Christmas Pics

So I gave up on blogging.

My days have become so busy lately (yes, yes, I know: everyone's busy).  Nights used to be "Courtney's playing on the computer" time, when I would set myself up with a tall glass of water, a bowl of popcorn, and iTunes playing in the background.  The children were all safely tucked in upstairs and I was free to edit pictures, write wonderfully-well-worded mini essays on our wonderfully ordinary lives.

But, pure exhaustion has demanded that I begin going to bed at more reasonable hours (read: 10 o'clock), and seventeen wakeful hours just don't cut it.  As, I'm sure, you well know.

Surprisingly, it was the Hubby that called me back to my picture editing ways.  "You haven't been using the computer at all lately."

I shrugged.  "No time."

"You really need to make time."

Now, if you know Orrin, you know that he isn't exactly in love with anything in the realm of social media.  He doesn't  love the idea of me putting our family out here in this little blogging world for anyone to stumble on.  So, as you can imagine, I was taken aback when he said this.

"Every time I sit down on the dang computer, at least ten things go undone.  It's just not worth it."  Typical Mom excuse, yes?

This time Orrin shrugged.  "You really enjoy doing it, right?  Then it's worth a hundred things being left undone."

And that, people, is why I officially declare the ever-amazing Orrin Merrill to be the best mate ever.  In his casual, non-pressuring way, he reminds me that I am important too.  That even if he has to go "laundry basket diving" for his chonies, even if our kids ate dry cereal straight from the box for breakfast this morning, and even when I ignore every single text I get this morning...

It's ok.  The world will keep turning, the laundry will eventually be folded, and I can serve the kids a decent dinner to make up for this morning (let's be honest: they love when Mom goes into "casual" mode and they get to run around like rugrats).

You didn't get all that from his statement?  Weird...

Since Porter's soccer ended last week and Adi's gymnastics was moved from Saturdays to Tuesdays, I declared (silently in my head) that today is pajama day while I try to edit a few of the 956 photos that I just uploaded from my camera.  Awesomeness, yes?

It's been so long since I have truly tried to actually keep this page updated with life's boring details, that I can visually see the change in my kiddos.  It reminds me of this quote:

 

Man, oh man, time is marching steadily onward, isn't it?  I'm not one to wish for time to stand still.  Watching these four kids grow and evolve is by far the best entertainment out there.   But occasionally, my breath is taken away by just how quickly things change.

So what have the Merrill's been up to lately?  What a timely question.  I was just about to tell you.

Adi has started gymnastics. Which she seems to have a talent for.  They have bumped this little lady up three classes since she began (it usually takes twenty-four weeks of lessons to get her to her current level).  Most impressive? She's learning to climb up a rope with only her arms.  It's so very Tarzan-like.

Piper is still dancing away and perfecting her leaps.  She is also learning to play a violin and has now mastered Ode to Joy.  Kind of.  She just had her first concert this week and she was so stinking adorable!

Porter-Pot just finished the soccer season.  He played on a league where they don't keep score, but if happen to be a rebel that quietly kept track of your son's goals: he did pretty darn well.  He's a bit of a ball hog, but I hear that it's good for him to be aggressive. I hope my sources are right! 

And this little mister is loving his bike, Dad's truck, Dad's motorcycle, helping Dad in the yard, Dad's work car... did I mention Dad?
 

 That's about it.  Activities, sports, friends, doctors, family.... that's what we've been up to around here!

And yes, Wyatt is wearing flip flops in the pictures. It just wasn't worth the fight, allright?

Also:  I fully realize that his shirt doesn't match everyone else.  He's here, stain-free, and looking at the general direction of the camera.  I'm calling it a success.

Some more pictures for your viewing pleasure.

Thanks goes to my sister for the awesome shots: you rock Whit! 

And yes:  please don't die of shock.  Orrin and I actually got in the pictures this year.

Oh, and:  all these pictures took us less than 15 minutes to take. We're efficient like that.

Working, working

Lately I've been a-working. You know, on this new house of ours.

I am like an artist creating a masterpiece on a canvas.

Or I am merely a Mom trying to get a house decorated and painted.  But the artist one feels more magical.

And it is a slow-moving project.

And a very time-consuming one at that.

Eventually, I got to this:

 

Have I mentioned that I got my lovely hubby to build me this ginormously huge shelf? It must be true love, baby.

I'm not quite finished styling the shelf (I have my eye on the perfect clock for the end right there).

I'm slowly repainting the entire house (well, almost the entire house) this gorgeous Revere Pewter color.  There are, of course accent walls.  Actually, have you seen my chevron wall?  If you are super-cool and follow me on Instagram, you would have seen it.  If not, here's a pic for your viewing pleasure.

Please ignore that little extra blue spot on the white that isn't supposed to be there.

So wish me luck on my painting endeavors.  I am not quite finished with the main floor, and I still have the upstairs.

So, so many bathrooms to go.

A Pretend Hike

If you are familiar with the great state of Arizona, then you know that now is the time to live in the sunshine state.  This is the time to brag about this state.  To rub our weather in your freezing cold temperature's face. 

It is gorgeous, it is blue skies and never ending sunshine.  No jackets, no sweating.  The temperature stays around 85 degrees.

It is perfect.

Of course, in about two months, I will be melting and planning vacations to much cooler states.

But for now, I must brag.

So here are our pictures from the pretend hike we took through the Gilbert Riparian Institute over Spring Break.  Please notice how beautiful the weather is in every picture.

What is this Riparian Institute thing that I speak of?  It's a 110 acre land reserve in the heart of Gilbert.  It's full of birdies and turtles and native plants.  It is lovely.

And what a beautiful walk-hike we had.

Wyatt loved being able to roam free.  Once we showed him the Prickly Pear cacti and told him they were "owies" he stayed far away from those. 

Although he did almost fall into the reclaimed water rivers about twenty times. 

Orrin blessed his children with his Arizonian horticulture knowledge.

Miss Pip really, really loves this outdoor stuff.

Even though Adi looks like she's having a wonderful time, she continually screamed whenever she thought a bee was buzzing around her (a situation her siblings took full advantage of, yelling "There's a bee!" off and on the entire time).

 And Porter-Pot enjoyed exploring and hanging with Dad.

   

 

   

 

 

There were also cement wall thingys for the kiddos to climb all over.  And since climbing on things are my kids' favorite things to do, they loved it.

 

Now, go explore the Riparian Institute for yourself!

The Funnest Mine Ever

Orrin's work is pretty amazing, if I do say so myself.

Not only do I super-appreciate the lovely checks they magically put into our bank account a couple of times a month, but they also hosted a Family Day at the mine.

How stinking cool is that?

Alas, Orrin had to work that day, so it was Courtney versus the four children.

Not so cool.

When we got there, the kiddos were all given their own hardhats and the adults were given BHP beanies.  Oh, the joy of free stuff.

(Did I mention that a whole slew of OP's family works there so we were in good company the whole time?)

And then the Merrills try to get a group picture...

And then the kiddos saw this, and wanted to be turned loose to run a muck. 

 But first we made them look at the totally awesome emergency helicopter that the mine keeps there in case someone needs to be flown out. 

 Wyatt wouldn't get in because he was afraid of the medic helping everyone in.  Porter wouldn't because he was throwing a fit about wanting to jump in the bounce houses. 

Not only were there bounce houses, but also an inflatable bouncy jousting thingy, games, and (best of all in my kiddos' eyes) prizes.

 

Let's talk about trains.

Wyatt is obsessed with them.  He goes to bed every night clutching his Little People Christmas Train.  He has to be read The Little Engine That Could at least twice a day. He makes train sounds as he rides around on his scooter.

So, when Wy-Fi saw this train giving out rides to kiddos such as himself, he wanted one.

He wanted one real bad.

Heaven for that child (and yes, my daughters are taking self portraits).

The problem came when I had to take him off.  Not cool.  Not cool at all.

In fact, there was lots of screaming.  And kicking.  And back-arching.

And see those people lined up against the fence in the background of the picture?  That's where we had to stand to wait for the bus to drive us down to see Dad in the pit. 

They were behind about 40 minutes, so we stood there for that long while I tried to calm Wyatt down.  Every time that little tin train would circle around by us and toot it's little horn... a fresh round of screaming would happen.

Anyway, I'm getting a bit ahead of myself.

The kiddos had their faces painted.

Wyatt was doing this:

That's a fit, people.

When the nice balloon artist gave him a sword, that cheered him up.

We then stood in line for the longest 40 minutes of my life, and finally boarded the bus that would take us down into the pit.

And Wy-Fi finally calmed down.

Thank heavens.

It was a 15 minute drive to the bottom of the pit.  Porter and Wyatt loved every second of it.  They got to see actual live Mighty Machines! 

And then, we finally got to our Daddy.  And he had his turn of packing around the demon toddler. 

They had one of their huge ol' dump trucks and one loader down there. 

Seriously, these things were ginormous.

The best part for us all?  We got to climb all over the things.

We met some of Orrin's work pals and their families.

 

I was trying to snap a couple of family pictures when one of OP's buddies offered to take one of the actual entire family.  I was ready to politely decline the offer, but then I remembered the whole "getting in the picture" goal I set for myself, and decided to jump right in.

I was fascinated by the chains on these tires.

Now, as for the swirly sides of the pit,

 They were nifty.  Really, they were.

But, as a girl that grew up in the foothills of the Kennecott Copper Mine (a landmark you can see from space!)... I was a bit underwhelmed.

Sorry OP.  Please forgive me.

Remember how we discussed my children's strange obsession with rocks?  Well, they were in nerd heaven.

Sadly, it was now time to say goodbye to Daddy and ride back up to the bbq catering awaiting us.

The kiddos were less than impressed with the pork sandwich and potato salad, but they sure did enjoy their cotton candy.

We squeezed in one more train ride for the wailing Wyatt,

and drove quietly home.

Yep, everyone fell fast asleep.

Well, not me.  Obviously.