Mer's Soccer Season

Mer thought she'd like to try something new this year... she's watched all of her cousins play soccer for years, and she decided to give the soccer cleats a try. Her coach was brand new to the game also, so it was a very laid-back introduction to soccer.  It was a great learning experience for her, and she loved getting *private* lessons from Auntie Casey. :)

There were a few weekends where she didn't want to go to the games because she was sooo tired... and there were a few weekends where I didn't want to go... it was too wet!! :) But, we made it! She got so much better by the end of the season, and she thinks she'd like to try it again... and swimming and dance and...

Happy Birthday Mer Mer!

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl! It's hard to believe it's been 7 years...

Mer remembered a skating party that Natalie had a few years ago and decided that's what she wanted to do this year. Natalie had the same idea... and they shared the party and the skating rink! It was so much fun! :) The both agreed on the Teen Beach Movie soundtrack... and they skated their brains out!

Charlotte got to bring along her little scooter... she kept up with big kids for sure!

Aunt Casey found these great roller skate necklaces that light up... so the kids turned the lights off to get the full effect.

And... on the actual day of Merilyn's birthday, Daddy made her a special birthday breakfast. :)

Later we had family over for the birthday dinner of *beans and rice*. :) She said that everyone else could have burritos or tacos, but she just wanted the side dishes.

Happy birthday Merilyn Grace! You add so much to our lives!

We love you!

Back to School!

Ali started 5th grade this year! Whaaat?!! How did that happen? Her *new* teacher was also her third grade teacher. She had moved grades and Alison was so excited!

Meri was on a staggered start and her first day was a couple of days later.  She was more than ready for first grade!!

Once again Trav was my hero and was there to take the girls to school on their first day and take all of the mandatory pictures. :)

Whidbey Island was so fun!

Mom took us early in the morning to Gramma Barb's house to go to Whidbey Island. We packed all of our things in her trailer and left. On the way we stopped at McDonald's for breakfast. After we ate, we were back on the road.

When we got there, we jumped out and gave everyone a hug. We parked the trailer and ran inside. We made lunch, and then I started making bracelets and Merilyn was playing with her babies and Polly Pockets. After dinner we went to bed and I read for awhile.

The next day we got up and had breakfast. I made more bracelets while we waited for Maggie and Marcus to come. Uncle Bob asked Meri and me if we wanted to go on a walk and we said yes. He said to not touch nettles, which is a very bad plant that will sting you badly. He kept talking that if we touched it we would *cry like babies* and all this other stuff, while Merilyn had just touched some! I told her to keep calm, and that Grandma would have cream to put on the sting. We kept walking and then I got stung. When we got back, I told Grandma what happened and she put cream on the sting. To this day I am sure Uncle Bob doesn't even know it happened!

We also went on Uncle Bobby's tractor. Mer and I took turns driving the tractor. When Marcus and Maggie came, the girls ran inside to play American Girl Dolls. Then we had lunch and went back to playing American Girl Dolls and making bracelets.

After dinner we went out to feed Rosie, the cow. We stirred, and mixed, and poured food in the bottle to feed Rosie. Then we went to bed and Gramma read us a few pages from a comic book.

The next day we had breakfast, played for awhile, then went to feed Rosie again. After Rosie's breakfast, Aunt Linda and I took all of the dogs for a walk around the property with Jim. Lily stayed by my side the whole time!  After lunch, Gramma turned on the Teen Beach Movie soundtrack. We all danced in front of the trailer. Then we went inside to play Dolls. That night, Maggie's Grandma asked us to dance for her because she thought we were really good. The next day was just the same. Walks, dolls, dancing. That night for dinner we told stories and kids drank cider and grownups drank wine. The next morning, Mikey was packing up the trailer and we were saying our good-byes. Grandma invited Maggie to come with us to the American Doll Store and Betsey was going to pick her up after.

We went riding horses! My horse was named Dancer... which was perfect because I'm a dancer!

We left and the kids ate snacks and watched Teen Beach Movie. We got on the fairy and started to move onto our spot when, the trailer crashed into a pole on the fairy! It was terrible. The rest of the trip was good. I can't wait till we get to go again. Merilyn agrees.