So, I know that it's kind of early to start shopping for this...

seeing as how I have no idea whether this bambino is a boy or girl, but, alas, Etsy has sucked me in again.

Wouldn't these be perfect for a Christmas baby (which I just might have)? I need some!

I am loving these...

They have the pattern for them here (and for a lot less) so I'm hoping to convince my Mama to crochet me up a few.

Look at these! I want three of each...

I want one of these too, but not for cloth diaper usage (umm, no thank you). Wouldn't it look cute in a picture?

All I can say is: Oh My Goodness.

Look at this growth chart! I could possibly make one, but wouldn't it just be easier to buy one? Let's see if that argument will work with OP...

Well, I could honestly go on forever posting all the wonderfully delicious things I find on Etsy... people are so stinkin' creative! Unfortunately I have to get Adi-baby to her soccer game.

Maybe you could keep looking and send me a few links? I'd love that.

Pipe's Big Day

So yesterday Piper got to be a big girl too and start full-day first grade.

All day.

Like until 4 pm.

*sigh*



She is always the perfect model...



Can you tell I wanted to make sure she had enough to eat in her little lunch bag?



Porter wanted pics taken of him too since yesterday was his first day at home with mom. Alone.

Poor guy.

He even packed his Lightning McQueen backpack full of airplanes, motorcycles and belts (he uses them as ropes and they are never far away from him).



And here is my baby girl waiting to go into the classroom...



She was a bit nervous, but she still gave me a huge smile and blew me a kiss before she was escorted inside.

You know, without me.

There might have been a phone call placed after this to OP where someone was blubbering and crying about missing her babies, and how they are growing up too fast and just don't seem to need her anymore.

And OP might have laughed his head off and not offer very much in the way of support.

Guys.

2nd Grade...

Miss Adi started her first day in the 2nd grade today.

She looked absolutely lovely to begin this adventure...



Showing off her new backpack/lunch tote combo,



I'm not sure if she is saying "peace" here or showing me what grade she's in.



Ado made me promise not to leave her at school until her teacher came to get her. Of course I gave her my word.

And then we got to the school, wandered around looking for where her class was lined up. It took us a while.

We did, eventually, find them. And Adi lined up with her friends.

And ignored me for the next ten minutes while we waited for her teacher.

She wouldn't even look at the camera for me.



When her teacher came to get her, she left without so much as a goodbye.

And I then loaded the other two kiddos into the car, got myself in, and then started bawling.

I didn't think 2nd grade would be so tough on me.



**Wish me luck 'cause Piper starts 1st grade tomarrow. *Choke*

Vacay, Part II

So, the next morning we got up and, after enjoying a rather interesting continental breakfast at our hotel, we headed into Yellowstone.

After driving for a few hours, of course.

And hitting construction the entire way there (and in Yellowstone itself).

Anywho, here's the kiddos in front of a fallen tree with it's wicked roots showing.



We got to see some awesome hot spring-thingys (ok, ok, I already forgot what they were called).



And of course the bubbling mud.



And then we went to watch Old Faithful erupt.

We waited.



And waited (Piper is showing off her postcard she got),



And waited.



Apparently they can only nail down this geyser's schedule within 30 minutes.

When it finally did explode, the kiddos were just a bit underwhelmed.



I thought it was cool, and OP thought it was cool, but Adi asked, "Did we really sit here forever to see this?" She is so on her way to a teenager, isn't she?

And then we left.



Or tried to leave. A little nugget of wisdom: when your hubby says, "Let's drive home through Jackson Hole so that we can see some more of Yellowstone", what he really is saying is, "Let's add four extra hours onto our trip where all we'll see is burned pine trees and construction zones."

So just say sweetly, "I think we should go home the same way we came. And maybe we can hit Frontier Pies again on the way home."

Just so you know.

A Beary Awesome Summer Trip

For our summer vacay this year, we decided to go deep-outdoor exploring. Look how close we got to these bears:



Ha ha. Seriously, if you know me well, you must have been squirting your milk from your nose.

We actually decided to do a quick trip up to Yellowstone. That pic was taken at Bear World in Rexburg, ID. And I was safely inside of my car to see them.

Bear World was actually a lot of fun. We saw moose, elk, deer, wolves, big bears roaming in between cars, baby cubs penned-up, and even an albino elk.

Once again, all from the safety of our Expedition.

Here are the kiddos showing us their best bear faces:



and right after that pic was taken, Porter turned around and noticed the bear's teeth and let out a very un-manly sort of scream.

Look at my adorabley-wild family:



We feed the rainbow trout, ducks and one huge, ornery swan.
,


The girlies got to pet a little fawn,



and they all three pet a deer (I was even brave enough to stroke her nose for a second. And then I got a bit scared and hid back behind my camera).



They had a few rides (not that great, but it made us adults feel better about the entrance fee),



but there were only two teenage boys operating the five rides, so we had to wait a bit.



For dinner that night, we went to Frontier Pies. I can't tell you how excited I was to see this restaurant listed on the Garmin for local places to eat. I used to love this place and now the only ones they have left are in Idaho.

The food was delicious, and they served our drinks in cool jars. Awesome.

OP and I were determined to have a slice of pie after dinner, but after my cheddar & broccoli soup, salmon, and country potatoes, I was pretty dang full. Orrin couldn't do it either. The kids were still up for dessert (of course) but we said they could have a 60 cent cone at Arctic Circle instead.



Then after a fruitless search for a car charger for our portable DVD player, we went back to the hotel for some chlorine-drenched swimming.



I didn't get many pics of that since I am still a bit jumpy about using my camera in any kind of situation in which dropping it would result in it's imminent ruin.

The next day we ventured into Yellowstone... more on that later!

(I know that you will be waiting with bated breathe, so I will try to get them published on here quickly!)

Splish Splash

We went downtown to The Gateway while Whit was here to do a little shopping...

and to play a bit in the water.




Actually a lot in the water.


The kiddos got to get wet (which they love)





And bask in the sun (another thing they love)



And I got to enjoy watching my babies have a great time. Unfortunately, my camera battery died right after we got there, but I did get a few pics.

And in case you were wondering what the fountains look like when they are actually going off, here you go:




And because Mommy rocks (and forgot to bring the towels), here is how they dried off:



Awesome.

Moo to you!

Why are my children dressed like cows?

Or more importantly, why do their ears look more like a cat's?

Excellent questions. Yesterday was Chick-Fil-A's dress like a cow, get a free meal day. And I am always up for free stuff.

Even if it means humiliating my children.

Anyway, we whipped up these awesome costumes (and I apologize for the ears, they aren't like a cow's at all), and set off toward our local Chick-Fil-A for breakfast.

Problem number one, they would only give the kiddos lunch kid's meals. So my kids had nuggets and fries for breakfast (I am the best mom ever, right?).

Problem number two, they wouldn't give Whitney (my lil' sis) and I free meals. Only free entrees. Why?

Because we weren't all the way dressed up. Ridiculous! We had on cow tails!

Look for yourself:



I am still a bit upset over this...

Anyway, we had a nice breakfast-lunch and then we all went home and changed.

The end.

So, I guess we'll tell everyone...

First of all, watch the video that's playing on the sidebar over there.

Seriously, watch it. It's awesome.

And it just happens to fit us right now (the words, not the video).

So watch, enjoy (and seriously, the songs fits us right now, NOT the video).

Did you watch it yet?

Yup, that's right

We've got another little Merrill on the way.

Due January 11th, 2011 (now, imagine that, if by some great miracle, the baby actually came on it's due date. It's birthday would be 1-11-11. Awesome? Oh yes.)

The kiddos are very, very excited. Adi even said that she wished the baby would come out now.

I said NO.

I'm hoping to be able to keep this one in past 34 weeks. The doc is gonna make me get weekly progesterone shots to help with that starting at 18 weeks.

And then I get put on "modified bedrest" at 26 weeks.

So what does that all mean?

It means I had better get busy 'cause I have a lot to do in the next few weeks.

But, I think that right now I am going to take a nap :)

Miss Pips

So, yes, I have a camera again.

Orrin told me that 3 cameras a year is my absolute limit... so keep your fingers crossed that I can keep track of this one!

Anywho, back to Pipes. I was doing her hair all fancy-shmancy for church on Sunday when Piper says this to me (no lie):

"Mom, I bet no one has as good of a mom as I do."

I have to admit that I started bawling.

And Piper looked at me like I was crazy.

And this was one of those moments that make all the hard work, the sweat, the tears and the frustration all worth it.

And I bet no one has as good of a five year-old as I do.