"Babe"

Happy Birthday, Melissa! This photo was taken when Melissa was three years old. Her Dad and I began calling her "Babe" when she was a toddler.

This is Melissa's third grade photo. She'd been taking ballet lessons for a year by then. She was an excellent student in school, and in her dance lessons. She was a little younger than this when Maria was born.

Melissa (9), Maria (1) and Kevin (6) take a break on the front porch swing after helping me in the kitchen on a hot summer day. (Maria's apron is her bib.)

Melissa and daughter Madelyn after Melissa's guest performance at Ballet Arts of Southern Utah annual recital. 2005

This photo of Melissa was taken at a family photo shoot. She has planned most of our photo-taking sessions. Melissa has a gazillion talents: she's an excellent photographer, a gracefully strong ballet dancer, is generous, thoughtful, smart, crafty ( you should see the jewelry she designs and makes), a great and witty writer/blogger, and is a wonderful cook.

We love you, Babe!