Las Vegas

Pamela at The Cupcakery, a friend from J-town!
Ryan and I in front of the Monte Carlo
The gardens at the Bellagio
Paris Hotel in LV at night
Chocolate egg at the Bellagio

This was our R & R vacation to Las Vegas, we went with friends from from Tech, Courtney and Jeff. We had a blast! We were there 4 days. We ate lots of good food, I got to lay out by the pool 2 days, and did a little shopping. I went to see a friend from high school, Pamela. She owns a cupcake store in Vegas called The Cupcakery (check out her website), she hooked us up with 2 dozen cupcakes that were delicious! The only problem our flight was delayed 2 hours Saturday night, so we didn't get in until 2 am! Thanks Mums for staying up!

Carter Update

Carter enjoying the ribs!
Carter just waking up from a afternoon nap at Mum's.
Changing clothes after bathtime.
Carter going fishing with brother!

After 6 weeks of knowing how to walk but choosing to crawl instead, Carter is finally walking! YEA! I think he finally realized that walking is just as easy as crawling! I will send out a video of him walking later to the family, friends I will spare you the entertainment! He is such a happy little boy, lots of smiles and hugs. Carter loves all kinds of playing balls and ballons. He is such a great little eater, eating almost all day long! He is starting to like the trains, but he mainly like driving pretend cars! Carter loves being outside, and he cries and cries when you bring inside!

Benjamin update

Ben getting his first haircut - other than at home!
London and Ben at Mum's house over Spring Break!
Benjamin eating ribs! Grandad makes the best ribs in the world!
Check out the tie! Benjamin getting his surprise before church on Sunday.

Ryan and I went to Las Vegas over Spring Break leaving the boys behind! It was hard being away from them for 5 days, but the trip for me was relaxing! Benjamin is still into Cars, we almost have all the little cars; still working on a few. He has a train table in his room that he loves, James (above) is his favorite because it is red, and he is excited that baseball season is here!!!!

Watcha talkin about mommy?

Benjamin giving "his look"!


Fun picture of Benjamin from this weekend!

Carter's first cut

Carter with Emaline before the hair cut!
Carter with Lauren (Parker and Emaline's aunt) after she cut his hair!
Eating lunch with his new cut!

Carter made it a little over 1 year without having to get his hair cut, but it was time. We called him our little old man because he looking like he had a comb over using his long pieces on top. On Friday, we went to Parker and Emaline's house while their Aunt Lauren cut Carter's hair. Carter did such a good job. He looks so much better, and he didn't lose that baby boy look! Now I just need to add the hair and picture to his baby book!

Birthday Pictures

Ben, Carter, and London before the party
The birthday boy BEFORE cake. . .
during cake . . .
How do you like me now?
Carter thinking, "but daddy that's mine!"

Just a few pictures that I finally downloaded from my camera.

Trip to Monett, MO

Wesley, Ben, Harrison, and Carter
Wesley and Benjamin
Carter
Uncle Eric's possum cake for his birthday!
Wesley, Harrison, and Ben in September 2005 (our last visit to Monett)

We had a wonderful trip to Monett this past weekend. Ryan's oldest brother Eric (Rebecca, Wesley, and Harrison) live there. It only take us 7 hours by car to see them (this is a big improvement over the other places they have lived). One thing I can say about our trip, it was COLD!!! It snowed most of the time we were there, plus it was freezing!!!!! The little boys did a great job of playing inside together with the cars and train. The big boys did brave the cold to go on a goose hunt and a little fly fishing. The possum cake above was Eric's birthday cake. I thought it was pretty cool looking. Eric told Rebecca he wanted a red velvet possum cake and she found it. When we went to pick it up, we couldn't believe it. Rebecca and I had a great time catching up and visiting the little towns around Monett. We are looking forward to visiting them again, just not when it is that cold!!! By the way, snow is not impressive to me anymore. I am ready for the Texas heat. Bring on the 100 degree temps!

Growing Carter

I stole this idea from my friend PP. I am finally getting to talk more about Carter turning 1.

This is Carter at 2 months.
Carter at 4 months
Carter at 6 months
Carter at 8 months
Carter at 10 months.

We have been on a whirlwind adventure this past week and a half. After Carter's birthday, we went to visit the grandparents for more birthday fun. After that, we were back 3 days and then left to go to Monett, MO for 5 days. (I will blog about our trip to MO later). I can't believe Carter is 1 now. He is 22 lbs and 31 inches with 6 teeth. It is funny, he weighs 1 pound more than Ben did at 1, but is 1 inch shorter. He is now starting to walk more, or at least getting a little more daring. That will be the difference with him and his brother. Ben will try everything, Carter will take more caution. He is realizing how to play the game of, if I cry, they will notice and give me stuff! He gives great hugs and kisses.

Happy Birthday Carter!

Benjamin with Carter when he was 4 days old. Carter and Benjamin taken before church on Sunday.

Happy birthday sweet boy! Carter has blessed our lives so much this past year. I am thankful to God everyday for giving us such precious angels to raise! Ben is excited about Carter turning 1 today, he keeps asking, "I eat chocolate cake mommy?" That's my boy! I will upload more pictures later of the weekend.

Merriman moments

Vaughn & Carter hanging out, we finally got to keep Vaughn while her parents went out! Hope you had a Happy Birthday Aunt Darby!
Carter in his "chick Magnet shirt from Uncle Knox & Aunt Jamie!
Carter & Ben on an outing to feed the ducks and go fishing!

Yes, we went back. Ben with his fishing pole. This is the first time back since "hooking" daddy over 6 months ago! Ryan did leave his pole behind!

We also want to wish a very HAPPY Birthday to Aunt Melissa!

Pictures!

Sorry I didn't turn the picture! Getting ready for bed!
Ben with his cousin Dylan
Ben getting ready for bed.

To let everyone know, the kernal of corn did come out in the bath that same night. Through his nose, not the south end! Ben loves sticking his head under water in the bath, so we were hoping it would find its way out. So far, no more food up the nose!!!! The boys are getting big. Ben learns new words and sentences everyday. Ryan and I often get a laugh when he says something as we try to figure out which one he is repeating. Carter is happy as can be. He is still not walking. I figured he would be running by now. I think he likes being carried around. Maybe by his first birthday we can show off his steps! Ben has successfully slept in his big boy bed for over 2 weeks, YEA!!!

Where did the corn go?

Ben favorite saying. "Yep, that's right Daddy!"

We had a fun and exciting dinner last night. Ben was going 90 miles per hour all day. It took him 1 1/2 hours to fall asleep at naptime. He was in high speed all day! Last night we sat down for a normal usual dinner. The boys had cheese pizza and corn. We said our prayer and away we went eating. Carter for some strange reason didn't eat, mainly just playing with the food - very strange for him! And Ben was slowly making progress on his dinner. I looked up to see a kernal of corn in his nose! "Yep, that's righ Daddy - in his nose! I jumped up to walk over to him, at the same time be began snorting it up his nose. I yanked him up as he was saying, "mommy, corn in my nose; mommy, corn in my nose." He also began digging his finger up his nose to try and touch it. I took him off to find something to yank it out with, no luck. He sneezed and coughed a couple of times, I thought my time had passed to retrieve it. We went back to the table to finsh dinner. All along Ryan is trying to tell Benjamin what a bad choice that was, how it could hurt his nose, and if he did it again, he would get spanked. I had to try so hard not to laugh. When Ben got up from dinner Ryan asked why I thought it was so funny!! I simply explained now I know how he feels. Almost everytime Ben gets in trouble, Ryan disciplines him and then simply shakes his head and says, "man, that is exactly what I used to do." So to finish my story, I was laughing because I was always sticking food (mainly carrots and green beans) in my nose and ears so I didn't have to eat them. I made several trips to the dr's office!! When I called my mother last night, I think she got the biggest laugh of all!

Big Boy Bed!

I just had to show off the pictures of Ben in his big boy bed. We are 3 nights successful and 4 great naps in the bed without problems. YEA!! He looks so small in the bed! We were really worried about the transition into the bed, but he has done an amazing job. I hope when the new wears off, it doesn't become a problem. He also got his first big boy haircut last night by mom and dad. Not so good of a job there. Ryan said I was trying to go for the baby mullet, so he decided we needed to touch up the back! We decided through the screaming we would take him somewhere next time. We are starting off the new great, lets hope we can keep it up!!!

Wow, what a great holiday!

3 Grandchildren at Mum's and Grandad's house on Christmas Even before church!

After church picture with my sister and her family.
More Christmas parties on the 26th!

I am so lucky to have lots of time off for the Christmas holiday. I was just thinking I was actually gone from my house for 2 weeks. That is fun because we got to travel and see family, but that is also 13 nights away from my very comfy bed!! It all started with my girl trip to NYC! Yea, I think this is the 7th year my mom, sister, and I have been to NYC around the holidays. We always have such a great time together. Everybody always ask, "Do you go shopping?" I usually reply no! They have the same stores we do here in TX, it is just twice as expensive there. I did find time to shop for my boys this year. I did spend it in FAO Swartz (don't check my spelling on that) and Toys R Us! Other than that, we just explored the city! After we came home, we went straight to my parents and spent several days there with my family. On the 25th, we headed to Ryan's family. His mother surprised us with a visit from Tampa! On the 26th, we headed to Hillsboro to have Christmas with my extended family and then off to Houston until the 1st! My sister lives in Houston. London had her birthday party on the 28th (she is a 25th baby) at Pump It Up. Ryan and Ben had such a great time jumping around burning off energy. Ben did jam his thumb really bad! It is still bruised, but it didn't hurt him bad enough to miss a beat jumping around like a crazy man!

Spending time with both families made me realize how time passes so fast. 2 years ago, Ben was just a tiny baby. Now, my 2 boys are growing so big! Carter is almost walking which seems crazy, but really isn't since he is 11 months. Were did these 11 months go, more importantly am I treasuring the moments into memories enough?