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Friday, December 23, 2011

First visit to Santa







Last Saturday we took the little ones to see Santa. Last year Tiny was too sick to get to see Santa but this year he found it pretty enjoyable. I laughed at their willingness to go sit on his lap. Xavier tried numerous times to get into other people's pictures and they loved playing with the "tracking" equipment while waiting their turn.

Here are a few pictures of Carson and Xavier... In one it looks as if Carson might be afraid but he was really just trying to take the teddy bear away from the photographer. Their jammies say Santa's Helper on them just in case you wondered.



Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas ya'll

Monday, December 12, 2011

The Polar Express

The Polar Express train ride Santa giving Carson his bell
Cookie face



Me like cookie!


waiting for the train


daddy and Carson all bundled up


Saturday the 10th we went with my "other" family aka Corby's family to ride the Polar Express in Heber. It was awesome! I've read the book and so being on the train reminded me alot of how I've felt when I read the story myself. Grandma Alaine got all the grand kids pajamas that matched, the boys had the same monkey pattern on theirs as did the little girls and Shaylyn had snazzy purple monkey pj's.

The looks on their faces was totally worth it! Carson had a blast! He made singing noises along with the choir on the train and interacted alot with cousin Ailey. It was about 10 minutes too long for Carson to remain happy as we got his coat back on he started to scream and cry. Corby felt embarrassed he had said to me on the way home, but hey he's 13 months and it was late when we got back to the car.

The kids loved seeing the North pole and Santa who got aboard the train and gave each child a bell of their own. Carson loved the cookies he stole from both mom and dad.


Thanks for the fun experience Aunt Kami!






















Enjoy the pictures

Friday, December 9, 2011

The joys of being a mom







There are tough times being a mom especially when your child is sick or when your husband works six days a week, but there's those moments too that you just laugh out loud because he's discovered something and flashes that winning smile. Like this morning when he found the blocks that we get out for the season that say let it snow. The look on his face when he banged those blocks together and realized they made a sound was priceless. Then there was yesterday when he pulled out the bottom drawer beneath our entertainment center and hid pens and other such stuff then "discreetly" closed it. Then later that night after Corby got home he went over there and opened it and pulled out what he'd put in there.


Here are pictures of my sweet boy eating his birthday cake

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Memories











Sometimes I think this blog is more for me than anyone else... The month of November has not been a happy one to say the least, thanksgiving is approaching what I have to be thankful for is the family I still have in my life. The second of November my parents, Jake and Corby, Carson and I attended a viewing of a family cousin who had been diagnosed with Cancer just 5 weeks prior to her death. Then a week later my grandma passed away. Her passing was somewhat of a blessing-now that she isn't in pain. I'm grateful for the knowledge that I have being a member of the LDS church in knowing that once people die they are restored to a perfect state, where the cancer and dementia that plagued my cousin and grandma are gone and they are with loved ones they have been apart from for far too long. My grandpa passed away 31 years ago and since then my grandma has never loved anyone but him.



I didn't know until we were writing the obituary to go in the paper that my grandparents were high school sweethearts. They met when they both attended Cyprus High. Funny, high school is where my parents met and they've been together for 39 years(well married anyway), I'd bet it's more like 40 plus years when you count the time mom and dad went to college and dad served on his mission.

I remember so many things about my grandma and going to her house, she always tried to give you a piece of fruit whenever you went over- either a banana or apple or an orange, or when the three of us kids would go stay overnight, we'd watch the Golden Girls, Dallas and Falcon Crest--That's right the devout Relief Society President and temple worker loved the soap operas of the 80's! And how the four us used to sleep in her queen sized bed while she sang Primary songs to fall asleep to. Then there were holidays, Halloween we would go over and she would give us Carmel popcorn balls-even when we were in college grandma sent care packages with these popcorn balls, the little note would read, "Share these with your friends but make sure you keep two for you." Thanksgivings where she let me eat turkey with the shrimp fork, I hated shrimp cocktail when I was younger, yet I still insisted on using my fork! I've since grown to like shrimp cocktail, but I still use that tiny fork to eat other things too.

Christmases where she always had thin mints on hand and those red velvet reindeer with glitter ears, one boy and one girl. We played with them until all the velvet and glitter came off. It was then that Grandma got rid of them.One summer I came home from college I wasn't able to find a job, and she wasn't able to drive so she paid me 100 dollars a week to take her to doctor appointments, to the temple and to the grocery store. She didn't have to pay me because she was already helping with my college tuition, but she said that's she wouldn't feel right about it otherwise.

She was such a proper lady, she always had her hair pinned up so neatly with not a strand out of place, except when she was working in her rose garden. But she would come in and fix it before she went anywhere else.

She always had a matching purse to go with every pair of high heels she owned. In each purse she always kept a powder compact and a tube of red lipstick. She was famous for wearing pearls and stockings(pantyhose) everyday-I remember she would wear her short socks with balls on the heels over them. There are so many things I could say about my grandma but then this entry would be longer than it already is.


I love you grandma







Thursday, November 3, 2011

Carson's first Halloween

from L to R: A tiger and his mama, A tiger, a dragon and the uncle/daddy, the costumed babies watching grandpa put DryIce in his "Monster tub"











Halloween was fun, I think I enjoyed it more as a parent than I did as a kid. We took Carson trick-or-treating around my mom's neighborhood with my nephew Xavier. The boys rode in style in the wagon while Uncle Jake pulled it from house to house. Corby and Adri went up to the houses while the boys stayed secure in the wagon guarded by their paintball gear dressed Uncle--complete with gun in tow.

The boys got tired of riding and wanted to be carried halfway home, that tiger and dragon sure got heavy in a hurry on our way back to Grandma's. The twosome went their separate ways when Xavier went home and Carson(aka the smilin' dragon) went to Grandma Alaine's for chili and more trick-or-treating. However, little dragon was sleepy when we got to grandma's so we decided to forego trick-or- treating and just hung out with Tyler and Makayla and Aunt Kaeloni. We sure missed seeing the other cousins:(


Overall I think his first Halloween was a success! Stay tuned for more pictures after I get some from Grandma Char.






Monday, October 31, 2011

New adventure and ward Trunk or Treat

So something new around our household--something trivial to many people but monsterious for Carson.... So far he has been bathing in the whale tub we got when he was born, but the other day when he pulled himself up to grab a toy that had fallen out, Corby and I decided it was time to move him to the "Big Tub". Saturday the 29th was the first adventure... I wish I had had my camera with me, he wouldn't sit down and when he did he wouldn't move even when his toys began to float to the back of the tub... Yesterday the 30th was even funnier... he liked it a little better, he sat down at least but this time he splashed water all over... both mommy and the floor were soaked!

Saturday night was the ward trunk or treat-- Corby claims that he's never been to one... I hardly believe that... HE thought I would be the only older ward memeber to dress up--I went as a bunny-- to my surprise and delight there were many parents and others in the ward that dressed up. One older man in our ward dressed up as Rip Van Winkle! There is a family in our ward that have a two year old daughter and triplets-- the triplets went as papa bear, mama bear and little baby bear.. thier sister Alexa went as Goldielocks!


Our baby dragon wasn't the only dragon there... in fact a couple in our ward brought there grandson Asher and he was dressed in the exact same dragon Costume...

(Picture 1)Asher and Carson....

( picture 2) Asher eating Carson


I hope Tiny has as much fun tonight as he did Saturday night

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

As promised-the little man in his costume

The dragon fighting off his enemy
"Puff" has got nothin' on my little dragon-look at that ferociousness

The enemy making up with the dragon


Coming to a door near you soon



























Monday, October 17, 2011

a month of madness

Between the last blog entry and now there has been so much going on in this Merchant household. The mama, the papa and the baby have all been either to see the doctor or spent time in the ER.
The baby starting throwing up and having blowout diapers just after Mama and Aunt Erin's birthday--turns out he wound up with a gastrointestinal infection(the one that's affected alot of children according to the prediatrician). Then the daddy had a blackout at work and was taken to the ER for dehydration... then the mama caused quite a comotion and ended up as the talk of the neighborhood when the paramedics had to come because she had had two seizures that day and the one that caused the ride in the ambulance the papa wasn't able to wake her up.

Cross your fingers that all stays well so that little man can go trick-or-treating.... He's going to be a dragon... stay tuned for pictures

Monday, September 19, 2011

Norma Ruth



A week ago today I attended a funeral for my husband's grandma who for all intents and purposes I thought of her as one of my own. I'll miss her so much, but in the wake of that grief I wrote a poem about her



Here it is...


Norma Ruth



Kind eyes, a warm embrace



a stranger turned loved one,



in an instant.



Welcoming






Loving, always giving



Remembering family,



on special days.



Treasuring new blessings,



giving thanks for the old.






Loving, always giving



Never wavering






Till we are united once more









You will be very missed grandma

Thursday, July 21, 2011

7 years and counting

On Saturday the 16th Corby and I celebrated our 7 wedding anniversary... we celebrated by taking Tiny to his first trip to the zoo. What an adventure that was. He had a good time I think. The zoo has certainly changed alot since I went there last--there are no bears and I didn't see any zebra either.

Here are some of the pictures we took for your viewing pleasure--EnjoyCorby was measuring Tiny to see how much bigger the infant gorilla was to Tiny, there wasn't much difference in their height--the gorilla infant has longer arms thoughHere's Tiny with Corby in front of the elephants-Tiny was more interested in the people around him

Here are Tiny and mama posing for a picture on the train


Corby and I haven't changed much in seven years--Just a little sidekick along for the ride now

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Carson's first 4th of July and swimming adventure


Happy Fourth of July!


Smilin' for the camera with Logan's friend Natalie decked out in his swimming gear Checking things out with mama before getting in


Liking the raft





Daddy and his sidekick





Can't believe it's now July and that the little man will be 8 months old! Yesterday Corby and I went up to his uncle's home in Farmington for some fun in the sun and swimming.... Thanks Clayton for your hospitality...




















































This was Carson's first experience in a pool, it looks as if he had a good time...

Friday, June 3, 2011

Showing school pride







During May 18-22 Erin, Phill and Xavier went to Virginia to Erin's 10th college reunion. Erin returned with of course college paraphernalia and she even brought Carson a Sweet Briar College shirt back...





So Aunt Erin, here's Carson displaying his Aunt's school pride-- he looks pretty cute huh?










Saturday, May 28, 2011

Tiny is no longer tiny

Tilt your head to the left and you'll be able to see it horizontally... Can't figure out how to change it. Here's tiny enjoying rice cereal at Grandma Char's at Easter




We need a new nickname for our Tiny guy- he's not so tiny anymore... at his six month checkup yesterday he is now, 14 lbs. 6 oz and 25 inches long.... my dad suggested Tubby... Today we tried to feed him apples and boy the look on his face was priceless... he got one thing from his mama, apples that taste like applesauce are yucky!

update





My First Easter( and yes he wore that to church) :D




Yes that is Tiny eating the cardboard that his new shoes are attached to.



I just realized that I never did post the Easter bunny pictures, nor did I post any of Tiny's first Easter... Let me remedy that with this post....

My little man with the Easterbunny

Xavier and Carson

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

first mother's day

My first mother's day was not what I had expected--On Saturday the 7th dad took my mom, Erin, me,Jake, Corby and the boys to a Bees game where my dad bid on #31's pink jersey and won the jersey for my mom! Back when she played in college her number was 31 and she was also the catcher on her team! watching the game or rather grandma Char









The little boys seemed to have fun, even Xavier wore his pink knock cancer out of the park shirt that they were giving away that night. Arent't they adorable?


















Saturday, April 16, 2011

What a month!

Personally and professionally this month has been very trying! I started the month out with a bang, I had a seizure while driving home from work! The good Lord only knows how I was able to stop the car, not crash it or into anyone. Then the following week the 6th I had another while at home, Corby wasn't home and so my mom and dad came to they rescue as the always do. I love my family! Now the doctor wants to hospitalize me and video tape me for three days to I guess find out the cause of my having seizures while on meds--yippee! This week the 18th through the 22nd is spring break- a week of relaxing and taking Carson and Erin's baby Xavier to see the Easter Bunny :) I love celebrating holidays with a baby, I get to feel like a kid again myself. Stay tuned for pictures!

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Update on Tiny & Uncle Jake's Birthday- First bowling experience

The results at the end of game 2--X and Tiny's score of 100- not too shabby
Xavier really got the hang of it after awhile"Okay mom, I'm ready"
The result of Tiny's ball- yes there are only five left
Waiting for mom to give him the ball
Tiny sitting on a bowling ball
For all those who are interested-- I took Tiny to the pediatrician for his four months shots--he now weighs 11.9 pounds! He is doing great- a great relief to all the family!


On Mar. 24th was Uncle Jake's birthday, so we all got together the following Saturday and went bowling and to lunch after... I can't tell you how fun it was to take the little ones bowling with us...Tiny and Xman did great--in the end the result was pretty good... they are only four and eight months old...

Here are some pictures...

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Mommy's photo shoot

love my little guy in hoodies
Is that a sweet face or what?

love "Mommy's little guy"


Tiny is doing much better now, yay! Can't say much for the rest of the family, the only one who isn't sick is Uncle Bigdog(aka Jake). During the last week I played more with my camera, I'm sure if Tiny could talk he'd say, "not again mama". He's just changed so much that I can't help getting out the camera.
Valentine's day is never my favorite holiday, but this year I have alot to love!







Wednesday, February 2, 2011

When does it stop?

It's amazing how fine can go to crappy in a matter of weeks/ days... We were all set to bless this little man this coming Sunday the 6th, but in the time it took us to send out the invites both Tiny mite and Corby have gotten sick. I noticed last Sunday the 30th that it was hard for tiny to breathe and that I was sucking out his nose frequently. I turned to Corby and said that his fear had come true he had given his cold to Tiny. The next morning I took his temperature and it read 99.2, so I gave him some baby Tylenol and checked it again an hour later, the thermometer read 100.2!
I called the doctor and asked if I ought to bring him in and they immediately made us an appointment. Grandpa Mike came to take us to the doctor(since mama can't drive after having some grandmal seizures) and found out that his labored breathing and snotty nose was diagnosed as bronchitis, otherwise known as RSV. He's at home and not in the hospital because his oxygen level is good. If it drops than we'll most likely wind up there. This poor boy has been through so much since his birth. Hopefully giving Tiny time to recoup as well as Daddy means that by next month at 4 months old we will get to bless our sweet boy!
Luckily I get to stay home another month to take care of my boys!

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Update on our crazy life


Here are a few new pictures for your enjoyment...


Couldn't resist capturing this moment

"baby's first christmas" outfit grandma Char bought


random naptime in his new crib



Picture that should've gotten put in the previous entry









On the 10th, Tiny turned 2 months old... and now weighs a whopping 8 lbs 4 ounces. That may sound small to much of the world but the family and I are thrilled that he's gaining and not loosing weight. The holidays were mellow, but I really didn't mind. Who else thinks that the holidays are always a time to run,run,run from one party to the next? It makes it hard I think to even enjoy them sometimes.