Like Butter on Hot Toast...

That's how much my heart melted tonight when Melvin said his first real prayer!!! Oh my goodness... he has always been oblivious to the whole prayer time routine, in spite of repeated attempts to engage him in the past. So, he totally surprised us tonight, and for his first prayer, it was REALLY good, in my opinion of course.

It went something like, " Heavenly Father, thank you Dadda, thank you Geni, thank you mamma, day, Jesus name, amen."

Mark and I are gushing- so proud, so surprised... what a wonderful way to end the day.

the ketchup.

THE KETCHUP:

Oh mercy. I haven't blogged for some time... things have been busy... which means I have a lot to blog about... which I am only going to touch on. :) This summer we had 6 wonderful visits from family in four months!!!! Aren't we the luckiest? Each visit really deserves a long and detailed post .... but time is money-and I just don't have it! :) But I just really want to thank our family for making the sacrifices to come out our way!!!! It was SOOOOOOO nice to see you all... and on OUR turf. :)

Here's a picture of a back-attack train from "Hunkle Dan's visit," (that's what Mel called him).

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this one of my sister and her munchkin from her visit. THANK YOU FOR COMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I only hated to see you two go back home. :(

We went to Amish country and rode the buggy.

And Mel became great buddies with his cousin PoPo.

Then Grandpa Roper came. Melvin always did enjoy a good throttle. :)

We all trapsed around the highbanks metro park. Here is Grandpa with Mel, Gloworm Geni, and their cousins.

Those wonderful cousins!!! I am SOOOOOO glad Natalie and Henry and Uncle John and Aunt Wendy are here!!! Just because I still long for MORE family to move out our direction doesn't mean I'm not still COMPLETELY ecstatic to have them here!!! Ohio became a million times better when the other Ropers set up shop here. :)

More cousin fun....

And even MORE cousin fun! THat's right, Mel and Henry spent a day out with Thomas! They just didn't want a picture about it. :) Stinkers.

That Geni girl-- I tell you what- I CAN'T GET ENOUGH!

See what I mean? TOo cute right? Don't you want to smother those cheeks with kisses?

I took Mark to his first fair EVER! SHocking right? How did they let him out of elementary school without that experience? It was not as good as the fairs I attended growing up... but hey- Mel and Mark didn't know any better. :) It was a hit.

Soo cute.

They had an awesome and HUGE sandbox there... Mel really was happy about it- I promise.

Melvin is always surprising me- like today when he was TERRIFIED of the monkeys at the zoo...? He LOVES the monkeys... normally..... and normally hates things like this ride... but then.... he was insistant that he ride the dinosaur, and guess what- he loved it. :)

I am loving the interaction between Mel and Geni. They kill me.

He always want to be by her. If she napping, he wants to wake her up. If she's crying, he gives her a toy, or her pacifier...if she's in her bouncer chair, he's bouncing her... a little too high of course. :) If she's in her Geni-jump-up, he's jumping her, and swinging her. If she's in her bumbo, he jumps around, and does a little break dance move, which makes her laugh, which makes him laugh, which makes her laugh. You see what I mean? Seriously cute.

The Dr.'s office is fun, when they're together.

Anyway... life is good and I'm ending this.

Britta crafts another day!

There are lots of things I don't like about myself... for instance, my adult acne. :) But... there are lots of things I DO like about myself... like that I can make little things that I like... so I like the little things- and the fact that I can make little things. :)

I redressed all these gerbie white onesies for my Geni girl. There are more to come! She just poo-sploded out of them before I got the camera out. :) P.S. don't you LOVE her flower headband? felt and a covered button from that vintage fabric that is kind of fuzzy... do you know what kind I'm referring to? Anywho- I loves it!

This onesie... dyed a pretty blue- decorated with a doily and vintage scrap of fabric from an old project.

This one is a dilly!
Aren't they cute? Mark is grumpy because Mel kept pushing the idea of running into the street. Nip THAT in the bud!

Mom and sister made the headband- Thanks again ladies! The onesie is dyed... then did a little hand created flower applique thinger...zig-zag stitched around all that, and sewed on some pink ribbon. Less is NEVER more.

I LOVE this one. I've been carrying around this scrap for a couple years now that I bought for $.10 at an antique store... I just clipped the flower and stem off- and made it into an applique- zig-zagged again. too cute.

Mel and Geni. Woot woot Mel! Showing some leg!

This one dyed a salmon pink (red dye watered down...) doily stitched to the side. :) Her pants you can't see well here... but they rock- super cute. They don't have little birdies and butterflies all over them ( which is cute and all... but on EVERY pair of jeans? Please...) which is why I bought them for..... yes. $16.99. ridiculous? Maybe. But they are just THAT cute.

Remember the scrunchy face?

He's actually exceptionally handsome, and even more exceptionally naughty and disobedient. Heaven help me.

There's that salmon shirt again. Goodness. Isn't it a great color for our Geni girl?

That's it dudes. Whilst creating this post, Mel as intentionally dumped drinkable yogurt all of the table, and flooded my kitchen while "doing the dishes." Sigh. Will I make it to his third birthday?

Other stuff...

Because of how I edited these pictures, they are going to be out of order. My apologies. But I'm starting out this post with my two favorite pictures of the holidays. Enjoy.

The children really loved the 4th of July. Obviously.

These Mel/snake pictures are out of order. They were part of a train ride excursion we took when Mark's mom was here for Geni's blessing. Mel loved the snake.

Look!!! Mel is almost smiling!!!!

This picure of Geni is also out of order, taken July 3rd... She is wearing blue corduroy overalls Mark wore as a baby. :) Of course she is more femininely accessorized...

Me and Geni on the fourth... Don't be judging- we went to the parade here...which was held in the afternoon to accomodate the churchgoers. :)

More of Geni on the fourth... I made her skirt, and myself one to match. :)

Back to the 3rd. again.

I LOVE them cheeks!!!

Don't worry- it's just into the garage. :)

The boys pining after the choo-choos.

Little beauties.

At the parade...

Mel and I at the Delaware Beach. It's pretty classy.

Our Geni girl- taken just last night.

Geni's Blessing.

We blessed Genevieve on June 27th. She was beautiful.

I made the skirt... (thank you Sheetsy for the beautiful teacloth!!!)

My MTC mission companion and her lovely mother sent me a package of vintage goods shortly after Geni was born for me to use in my little projects. I fell in love!!!! So, Geni's blessing skirt is made from a teacloth from that package. Thank you!!!

My mom and sister made the hair accessory- also adorable and perfect! Thank you!!!

Isn't she lovely? Mark and I painted her fingernails and toenails red- special for the occassion. :)

We had a little get together afterwards for our family and friends- once again- I am SO completely grateful for the friendship we have here in Ohio!!! So many people have adopted us-and help make events like this warm and wonderful.
The kids had a great time tearing the house apart.

Our across the street neighbors. They had their baby boy four weeks after Geni was born. :) He'll probably be her first boyfriend.

Our darling neighbor and adopted Grandma (Mema) insisted on bringing the cake! It was delicious.

Geni with her beyond gorgeous girl cousin Natalie! I emphasise the girl part because in our family girl cousins are hard to come by. :)

The boys (Mel, cousin Henry, and neighbor friend Corbin) playing trains. What is it with Thomas?

Us mammas with our babies.

Mark's mom came to Ohio special to meet Geni and come to her blessing. It was WONDERFUL!!! Thank you for coming!

So... here is the real Grandma and the adopted Grandma. Mel called them both "Mema"

More good friends!

Doesn't Geni look wonderful?

Geni with aunt Wendy. Wendy- I love you! I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOO happy you and John and the kids are close by!!!

Too cute- all the kids on the swing.

The girls couldn't get enough of Geni.

Gotta love Mel in this one. Always a fight.

Okay- this one is a little better.

Oh my goodness- it was such a wonderful day! The blessing was wonderful- and I had no stress because all my loved ones took care of everything for me- I just got to enjoy myself,a dn my baby girl's specail day.