THE END

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Dear Readers,

I am done. I am trying to simplify my life and so I from now on my updates will be on facebook.
Thank you all for those of you that stuck with me and checked this blog out!

Peace Out Homies!!!!!

Deb

Temple Square

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I love Temple Square at Christmas time and BTW - My kids are stinkin' cute!Image
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Parties!

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Merrill had his first friend party this year! It was great fun and total chaos! (As you can tell by the awfully fuzzy picture we tried to get before they all ran around! We had Jedi Training theme complete with light saber glow sticks and training games! Merrill has made a lot of fun friends in the neighborhood and we had fun!
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After his party family came over for pizza then he got to go with Daddy to the Nickelcade! This kid was so lucky and had a great time!

ImageNora had a small get together with her Grandparents (Grandma and Grandpa Merrill were in from out of town!) and she had an autumn themed cake!
ImageWhich she seemed to really enjoy!
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Although it is a struggle having so many birthdays so close together it sure is fun!
Happy Birthday Kiddies! I love you!


Happy Birthday Nora!

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Happy Birthday to my beautiful daughter Eleanor! I love you baby girl!

Happy 4th Birthday Merrill

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I LOVE YOU!!!!

Family Photos!

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Before we left on our vacation - I wanted to get our updated family photos - thanks again to my awesome brother-in-law Matt!
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Cruise!

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In January my awesome in-laws informed us that they wanted to take the family on a cruise! With loving family on my side that was gracious enough to watch my kids for a whole week - we were off!
We left on Sunday after Merrill's first primary program and drove to St. George, and then on to LA on Monday. We met up with the rest of the family that had left earlier and headed to the dock. We boarded our boat and then Tuesday morning we were at Catalina Island!
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ImageCatalina was great! There were fun shops, good treats and we even went parasailing! The weather was a bit cold - but I had my hot chocolate and was a happy camper.
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ImageOn the boat we enjoyed a variety of activities including a sing along with a very talented piano player. We had great food, karaoke, games and some interesting shows!
ImageOn Wednesday we arrived at Ensenada, Mexico. That was not what I had expected... but we still had fun!
ImageOh yeah - and on the boat the decor was very colorful and we were surrounded by these egg things - they were even be-jewled!
ImageThis is me in front of our boat at Ensenada.
ImageWe went horseback riding along the beach - I love that Matt was loaded with is camera equipment no matter where we went!
ImageDoesn't Mark look at home on a horse? (ha ha!)
ImageOn Thursday we stayed all day on the boat and played games, watched shows and slept.
ImageAfter landing in LA on Friday - we went to Universal Studios!
ImageThe new Simpsons ride was hilarious!
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ImageWe had so much fun! I didn't realize how much I love roller coasters!
ImageThis one turned out a bit fuzzy - but Anna is so cute!
ImageThe whole day was crazy - we were literally running all over the park!
ImageSo, a great week - wonderful to get away and oh yeah - I freakin' love my hubby! Thanks Mom and Dad Nott!!!!

Day at the Zoo

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So it's been a while but I finally got time to post these pictures of us at the Zoo!
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Mark next to last year's proxy.
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Nora was watching the monkey's and then would randomly freeze in this position!
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Merrill was exhausted by the bird show at the end of the morning.
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We had a blast!

Autumn

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Everything good happens to me in autumn!
I was born in autumn
I fell in love with my wonderful Mark and then he proposed in autumn
Merrill was born in autumn
Nora was born in autumn
I love school time in autumn - the idea of starting a new year, learning new things and new classes - it is exciting!
I love the smells of autumn! Everything from the crispiness of the fresh cold air to the warm smell of pumpkin pie in the oven. Cinnamon, Nutmeg, and cloves... mmmmmm!
Autumn is a time of anticipation... the big holidays are coming! Halloween, Thanksgiving and CHRISTMAS!!!!
There is so much fun in harvesting gardens and putting up the food for the winter.
The colors! The colors! The colors! I love the orange, brown, and the beautiful burgundy! The whole world turns into a gorgeous painting of all of my favorite colors as soon as I step outside!
Sweaters! I love wearing sweaters, hoodies, thick socks and long sleeves, curling up with a good book and a mug of hot chocolate (even pumpkin spice hot chocolate) and enjoying the shortening days with earlier bedtimes! : )

Anyway... I love autumn... and it is autumn... yea!

Garlic

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Last year my Dad got a lot of garlic from Costco and they didn't eat it all, then decided to throw a bit in the ground to see what would happen... this is what came!
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After drying it out for a week...
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Jamie and I braided it...
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And now we have totally awesome garlic braids to hang in our kitchen!
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I feel so Italian!

Day at the Zoo

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Mark finally had a Saturday off and we headed to the Zoo! The weather was great and we had a blast!
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The highlight for me was definitely the bird show! Mark and I both got grazed by the feathers of an eagle as it swooshed over our heads!
GREAT DAY!