MelKate Creations

Click HERE to explore my blog of signs.

The funny thing is...I actually started it over 2 years ago and FORGOT!! Yes, I forgot that I had started another blog. Now that I have people asking me where they can find my work I have decided it's time to make my work a little more visible.

If you have a saying, quote, scripture or name you want on a sign let me know. And if you can think of something outside the box that will challenge me...go for it. Tonight I was asked to create a soccer crest for Liverpool. This will be a new feat, the spirit is willing, who knows about the skill. I love to create one of a kinds. You will see, occasionally I make duplicates but that is not what I enjoy. My prices are usually too low because it's not realistic to charge for my creative time. If Reagan was my business manager she would remove me from talking money. That girl is no-nonsense! Gosh, I digress. Anyway, you will see my prices are lower than etsy or the local craft fair and you will receive in return a piece of my heart. Check out what I have made right here. Come back often as I hope to keep new fun seasonal signs coming you way.

Wrapping up December Activities

Just a random post of pictures and comments from December.

The biggest change to the Raabe home this year is the addition of little Luna. She is a 4 month old kitten from the Human Society. She's from the streets and able to take Bella to task. This bundle of energy is driving our 8 year old resident kitty crazy! We love her!

Reagan being brave with Bella and Luna

Olivia's ice skating birthday party

Emma is home for Christmas break!!!!!!

Our girl needs some down time...no school, no work, no drama just lots of hugs, lots of laughs and some good home cookin'. 

After she had a couple days of R&R the wisdom teeth came out and it hasn't been all that easy of a recovery. She woke up angry and hasn't been all that happy for the last five days. Today she actually felt good enough to get out of the house for a few hours, that's a good start.

Emma kicked off all our surgeries in early 2017 and now I declare she has ended the Raabe MASH unit. Time to pay off the medical bills and discard all that leftover pain medication.

 Liv was the best munchkin, old lady, monkey and OZ-ian in her middle school musical, The Wizard of Oz. The amount of extra time these kids put in was remarkable. I didn't even have to do anything but was exhausted by the final day of rehearsal! Our girl had 4 costume changes and one line but lots of singing and dancing. Proud of you Liv!

The Secret Santa reveal middle school style

It was a last minute proposal by Olivia which meant I spent an entire day preparing but it's worth it. I love getting to know the girls' friends and hosting a party is the perfect way to do it. 

December is Upon Us

The 12th and final month of the year is filled with so many goodies...Christmas decorations, Olivia's birthday, baking peppernuts, Christmas concerts, Christmas cards and if we are lucky, the first snow fall. 

Today, December 4, 2018, marks the 13th year of our youngest daughter's life. The baby, how is it possible that the "B-A-B-Y" is a teenager? All those years of baby seats, toddler toys and board books are over. In this house it's full on hormonal outbursts, having nothing to wear and running late for a very important date...and that's just me. Add in 2-3 other young ladies and one might say Chris has his hands full. 

I remember back in the day (1998 for example) Chris and I decided we would have 2 children, preferably one boy and one girl...in that order. After our first one came along it was clear that we were going to be amazing parents. She was basically perfect, slept through the night, seldom threw fits and was cute as could be. I guess this is where I admit that we dropped (not really "dropped" but sounds more dramatic that way) our 18 month old baby girl through bleachers at a high school football game. Do we still get the title of perfect parents? Baby #2 came along and she was nothing like #1. Those first 13 months of crying were hard on all of us. That's when we knew the book deal for perfect parenting was not going to happen. After nine years of declaring we would play man-to-man defense we made the move to zone defense, baby #3 was on her way. She is a beautiful mixture of her two sisters and yet Olivia is her own person. Looking back over the years, I can't even imagine life without our #3. 

Happy Birthday Livie! 

Birthday Gift...Mom/Daughter date at the Orpheum

First Showchoir concert
On her birthday

This was our life for her first 21 months

Just precious

She is strong & can do anything!