be able to blog about ________ ___________ Young very soon!!

The Skating Party to remember!

Let the fun begin...

Revelers trickle in...Hello Teige, ya little cutie...

gearing up for some skate-a-licious fun!

Charlie Sheen made a guest appearance....so angry! :)

awww, we love this family (though 1/4 of them is in college far away)...Vince, Janice, and Megan...our lives would be dull without you! (and if I remember correctly, Dad had a very appropriate name for V..."One Lap Vinny"..which is much more favorable than his other nickname of "Two Plates McCartney")

Tambo and Caroline...makin' the skatin' look EZ. love you, girls!

Becky, Henry and Nicky...lovely ladies, hangin' with the little flirty boy!

The O family had volleyball that night but stopped by for a half hour of skating JOY...Mona, your enthusiasm was infectious! heck, all y'all had me stoked. Thanks for coming, fine folks.

Cali and her Skate Mate...this girl LOVED skating!

the S women did amazingly well skating around. pretty girls!

Charlie Sheen again.... Man, this guy is EVERYWHERE! but boy, can he skate. (Tom, I was really quite impressed with your mad skating skillz) I bet he's not moving very quickly today. I know David, Will and Ethan were hobbling around (though they had a 2 hour soccer practice right before the party...ha ha.)

happy skaters

David and Matt (his twin brother)

My sis and her hubs...they really longed for a couples/slow skate so they could snuggle and maybe even backward skate. Becky, you are an awesome speed skater.

This was Molly while we were at Steak N Shake afterwards....she was CRABBBBBY!! but what a great picture!

Last night, we hosted a skating party.

Since David skated THEE WHOLE TIME, I acted as the immobile half of our union. There were quite a few people that showed up (YOU ALL ROCK, you know that right???)...so yes, I'm leading up to a list of excuses as to why I DIDN'T get pix of everyone that attended and why there aren't any pix of David NOT skating.

He skated the whole time. I'm so glad he did. He had such a great time.

We want to thank every one of you that made the effort to come out and celebrate with us. It really, sincerely means a lot.

These are just a smattering of the pix that could've been taken...in all honesty, I'm a little bit sick, dealing with some weird right rib pains that are giving me fits of even more uncomfortableness than I was already experiencing...so I wasn't on top of my game in the photo dept.

And since Tom isn't on FB now, I can't go steal the few pix he took...if you were there, and I failed to get your pic, please PLEASE please forgive me. Most of David's Illinois family came over (THANKS GUYS), my family, Becky's entire in-law clan even came (THANK YOU C FAMILY...YOU ROCK)...Friends we haven't seen in a while, people that work with David, kind folks from church, even some folks we didn't know showed up...haha.

We have a VERY busy week ahead of us....I hope to be back at some point with some updates but for tonight, I'm tired, old and just glad that TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING WOOO HOOOOO!

Thanks again for all of your support and friendship...we are truly very blessed to have such great folks around us. MWAH!

Ethan James, how we love ye!

Naccccccchooooo Libre...

changing right before my eyeballs...

goof ball!

Christmas 2009...

My second son, Ethan James, will turn FIFTEEN at 9:20 p.m. tonight...I was in labor for 2 days, on and off. I walked the mall, I took weird herbs, I watched movies, I cried, I thought he'd NEVER come. I also thought he was a girl (see? my hunches have never been right)

Finally, on Wednesday evening, February 14th, 1996, after Taco Bell and other fun midwife-taught techniques, while everyone was at Wednesday night prayer meeting, Ethan's labor sped up. Water broke at 9 p.m.

Midwife showed up right as that happened...after some quick pushing, Ethan, my second smallest baby of the five, came squalling into a cold Indiana winter.

I couldn't believe it was another boy...but I'm soooo very glad that I had another son so close to Will's age. Buddies for Life, and I can tell you, it's true. they scuffle and bicker but it rocks that they are support for each other.

Ethan James Young

Wednesday, February 14, 1996

7 lbs 12 ounces

20 inches.

He was almost a pound smaller than Will...I kept thrilling over how tiny he was and the midwife said that 7/12 was bigger than the average newborn. Wow...pave the way, Will (who was 8/11)

Anyways, I'm feeling very nostalgic right now...recalling this day 15 years ago...

Tonight, Ethan will be at Karate with Levi. Tomorrow night, we will have his birthday party with family.

I love you, E. You are such an awesome, upright young man of God. I love that you look like a mix of Young and a Greenhill. I hope this is a memorable and joyful birthday for you, for next year, you can get a job. Happy 15th to ya :)

Ha ha. Happy Monday everybody.

this boy...

will turn FIFTEEN in 4.5 days...

doesn't this beach scene look inviting??

I think so.

I find it so hard to grasp that Ethan James will be 15 soon. The winter that he was born, 1996, was a bleak, snowy one like the one we are in now. not to focus on this weather, of course. Ethan is our focus. ETHAN!! YOU da man...

In a side note, saw my midwife today...she showed me the proof of the good ultrasound report, which was very reassuring....my little son to be is very lively, and doing so well...kinda like all of his predecessors. Awww. I love him already.

If you could, maybe you could pray for me, as I'm very apprehensive about the birth...yeah, I know it's a long way off...but not really. less than 20 weeks...yikes. I keep having dreams that David delivers the bebe...I think he'd be good at it but then again...he's not so sure. scarred for life, he says. I'm starting some yoga to get a head start on my breathing...to make it my friend during the contraction time.

Why did I choose homebirth again? because the good so totally outweighs the painful, scary stuff.

MH had a great pep talk with me today...gave me some good hints on how to get thru the rest of winter and assured me that I am NOT alone. It really HAS been a difficult winter and on top of that, a difficult winter to be pregnant. ahhh, validation. Heard Little Jack the Bear's heart beat, had good blood pressure, and I'm not swelling yet. yah for me.

I love to eat because it really sets this guy off...he gets really punchy...can't wait to meet him.

On that note, my omelet is ready so I'm outta here...hope this finds you enjoying these (hopefully) last frigid days of February...they say a warm up is on it's way....

To my most faithful, obvious blog follower....

Happy Birthday, Tory dear...Meet Tory...she's my cousin (third, right??) on my mom's side. Her awesome Grandma, Betty, was my mom's dad's half sister...still with me?

She is, by far, my most faithful, encouraging blog follower...her encouragement is what gets me on here to keep my friends and family updated, outside of Facebook, which if you are on Facebook, you know that can get pretty annoying as it takes over your life. darn you, FB.

Thanks for keeping me coming back to this blog, cousin dear....it really is a more fun way to keep updates fresh.

I hope your birthday celebration this past Sunday was Marvelous, enlightening, rich and sentimental...I certainly do miss receiving Gramma Brown's checks in the mail, written out to Lory...and I often wonder, as I'm sure I've shared with you, if she EVER wrote yours out to say Taurie? humor me.

Haa haaa. love ya cousin...and Happy Belated Birthday to you...(I did think of you on Sunday, as you saw on FB)

Keep breathing...

this will be an invigorating post, I can assure you...

Tory, I'm only doing this for you, because I love you so and I know you are patiently waiting for me to update this poor, neglected blog.... (big smile) but come back because I'm going to post for your belated birthday...

The above pictures were from my Momma's 64th birthday party, which we had at Beck's well over a week ago. Yes, I'm a total slacker.

I hope to be able to post some "renovation" pix on here later...The move from our upstairs room to the downstairs room is picking back up....the male children are almost completely moved up to our room, and they've done an excellent job. We've spackled our future room and it needs one more coat before PAINT!! It will be nice to take the lower level over again, cozy it up and what not.

Hope your Wednesday is super fantastic, as I know mine HAS to be. it just has to be...2 more days till ultrasound...place your bets. ha ha. just kidding.

Levi Taylor is an 8 year old boy!

hard to believe this tiny little fella is EIGHT! your nickname should've been Rough Start...for you surely had one.

always Mr. Serious (back then)

little flopdoodle...your other nickname was Tongue Boy.

photo courtesy of Kara D...oh, and the one below too.

Love those foldy li'l ears...

killer eyes

looks like he inherited my T-Rex arms. ha ha.

Happy 8th Birthday, Levi Taylor!

I remember the day I found out you were a boy. It was July 4th, 2002. Becky took me to Romper Womb. She was a mess because she had just broken up with her boyfriend. When the technician said it was a boy...she nearly spit. but only because she wasn't liking boys too much at that moment. She recovered quickly. We were so glad to know what you were, because this was our first ultrasound EVER. It made it so real that you were actually going to be joining our family. That very night, we all picked out your name. Levi is kind of in honor of my mom's side of the family...Her dad's name was Lee and his last name was Taylor.

We had such a quick homebirth with you, Mr. Levi...the midwives had gone to Walmart in Martinsville to get fabric, thinking we had more time than we did. I progressed quickly! Mom, Beck and our 3 oldest went to Meijer for food...we had to call all of them back so David didn't have to deliver the little fella.

During your baby exam, the next day, Mary Ann discovered a hairy tuft at the base of your spine, which can signify spina bifida occulta. Very common in babies of English descent. Levi, you are very English. we were FREAKIN' out. you had to have an ultrasound on your spine, but it was a good ending. I felt so sad for you...you had such a rough start.

When you were 8 days old, we had you circumcised. We are not Old Testament Jews, we just do that because your blood has had 8 days to build up healing defenses. While Doc Countryman was doing the deed, you reacted to the analgesic and endured some anaphylactic shock. Doc got worried about your heart...time for another ultrasound. All good. Natural doc Grandma Y told us you simply (or not so simply) reacted violently to the numbing agent. Yikes. ouch.

Even though you've been delayed in some areas, you aren't delayed in so many others. We love that you march to the beat of your own little drum. You are a Gentle Giant. For someone who started out at 7 lbs 3 oz (my smallest baby), you've recovered well.

We look forward to all the good things God has planned for your life. I think it includes music and comedy. You are such an entertainer (remember in Sunday School this morning?? you were cracking up all the kids with your pretend sleep and funny antics). We love you, Levi. You are a hoot hoot...

Wilson turns SIXTEEN! and other fine events.

this is what we spent the second part of our day, all the way down in New Albany, Indiana...right next to Louisville, KY. It was a lovely day to drive with our family of 7. Unfortunately, Southside Thunder did not win their game. but they played hard!

another re-enactment...now I will just have to dig out the little version. I have some great re-enactment plans, Kara. it's going to be a long winter.

Nora Bean, waiting for us to get our acts together and dish up cakeage.

we love this boy's face. don't ask what we are doing with Will's tiny 2 year old face in the hole of a piece of notebook paper. nope. just don't ask.

while walking thru Target one fine day, Beck and I came upon these ginormous footies...and thought it'd be funny to get them for our ginormous teenager...if they'd actually fit a bit better, he'd have kept them...hiii-larious.

the 16-year old still enjoys a Marvel Encyclopedia...

bashful, as always...Hope your birthday was fun, Will. I think you will have a good time in Champaign/Urbana with Dad this week! Savor the peaceful moments!

can you believe they actually make footy pajamas this long? I honestly don't think my kids wore footies much....they were all hot sleepers like their mother. Will is so stinkin' tall!

LOL!

Today has been one of "those" days. not too bad but not particularly super either.

Worship service was good, good message on Acts 7 by Pastor Randy...donuts, fine fellowship, home to clean the house and let Molly run off with our Venti coffee and proceed to drink MOST of it.

Kids had different youth group activities tonight so while we weren't shuttling them there, we were finding out that our storage unit had been broken into and such. Yeah. not fun. But in light of the news on Facebook of the loss of my HS friend's 6 year old son, we'll be ok.

Emma's little son collapsed at school last week (from an undetected heart issue) and due to loss of oxygen, eventually went into a coma and had no brain activity. Life support was shut off at 1 p.m. California time today. Godspeed little man. Prayers and love to Emma and her family. Hug your littles....if this news just doesn't make me cherish each aggravating moment, I'm an ogre for sure. God's ways don't always make sense.

Tally ho! Onward to a new week, filled with promise and joy.

My goal is to smile when I feel like shrieking. To giggle when I feel like banging my head on the wall. I may fail. that's ok.

Willy Nilly

November 1994

My 22nd birthday...holding the best present! and loving my perm at the same time...

Will at almost 2...ducky slippers and baby keys. I see a re-enactment coming...wish I could find this snazzy one piece outfit though.

We still have this car...Will STILL tries to play in it. and when he does, this is the face I see.

This sweet little face is, in all honesty, the face I still see when I get a glimpse at my nearly 16 year old son in all his facial hair, long legged glory...(I'm going to cry for a minute. no. really, I am...) I blinked and he's nearly a man. dang that nostalgia....I am telling my 24 year old self to cherish these two little future men that I had at this time. gosh. I am going to go beat myself up.

The thing that's cool about Will? He's freaking out about 16 as much as I am. He spent the night with Ian Sat. night and he told me yesterday that he woke up in the middle of the night panicking. I thought it was because he was in someone else's house but he said it's because he is going to be 16 this coming Saturday. Such a sweet, young at heart guy.

You are such an amazing (UH-MAZING for emphasis) young man, Will Franklin. I love that you still hug, kiss, speak words of love to your dad and I. I love that you love Levi so very much. I love that you stayed home from our work at the Kaleo open house Friday night so you could keep Molly occupied and out of our hair. I love your quiet strength. I love that you already read "To Train Up a Child". I love to watch you play soccer and the moves where you scoot with your bum. I also love that when you and that black kid konked noggins on Saturday, you asked him if he was ok and when he responded "Of course I'm ok", you replied "Don't be a butt".

Gosh. Thanks for being such an encouragement to me (and to Dad)...thanks for letting us borrow money when our well seems to be running dry. You are one of the finest examples of just how good God is to us. man.

I am going to go have a good cry while I fold laundry. (you are actually working at Bandy's this morning with Dad and Vince before your Biology class...you go Boy). I love you so much.

Good Monday morning, folks. Thanks for letting me wax nostalgic up above. I am shaking because well, I'm hungry but mostly out of sheer gratitude for Will. If you know him, you love him. he's quiet but thoughtful. He's serious but hilarious. If you know him, you are as blessed as I am. he's an astute young man of God.

Firstborns break us in...we become different people because of them. We grow up with them. and sometimes, while they grew more mature than us, we stay immature (at least in my case). I will ask Will how I should respond in certain situations. He's always "spot on". that is mind boggling.

This week will be busy, filled with trying, busy and blessed times, but I wanted to take a minute to remember Will since we will be out of town on Saturday (the actual day of his birth) for soccer.

Hope this finds you and yours enjoying summer's last ditch effort to torture us a bit more. I'm so thankful for a morning at home. God bless you!

note: I just re-read this post and wow, sorry for the redundancy. I think I mentioned 15 times that this Saturday is W's birthday. garsh.