Merrill Thanksgiving 2011

This year we decided to have Thanksgiving dinner early and at our house since most of us go to in-laws for Thanksgiving Day. This was the first time I have ever attempted to cook a turkey and I looked at tons of different recipes but decided to go with "Grandma's Farmhouse Brine" with a few additions. It turned out so delicious and moist!! I borrowed Mom and Dad's roaster since I knew I'd need the oven for a few casseroles and it cooked beautifully but didn't brown so we put it in the oven with the broiler for a few minutes and it browned up somewhat. Everyone said it was the best so we'll probably brine the turkey from now on. We had turkey, potatoes, squash, pecan-topped sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, stuffing, rolls, chiffon salad, cranberry sauce, pickles and cheese, and mom and dad's orange drink. For dessert we had 2 blueberry pies, an apple, cherry, pecan, chocolate, coconut, and lemon (of course with whipped topping and ice cream). Amost everyone came. Shane was hunting (once in a lifetime chance for an elk) and Alisa and Meg didn't make it (they were having car trouble so Dean brought the 3 girls in his truck). Of course I had grand plans to take pictures of all the food and people before we started dinner but as usual things get happening and then it's over and I only have a couple of photos! We did have a lot of fun and the kids went crazy like they always do when they get together!

Ava Girl Turns 4!

I really can not believe our little shrimp is now 4 years old! She went with me, Brad, and Jake to the store to show us what she really liked. She told us she liked a pop-up tent, make-up, princess shoes, a doodle bear, and she went crazy for a Barbie computer. Then I took her down a different aisle while the boys bought her a doodle bear and then we switched while I bought her the little computer. We went home and had pizza and her cupcakes. She picked Harry Potter because they had rings. She had several friends bring her presents over the next few days. She got a cute little cd player from Hope, littlest pet shop from Finn, a little animal that opens it's mouth and sings from the bishop's family, and a bag of lip gloss and fun things from Ethan and Ava Welch. The next night, Saturday, we took her to Panda Express (the kids love it!).

Jake's Cultural Museum

This past week, the 3rd grade classes at Lakeview Academy had to put on a "cultural museum" of different countries. They had to research 10 facts (5 the teacher picked and 5 they picked themselves). They had to do a poster of the facts with photos, plan and name a restaurant with a menu, and dress up in costume as they presented their facts to parents and family. Dennis went to Argentina on his mission so Jake picked Argentina. He really enjoyed the research but didn't like the typing and dressing up. The bottom photo is of him in the morning, worrying that his costume wasn't good enough and didn't look like Argentinians. He did get some comments on his authentic "gaucho" belt and after it was over he told me that it was the best project ever, and he never got to do anything like that at Meadow Elementary. Such a funny boy!

Halloween 2011 for the Ralphs

The kids switched into more costumes this year than they ever have. Ethan went to a dance as Frankenstein, then to school as a "Men in Black" guy with suit and shades and then Halloween night he dressed as a scarecrow to pass out candy to the kids. Jake started off as a biker dude with a long blonde wig but decided to go as a rocker instead and leave the wig home. Brad went as Joseph Smith to his school party. He still had his long hair which he slicked back on top and then pulled the sides forward like Joseph used to. I wish I had taken a picture of him before he left the house-he really did resemble him and some of his friends even guessed who he was. (after school he wanted his hair cut so I didn't get a picture of him as Joseph) He had several teachers compliment him on his costume. I was a little worried that he might get made fun of but apparently all went well. He even took Dennis mission scriptures that have the leather cover with engravings on them. Dennis dressed up with his Eagles garb when he got home from work and took the three younger ones around for trick-or-treating. Ethan stayed with me and passed out candy but as soon as it was dark he took a chair out to the porch and told me to stay inside:) (he is too old to be seen passing out candy with his mom and wanted to do it by himself). Kids had a blast with their daddy and got way too much candy, as usual!

Dad Turns 77!

We celebrated Dad's 77th birthday on Sunday the 30th. Mother will hate these pictures of her but I thought they were so funny. I wish I could remember what she was saying when she's looking up at Dad with those mischevious eyes. Must have been pretty funny by the looks of the next pictures of her laughing. Mom made two cakes for Dad (a plain one she thought the kids would like and a fancy one for the adults). They made beef stew and home-made mac and cheese and a jello salad as well. Everyone loved it and didn't have much room for cake! It was a fun evening together.

Cousins Halloween Costumes

Kate and Eden were the only ones to be dressed up this year at Grandma and Grandpa's. Rachel's kids had already taken pictures and were back into their street clothes and we were a bit late so mine didn't dress up either. McKenna had fallen off the trampoline and had her arm in a sling. She may have broken her elbow and will have to have more x-rays this week after swelling goes down. So we have Kate as Cleopatra and Eden as Alice. What cute girls!

Carving Time!

The kids sure do love carving pumpkins! Even ol' Ethan got into it:) Ava's baby pumpkin turned out solid all the way through so we weren't able to cut eyes and a mouth into it but she enjoyed watching brothers carve their faces. We tried to light them on Halloween night but they burned out really fast because of the wind. Anyway, it was a fun project to do together.

Pinewood Derby

I think this is one of Dennis' least favorite things in scouts. He doesn't have the time he needs to really make the cars as fast or as cool looking as the other Dads. The boys, however, love it and don't seem to mind that their cars come in last or second to last every year;) They enjoyed every second of the derby and Miss Ava met up with Finn and had a great time as well.

A really neat thing happened at the derby this year. The man who owns the track brought his teenaged daughter with him to help out. As Dennis and the kids were leaving she went up to Dennis and asked if Brad was his son. She then told him that out of all the derbys she's been to that Brad was the most polite, patient, and respectful boy she has seen. He was smiling ear to ear when Dennis came home and told me.