Movie Fun

It snowed yesterday.

The day before we were playing soccer and softball outside. We enjoyed a walk to the park.

And then it snowed.

Well, to cheer everyone up (ok, I was the only one who was down about the fluffy white stuff) we had a movie day... well afternoon really.

I had the girls go upstairs and get themselves all pretty (Katelynn had help from the girls), then they were given some "money", a.k.a scrapbook paper cut into small rectangles. They drove one of Porter-Boy's cars to the "drive-in" and then got to purchase treats and popcorn.

They all had fun, although Katelynn didn't really understand what was going on. I had to strap Porter into his highchair so that he wouldn't steal the girls' treats!

What did we watch? Snow Buddies! And did anyone actually watch the movie? Nope. But they still had a ball!

Happy B-day Porter-Bear!

I cannot believe it! My bouncing baby boy is turning one today! He turned from my itty-bitty premie baby boy, so quiet, so sweet, into this adorable little monster who growls when he eats, shakes and turns red when he's upset, and gives the bestest kisses on the cheeks. Happy Day, Brother Bear!

Our Hippity Hoppity Easter

Here's a few pics of our Easter- I just haven't had the time to sit down and do some proper scrapping! Oh, the girls had the cutest white sweaters to go over their dresses, but Piper got to draw with markers in her primary class so her sweater looked like a rainbow, and Porter used Adi's as a napkin during sacrament.

Our Easter, although freezing cold, was good. I did try to explain about the Resurrection to the girls, and that just didn't go well.

Me: Jesus died, and after three days He was resurrected and was alive again.
Adi: Why?
Me: So that we can all live again.
Piper: We have to die first?
Me: Yup.
**Long Silence, and then Piper's eyes fill with tears**
Piper: I don't want to die!
Me: It's ok, sweetheart, we all are going to die someday. (So the wrong thing to say)
**Piper is now gasping for breathe through her crying**
Me: But we get to live in Heaven with Heavenly Father and Jesus, and my grandpa and Nanny.
**Now Adi is crying**
Adi: I don't want to leave Snowball (her stuffed bear that OP's mom made her) !

Oh my, I think I really messed that up. Unfortunately, OP was in bed sick and he is usually the one who tells gospel stories (can you tell why?).

After the girls went to church and had a "professional" teach them about the Resurrection they felt much better. Note to self: avoid telling a 5 and 3 year old that they and eveyone they know are going to die someday...

We're here, and we're cold!

So we made it to our new home- and it snowed the day after we got here! Isn't that just wrong?!

The night before we left, Porter-Boy woke-up with a hot fever, which continued to rage the entire 13 hour car ride here. About half way here (Page, Arizona), Adi started running her own temperature, and I just wanted to cry :) We survived the car ride here, and am still struggling through fevers (Piper is now the only one), but we are adjusting to our new, colder home.

We have a neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt to go to today. I generally avoid these kind of things, but I promised a teary-eyed Adi that I would help her make friends once we moved here... so off we'll go to an event where my true social akwardness will shine! Wish us luck!

P.S. In the pics above, the girls are stringing Fruity Cheerios bracelets, which were part of a kit that my MIL Sharon put together for them... thanks Sharon!

I REALLY, REALLY don't have time...

but it's 5 o'clock in the morning, and I don't quite feel like packing and cleaning yet!

Here's some other people we're going to miss when we leave the great state of Arizona:

Other pics of Merrill Family Fun:

Rylee Sue

Auntie Hannah

Slide show from our Christmas Party

Thatcher Trip

Another Thatcher Trip...

Piper & Rylee's combined b-day party

Family Pics

I REALLY don't have time to be doing this...

but I had to post about this past weekend. We had a blast up in Yuma with the Lopez's. Thanks guys for the fantastic last weekend!

And how did the drive home go, you might ask?

Quietly.

Thank Goodness.

And now, back to packing (waaaahhh!).

My Sis

One of the things I'll miss the most about good ol' AZ:

Here's a lil' tribute to my lil' sis (who is taller than me):

For the Sister who listens to me talk for hours about the unfairness of life, is always a call or text away, reminds me to take care of myself too, and who told off the mean-girls for me in 6th grade.

For the Aunt who always has the energy to dance with my girls (and to do a toe-touch without stretching out), who will let a slobbering baby kiss her face, and will even call off work to watch her neices in an emergency. Who has sleepovers with the girls- even though she is so worn out after clinicals- sacrifices her t-shirts to be used as favorite jammies, always thinks of my kiddies when she is shopping (wahoo!), and is always up for a lunch date at Chik-Fil-A. You rock at babysitting, changing diapers, and taking the girls potty at Walmart (I know how painful that is for you).

Thanks for letting us destroy your house, stain your clothes and, well, just hanging out with you.

Love ya, sis...

Oh My, These Girls Are Crazy

Bedtime is always an adventurous time in our house. Adi is finally starting to learn that if she is quiet and tries to go to sleep right away, she won't lose her privleges for the next day. Piper, however, gets mad that Adi won't talk to her.





Last night, I hear screaming coing from their room. I go in to check (yes, it was Pipes screaming), and find Adi hiding under her covers, "sleeping", and Piper noisily rolling around in hers...

Me: What happened?

Piper: Adi bit me (she grabs the back of her neck- what is my daughter, a vampire?)

Me: Adi!

*Adi is still "sleeping".

Me: Piper, why did Adi bite you? (I've learned to ask this question)

Piper: Because she's mean!

Me: Adi?

Adi: Well, the climbed over here and was punching me!

Me: Piper!

Adi: She sat on me and did this: (she furiously punches the air)

Piper: But she hurt me worse!

Adi: Nu-uh, you hit me first!

Piper: But you hurt me worse!

*I'm trying my very hardest not to smile*

Me: Adi, you know that you shouldn't bite. Piper, if you hurt Adi, she has the right to defend herself.

Piper: But she hurt me worse!

Me: I understand that, but you attacked her first.

Piper: But she was laying there and wouldn't answer me!

And so it went for another 5 minutes! Aren't they so much fun?

The Many Moods of Porter

For something new at Family Home Evening, we let the girls choose their own treats. They, of course, chose the $3 cartons of Ben & Jerry's (Piper didn't like the cherry chunks in her Cherry Garcia and Adi didn't like the big chunkc of chocolate in her Super Fudge Chunk). Here's a video of how quickly Porter's emotions can change- and there is a bit of his "Popcorn Dance" at the end! By the way, we do own clothes for Porter, but this was just after a very messy dinner and before we put him in jammies...

Oh, and he did get a belly ache at midnight that night :)

Be It Ever So Humble,

There's No Place Like HOME.


I'm just a little sad right now.

I'm going to miss my home.

Can you tell that I'm having just a little bit of a hard time letting go? So because I have already taken down all of these decorations (and all are wrapped in yards of bubble wrap), I am going to reminisce about just two days ago when my house looked like this...

I need to learn more...

about my religion! I decided this after my three-year-old stumped me today.

**please keep in mind that it is 8 o'clock at night, and we have spent the entire day shopping at six different stores (quite a feat with three kids) and ended the night at a party at Peter Piper Pizza where the Boy spent all night alternating between screaming for Daddy and screaming for a bottle (we're trying to kick the habit); can you say exhausted?**

Pip: Mom, I'm gonna be a mom too.
Me: Yup
Pip: Why did Heavenly Father make you a mom?
Me: So I could have you.
Pip: Why did He make Daddy a Dad?
Me: So he could have you too.
Pip: Why did He make Porter a baby?
Me: We all start off that way.
Pip: No (incredulous)
Me: I was a baby once and so was Daddy.
Pip: Really? (How did she not know that?)
Me: Sure thing. And so were you and Adi.
Pip: How did he make us?
Me: Uhhh....
Pip: With magic?
Me: Not magic...
Pip: Yeah, with a wand!
Me: No sweetie, Heavenly Father made us because He can. (Real clever, I know)
Pip: But how?
Me: We're home, do you have your balloon?

Luckily, Piper is easily distracted. How would you have answered that?