...The Wagley Family...

Our Wedding

2011-02-14T18:40:00.000-05:00

Pink Eye Studios

Our Wedding Reception

2011-02-14T16:13:00.000-05:00

Pink Eye Studios

Happy Valentines and Happy Anniversary

2011-02-14T15:38:00.003-05:00

♪ You and Me, Can Do Anything ♪

Seven years ago we decided to be parents together. You moved in, after travel across country. I was 4 1/2 months pregnant with our eldest child. After I son was born we moved across the country to your home town, but we stopped and visited my family and friends along the way. You had Max and I flown to Indiana, which would become our home. Five years later and two more children, you proposed in the early morning, waking me up on our 5th Anniversary of being together. A year ago today we were wedded among family and friends. We've been together for 7 years. Our eldest will be 7 in July, our middle child 5 in May and our baby 3 in May. How does time fly. With all of our up and downs, it has been quite the adventure. I look forward to the many, many, many years to come.

Image Courtesy Jenn Morgan Dassatti

Happy New Year!

2011-01-04T11:46:00.002-05:00

2011. Wow, time really flies the older we get.

Let's see how I do with making more regular blog posts. Writing is not my forte...Photograph is. So, I'm always behind the camera taking pictures, just recently learned to not always be behind the camera and make just selective photos of times to remember ;)
This year will be interesting. Max is finishing winter break and 1st grade will continue for him. Spence is still in preschool. Tessa is still taking the Kindermusic class with me, Our Time (second semester will start in Feb).
Joe is still really busy at work, but it has slowed so he is actually home at 5pm or 6pm and has had some weekends off. Thankfully, it is busy enough that we are not sweating bills.

Mel's Grad school, third semester, starts at the end of January.

Max and Spence have a new friend on our street that they like to play with (acquired friendship from 2010). Of course, they do not get to play often with him.

Wow! A lot has happened in 2010

2011-01-04T10:52:00.004-05:00

I had not realized how long it had been since I posted on our family blog. Joe & I officially got married on Feb 14, 2010.
Max finished Kindergarten in our new home in Plainfield. He turned 6 years old. He played soccer over the summer. Had a blast. Max lost three teeth. Started 1st grade.
Spence turned 4 years old. He started Preschool at Light and Life.
Tessa turned 2 years old. But talks like she is much older. Tessa started taking a Kindermusic class with mommy, Our Time.
Joe worked a lot of hours, a lot of overtime hours at work. He worked a lot of weekends too. Thankfully, we all had a very enjoyable summer vacation down in the Smokies.
We added a new family member, Pepsi, a beagle.
So our home contains the five of us, now our two dogs and of course, our five indoor kitties :)
We are very blessed.
Mel, mommy, had a very busy year with her business PhotoBee Photography. She did very well and the business is doing very good, business is up from the year prior. Here's hoping it continues. Melissa also started and finished her second semester of Grad School. She is taking two classes each semester and is working on her Master of Fine Arts in Photography.

Some Quotes from the kids from 2010:

January, 2010 (Tessa 19 ½ months) Tessa has started saying the same things Spence does when upset and throwing a fit: (toward us) “Baby!”

June 2010 Tessa is 2. Saying 3 word sentences.

Max, just finished w/ Kindergarten, makes out a grocery list: Milk, Hune, Chicin, Mac…

Sept 2010 Tessa 28months. “I want to nurse on couch, Mommy”

Max, 6yr2mo. “Dad did you know there’s a national flower?” A flower of our nation? “I mean, of Texas.” What is it? “A rosenbaum helebowl.”

Oct, 2010 Max, as we sleepily finished reading in bed, “I love sleeping. It’s just like watching TV – You don’t have to move anywhere. Plus, you get to rest your eyes!”

Nov 2010 Max, after throwing up but wanting to get in the shower to see if he could feel better and go to school, “Even my voice has changed. I kinda talk like an alien. Listen: I don’t want to go. (in monotone “alien” voice”)”

Dec 2010 Max: “Dad, can you not have any more beers today?” Dad says, “Why?” “Because it will mess up my pattern.” (He had started collecting bottlecaps the day before)

Dec20, 2010 (Mel’s BDay) Max, whispering to me as Mom went out of the room, “Dad, remember what we were talking about a couple days ago? About maybe you taking Mom somewhere special…I don’t know, maybe Pizza King, I don’t know.” (In Max’s world, Pizza King Station, in Avon, where the train brings you your drinks, is the epitome of SPECIAL)

Please view PhotoBee Blog to view Melissa's business, to see her most recent work. Also, please view Our Family Pictures ~ Wagley, to see the latest pictures ;)

Been a while since posting...UPDATES!

2009-09-02T14:01:00.007-04:00

Tessa is 1 years old...actually 15 months. She is a billy goat. lol. She loves to climb. She is learning to talk, she can say: up, down, poop (say & sign), eat (sign), drink (sign), more (say & sign)please (sign), mama, dada. Oh, I almost forgot she can say "cheese" & "nigh, nigh"& "out" (outside)...I'm sure there are other words that I'm missing. She loves her brothers But is very good at pushing them away, since they tend to smoother her. & I mean SMOOTHER! Anytime she hears music she starts to dance (a daughter after my own heart).
Spence is 3 years old. He loves bugs & isn't afraid of anything. While in the Smokies he picked up a crawdad & when we went swimming at a private lake. It was no big deal. He got stung in the finger earlier this year from trying to pick up a "dead" bee. He is really growing up, he can get himself dressed, buckle his own seat belt...He has continually been a 1/4inch up to a full inch taller than what Max was at his age.
Max is 5 years old. He's in Kindergarten, 1/2 day. Rides the bus home. He has a learned a lot before starting school...reading skills, spelling skills, addition & subtraction. Hopefully, the social aspect of school will keep him interested in school & hopefully they hurry & catch up with him. He seems to enjoy it, but has complained about not wanting to go or about being bored. Thankfully they only spent a week on colors. He has had a job in class this week, so he's been very happy about going: handing out papers. Whatever works, I really want him to enjoy school (especially since both Joe & I did). Max's favorite soup is tomato.
Joe is still working at SM&P & for the most part really enjoys his job. He is very good at his job. Of course, he'd really be good at anything. He got his first eagle a couple of weeks ago at Twin Bridges Golf Course...Yay!
If you didn't know all three of the boys LOVE peanut butter & honey!
We went on our first family vacation this year, since Max was one. To the Smokies National Park! We went camping for a whole week. Thanks to the help of several people who took care of our kitties & house. A big"Thank you"! We had so much fun...The boys explored, we went on a couple of family hikes, Joe fly fished (not as much as he wanted) & Tessa & I took naps in a hammock. We also got to spend a lot of good quality time with Joe's' parents (Nana & Papa). Joe's' sister was able to visit for a long weekend. & Two of Joe's' Aunts got to visit. It was a lot of fun! We hope to go again next year! Camping with Joe's' family is awesome...in some many ways...But they definitely don't eat just hamburgers: spaghetti, pork chops, chicken, coffee cake (breakfast)...just to name a few. yum!
We are trying to get all of our ducks in a row, so hopefully we will be able to buy a house, soon. We have been living in this huge 100year old house for over a year now, it is wonderful. There are many things that need updated or improved, But since it is a rental, it is not our place to do what we believe should be done.
I am going to be starting graduate school tomorrow via online ~ working on my Masters of Fine Arts in Photography, for the next three years (5 semesters). I look forward to learning all I can about photography, of course, this will most likely be just a beginning point.
"sx" typed by Tess

Off to the Zoo!

2009-06-08T08:41:00.002-04:00

Spence gets to go to the zoo today with Sonja. His first adventure without mom or dad. The zoo trip was Spence's birthday present from Sonja.

Surprise !

2009-05-31T23:38:00.003-04:00

Spence turned 3 years old on May 26 & Tessa turned 1 year old on May 27.

Joe flew Papa Morgan in from Montana on Wednesday, May 27. I had no knowledge of this until after Joe drove up & was unloading my dad's suitcase. I did a double take. lol! What a marvelous surprise.

Who's birthday was it? Was it mine? It sure felt like it. It was a nice surprise.

A year ago when Tessa was born I saw my Mom & this year when she turned 1, I got to see my Dad.

The time prior to this visit when I last saw my Dad was when we went to Montana for my 10 year High School reunion, which was the June ('06) after Spence was born.

Tessa Is A Walker!

2009-04-28T19:41:00.001-04:00

Tessa can officially walk. She was walking in the hallway yesterday. Today she stood up in the middle of the room. & Of course, lots of walking.

Tessa Is Taking Steps

2009-04-23T00:05:00.003-04:00

Tessa is feeling confident. She took three steps from one push toy to another today. She also has attempted several other times. She did take four steps towards me today & then sat down and crawled the rest of the way. She is on her way to becoming a walker.

PhotoBee Photography by Melissa Morgan

2009-04-20T23:38:00.001-04:00

Click here to view this photo book larger

2009-04-20T20:43:00.000-04:00

Tessa can take a couple of steps. & she can free stand :)

Update

2009-04-19T23:56:00.003-04:00

We've posted I believe 13 mini videos, all without sound. But, they are totally fun...of course a couple of them are 1 sec long :P
We registered Max for Kindergarten this April for the next fall. Tessa is so close to walking. She has taken a step or two without assistance, as of yesterday, April 18.
& I almost have our Photo Journal up-to-date.

2009-04-19T23:49:00.002-04:00

More of Max & Spence playing basketball.

2009-04-19T23:34:00.001-04:00

Big Brother helping Little Brother Slam Dunk! Good Team Work :)

2009-04-19T22:59:00.002-04:00

2009-04-19T22:37:00.002-04:00

Tessa is teething her top two front teeth. She's tired. But is willing to play with my camera string while I tape her.

2009-04-19T20:57:00.002-04:00

2009-04-19T20:51:00.001-04:00

2009-04-19T20:44:00.002-04:00

2009-04-19T20:28:00.001-04:00

2009-04-19T20:09:00.002-04:00

2009-04-19T19:53:00.001-04:00

Spence

2009-04-19T19:46:00.001-04:00

Drawn by Spence

2009-04-19T19:38:00.002-04:00

Tessa practicing walking with daddy!

2009-04-19T19:32:00.002-04:00

Tessa nine months old!

We are engaged!

2009-03-16T17:35:00.003-04:00

Joe proposed Feb 14, 2009 @ 3am'ish.

It was our 5th year Anniversary.

He moved in with me on Feb 14, 2004, we were 4 months pregnant at the time with Max. Of course, we did not know that it was Max at the time.

Anyways, the "big day" will be this next February 14, 2010!

Some achievements of the kids

2009-02-04T17:03:00.000-05:00

Max can add & is starting to learn to read.
Spence potty trained himself.
Tessa is crawling & has two teeth.

So many things happened during 2008.

2009-02-04T08:46:00.025-05:00

So many things happened during 2008: Joe and I switched roles, had our third baby and moved into a house. Joe went to work full-time for SM&P as a utility locator. While I became the full time parent. I continue to work part-time at Target Portrait Studios, Lifetouch. So, Joe usually works the week and I work the weekends. Therefore, Joe and I did not see each other much. In the first part of the year, Joe and I had some monthly dates to a music series at the Royal Theater. Later in '08 I took off a weekend so we could have family-time. We also started going to church regularly, Unitarian Universalist Community Church, and we love it. We were welcomed and feel at home at our church. We had several false labor scares, which was embarrassing and frustrating, having already had two babies naturally. But we got a lot of support from our church community. May 26, Spence turned two! He is so smart, calm, silly and such an easy going boy. On May 27, we added a new family member, Tessa Jean. My mom, Theresa aka Meme, was able to visit when Tessa was born. Actually, she arrived just as Tessa was born. It was awesome having my mom visit. Actually, my sister, Jenn, and her new husband, Steve, and "baby" brother, Tim came through Indiana and visited, on their way to Vermont. Max and Spence adore their little sister, they smother her. I am constantly trying to tell the boys to get off of her or give her some space, lol. July 18, Max turned four! He is very smart and funny. He is very independent But is needy many times during the day, understandably since he has two siblings in two years. Funny, I was actually more worried about how Spence would do with the new sibling & not Max. Both did and do very well, But I think Max had more regressions in behavior that Spence did. The portrait studio that I work for went digital over the summer. We had our digital training, which for me was a longtime coming. Even though I had already been digital in my photography, the class took my photography to a new level. I look forward to future photography related courses. I enjoy learning new techniques and pushing myself in my work. Also, over the summer I started getting outside photography gigs. Back in '04 I had photographed a wedding and then later another wedding reception. Of course, I need to do another wedding because my photography has grown so much that the wedding photographs that I have do not do me justice. Anyhow, I had five private photography gigs over the late spring to early fall season. I cannot tell you how much I love my job, being a Photographer. And a mother , lol. In September we moved three blocks from our downtown, on the square apartment to a large 100yr old house. It is awesome! If we had bought it there are many updates that we would do, But it otherwise is perfect. We were blessed with lots of help from our close friends, Joe's parents and our church. The last part of the year is full of holiday get togethers with family. A very enjoyable time. We always wish that we had get togethers a little more often, other than: Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve and Christmas. There is this huge chunk of time that goes by before we see family. And an even longer chunk of time before we see my family. Anyhow, we had a very good year, much better than '07. Hopefully, '09 goes decently well...maybe as well as '08 or even better. At least one can hope and wish, if not be somewhat proactive about it. Lastly, I got a new camera for my birthday/Christmas, a Digital SLR by Olympus from my parents. It is awesome! I created PhotoBee Photography by me, Melissa Morgan. I became a member of our church, UUCC.

2008-11-10T01:05:00.000-05:00

make custom gifts at Zazzle

Who is your presidential match?

2008-09-25T22:53:00.001-04:00

This is a really good way to find out who YOU actually agree with & who YOU should vote for!

read more | digg story

The Business of Being Born

2008-08-08T00:25:00.001-04:00

The Business of Being Born

I believe every women should see this film!

Our Newest Family Member

2008-06-13T15:53:00.001-04:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Our Year of 2007

2007-12-29T22:29:00.000-05:00

2007 was a stressful year for the four of us. But in the most needed of times, Max and Spence have a way of making life more enjoyable. We are definitely looking forward to the New Year.

For almost 2 yrs. now we’ve been living in a pretty neat place: right on The Square, in quaint downtown Danville, in a long, skinny apartment above a business, across from the county courthouse. Front and back stairways and landings, parking in back, no garage (stairwells fill up with storage), cramped kitchen (Joe’s the cook), neat skylight in one bedroom (Joe did that), Farmer’s Market across the street on Saturdays, fun views out our front windows…

Joe has been busy this year taking care of the boys as a full-time stay-at-home father. He is very excellent at it all… keeping the house clean, us fed, and the boys active & engaged (the latter being the most important). He & the boys love going for walks around Danville, meeting new people & of course going to Ellis Park (6 blks away). Joe writes down significant or funny things the boys say & do; it is fun to go back & read his notes.

Melissa continues to work as a Photographer with Lifetouch. She has also taken wedding pictures on the side & tried two other jobs briefly (neither worked out - probably for the better). Also, Melissa worked as an Independent Consultant for Usborne Books (briefly), Pampered Chef & BeautiControl. Melissa also undertook collecting donations for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society & preparing for (and finishing!) a fundraising half-marathon in San Francisco in October. Those of you who had an opportunity to donate, Thank you! Melissa trained on & off for several months, which included walking 14 miles at Monon Madness (in Indpls) in preparation. Joe & the boys did awesome while Melissa was away in San Fran (Of course, this shouldn’t have been a surprise: Joe is AWESOME with the boys!)
Max turned 3 in July. He got a bicycle for his birthday, and “played golf” with Joe for the first time in August. He went on his first Roller Coaster, albeit a small on at the Indy Zoo. He can be smart, silly, and funny:

At 32 months, Max’s finger followed, left to right, ‘reading’ words in a book about bugs & insects called Creepy Crawlies, “Some live in Africa. Some live in ocean. Some live in reaby big. Some reaby tiny, like Spence. The End.”

At 34 months, Joe & Max are sharing a can of Minute Maid Lemonade, and he took the 1^st sip, saying “Mmm. Mmm. It tastes like popcorn. Mmm. It tastes like juice, and popcorn and a towel.”

At 35 months, Joe hadn’t shaved in 3 days, and had lots of white hairs on his chin – he pointed them out to Max – “Look - Daddy’s got white hairs, see?” Max: “Why?” Dad says, “Your hair turns white when you get old.” Max: “I don’t want you to get old. I want you to be new.”

At 39 months, we were over Joe’s parents (Nana & Papa) & Max asks, “Why did the banana go to the doctor…Because he wasn’t peeling well!” He immediately started laughing hysterically at his first joke. (We were all amazed & amused! Apparently, he learned it a couple of days prior from his friend, Camille.)

Also, Max is a really good big brother. He & Spence love to smother each other. Spence turned 1 in May, and is much quieter than Max. Like with Max, we taught Spence some simple sign language so he could communicate before properly learning to talk. Now, at 19 months, he knows dozens of signs. And he’s a quick learner:

After Joe demonstrates the “all-done” sign once…2 hrs later, when Spence hands Joe the remaining piece of peach, Joe asks him if he’s all done. He essentially signs “all done,” looking more like an ump punching out a batter caught looking at a 3^rd strike.

Since Max talks all the time, Spence doesn’t seem to feel a need to. Spence is well on his way learning how to talk, learning new words each week. Several words he says are: more, up, down, off, bubbles, pop, mama, gaga (dada), ma (Max), cocoa. He says several animal sounds: duck, cow, cat, dog…

We went to Eagle Creek Golf Course, the 4 of us. There was a free club demo and free 5 min lessons. After Melissa & Max got their lessons, it was Spence’s turn. We set him up with the little club Max had used, and he seemed awkward (more so than a 16 month old would?) Then Spence walked around the ball to hit from the “left-handed” side. He instinctively knew. He is a lefty!

Lastly, we are expecting a new member of the Wagley/Morgan family in late May! So, we hope you & your family has an enjoyable holiday season & we wish you a happy new year. Sincerely,

Joe, Mel, Max & Spence

Finished Nike Women's 1/2 Marathon!

2007-10-30T13:57:00.000-04:00

I trained off & on for several months. Walking btwn 3 & 8 miles most often. At one point I walked 14 miles during Monon Madness, in preparation for my mini. This really encouraged me to believe that I could definitely walk/run 13.1 miles. (hills & all)

I went to San Francisco on Oct 19 & came home the 22nd. I walked quite a bit of the mini but did run down the two main hills & the last mile. When walking uphill I did pass most of my co-participants. It was an amazing feeling. The weather was perfect & scenery was amazing. I did the touristy picture taking while I was there including during my mini marathon.
It was an amazing feeling crossing the finish line! I want to definitely do it again.

Fortunately, I didn't hurt until after I crossed the finishing line...I had a sore knee prior to starting from almost falling a couple nights before...& it started hurting before I started But a ways in I completely forgot about it, Until I was done...& I will reintegrate Thank Goodness it held off until I was done!

But, after I crossed the finish line some handsome men handed me my Tiffany's necklace. (I've never worked so hard for a piece of jewelry) & then I got a big sash thing & my Nike finishers t-shirt. I ate food...I mean I inhaled food, especially bananas. At some point I checked in with Team in Training...in the middle of inhaling food. Received a finishers pin from TNT...& proceeded to wait in line for my 15min massage.

Oh, that massage was well worth the wait...15min of HEAVEN! The masseuse worked out a huge knot in my calf...I was very thankful for that massage & I believe I didn't hurt as much later because of that massage, because I'm telling you, even though I was supposed to stretch afterwards my muscles did NOT want to listen & function as I wanted.

We rode back to our Hotel on a bus...I ate more food...Falafel (OH my...that was AMAZING!...talk about a mouth orgasm)
Then I called the boys & talked with them for a little bit...& promptly fell asleep for a long nap...Later, that evening my roomie & I headed over to the post-marathon Celebration. Where there was food, I wasn't as hungry then so I only had a few bites here & there. But, we danced.

Now if any of you have ever done an endurance event, you might be able to imagine how we danced...all stiff & barely able to move! After a while of rigidly moving the body, somewhat of a jerky spasm (if you know me, you may know that I am differently able to dance But this was a whole new experience)...All of us that were attempting to dance, our muscles did loosen up & we were able to freely move again. It was a miracle!

Having a massage & then dancing later really made recover much quicker...I did not really hurt much the next day...Just exhausted!

Well & Jet Lagged when I got home!

As for Donations, Thank you to all that donated! I also donated (sponsored myself) so I could participate in my mini-vacation that I happened to walk/run a half marathon.

Dad & Son Hanging Out!

2007-09-18T11:17:00.000-04:00

Joe & Mel

2007-06-24T20:12:00.000-04:00

The Rose in the Deeps of His Heart

All things uncomely and broken,
all things worn-out and old,
The cry of a child by the roadway,
the creak of a lumbering cart,

The heavy steps of the ploughman,
splashing the wintry mould,
Are wronging your image that blossoms
a rose in the deeps of my heart.

The wrong of unshapely things
is a wrong too great to be told;
I hunger to build them anew
and sit on a green knoll apart,

With the earth and the sky and the water,
remade, like a casket of gold
For my dreams of your image that blossoms
a rose in the deeps of my heart.

- William Butler Yeats

Max J.

2007-06-24T19:47:00.000-04:00

I'm 3
I love to go outside & play
I can be mellow & I love to be silly
I am a BIG brother
I enjoy playing with my brother
I am definitely "cool"

J. Spence

2007-06-24T19:36:00.000-04:00

I'm 1 yrs old
I have a very strong personality
If I don't like something I will definitely let you know
I love to play & laugh
My favorite activity is playing with a ball

All about our family!

2007-06-24T19:18:00.000-04:00

This is the Wagley-Morgan Family
There are four of us: Joe, Mel, Max & Spence
Joe is a joe-of-all-trades But mainly is a stay-at-home-father
Mel is a photographer, independent consultant for BeautiControl & of course mom :)
Max is the eldest & 3 going on preteen
Spence is the "baby" & is 1