Greydon turns two!

July 18^th was Greydon’s 2^nd birthday! I can’t believe my little man is already two. It makes me a little sad but it is so much fun to watch him learn and grow everyday.

We had our family over for a “Mickey Mouse” birthday party on Sunday the 17^th. We set up two bounce houses, one that had a water slide. Greydon was at the bottom pool of the slide when his cousin came down and they hit heads. Grey’s cheek just below his eye split open a little but thank god we did not have to go get stitches or anything. This put a slight damper in his party spirit for about 20 minutes, then he was back out having fun with all of his cousins, aunts uncles and friends.   He was spoiled rotten (as always) with lots of toys, clothes and a new fishing pole and sand box.

The injury

 Check out the cute Mickey Mouse cake my mom made!

Darin and I waited to give him our birthday present until Monday which was his actual birthday. We had set up a “big kid’s bed” in his room with sheets and a blanket from the Cars movie (one of his favorites).  We also bought him a little tykes BBQ grill. He has been into cooking and loves to pretend. I wanted to get him a kitchen, but I think that made Darin a little nervous.  We had a great time playing with his new stuff on Monday. Darin tied a little black weight on the end of the fishing pole and thought Grey how to cast on his new fishing pole. He still does not get it, but it was cute to watch the two of them.

Happy birthday Grey Bear, We love you!!



The Zoo

We had a trip planned to Flaming Gorge with the Romero’s, but because of Greydon’s surgery we were not able to go. Darin and I decided that we would keep one day scheduled off so we could take Grey to the zoo. It was so much fun! Greydon really enjoyed it. He knows all of his animals and the sounds each one makes. He loved everything about the zoo and all of the animals. He got to ride the carousel two times, once with me and once with Darin. We also took a ride on the Choo Choo train.  We are going to make it a point to take him another time this year!

 I despise the creator of blue candy

Greydon's Surgery

As everyone knows, Greydon has been nothing but sick all winter long. He has pretty much been on antibiotics constantly for ear aches, tonsillitis and the latest was the Adenovirus. Well, we finally had enough and decided to go see a ENT specialist Dr. Schuler. We had an appointment on Tuesday the 13^th and he recommended we have Grey’s tonsils and adenoids surgically removed and that we have tubes placed in both ears. I was freaked out by the idea but the worst part was he wanted to do it the following Monday. After a few nights of no sleep due to worrying myself sick, I was glad it was only a few days away. If I had to worry like crazy for a month I might not make it.

The surgery was scheduled for June 20^th at 8 AM. We went to the hospital and got checked in. Soon they took us back to a pre operating room and gave us a gown to put Greydon in. He was definitely nervous and could sense my anxiety. The nice nurse gave him a box of crayons, stickers and some paper to color on. This settled him down.  At about 8:30 the anesthesiologist came in to get Grey. He said that they would place a mask on his face to put him to sleep and then they would put in the IV and do the surgery. I thought he would freak out when the guy wanted to take him from me but he did not. All he wanted was to take his Woody doll with him and they Doc said it was fine. After watching this man, my baby and his wood doll walk out of the room I lost it for a bit. I eventually pulled myself together and went out to the waiting room.

The surgery was over in 45 minutes. The doctor came and talked to us and said everything went really well. The put me in a wheel chair and wheeled me back to the recovery room so that we could take him up to his room on the pediatric floor. He was pretty doped up and out of it but I could tell he was scared. Once we got to the room he slept for a while. When he woke up we ate popsicles and had lots of Apple Juice. Our nurses were amazing! The only hard part was keeping him from pulling on his IV. Greydon did so well we were able to go home that night. They hauled him out to our car in a wagon.

The next week was hell! I am proud and happy to say that he is all better now. We had his follow up with Dr. Schuler and he said he looks great. Now let’s hope his long streak of illness is over.

Trying to be brave

 All of his many animals including his most loved Woody doll hanging out in his hospital bed

 His super nice nurse!

Memorial for Grandpa John

My grandfather passed away last November and we had a celebration of his life on June 11^th in my home town of Driggs Idaho. We had waited until all of the family would be able to attend since many of us traveled from many different states to get there. My grandpa John is actually my dad’s stepfather but my dad says that he is responsible for teaching him everything he knows. He actually said that if it was not for him he may never have learned how to turn a wrench.  My dad provided for our family most of his life with his hands, mostly doing construction. If it was not for John A taking him in as one of his own son’s my life could have turned out very differently.

John Anton Melehes

John Anton Melehes of Manhattan, MT died November 21, 2010. He was 88.

John was born January 10, 1922 in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from Iowa State University in 1950 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He worked for Thiokol Corporation in Utah for twenty years, retiring in 1977. He was also one of the principle engineers that designed the Minute Man Missile Systems.

John later moved to Alta, Wyoming where he built the Teton Teepee Lodge with his children. He was also responsible for building the Targhee Village Golf Course in Alta and the Bunkhouse motel in Driggs, Idaho.

John later moved to Manhattan, Montana and lived there with his wife Joy until his death.

John was a Pilot, First Lieutenant in the United States Air Force during WWII.

John loved motorcycling, skiing, traveling and working in his shop and was a master of crosswords.

He is preceded in death by his daughter Kim Melehes.

Survivors include his wife Joy, his children Mark Melehes, Squeak Melehes, Dana Ross, Marsha Black, Brenda Baker, Marlowe Beck, Sam Cross, Bridget Maddox and 25 grandchildren.

We started out our trip with dinner and then headed over to our hotel where we were staying. We got up Saturday morning and went and played 9 holes of golf at Targhee Village golf course. This is the golf course my grandfather designed and it is beautiful. We took Greydon with us to the golf course and he has a blast.

The Wake was that afternoon at the Teton Teepee. This is a ski lodge my father and all of his brothers and sisters built with the idea and inspiration from grandpa John. We all shared memories, laughs and tears for about an hour. Then we had a Rum and Coke toast (his favorite drink) and we danced the night away to a band that Grandpa had liked.

The next morning we all gathered at the Teton creek behind the Teepee and spread his ashes in the water along with some flowers. It was a good time and exactly how he would have wanted things to go.

I love you grandpa!! Rest in peace.