My 3 Obsessions 12-05-10

My 3 obsessions this week (and really since I last posted)

#1 - Halls Cough Drops

(for someone who has not had that wonderful of winter so far, I have had to rely heavily on Halls to relieve my coughing fits, I hate that most days I can't make it more than a couple of hours without having to pop one in my mouth, but at the same time I am glad I have something to make me quit sounding like I am hacking up a lung.)

#2 - Leap Year

(Taci bought this movie recently and although I remembered seeing it once I couldn't remember what it was about so it has been on the movie channel and I recorded it, now I just can't stop watching it, I seriously think I need a vacation to Ireland. My "romantic" husband has gently reminded me that if he goes on a trip with me it is not going to be like the movie..................so I am thinking of leaving him home and trying my luck at the pubs!!!!)

#3 - Breyers Rocky Road Ice Cream

(Macey's had their Breyers on sale for 1.99, can you believe it 1.99, I know it was to wonderful to pass up, I went right out and had to purchase a couple (or 4) quarts of ice cream, thank heavens they had some of the good stuff!!!)

Chapter 87: Thanksgiving

So for Thanksgiving we spent the time with Scott's family in Horrocksville, Ut (aka Neola), Grandma Ada decided that everyone should come over to her house and it turned out to be a housefull!!! Although I do have to say that there is one HUGE difference between my family and Scott's and that is the fact that when the Merkley's get together for Thanksgiving the pie ratio is like 1 pie per person, with Scott's it is more like 1 pie per 10 people (so sad) but in the spirit of gratefullness I am willing to overlook this imperfection because I do love my in-laws!!!! I am thinking that Thanksgiving is also becoming a different sort of tradition for Scott, for the last few years he finds something that must be hunted or fished. This year was no exception, that morning he and Bradley set out in hopes to catch and kill a coyote, Scott's step-dad Everett told him that they had been hearing Coyotes so they were very excited to go see what they could get, so in zero degree weather, with all their gear they set out to see if they could find a coyote. They came home empty handed and at this point I was just glad they were not sent to kill the Turkey for dinner because it would have been a bird-less dinner :) Later that day Scott took Zacky out and their luck wasn't any better, but they had a good time and I love to hear the stories from the boys about their thrilling hunting adventures with their Dad. Later that night we headed up to my Dad and Mom's to visit with family. When we got up their we found my Aunt Dawn (mom's sis) showing my mom how to crochet some adorable flowers (ssshhhh, I think some might be for Christmas), my Aunt Pam and Uncle Pam (you read it right, that is what Lainee called them she just thought that Pam was there last name :) , Uncle Bruce and Aunt Gayla (mom's bro), my brother Galen, my sister Taci, my sister Cami and her husband James and then two of my favorite people Grandpa and Grandma Harvey, we had so much fun visiting with them and planning our Black Friday Night!!!! Why some people do not love Black Friday shopping I will never know, I love the feeling of chaos and excitement when you get a good deal on stuff, I love people watching and besides NYC, this is the best way to see people and watch how they handle it all. I finally had to put my sister on cart patrol so she wouldn't have a panic attack but we still had tons of fun and after I had a sleep over with Taci at my mommy's house!!!!

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on all that we are thankful for so I am going to list my top 5, just for all my fans!!!!

1. My most awesome kids, they may drive me insane daily, but I love, love, love them!!!

2. My wonderful husband, he is truly an incredible person!!!

3. Our fabulous families, I love spending time with our immediate and extended families, THANKS for the memories!!!

4. Warmth (we came home to a 42* house, but it was the warmth from a child on my lap, the warmth from the kids working together to get blankets, heaters and such that I appreciated.)

5. Ice Cream (if you know anything about me you know that this is my everlasting joy!!!)

I hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving and that you are looking forward to the coming holidays!!!

My 3 obsessions 11-07-10

So my 3 obsessions this week:

#1

Food Storage

(if anyone needs a jump start on getting your food storage going you need to read "Life as we knew it" by Susan Beth Pfeffer, I just finished the sequel to that one for book club and man it really opens your eyes to the things that really matter in life in a crisis.)

#2

Boobs

(I never asked for them, I never really wanted them, I was the girl who's mom basically had to say either you put on a bra yourself or I will do it for you, I never wanted anyone to know that I had them, but if you ask me if I wanted to have them removed I would have to say NO, and this past week I have been told of 3 different women in my community whom I know that are in different stages of battling breast cancer, one who has been putting up a good fight, one who battled it years ago and is now facing it again, and one who is waiting on the news - good or bad? What do you ask has this turned me into, a great big Boob.)

#3

Water

(so this past week I got a small stomach bug, I say small in that it only lasted 24 hours, but I was completely zapped of any energy I had or hoped to have anytime soon. All I could think of was water, I am sure that this is because I was very close to dehydration, Scott kept trying to help me out with getting me ice chips and cups of water but sadly I just couldn't keep anything down. I have always been a lover of water but never as much as when I was able to hear the chink, chink of the ice cubes being put into a nice tall glass and then hearing the cool, clear water that flowed out of the tap and into my glass to soothe the quench I never thought could quenched again.)

Chapter 86: A laugh (or two)

So tonight during dinner Scott decided to tell me that he was going to be putting in for a Bear Hunt, a spring Bear hunt, but a bear hunt nonetheless. I proceeded to ask him, after I was done rolling my eyes, why he would want to do that. He said to kill a bear of course!!! I then said, what in the world would you do with it once you killed it!!! I should have known better, he quickly responded with, I would take it to the taxidermist and he would make it into a bear rug WITH the head still attached and we could use it on our bed?!?!?!?!?!? Seriously what is wrong with this man..................so I told him, well I am starting to think you want a divorce to which little Lainee quickly jumped in with "No, No, because I really like both of you!!!!"

Well I guess for now we will stay married, just because it is nice to be LIKED!!!! Stay tuned though the "debate" on where the deer head will be hanging is still waging on.

My 3 Obsessions - 10-24-10

# 1

TUMS!!!!

(can I just say that I have not had heartburn this bad since I was pregnant with Kennadee, my dr. gave me something to help but it has been a very slow process and so tums have been my new BFF, and no worries for all you who hope I get pregnant, the dr. did a blood test and it came back negative *whew*)

# 2

Laundry

(I am not so sure this is as much an obsession as a necessity, but nonetheless I have not been able to get caught up on it this week, I am hoping that next week is better because if not, Zacky may fire me as his mom, since he is the one who always ends up with nothing to wear.)

# 3

Socks

(I love the fall weather mostly because of socks, just as much as I love summer for bare feet, I love putting on nice warm socks and walking around the house, I think I love them most of all for the simple fact that when I step into something sticky, wet, squishy or slimy I can just simply pull them off and replace them with another pair!!!!)

SHOUT OUT!!!!

HEY I JUST WANTED TO SEND A SHOUT OUT TO MY MOST AWESOME FAMILY!!!!!

THEY CAME TO OUR SCHOOL'S HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL AND NOT ONLY DID THEY SUPPORT US BUT THEY PITCHED RIGHT IN TO HELP OUT IN THE BOOTH THAT I WAS IN CHARGE OF, REALLY I HOPE YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS, IT WAS A LOT OF FUN TO HAVE YOU THERE AND I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THE HELP YOU GAVE ME LAST NIGHT!!!! LOVE YA!!!!

Chapter 85: So what would you Do???

Have you ever tried to do your best to correct a mistake only to be told that it wasn't a mistake. Well this happened to me twice in one day!!!! So all of you know that I coupon and I love it, but this week for whatever reason I ran into some issues.

It started out at Walgreen's, which as a side note I really do not like shopping there, I just don't find that they have very friendly people there. But nonetheless they had some good deals on things and I went to grab just a few things. So as I am checking out the lady at the counter is scanning my coupons and then she starts having a problem with one, she kept trying to scan it and then scan another one, so on and so forth and pretty soon I am confused as to which coupons she has already used and which ones she hasn't, so she printed out a receipt to make sure that she had all the coupons on it, so I told her how many I had of each and it turns out that somehow she had scanned an extra coupon so I told her of her mistake and she said "oh well, it is to hard to correct these kinds of mistakes." to which I said we could just start over and she said "nope, it's not worth it" and then she proceeded to check me out and I was on my way.

Then I was in Salt Lake at a Smith's store and again I was buying things specifically to use coupons on them and to get extra savings you had to buy so many of these certain items, so I am very careful about counting when I put things in my basket and then rechecking my math when I load things onto the conveyor belt. Well when the lady (who had a very strong accent) was telling me my total, I noticed that I had only received 1 $5.00 savings when I should have gotten 2, so I pointed it out to her and she printed out a receipt to check over things and then told me that I had only bought 19 items instead of 20, to which I responded that I was sure that I had 20, and that maybe one of the items must not have rung up, and then she kind of got defensive and was like "it is in the computer, the computer doesn't lie, it let's me know how many items you have, so it you want the discount you need to buy another item." and then she grabs one of the items and scans it again and then you could see the 2nd $5.00 discount appear. So then she made the bagger go grab the same item she just scanned, although I was trying to hurry and count and see how many I did have. When I got home and started going through the groceries, I found that I was right and that she must not have scanned one of the items. So now I am kind of mad, I was trying to do the right thing in both cases but basically got told that it didn't matter if I was right, so now I am posing the question to you - what would you do????

Road Trip USA (cont.)

(I am still needing to finish our Road Trip Blogs so here is some more of our trip, and believe me, it is so fun to go through the pictures and remember the good times!!!!!!!!!)

I can hear Dora the explorer now, singing a song to her grandmother "choc-o-latte, choc-o-latte", if she only knew about Hershey, Pennsylvania!!!!!

Highlights:

- Hershey Kiss Lights

- Cassie saying "Does W. Chocolate Ave. mean West or White????"

- Little Chocolatiers

- Yummy Ice Cream

- Free Chocolate Ride (With Singing Cows!!!)

(Alesa really, really wanted the kisses on the conveyor belt, she nearly jumped out of the car!!!)

- Mr. Hershey Bar

- Create your own Candy Bar

And of course to top it all off is a trip to the LARGEST hershey candy store YUM!!!!

My 3 Obsessions - 10-17-10

Well my 3 obsessions this week shall tell you alot about me and my very bad habits, but in getting this all out in the open I am hoping to have let's say a theraputic healing, maybe if I get it all out in the open I will get to know why I am so obsessed with these particular things and maybe I will be cured of my obsessions.

and then again maybe not......................

#1

it starts with a "P"

(and no it is not Primary, but since my kids do read this YOU are going to have to do a little research. I recently read a book about this subject entititled "Escape" by Carolyn Jessop. That is the only hint I will give you, but seriously I do not know why I have an obsession with this subject, I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that I met some one time and spent a little time around them when they were getting their family picture done at the same time I was getting Bradley and Kennadees' done. Don't get me wrong I in no way think it is right, but I am just curious about those that chose to live this way and everything about them

#2

I can't help it but I am a sucker for it, and sometimes the story line is just so fantastic I am rivited to the TV but then sometimes I find myself just fast forwarding through a lot of it. If you want to know here is your clue..................ABC - 1 pm - my time, I know, I know, but hey if this is my one (or one of my) sins at least I can own up to it.


#3

I won't have to give any clues regarding this obsession because I think it is awesome, I just got the Jekyll and Hyde Piano book and I am LOVING IT!!!! It has such emotion in the pieces and I can sit for hours just playing the different songs I have been learning (but don't tell Scott because I am suppose to be doing other things but I just. can't. help. myself. ssssssssshhhhhhhh!!!!!)

My 3 Obsessions - 10-10-10

I know that this post is a little late but I have had an extremely busy, busy week and I think you will know why in a little bit, but first I have to say that one of my goals this week is to at least post a new entry today and tomorrow, so hopefully I will be able to accomplish this goal (and hey with this post at least I am 50% there:)

So my 3 obsessions this week are:

#1

Primary

(I am in charge of doing the Primary Program this year and it requires alot of work when you have 135 kids in your primary.)

#2

Primary

(I had trips to the temple, many phone conversations and many prayers in my heart this week.)

#3

Primary

(Some of you may already know but this Sunday, I was released as the 2nd Counselor in the Primary and then called as the Primary President, I will just be honest, I am SCARED (to say the least), I feel very overwhelmed, nervous and very unsure of myself and my abilities to lead. But this last week has also taught me a very much needed lesson; I am not alone, my Heavenly Father is with me and he will help guide me so that I will accomplish the things that he needs me to in our ward. I am so grateful for this lesson and I am excited to start my journey in this new calling and I am confident that with the Sisters who I am serving with in the Presidency, we will be able to help the children of our Ward learn to love their Savior and help them gain testimonies of their own!!!)

Chapter 84: My Answering Machine

bbbbbbbbbeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeppppppppppppp


Hello you have reached the office of Mother.
Please listen carefully to the following message for your menu options:

Press 1 - if you forgot your homework, library book, or lunch money, even though Mother reminded you at least 14 times to put it in your backpack.

Press 2 - if you want to complain because Mother is to strict and expects you to do your chore the right way.

Press 3 - if you want to complain because Mother "actually" makes you brush your teeth, simply because Mother is the one paying for the Dentist bill.

Press 4 - if you want an allowance but do not want to help Mother with anything to earn it.

Press 5 - if you don't care that gas is expensive and it shouldn't matter if Mother is waiting on you so she can take you to soccer, dance, piano, scouts, karate, activity days, primary activities, and any other thing that may come up at any given moment.

Press 6 - if you dislike what Mother has made for Breakfast.

Press 7 - if you dislike what Mother has made for Dinner.

Press 8 - if you think Mother is crazy in saying that "beating up your siblings is NOT an appropriate form of excercise."

Press 9 - if you think Mother is wrong at all times and in all places and about all things; past, present and future.

Press 0 - if you would like Mother to translate this message in "whinese".





Please hold while I transfer you to this extension.............


Your call is very important to us, please continue to hold.................................


your call will be answered in the order it was received, your approximate wait time is.............................5 years, 7 months, 9 days, 1 hour and 34 minutes.







If you have reached this message, and still can't get you complaint addressed, please hang up and try doing what Mother asks, without arguing, without negotiating, the way you were taught, the first time asked!!

Thank you and have a nice day!!!

My 3 Obsessions - 10-02-10

Man somebody needs to post more often, it seems that this is the only post I have been doing lately. Maybe I am just starting to become old and boring...................hahaha, I make myself giggle sometimes!!!!

My 3 Obsessions this week are:

#1

Harry Potter

(I know I posted about this earlier, but I really, really want to finish the series before the last movie comes out, because I really want to see one of the shows in the Theatre with a Big Pepsi and a Big Popcorn and maybe even some Hot Tamales!!!)

#2

Lists

(those of you who really know me, know that I am not all that organized, I know shocker huh!!! But needless to say, I have been making lists left and right, and I have some really cute paper to make my lists, lets just hope that something on these lists actually gets crossed off.)

#3

Sleep

(Whenever Scott is gone I just do not sleep well, I have a hard time falling asleep and then once I do finally fall asleep, I wake with every stupid little noise, I absolutely LOVE when one of my kids comes into my bedroom in the middle of the night and I don't even make them go back to their own room, because they help to keep me warm and safe!!!)

My 3 Obsessions

My 3 obsessions for this week are...........

#1

Pumpkin Choc. Chip Cookies

(I had some spice cake mix that was going to be expiring soon and so I made 2 batches of the yummy delicious cookies, the nice thing would have been for me to share with neighbors, friends, my children, but no I am pretty sure I ate most of them, and then to top it off I was having a rough day and my friend brought me a plate of, oh yes, pumpkin choc. chip cookies to be nice, and to let me know she was thinking of me!)

#2

Soccer

(and credit due to my boys, this was even before Sat. game!!!)

#3

My Piano

(if you ever want to know my mood, no need to ask or to even waste money on a mood ring, just simply listen to the songs I choose to play (or plunk out)!!!

Chapter 83: His Number

Dear Coach of the opposing team we played on Sat.,

You have said you want the name of player #10 on our team, you state that he was unsportsmanlike, and you have said that one of your players overheard this #10 player saying "punch, kick, and do whatever to take them out."

Let me answer you this:

His name is Bradley King, he is #10 and you, my friend, are sadly mistaken. Bradley's actions both on and off the field that day were nothing but as sportmanlike as any parent, coach, or teammate can ask of anyone else. I will also say that his actions on the field stand on their own two feet. He is not a co-captain for nothing, he is a leader, he is a team player, he is an up-lifter and he is a positive influence for his teammates both at games and practice. He is a respected player both on and off the field and he earns that respect. He is also lucky enough to have a Coach who expects nothing less than outstanding sportsmanlike conduct and shows that through his actions and not just his words, he is also lucky enough to have parents who do not accept or condone words or behavior that is hurtful to others. I leave you with these parting thoughts, don't bring it, unless you can back it up, because Bradley stands far and above those who just want to tear down others.

Sincerely yours,
Melanie King
#10's mother and biggest fan

Chapter 82: twelve

When my Mom turned 40 a friend of hers gave her a hand towel which had a cute saying on it about how she could use that towel to wipe off all her tears of sorrow for becoming "OLD", well Mom, I think I need that towel please, not because I am getting old, but because my kids keep getting older. I do NOT like birthdays, mine or my kids, because I really don't see it as a celebration, I see it as another year gone, another year closer to the time when they will leave the house, and this Birthday is no exception.

Bradley is 12 today, and this birthday not only marks the fact that both he and I have survived his childhood, but today marks the day where life as we know it will never be the same again. Bradley is now a Young Man, and I don't mean that just because he will now go to Young Mens, but I mean he will now start the phase in his life when he is preparing himself to leave our home. I see it as a tall playground slide, we have guided him up the slide, step by step and have been right behind him, and now it is his turn to navigate his way down with us cheering him on, until he reaches the bottom and slides out our doors into the world all on his own. I may sound a little sentimental or maybe I am just rambling for my own benefit, but I feel very sad and no where near prepared for him to be this grown up, to hold the priesthood and to be passing the sacrament.

Bradley somedays you drive me insane, but I wouldn't trade these last 12 years for anything, I love your smile, I love your laugh and I love your tender heart, Happy Birthday buddy!!!! (p.s. if you need me today, *sniff* I will be in my room *sniff, sniff* with your baby book. *sniff*)

Chapter 81: My 3 Obsessions...

So I watch this show where the "host" does a segment called "3 things I am obsessed with this week." I don't know why but it always makes me laugh, I love that he doesn't care what people think of his obsessions because they are simply the things he cares about that week. So I decided it might be fun to write about the things I am obsessed with, so I can remember how wacky, crazy and kooky I really am!!!

So here goes:

My 3 obsessions this week are...........

#1

Letters to Juliet DVD (I have already watched it 3 times and sometimes I just have it on for noise)

#2

Cooking Light Magazine - quick baking edition (the one with the Fresh Apple Cupcakes with Almond Strueusel pictured)

#3

Harry Potter audio book on my I-touch (I am on the 5th book, and believe me when I say that Scott will be overjoyed when this obsession is over, we might start talking normally again, instead of me needing to "pause" my book.)

**********************************************************


Scott with Justin Bieber???????

Holy Cow I hope he got his autograph!!!!

(so many people comment on how much Bradley looks like Justin Bieber, and now that he is back in school, the phone calls from girls have started back up again.................I am getting that "Holy Crap what are we in for" feeling again, can't he just be little Bradley forever)

*****************************************************

Chapter 80: Can you feel the love tonight?

Can you guess what we did last night???????

;)

Hakuna Mattata, what a wonderful phrase! Hakuna Matatta ain't no passin' craze.............it means no worries for the rest of your days, It's our problem frrreeeee, philosophy
Hakuna Mattata!!!!!

Scott and I, (but mostly I) decided that we would take our kids to see "The Lion King" when it came to the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake. I was soooo excited to be able to watch my kids enjoying the show, and they did not disappoint me!!!

Our night started when we were at dinner and Scott was asking the kids if they were excited to be going to see "The Lion King" to which Kennadee promptly replied!!!
"I am just excited that I got to dress up!!!!" hahaha, Well said Kennadee well said!!! After dinner we quickly headed downtown and you would have thought we were somewhere foreign the way the kids acted, they were so impressed with all the tall buildings and all the people, and it reminded them of all sorts of stories about our time in Maryland so it was fun to listen to them reminisce. After we finally got there and found our seats the kids started really getting excited, good thing we didn't have to wait long!!! As the play started, you see these tall giraffes, an enormous elephant walking in, gazelles jumping and zebras strutting around, there was soooo much to look at, that the kids' eyes were just darting from animal to animal, it was sooo cool. They also really loved that their were young kids playing Simba and Nala (in the 1st half) and were impressed with their singing and dancing. After the intermission the 2nd Act began with birds flying around your head, it was so fun to see them swoop and dive around the audience but I doubt that anyody else there was as entranced as Lainee was with them, I finally just had to quit watching the birds because she was soooo into it, even Bradley and Kennadee loved watching her. Whenever a song started that Kennadee or Bradley recognized they would lean over and say;
"Oh Mom, this is my favorite song," and then when the next recognizable song came on; "Oh wait, this is my favorite song," so needless to say they had alot of favorites through out the play Overall it was a wonderful night and I thoroughly enjoyed our night, and when Zachary woke up this morning the first thing he said was "Mom, Lion King was soooo awesome, I am glad we got to go!!!" It made it all the more precious for me.

(some of us just got tuckered out from all the excitement)

Chapter 79: The power of a dollar

I think it has been said before and will be said again; that I love books, I love to read and with this love comes something I am not very good at:

Self-control (especially in book stores)

My kids know this and use it to their advantage, but never quite as "good" shall we say as Zachary yesterday!!!

Zachary, home from school comes bounding in and says "Mom, I have found this book (in the Scholastic book order) and it is only $2 dollars, so can I get it?"

Me of course being the wise one, "Well put in on your Christmas or Birthday list and we will see." (although in my head I have already bought it and he is sitting on a blanket in the frontyard with nose in book and glass of ice cold lemonade and a blue straw close by.)

"Hey Mom, how about if I pay for it, then can I get it now?" He pleads.

"Well maybe, let's talk about it later after your homework is done!"

He runs into his room, I am thinking to put his school stuff away and clean up a little, but when he comes out he says "Okay Mom, I will pay for 1/2 if you pay for the other 1/2."

"Why 1/2?" I question him.

"Because I only have 1 dollar, and the book is 2!!" he exclaims

"Okay, let me think about it and we will talk about it later." I tell him

to which he replies "Hey Mom."

"Yes"

"Can I have a dollar?"

Chapter 78: You say Goodbye and I say Hello.

"Hello, hello, I don't know why you say goodbye when I say hello."

The truth of the matter is, that you don't really have a choice in saying goodbye to your carefree days of summer, but now that you are back in school, I get to say HELLO to my carefree days of the school year!!!! Welcome back my long lost friend, oh how I have missed you, although I did enjoy it while we were apart, I love the order you bring back to my household. and the semi-sanity you instill in me!



The Neighborhood Gang

B-rad now in 6th Grade and in his last year at Elem. school :(

Kenners - like totally in 5th grade cha!!

Zach (no longer Pedro) now in 3rd grade, finally reunited with Zane and their K teacher!!!

What happens when you leave us home to "plot" *evil laugh*

Lainee's first day of Kindergarten!!!!

Walking to School, she was so excited to be going!!!!

She hung-up her backpack, found her name tag and found her seat, gave me a kiss and told me I could go now *tear*.

Her first project, I love seeing her name and how proud she is when she is showing me her work, I also love that she is soooo excited about her homework and takes everything so seriously!!!

HELLO, HELLO!!!!

Chapter 77: An American Flag

I know I have been lax in posting about the rest of our MD trip, and school starting but things have been a little busier than I hoped, but a conversation between Lainee and I made me pause and I had to blog about it.

But first you are going to need a little background. Mom came with me when I was driving home from MD and since we had a "little" extra time, we decided that we would swing down to Springfield, Ill. where the 16th President of the United States lived and is buried. So we went to a little museum, watched a film on Abraham Lincoln's life and then went and visited the house he raised his family in. After that we went to the Tomb where he and most of his family is buried, it was a very neat experience to be at his grave, and we were lucky to have gotten in at all, they were set to close a few minutes after we got there. As we were leaving the tomb, a caretaker was lowering the flags that were flying beside the tomb, when he saw my 3 kids (Bradley left the week before with Kari) he came over to us and asked if the kids would be willing to help take down and fold the flag.............what a privelege, I didn't even wait for the kids to answer because I knew what they would say, so Grandma and I ushered them over and this kind man helped teach and instruct them in the proper care of the flag of the United States, I could have jumped out of my skin, what an incredible opportunity for them, to be able to retire the flag at Lincoln's tomb, once in a lifetime I am betting.



















So now to my Lainee story, here is the conversation we had yesterday while driving in town.

L - Mom, do you remember when we helped fold the flag at that grave?

Me - yes

L - can you believe we did that?

Me - No, it was really cool that you got to do it, huh!

L - and can you believe that it was the 'merican flag?

Me - *snort* haha oh Lainee!!!!

Anywhere we go if there is a flag flying she points to it and says "Mom, it's the 'merican flag." I guess I just took for granted that she understood why that is usually the "only" flag she sees, all others are just state flags or pack flags etc. etc. My cute little Lainee!!!

Chapter 76: My Mom says....

- it's worth it!!!

- It gets easier!!!

- you learn to love them when they sleep!!!

- enjoy them while they are little, they grow to fast!!!

- learn to take the things they say with a grain of salt!!!

- one day you will miss all the mess!!!

- one day all you will have is quiet!!!



All I can say is.......................








FOR SALE:

Boy, 11 going on 95 (because he knows or has done it all), loves kids (just not any who share his same DNA), loves to talk (back), is good at listening (to music), practices piano everyday (just complains about it every waking moment), loves to do his chores (unless you give him one), is exceptional about going to bed when asked (I apparently just don't ask the right way), never raises his voice at you (again unless you share the same DNA), and is always ready to give a compliment (to Sophie)!!!!

Sound to good to be true!!!!

Don't let this opportunity pass you by, call in the next ten minutes and I will throw in a free 8 yr. old as well..................2 for the price of 1, never will you have an opportunity like this again. Don't just sit there, CALL TODAY!!!!


NO RETURNS

(I am hoping one day, I will laugh at the thought of ever wanting to sell him, or sit in the Wal-mart parking lot with him in a box labeled free................:)
okay, so I really would not sell him, but there are days (upon days) when I wish to go back to the time when he was little, and couldn't walk, or talk, and his face just lit up with excitement because I simply walked into the room, back to the days when I could just kiss his face all over and he wouldn't gag, back to the days where when I tucked him in at night he blew me kisses, and back to the days when all he needed to feel better was a band-aid, when being a Mom was cool in his eyes, not just the old bossy lady he sees now...................*sigh*

My mom says:

- I love you!!!!

and I say:

- I love you too, you are the most adorable, funny, witty, clever, talented, patient, kind, caring, amazing woman I know, and THANK YOU for everything you do for me!!!!!!!!!!

beep.........beep.............beep

We interupt this blog to give you this:



YOU MIGHT BE A REDNECK IF:








(I now am going to apologize if this is "you" or someone you know!!! But in all seriousness REALLY, really your shall we say drink of choice is that important that you have to strap it to the top of the car...........well you know what they say, there is no might about it, you ARE a redneck!!!)

(cont.) Pool Time

The Wheeler's (meaning Erin's in-laws) were so kind in inviting us up to their home for a day at the pool and a BBQ. We had such an enjoyable day lounging at the pool, we read, sun-bathed, chatted, zipped, ate, dipped and dunked!!!!!





















a big THANK YOU to the Wheeler's for letting the Merkley clan (albeit a small one :) come and enjoy the day with you!!!!

(cont.) zip-a-dee-doo-dah!!!!

While we were there in Maryland, the Wheeler's (meaning Andrew's parents) were so kind and invited us up to enjoy a day at their pool, send the kids down the zip line and have a BBQ.

Both my boys were very excited about the zip line, and even Lainee was getting in on the excitment of it all, but the surprise of the day belonged to Kennadee when she decided to give it a try!!!!! I had given up on her going and had walked back to the house to help with the homemade ice cream when they called me back down because Kennadee was hooked up and on her way down. Thank you Drew, Joe and Mike the kids are still talking about how much fun it was.