Visitors!! (This week, I want to remember: 4/9 - 4/13)

Monday, April 9

It was another gorgeous day, so we spent most of it outside. My kids did this for what seemed like hours. I love the look of sheer-terror-turned-sheer-joy on Lola's face as she comes down!



Then, when biking got old...they turned to the four-wheelers! Or, to the "fweeee weeeeeweeeers" as LoLo says!

My babies. :)

Tuesday, April 10

Tuesday, while the kids were playing, I took some time to look around our property. It is so pretty right now, with everything in bloom. We have one of the most unique trees--it is called a tri-colored beech (I think) and it has pink, grey, and white leaves.

This tree is just starting to break out in bloom!

 How pretty the trees are....how ugly my garden is. Oy. 

Much work is needed.....soon enough, soon enough!!

The apple trees have....wait for it....APPLES!!!

And excited as I was about the apples, I was even more excited to see such an abundance of peaches!

Today Lola got her stitches out, too! She was a champ--it took four of us to hold her down, but she did as well as could be expected for someone who is quickly becoming terrified at the sight of medical personnel!

She wasn't smiling when we left the office....

...but a Panera muffin sure put one on her face quickly! 

Chowing down.

{If anyone makes a comment in the light of "just like her mother", you are dead to me.}

Wednesday, April 11


Wednesday, we did a lot of stuff around the house, because we were getting ready for some exciting visitors on Thursday!!!


Thursday, April 12


The cousins are here! The cousins are here!  Rog and Aimee and their children came down for a visit with our family. We had a great time visiting with them--and the kids had the best time together!

Colin is soooo good with little ones--he directed the games on Thursday. 

First was Ring around the Rosie...

{We all. fall. down!!}

Ethan saw the fun and had to join in....

...but nothing could convince Cameron. 

He preferred to stand (sit?) guard, on Lola's bike, with his gun. :)

After playing in the yard, Colin decided it was time to give the dollies a chance to get outside.

This was fun for all, and went on for quite some time.

They gave each one a turn in the swing--and then decided to pack them all in at once.

Lola riding the four wheeler

Now, Lola and Miss Annelyse were quite something together. Both are the babies of the bunch and both are young--so they are used to getting their way. As it always is with kids, each time one was playing with something (you name it, it didn't matter!) the other one wanted it. In this case....it was the four wheeler.

Annelyse spotted Lola riding it, and headed straight in her direction.
(You can barely see the "oh no you don't" look on Lola's face behind her!)

Lola, in turn, spotted her coming--and took off! It was so funny to watch them!

 Then it was time for some chalk drawings....

....and fighting Uncle Rog with the light sabers. 

This could have gone on a lot longer, but we had to remind the boys that 

Uncle Rog is a lot older than daddy and much weaker, too. *giggle*

 Then it was time for a snack....

....and watching Rio!

Well, we started to watch it--but the kids decided they would rather play outside. It was nap time anyway, so Shane took the biggies to the park while the littles stayed home and slept.

The two little ones woke up and played well for a bit outside together.

(Except maybe an argument or seven about who got to go down the slide first. lol)

We had a lovely dinner of spaghetti, salad, and garlic bread, then Daddy and Colin headed off to baseball practice. In the hour that Daddy was gone, do you want to know what I did?

That's right folks! It took me almost a whole hour, but I got all six kiddos bathed! lol  The girls actually loved the bath. We had such fun singing and playing (and splashing, splashing, splashing. Hey, my floors got really clean!)  

Annelyse's nickname is LeeLee; Lola's is LoLo (or LoLee) and Olivia's is Livy.  So me, talking to them in the tub, went something like this:  "LeeLee--I mean LoLee, come here, let me rinse your hair. Livy--I mean LoLo--I mean, LeeLee...."

And on and on in the same manner for approximately 30 minutes. I decided next time we are together, I"m giving them numbers.

One

Two

and 

Three.

*grin*

(Learn your numbers, kids, cause Auntie can't remember your names. The end.)

Friday, April 13

The next day, while I was getting ready, the girls decided they wanted to play in the bassinet. So, I obliged! They had me cracking up--this went on for 15 minutes!

Then we took another trip to the park. The kids just loved it there.

They slid 

and slid 

and slid down the slide.

 And Ethan and Luke made up a game of "let's see how many rocks we can fit in our shirt, take them up, and dump them down the slide to make really loud noises."

We had such a great time--please, guys....come back soon!!

What a great week!

This week, I want to remember: (3/19-3/23)

Monday March 19

After some {more} dandelion searching and some play time on the deck.... 

...and some swinging....

....we came in and decided to make some finger jello.

I am so glad Ethan enjoys helping me in the kitchen. We have a lot of fun together in there.

Lola played in the space where the garbage can usually goes.

For some reason, she really seems to love that spot!

She was pretending to be asleep, then shouting: "WAKE UP!!" and giggling like crazy every time.

Then we decided to have a game of chutes and ladders.

I happened to capture a moment where Ethan discovered he was landing on a ladder. :)

Lola took turns giving each of the players kisses....

....and then decided to start doing gymnastics on the couch/coffee table.

Can you take a guess who won?

That night, we took a long family bike ride to the park. It was a great night together.

Tuesday March 20

We decided to take a "nature walk" around the yard this morning. 

There was a lot to look at!

Ethan and Lola standing next to one of my favorite things: our peach trees!

There are tons and tons of beautiful blossoms on each tree--I sure hope each develops into a peach.

Ethan, examining the lilac blossoms.

We talked, as we were looking at the budding trees and flowers, about the importance of bees and how they help pollinate everything and turn the 'flowers into fruit'.  A few minutes later, we actually came upon a large bumblebee (you know those giant ones? We call them helicopters {because they are so loud when they fly by!} or 'pollen jocks') that we knew just wasn't right. It couldn't fly....poor E was very sad and prayed right then and there for this little bee to get better!!

Then, it was over to the daffodil patch....

....to cut a bouquet for our table.

It was another bright day, and we had a little trouble getting a picture. :)

Attempt #1:

Attempt #12 {ish}:

Ethan's solution:

Lola's solution:

Ha!

They were beautiful, even in an old applesauce jar.

My mom came out again that night, and we spent another great night together 

riding bikes and grilling out. This time, I got a few pictures!

Wednesday, March 21


A trip to Walmart for about a month's worth of groceries absolutely monopolized our entire morning! I absolutely dread going to Walmart, but was thankful for several things today. Instead of complaining about having to go there, I decided I would list the blessings of the day:

• I was able to leave the house just a little after 8:30, so I got there before most of the crazies came out.
• The kids were super, super well behaved, and Ethan was actually very helpful! Love that kid. He has such a wonderful spirit.
• Lola had to go to the bathroom (public restroom = worst thing ever) but managed to hold it until we got in there--no potty disasters!
• I found my favorite chicken clearanced down and bought two packages! lol
• I got my favorite cashier, who is very friendly, price-matches without issues, and admires my coupons rather than scowling at me!

Win-win!!

When Shane got home, we did some yard work. And, we discovered our pear trees were blooming!!

Lola had some fun riding her little toy all over the yard.

One of my favorite pictures from the whole week.

I just love my precious, precious little girl.

Lola absolutely loves our three garden stones. Grandma 'Nette has helped each grandchild make one...and it's definitely going to be exciting when it is Lola's turn! She looks at them all the time.

Colin's

(hard to see, but those are hand prints on the sides of the letters)

Cameron's

Ethan's

That night, for the first time this year, we had one of the kids' favorites for dinner: garlic chive bread!

I love being able to step out my patio door....

....and have fresh herbs at my fingertips. I'm so thankful for a very, very handy husband
who can not only envision something like this, but can also build it for me!

Since the weather has been so wonderful, the herbs have all been growing like, well....weeds!

I transplanted another patch, too--so we'll have plenty this year! 

This will be full grown again (like the picture above) in about one week.

Then, at bedtime, Colin told me about a little girl and little boy in his class who kissed that day at school. Thus led to a long talk....oy. Not quite ready for this stage of life yet!

Tucking Ethan in: "Mom...you are my super excellent favorite."

Thursday March 22


Paislee Jay was born! My sweet cousin Haley had her baby. Welcome to our family, sweet girl! Pictures will be forthcoming. :)

Lola woke up a very needy girl. I wanted to get a picture of her in these pajamas--I remember shopping for her the day I found out we were having a girl, and these were the pj's I bought! (From Gymboree--on clearance, of course!) She was having none of my wanting to take pictures first thing. :)

However, after a little snuggle time and some banana muffins, she perked up quite a bit!

She decided to take her baby outside for some fun.

Oh...these kids and their hats!

Ethan picked dandelions (this never seems to get old to him!) and 

Lo played with her baby for a loooong time in the yard.

Then we started having....wardrobe malfunctions. 

This ruined (?) several more pictures! *grin*

Lo, after ditching her baby, decided to help with the picking.

Then it was another morning trip to the park. 

I managed to get one whole picture before my camera battery went dead! 

At least it was a cute one. 

And yes. I do realize that Ethan has worn that shirt three different days this week. I could give you some spiel about 'that's just how it fell during the wash cycle'....or something else....but in all honesty, this a new (to him) shirt, and the kid has been over-the-moon excited about it.  He dug it out of the dirties both Wednesday and Thursday. I chose to make it a non-issue. After all, we shower everyday. He goes to bed clean. :)

That night, we had parent teacher conferences!

Cameron with 'his favorite', Mrs. Winkler....

....and then with her current and former Merritt students!

Cameron showed us his favorite activity in the corn table....

....Lola played in the kitchen....

....and Ethan found some dress up gear.

Pretty sure the littlest two Merritts are just as excited about kindergarten as their two older brothers.

Cameron, gleefully pretending to be on red. This kid is so funny!

We got to see his most recent projects--ah, this is why
 he couldn't stop talking about those leprechauns!

Then it was off to Colin's room, where we had 'student-led' conferences.

I loved this take on the pot of gold idea!

Colin's pot

Colin demonstrating their class' smart board. These things are amazing...they don't 

even use chalkboards at our school anymore! Technology has come so, so far!

It's all touch screen. You can see Colin moving his name to the hot lunch list. 

The kids do this themselves, each morning when they get into their classroom, among other things.

{Coooooool.}

Colin showed us each aspect of his day. He did a great job explaining each area and what it was for.

Then, it was off to the gym to see the classes science fair projects.

One more thing in the gym that was much more exciting to the littles: cookies.

Colin's clay turtle. He made/painted this all by himself and was super proud!

Some of his other projects:

Contraction caterpillar

Spring writing assignment

and creative writing/drawing.

Colin and his sweet teacher, Mrs. Ducey.
I just love this picture!

Ethan was excited to leave because he spied more cookies on the way in and wanted one for himself!

Friday, March 23


Shane was able to take the day off of work. Such a rare treat! We played quite a bit, but were also able to get a lot of work done around the house. We finished up a lot of the little chores that needed to be done to clean up the yard for Spring, and one big one....

....can you guess what it was?

 No, that is not a ball up there that Shane and the boys were chasing! They took the Christmas lights down off of our tree. What a ton of work! Thankfully, it is not quite as bad as putting them up--but they were still up there monkeying around for about 2 hours!

Colin and Cameron both got some good climbing in....

....while Ethan and Lola got to play on the {inherited} four wheelers in the driveway.

Ethan is technically too big for these--but man, you can't tell him that!

Now that she has got the hang of the 'go' button, she loves these things.

 My sweet girlie with just the craziest hair I've ever seen! Sticks out two inches 

from the sides of her head, and then curls straight up! 

I have to giggle at her just about everyday over this hair. :)

All's well until there's a crash....
Lola can make it go, but she definitely doesn't have the hang of steering yet!

 And I started something I'm really excited about and will probably talk more about later--

can you guess?

We had a great day together, and something else happened Friday night....but I want to share about that another day!