Happy Birthday Merrick!

Merrick is 2 today - we had a little present opening party with just us

(due to the sickness of everyone but me)

in bed this morning. He got a few fun toys - the Elefun! was the favorite next to the pack of cherry Tik-Taks and Optimash Prime Mr. Potato Head.

He and Braxton got Superman Jammies with capes (I know you are jelous Jake, but then didnt have your size) and I think they might ware them all day long since we are not going to pre-school or anywhere else. Merrick's are a little big - I have to roll the pants - and they keep slipping down, but oh well.

As far as Merrick understanding that you are supposed to CATCH the butterflys as the shoot out, he isnt quite there yet. He just stands there with his net out hopping maybe one will drop in.

Pictures

So Merrick fell to sleep in the shower. Here is him with his hands propping up his head so he won't drown.........

And here is Braxton and Merrick with their Buzz Light Year get-up on

(Notice that Merrick only gets a onesie snapped

around his neck as a cape, and Buzz doesn't even have a cape....weired)

I just really like this picture of Merrick.

Birthday Cake!

I made Chocolate/Peanut Butter Cheesecake with Reese's for Merrill's b-day. Merrick got sick on Friday night (barfed when we picked him up from the babysitters...nice of him to wait for us to get there!) so we didn't get cake till Saturday (On MY Birthday!)

Then Braxton got sick.

Long story short - Merrill had to take EVERYTHING off the bed (the first place Braxton puked) and wash it - even had to take the mattress off and get the box spring cleaned. I was at a R.S. thing - but came home to help.

After 12 loads of laundry and lots of yellow bile - we have been barf free for about 3 hours. Yeah! Lets hope it stays that way!

P.S. Merrill said that Cheesecake is not so good smelling when it comes back up.

The Dress

Here are Jake and Lindsey shakin' it at the reception.

The reception was right on the beach - across the street. They rented a condo (the whole building) so that they could have the reception on the roof! It was a little crowded, but really nice....I loved the colors. Good food too!

Beach Day

Before the wedding - we went to the beach for a walk.....some of us were overwhelmed by the water - and had to get it....even though we didn't bring a single towel.

Jake's Wedding

We were in California this week. Jake got married. So that is where we have been. Got to see lots of family and had a good break from "Sorry Vista".

We are back now.....so I will post more pictures later.

Biggest Bug Ever

So we were outside with the boys tonight - and I saw something on the fence....not a bird....but something. I went to check it out and it was a HUGE Grasshopper! I'm talking like 4 inches long! We caught it and had a little fun with it - Braxton did take a stomp at it, but we were on the grass and it didn't do any damage - then we let it go. I have never seen one that big before. When it would jump the wings had red or pink under them - but I didn't get a picture - it was so fast! As far as I'm concerned, the bigger the better - the colors are so much more defined and amazing.

Baby.

So this is kinda' a test for my family. I am not telling - except for here on the blog - that I have my ultra sound on Monday before we take off to California for Jake's wedding. We are going to start driving from the clinic as soon as it is over and done. I will tell my family when I get there - but not any sooner unless they ask - and the only way they will know to ask is if they check the blog. I am so excited! I will have Merrill post the news when he is done with work. I'm guessing sometime afternoonish that the big news will be posted.

Odd things in Sierra Vista

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Both of these are true. I saw them both with my own eyes.

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The first one: The lady in church who wears orange earplugs in Sacrament Meeting.

I can see why - she sits in the back with all the families with kids - so I

guess the earplugs block the sound of screaming kids, but the

speaker's message gets through.

The second one:

Imagine if you can, driving down and 6 lane road - 3 lanes going each way.

There is a turn lane in the middle, for left turns, with no signal.

Standing in the middle of the road you see 3 people. All over weight by more then a little.

The first in standing there waiting to catch his breath from the big walk

across 3 lanes of traffic, and waiting for the cars to clear.

The second is in a motorized cart.

And the third is walking with a blind man's cane.

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Why are they in the middle of this 6 lane highway trying to jaywalk?!?!?

Did they think this was a good idea?

Guilty

I feel a little bad that I have told Natalie to read the books - I hope she doesn't let it take over her life like I did for a week. But on the other hand - I am so glad I waited to read them till they were all out - It would have driven me bonkers to wait for the next one and the next one and the next one....I would have been one of those people I make fun of - going to Barns and Nobel at midnight waiting for the release of the Breaking Dawn.....Thank goodness I didn't have to do that!

DONE

I have finished the Twilight series. And I loved it! Starting on Friday - and finished today (Wed) at about 3:00. Thank you Merrill for watching the boys. and feeding them and doing the laundry and cleaning the house!

I cant wait for the movie - even though the could have found someone better - more hot maybe - (we will see after the movie is out) for Edward.

Here are some pictures of the boys Sunday in their church clothes...I think they are too cute.

We had to get Braxton a suite for Jessie's wedding - so we got one for Merrick too....who could pass up a $15 outfit - complete with tie and vest?!

And our humming bird feeder - They are everywhere! They fight over it every day. Merrick will start yelling "umming bir" and we will look out - and sure enough - there is a bird getting a drink....they love it!