A Little Winter Get-a-Way

To have some fun during Christmas vacation, we took off for a couple of days and went to

Knott's Berry Farm. That's not very far away, but to make a trip out of it, we stayed in a hotel for two nights - and we were glad we did - the area was fabulous!

But first, we left Sunday evening and stopped at my parents' house to see Grandma Carol while she's here for the week before heading down to the temple to see the gorgeous Christmas lights. We ended up staying for dinner, then they came to the temple with us, too!

The lights were beautiful and we had fun walking around the grounds.

We said our good-byes and headed to Long Beach to check into our hotel.

The whole gang: Grandma Carol, my parents, my family.

Me and my kids! Dom stayed with us since Christmas. We got used to having her around and the kids are going to miss having a cool teenage big-sister-cousin.

We arrived at Knott's Monday morning before it opened. I hadn't been to Knott's since I was a teen, and John even before that, so it was a new experience for all of us.

These are the things I was immediately impressed with:

The admission price is reasonable

The ticket booth lady was very nice and helpful

There are Christmas Carols playing on the speaker system everywhere

There is a large Nativity display right inside the entrance

Before the park opens, the National Anthem is played.

Pretty amazing, huh? Oh, and there was a huge "Merry Christmas" banner displayed at the entrance. It was very refreshing to see an amusement park not feeling the need to be so PC.

We had a great time and there was a nice variety of rides to keep everyone happy. We brought Domonique was able to experience her first roller coaster - it took a bit of coaxing but she did it, and then again and again.

We went to the Snoopy on Ice show and again were very impressed.

Not only was it a great show with amazing skating, but they abandoned the typical Season's Greetings that you see so much now and stuck with Christmas. Linus came out with his blanky and told the story of the Savior's birth just as he does in the Charlie Brown Christmas show. That got a near standing ovation!!!!! CHRISTmas is alive and well in Southern California.

Here we are waiting for the park to open.

I didn't get many ride pictures, but on this one, Ashlyn said, "Mommy, we're in a picnic basket!"

It was great to go back to the hotel, try and sleep in, have a huge free breakfast, and lazily leave when we were ready.

The view from our bedroom - that's the Queen Mary out there.

The view from the living room - the downtown Long Beach skyline.

Little Boys

Out in the "field" which is near our home . . . where we walk Cole every day, Christian and his buddy Stewart found it a perfect place for boys to be boys.

A perfect spot for jumping.

A perfect spot to be Indiana Jones.

Or they're up the hill playing in the sage brush coming up with all sorts of adventures. This time it was a ship wreck and they (along with the girls) were survivors making a home on the hill.

My Precious Little Guy. I Think I'll Keep Him

I was getting ready for the day in my bathroom this week and Christian was nearby. I didn't realize he was paying attention, and as I was putting mascara on my lower lashes (think of the face you make and the position you are in do perform such a task), he asks, "Mama, what are you doing?"

"I'm putting mascara on so you can see my eye lashes."

"Why do you want people to see your eye lashes?"

At this point, he himself looks in the mirror, opening his eyes wide, most likely wondering if his lashes are visible enough for people. I show him my finished eye and he gives me a blank look like he doesn't get the difference.

Then he looks at the loot on my counter and asks, "What is this thing for?"

"It's a blush brush and it's for putting blush on my cheeks to give them some color."

He immediately responds with, "But Mama, I like your cheeks the way they are."

Oh Christian, you made my day. I'm glad you are in afternoon kindergarten so I can have these precious mornings with you!

You Better Watch Out . . .

Santa Claus is coming to town!!

The Hallmark Family Santa Party was Friday night, which is always a treat because we get to be up close and personal with the real Santa, not just one of his helpers. Santa puts on a little show with songs, a story, and a question/answer session. I was proud of Madison this year, she raised her hand and asked not one, but two separate questions. Santa then always explains the real reason for the season and essentially bears his testimony of Jesus Christ. It is refreshing indeed!

Ashlyn was another surprise this year, she warmed up to Santa and sat on his lap and even asked him for something (she whispered bubble gum). This may just be the last year the Hallmarks do this Santa party (their kids are 5th and 7th grade), so we are grateful that we were able to participate.

Rewind four years . . . Brooke was too afraid to sit on his lap and Santa would go out of his way to bring her his gift and get a picture with her.

We even skipped out on our ward party - which was a big deal being the first party with our new ward. I made a roast and cookies, dropped it off before the Santa party, then we went back to the ward party at the end to 'make and appearance' and pick up my crock pot. I must say, it was probably the most well-attended party we've seen in a long time. It's nice to finally have a full and big ward.

Madison four years ago. Stop growing I say!!

Winter Wonderland

It's lookin' a lot like Christmas 'round these parts.

It was wonderful to have GG and Dale here to help with the decorations. We sure miss them.

The kids' tree on the porch is all up to them.

And now in Sunny So Cal it is winter! The temps are in the 50s during the day

and yesterday's rain brought snow-capped mountains. Beautiful!

Ashlyn took this picture this afternoon with my phone. We were taking Cole for a walk in the hills of my neighborhood. This is atop Cole's favorite hill he races down at lightning speed before returning to us to be leashed again.

I'm still here . . .

November has proven to be another busy month and I haven't had time to load my pictures, let alone post. We've had a lot of fun the past couple of weeks having Grandma Waggoner and Aunt Dale stay with us. We are sad that they leave on Tuesday the 1st and have been trying to convince them to stay through Christmas. But there's something about medicines, doctor appointments, responsibilities, and . . . life for which they have to go back to Maryland.

Soccer ended. We have Saturdays back. Enough said. Is it wrong to be grateful that your daughter's team lost the last game therefore forfeiting the chance to go to playoffs?

John was gone for 9 days in November, but he managed to put in a sink for me when he returned. The bathroom project that is now on month 5 is little by little making progress. Although the counter is just plywood, at least there is running water for which I am very grateful. Oh, and this little remodel is only phase one. It doesn't even touch the toilet/shower/tub area. Honus!

Thanksgiving was a grand affair, despite some setbacks, that we hosted here and had a marvelous time. I spent all day Wednesday in the kitchen cooking and baking and cleaning so we could enjoy Thursday, which is precisely what we did until just after our traditional noon-time movie. I won't go into too many details that involve a still-frozen-solid turkey and a lost/stolen wallet (and a lot of cash) that put a damper on what was going to be a perfectly planned holiday. However, we still have much to be grateful for and celebrated accordingly. I'm sure someone else out there is feeling pretty grateful to have hit the mother lode on Thanksgiving afternoon, but I'm still hoping that guilt or better yet honesty will get the better of him and he'll turn in the wallet.

The Christmas decorations are up and we are feeling festive, although I'm still reeling that it's the end of November. Seriously, what happened to August? Someone's messing with the time/space continuum because it's getting faster! Every year I tell myself I'm going to be more prepared and every year it sneaks up on me faster and stealthier. This is my baby's last month in nursery! I will not have any more kids in the nursery which is strange since I have had at least a child in there consistently for 10 years. They keep growing. Stop it!

Busy as a Bee

The holiday season has officially begun and we are all buzzing about with various activities. Good thing we are made to keep up with the buzz!

Ashlyn's preschool Halloween party - a cute kitty cat and a bee!

The annual trip to Underwood Farms with the Preschool! I think I've been doing this every year for 8 years. This time, cousins were there! It was great to be with Chelsea, who is in Ashlyn's class, but Kate and Ashley were visiting from the Netherlands and got to come along, too! What's the deal with the pumpkin patch being so commercialized now, too? Isn't it crazy that there are rides and games and every other method of squeezing more cash out of families. I love Fresh and Easy - good sized pumpkins for $2.48! That's half what Albertson's charged, and a fraction of the pumpkin patch scam.

Our ding-dong-ditching this year was a real "boo"! Ghost and goblin cupcake pops - Yum!

What's Halloween without carving a pumpkin?

We had fun as a family carving some new designs - a first for going beyond the basic triangles for me. Roasting the seeds is always a treat and the kids loved it.

On Friday morning, we had a special treat with both Christian and Brooke receiving an award at school. I like it when they combine them like that! Only the kindergarten dresses up for Halloween and they parade for the rest of the school at the awards assembly. It's way cute.

Afterwards was the kindergarten carnival which I got to help with making Goblin Goo, then I helped with Brooke's class party. I think I'm still sore from playing dodge ball!

I was at the school from 8:30 - 2:00. I think someone should put me on the payroll.

After four different Halloween parties, it is now time for the official night of Trick-or-Treating!

Christian really wanted to be a pirate, but a good one, he said. Not a mean or bad one. He didn't want any beard drawn on, or fake hair. He was thrilled with his simplistic costume (that we borrowed) and so was I! Brooke is reading the Pippi books and wanted to be Pippi Longstocking. How great is that??? What a super easy and fun costume where all we had to do is get hair color and a wire coat hanger! Done! The results were fabulous. Although we did have to take her hair out during one of the parties as she wanted to go on the trampoline and it became a hazard! Madison and Ashlyn were my darling little bees. We made Madison's costume and all had fun tying on the individual strips of material to make her tutu. She even made her own antennae out of pipe cleaners she was playing with during a recent visit to Aunt Lisa's.

We also can't go without my traditional pumpkin stew! It was extra delish this year and a nice treat to have friends stop in and have a nice warm bowl of wholesome stew while the littles canvassed the cul-de-sac.

The Merrill kids and a trick-or-treating friend getting their good fill before junk fill.

The house is ready! While I took the kids throughout our neighborhood with other friends that joined us, too, John stayed home to pass out candy. Can't leave this guy alone for too long! I wish I had a picture, but he set up a chair on the porch and sat in it, hiding under a dark sheet, with the giant tray of candy on his lap. As a kid would go to take a candy bar (full-size here!), he would jump and pop out of the sheet wearing a huge black afro wig. He even got our own kids and totally had them screaming! It was hilarious. I think it's even funnier that he was setting up bishopric-type appointments (to extend callings), all while under the sheet. He's a multi-tasker!

We had a few visitors after the trick-or-treating madness. That's always fun when friends drop by and the kids can see each other's costumes. We attempted to go to the Graveyard, but the kids were way too scared to go in this year. Seeing the outside of it was more than enough, even though they initially begged to go!

Brooke, Anna Bolen and Madison

Stewart and Christian, always ready to be Jedi Knights, and little George-Yoda in the background.

Because of daylight savings, the kids were all up way too early on Sunday morning and had plenty of time to get into their candy before our 9:00 church. Madison did really well refraining because it was Fast Sunday.

Let the sorting/bartering/trading begin!!!

Christian made a self-portrait candy man.

We already miss our friends the Johnsons after one week in our new wards, so we had them over for Break the Fast breakfast dinner! Fun times! Cute little Gwen said church just wasn't the same without the Merrills! This will be an adjustment!

Next up for November: Faith in God Stake activity (mother/son luau), Stake Auxiliary training, Priesthood Preview dinner and program, John in NYC for 10 days, all the Primary Sacrament programs, the last games of soccer, Thanksgiving, and Great Grandma and Aunt Dale come to visit. It's going to be a great month!! What am I missing? Oh, time to start Christmas shopping! When?? Yikes!

A New Life

When you're a member of The Church, your ward is a great part of your life. Today, the three wards - Newbury Park 1, 2, and 3 - that attend the Stake Center a block from my house, were completely dissolved and everybody was released from all callings.

There was a special Sacrament Meeting held for the 3 wards together, which was as big as a Stake Conference, where this was all presented. Talk about change! New boundaries have been drawn. This was long overdue since there was a huge discrepancy in the wards, where one ward was so anemic they were unable to fill callings, one person would hold multiple positions, and there was even only one counselor in the bishopric. Whereas another ward was bursting at the seams, the Primary was twice the size, many people had no callings, or 'made up' ones that people joke about like Hymn Book straightener. I'm making that part up. Maybe.

We are now in the newly formed Los Robles Ward and John is serving in the Bishopric, under Bishop Steve Lang. During his testimony, Bishop Lang said he was grateful to have John serve with him and that he "has known is wife since she was born." I thought that was pretty funny. I've seen Steve in the halls several times since he has moved to Newbury Park over the last year or so and it will be fun to be reacquainted with him and his wife Marci. They are fun people. And I do suppose he has known me since I was born as his family is from my home ward. Our wedding reception was held at his parents' home.

This will be A New Life for us. John was ordained a High Priest today. I teased him that he now has to fall asleep all the time and is too old to have any fun anymore.

We have to act like grown-ups, go to High Priest parties, and hang out with the old people.

No more sleeping in.

No more family time on Sundays. That will be the hardest since Sunday afternoon was the only time we had to hang out and relax as a family!

No more help getting the kids ready for church.

No more help with the kids during Sacrament meeting.

No more 'tag team' staying home with sick children.

Our new ward will meet at 9:00 a.m. from now on, not changing every year. He will have to be at church at 6:30 a.m. every week from now on. We are not morning people. Definitely a New Life. The fun part is they have to now fill an entire ward with callings. They have their work cut out for them!

I'm not sure how it will all work out, but I'm sure the Lord will provide a way.

His first meeting is supposed to be Tuesday night.

Oh sorry, he's in Texas.

Things are set up for November.

Oh sorry, he's in New York for those two weeks.

Visits the first Wednesday of each month.

Oh sorry, Track Club board meetings are then.

I thought he was busy before and didn't think it possible to squeeze another hour out of him. The Lord will definitely have to provide.

Now, how about providing a bathroom? Hmmm . . . . I'll need a miracle for that one. (My bathroom is still half-gutted).

On a serious note, I know these changes are inspired. There are a few things that have occurred of late that have confirmed to us that this is the way it's supposed to be. John will be excellent in his new calling and we will grow and be blessed exponentially as a family. It will be different. It will be challenging. It will be fun getting to know new ward members. It will be sad missing our good friends from our old ward. It will be worth it. It will be a new life.

I Can See Clearly Now

Last week at the pediatrician, Brooke had trouble with the eye exam. She was devastated when the doctor gave the news, it was so sad!

While she has been home sick this week, I took her to see an ophthalmologist to see what's going on. Now that we know there's an issue, she says she's been having trouble seeing the board if her teacher writes in orange marker, and she has headaches often. This may explain it! She is just a bit near-sighted and will need glasses during class time or when she needs to see far away, but not during sports.

We shopped and shopped for glasses and I was a bit surprised at her preference - she likes a bold and trendy look - and I think she's adorable.

She settled for a cute purply black Ralph Lauren number which she says is personalized for her with "Lauren" on the case. Cute!

When we got in the car to go home, she looked at the building and said, "Look at all the lines in the bricks! Wow! Look at how clear everything is!" A definite improvement already.

Yeah for Brooke ready to see the world clearly now!

Conversion

The Baptism of Brooke Lauren Merrill and Megan Rose Campbell

Brooke's friend Megan turned 8 last May and has been taking the missionary lessons as she comes from a part-member family. She wanted to be baptized, and wanted to do it along with Brooke, so the two of them were able to be together and it was beautiful! Megan is an only child with a small extended family so it was good that she was able to be with us (because we know how to pack the house!).

Last week I took pictures of Brooke in a beautiful white "baptism" dress.

Megan came over for pictures, too. I wanted to have a picture of them for the program. We took a zillion pictures and had a lot of fun doing so, and chose this picture for the program. It turned out beautifully printed on the inside:

It's time for the Baptism. There were so many people that came, so many people that love Brooke that we had to all move into the chapel to accommodate the crowd. I love having a big family and wonderful friends.

A handsome, worthy husband dressed in white and worthy to exercise his Priesthood to baptize and confirm your daughter . . . mmmmm doesn't get much better than that. No sir-ee!

When I was helping Brooke get dressed after the baptism, I asked her how she felt and she exclaimed, "Happy!" She was radiantly happy, even though she was coming down with a fever and sore throat.

I am very proud of my little Brookie-Boo and the decision she made to be baptized a member of the Church. She understands what it means and has been looking forward to this day for a long time. She is also excited to partake of the Sacrament for real tomorrow morning and to be introduced as the newest member of the ward. She's worried that she won't be well enough to attend!

Lots of food: salads, home made breads, orange chicken, sweet and sour meatballs, zucchini soup. Delish!

The desserts and the cucumber lime spritzer punch were major hits!

This cracks me up. Christian changed his clothes four different times, and had to match his cousin Spencer. Too cool boys! I think it cracks me up more though to find this on my camera. I didn't take it, nor did I know they were acting this way. Funny!

Presents!

Grandma Merrill made a cute baptism book with scriptures, stories, and pictures to go along with "I Am a Child of God" with family pictures and testimonies from every one in our family from both sides. Definitely a treasure! She also got a little hymnal to match the quad scriptures that we gave her.

Auntie Marylyn made her a beautiful journal and Brooke has started writing in it already. She has many beautiful memories to record.