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In celebration of her favorite season, Talia, is putting on a fabulous giveaway. Talia is a stay-at-home mom and her blog is about her battling every day trials to the best wife, mother, teacher, sister and christian gal she can be - calling her sweet blog 'this little life of mine'. She is super handy turning thrift store finds into perfect trendy treasures as well as juggling her family, household AND being a home school teacher.

Her blog is super inspirational and the pics of her girls are just breath taking. They are so cute and her stories about them are fabulous! Stop over there by clicking here and go and enter yourself in her fabulous Celebration of Fall giveaway & watch out! cuz, like I did, you'll become a big fan of this sparkly gem!

Introducing Mrs. Brown your Scentsy Escential Consultant

This is Mrs. Brown
Also, to some of you who already know, my middle sister - Jodi Dawn. Isn't she gorgeous? She's totally fun, quirky, hard working, an amazing wife, mother, sister, strong christian woman, and I don't know what I would do without her!

I wanted to let you know her project - she is now working with Scentsy! So, if you are looking for some awesome Christmas presents or some 'just because they smell fabulous' type gifts - you can visit her website here.

If you need help picking something out shoot her an email (you'll find her e-mail address on the website) and she get you all lined out! You'll love what Scentsy has to offer to make your home smell DEEEELISH! and Mrs. Brown is a treasure! A good old treasure! (Pssst.... she just turned 26 so I had to throw that in there - ya know! It's a sister thing. tee hee!)

Toodles, The Lady

The Big 5!!

Yesterday was our 5th Wedding Anniversary! We had a great evening as Granny and Grandad offered to take Pauly and we took advantage by going out to dinner and renting a movie. We went out to Red Lobster with a gift certificate we received from Grandma Sally and Papa Paul so that was fabulous! From there we went to Best Buy to scope out a new camera which we decided not to get quite yet - Ben just wants to do a little move investigating on what would be the right camera for our family. & then we went and rented the... Ghost of Girlfriend's Past with Jennifer Garner and Matthew Macconauhey - it was really cute and for being a total chick flick my husband couldn't stop laughing! I was pleased with my choice as it was my turn to pick :)

It is pretty weird how 5 years has gone by - I remember our wedding day and that week as if it was yesterday, definitely my wedding day and the day Pauly was born stand out in my mind as the most precious days of my life and soon I'll have another day to add to that precious collection - when our little family of 3 turns into a family of 4... time sure flies by and little Mr. Melton #3 is going to be here very soon.

I have about a month left and we finally have figured out the name - I SO enjoy keeping it from my family... most of them try their best to get me to slip for instance this evening I called Grandma Sally to thank her for the gift card and she totally tried to pull a fast one on my by saying, "Oh! I have Dos' Christmas stocking made, now should I go ahead and put the name on it...?"! Isn't she a stinker! I totally didn't fall for it but I sure got a chuckle out of it - they all try something, it's hilarious!

A little tid bit...

The weather in my neck of the woods: Nice crisp mornings followed by warm and then over warmed afternoons (90s or so)

One of my simple pleasures: Sending my husband to the McDonald's across the street for a $1 hot fudge sundae... *drool*

On my bedside table: Bible, the boys' baby books, sketch pad, and notebook.

On my TV: Gilmore Girls Season 1

On the menu for tonight: Hamburger Hash (my husband's favorite) Made by frying up a bunch of potatoes w/ garlic and onions if so choose and then I have 1/2 lb hamburger left over from last night which I just add in. after the potatoes are nice and crispy delicious - I think a green salad sounds nice to go along with it.

On my To Do List: I've been neglecting my laundry - so I think I'll go down there instead of taking a nap today, I need to make curtains for the boys' room, put together baby car seat, bouncy chair and bassinet (I washed all the covers), make a peach cobbler with some peaches a wife of a man my husband works sent home to us (She sent us a loaf of bread too - she spoiled us!), Send Thank you to said wife.

New Recipe I tried last week: Sloppy Shepherd's Pie - I made Sloppy Joe mix with a lot of added veggies and a 1/2 lb ground beef and put that into a 9 x 13 greased pan, Then I made a big batch of mashed potatoes with sour cream and shredded cheddar in it - spooned that over the Sloppy Joe mix and put it in the oven to let it all meld together.... we had leftovers too (Oh, stretching a 1 lb of hamburger - maybe I should write a book)!!

In the craft basket: Use old corn husks to make a wreath (seen it in a Martha Stewart Magazine before) We'll see :)

Looking forward to: Our church is putting on a baby shower for us in a couple weeks. I'm excited!

Homemaking Tip for this week: I wash up 2 or 3 loads of laundry in a day and then when the boy goes to sleep I like to fold while I watch Gilmore Girls (if the husband is working late) and that way I get my alone time and I am productive at the same time. Then I sort it and put it back into the baskets for each room, then the morning after breakfast we put it away. Works great!

Favorite Blog Post of the week: Click here. Misty is a good friend of mine, who - has an amazing blog. This blog post was the celebration of their 6th year with their little miss they adopted. It is precious.

Favorite memory snap shot in my mind: The other night I was watching a Sunshine Cleaning and Amy Adams was putting her sweet little boy to sleep and it just reminded me of my little guy... so of course, as I'm sure most of you have done, I snuck into my little man's room - where he was sleeping so soundly and I just stared at him for a few minutes and it popped into my head that he is growing so fast and that the little man I have in my belly will be here before I know it and when he comes it will, of course, change the whole dynamic of our little family of 3 - but it is a good change. I just stood there silently weeping over the sweet blessings in my life.

Lesson learned the past few days: To savor the little things.

On my Prayer List: My husband as I stated in my last post he is working a ton - filling in for the man who got layed off and is now feeling like he might get sick, I'm constantly in prayer for my boys and their health, delivery of #2, my mom and dad, a friend at church who recently lost her mother, our finances.

Boooo Hoooo! Is it over yet?

Well I'm now 32 weeks and Wow! the count down is ON!! I've been putterin' around the house trying to get all those last minute things done with clothes, blankets and such and trying to continue to breathe. I'm so HUGE! I'll spare you the terrible pregnant pictures, for one thing - I'm just a big girl and number two I just don't wanna yet! Maybe later :)

My Little Guy has been very busy playing with all his fun gifts he got for his #2 birthday... Playing with cars, his trike and watching Cars over and over and over. Occasionally he walks up to me bad kisses or pats my belly and says ... "Baby..." and smiles. It is super sweet.

He has many many new tricks up his sleeve lately including filling his mouth full of water from his sippy cup and spitting it out on to anything and everything around him. Of course he looks my way to see if I'm looking first and then he spits. I've caught him quite a few times spitting into a little toy bucket he has and then the floor, the rug, and onto his highchair tray when he is bored with eating.

He also has a new trick where I'll say something like, it's time for nap and he'll say, "No, I'm not!" Although this is completely snotty of him, I just get a kick out of him.

Another thing he has been doing is helping himself to feeding Daphnie whenever he wants and I have invited him to take this on as his thing he is helping mama and daddy with, and of course he adores Daphnie and loves taking care of her. He also helps me put her outside to go potty in the morning or whenever I need him to. He is an awesome helper! When she is going potty he'll stand on the step and say "Aphie! Aphie! Aphie!" till she comes back in the house.

The other night he really wanted Daphnie to go with him to go into his room with him because we had told him to go in his room to play for a while. And she was not much into that idea of his :) So my husband grabbed some of her treats and would give the boy one and tell him to go in his room and then give her the treat and maybe she would catch on that he has goodies and she can have some if she'll follow him in there. Well that worked only a couple times and then Daphnie caught on that the treats were really being stored with Daddy and she was not to be tricked. Then my husband realized that before the boy was giving them to Daphnie (while in his room) he was licking them. I was just dieing of laughter and got high-centered (in a sense) on the couch - I couldn't move!

This weekend my husband is making salsa - I'm telling you he has been such a saint. Well... he is always pretty wonderful but he has truly been being completely aware of my needs as far as letting me sleep in, making me breakfast on the weekends, taking the boy for a couple hours some evenings when he doesn't have to work late. He has totally fulfilled his husband duties as far as taking care of his preggers wife while she is very much plump with child!

Today, I woke up and couldn't hardly move - just my back ached, my hips, my knees and it feels like this kid is DONE! but not quite - ya know! and man, my husband has been on the run for me all day - getting me ice packs for my back, taking care of the boy, making sure I'm fed and watered. He is just awesome! & I'm so blessed! Especially for the fact that he has been working super late hours for the past two weeks as a man got laid off from his office, so he has been doing his work as well as this other guy's work - then coming home to tend well.... me and the boy. My man rocks!

Grab a kleenex or 10...

My mom has an adorable little blog I want to introduce you to - it is called Idaho Round Pen click here to visit. Last night I was "blogging around" and I noticed she had a new post that I personally already knew was coming but I just didn't know when. I have been so looking forward to this post (or any post of hers honestly - when she writes she has a way of making me laugh and cry - most times at the same time) for a while and there it was... "Foxy". Now if you recall about a week ago I did a farewell post on Foxy (our old rope horse that passed away last week).

I really encourage you to jump over there and read this post it is amazing!!! She is amazing! and he was amazing!

Enjoy! and like I said grab a kleenex... or 10.

Don't let me Fall by Lenka

Yes, this blog has a new look and new music. I came across a gal who had some totally flirty, fresh, fun music on her play list so I did what any girl would do and logged right into my playlist.com and stole it! :) Anyhow, I had never heard this song 'Don't let me Fall' by Lenka but it is so charming and fun! So easy to learn the words and I thought what a fun thing to sing to your kids.

I'm always singing the regular - You are my sunshine and Jesus loves me - which there is nothing wrong with those at all but something new sometimes is fun! Below are the words and the song is the first one on my play list which can be found at the very end of this page (at the very bottom) I love it so much!!

Don't let me Fall

by Lenka

Underneath the moon,
Underneath the stars
Here's a little heart for you
Up above the world,
Up above it all
Here's a hand to hold on to

But if I should break,
If I should fall away
What am I to do?
I need someone to take,
A little of the weight
Or I'll fall through

You're just the one
That I've been waiting for
I'll give you
All that I have
To give and more
But don't let me fall

Take a little time,
Walk a little line
Get the balance right
Give a little love,
Gimme just enough
So that I can hang on tight

We will be alright,
I'll be by your side
I wont let you down
But I gotta know,
No matter how things go
That you will be alright

You're just the one
That I've been waiting for
I'll give you all
That I have

To give and more
But don't let me fall

Underneath the moon,
Underneath the stars
Here's a little heart for you
Up above the world,
Up above it all
Here's a hand to hold on to
Your just the one
That I've been waiting for
I'll give you

All that I have

To give and more
But don't let me fall

You'll be the one
That I'll love forever more
I'll be here holding you
High above it all
But don't let me fall

So fun huh! What songs do you sing to your kids?

Kids! Kick the tires!

My sister (middle sister, I'm the oldest) is a genius! And of course this isn't the first time I realized this - but honestly listen to this! Making her way out to the car with two kids and groceries and trying to get keys out, etc. she yells... "Kids! Kick the tires!" She's got these kids trained to automatically go the the pickup's tires and they kick one... as if they are checking the tires, like they've seen their parents do a million times. While they are kicking the tires, she fishes through her purse to find her keys and put down or set aside whatever is needed to get the kids back rounded up from "kicking the tires" and put safely into their car seats. GENIUS! huh!

So, watching her and remembering what tricks my mom had for us - I've got a trick or two of my own. One of them is at my house, once I've pulled into the drive way and have my hands full of purses, groceries, diaper bag and such... I get little man out of his car seat and hand him the keys to the house. I say, "Go to the door and open it for mommy, here's the keys - now go to the door" - He takes the keys from me and runs to the backdoor and fishes through the keys trying to open the door for me as I gather bags and such and I follow right behind him getting us both safely to the door. (Our house is right by a pretty busy road so it could be pretty dangerous!) He's such a big boy and this trick has worked wonders! I haven't got him to kick the tires yet, because he usually is just sitting in the shopping cart and I just set him right into the car seat but, with the new baby coming who knows how that will go - so the kicking of the tires training is in process...

The other night, we were out on the back carport and right off the carport again, is that busy road. I was sitting on the ground working on putting back together my stroller (I took off the cover and washed it... suggestion: don't do this just buy a whole new one :) and I was dealing with like 25 screws and sitting on the ground a pregnant lady isn't going to get up and move quickly for nothing to chase a toddler that is running toward a busy road. So, I had him sit buy me in his little lawn chair, gave him a piece of paper towel to clean his dump truck with and put him in charge of holding my screwdriver aka "tool" - so I would work on getting a screw through the material and in the hole and then ask him to hand me the "tool" and he sat there and worked on cleaning his dump truck and handed me the "tool" for an hour! It rocked! I swear! Since he turned two, and I'm sure I'm just a dork about this, but I swear he has matured and is such a big kid all the sudden!What tricks do you have/or did you have up your sleeves to keep your kids busy and safe?

Have you seen them? Go vote!!!!

NBC's America's Got Talent - Fab 5!!! This is your last chance to go vote. Sept. 14 between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. MST - GO VOTE at 1- 866-602-4805!!!!

These 5 sisters, with 17 children between them, have been clogging since they were just tiny little girls living on their parents' dairy farm in Morgan, UT. Their dad would make them help with daily chores of hauling hay and driving tractors. They have had a lifetime of trophies, fabulous families but also mixed in the blessings there have been hardships (as we all have), one of their children suffers from cerebral palsy and another from kidney disease. Also their father this past year lost his battle with unfortunate economic crash and lost his dairy farm this past year. This has not kept this family down and they have show even more strength. These women are dedicated, loving, like able, not to mention drop-dead gorgeous God fearing women and they clogging is jaw-dropping, precise and insanely toe-tapping addictive!!!

They've obviously been the group that has put the most hours (a lifetime) of practice to be so precisely in sync with each other. The Fab 5 is made up of Veva Ahlstrom (age 24), Cambria Gibson (age 28), Ayrion Myers (age 31), Shaundalee Morgan (age 33) and LaChere Vawdrey (age 35).

They tribute their success mostly to their husbands who have been tending all the kids since they've been working their tails off to win the America's Got Talent contest! Please vote - NOW!!! You can vote 10 times!!!

Catchin' up!

So I totally was thinking I wanted to post something on 9-11 in memory of well... everything that happened. BUT honestly, I totally let the day slip away from me. Not that I didn't think about what happened that day - I totally did, I definately had several memory walks in my mind of exactly what happened that day. Just the thought of breaks my heart into a million pieces. It truly is the most devistating thing that I've ever lived through and will remember it and honor those people in any way I can.

The morning of 9-11 I woke up as usual got ready for a day of work. I was currently working as a collector for Sears. My job was to work off of a dialer that made calls to anyone who was deliquent on the Sears card. My shift was 8 to 4:30 that day. I got in my little escort and I did listen to the radio a little but for the most part didn't hear much of what was going on and it all didin't really click until I was at work and making phone calls to ... yes, you've got it back East and people were saying, "How dare you call me right now!!!" We finally got all the details and started making phone calls to only Central, Moutain and W. Coast areas. Then we went on a huge break after the second tower fell. I honestly was freaking out... I think I was 20 and I was thinking they were going to come here and the whole U.S. was being invaded... I was on the phone a lot with my mom bawling and we were praying. They did let us go that day and we had to go back to work the next day. We had the day off so I decided to go to Les Schwab

Kids! Kick the tires!

My sister (Jodi) is a genius! And of course this isn't the first time I realized this - but honestly listen to this! Making her way out to the car with two kids and groceries and trying to get keys out, etc. Jodi yells... "Kids! Kick the tires!" She's got these kids trained to automatically go the the pickup's tires and they kick one... as if they are checking the tires, like they've seen Jodi and Brian (her husband) do a million times. While they are kicking the tires, she fishes through her purse to find her keys and put down or set aside whatever is needed to get the kids back rounded up from "kicking the tires" and put safely into their car seats. GENIUS! huh!

So, watching her and remembering what tricks my mom had for us - I've got a trick or two of my own. One of them is at my house, once I've pulled into the drive way and have my hands full of purses, groceries, diaper bag and such... I get Pauly out of his car seat and hand him the keys to the house. I say, "Pauly, go to the door and open it for mommy, here's the keys - now go to the door" - He takes the keys from me and runs to the backdoor and fishes through the keys trying to open the door for me as I gather bags and such and I follow right behind him getting us both safely to the door. (Our house is right by a pretty busy road so it could be pretty dangerous!) He's such a big boy and this trick has worked wonders!

I haven't got him to kick the tires yet, because he usually is just sitting in the shopping cart and I just set him right into the car seat but, with the new baby coming who knows how that will go - so the kicking of the tires training is in process...

Tonight, we were out on the back carport and right off the carport again, is that busy road. I was sitting on the ground working on putting back together my stroller (I took off the cover and washed it... suggestion: don't do this just buy a whole new one :) and I was dealing with like 25 screws and sitting on the ground a pregnant lady isn't going to get up and move quickly for nothing to chase a toddler that is running toward a busy road. So, I had him sit buy me in his little lawn chair, gave him a piece of paper towel to clean his dump truck with and put him in charge of holding my screwdriver aka "tool" - so I would work on getting a screw through the material and in the hole and then ask him to hand me the "tool" and he sat there and worked on cleaning his dump truck and handed me the "tool" for an hour! It rocked! I swear! Since he turned two, and I'm sure I'm just a dork about this, but I swear he has matured and is such a big kid all the sudden!

What tricks do you have/or did you have up your sleeves to keep your kids busy and safe?

Define your Style quiz

I was looking at a blog that I really like and she had a link on there to a fun quiz that links you to HomeGoods and helps you figure out what type of style you enjoy to help you design for your home. I took it and I would have to say I wasn't really surprised but it was fun to be "defined" as a certain style because at times I feel so scattered with my style and I do get frustrated trying to make it all flow. I love beachy, country yet I love classic and historical pieces... yes, pray for me. I have such a broad spectrum of loveliness but somewhere in there I'll find my way. Here is what the quiz said about my style...

The Lady of the House, you are a Country Classic

You have a naturally refined sensibility with an appreciation for tradition and history. You value beauty, craftsmanship, and family heirlooms, but you like to open things up with pretty, easy-going pieces like painted wood or distressed furniture, lovely florals and other patterns, and bunches of fresh flowers that give your home a breezy, relaxed feeling. You love unique finds, have a thrifty, creative side, and can make these things work together.

You value creativity. You are stylish and fun loving, and can be an inspiration to others. You have a natural sense of drama, and you know you have to be willing to take risks—whether with colors, finishes, furniture choices, or ideas—for your home to stand out. Your home can be happy and lively and the place all of your friends want to be.

** I highlight the painted wood as it is the running joke around my house that if you sit still for too long you might be spray painted white :)

Go and take the quiz and find out what your definition of style is and also get some fabulous design ideas for your home. Enjoy!

goodbye Fox man

Some of you know already that I was raised in a very small town surrounded by ranches and farms. We didn't really have either but odds and ends of animals here and there for 4-H and a hand full of horses my mom and dad roped on and later on we (me and my sisters) also learned to rope on. All three of us learn to rope on this old man. Foxy was born the same year as my middle sister- I think that was ''83. His mama passed away when he was born so we bottle fed him and he stayed in my Grandma Pattie's lambing shed. From birth he was pretty sure he was our little brother and he was most definitely a person. There were many times that I just knew he was being a stinker and hard headed because he wanted his way and was pretty sure his sisters (us girls) weren't giving him all his needed attention. At one ropin' he was being a HUGE stinker, giving me a really hard time in the box and just down right ornery the whole day - so I went and got on my spurs and I started swattin' him with the end of my rope - hopin' to line him out a little. We did a little better after that but when we got back to the horse trailer to unsaddle, I was walking behind him to put this and that away and he totally kicked me right in the middle of my butt. From that day on I knew he wasn't just the big black horse out back that we roped and goat tied off of - he was for sure serious about this whole I'm a real person thing.



I had quite the connection with all my horses - when I was a junior in High School I quit all my sports and decided to just go home from school every day and ride my horses and do homework. My grades went up and we all did better that year come rodeo season. Whenever anyone would ask me if I had a boyfriend, I would say yeah, 4 - Yellow Horse named... well... "Yeller" I know so creative, a sorrel horse that was about 4 hands high named "Miller" that I goat tied off of, and Foxy, who I headed (team roped) and breakaway (calf roped) off of and that leaves Barchone - our really old blue heeler dog that, as mom called him, the arena director. He would lay in the middle of the arena every day all through practice (And yes, one time Yeller and Jodi did run him over) and I think I probably did once or twice. After I left, Jodi and Casi used Miller and Foxy (we got rid of Yeller - he was a mess :) then one winter night, ole Barchone had to be put down, then one summer day at a junior rodeo Miller died, Foxy lasted the longest of all of them and bless their hearts, Daddy and Mom had to put him down yesterday. We all sure loved him and I am quite positive he had one of the most fabulous lives that a big black horse could have.



He took care of us from this arena to that one, from this hunting trip to that one, on this cattle drive and back to that one. He was always willing to back right back into the ropin' box when all we were doing was coming out and stickin' our loop right back into the dirt over and over and over again. He was always patient and willing to try new things, He was a reliable ropin' horse but everyone knew they could climb on him and run him around the barrels if they had to or they knew they could rely on him to come flamin' out of the box and run down the arena for some kid who needed a hazin' horse. He did it all and was always happy to. He was always a loving shoulder to cry on, he always listened, he was always happy to see us when we came home to visit. We'll miss you old man... we'll love you forever.

Ramblings...

It hasn't quite cooled off as much as I would like it to - but we are definitely getting a lot more cooler days mixed in with 90 degree weather here and there. I'm so glad too because I'm pretty sure that my sweat glads need a break. Is it possible that your pores can give out because they are tired of sweating?


We are up to our ears in tomatoes and thank you Jesus this weekend Granny (Hubby's mother) is coming over to help my dear husband can them. I wished that I had... well... the know how first of all and second of all, the energy and comfort level to can up some delicious jars of salsa, spaghetti sauce and whatever else I can think of. As it is, I can barely reach the dishes in the sink and just cleaning up the kitchen and here and there for a half an hour at the most DOES ME IN! So there is no way I could stand on my feet and successfully can I believe we have 50 lbs or more of tomatoes... Although, I can't can them I've been doing a pretty good job of eating at least 2 or 3 a day (of course always ending my day - well usually ending my day - with a delicious tomato on toast with mayo and salt and pepper...


I'm up to 3 Tums a night when I have heartburn as two WILL NOT DO THE JOB! It is amazing!

I am on my last chance of being able to paint my toenails I believe, so I better get that done soon!!

My hair has not seen very many diverse styles for the past 7 1/2 months I have boycotting all hair products, curling irons, etc. and the perfect hair due for being preggers in 100 degree weather for me is two pony tails with my bangs swooped over to the side up in bobby pins - usually 2 but sometimes 3. I currently have 3 grey hairs that creep out right in the front of my head where I part my hair. I got my first grey hair the day I brought Little Man home from the hospital, then I got the other the next year and recently found my third. As Samantha on Sex and the City says, if you pluck them then 20 more will come to their funeral... So I am not plucking them because of that. Besides... I'm considering being that lady that totally goes grey... completely embracing it - ya know! Will it be a problem if I have grey hair and my mom doesn't? I figure I have NO Hope in the grey hair department looking at the head of my grandparents... we'll see :)

Little Man and I took a trip to Winco on Tuesday - I was coming around the corner out of the freezer aisle and there it was... one of those "Emo" my husband said they are called... a boy with TIGHT pants on that were down to the middle of his knees, his shirt was stretched down to cover his bum and his hair in the middle of his back... gorgeous. I, without even thinking made this look like totally bewilderment and guess what! His mother caught me! She looked at her son and looked at me and kind of laughed like I caught you... I kind of sofly giggled like I know you caught me and I went on past... I kept on running into them and of course she pulled out in back of me when I was headed home. I instantly called my mom to tell her that if I end up beaten some where it was the mother/son team in Winco! They turned and I could finally breathe. I've got to keep that kind of thing to myself so I don't get beat up!

We also saw a newborn in the check out stand. I pointed the baby out to little man and his mouth dropped open. I think his little brain clicked and he put the two together of what really is in mama's belly!

Little Man will be 2 on Sunday! Dear Lord - I can't believe my tiny baby boy will be two.

Toodles till next time.

Made me smile...

"I will give you the treasures of darkness,
riches stored in secret places,
so that you may know that
I am the LORD, the God of Israel,
who summons you by name."
-Isaiah 45:3