I Hope You Dance

The girls took the stage on Saturday for the annual Dance Recital. Both girls were super cute and did a great job on their dances. Ally...a regular at this by now...was poised and ready to go. She tried her best, did a great job, and we were so proud of how hard she had worked all year to get to this point. Kelsey, however, was a loose cannon. We weren't really sure what to expect out of her because she had never danced on the stage in front of people or with the lights before. But, we were very pleasantly surprised. The lights went on, the music started playing and there was our little girl keeping pace with the rest of the girls doing her thing. We were so excited for her...and a little relieved there was no nose picking, crying, or peeing of the pants. We were so proud of her as well. She's come a long way in just a few months.

The Girls and their teacher, Miss Kristen.

Proud Parents

Ally gettin' her groove on...

A Star is Born

The annual "Curtain Shot"

God Speed Meldrum Family

For those of you who do not know, I have a family of friends that I met several years back. Annie, their daughter, was in Ally's dance class as a 3 year old. We chatted weekly about random things as we waited for the girls to finish class and at the end of the year, registration was upon us. When I asked if she'd be returning, she said Annie would not be back because they were moving. Intrigued, I asked her where and she said Iraq!! Kristi's husband Tim was a youth minister at a local church and he felt his calling was to go to Iraq for 3 years and do God's work with the Kurds. They moved that summer to Texas to train for 2 years to go to Iraq. And today is that day. Their plane loaded down with 19 checked bags, 5 carry-ons, and 3 small children left Dallas at 4:20 and I have been thinking of them since. I think about them flying over free soil for the last time. I think about how the 2 younger boys will probably never remember life in America as they grow-up over the next 3 years. But, more than anything, I think about them leaving their families behind to fight for the Kurdish souls. I can picture them looking out the plane window right now as they fly over Georgia for the last time with a tear in their eye. Maybe for sadness...maybe for excitement...maybe for anxiety about whether or not they are doing the right thing. At any rate, I wish them the best and pray for them daily.

Meldrums...I know you are out there somewhere...and I am praying for you now. May God bless you and your family. May He give you all the tools and words you need to win over the Kurdish hearts and may you do it all with God's safe keeping. Can't wait to hear all about your adventures when you get settled!!!

Six Years of Love

What Do I Remember Most of Ally's First Six Years???

Very quick labor...Reflux, oh the reflux...2 days in the hospital for Rotovirus and stitches one week later for a busted chin at the ripe age of 23 months...Counting more bad days than good when we first came home and reflux was taking hold...A beach themed 1st birthday party where we "swim in our clothes"...The first day of pre-school...Dance recitals...The first day of Kindergarten...Going to the Braves game when she was 3 weeks old...Trips to the pumpkin patch...Going to Disney and meeting Cinderella for the first time...Losing her first 2 teeth...Spending a white Christmas in the Rocky Mountains and sledding and making snow angels on Christmas morning...Bringing Kelsey and Drew home to a big sister...Learning to write our name..."DoubleDew (W) and "Bargage" (Garbage)...Twirly Dresses...Night Terrors...Playing with Hannah in the Cul-De-Sac on the little blue push car...3 hour family nap time...Apple Picking...Tweetsie Railroad...Trips to the zoo and the aquarium...A trip to SeaWorld to see Shamu...Slumber Parties on the living room floor with mom and dad...Tons of friends who live close enough to call out the window to...Grant Seafood Festival...A week in Phoenix visiting Greatest Aunt Mary and Bob...Hugs, Kisses, and I Love Yous!!

Do you have any to share???

Happy Birthday Ally!!!

It was 11:00 PM on May 5, 2003 when we rushed to the hospital in anticipation of our first baby girl. She was our first, so we knew we had a long night in front of us...hours of labor, we were sure. We arrived at the hospital, checked in to A3 and got ourselves situated. The nurse checked me and we were at 5 cm and completely effaced. I tried everything I could to stay calm during the contractions, but they were coming hard and close. So hard I couldn't sit in the bed with the monitors on me. The nurse was kind enough to stand with me and hold the monitors on my belly because I wasn't getting an epidural without some sort of steady reading on the baby. After only a few hours, I finally got the epidural at 2:30 AM and making it to 9 cm on my own. I got an hour of rest and at 3:30 AM on May 6th, Allyssa Brynn had arrived in the world weighing 5 lbs. 12 oz. and a whopping 21 inches long. And, we have been proud parents ever since.

We love you Ally!! We are so proud of the little girl you are and what a great big sister you have become. May you have many more happy, healthy years ahead of you!! Happy Birthday Sweetie!!!

Tu-Tu Cute

The girls have their dance recital coming up and we finally got their picture back. So...I thought I might post them for everyone to see. The Jackson Five have spent a lot of time at home as a family lately, so there hasn't been much to post about. But since dance is an active part of our week, it's good to note we do stay involved.

This is Ally's third year of dance. She enjoys it every week and will continue to do it next year. This was Kelsey's first year in dance. And while the start of it was rough, she has come to love it and really tries her best every week now. We are so proud of our little ballerinas!!

Easter Fun!!

You would think by the lack of posts on the Jackson Five Blog that we haven't been doing a thing. And while that is far from the truth, most of what we do lately revolves around our new schedule with a newborn. Which leaves little time for much else. Regardless of that, we did find some time for a lot of Easter fun this season. We had a super fun Flashlight Egg Hunt here in the cul-de-sac with all of our friends. We had another egg hunt at church and spent some time doing some fun spring games and crafts. Lastly, we took the annual picture of all the kids at the gazebo. We really like this tradition because it marks the growth of all the kids and shows how people have come and gone in our lives through out the years...like the addition of Jackie, Stefan, Ava, and Ian to our neighborhood (even though they missed the picture this year) and the absence of the Whites this year. Plus, there were so many new babies to add this year...Drew, Caroline, and baby Max Martineau (who also missed the picture this year). Easter this year really did bring lots of new life to our little world!! Enjoy all the pictures...there are quite a few. Happy Easter!!

It's Official

We are finally the Jackson Five!!

Andrew Lee Jackson
March 1, 2009
10:47 AM
7 lbs. 12 oz.
20.25 inches