Big Girls

One of the hardest parts of being a parent is that your kids grow up faster than you are ready for.  Elsie is changing everyday.  She isn't crawling yet, but that doesn't mean she isn't mobile.  This week I was laying on the ground next to her while she was playing with toys.  She started scooting herself and her toy further and further back and before I knew it she was across the room.  She has also started trying to walk herself out of a seated position on to her hands and knees.  It won't be too many more weeks before I have to report that she has started crawling.

Carrigan also had a big girl moment this week.  Everyday school starts with "Morning Meeting" and one of the kids always gets to ring the bell and welcome everyone by saying good morning and introducing themselves.  On Friday, Carrigan got her chance to do it.  I was so proud of her being so brave up in front of the whole school.

It seems like just yesterday that Merrick was learning to crawl.  Now it is nine years later and if I am not careful the kids will be grown before I even know what happened.

Seven Months

This week our littlest girlfriend turned 7 months.  Here is a rundown on her latest.
She recently learned to sit by herself and is really starting to master it.  While she is not yet crawling, she is definitely mobile, rolling all over the place.
She loves food (with the exception of green beans and avocado).  She has been known to scream (loudly) when she thinks you should be feeding her faster.  She is really anxious to try oranges and she screams frantically every time she sees one.
She talks a lot and loves to babble and scream.
She is super smiley and has started being a ham for the camera.
She is a people magnet.  Everywhere I go people are drawn to her.  They always want to touch her and comment on how happy, smiley and interactive she is.
She loves mama but always lights up when Dad gets home from work and when Merrick and Carrigan get done with school.
She is a terrible sleeper at night and usually wakes up 3-5 times a night.
She loves her binkie, her lovey, and anything she can get in her mouth.
She is everything we didn't know our family was missing.

Ready, Set, Play

School had been in session for a few weeks now and back to school can only mean one thing, back to soccer.  This year we have two soccer players which means our weeknights and Saturdays are full of soccer.  Adding to that, Jeremy is coaching Merrick's team, and it has really become a family affair.  This season, Merrick has really taken to being the goalie.  He loves to play and is really pretty good at it.  On Saturday, he had about 5 good blocks.  Carrigan is much more timid on the field.  The first game she didn't actually touch the ball so we talked a lot about how she didn't have to score a goal but she should at least try to kick the ball.  This week she did much better and actually almost did score a goal.

Also this week we did a little playing around off the field.  On Friday we went to a park that we haven't been to in a long time and discovered that they had some big obstacles set up from a run they had there a while back.  Merrick really enjoyed trying them out and liked feeling like an American Ninja Warrior.  Carrigan was not quiet so sure about them, but enjoyed them in her own way.

So far it looks like our good weather is going to hold for a few more week so I am sure there is lots more playing time to come.

Merrick Turns 9

This week was all about the big man.  Merrick turned 9 on Wednesday and we spent a good portion of the week celebrating.  Monday we started out the day by going to pick up a new bike.  I had looked and looked for a new bike that met the requirements of what he wanted and needed and finally found it.  We had to drive to Washington to get it but we got a smoking deal so it was worth it.  We then went straight from getting the bike to a Hilsboro Hops game to get the party started.  Actually that was the second game Merrick got to go to celebrate his birthday.  Jeremy was supposed to take Merrick and a friend to a game to celebrate while I was gone at the funeral, but on the day of the game we discovered that I had the ticket voucher with me in my wallet.  To appease a very distraught Merrick, Jeremy had to buy new tickets and so we used the ticket voucher I had on Monday when I got back.  It was the perfect day for a game.  The weather was wonderful, we had hot dogs, soda, popcorn and candy, and the Hops won!

On Merrick's actual birthday he pretty much had the day planned down to the minute.  We started the day with birthday cinnamon rolls, then Merrick (much to his disappointment ) went to school.  At lunchtime I brought him Taco Bell (his request) and stayed and had lunch with him.  After school we headed out shopping.  He had certain things he wanted to buy, like new grips for his bike but mostly we just window shopped.  We then met Jeremy for dinner at Panda Express and went home for ice cream sundaes and presents.  The bike was supposed to be the big present this year, but he did get a few other things, some new shoes and a nerf gun and a subscription to Sports Illustrated Kids from his sisters.  He also got a new helmet from his Nana and Papa and money from Grandpa and Lollie and Great Grandpa and Grandma Clifford which he is using to get a new Chargers hat and checkered Vans (which are all the rage right now).

Merrick was pretty spoiled this year, but to tell the truth he really deserves it!  He is such a good kid and we are so blessed to have him in our family. 

New Beginnings and Farewells

You may have noticed that this week's blog is a day late and the reason for that will be clear in a minute, but let me just say that this past week has been full of emotions.

Monday the week started off with a bang when the kids headed back to school.  Merrick is a big 3rd grader now and Carrigan stared kindergarten.  To be honest I didn't expect it to be so hard to send CC off, but when the morning came she wasn't sure she wanted me to leave her and I wasn't so sure I wanted to leave her either.  Maybe it was because the morning up to that point had been a little rocky.  We were running late because parking was a nightmare and Jeremy got locked out of the school.  By the time we got in I was so frazzled and worried about getting Carrigan to her class that I forgot to even say goodbye to Merrick-great parenting.  Anyway, eventually I did say goodbye (to Carrigan at least) and after some tears (on my part) she got started on her first fabulous day.

It has only been a week, but both kids are really enjoying their teachers and the year is off to a great start.  Each day, after school, the kids argue about who had a better day-yay!

After a great week, this weekend was full of lots of different emotions as Elsie and I hitched a ride with my parents down to Provo for my Aunt Constance's funeral.  We spent all Friday driving, attended the funeral on Saturday, and spent the entire day Sunday driving home.  Over three days we spend about 30 hours in the car.  To say that Elsie was a champ is a complete understatement.  As for the funeral itself, it was so wonderful.  My Aunt Constance was one of the smartest, strongest, and amazing women that I have known.  She is now free of the disease that robbed her of everything she once was and now she gets to be with her sweetheart and parents again.  She was such a big part of my life growing up and I was so honored to be there as her life was celebrated.

Tomorrow preschool starts back up again and it is on to the next adventure.  Never a dull moment around here.