Valentines Day

I taped these hearts on the side of Lucy's door so they would be the first things she
saw when she woke up in the morning. Well at 7:00 O'clock
Lucy walked into our room a little groggy still and said in this little angel voice,
"I love the Beautiful Hearts on my door."
Then she climbed into bed with us. Best part of my day!

Kurt enjoying the Heart Shaped pancakes that HE perfected
after my many failed attempts

Go Big Red!

Am I cheering because we are finally on a DATE or because I really want Cornell's Hockey team to win??? It turns out both. Hockey has never been a huge part of our lives....but it is the big sport here at Cornell so we decided to check it out. I loved it! I am typically not so outspoken in my opinions...but here goes nothing, I thought it was way more interesting to watch then Amercian Football, and the energy in the crowd was amazing. I appreciated the school bands more then I ever had, they were the true "cheerleaders" at this match. Do you even call it a match?? Ugggg this computer makes me feel so vulnerable. My postings are just going to be painful to get through for awhile until I get that hang of this. Kurt and I were standing for most of the game because we just didn't want to miss a thing. If you are a sports fan keep reading...if not this part will be boring. Cornell was ahead most of the game, and were up by one point. With 45 seconds left in the game (the couple sitting in front of us had just left) the other team scores. "Over-time" we all thought and then 30 seconds later the other team scores again and wins the game. It took some time to sink in. Everyone was so shocked, it was befuddling. I am amazed at what adrenaline can do for the human body. I am amazed at what coming from behind can do for a team. All those dynamics of sportmanship and teamwork do fascinate me. It was a great night....thanks Melissa for babysitting!

p.s. Kurt's favorite part of the night might have been when I was posing for that picture with my mouth agape and cheering-- forever! until our friend discovered it was on the record button. It's an awesome little video clip, let me tell you.

Owen's first birthday

Owen was awesome--he had his hand in the cake before the plate even hit the table and he didn’t stop. He was MESSY!! He is such a boy and Lucy is such a girl. Blake and Maya (Kurt’s nephew and niece) thought it was hilarious to watch a baby dig in like that and after the cake was taken away Blake mentioned this was the best birthday part he had ever been too. It is a good tradition--thank you to whoever started it!

Other Owen highlights would include Owens special drinking habits. The poor kid can’t swallow; he chokes on everything and tries to solve it by just drinking more and more--this creates a sprinkler effect shooting from the two corners of his mouth, drenching himself and anyone on either side of him. This has proven to be a problem in Ithaca’s cold weather. Just yesterday he left a restaurant with shirts and pants soaked through. Owen started walking and mastered the stairs while we were staying with Grandma and Grandpa; he is short and just little so it is fun to watch him toddle around. He tries to sing along with me when I put him to sleep but it comes out as more of a moan, it is a good effort though. He likes to lead the music and as far as dancing goes, he has perfected head banging—even if its hymns. Owen loves to look at books and talks on one of his many phones often throughout the day. He has a toothbrush fetish--he owns at least five, but still always just wants mine. He and Lucy are starting to play together more, and the sound of their laughter brightens my days.

Mel's family at the Cabin

The great year of digging out the Cabin -- walkway, driveway, a good chunk of the actual ROAD!

after all the shoveling 

I had forgot my suit!

This time I borrowed a suit from Cami

Suckered in to jumping into the snow

Colemans Turn

Kaden stayed in the snow the longest

Lucy and Mikelle, helping each other up and over the couch arm chair over and over and over

More fun in the hot tub

So here it is--this is Melanie. Kurt started this blog a year or two ago, made the background black and then never posted anything again. It was a good try. I have recently had many friends and family members talk about all the great things they enjoy about blogs and I have started reading a few myself. I love to read other peoples blogs but it makes me feel really weird to just write out to this big unknown void. Like who am I writing to right now??

My younger sisters will tease me because I am kind of old--school and dip into these innovative trends very slowly. I have to feel it out, question my motives, weigh out it's benifits. I certainly don't plan for this to be a clever or elegant blog like so many I've recently seen (I'm sure I have talents but they will not show on this screen) so then I'm kind of like....hmmm this might not be fun enough for anyone to want to read...so then really who am I writing this to??

I figured in the end I won't worry about the who's. My biggest hope in attempting this blog is that in reflecting about what to write about, I will take greater note of the small but significant moments that make up the best part our life, and show more gratitude for them. That is what reading "your" blogs has done for me. Thanks! And happy blogging to "us" all.