The Blue Bottle!

OK, I need everyone's help. My two year is now potty trained during the day. At night she is still wetting the bed and this is why! This blue bottle of water has been attached to her since birth. It is her comfort! When she is sad or tired, she wants this bottle of water and her snuggle. So, what do I do. I know there are many out there who have dealt with this thing. How do I get her un-attached? My other two didn't take bottles or binkies, so I am just not sure how to do it. HELP! I don't want to be mean mommy! Do I have to be? I don't want to see my baby sad! So, how, how do I do it??

Cure Your Chocolate Crave!

GIRLS!! You know you get it! That terrible chocolate craving? I found the best cure! Maybe you have found them too. YUMMMO!
You will still have to go for a run afterwords, because even though they are FRUIT covered in the "healthier chocolate" they are NOT fat free. HELP, I am ADDICTED!

Just catching up!

You will find a lot of posts here that are new. I am so behind and because I am turning this wonderful blog into my journal, I need to get them all in here. So, I apologize for not staying up to date.

Tuesday Is Minimum Day

So, hey you locals, NP old-timers and Cypress goers, remember at "our" elementary school, Tuesdays are half days. It's been like this for as long as I can remember. I also attended Cypress elementary as a kid. I don't know why exactly, but the kids all get out at 1:30. Well, because of the 95 degree weather we have been having, we needed to get away. I surprised Spencer and had the car packed with all our beach equipment. When he walked in the door from school, I had his swim suit sitting on the back of the couch all ready for him to just slip on. The girls were all suited up, we were in the car headed for the beach by 2:00! We got down there by 2:30 and spent a very fun afternoon playing in the sand and water. Of-course, no one was there, it felt like it was our own private beach. I was able to relax, catch up on my reading and the kids played and played. They can't wait till summer. They couldn't stop talking about all the plans they have for me. Here are just a few shots!

Our other child?

This is Elise. Isn't she cute? She is Melanie and Chelsea very good friend who gets to come over every Tuesday for a playdate. People see her with our girls and ask if she is ours. What a cutie! Melanie would like to adopt her, but I think her family would be a little upset. I just had to post this picture because I love it, but also so her mom could see it.

Finally!

It seems all of Spencer's friends have lost all their top and bottom teeth. Spencer's teeth have held on for dear life. For a while we thought his absolutely beautiful, straight teeth were here to stay! Well guess what? Not so lucky! He gets to have those ugly, BIG, crooked teeth too. AND, They are all loose now! So, what does that mean...he is not going to have any teeth? How is he going to talk? Here is the second of 6 to fall out. He lost it at school, which I always wanted to do when I was a kid. I wanted one of those very cool tooth necklaces to put my tooth in and I never did. He ran into the house after school yelling for me. He had this huge smile on his face. He was so excited!! The tooth fairy is going to be very busy and Spencer is going to be very rich!

I'm not a baby!

We went to the park today and there were only two "big girl/boy" swings. Spencer and Melanie were on those and Chelsea was very upset. She really wanted to swing so I put her in the "baby" swing. While she was swinging she was also singing at the top of her lungs, I am NOT A BABY, I am NOT A BABY! Sad, she already cares what other people think!

Thursday Kid's Choice

Dan plays basketball every Thursday evening and doesn't make it home for dinner so, every Thursday night we call dinner "Kid's Choice." The kids get to choose what we have for dinner. Sometimes they want me to prepare something like their favorite meal, poppy seed chicken or tri-tip steak, but most of the time they say, "chicken nuggets!" That is easy and I know they will eat it. I did find "healthier" chicken nuggets, so they are not just eating grease. I figure once a week isn't going to kill them anyway. So, is it just me? When I do give them "chicken nuggets", I feel they need something else healthier to go with it. They get to pick that too. They can have a fruit or veggies. Sometimes they pick both. A friend stopped by the other day and saw what they were eating. She said, "Wow, you don't just give them the nuggets, but a whole meal to go with it?" She was totally amazed! That got me thinking...am I feeding my kids too much? They (at least the two older) are so skinny, I don't think I am. I guess I just want to make sure they are getting all their vitamins. So, tell me do you just give your kids the children nuggets or do you include some other vitamins? Am I feeding my kids too much? They don't have to eat it all, if they are full. Chelsea is having extra here because she wanted a cornbread muffin that was sitting on the stove. I don't even think she ate it though. So, I have carrots, chicken and water mellon (cornbread was extra). OH, she has to have her dips, ketchup and ranch dressing too!

Bad Mommy!

So, I feel like I blog about the girls all the time and leave Spencer out. One reason is because Spencer doesn't like his picture taken. He was doing his homework like a good boy the other day. I was a little bored and saw my camera sitting on the table. I just love teasing Spencer so, I just stared shooting pictures. He was fine at first and then started getting mad at me and told me I was "distracting him from his homework". Bad mommy! Oh well, I still love them! He finally gave me a good one! Isn't he so cute! Wow, he needs a haircut doesn't he? Can't believe he is going to be eight in just a couple months. Crazy!

36 DAYS TO GO!

SUMMER< SUMMER< SUMMER!! Sorry, can you tell we watch High School Musical at least twice a day! The best purchase to start out our summer...SAND! OK, so I know summer is not here yet, but we are ready. How many days? The weather in CA has been fantastic. I love that the kids are playing outside right now (look at the post time). No, we haven't had dinner yet, but they say they are not hungry! They are having so much fun with our new SAND. My mom has had this silly, LITTLE, turtle sandbox for years just sitting on the side of the house. We have never used it as a sandbox because it has no top. So, not only does Chelsea and Melanie LOVE IT, but Spencer has been playing in it for 3 hours today. I hope they don't get tired of it before summer actually comes. If they do, we will just have to move to a much bigger sandbox...the BEACH!!! Yah, for summer!!!

He made it!!

Yesterday, my sister Marylyn had a beautiful baby boy. Yah, a boy! I thought we all forgot how to make those. That is grandchild 24 on the Merrill side. Boys 9 and girls 15! Congrates grandma and grandpa! Gavin Paul Bjorn came a couple weeks early. If the child has Merrill blood, early is OK though. We are known for our large babies! He weighed 7 lb. 12 oz. and 19 1/2 inches long. He and mom are doing great! Marylyn is enjoying the new baby smells and all the cuddling. Annika (his older sister) loves being a big sister and is cute with him and his dad Andy is in love once again. Andy is such a great father! Can't wait to see the little guy. Wish they weren't so far away! Love you guys and congrates!

Five and sooo alive!

We finally took Melanie in for her five year old pictures. You know how it is, every time I went to make an appointment, she got a scratch or bump on her face or head. FINALLY!
Never did take Chelsea in for her 2 year old pictures, so here are hers too. Wow, it does get harder with the more kids you have.

Sisters and Friends Forever!

The Girls Photo Shoot - 2 and 5 years

Happy Birthday MOM!

My mother was born April 13, 1944. You can do the math to calculate her age. Doesn't she look fantastic! I’m sure she’d be mad if I actually typed the number 64. Oh darn. Did I do that? No mom, you can’t get the senior citizen’s discount until next year!

My mother is one amazing lady. She’s patient, kind, cautious and so very fun. Whenever I’m in doubt about one thing or another, my mother is ready and waiting to give her advice. Usually it is to get upon my knees. I’m grateful to have my mother’s support when I most need it.

How did my mother raise seven children? Four boys first and then, the three girls! My mother learned to be a caregiver early in her life, by caring for her ill mother. She is amazing and I am constantly asking for her advice and help with my own children. SEVEN??? I am just trying my best to raise my three. I don’t know how she did it. We all turned out so perfect too! Hee, Hee! OK, She also worries. Constantly. About everything. I’m not exaggerating. Seriously. She’s forever concerned with the well being of her children, grandchild, as well as anyone else she has come in contact with. She wants everyone to be well and happy. She MAKES SURE everyone is well and happy or she worries about them. I love so much that she cares about others.

My mother is conscientious of the feelings of others and she always makes the effort to help those in need, if she can. She raised her children with an ardent faith in God and she believes that the answer to any problem is prayer. Whenever I have a concern or problem I can hear her words in my head, “did you pray about it?”

My mother is the most righteous person I know! She has a testimony and loves her Savior. She is such an example to me. I love hearing her stories about working in Gods house (the temple) and how she feels so close to him there.

The thing I love most about my mom is she is so FUN! My mom is one of my best friends. My whole life she has always been there to listen. Even now when she is so busy working, I can call her anytime and she will stop everything to listen to me. Growing up, she was the “cool mom.” Everyone wanted to hang out at our house because my mom would make us food, let us hang out late and she is even guilty of helping us TP (toilet paper) houses. Yes, she was the lookout and drove the get-a-way car. She was the leader at girl’s camp who put the saran wrap on the toilets. She always wrapped our school lunches in wrapping paper on our birthdays and she always put tin foil in our sandwiches on April fools day.

She is an awesome grandma too! She has 23 and 2 on the way grandchildren. This is a lot, but she is close to every single one and they KNOW she loves them!

Mom, I am forever grateful to you. You are my example, my friend and my mom! Thank you for everything you do. I love you!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

True California!

Is this summer? No, we are only in April. They are calling it a "heat wave"! Wow, what an awesome weekend! We couldn't ask for better weather. I LOVE California. Every time, I start thinking...we should move out of state because it is just too stinking expensive here, we have a day like today and I remember, I am a true California girl. I did try living in the snow for two years, 1994-1995. I don't think I could do it again! We didn't make it to the beach today because we had too much going on, but the kids just loved hanging out in the backyard playing in the water and basking in the sun. Keep it easy and simple I say! OK, do you remember how fun the slippn' slide was when you were a kid? Just thinking of running full force and throwing my body down against the hard ground makes me hurt. Am I getting old? It just doesn't look fun to me. I think I would seriously hurt my chest, oops...I mean my self. Enjoy the sun or in some of your cases, the snow...not to rub it in my fellow Utahhers/Coloradoers!

Spencer our runner!

Today was Cypress Elementary's annual Jog-A-Thon. A Jog-A-Thon is a no-pressure, no-sales fund raising event that is fun for students, offers both participants and sponsors an opportunity to support the school. Everything that was donated is going to improve the schools computer lab. What a fun event. The weather was fantastic! It was about 80 degrees with a nice coastal breeze. Spencer did awesome! He ran 20 laps, which is huge! I helped out with the lap counting for each of the grades. The 2nd grade classes did even better than the older classes. Go 2nd graders! Yah, Spencer! Here are just a couple quick action shots I got while lap counting.

You can dance if you want to...

Chelsea loves to dance! A couple Saturday ago, I was woken up to music blasting. I went down stairs and found Chelsea (2 year old) dancing like crazy all by herself. Yes, she is dancing to "My Turn On Earth". I guess I better put my ipod on a higher shelf!

178th Annual General Conference

What an awesome conference! I feel so blessed to be a member of this church. As I stood in my living room and sustained these men, the spirit was so strong. I have no doubt, but know with all my heart, that these men are called of God to lead and guide us. If we obey their counsel we will be protected from the evils of the day. We were especially excited to see our friends Marilee and Adam Christofferson during the press conference. They were there with Adam's uncle (not dad) Elder Todd Christofferson, who was just called to be our new Apostle. Wow, how exciting! I can only imagine the joy their family is feeling today. As we sat here and listened to him speak today, we felt his spirit and know he was called by God. What an amazing Uncle you have Adam. And how great are those conference packets for the kids. We have them for the kids each year, but this was the first conference in I don't know how long, that I was able to listen to the entire thing with no interruptions. They are older now and love to color, draw and write, so they were perfect. We had one for each of the kids and they loved them. Thank you people who put these together! You are the BEST! Spencer even sat there and worked on that packet for the FULL two hours this morning. YAH!! He had to know the name of very speaker that stood up. He wrote their name and really listened to the talks. I LOVE LOVE LOVE these packets!

Saturday is a Special Day!

Saturday is a special day. It's the day we get ready for Sunday: We clean the house, and we shop at the store, So we won't have to work until Monday. We brush our clothes, and we shine our shoes, And we call it our get-the-work-done day. Then we trim our nails, and we shampoo our hair, So we can be ready for Sunday! I woke up singing this OLD primary song this morning. WOW, what does it mean to brush our clothes? Really OLD song, but I love it!

Every Saturday we are woken up early, either by someone screaming that they want choc choc AKA Chocolate milk or someone screaming because they got hurt by someone else. Today was the same as any. We let Daddy sleep in on Saturdays. He sleeps through everything anyway! So I am the referee Saturday mornings. Spencer stumbles out of his room and asks if it is school day, something he asks every morning because he dreads waking up early for school. I explain to all of them that today is Saturday and it is the day we get ready for Sunday! We have been trying to teach our kids that working around the house is fun. Melanie is our worker and she does LOVE it. Chelsea loves anything that Melanie loves so that is good. Melanie is my bathroom cleaner, Chelsea is my duster and Spencer...well, Spencer is getting older and smarter. He is learning that working is not so fun anymore. This last Saturday Dan taught Spencer how to mow the lawn. Spencer had such a bad attitude. He frowned during the whole job. After the job (he mowed the whole front yard) was complete, I sat him down and we talked about helping out around the house. Finally, he changed his attitude and was happy to help out. So, do our kids really have it so hard? I remember having to clean and work just as they do. Did I complain? I guess my mother would probably say YES!

USB-Home-Pregnancy-Test

Alright, this obsession with using the USB ports on your computer has just gone too far. I’m sorry, but when did plugging something that was just urinated on into your computer ever sound like a good idea? The worst part, plugging it in to the USB port actually offers up a useful function, namely displaying more data regarding what was found in what you just leaked onto the thing. Sure you can get the standard results of any other home pregnancy test right off of the electronic surface of the stick, but if you plug it in you get charts and graphs, all sorts of useful stuff.

The name is absolutely horrid too, PTeq, really? That’s the best you’ve got for $17.99 a pop? So you pee on it, plug it in to your USB port and that starts the whole mass spectrometry process informing you of hCG, hCG-H, and LH hormone levels with a 99% accuracy, and yes, it works with Macs as well as Windows machines, and Linux kernel 2.4 or higher. For the $18 you get the unit and 20 test strips, lets hope you don’t have 20+ questionable encounters before you lose this thing, you can pick one up at ThinkGeek. Come on girls...tell me it is not something you want to try out. POST ADDITION OR CORRECTION: NOOO, I am not saying I have tried it or am pregnant for those who are asking!!!