Happy Birthday Merrill!

Today he turns...
...he doesn't like me to say...
...so here's 29 reasons why I love Merrill Pitcher...
1. He's so darn cute!
2. He has good genes.
3. He is such a hard worker.
4. He's pretty darn smart! 5. He makes awesome memories with me.
6. He digs me.
7. He's such a good dad...
8. He likes a good laugh.
9. He puts up with all of my shenanigans.
10. He listens to me, most of the time... ;)
11. He enjoys my gullibleness. Example: One evening, while eating at our El Matador, I got a larger than usual portion of rice. He told me that there was a rice recall, and they were trying to unload all of their rice so it wouldn't go to waste. I believed him...
12. Heart to heart talks till the wee hours of the morning...

13. He had a dream, or should I say desire, to get married in the Salt Lake temple, and he stuck to it...
14. He honors his Priesthood... and blesses our family.
15. He has been with me (even though he really hates medical facilities of any kind...) when each of the girls were born, and would spend every possible second there with us...
16. He makes cute kids... Lynn looks like him...
So does Ashley...
As does Peyton... if you don't believe me, look at the first pic again...
17. He looks hot driving heavy machinery and big trucks... while welding... when he wears his beanie... when he holds babies...18. "You're my eyes Min-daay!" That's a story for later...
19. He's such a hot dog on the jet skis...
20. He's such a fun dad! He loves to play with the girls. They are always starting pillow fights with him... he takes them wherever he needs to go just so he can be with them.
21. He gave each of the girls a name and a blessing.
22. He gave me a blessing before we left for the hospital to have each of the girls.
23. I didn't know he could be such a goof ball.. but he can!
24. He's fun to play jokes on.
25. He retaliates well... (I'll have to tell the spider/pop it story later for those who don't know...)
26. He's a republican... that's an inside joke between us...
27. He can pull the appropriate movie line whenever he needs to.
28. He supports my scrapbooking addiction...
29. And 'cause he lets me kiss on him!
Happy Birthday Mer!!!
I love ya!

Super Saturday...

Doreen has asked that I help with her ward's Super Saturday...
Canvases will be the craft!
I bummed this thinner profile canvas off Brooke to show another option...
Thanks Brooke!

Another First...

Her hair is falling out.. in a rather odd pattern. I'm sure it would make a really awesome looking mohawk, but I am all about my girls, being girls... that means looking like a girl... so instead of her resembling a much cuter version of Donald Trump, I opted for a cute little pony tail.

Here's to hoping she doesn't scream like her sisters do when I take it out.. or heaven forbid, that the elastic continues to hold the hair in the ponytail, not attached to her scalp!

Peyton's New Tricks...

Any day now...
She is trying to figure it out!
Here's her "push up"...
What, like you have no clue what this is doing to me?!
She is so mobile now... it will only get better (or worse?). She has earned the nicknames "Scooter" and "Squealer". She scoots wherever she wants to go, and squeals with delight at just about everything. That's how Mer got his wake-up call this morning after his "boys night out"... She has also started to either play with her left ear, or twirl what little hair she has on that side of her head when she sucks her fingers. It is so cute... even though I so wish she wouldn't suck her fingers!
My favorite thing she does now, she gets genuinely excited to see me. I can leave the room and come back, and see her get so excited. I love it. I love to just lay on the floor and play with her. She is so much fun...
Mer and I got to be together in nursery today, just like the good old days. He was the only nursery worker there, and the whole rule about guys not being alone... that put me with him. We had so much fun. But I missed being in primary with my comrades... There were only three kids there. Those kids are so cute! And Peyton got to squeal and scream all she wanted without me sush-ing her. It was sad at the end of our day in there, to watch him take the key to the toy and treat cupboard off the key ring... it has had a home there for five+ years. I think that we needs to retire his Nursery manual and that key, put them in a shadow box, and hang it on the wall in the nursery. He is moving on to the primary, CTR 7, teaching with another guy in our ward. I hope it gets the bishopbric to lay off him. They have been trying to get him out of the nursery for quite a while now. They say he's been in there for "too long". But he loves it! Why would you take someone out of there when they sincerely enjoy it? Not to mention he does a good job....

Ahhhh.. Saturday...

I have been waiting for today since last week. This week, my calendar was FULL. Everyday had at least two things going on, not just ten minute deals either... In High School, the football team had this week called "hell week". If you could make it through this week, without quitting, you pretty much made the team. I think I made the team.. it is all done.
So just being able to do whatever I want to do today, and not go anywhere, is heaven.
Our big deal things were:
Birthday Parties (Happy Birthdays Jaclyn, Dad, Joe, & Soph!)
Lagoon (gotta use those passes!)
Little Lakettes (The girls were awesome!)
Back to School Night and Family Fun Fair (Way to go President Jefferies!!!)
...and now we are getting ready for Powell...
So, here's my week in pics...
Sunday, tried out some new and exciting hair... my first ever attempt at a messy bun on Lynn...Back to school night's "Family Fun Fair"... Lynn picked pretty face painting...
We went to the fair after she met her teacher, and after Little Lakette practice. She was so confident and friendly with her teacher, it made me feel so good to see her so grown up and confident. She probably would have chatted away if I'd let her! While Ash picked scary... they had a blast!Little Lakettes... what can I say? Ash wasn't so much into it, well, when I was there to observe anyway. She would go and attempt to dance but then come back to me like the world was falling on top of her... I implemented bribery. Worked like a charm... they were both so cute, and Lynn was awesome. She makes my eyes sting, how grown up she is!
After...
With their rewards...
Made a bunch of lollipops... it all started when Lynn asked, "Mom, how do they make suckers?" and I showed her! Peyton loves them..

10 Years Ago...

Ten years ago, this very night, probably about this very time...
Merrill kissed me for the first time!!!
And then I came home and broke off my engagement...
Oh, and happy birthday Joe & Soph!

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E...

My hero...
He saved the freakin' day yesterday. All the, "Mooomm! I'm BORED.." really got to me. I went to get diapers out of the brand new box of Huggies (Huggies deserves some credit too... they stop leaks, and they gave my kids something to do...) and found a sing along CD inside. BONUS! I put it on downstairs and got this reaction from Lynn: "Mom, I'm not bored anymore! I am dancing!"
So, thank you, Mickey Mouse, and thank you too Huggies!
Today is a better day, so far... (can you read my pessimism?) We started off the day at the "Splash Pad". We came home in time for lunch and things have been pretty mellow since. Lynn is way too excited about the next time she gets to see Paxton.. I told her when that would be, and she said, "Mom, I am so excited, I am blowing my own mind! It's gonna make my brain explode..."

When does school start?

I never thought I would be so over my anxiety of having the girls "growing up"... when will they be gone, for just a little while, so I can get a break?
They are fighting with each other like they are caged animals in the zoo! Why are they like this when they have full run of the house, a yard to wrestle in, a trampoline to jump on, and a playhouse to go pretend together? I should give up wearing normal clothing, and get my umpire shirt.
This isn't the only crazy/mental behavior going on around here.
There are disagreements over the dumbest, most obvious things...
Perfect example:
Time: Lunch, today.
Arguers: Me, Ashley.
Object of argument: a grilled cheese sandwich.
Me: "What do you girls want for lunch today?" see, I'm nice.. I let them choose...
Ash: "A grilled cheese sandwich cut up in triangles and a banana."
Me: "Okay." Lynn wanted nachos...
Now here's an aside... what exactly makes up a grilled cheese sandwich?
bread (2 slices)
cheese
butter
and a means whereby to grill the sandwich
I put the cheese between the two slices of bread, buttered the outsides of both slices, heated up the pan, slapped the thing in there, cooked one side, then flipped it to cook the other. I let it cool, then cut it into the four triangles previously requested. Stuck it on a plate, set it on the table, rang the dinner (lunch) bell. The girls know, we pray first, then we can ask for drinks, etc.
Immediately following the prayer, Ash goes ballistic.
"I wanted a grilled cheese sandwich!" she pushes her plate away from her.
Me: "That is a grilled cheese sandwich." I push it back towards her.
Ash: "No it isn't." pushes it away again.
Me: "Then what is it?"
Ash: "It is a cooked grilled cheese sandwich."
Me: "Ummm... you go have to cook a sandwich in order to grill it..." I push it back in front of her. "Eat. It is what you asked for."
Ash: "No. I wanted an uncooked grilled cheese sandwich!"
Me: "Then that would have been just a cheese sandwich. You didn't ask for that. You asked for a grilled cheese sandwich."
Ash: "I don't want this!" she screams at me and then she shoves the plate away again.
Me: "You can go to your room or you can sit down and eat."
Ash: "FINE!" have I mentioned before about the hormones?
She is gone just a couple of minutes and returns, much more humble, pulls out her chair and sits down.
Ash: "Maybe next time, I will remember to ask for just a cheese sandwich that isn't cooked."
I think she got it.

6 months!!!

I can hardly believe it...
It's been 6 months (six!!!)..
Or, half a year...
Dangit, she's cute!
She is almost 17 pounds, hence my sore arms...
And everything is in good, working order. Swollen gums...:(
She starts fluoride now... and she really gets rockin' on her hands and knees!
I didn't even want to attempt a post yesterday... I would have been sending off some pretty awful vibes. I was seriously losing my sanity.
So, to make up for yesterday, Happy Birthday Jacks!!!
Yup, I suck.
I planned on making her her very own birthday cake, but didn't have two cake mixes. That's right, the special pan I bought, required two cake mixes. I didn't have two of the same flavor, and by the time I got to the store (blame it all on Peyton-pissy-pants...) and got home, it was time to start a cookin' dinner... and that is where my sanity nearly jumped out the second story window. Seriously.
So Jacks, I still owe you a rockin' b-day cake, and it's a comin'!
I just can't wait until life slows down a bit, just a wee bit. It is now hitting me, the whole 3 kid thing.
While at the doctor's today, I had to make the follow up appointment for 3 months from now. When the receptionist asked me what time I wanted it for in November, I had to stop and think, because I realized, that by that time, I would have a morning pre-schooler, and an afternoon kindergartner! I actually have to plan ahead now! No more of Mondy flying by the seat of her pants...
I haven't even had time to get all of the laundry done that is normally completed by Monday, let alone play!
Well, I kinda am now...
Here's a pic from yesterday... I love this onesie that I found a while ago...
"Princess in Training..."
How totally appropriate for a girl in this household!

Speaking of Growing Up..

I think I mentioned that Peyton's clothes are getting too small...
Her snaps burst open spontaneously because... well, she's too big...
I know that she turns 6 months old Wednesday, and it is time...
But it was kinda hard today, getting out that next stage of clothes, and putting away the 3-6 month stuff.
She enjoyed playing in the storage container so much!
I got excited seeing the old outfits that Lynn and Ash have both worn... seeing the new stuff that I bought or were gifts...
It's just happening too fast!

Monkey Bars...

So, as if Peyton growing wasn't enough, Lynn has decided to sprout up and master some "big kid" stuff...
She mastered the monkey bars today at the park!
Emilee and I were sitting, having a much needed, too long put-off, visit, and there goes Lynn.. made my eyes sting a bit.
I can't believe that she'll be in Kindergarten in just a couple of short weeks! Where's my chubby little sumo baby? She is far too smart for us now, Merrill keeps asking her to assure him that someday she'll take care of him. Nothing gets past her.
Her prayers are said so sincerely, she prays for EVERYTHING...
One night, she and I were having prayers (Ash was being a nutzo in their room, Mer was gone with the boys..) and Lynn's turn was first. She seriously prays over everything. You know that scripture, I think it's in Alma... that says to "cry over everything" (yes Kathy Jayne, you do that well;)..) well, Lynn does it. She prays for everyone she knows, she prays that she'll get baptized, she prays to get married in the temple, she prays to feel the spirit, she prays for who is sick, and if she knows of anybody, she prays for them by name... she prays for Grandma, that she'll be resurrected, she prays for the missionaries, she prays that everyone will be nice and listen to the missionaries... she prays for our house, the hotel, the butterflies... see where I am going with the "EVERYTHING" factor? Well, that night, after praying for EVERYTHING... she stopped, took a little pause, and then said, "Heavenly Father, just bless everything else that I am thinkin' about right now." So then I taught her how He understands our intent, He knows what is important to us, it makes Him feel good when we voice it. She's so darn cute!
She wasn't the only one to master a skill at the park today... Ash managed to make her voice carry for who knows how far, when she was protesting every one's help but mine... and Peyton was trying to consume all green vegetation, single-handedly. She really got going on a blade of grass, and those suckers are hard to get out of her little mouth!
And darn it all to heck... I forgot my camera!

So... Peyton...

Peyton will be six months old this week :(... That comes with just more development on her part, and more shots on behalf of the doctor's office...
She is crazy about playing, not too crazy about taking naps, but not too crazy about not being crazy grumpy when said nap should be being taken (did that make sense?).. when she gets in a pissy mood (like when she should be having a nap, but isn't..), she likes to get on her hands and knees and rock, and yell. Yes, she is starting that "trying to crawl" thing. Hasn't quite mastered sitting-up, but getting better. She loves to laugh at Lynn and Ash, and squeal at them too. They just need to walk down the stairs behind us to get a good giggle streak going. She laughed so hard and squealed so loud today at Lynn in Sacrament meeting. Who knew Lynn was so hilarious? Being on the front row... she got many more people giggling too.

I told you they were coming..

MiKell, Me, and Kaitlyn, risked life and limb, to get our kicks riding the Skycoaster at Lagoon...
Getting in our jumpsuit apparatus...
Just a wee bit excited...
Wanting to do it again!
Thanks to Brooke for taking the pics on MiKell's cell phone... she didn't come prepared with living batteries in her own... geez, doesn't she know that we all count on her and her camera yet?! ( just kidding ya Brookers :)..)

10 Year Reunion...

Peyton and I went to my 10 year reunion last night. I must say, it took some extreme concentration to write my name on my name tag the correct way...
I had questioned going, wondering who'd be there that I would really want to see, that I don't already keep up with in some manner... I am glad that I went. I saw so many people that I had quite frankly, forgotten about. There were quite a few missing... Teresa, Mica, Jon, The Punk Kevin Brown... Stacy, Eddy, Annie... so many more. It was fun catching up with who was there.
I decided to leave Mer home with the other two, I wasn't in the mood to entertain him when I was already a little nervous of the unknown. He took the girls to get a bite to eat, and then swimming at his parents house.
It was fun seeing the good ol' gang... Sarah, Kristi, Shane, Travis, Zach, Rick, ahhh... so many more (I wish that I could remember them all!). I saw Tyson (used to date, he was a fun guy...) and met his wife, she was so fun and cute! It was fun seeing who'd changed and who was still the same. Paul was there. He was always the life of the party... you can always count on him to do "the worm"...
Didn't get to talk to everyone I wanted to... Tiffany wasn't there for very long... I wished I had more time with Shelly.
Everyone still had their "table"... i.e. the jocks, the hicks, the preps... My spot, the back, watching everyone and mingling.
Needless to say, after holding Pey pretty much the whole time(a few friends did want to hold her), my arms were killing me, and still are!

Breaking Dawn...

Finished Breaking Dawn last night...
It was good. I kinda had a hard time getting into it, I don't know if it's because it started off with all happy stuff, and quickly went into conflict, or if it's just me, and I am kinda bummed that the series was going to end...
All in all, it was a good read, kind of bittersweet...
Still liked The Host better ;)...

Fresh Peach Cobbler

I completely forgot I bought peaches earlier this week! I had to use them... what better way!?

Fruit Cobbler:

3 cups sliced fruit
2 tablespoons butter
2/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Place fruit in a greased 8x8 or 9x9 pan. Melt butter and add sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Mix well and spread over fruit, then top with this mixture:

1 cup flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons sugar
1/3 cup oil
1 egg

As usual, mix dry and then add wet. Cover the entire top of fruit and sugar mixture and bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes. We love to eat it warm with vanilla ice cream.

All is well in my universe...

Last night, we christened our deck...
Grilled chicken was in order...
Followed by some dancing...
With music... this is the surprise that Mer got me the other day. I looked at the puny thing as he told me it cost all of ten bucks and seriously questioned the quality of sound it would produce... it is so cool. I get to listen to tunes while I scrap or sew... not just the array of Disney movies the girls watch while I am down there...
And I have saved the best for the last...
What is the best thing that could happen to a girl (who also happens to be a mother of 3...) the day of her 10 year high school reunion??
She very suddenly is able to fit into her size 8s!!!
And her wedding ring can fit again too... might not come off without lotion.. but it fits!

Flashback Friday...

Remember these?

Yeah, I know that NOW they are "Laffy Taffy"... but somehow they are not the same...
The girls and I devoured a "Cherry Jerry Laffy Taffy" today, and it got me thinkin' about back in the day when i was young, I'm not a kid anymore, but somedays I wish that I could be young again... (anyone name the tune?) anyways...
We used to go to the old outdoor Roy pool and swim till we were exhausted! We paid $2.00 to get in and had $1.00 left over for treats. It usually divided up 50 cents for a can of pop and the remainder for two tangy taffys. They tasted so good, especially after swimming for so long.

Our little hotel...

Only because I've had some ask questions...
Here's our little hotel... 52 rooms to be exact.
Will open sometime early 2009.
Is a Best Western!
Located on HWY 89 in Uintah, just north of South Weber. Right next to all the other projects!
I think it's funny that when I was prego with Lynn, the leasing spaces and Mer's warehouse were going up... while prego with Ash, it was the Goodyear... then with Pey it was the prep phase for the Hotel... Dixon and I are in project mode at the same times! Different projects though... We have spent many summer evenings taking in the progress, checking out all the new fun stuff! We've been there every step of the way!Now, while Merrill reads this...
I will be finishing Breaking Dawn... who will enjoy their read more?

scrappernoon!

Stacy and the boys came over for a while today. The kids had fun playing, we had fun scrapping and making cards... lots of cards...
I got two pages for our "best of..." family album done:

Played with the Cricut that Darlene is allowing me to be the foster parent of. I got one new font cartridge and one on the way thanks to the rebate offer! I bought some vinyl too.. can't wait to try that out. We learned our lesson fast, the mat must be sticky!