Merrill family Adding #6

I really thought a lot about this in the last 11 weeks and how we would tell everyone or not even bother and just let it out when I looked really chubby. I forbid the girls to post it on Facebook! We were trying to wait till Christmas but to many ears around this house and too many little chatting Cathy's so here we go we are adding a another cute little rollie pollie baby to the Merrill family in early July.  All the kids are squealy , and happy. Bob is so happy he can't even contain it.  And then there is me happy, excited, nervous, feeling barfing and grouchy. hope the family can handle me one last time of being a prego crazy Mamma.

Colton has told everyone I have a turtle in my tummy!

I figured I am safe giving a big announcement on my blog because I think blogs are like dinosaurs to some people but I find comfort in letting my few friends and family know our big adventure we are starting with all of you!

Sewing project that worked.

It's called "My Girlfriends Breakfast  Club Apron"

Cute pattern here!

Here is my cute model! "Miss Emma" I finally made myself sew it was fun, cute, easy and I didn't even fight with the bias tape! Miracle. It did turn out kinda of small it was supposed to be for my Mom oops! It fits Emma perfect if I make it again I know were I need to add more length.

A Thankful Month

It has been a not so normal month for us...Bob spent 2 weeks in Singapore and India.  He was glad to come home to AMERICA! And I was too!

A day after returning from a foreign country I was sick in bed and Bob took Thayne to the Punt Pass Kick contest, in Daly City. it was frezzing cold and rainey he only gets one chance and it was sectionals the next rounds was a 49ers game hafe time! Here are the boys he had to go up against. YIKES!

Oh wow Thayne got 2nd place !!!! No 49ers game but thats ok they are almost all on Sunday's instead a burger with Dad in the city.

A little R& R at The Beach , football , playing in the water, soaking up the sun:)

 

Tacos @ Balboa



The tram ride over is always like a ride for the little people

 One night We took all most all the grand kids on my side to Downtown Disney. The girls never stopped signing Christmas songs they are crazy cousins when they get together. We ate some ice cream, hot chocolate & the best part met my soon to be sister -in -law!! Oh yeah my baby brother is getting married next year and even better close to us!! Wendy is fabulous. I think we may have scared her a bit but it was worth it our family is a bit crazy, Welcome too it.

 Oh we or coarse lost a child while seeing fireworks and listening to the carolers when made our way to the Giant Christmas tree in the grand hotel and lost can you believe it MY 16 year old. I have no picture but she took a seat by the piano and fell asleep!! We almost started freaking out, after we checked the bathroom 3 times, sephora, retraced our steps, and the gift shop about 5 times. Good heavens! I am thankful we found her just fine and a little rested.

The only bummer about this trip was not one picture of the big TURKEY day events. We had the best time and most delicious dinner at Cathy & David's with all the family in town. We got to catch up and get the scoop on the newlyweds, soon to be marrieds, cousins, and oh Uncle David has a hoop!!! The boys were out there shooting hoops all afternoon. Not to mention a little jumping, a fat lip& play-dough! It was wonderful Cathy even played the piano with Emma ( I wish I had a picture or a video of that) I guess we were having too much fun.



A month of thanks....

We have had a many things wonderful happen this past week for starters

 # 1 is the Chevy (as the boys call it) passed the SMOG test. This was a small miracle.  I had work done on it and then this light kept coming on and then poof. It went off the day I was going to take it in for the test. Yeah 2 more years for our great family wagon.  We named her Big Berth about 5 years ago or more but she also turn 10 this year and turned over to 150K so she is a dream for now!

Here is our girl she looks best from behind... less age marks:)

#2 The joys of having teenagers that drive is that they no longer T.P. the house.  Thank heaven it is terrible to clean it up but instead they love to write with car markers all over the windows...oh so lovely.NOT! Carissa had to remove some of it before school, then I was driving the car that says "I'm Hot Stuff"! Really, I guess I should take it as a compliment, But "I love Bobby",  not "Bradley"....lets hope this little trends dies soon I really don't like dirty cars.

#3 This one I start off a little bitter but after I did it I felt great! When My hubby goes out of town I love to have a project painting, sewing, redecorating,  but today on day 3 of 11 ten yards of mulch got dumped in the yard so we can begin to prep our soil for and orchard...this is a dream until you realize it going to rain in 2 days you have no husband, the yard guy who helps everyone on the street quotes me way too much money and its all up to me! YIKES! Then my two girls who could help are both sick as dogs...Yep it's all me so for an hour and half I loaded and unloaded the wheel barrel ( that I took to Big O this morning and they fixed the tire for me  for free! so Thankful for them) 20 times I was beat but I did it! Tomorrow morning I'll know if I can do it again for a few more days. Maybe I can get in done like a big girl.

Colton is my little helper w/his bike & water bottles.

....and last but not least I am in love with Mrs. Myers Clean Day products I really love them it helps me stay motivated to keep my house sparkling clean. the best is the little comments they write on the labels.

"CLEANS like the DICKEN. Smells like the GARDEN." or "Uncomplicated products for a clean happy home." or this one I love "Stacks of dirty dishes are unsightly and quickly become smelly-ick!-so wash up right away."

They have the cutest little sketch's also but this is the only one I could copy and paste.

so here's to a great month and lots of gratefulness....I have so much more but I'll hold back so I can blog again in a few days.

October was fun!

We had another football game. Surprise we won it was great. The best part was last week Emma got to be a Jr. Cheerleader with her friend Peyton and big sister Carissa.

 We have been making treats...these were the carmel apples! then we made 39 pumpkin sugar cookies for Thayne's class party.  Too bad he had too much fun eating candy and barfed last night.  No party for the 2nd grader. Big bummer.

 What do you do with left over carmel? make turtles I have never made them. These ones are slightly immodest the chocolate hasn't gone on yet.

 And then there is Trunk or treat our ward had one this year the kids were so thrilled to bad I had the time wrong we showed up an hour late and missed the games. oops.

Emma's a baby

Colt the Dinosaur

A stop at Grammy Lou's
this is our highlight candy and apples plus a crafts!



We Boo'd a few families it was eventful...with 5 kids at 7pm on Monday night it always is.



Carving pumpkins

Thayne has the biggest one!

 Wondering what to do if someone gives you over 20 hot peppers....



Take 10 chilies & 3 lbs of Tomatillo's and make  Spicy salsa verde!

I have been tired lately I thought it was because I haven't been exercising and eating Junk everyday. I know  its because we have been busy having too much fun. We are still missing some fun exciting activities but this about sums it up for October...Fall is a favorite around here we still have a month of Thanksgiving. Tomorrow we will switch gears for November.



Birthday Dad!

 I went with a birthday themed weekend... University of UTAH Utes! We started out Bob's birthday with Breakfast first, then Colton and I drove down to his work and ate lunch with him at the yummy Cafe O' Netapp. We then headed home to wrap presents in U of U Red paper, Get a red U on the cake and get everyone ready for the Friday night football game were they announced a happy birthday to BOBBY! oh Happy 61st! They didn't believe Carissa that her father was only 39 so they added a few years. The boys played football after the game on the field for about a hour. Then we had some hungry fans so we had Chipolte at 9:30 at night then headed home for cake and presents. All Utah gear was opened ,a license plate, glass, a new flag , and tailgating goodies for Saturday.

 Here is our crew we pulled up in San Fran. to tailgate with some Utah fans Tons of them it was great. some were Cal fans they were sooo fun and kind to the girls with there sign. We ate out BBQ , had too many chips the fans next to us shared their muddy buddies, it was great. The boys played football in the street, we used the port-a-potty, and added our face paint! It was great! We headed to the game about an hour before it was to start.

 Those Big guys came out it was so fun. They are huge!

 Then Colton fell asleep for a quarter that was nice.

 We got a group photo after the game! It was a sad game but we loved being at a Utah game and it was really fun for Bob's Birthday weekend!!!



144 cookies

Today in Sunday school I asked Bob if he was in charge of refreshments for The youth choir practice tonight he said "Yes" and then I asked if he got anybody to get something? "No" I thought how many cookies could I make in 3 hours? well it only took me 2 and half and I got 144 done. Not really enough when its young men and young women.The last few weeks have been over 100 youth but last weekend was only 80ish so I hoping for that this week.  I sent them off with 144 lets hope it enough. I only had a pound of butter in the freezer so I made peanut butter & a batch of brownies (some recipe from Paula that had oil not butter)

 Bob said "I'll just run to Costco" I said it's " Sunday",  little does he know if the kitchen is quiet and clean I can be in there for hours!

The problem is I didn't cook Sunday dinner. I got burned out. I will be better next week.

Pumpkins, pictures, and school spirit

Well Colton and I got a little busy and shopped around for some pumpkins...after 3 store we have lots of fun squash for fall. We made those Martha bats really fun and when the wind blows and the porch light is on ,they look spooky from the house across the street!

  We added bats on the mirrors and windows , yes we got a little batty around here.

School picture's They turned out so cute I thought I could up load from the website they lied and my scanner is not happy so here are the picture of a picture.

Addie 8th grade

Thayne 2nd grade

Emma 5th grade

I have crossed over to the dark side:) I have a dance team MOM sweatshirt oh boy we are showing school spirit at Northgate this fall. Homecoming is this week I am sure to have some goodies for next weeks post. Fall is in the air!

Halloween month yippee!

Oh Fall I am so glad you have arrived!

I so want my porch to look like this we will be making bats tomorrow, and collecting pumpkins all month I hope we can do Martha justice.

If my sister lived closer I would have her make me this for the dining room table, She is the most talented florist I know I wish I had the gifts she has, I try to be like her but fail miserably.

 For dinner tonight I made Butternut squash risotto:) yummy I will be eating all week for lunch. It is my favorite fall side dish. I eat it as a main dish.

 t

Yesterday it began to rain! Smiles on my face i had more apples from Grammy Lou and this time i made Apple butter. The apple this year are better than ever! And everyone is loving the apple butter . I even sent some off to Grandma because it is her favorite fall yummy treat.

When I have time I have my Peter's Carmel ready to make these treats. We have some kids that need to lose some teeth this will  be the perfect fix. I can't wait ....I will have to wait till next week.

My kids all want to make these little darlings for Halloween. Only if i get brave enough. I am getting tired just writing about all my favorites for the month of October. And we have to start on those Halloween costumes:) this used to be my favorite but the kids have so many thing they want to be and i don't dare start till they really decide what they want to be.

Oh Fall I am so glad you have arrived!