They are precious in his sight!

Daphnie loves Pauly she always likes to sit by him and lick his face ... Yummy!

Pauly got a visit from the Boothby girls and I captured some amazing pictures of them. Aren't they adorable! Good kids!

The other morning we were all sitting around reading the Idaho Statesman and drinking coffee and Pauly kept whining and whining --- he was bored... so I handed him a piece of the newspaper and he acted like he was reading it and looked at it - holding it on both sides like we were- it was the funniest thing ever! He was so serious... He's so gifted...

Pauly meets Olentzero!

Sunday, December 9th we had a wonderful day! We got to watch Anastasie play her pandareta (basque for tambourine) with the Txantxangorriak . She also danced with the Oinkari Basque Dancers as we all cheered her on!

Pauly loved it and so did we!

Next we all trailed down to the Basque Center where we heard there was going to be a special visitor!

Olentzero (the Basque Santa Claus) was there and was handing out gifts! Paul was the first one to get a gift and everyone couldn't resist ooohen' and awhen' at the baby. Daddy took him up to meet Olentzero for the first time while mama captured the moment.

Pauly got a stuffed moose and he named him Gerard Aye (the moose is Canadian see - dad named him :)

Santa Claus is coming to town...

I just couldn't wait this year to put up our tree so the first spare minute Ben had he brought me home the most beautiful Christmas Tree he could find and I got it decorated as I wanted Pauly to enjoy it as much as he possibly could this being his first Christmas!

I hung our stockings that Amuma made us. She did such a good job and I love them!

Thanksgiving 2007 at the Browns'!

We all had a wonderful time this Thanksgiving hosted by the Brown family. We all packed up and went to Bellevue to enjoy a one-of-a-kind country Thanksgiving. We enjoyed many yummy pies brought by Aunt Louise and ate one too many crepes requested by yours truly, Anastasie Echeverria. It was wonderful to see Grandma Sally (Amuma to some of us) and Papa Paul with also a wonderful surprise visit by our own Monty Dean Echeverria! We love him so! BUT we sure missed Marti, Cassie and the Montes clan as Thanksgiving never is the same unless we are ALL together!



Through a lot of stress about if the turkey will fit in the roaster pan and worrying about if we have enough chicken or not Jodi cooked an awesome Thanksgiving Dinner and in addition to that many other yummy meals!













The men enjoyed poker and cigars (sponsored by Dave "the new guy") out in the wall tent Uncle Brad brought and attempted the ultimate goal had by dad's son-in-laws to defeat ole pa. Which is entertaining in itself! Dad - you definitely have them all bluffed if you ask me. We would all trail out to see them and found ourselves hacking and coughing just trying to get through the first stun of cigar smoke. Eyes watering and throats stinging it was all good fun watching the men take it the game so seriously... They played every night out there till 1 or 2 a.m. for at least 3 nights straight.


Us ladies enjoyed a few trips to town to enjoy the fun shopping that the Wood River Valley had to offer. Grandma Sally treated us to a little tour of Haley's quilt shop and Jodi and I picked out some material to make blankets for our kids for Christmas. Then off we went for coffee at Zaney's and then back home only to jump back in the car with mom as she was finally let off of kid duty and I had a special store I just had to show her! We found many treasures.


Aunt Louise, Anastasie and Grandma took some walks to the barn only to find themselves having to run back down the lane to escape from the kittens following them home.





Mimi and Papa had a good time keeping track of all the grand kids only to stop every minute or two to us all complaining and expressing how much we missed ole Carti Rae, Caser and Tenny too!




























We got a fun surprise visit from Grandma Pattie and Grandpa Bill on Thanksgiving Day and I captured a great picture that I will treasure forever!





We had a wonderful time this year and on be half I'm sure all of us we just want to say Thank You again to Jodi and Brian for their wonderful hospitality! You were amazing hosts!

You have the mommy haircut!

Can you believe it girls? We are moms! Damn good ones if you ask me - must of been the training we had growing up. Remember how mom taught us to take care of babies by first tending our dollies and kittens too. We'd dress them up in dolly clothes and make sure they got their food and nap times (except for Jodi - who would just get a little too carried away with those kittens :)

I am so proud of us and I know we will continue to encourage each other and support one another! I couldn't have made it this far with out you two and you too ma - so just know that I'm here for you and I appreciate what you have done for me! We are so blessed to be this close, I can't imagine life without my girls. I love you to the moon...

Visiting Mimi and Papa's house in Howe!

Mimi and Papa with all the grand kids at church!

Aunt Casi and Macarti Rae - aren't they beautiful girls.

A couple weeks ago Jodi and I wrangled all of the kids up and surprised mom and dad with a visit back home in Howe. Pauly got to meet his Great Grandpa Bill for the first time and Uncle Tenny and Great Uncle Mark too. We sure had a lot of fun and the kids definitely kept Mimi and Papa busy. They all are growing so fast!
Bailey was trying to color and Birch wanted to lend her a hand... or maybe just eat the crayons.

Pauly and Great Grandma Pattie and Great Grandpa Bill. We're so blessed to have such a wonderful family!

Playing catch up!

Well a lot has happened since I posted my last note. Little Paul is still doing amazing and getting so big!

Ben's sister Kerry and her boys came to visit the last weekend in October and stayed for a few days. It was their first time seeing Pauly. They loved taking turns holding him and giving him kisses. We captured some great pictures of their time with us. Jacob and Joey are getting so big and tall! They are so fun and quite entertaining! Pauly can't wait till he is big enough to play with them.

The Saturday they were here we took a fieldtrip to the pumpkin patch and the boys picked out some pumpkins. We had a great time!

For Pauly's first Halloween mama made him a baby penguin costume and mama was a penguin too! They turned out pretty cute! Daddy made his costume too, he is quite crafty I must say. We all went to a Halloween party at Aunt Louise and Uncle Brad's house. We had a lot of fun and Pauly was very well behaved :)

That next weekend Mimi and Great Grandma Pattie came to visit and love on Pauly. He was so glad they came to see him. They got to stay with him while mama and daddy went on their first date since Pauly was born - we went out to the Melting Pot and had a wonderful time! Sunday we all went out to Payette to attend Cody and Lisa's baby shower, little Jessalyn should be arriving some time in January and we can't wait!


Well that gets me pretty well caught up. Here are a couple more pictures that I just loved. Look Daphnie is waiting for a crumb or too! Isn't she funny! Then there is the other one of Pauly being a sweet boy taking a nap while mama snuck in to get a pic. He is looking more and more like his daddy every day... and I love it! Enjoy!

Big kid!

Paul is getting bigger and bigger everyday! He is such a good boy and loves his dog Daphnie and loves taking long naps with his daddy.

Introducing Paul Echeverria Melton!

Pauly was born on Thursday, September 6th at 12:09 p.m. He was 7lb 14 oz and was 22 inches long. I went in on Tuesday to be induced and after 40 hours of labor and 3 epidurals later - Ben and I decided it would be best to have a c-section. The entire time with God's hands on us Paul's heart beat didn't change at all. He is very healthy and is doing great. He is such a blessing and is a wonderful baby. This picture is of him on Saturday when we got to come home. He has on his beautiful outfit mama found for him and his sweet little booties that his Grandma Sally bought him. And don't forget the smile :)

Bailey Boo and Birch too!

Here are the Brown kids. We love them - aren't they cute!?! Cute kids just like their Aunt Sam. Last weekend Sophie, Daphnie and I went to visit baby Macarti for the first time and then we all sneaked back to visit Papa for his birthday and Father's Day at Aunt Jodi and Uncle Brian's house. We stayed up late eating and making smores and then on Sunday we went to church and Mr. Birch was dedicated. We all enjoyed a yummy BBQ and then back home. Fun! Fun! Fun!

Macarti Rae Nix

Uncle Ben and Aunt Sam wanted to share with you a precious little miracle that joined our family last Wednesday, June 6th. Macarti Rae Nix was born to Casi and Tenny at 7 lbs 9 oz - 21 inches. We love her! She is the perfect combination of Casi and Tenny. So adorable! They are all doing wonderfully! Congratulations Mama and Daddy!

Banjo!

So much has happened since I had wrote last! My belly is continuing to grow and grow! Our little one has been blessed with a nickname by his Auntie Holly who had a dream that Ben and I ended up naming our little guy "Banjo" of all things. Although this has not ended up on our name list it has been adopted as the nickname for just while he is in utero. We have not decided on a name yet although we have many wonderful names that are either ones we just really like or they are family names and we just haven't found that perfect combination yet. We hope to keep it a secret and announce it when he is born.

Ben is gearing up for camp. He will be leaving June 13th and back the end of July/first of August. We are rushing around now trying to get a few thousand things done before he leaves for camp.

The days are getting hotter and hotter! With no air conditioning in the house it is always interesting trying to do anything and everything to keep the house cool for this pregnant lady! ;)

Baby Boy Melton

Just wanted to share with all of our friends and family that Ben and I found out on Monday, April 23, that we are having a baby boy. We are so excited although we are struggling a lot to come up with the perfect name. It has to be perfect you know! We'll keep you all posted.

Easter with the Family

We were so blessed this Easter to be able to have some our family from Montana come see us. We had a lot of fun showing off our new home as well as chasing around a little nephews. We played with our dogs Daphnie and Sophie or as they call them Daphie and Snophie :) and we had an Easter Egg Hunt in our backyard. Thanks for coming to see us everyone!

Our little peanut.

February 20th we had our third doctors appointment and we were scheduled for our first ultrasound to date our little one. The ultrasound began and I squeezed my eyes closed only to be startled by a LOUD and may I say strong heartbeat. I opened my eyes and saw our little peanut kicking and moving around. It was amazing! Ben and I looked at eachother with our joyful tear filled eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. We are so thankful to all of our friends and family that had been praying for us. Praise God, our little peanut was doing great!