Sweetness At Seven!

Hannah had a fun time celebrating her 7th Birthday!

She was thrilled with everything she received--it was so cute!!

Here she is excited over some Root Beer Float gum!

 One of the Yard Duty ladies seems to really like Hannah.  She gave her this princess bag full of goodies!

 And she is excited to read "The Secret Garden"...

 ...and play her new electronic game...

 ...and use her new scripture case with flavored lip balm in every compartment!

 Opening one last present made for her by Mom and Dad...

 ...matching Christmas tops for the big sister and the almost-here little sister!

 How nice of Hannah when her Mom is incapacitated to have chosen ice cream sandwiches for her birthday dessert!   She blew out all 7 candles and is ready for a great year!

Enjoying...

...the last of my roses!

It's All About The Little People!

A fun Thanksgiving celebration at the Melanchuks with their four children!

Centerpiece:

 Afternoon walk to find Fall colors and decorations:

 Working on a jigsaw puzzle:

 An original skit:

 Story time with Darryl's former missionary companion, John Henry:

Yummy appetizers before a delicious meal with turkey and all the trimmings (a very moist turkey and the mashed potatoes were to die for!) followed by dessert with 3 kinds of pie and a cheesecake.   Thanks for the fabulous day!

Twins Update 34 Weeks!

Latest Ultrasound results:

Baby Boy: 5# 9 oz       Baby Girl: 5# 2 oz

MaryAnn: Feels like a stuffed turkey!

Names!

It is always hard to decide on the name of a new baby.

I can't imagine having to name twins!  

Dan and I have some suggestions for MaryAnn and Brian.

Let us know if you have any as well!

MaryAnn is such a good homemaker.  Maybe they should name them:

 Martha and Stewart

They could always go with rhyming,

Remember these twins from the 1940 Census:
Earl and Pearl!

They both love ice cream. How about Ben and Geri!

 Their favorite book is Pride and Prejudice.

Maybe: Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam!

Or even: Jane and Austen!

I know they love our country.  

Think: George and Martha

They both served missions.  
How about Portia (for Portugal) and Vincente (for Venezuela)

As an English teacher, Brian loves Shakespeare.

Romeo and Juliet!

Or here is a fun idea: The name of one is the name of the other spelled backwards!
Hayes and Seyah
or
Isaac and Cassi

They love to go camping:

How about Ranger Joe and Wendy!

(inside family joke)

MaryAnn has always enjoyed the TV show "I Love Lucy"

Lucy and Ricky!
or Ethel and Fred?

The babies will be born near a holiday.

If close to Thanksgiving: Priscilla and John Alden

If closer to Christmas: Holly and Nick

Or they might want to go with something that reflects their membership in the Church:

Lehi and Sariah

Joseph and Emma

Dan says since they are both going to be born naked how about: 
Adam and Eve!

I like my sister's suggestion, especially if they are born on 12/12/12:

One and Two!

33 weeks down, ????? to go!

Happy Veteran's Day!

My Dad is a Veteran of WWII:

I am very proud of him!

He served in the United States Navy.

Back of the photo:

Lt. M.E. Ostrover     Lt. Charles Remle

Ensign H. E. Potter      Ensign N. H. Ricks

Miami, Florida     Dec. 1944

Recently he sent me this email as Dan was reading a book about the invasion of Okinawa during WWII.  My Dad was aboard an LST.

  "ALL LANDING SHIPS DID NOT HAVE NAMES ONLY NUMBERS, & MINE WAS  L S T 891( LANDING  SHIP,TANK.) 

AS WE CARRIED TANKS, TRUCKS & MARINES,        

 OUR FINAL & SCARIEST LANDING OCCURRED APRIL 1, 1945 ON OKINAWA  WITH JAPANESE  SUICIDE BOMBERS OVER US CONTINUALLY AS WE OFF LOADED ON THE BEACH, TANKS & ABOUT 150 MARINES  ( WE HEARD LATER THAT ABOUT HALF OF THOSE MARINES WERE KILLED )   THE KAMIKAZI PILOTS LUCKY FOR US CHOSE TO SUICIDE BOMB LARGER SHIPS IN THE ARMADA SUCH AS AIRCRAFT CARRIERS, BATTLE SHIPS & CRUISERS      BUT WE  STRAFFED THEM WITH OUR ANTI AIRCRAFT GUNS.    WE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEACHED AT PALAU, GUAM, PHILLIPINES, & NEW GUINEA..

                         WE STOPPED AT PEARL HARBOR ON OUR WAY OUT & ALSO THERE ON OUR WAY HOME AFTER THE WAR.    I WAS ABOARD THE SHIP FOR TWO LONG YEARS.  AND WE ALL HEAVED A SIGH OF RELIEF, WHEN WE HEARD THE ATOM BOMBS ( which we had never heard of )  HAD BEEN DROPPED WHICH ENDED THE WAR."

Postcard my Dad sent to his mother for Christmas 1945:

2010:  65 years later we were able to take my Dad to see the WWII Memorial in Washington D.C.!  He will be turning 90 on his next birthday!!

Another great Veteran:

My grandfather, Sgt. Perry Joseph Ricks, 1917

WWI

Random!

I have a few photos that don't need a whole post.  Here they are in random order!

Sarah and Camille liked their vampire teeth from Halloween!

 Hannah earned a SOAR award at her school!  They are the Eagles.

(She is wearing the blue skirt)

 I attended an assembly where Courtney played in a drum and percussion group from her class.  Here she is on the cow bells.

 And here is the whole group.  It really sounded great!

 Courtney also played the clarinet for us.  She was very good after only a few weeks!

 I made a quilt for MaryAnn from all of her T-shirts through the years!

It will be fun for family picnics.

 Baby booties for the twins!

Update: Could be right away or any time up to December 13th.

(Sorry this photo makes them look so big--they are actually very tiny!)