The Merrills

Long time, no blog...

2010-12-30T11:27:00.000-08:00

Paul's cut himself while shaving his knee...I told him the knee is a tricky spot but he wouldn't listen!

Then, since his knee was shaved, he went ahead and got some hamstring ripped out and turned into a new ACL and then added a meniscus repair for kicks (no pun intended)

Parker started breast feeding.

Paul and I went camping to celebrate 9 years of marriage...

Gunner got chubbier...and more cute every day!

For Thanksgiving, we went to Strawberry and had a blast. Family pictures in the woods.

"Team Gunner"

I can't figure out how to get these things in order so...whatever. August 4th my favorite sister had her first baby. Gunner Samuel Zandt. He has been such a blessing to all of us! This picture looks nothing like him because at 4 months old he is 20 pounds! He is so sweet and so fun to have in the family. Kaka and Coco make the best parents!

In June we moved from our 5 year home in Mesa to Queen Creek. We are on the border of Gilbert so we aren't too far. We really love it out here. This is the kids in front of their new house. They love it too and have had no trouble adjusting and making great friends!

Tooth Fairy

2010-04-14T10:45:00.000-07:00

My first baby lost her first baby tooth yesterday! It's about time!! She will be 7 in 3 months and I think she is the ONLY kid in her 1st grade class that hasn't lost a tooth. She was so excited and so brave to let her Daddy yank it right out. Historically, Sydney is not our most fearless child but she wanted this so badly!! Her note to the tooth fairy read: "Dear Tooth Fairy, I will give you my tooth if you give me your wand. So if you give me your wand I'll give you my tooth. Is that a deal? ok. Love, Sydney" After I told her that may sound a little demanding she added a few "pleases" but the general demand was the same.

The tooth fairy was not as accommodating as she had hoped. She got a $1.00 because it was her first tooth and a promise of a wand IF she keeps her teeth clean and loses another tooth. She came in my room in the middle of the night to read me the note from the fairy and tell me all about the wand promise. She read me the note again when we woke up for school and read it to her dad and brother...She was thrilled! She never smiles with her teeth in pictures but now it's a different story! This was a very exciting day for her and it was just as exciting for me!

Blue Dinosaurs!!

2010-03-15T13:06:00.001-07:00

Joe was on his first soccer team this year! The Blue Dinosaurs! He liked it but each week all he was concerned about was when he was getting his trophy! Sydney has one and he wanted it so badly! He went to his games and went on the field when he was told. Most of our time on the side lines was spent yelling "Where is the ball? GO GET THE BALL!! Joe! Joe! Follow your team! Run Joe! Other way, buddy! Kick it, JoeJoe!" I'm fairly sure he was only there in body...his mind and spirit were somewhere very different. His coach was a little intense for these little first timers and I think he might have been relieved when Joe missed a game or a practice :( We loved watching him and laughing when he was dancing around the wrong end of the field with his hands down the back of his pants! On his last game, we all sprayed our hair blue and cheered our loudest! He did have the best hair on the team, NO DOUBT! Sydney was a big supporter and was exactly like him during her first and only soccer season! 4 year olds and sports...AWESOME!!

(last game of season)

(first game of season)

Good Mom moments

2010-03-15T12:47:00.000-07:00

As a Mom, there are days that I am more proud of than others...This was a good day. We woke up to pouring rain outside so I told my kids (in their pj's) to go out and play in it. They looked at me like I was trying to trick them into doing something wrong then cautiously stepped into the rain. The minute it hit them, they acted as they should, like KIDS! They ran around and jumped on the trampoline. Syd wasn't up to walking in the mud puddles but Joe wanted to try it. After the fun died down they wanted to take a bath together so on went the "bathing" suits and they had a WARM wet blast. After baths, we build a sweet fort in the living room with blankets and books and watched a movie with our stuffed animals. This picture is one of my favorites of all three of them. I'm not usually this fun. Infact, I'm pretty grouchy most of the time... I hope they remember the good times! This was a more simple "good mom" day. We just sat outside and played all together. It doesn't take too much to make them happy. They are the best kids! I am one lucky Mama.

2010-01-09T12:42:00.000-08:00

For Thanksgiving we were so THANKful to get to go to my cousin, Traci's cabin in Strawberry! The kids had so much fun needing their coats! It was a very fun trip!

With A LOT of help, I made my first quilt! Paul and I have wanted a quilt for our bed for a while. He made me the mirror above our bed a couple years ago and this year I made him a quilt to match! I'd like to take the credit but I couldn't have done this alone to save my life! Thank you, helper friends!

We think maybe I was pregnant with twins but the other twin is stuck in Parker's tummy...no sign of it coming out anytime soon! We love our chubby girl! She pulled her shirt up like this...clothes are just too tight!

Joe Joe

2010-01-07T18:38:00.000-08:00

Joe is BOY 100%. He plays hard and is so so sweet. He loves his sister, Parker! Every morning when he hears her wake up he runs in to ask us if he can go talk to her. If we say yes, he BURSTS into her room and they laugh together forever. He allows us to keep sleeping...good boy Joe. He is right at that point where a nap benefits his mood greatly but if he does nap for even a minute he is impossible to get to bed at night. I love my kids!

The one and only Christmas photo of 2009

2010-01-07T18:20:00.000-08:00

This is my Sydney. This face says it all. But just in case it doesn't say it, I'll explain. She is 6 1/2 but she thinks she is 18 and knows everything! She is sassy and very opinionated! She hates the color purple and hates her hair the way I did it in this photo. She is beautiful and so loving when she wants to be and she is a great big sister...to Parker. This attitude on her face and Joe kinda clash. This is our ONLY Christmas picture...I was not snappy this year. Got some cute video, though! I love this girl and adore spending one on one time with her. She is so bright and special to me.

Thanks Heidi Stanford...and some rambling

2010-01-07T15:33:00.000-08:00

My blog is so cute and I haven't posted or even seen my own blog since August of 2009! I think Heidi probably knows my password better than I do! She is my friend and she has my permission to change my blog background...why would someone take their time to make my blog so cute when I'm never one here? Because she loves me. Why does she love me is the bigger question?? Heidi, you are a great friend and I love you so much! Thank you for making my dusty old out-dated blog look like a beautiful fun well written one! I know it isn't easy to make a cute blog and it takes time. Thank you so much! Heidi and I have a play date this wed and I am so excited! I don't know who reads my blog but if you happen to read it, you can stop reading this post, it is very uniteresting. If I'm being honest, I don't read anyone's blog. Not anyone's. I feeel bad about that but I just don't. I'd like to but...I don't. Today, out of morbid curiousity, I checked Ted Kimball Mac Jack Marshall Xander's blog (a nut job that used to be my brother...)and for the first time in 5 months looked at other blogs. If, I get on the computer, I look at (don't read) my email then check out facebook. That consumes me and I forget I even have a blog. I'm rambling but who knows if this will ever meet another humans eye. I kinda hope it doesn't cause I might offend some people with my "nut job" comment and unlike that nut job, I care about other people and their feelings. So, Mom, if you ever read this, I'm sorry to vent about "him". My bashing is actually mild for how I'm feeling...ANYWAY...Thanks again to Heidi Stanford and her creativity for making my words looks so cute! Sorry about the little tangent I took there in the middle. Hopefully I will post more often and more interesting. But if I don't...at least it is cute.

Finally

2009-08-25T11:20:00.000-07:00

This picture looks EXACTLY like my sister Katie as a baby! Parker has a beautiful future ahead if she keeps looking like her amazing Aunt!
I Finally got a kid that looks like my side of the family! She has a lot of Merrill in her too but she has the most Dickerson of any of the 3. She has brownish/green eyes...hazel, if you will. She is very similar looking to me and Kate (my younger sis) whom she was named after. Beautiful Parker Kate!

SPOT LIGHT on...

2009-08-23T15:32:00.000-07:00

TJ Dickerson is my sister-in-law but more importantly my friend! She is amazing because of a lot of things but I only have pictures of 5 reasons...This one shows how sweet and loving she is towards my kids. She loves them like they were her own! I love that! This shows how fun she is! She always dresses up for halloween! holidays are all a big deal to her and her enthusiasm is contagious...and she forgives bad spelling.

She married this sexy man I call my brother! He is awesome but I will save his spot light for another time. She married him and that means...a lot. We all know how much I love him so you have to be pretty dang awesome to get my approval.

She is crafty and selfless. She made the shirt Joe is wearing and the skirt Syd is wearing. She made a ton of other things that she spent her selfless time on but I don't have the pix.

She is BRAVE!! One "bad hair day", she let me shave her entire head...no reason, just crazy and fun! I was so jealous!! And another photo of her loving my kids...

She is so fun and so loving and patient and kind. She is selfless and thoughtful, artistic and talented! I love TJ and am so lucky she is my friend! Thank you TJ!

Losing a friend

2009-08-23T15:23:00.000-07:00

Some of you may know that I recently lost a good friend. Not to death and not to a move but because I wasn't the friend I needed to be. I have spent a lot of time sad and confused and empty feeling because of this loss and want to say to all of you that I love you. I know I am not always the friend I need to be and not always or ever the one to call or plan things. I do love my friends! I know I am the one being blessed by the friendships I have. I want to say that I appreciate all of you and the fact that you or anyone is reading this means I'm not alone. As the Golden Girls said "Thank you for being a friend..."

MISTAKE!!

2009-08-07T17:54:00.000-07:00

I am so confused by blogging and i somehow deleted people that "follow" my blog...can you re add yourselves please? I'm sorry! This was unintentional! Thanks.

MY BABY IS 1...WOW

2009-08-07T16:05:00.000-07:00

Her Auntie Heidi made this beautiful towel for her when she was born...

So tiny and before she found her thumb

Beautiful baby girl!

Trying to put her bowl on her head...everything she touches, she tries to balance on her head...EVERYTHING!

The only mess that doesn't throw me into a screaming fit...mostly because other people can be witnesses.

Time flies when you have a baby like Parker! She is and has been an amazing child everyday of her life past 3 months. She has had multiple ear infections and been super sick at times and you'd never know it because she is ALWAYS happy and fun! Everyone that knows her knows what a happy kid she is. She has a smile that kills me. She smiles so big that she looks frustrated that she can't make it bigger, She smiles with her entire face and body! I can't get enough of this kid! She turned 1 on July 28th! She can't walk on her own yet and honestly she doesn't even seem interested. She could if she tried but there is not much trying. We haven't had her 1 year doc visit yet but I am sure she's at the top of the charts in everything like weight, height and noggin size. She is already is 2T stuff...I love Chubby kids! Parker is our little hippo baby. She has her 2 big top and bottom teeth and she smiles so big, it looks like a hippo yawning or something. She is THE best and cutest baby, EVER! I also have the best 6 year old and 3.5 years old but this is Parker's post. :)

...backwards...

2009-08-07T15:45:00.000-07:00

Me and my GIRLIES!

Paul was ALWAYS down in the sand and getting dirty to play with the kids!

He is an amazing DADDY

She LOVES putting hats, towels, underware, shoes...anything that will stay, on her head!

Sydney and the girls...she was one of the "big girls"!

Well, A few posts down I talk about what we did on our Summer vacation then I posted tons of pix...because I did it all in one day it is all backwards but if you are just looking at pix I guess it's not a big deal. Here are just more random family/summer ones. Thanks for reading/looking at my blog.

Random pix of the summer and Family

2009-08-07T15:31:00.001-07:00

Paul, Parker Kate and Kael

Parker Kate after she had a good sandy snack!

Twin cousins, Cooper and Joe, making memories...

Paul being an awesome Daddy on the Beach

Parker, me and Madison in Cali

4th of JULY

2009-08-07T15:17:00.001-07:00

TJ made both these shirts! She is so awesome! Sydney turned 6 on the 6th!

Parker looked the best in her Tutu!

Humid but awesome parade!

Wyoming Pix

2009-08-07T15:06:00.000-07:00

Paul, Mike, Allen (Dad) and Bryan

Good Sport!

Girl Cousins are the BEST!!

Bridge Jumping!

CottonWood Lake

Summer Vacation!

2009-08-07T14:40:00.000-07:00

Well, Summer is over and here is a short recap of ours with pix because, if we're being honset, that is all anyone cares about.

Within 16 days we went from California to Utah, Utah to Wyoming, Wyoming to Utah and Utah to home (AZ). We spent almost a full week RIGHT on NewPort Beach in a house. We went with Paul's brother, SCott and his family and his sister, Kathy, and her family. It was AMAZING and I want to do that every summer! We stayed wet and sandy the entire time but that is a small price to pay. We spent the 4th of July in Springville, UT with my Brother, Blaine, and his family. This was awesome! Provo Parade was cute and Aunt TJ made all the girls there matching tutus! Thank you, TJ! Wyoming was a week of fun with the whole Merrill family! All 10 siblings and all the spouces and ALL 48 grandkids! We stayed at Paul's sister, Lisa's houses and had so much fun! I love those reunion! We then drove to St. George and stayed with my Best friend Aubri who married my cousin, Marc. We stayed for the weekend and drove home. The perfect end to our trip was that my WONDERFUL mother took all 3 of my kids the day after we got home so Paul and I could unpack and clean and be alone for the whole day! Beautiful!!!

Don't read if you don't want to laugh...

2009-04-30T18:50:00.000-07:00

I feel like I can only post if I have a picture...or a story such as this:

I am watching my best friends kids tonight and her boy is 4 and doesn't beat around ANY bush. I had 2 shirts on. One for looks and the under one to protect the world from seeing the moisture my body tends to secrete. Because, at that moment I was a little over heated and only around children, I removed the "looks" part of my attire. That was my 3rd mistake. My 1st was the seldom used gym membership. Sometimes I use it, the key chain part of my membership cleans under fingernails very nicely. My 2nd mistake needs no comical introduction. I eat more than I should of things I shouldn't eat at all. Back to the story...after I removed all that I had going for me, Tucker says "Who's in your belly?" That is funny enough all by itself but after I explained that cookies and Mountain Dew pop it out just as far as a fetus in it 3rd trimester, he simply asked "Why are you SO fat?" Nothing rude about that question...I know the actually food that took part in my shortness of breath and love of the couch but "Why?" Why am I so fat? I almost hate the Mom that says she's so thin because her kids keep her busy...that is a load of BULL! I have 3 kids and nothing about them keeps my weight off. My car drives me and my supposed diet pills to school. The Disney channel takes care of my cute little laxatives while I blog...and eat. The answer to sweet Tucker is "Because, my little friend, I have a genetic disorder that prohibits me from losing weight and on top of that, all 4 of my extremities have atrophied due to a rare and devastating medical phenomenon that causes the veggies I consume to attack and eat my muscles only to vomit them back as fat cells." FALSE By the way, no one is in my belly. Parker got out 9 months ago and #4 isn't planning a trip to earth for another couple of years.

A story about our DOGS

2009-03-08T11:18:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time (2006) there was a lost, skinny boxer puppy. Our family was blessed and got to take her in and name her Cinde"RELLA". She was inside sometimes but mostly outside. We felt bad so we got her a huge black lab (Bruno) from the pound as a playmate. Not a great match but it made us appreciate Rella more. Bruno went to live in Queen Creek on a farm with horses. That is the truth...not a story we just told the kids. Rella became a 50/50 inside/outside dog.I can't resist boxers because of my childhood dog (Clipper). When I heard I could get a brand new pure bread for FREE I did it.
Welcome Gus Gus (2008)Gus got BIG , as puppies must...and both dogs were too much for inside. Both dogs out side were ok but there was a lot of poop, they scared little kids and we never played with them.

Having another dog made us realize how much we loved Rella and wanted just her inside to be with us as a part of the family. We found a great home for Gus Gus and that dramatically upset Sydney! Paul made her a braclette out of rope and put his dog tag on it. He also promised that Rella could sleep in her room that night. She got better but now we have 2 very sad little girls. (Sydney and Rella will get through it together...)

I really love this dog! The choice was hard but we are happy to have our girl with us INSIDE and will not get another dog...ever :)

Lost Time

2009-03-05T10:28:00.000-08:00

Grammy buys the cutest things! "Oh the thumb sucker's thumb may look wrinkled and wet and withered and white as the snow, but the taste of the thumb is the sweetest taste yet, as only WE thumb suckers know." Shel Silverstein

Update

February was completely passed over. Sorry. I am making up for lost time with a bunch of posts today. Here is what's going on. I turned 28 and it was a really good birthday. Valentines day was also good. Kate and I ran a 5k for conjoined twins and had a very fun sister day. That night the husbands joined us for a love filled night. I got a job at a Chiropractors office on Wednesday afternoon's. I have never "loved" massage therapy but I do it cause I paid for the schooling, it's flexable and it pays well. I graduated in 2001 and got a licence back then but never worked anywhere while I had it. I haven't been licenced for about 6 or 7 years all along working at spas and now a Chiro. I have always wanted to work in a Chiro office and when my dream fell in my lap I felt the need to legalize it. I AM A LICENCED MT!! My mom and dad paid for it for me and it feels so oddly AMAZING to actually be licenced. I feel so legit. Anyway, I am working there now and for the first time I feel like I'm working where I should. One of my BIL's (Brothers-in-Law) is a part owner of a Mortgage company and he is hiring a lot of us as family to help out there. Another one of my BIL's is THE accounting manager there and is having me help out. It is like playing "Office" and the beauty is that I work when I can. So, I only work when Paul is home to watch the kids. I really like it so far. Paul is still in Chandler and still liking it. There is something so great about your husband loving what he does. It's one less struggle in life. I am the Webelo Scout leader in my ward and I'm not loving that but I'm sure I'll get something out of it...someday. Paul is in the Elders Quorum presidency...he can never help cause he works so much plus he takes a lot of over time. The kids are all doing great. Minor colds and little cuts here and there but not anything to whine about...yet they do. The Merrill's are busy but happy. This was a long post. I hope to get better at this but if I don't you'll know why...busy little mommy bee.

Sisters

2009-03-05T10:16:00.001-08:00

The other day I bought Parker the cutest little shorts/shirt outfit. When I showed Syd, she went in her room and changed into similar matching shorts and it was a photo opp. She is such an awesome sister.

This is Parker Kate @ 7 months old! She is crawling all over, pulling herself up to short things, eating food that literally make Sydney dry heave...:) so funny, and she got her first tooth. Bottom left. We are loving her so much! I love all my children equally but if I'm being honest, right now at her stage, Parker brings me the most joy and happiness. Sydney amazes me daily with her reading and Joe always loves me and cuddles but Parker...I can't get enough. We are going on a trip in 14 days and Paul and I are both worried about how much we're going to miss her...and Syd and Joe. Don't judge me...you all understand...or you will someday.

Spot Light On...

2009-03-05T08:37:00.000-08:00

When I had just had Parker, so many people helped me by just taking Joe while Sydney went to school so I wouldn't neglect him. One of my great friends, Becky, just had a sweet baby boy and I wanted to help. She used to take Syd to school right after Parker was born so I didn't have to get dressed. Now I take her cute girl to school and pick up her awesome boy Bryce to play with Joe. It has become more of a brother thing for Joe. He loves Bryce so much. There is never a day that he doesn't want Bryce to be with him the whole day. I would take him all day every day too but I guess his Mom loves him and wants him to be around sometimes. :) This is Joe and Bryce @ Walmart in a cart filled with towels. Bryce is one of the nicest boys in the world. He and Joe never fight! They have the "I had that first" fight every once in a while but they are both peace makers so whoever wins and gets the toy...honestly 2 minutes later, gives it nicly to the other for a fair turn. They will be great missionaries someday. I love Bryce and am so glad Joe has him. Wonderful parents raised that kid.

"eye raxer"

2009-03-05T07:41:00.000-08:00

In a high pitched baby voice with toy pliers and hammer in his hands, Joe squatted down and sweetly said to a crawling Parker, "Come here, Baby. I won't cut your eyes out. You want you eyes, huh? Where you goin' Baby? But, I love you. This is my 'eye raxer'. I won't cut your eyes out with this." When I looked at him in awe and confusion, he replied, "What? I won't cut her eyes out. You want a 'eye raxer too?" This is what I get for leaving them with Paul for a full day...:) She looks a little nervous to me.

Spot Light on...

2009-01-30T14:18:00.000-08:00

I love it when my family makes it onto other families blogs! I have only had a blog for a few months so I haven't seen anyone Else's before now so I am going way back on other peoples posts and seeing that, once in a while, I make an appearance in some of their history. I am going to start spotlighting one friend or family at a time on my blog. If you do not want to be spotlighted that is fine just please let me know.

We'll start with the newest member of our family, Parker, and one of her best friends, Halle! Parker and Halle are both July Rubys and sweet little girls. They enjoy long naps, bottles of milk, and pooping in their pants. Halle has 3 big sisters that love her and that are also good friends with Parker's older Brother and Sister. Halle's Mom is one of the nicest, selfless people I know. I met Halle's Mom 5 years ago when we lived in the same apartments and had our first girls. As most of my best friends know...it's not easy being my friend. I am not good at calling or writing or making plans. I love Halle's mom for making the effort to stay my friend over all these years. Hers is a friendship that I will never lose and am a better person for having.

Rememering all her hair dos

2009-01-30T09:37:00.000-08:00

First day of Preschool (3) "Corn rolls"
Fancy up do

Fun wig and spray

Piggy tails are too long!

I never thought I would be able to say this once bald girl's hair would be too long but I DID! Every new hair do was so exciting.

Age 1: Finally a clip will stay in stead of double sided tape

Age2: We can use a braces rubber band and do a tiny spout

Age 3: She is too old for a spout but that is all the hair she had
Age 3.5: Two tiny piggys on top was all we could get

Age 4: Full piggys or small pony tail

Age 5: Just about any do was possible but the ends were so thin and whispy and she looked homeless a lot of the time. (I'm no good at doing hair)

NOW: She is 5.5 and we got the BIGGEST hair cut of her life! Her hair is to thick and healthy now! She and I both LOVE it! Daddy kinda misses the long hair we waited so long to get.

You have to keep scrolling to the bottom of the last post to see the latest!

Hair

2009-01-30T09:07:00.000-08:00

Trampoline Hair

"Piggy Buns"

Creative Braids

WE LOVE THIS NEW DO!!

(only trouble is that it is right at mouth length so it's ALWAYS in her mouth...)

She looks so old!!

I GET to have TODAY

2009-01-27T22:47:00.000-08:00

I have had too many friends in the not so distant past that have gone through unimaginable trials relating to their kids. In the blog world you can read about them and then you read about their friends that can relate and so on. It's hard to see how much sadness and unexplained death and grief is out there and in my very close friends lives. I feel so helpless! I want to say comforting words but have nothing that will dull their pain. Some of the feelings I have heard mentioned is "Why do bad Moms and teenage Moms and Moms that don't even want their children get to keep their kids and I have to lose mine?" I feel so badly for these Moms that have to ask these questions! I have no answers to these questions. The only One that knows is our Heavenly Father. In my daily prayers I often get stuck in vain repetition "nourish and strengthen our bodies" or thank thee for "today". Really? Today? What am I saying? What am i really thankful for? I want everyone that reads this to know that I have a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that I know our Father in Heaven has a plan for us. Today, I am thankful for TODAY! I am so overwhelmed with gratitude for TODAY! I complain about my trails that are legitimate sometimes...But I have 3 beautiful, healthy, smart and loving children that I GET to raise. I GET to be a Mom and I love that calling. I hesitate when I say this because I feel like it may come across as insensitive to those that have lost children but I think they would rather hear me saying how incredibly blessed I feel to have my kids rather than what a pain it was fighting with Sydney today. I don't know why some get called home sooner than others but I do know that I am thankful for TODAY and the fact that tomorrow I will be tired when my alarm goes off because I GET to wake up and listen to Sydney whine about me getting the tangles out of her hair. I get to clean up the toys after Joseph destroys my house. And when Parker pukes on my carpet and poops in her pants, I GET to be the one to clean it up. I am thankful for TODAY.

Thank You!

2009-01-12T21:41:00.000-08:00

Much thanks needs to be given to my great friend, Heidi Stanford!!! My blog is now super cute! All she asked me was what colors I liked and all I said was green... Does this not scream, Amanda? She is Amazing! I love every aspect of it and it is all due to my wonderful friend. Thank you, Heidi, I love it and YOU!!

Joe and Coop's Birthday

2009-01-12T09:54:00.000-08:00

Joseph Paul was born @ Noon on Dec. 7th 2005. 8 hours later his cousin, Cooper James, was born in a hospital across town. I will admit @ first I was worried about having boys on the same day with anyone let alone a family member that lives down the street and is in the same ward. I thought they would CONSTANTLY get compared and they would probably hate sharing their birthday... I was wrong. It has been so fun! Cooper and Joseph are not even comparable. There are no two boys less a like. We have shared every birthday party so far and they have loved it! This was their 3rd. Aside from being twin cousins they are BEST FRIENDS! Opposites attract. They got twin Bob the Builder tool sets and twin bikes and so much more. Odd year birthdays are the little family parties and evens are the bigger parties. We have such an awesome family so the "little" family party was huge and the boys got spoiled! Being in December part of our party was making GingerBread houses. We had the party at Cooper's house. Cooper's mom, Kasandra, is a great hostess with great ideas. The party was a hit! Everyone loved it. I love my boy so much!

A little deep and personal...

2009-01-07T20:25:00.000-08:00

ABOVE PICTURES HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY OF THE WORDS BELOW AT ALL...I JUST WANTED TO HAVE PICTURES AS WELL AS WORDS. THESE ARE A FEW PHOTOS OF MY SYDNEY AND HER BESTIE...TATUM.

Are blogs about feelings? Well, here is what I am feeling tonight. I was very lucky and blessed to get to spend New Years Eve and the ball drop @ St. Joseph's Hospital with my longest and best friend, and her beautiful angel daughter. I only met this angel one other time but I will never forget her. She passed away on Monday and I am so affected and saddened by it. My heart has literally hurt because of the pain I know my friend and her family must be going through. I had another friend a year ago that lost her baby son and that too really affected me. I cannot begin to imagine the sorrow a parent must feel to lose a child. I haven't dealt with much loss in my life, other than my brother, and that agony actually brought me to my knees, made me punch the ground, made me lose sleep, made me make numerous bad choices...very literally CHANGED MY ENTIRE LIFE. The pain I felt was the most real and awful pain I've ever felt and my pain is, I'm sure, a tiny tiny fraction of the pain my friend is going through now. I love my friends. Especially you...you know who are (tingrin). I'm so sorry for your loss. You mean so much to me and I hate to see you going through this. I want to be there with you every minute but I know you are surrounded by love. I am here...

No picture, No post

2009-01-07T19:46:00.000-08:00

I feel like if I don't have a picture to post and talk about I have no reason to blog. So here are all the Dickerson Cousins...almost all of them...when we were up North for Thanksgiving but because my last post was about Thanksgiving we are calling this one Christmas-ish. I have a lot of pictures that now, after I take them, I think 'OHHH! I can blog about this!' However the time it takes just isn't my top priority. I do like blogging, though.

Thanksgiving!!

2008-12-07T11:33:00.001-08:00

Papa has the special touch
My Joe loves me!

All the cousins with Santa in Payson.

Parker Kate bing chubby.

Thanksgiving day was spent in town because all of Paul's family got to come here! My side went up north to Strawberry and stayed at a cabin. Paul worked the day after so the kids and I went up for friday and saturday. I love northern AZ this time of year! Blaine, TJ, Roxy and Ben got to come too! We love seeing them!

Sydney and Roxy loving the outdoors!

I can never get them to do nice smiles at the same time so this was our alternative...

Apple Turkey Time!! This tradition will NEVER die! Grammy and Papa are the BEST!!

A Pre-Turkey jam session. She loves her Daddy and wants to be just like him!

One of my many blessings!

Blog Etiquette

2008-12-05T00:16:00.000-08:00

I am VERY new @ this and have no idea the rules of etiquette that apply. I am on here and looking at my friends and then see that I know one of their friends so I just add them on to my friends...Am I supposed to ask first if I can add you as my friend? Some of blogs said I needed to be "invited" but others just let me add them. Is that creepy? I've heard the term "blog-stalker". Is that what I'm being? I don't want to be a weird-o. Please give me your input. TJ is the only one that actually knows I have a blog so...I guess I am asking her...you. This blog stuff might not be my cup of tea. I feel like I am violating people. At least with facebook you are aware that I am wanting to be friends and you can accept or deny me. Please, anyone out there in blog land, fill me in on the do's and don'ts. It is 1:30 in the freaking morning! I don't need this addiction!!! Goodnight!

Not much to say

2008-12-04T22:56:00.000-08:00

Me and My Man

Sleepy Baby Parker Girl

Sleepy Rella and Gus Gus

Sweet Kids before Church

Here is the family! I am so blessed to call this group MINE!

First Timer

2008-12-04T08:31:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure how this whole thing works but here I am...I will try to be a blogger. I know there are some of you out there that are very proud of me for finally doing this. Thanks.