Sailing with Grandpa Clinger!

Grandpa Clinger recently purchased a sailboat. Dan is very excited and learning all the sailing basics. It is, conveniently for us, docked at the Ventura Harbor. Saturday afternoon Grandma and Grandpa came and picked us up and took us all sailing. Spencer had been once before, but we wanted to see how the girls would do. They did great I think. OK, except for Melanie. We gave each of the kids Bonine for motion sickness. Well, Melanie spit hers out because she didn't like the taste, so she didn't get any and she was the one to get sea sick. The sea was pretty ruff, that scared Spencer and Grandma terribly. Chelsea however is our sailor girl. She had a blast! Each of the kids had a turn at driving. They loved that! So, we are home safe mom. The kids say they want to go again, but the waves can't be big like they were. Melanie feeling sea sick (she learned her lesson!)

He is how old?

I can't believe my first baby is 7 years old today. He is so big! There were some family from our family reunion that stayed an extra week with us. We all celebrated Spencer's birthday at Chuck-E -Cheese. We had a blast!

Twins?

I think Heavenly Father knew I wouldn't be able to handle twins, so he gave me one at a time! They are so alike in so many ways. I hope they always stay close!

OOPS! I hate when that happens!

We were touching bat rays at Sea World and had the kids up on the edge of the "pool". I had a hold of Chelsea with my knee as you can see in the second picture (ok, minus my hands). Chelsea decided she was hot and wanted to get a little closer. I didn't even notice until she turned around to look at me. She dipped her head in the Bat Ray pool. She didn't fall in, she just dipped. Gross! Well, the gross, dirty water will either kill off her present cold or give her a new sickness of some sort! I know I need to watch this girl!

Merrill Reunion 07

We just had our 2007 Merrill Family Reunion. Thanks to my wonderful brother Matt and his sparky wife Heather, it was a very fun FILLED week! We loved every minute of it. Thanks guys!

This is our clan!

The 21 Grandchildren!

We started the week with all the adults meeting at the Temple. There, we were able to do a TON of family sealings. This experience is one we will never forget. Thanks mom for all your hard work.


Sunday we all gathered at the Newbury Park Stake Center for church in our "home ward." We then had dinner at "our house" and a FHE by mom.

All 7 kids and Dad!

Monday morning and afternoon we had our traditional

Merrill family Olympics. Thanks for all your hard work Marylyn! Monday night we went to Hollywood Bowl for the best fireworks show ever!


Tuesday we left the 100 degree heat in NP and all met at Silverstand beach for a full day of sand, water, and lots of cousin fun!

Wednesday the 4th was the zoo and then at night for one last year at Dave's for the T.O. Mall fireworks show/BBQ.

Thursday we had to say goodbye to some of the group. Many of us left for San Diego's Sea World for a couple days. Spencer, Mel and Chelsea has an absolute blast there!

Thanks family for the wonderful week!

4 days in Carpinderia...

We had an absolute blast at Carpinderia. The weather was great and our camping spot was the best. We were on the beach with the ocean views. It was so fun to have daddy all to ourselves on father's day and see Dan's family from Utah. The kids can't stop talking about it. Here are just a "few" of my favorite shots.

A mother's worst nightmare!

You know when you loose one of your children! Well, it happened to us at Carpinderia Beach on father's day! Melanie went missing for over 20 minutes! All those terrible thoughts of "never seeing her again" came like an explosion in my head. My eyes get teared up and I get sick to my stomach just thinking about it! She was supposed to be staying with a group walking along the beach, while Dan and I were preparing dinner. She wondered off and no one knew it. When it was time to gather for dinner, Mel was no where. With over 15 people searching in different directions and time ticking she is still no where. I contact the "camp host" who knows exactly what to do (must happen often). They contacted the lifeguard station and she was found about 1 mile down the beach. She was crying and a lifeguard stopped her. Grandma asked her what her most favorite part of the trip was. She said, "being found by the lifeguard and taking a ride in his truck on the beach." Spencer was very jealous (of the ride, of-course).

Keep your dirty "whites" out of reach!

Sorry if you are offended by this picture. Nothing compares to Ashley's prune picture (see Ruth's blog if you are interested). We thought this was blog worthy. Chelsea is at the adventurous age. She is watching and taking in everything everyone does and says. Well, I was doing laundry the other day and the whites were the last load, so they were in a basket next to the laundry room door. When I turned around to grab the load, I notice my bra (which was right on top) was missing. I didn't understand what happened to it. Well, the picture explains! When she saw that I caught her, she said "boos boos mommy boos boos?" OOH, she is so funny!

The Home Depot on wheels?

OK, when you look at this picture, what are you thinking? This was a handyman that we called the other day to come fix our sprinkler valve. I hope he didn't notice my chin drop when I opened the door. My first reaction was, does he live out of his van? Well, actually he has every tool and part he would ever need to fix anything. REALLY! In other words, The Home Depot on Wheels. It was kind of embarrassing when people would drive by, they just stare. What are they thinking? "Lisa really has kicked her parents out of their house. They have bought a huge van and now living out of it!"

You never know...

So, our ward is REALLY pushing missionary work. I really need help in this department because I am just not out going when it comes to meeting new people and talking to them about my church. My excuse is that I don't have any non-member friends. Then people remind me that I do have neighbors. When we moved into my parents house 2 years ago, new tenants moved in next door. We meet them right away and learned that it was three guys and a very cute 7 year old who was one of the guys daughters. I always thought this was a strange situation and told my kids if they wanted to play with "Kaitlin", they had to play at our house. After about a year, Kaitlin's mom moves into the house along with her older son. I sort of get to know her through our kids playing together. She has Utah plates which I spotted of-course when they first moved in, but she smokes and so I thought, there is no way she is Mormon. Well, the other day I was working in my yard when Kaitlin came running over with a book. It was a Hymn book that said Newbury Park Stake Center on it. She said, "my mom asked if you would take this back to the church for her". It totally reeked like smoke. So, this was Saturday. I have not had the guts to ask her why she had a hymn book from the Stake Center. Is this her way of letting me know that she was/is a member. Kaitlin sees us going to church every Sunday and has asked questions. OK, I need to get over there today. I will let you know what happens!

Gross

I always feel so bad! Mom and Dad come home for their "P Day" and they have to work. We had a sprinkler that has been "leaking" even though the water to it is shut off. I don't totally understand it but we have a HUGE mud puddle in the backyard. Dad said the "sitting water" is growing stuff and to keep the kids out of it. Yah, that is easy! Don't worry mom, she was playing in the mud under the swing set not directly in the "swamp." It will be fixed tomorrow!

To use or not to use "time-out"??

So what do you do if your child loves to be in time out! We have been using time-outs with Chelsea. Today, I couldn't find her at one point. When I went into the living room, this is where I found her (on the time-out chair). She was smiling and making a fake whining sound. She likes time-out? OR is she mocking me?

Freecycle

Those who know me, know how much I love this yahoo group! When you want to find a new home for something -- whether it's a chair, a fax machine, piano, or an old door -- you simply send an e-mail offering it to members of the local Freecycle group. Or, maybe you're looking to acquire something yourself like moving boxes or a computer monitor. Simply respond to a member's offer, and you just might get it. After that, it's up to the giver to decide who receives the gift and to set up a pickup time for passing on the treasure. Their main rule: Everything posted must be free, legal, and appropriate for all ages. It is so cool! If you love garage sales, you will love this site/group! Again, it is totally free stuff! You must not sell or buy anything posted!

Fish!

This is Melanie after just 1 week of lessons. She is going to be our swimmer!

How is Melanie doing?

Many people are asking! Well, that first night was actually hard and believe me, it was tempting to give in and grab a nite nite out of the trash. I was a tough mom and she was a very tough girl. She did very well. After that first night, she was just fine! She does cuddle with a blanket at night, but she says "so does daddy". We make sure it is a different blanket every night so she doesn't attach herself to "one blanket". What a big girl! YAH!!!

Spider Girl!

This is the funniest you tube! My dad told me about it! No, it is not any of my kids...thanks goodness! Check it out!

Watch Out Another Sneeky Girl!

We thought Melanie was a handful...here comes Chelsea! She has a great teacher! Wow, it has been quite a month with her. Dumping a full pitcher of orange juice on grandma/pa white rug to getting a stool, climbing onto to counter to the candy cupboard and trowing scrambled eggs ALL over the dining room are just a few adventures this month. This is her sneaking cookies out of the food cupboard after I had told her no. If you can't tell, she is hiding in the downstairs bathroom between the sink and the wall. Oh, she is no dumby!

We are doing it!

We have started doing it and I am so amazed at how smooth my night goes. What you ask, what are we doing? Well, we are reading the Book of Mormon every night. Before we would read it here and there, when and if we had time before bed. Well, before bed was just too crazy! They were too tired (OK I was too tired). So, this is our NEW nightly routine...and it it working!
3:30 Homework
4:00 Kids play outside, Dinner in oven
5:00 Melanie and Chelsea in shower, Spencer reads to me
5:15 Melanie and Chelsea set table, Spencer shower
5:00 dinner is ready and on the table
5:30 I am done eating (it takes my kids a hour to eat, sometimes more)
This is when I read the scriptures to them. That way we are having spiritual time instead of me yelling and them to hurry and eat.
6:00 we are playing or they can watch one TV show before bed.
7:15 we start reading books, sing songs
7:45 Kids are tucked in tight and I can relax!

WOW how smooth! We will see how long we can keep this up!

Bye Bye Nite Nite!

We are so proud of Melanie! When she turned 4 years old we told her that we would need to say goodbye to her nite nite soon. Today she told me she was ready. We first took all but one nite nite and put them in a box to send to baby Ashley (or the trash). I then took Melanie to Build-a-bear where she was able to pick out an animal to stuff. Part of the stuffing, is her nite nite. Now she has a very cute cat and she knows her nite nite is still with her.