Saturday, April 20, 2013

Sadie's Baptism

Here's our beautiful Sadie, getting ready to be baptised.
 

We were so glad that the South cousins could come!
 

Love this sweet family!
 

Beautiful Mother-Daughter picture!
 

She has a smile that never stops.
 

...and a special glow that comes from the Holy Ghost.
 

I am so lucky to be her grandmother!
 

Russ got to baptise her.
Congratulations, Sadie!

Vernal visitors: Carr and Holfeltz families

 
Jason and Sasha came to visit us in March, to escape the frozen tundra up north in Vernal.  TJ couldn't come because he had school, but the Holfeltz family came down with them.  It was fun to visit, and to let new people try out the slide.  (I thought we had pictures, but I can't find any. But, take my word on it...those kids enjoyed that slide!)
 
We also made it to the first weekend for the Tuacahn market, and had to take pictures of the upcoming attractions.  Jason has his head in the clouds.

 Here's Melissa and Will.  I don't know what was going on with the guys.  They couldn't quite figure out those head holes.
 
Mike figured it out, but I'm looking a little loopy...
 
Leave it to the kids to show us how it should be done!
 
 
I think Sasha looks especially gorgeous in this picture. 
 
 



We also visited the temple grounds and visitors' center.  What's with our pregnant mama being the one to climb all those stairs?!
 

 Jason and Tayor had more fun at the bottom.
 
 Looks like a pretty serious conversation going on here.
 
We had the South girls with us one night and they all crowded around the table for a picture. 
It was a fun little visit. 

Ripsticks

 This is a ripstick.  Kylie got one for Christmas last year.  I think Santa paid his elves about $80 to build it. A couple months later, Sadie found the exact same model at a yard sale.  She got hers for around $10.  (Someone's overpaying the elves!)
 
 With its cement slopes, our backyard is the perfect place to ride one.
 
 But it does take some practice, learning how.
 
 After they both had it mastered, they put on a show for me.
 
I have decided to keep my eyes closed when they are rip-sticking!

Sadie's Birthday

Sadie turned 8 in February.
 
 Her mom threw her quite the birthday party, with a cool cake that was sooo delicious!
 
She got to invite ten friends to a fun place in St. George called Antigravity.
 
 

 I'm glad I let her take my camera because she took some amazing pictures!
 
 ...like this one...
 
 ...and this one...
 
 ...and this one...what a cutie!
 
 Aspen and I spent much of the time chatting away as the kids entertained themselves.


 The place has fun stuff for all ages.
 
 They set up a private room for cake and ice cream and soda. 
 

 
 Apsen kept everything moving along smoothly.
 
 Sadie got some fun gifts.
 
 I think she made some great memories!

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Tyler Mickal Merrell

A few weeks ago, we went to Salt Lake for Tyler's baby blessing.  We also got to see Vince and Meagan's new home in Herriman, visited with some old friends, got to see a lot of our family and lots of Meagan's family that we hadn't seen for a long time, and traveled snowy, icy roads...something else we hadn't seen for at least a couple of years.  I'm not sure exactly why, but I did not take a whole lot of pictures.  Maybe it was the cold, or the fact that I still had the remants of my own cold.  Whatever the reason, I'm okay with it, because I did  get pictures of the most important person of the day. 
 
 Isn't he handsome in his little blessing outfit?
 
 

I like this one, too, but cannot figure out how to turn it horizontal. Tyler is such a good baby.  He hardly ever fusses and has the biggest grin, just like Vince's when he was that age.


 And, of course, big sister needs to be included!
 
 
Here's Brooke again, with another granddaughter, in an uncharacteristically bad mood. I guess we're all entitled to an occassional off day, Taylor. 
 
 
And I had to take a picture of this little piano that Wendy found at a yard sale.  It has all the bells and whistles of a fancy keyboard.  The kids all loved it, especially Ramsi.  That's her with her back to the camera.  It's the perfect  gift for grandparents to give to their grandchildren.  Seriously!


So, even though there are no pictures of the beautiful new home, or of the Bodreros, the Hadlocks, the Battys, the Squires, the Carrs (well, there was a picture of them, but Sasha will thank me for not including it) or any of that snow, it was still a memorable trip, well worth recording.

Saturday, December 29, 2012

We had ourselves a merry little Christmas!

 
Everyone was here for Christmas!  All six of our kids, their spouses and kids.  We made some wonderful memories, and I even got a few pictures, although I am hoping that more will be posted by others on facebook or in blogs.  Here's a very quick look at what went on in the Merrell house.
 
 
Decorating gingerbread men for Santa

 I didn't have my camera ready for the actual shot, so these two hams recreated the scene!
 
 
 This is one of my favorite ever pictures of TJ
 
 
 Mary and Joseph with baby Jesus
 
 
 What a sweet little shepherd!
 
 
 Here come our wisemen!
 
 
 My favorite picture of baby Jesus!
 
 
 A beautiful angel holding a sleepy little star
 
 
 Another sweet shepherd!
 
 

Christmas morning with our four beautiful little princesses! (and it looks like one of Santa's elves is in the background!)
 

Oh my!  An armed Cinderella! 
 
After they all left to go home, we cleaned the house from top to bottom.  This was all that was left behind.  I miss those little fingers and toes already!