It tiny bit of happy for today!

I read a blog a few times a week for my little happy spot to keep me going and this was on it today! I Love Susan Branch she is such a joy to read.  I wish I could have her artistic abilities :)  Well I'm not a cat lover like her but everything else just fits. Now all I want to do is go on a family vacation to Martha's Vineyard during each season!

December 2011 part 2

Now to finish off the month Colton Graduated from Nursery at church and is now a big sunbeam! He did great his first week he was just sad his friend Macy was not in his new class. (I think he really loves her)

 On Christmas day Bolton and Michelle came down for a few days and played we had a yummy Christmas dinner and then on Monday we went off to Half Moon Bay. It was COLD but we loved every minute of it. We played football made, sand angles, touched the water and the girls thought it was a great day to have a photo shoot. lots of pictures were taken.

We have no pictures of our lunch, maybe because it was sooo good, we all just ate so fast. Carissa Yelped a great place in Half Moon Bay for lunch...It was this little sandwich shop that had 4 stars we gave it 5 homemade bread, tons of seating and not to pricey. Well the seating is outside and it was chilly so the owner told us to go sit at this huge dining room table inside in the saloon it was perfect for all the kids. I dream about those sandwiches everyday at lunch too bad its and hour away or I'd go there everyday for lunch. Best part the kids ALL loved it!

On the way home we made a stop by the Temple it was a tiny bit warmer, and gave us time to have a pit stop plus take more pictures.

We finished off the year as we always do dinner out on New Years Eve , Everyone dressed in their very best and had their very best manners. Vick Stewart's got the reservation from the Merrill family this year. It was the first time we went back to a place we had been before. 

Then the girls were off to the dance with Dad.  Addie's first one of her sweet little life as a 14 year old.

They all made it home by 2:00am Bob had clean up , lock up duty. Sad... I didn't get to go with Bob we usually do it together but my sitters had to go boogie. I was out by 8:30 and then up again at 11 to count down with Emma. the boys were out by 9:30 I guess this is what Emma told me I was napping at that time. now on to our new 2012 we will have a lot of first's this coming year:)

Birthday's, Christmas, Parties, present's, baking, family visits DECEMBER 2011 part 1

So much has happened in the last month and I really haven't wanted to even tackle the tasks of writing about nor did I have the time but I find myself babysitting a puppie who got fixed tonight and 2 kids who didn't want to go to the basketball game and Wizard's of Waverly Place is not my choice of a Friday night movie soo I thought I try to up load pictures and get caught up on the blog.

So we began the month of December with ADDISON turning "14"!

Her friends started the day with showering her with goodies first thing in the morning at school

We ate dinner at Cheesecake factory and they sang to her.

The cake she wanted Chocolate strawberry

The next day we went into the city with friends and the girls ice skated...lots of goofy fun.

The gang by the Macy's Christmas tree in Union Square
The city is so magical at Christmas.

Top it off with ice cream at Fenton's in Oakland

Happy Birthday to our little chubber lover 14 is so big on to dances and make-up

 I really never like the city but this year it seems we spent a few weekends there for Christmas Fun! We took the girls to see the Nutcracker preformed by the San Francisco Ballet. It was wonderful, once we got there...Bob spent 2 plus hours driving home just to spend another 2 getting us to the city the traffic was really bad. But I think i do love the city but only in December.

the girls at the theatre

The kids loved the nieghbors lights this year they had to take a picture of them

The Ward Christmas party was fun but for us the table decorations were the hit Colton thought they made perfect hats. Cute Addie and Emma got to help make them a few weeks before


Then the family Christmas tree.

Emma had a piano recital I have video but no pictures...she played Christmas music all month long I think she made it through the entire book and played ever song. It was wonderful as we brought the tree in Emma played music and Colton sang " oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas, I love your branches!" Colton's version...

I had another birthday...

That is always part of our December it was great! i got spoiled the whole day and spent the morning at the doctor's seeing the new baby movin' and shakin'.

Now on to Christmas!!! Christmas Eve we spent with a few families eating yummy food watching football wrapping presents to deliver and reading the story of Baby Jesus, along with the Great Walled Country...Fun new adventure with friends we may have found a family to enjoy time with I hope they want us back?

Then the kids woke up oh dang I think we got a few hours of sleep . We made it clear never again may you wake up or wake up Mom and Dad until 6 am!

 

The way it looked before th kids had at it.

Happy kids Christmas morning then on to Church at 9:00am it was the best Christmas ever to spend the morning at Church. We had an hour of music and readings really good for the day.
 

I 'm tired so I'll have to continue tomorrow








Merrill family Adding #6

I really thought a lot about this in the last 11 weeks and how we would tell everyone or not even bother and just let it out when I looked really chubby. I forbid the girls to post it on Facebook! We were trying to wait till Christmas but to many ears around this house and too many little chatting Cathy's so here we go we are adding a another cute little rollie pollie baby to the Merrill family in early July.  All the kids are squealy , and happy. Bob is so happy he can't even contain it.  And then there is me happy, excited, nervous, feeling barfing and grouchy. hope the family can handle me one last time of being a prego crazy Mamma.

Colton has told everyone I have a turtle in my tummy!

I figured I am safe giving a big announcement on my blog because I think blogs are like dinosaurs to some people but I find comfort in letting my few friends and family know our big adventure we are starting with all of you!