Random Pictures I Found On My Camera...

I have to hide these goggles because Harley wants to put them on and take them off all day long. Sometimes she sees my hiding place and HAS to have them

Merick was napping and we were playing around with the camera...
Harley being shy? Ya right little girl I know better!
Merick's new obsession is playing games on the computer

Weirdo

Messing with the coloring of my pictures...

Playing with Merick's new shoes...

Thanksgiving 2009

This year for Thanksgiving we got to go down to Southern California to spend Thanksgiving Day with my family. It was so much fun to see them all and to be able to spend time with them. It had been a long time since the last time I saw them. I wish that traveling with kids was easier, I think I would get down to see them more if that were true. All the grandkids were together in my moms house. As big as my moms house is, having 6 kids under the age of 4 made it seem like the smallest house ever! I am not complaining, but oh my goodness did they tear it apart!

Then we got to go down and see Michael's Grandma and cousin's! We love spending time with them! Michael's family is so nice and fun to be with. I love that we got to see both sides of the family this trip.

I am very thankful for this time with family. Our families are the center of our lives and we love them oh so much!

These are pictures of us in our hotel room...

My brother Jace gave Merick his old Halloween costume and Merick wore it everywhere possible!

Harley loved being her own bell hop

This is my kids with their Great Grandma on Michael's side of the family

We went to Picture People and took our pwn pictures while waiting


Harley hated the shower so she would hold onto Michael soooo tight!

Michael got to ordain Jace to a Teacher...it was awesome! Here is some of my family

Kayden Lynn

Keelie Catherine

Michael's family

Merick Turned 4!

Merick finally turned 4! He has been looking forward to his birthday for soooooooo long. His birthday is the last one in our family so it is hard to watch everyone else have a birthday every year! Merick was so funny because when I asked him what he wanted to do for his birthday he said he wanted to do the same exact thing as last year: cupcakes and a movie. Everytime we pass the movie theater he talks about how we went there for his birthday and lists all his friends that came. This year I thought I would be fun to go see the 3-D movie Disney's A Christmas Carol. BOY was I wrong. The movie was NOT kid friendly and we ended up leaving early because it was freaking the kids out! I felt so bad, who thought I would have to do research on a G rated Disney movie? So Merick's birthday was not the success that I wanted, but Merick had fun. His friends got to come over and play, eat cake, open presents, and get 3-D sunglasses. All in all Merick's birthday party wasn't a total failure that I thought it was at the time.

The next day we had Uncle Danny and Aunt Ashley over for a family dinner. They were so nice and bought him a Mr Potato head that he has wanted for a very long time. THANKS PIONKE'S! We gave Merick his very first bike! When we brought it downstairs (we had him close his eyes because who can wrap a bike?) Merick couldn't stop screaming, "YES! YES! YES!" He was so super excited about the bike because he has been asking for one for ever! We let him ride it in the middle of the street at 8:30 at night. He was that excited.

The next day Merick asked me where we bought his bike. I explained to him that when we were at the store we bought the bike when dad told him that he had to go use the restrooms. Merick thought this was the funniest thing and said,"Dad tricked me." I guess we are still smart in our 4 year olds eyes. He still laughs about it to this day like no one ever in the world had ever tried to surprise their kids on their birthdays!

My thoughts on Merick turning 4 - wow am I old enough to have a child who is 4? Yes, I am definitely old enough - I just don't feel it I guess. Merick is generally such a good kid that I don't give enough credit too. He loves his family so very much. He is very open about saying it - which I love! He gives me kisses and hugs whenever I need one - we'll see how long that lasts. He surprises me every day with how smart he is and how much he does understand and take in. Merick has had a fun year with his first year in Primary, his first Pre-School class, getting a full sized big boy bed, his first bike, becoming an older brother, having his first sleep over, and becoming way more independant. Michael and I are so proud of Merick Daniel and love him with all our hearts. We never knew how much we could love another person until we added Merick to our little family.

Happy 4th Birthday Buddy!

Dinosaur Exhibit

Michael took the kids to the Dinosaur exhibit at one of the casino's a month ago and I keep forgetting to post the pictures. I was having a "day" so he decided to take the kids all by himself. What a good husband huh? I think that was the first time since Harley was born that I was in the house all by myself!

Merick was super excited to see the T-Rex. He said that the T-Rex and the big fish were his favorites.

I love living in Vegas where they have such fun things all the time! It is very entertaining for my kids!

P.S. Sorry the pictures aren't that clear - Michael took them on his cell phone!

Merick's 1st Day of Pre-School

I FINALLY signed Merick up for a little pre-school class through our Rec Center. He has been bugging me to go because all his friends and cousins go to school already. He was super excited for his first day. His teacher is named Ms. Angel and he is learning all the letters and their sounds in this class.

I thought when I dropped him off it wouldn't be a big deal because this class only 45 minutes twice a week. When I gave him a kiss and said good-bye I got a lump in my throat. I realized that he was growing up and this was the first step I guess. I still see him as my little buddy. I later talked to my sister about it and said I know it isn't a big deal, but I still remember every moment after we brought him home from the hospital. I remember what he and I were wearing, my feelings, the smell of our apt, and putting him in his crib for the first time because he was asleep. This was just a big step for me.

I love my little buddy so much, letting go is just a hard thing for me. This was more of a big day for me then it was for him...

She's Going Out

Lately Harley has been coming up to me and saying,"Bye bye mommy" and giving me a kiss. I think she thinks that she can come and go as she pleases or something. Also, whenever I tell the kids lets get into the car she sometimes goes and gets this purse out of my closet. So this morning I heard her playing in my closet and she came out saying bye bye again. Only this time she had on a random bracelet, one of my shoes, and the infamous purse-she was serious about it though. It was way to funny to let it pass without pictures...

Carving the Pumpkin

We finally carved our pumpkin the day before Halloween. Merick was all excited until Michael got the stem off and could look inside. After that he wanted nothing to do with the carving process. Michael blames that on me because I never want the kids to get dirty. What can I say? I'm a girl. Anyway, he had no problem sitting there the entire time until it was done. He was quite happy with the results though. GOOD JOB DAD! Your art stills came in handy!

Oh, I also forgot to post a picture of Merick in his costume...so that is why there is a random picture of Merick at the end.