High School Friends

Dennis was able to meet up with two of his best friends from high school this past Monday. Stephanie (brunette) and Caya (blond) met up with him at Chuck-a-Rama in Draper. Dennis and I have gotten together with Caya and her husband Mark quite a few times as they love to race their motorcycles at the Larry H. Miller raceway here in Utah. I was excited to meet Stephanie finally. She lives here in Utah but we've never gotten together. But of course things didn't work out because I had to take Ethan to his driving school and then wait an hour or so before I had to go pick him up. Dennis said it was so fun to just sit and gab about the old days and reconnect to these two. I know they both helped him through high school to be better than he was. Dennis spoke to the Young Women at Girls Camp about Caya. She was Jewish and knew Dennis was a "Mormon". One day Dennis was playing basketball and getting frustrated. He let some words fly that he shouldn't have and she spoke up and said, "I thought you were a Mormon!" Dennis said it really hit him to his core and made him want to be a better person. As he was leaving for his mission, he felt impressed to give Caya a Book of Mormon. She was leaving for the Army as he was leaving for Argentina. She read it and joined the church. (Dennis also had a girfriend join and a good guy friend). I know Stephanie was a good friend through school too and he is grateful for both of these girls for their good influence in his young life. I am too because I love the man that Dennis is!!

Pure Joy!

I love seeing this little face every morning. Eli is my little songbird! He wakes up at the crack of dawn and talks and talks. He is soooooo happy and lovey in the morning. Makes seeing the glaring, glowing numbers of the alarm clock at 5 am worth it! He sure has brought our family lots of warmth and happiness and we just can't imagine our lives without him!!

Finally Freedom!

It's happened!! Ava spent the whole night in her own room! She saw a commercial the other day for these crazy little pillow pets that light up the ceiling with stars. She went gaga over them so I asked if we got her one would she sleep in her own bed without mom or dad. She said she would so off we went. She picked out this little sherbert colored unicorn and named her "Bria". At 9:30 Ava was ready to go to bed without anyone laying beside her. (I had warned her that if she got out of bed and came into our room I would take Bria away). I tucked her in with this little unicorn and her doll and she went to sleep. We never saw or heard her the whole night. She feels like a big girl and we are so proud of her!! Freedom for us but also for her too:)

The "Sleep-Sucker"

Baby boy loves to chew and suck on my thumb since his baby teeth must be bothering him. The other night we were watching t.v. and he was chewing away. Then I felt his head bobbing so I asked Dennis to look and see if he was asleep and of course he was. He didn't let go of my thumb though. He was still clamped on until Jake took this picture and then he stirred enough to let go. What a boy!!

Double Digits for Jakey Juice!

Jake turned 10 on the 22nd. Since it was the middle of the week, we didn't really do all that much. He wanted a Journey doll from Toys R Us and an outfit for her. He also wanted a chocolate cake with yellow icing and orange sprinkles. (I found out later the reason for those color choices was that he wanted his cake to look like the mermaid tails on "H2O") He also asked me to make shepherds pie with texas toast for dinner. Pretty easy wish list. I felt bad though because it was a pretty rushed evening. Dennis got home around 5:30 and we hurried and sang to Jake as he opened his presents. Then we ate dinner as fast as we could so we could have cake and ice cream before Ethan had to leave for his driving school lesson. And since it was a school night everyone had to go to bed early. He didn't seem to mind the rush and was anxious to play with his new toy, which he did the rest of the evening! (Oh and the top picture is of Jake with his cards from Grandmas and Grandpas)

New Countertops!

Elena decided to update Mom and Dad's kitchen a bit and get rid of the old yellow vinyl countertops with quartz. They look amazing!! Mom is soooooo happy with them. Oh and new sinks as well. The new counters really make the cupboards stand out and the brick under the main part look pretty good. It makes the kitchen feel bigger too!

Halloween Already???

At our house, we take Halloween very seriously and pick out our costumes 2 months early;) This year Ava is going to be a fairy and Eli is going as a racoon! I can't wait to see him in it.

First Day of School-2012

Here are my little buddies their first day of school last Thursday. Brad is in the 6th grade and Jake is in 4th this year. I hope Lakeview will continue to help both of them and that they will grow leaps and bounds. They both were a little nervous the first few days but hopefully they will settle down and enjoy all this school has to offer.

Eli's First Solids

Here's our little 4 month old eating oatmeal! I started him on rice but he didn't care for it much so I switched to oatmeal and he loved it. He now loves his rice cereal too but I think he really likes oatmeal better. He is so skinny, only 17% for his weight so I'm hoping the cereal helps him gain weight and keep it on!!

Beautiful Creation!

I can't remember which of the kids stepped outside and hollored for us to come see this beautiful sight. It was the largest most vibrant rainbow with a lighter double beside it. It's always so breath-taking to see such beauty!!

More Cousin Time!

Jill went to Girl's Camp again this year so we were lucky to have Nick, Whit, and Reags with us for a couple of days. Reagan has been wanting matching outfits for her and Ava for a while now so Jill bought them both matching shirts:) And Whitney and Nick bought survival bracelets for Jake and Brad (didn't get Nick and Brad). Tuesday we played for a bit at Grandma and Grandpa Merrill's and then we went to a movie-some clay animation about pirates. Wasn't a very interesting movie but kids still got popcorn, pop, and candy;) We got pizza for supper that night. Wednesday we went to "Jump on It" and then played and I fixed swiss chicken over rice for dinner. Thursday we went to G+G Merrill's and then I drove the kids up to 7200 South to meet up with Jill's mom, LeAnn. They all had a good time but I think they were excited about seeing their grandma and get back home:)

Cause of the Weight Gain!

Everyone gained weight this summer. Even Ethan said he put on 10 pounds! This is the reason why-good food and little activity!! I guess we all will need to get back to the gym and stop making delicious desserts;) [I guess I can't say everyone gained weight because I know Rachel has lost close to 30 pounds these past couple of months]

Traditional Mother "Photoshoot"

Every year we "catch" mom in a funny pose and just happen to have a camera at the ready;) This year was no exception. She fell asleep on Dad's shoulder and her glasses went askew. I grabbed my camera and took a shot of her sleeping and then said, "Mom!" and when she looked up I snapped another. She's such a good sport to put up with all of us!! (I love Dad's face in the bottom picture!)

Eli and his Love

The first day Eli saw Elena he cried every time she looked at him (she had big scary sunglasses;). After that he fell in love with her and would even watch her when she came into the room. I think she enjoyed having a baby to love on again for a bit and of course he enjoys getting loves every second of the day!!

Making Blankets!

On the drive here from Texas, cute little Lexi left her "special" blanket at a hotel in New Mexico. Theses blankets are the ones that Grandma and Grandpa Merrill have sewn for all the grandkids. Lexi had had that one since she was 10 years old. She was so sad about it that Grandma decided to sew a new one and also Morgan to take to collage. (Grandma can't sew any more because of her thumb but was going to show the girls how to do it). As we were putting Lexi's together, little Ashlyn spoke up and asked Grandma if she had ever made one for her. We learned that Ellie had packed them all away so then we decided to make one for Ashlyn, Annaka, and Brit wanted one as well. Annaka was soooooo excited to get one-it seriously was like Christmas morning for her!! The big girls each sewed most of theirs themselves and we moms put "the littles" together for them:)

Youth Dance

Cousins were here again this summer and Miss Brit wanted to go to a dance at least one. I think our Stake was having one so these four went. Morgan had no desire to go and I think this one cured Brit and Lex from ever wanting to go to another here in Utah;) Lexi and Brit were older than the other kids but I think Ethan and Ty had a pretty good time.