Have you ever...

...been at home when you are getting a new shingled roof installed. If you haven't it goes something like this... tromp, tromp, tromp, boom, boom, boom, scrape, scrape, boom, knock, knock, knock, boom, knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, boom, etc. It's sort of like when you live in an apartment and swear that an entire herd of rhinos live upstairs. I think you get the picture. I've caught myself about a billion times thinking someone was at the door. I'm warning people now, if you knock on my door in the next few days, or maybe even weeks, I might not hear you because I've learned to tune out anything that resembles that sound.

The biggest shock came when Miss A was able to nap through it all and that both kids slept in this morning despite the fact that they were hard at work tromping, and booming, and knocking at 7:30 this morning. (I think the kids get their ability to sleep through anything from mommy).

On a sort of related note, have you ever walked outside your house to find a burrito truck in your driveway. Well I did. I'd seen it around my neighborhood feeding all the roofing crews but I was lucky enough for it to pick my driveway to pull up in. No, I didn't buy anything --but my bro-in-law did (he can check 'eating from a random burrito truck' off his bucket list).

I'm so spoiled

Seriously. I am. I have an amazing husband, family and friends who have made this birthday unimaginably fabulous. My original birthday plan was to convince Br to just let me throw myself a huge no budget party. Upon telling my friend Lacie of my plan she immediately told me that I couldn't because she and another friend Candice were already planning a surprise party- which obviously wasn't a surprise anymore. I gave in and let Br, Lacie and Candice take charge of any celebrating I would be doing in honor of my 30 years. Boy am I happy I let them do the planning because all the surprises and planning were amazing. There is no way I would have come up with something as fabulous.

The first (actual) surprise was when Br brought these home during lunch time on my birthday to brighten my day a little and break up my usual day. Isn't he sweet.

Then I got the one thing I actually asked for-- a break from the kids-- when we left them with a babysitter and went out to dinner and a little shopping. He also gave me the most fantastic birthday present ever-- a trip in a few weeks to CA to go to LET'S MAKE A DEAL with one of my bestestes from college. I'm SOOOO EXCITED but more about that after it happens.

The fun continued Friday when she--

and her family arrived on my front porch with these

for my birthday party. AHHHHHH so fantastic! I didn't pee myself like Br thought I would but it was an amazing surprise.

Then my sister J and I headed to my "surprise" party. Actually it was mostly a surprise. I didn't know anything about it. At the last minute I was told to dress up. Not really sure how to dress up I put on an apron and a chef's hat and called myself good. Br looked at me and said, "it would be better if you were dressed more with the theme." I asked him what the theme was but he said "Oh, I can't tell you. They will kill me".

I approached the house and was welcomed with this sign

So through the rabbit hole we went

Where we found fun people looking absolutely fabulous (they were nice enough to let me change my hat so I didn't look so out of place). and the perfect way to celebrate a 30th birthday -- with a little unbirthday tea party in Wonderland. I've been dying to have a Wonderland birthday for years so I can't believe that I got one. It was actually like plan E or F or G or something after plan after plan fell through. How glad am I that they didn't work out because the night couldn't have been any more perfect. Seriously so perfect. I mean look at it. (gotta love the cat and caterpillar)

Candice put together a little questionnaire about me and everyone had to guess the answers. It was fun hearing what people thought. Turns out that some people, especially my sister, know me even better than I do. We ate, talked, appreciated the company and then played croquet (and bocce ball). Anyone who knows me knows just how perfect that was.

Lacie (pictured above) was the humble winner.

And a tea party isn't complete without stuffing your face with sugary goodness.

It was such a special night and so much fun. Thank you to my mom and sister for making extra long trips to come. Huge thanks to Br for many many hours of planning for those other parties that didn't end up happening, making such a special pizza order, helping to make the final magical night possible, and for watching the kids. You are the best husband ever! And a Gigantic thank you to the creative geniuses Candice and Lacie for all your hard work and planning to put together the perfect party. Have I mentioned it was perfect?

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

I feel like I should be wearing a red track suit

Earlier this week E became officially 3 and a half. Shortly thereafter Miss A was 14 month and I hit the big 3-0. Yes I'm 30 and all that keeps running through my head are lines from one of my favorite Saturday Night Live characters-- Sally O'Malley. (click to see her for yourself)

So here it is-

Ladies and gentlemen. My name is B Melton and I'm proud to say that I'm 30 years old. I'm not one of those gals who likes to hide her real age. I like to kick, stretch and kick! And I'm 30. 30 years old!

"Suffer the little children to come unto me" Mark 10:14

Up until now I haven't posted anything all that religious. Our faith in God and His Gospel is very important to our family so I'm not really sure why it's never surfaced here, nor am I all that sure why I've finally chosen now to delve into our religious beliefs. What I do know is over the past few days I've been filled with an overwhelming confirmation that Heavenly Father wants to guide us if we allow him to and that any struggle our family has will so much better if we put Christ in the forefront of our lives.

I hope it's not coming as a shocker that we are religious people here in the Melton Pot. We're actually members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints commonly know as Mormons. We faithfully attend church meetings, pray every day, and try (try being the key word) to live our lives patterned after Christ's example in a manner that would be pleasing to God. We aren't perfect by any definition of the word. Although we are good about avoiding blatant sin, sometimes I find myself omitting the good things that I'm supposed to be doing. One thing I'm particularly bad about is studying the scriptures regularly, especially with the kids. E knows who Jesus is and prays every day but I've sort of written him off as too energetic and crazy to be able to have a spiritual experience with him right now. I think in the back of my mind I thought that he's just too young and I'll be better about it when he's older. These are clearly just my thought and not an impression of the Spirit.

Over the past little while things have been a little chaotic around the Melton Pot. I found myself really downtrodden by the fact that I was waking up to crying children every day. Morning after morning I was a cranky mommy taking care of cranky kids. Not the best start to the day. Then the day would continue with a constant cycle of the big one making the little one cry, time-outs for the big one who would then start crying, me trying to comfort the little one, an apology and then the whole thing starting all over again within minutes of the last resolution. It was wearing and at moments was really really hard to find joy in motherhood. I wanted desperately to figure out how we could all just get along.

I turned to the Lord daily (and often multiple times a day) would ask what we could do to have more peace in our home. The thought crossed my mind that maybe I needed to take a little more action to be in tuned to the guidance I was seeking, specifically reading my scriptures. But at the end of the day as I was falling asleep I would realize I'd forgotten again to read, decide I was too tired but would resolve to be better the next day. Everyday I let the cranky cycle I described earlier take over. Ironically I was still able to keep up with my favorite TV shows, yet found it hard to remember to sit and read during those fleeting moments of calm in the house. Scripture reading was obviously not the priority I should have been making it. I was passing off inspiration from the Spirit as just an idea.

The beginning of last week was particularly bad. Grouchy mommy and crabby kids were in full force. I found myself constantly correcting E and frequently yelling at him. He figured out a way to stop me in my tracks. He'd cut right through my fury by folding his arms and saying "Heavenly Father. Thank you for this day. Bless Mommy to be happy. Name of Jesus Christ Amen." Then look up at me with scared puppy dog eyes and an uneasy smile and nodded a little as he said "Ah mommy not mad anymore. Mommy happy. Not mad." Despite the fact that I didn't feel like I was done yelling at him I couldn't be mad anymore. I have no idea what made him say his sincere little prayer and I'm embarrassed to say it had to happen more than once. E was setting the example for me. If I really wanted divine intervention in bringing peace to my house it was going to come though sincere prayer, Christ-like actions and definitely not through yelling at my kids. “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Luke 17:2) “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3).

Last week I attended a special meeting with other ladies from our congregation where we had little lessons/discussion on how to fit important things into our busy schedules. The topics were exercise, family history, service, and scripture study. I was there mostly to get a little escape from the kids. I was listening with the attitude of "yeah you're right I should fit these things in. I'd like to fit them in but we'll just have to see." No actual commitment to do better. That was until the following quote was read:

"I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity—the pure love of Christ—will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness. (Marion G. Romney in the April 1980 General Conference of the Church).

As I sat thinking about what I had just heard I was overwhelmed by the clear and obvious answer to my prayers. Everything promised to those who regularly study the Boom of Mormon were those very things I was pleading to the Lord to have in my home. I thanked the woman who had shared this message with us. She told me that she almost didn't read it because it's something we've all heard so many time. And she was right, I had heard that many time in my years of church attendance but for some reason it was never significant to me until right then. As the experience sunk deep into my sole on my way home, I was overcome with emotion.

I was finally resolved to put what I always knew into action. Before E's regular bedtime story I told him we were going to read a story from his story book version of the Book of Mormon. As we talked about the story I was witnessing a little miracle as my little crazy man sat with a peaceful attitude and and an expression on his face rarely seen. He didn't want to stop reading. Every night since then has been a similar experience. How wrong I was that this Child of God wasn't ready for what I had been depriving him of. Even more shocking to me was a few mornings ago when he quietly came into my room when he woke up (During the time of chaos he woke up every morning screaming at me demanding this and that). I was reading my scriptures and he asked to sit with me and read too. He sat and listened as I read and explained the rest of the chapter with that same peaceful expression. There were no pictures to look at but he appreciated the words and I truly appreciated the experience. Once again this little boy, who I often view as being more than I can handle, had proved to me just how wrong I was. He has a pure little heart and an innocent spirit and is a gift from God to bless my life not to be a trial. How easily I had forgotten. It was actually in the first few days of the little guys life while holding him in my arms in the wee hours of the morning that I first understood the full extent of God's love for me.

I guess the point of this long rambling is that I do know that God loves us, He does answer prayers and will bless us with those things we seek if we are doing those things that he asks of us. I won't claim that there has been absolute peace in our home since we've been more faithful in scripture reading, but the chaos is subsiding (seeming now more like excitement) and the moments of joy and appreciation for each other are increasing. I'm so grateful for this experience that allowed me to reevaluate my priorities and figure out what is really important.

Our staycation

So the rainy weather and E being a little under the weather changed our plans for the holiday. Despite not heading anywhere, we made the most of our 4th of July staycation.

We ate a lot.

Had a little adventure at the science museum. Watched some fireworks
Explored the Natural History Museum

Attempted to play mini-golf and successfully played in the arcade. (Daddy got the high score on one of the games)

Just enjoying summer

Last week we hit a splash park for play group. We enjoyed ourselves. One of my favorite moments was when E was suddenly the cool kid on the playground with this little boat and treasure chest. I also thought it was cute when A went and lined up with the big kids to wait for a turn at the water cannon.

I turned away for a moment to find out what E was up to. I turned back to check in on Miss A and found that she had made her way to the front of the line. The other kids were just sort of staring not sure what to do. I went over and grabbed her to let the other kids have a turn but I thought to myself --shame on those big kids for letting such a little one push them around.
And of course a day at a spray ground isn't complete until E pulls his signature move.

My luck almost ran out

This is one of the big reasons I don't actually play a real one of these.

Br's co-worker liked the last slot machine cake so much she asked me to make one for her sister's birthday. Although the last one came together rather uneventfully, this one was a mess during the whole process. I don't know exactly what went wrong. The first cake I made completely crumbled before I even finished icing it. After an almost failed attempt #2 I decided to change the shape a little. It stayed together only long enough to get covered. Then the sagging began. I propped it up overnight to help it set up. That worked until the heat of the next afternoon kicked in and the sagging got out of control (notice the picture does not show the back of the cake). AHHHHHHH!!!!!!! Serious stress. I set up a sort of scaffolding in the box and said a little prayer that it would make it to the birthday in one piece and then swore off cake making. I made some cupcakes as a back up plan/apology for the inevitable demise of the cake. I was definitely stressed until the next day when Br reported that it had survived.

Guess who went to the zoo

Despite E telling me that he's already been to the zoo so he doesn't need to go again, we met up with some friends at the zoo this week.

We splashed with friends in a little stream.

We splashed even more at the spray pad. (and drank a little of the water)

We met some animals

We fed the birds. This one got up close and personal with me. (I literally had a blue bird on my shoulder)

We explored

Rested a little (Notice how E decided to embrace the animal inside by putting random vegetation in his mouth).

We saw more animals

and then ended our visit with a ride on the little train. (it was really cool because it actually went into the animal enclosure)

Thanks E for giving in and letting us go. I hope you had a good time.