Happy Birthday Amanda!

It is about to be Amanda's birthday. Technically it is already her birthday where she lives now. Amanda is my husband's brother's wife. She is the sister I never had but always wanted. She is a great mom, wife, daughter, sister and friend. She inspires me to be a better me in all my various roles. I am grateful that she and Darryl found each other and now have such a beautiful family to share with us.My favorite memory of Amanda is of a thoughtful care package she sent before Ryan was born. And of a family photo album she made for us the Chrismtas before Ryan was born, when they came home to Canada for Christmas with Kathryn.

These are two photos of Amanda, from this summer. What I really like about these photos is how you can see Amanda as a mom interacting with her daughters (actually I think both pictures are mainly of Amanda and Amelia, but the point is still the same-great mom!)



Darryl's mom shared with me a neat trick that she uses to remember her sons' birthdays which ironically also apply to the son's wives. The day of the month of birth of her sons (and her daughter's in law) are only one day apart with the oldest being born on the first calendar day (12, 13, and 28, 29- BTW this is also how we fall according to age as well, with both men being older than not only their wife but their sister-in-law as well). Then all she has to do is remember the month. We are all born in different months, but Darryl, Amanda and I are born in subsequent months, leaving Brad born close to our months but not in a subsequent month. But Brad has a distinctive birthdate, so that might help her remember as well. Then again, what mom doesn't remember the birth of her children? I just think the math is cute, and that it is weird that Amanda and I also fall into the pattern.

Anyhow, Happy Birthday Amanda! I hope you have a wonderful birthday. Maybe someday we will be able to celebrate it and thanksgiving together with our families.

Memories of Melanchuk Family Vacation'08

Now that the company has left, the pictures and videos have mostly been uploaded, I can now share some of my favorite memories from our too short but sweet Melanchuk Family Vacation of 2008.


Kathryn, Anita and Adam do some puzzles:


Kathryn and Ryan play with bubbles:






Kathryn the bubble princess:


Amelia at A&W:


Darryl, Kathryn, Brad and Ryan at the pool:


Adam watches Ryan sleeping:


Cutie Amelia with grandpa Lyle:


Family fun with bubbles:


Princess ladybug helps Ryan open gifts:


On a hayride:




Kathryn with Adam:


Kathryn with the rocking horse:


Kathryn loves her new "My Little Pony":


Bubble girl Amelia:


Laughing Ryan:


Twirling girl Kathryn:


Daddy Darryl and his girls:


Amelia interupts family pictures to sit on great-grandpa George's lap:


Ryan with the dog at the farm:


Amilia relaxing with grandpa Lyle:


Outdoor fun Kathryn and Ryan:




Smiling Ryan:


Kathryn and Darryl:


Anita and Brad:


Brad and Ryan:


Amelia:


Adam:


Kathryn and Amanda read princess stories:


Vance and Darryl crack up:



Our family on the hay ride:





Amelia on the rocking horse:


Princess Kathryn:


Ryan and Brad at the farm:


Kathryn tests out Ryan's bike:




And a couple of videos of some precious memories: (click the picture and the video will open in a new window)

Ryan's Birthday

I didn't have much of a chance to talk about Ryan's birthday since we were in the middle of a family gathering at the time.

We kind of did a theme of gifts for Ryan from Brad and I and my parents. The theme was potty training, with gifts that included books about potty training, a potty, and training pants.

Ryan also got some winnie the pooh items (new sippie cups, fork and spoon), new pjs and robe, books and a bubble lawn mower complete with lots of bubble mix. Aunt Amanda and Uncle Darryl bought Ryan a cute new winnie the pooh and tigger short set. Cousins Kathryn and Amelia bought Ryan new Mickey Mouse puzzles that are lots of fun. Cousins Vance, Sara, Logan and Nolan brought two fun tee shirts and some great cars.

I participated in a birthday gift exchange on the pregnancy board I joined with Ryan. Our secret birthday friend sent us a very cute "My first Mickey tee shirt" for Ryan's birthday.









Here are some other photos and videos from Ryan's 2nd birthday.








































































Click on these pictures to make the videos of Ryan opening gifts open in a new window: