Easter Joy!

At Mum's house having a picnic outside!
Funny man!
Yes, this was his Easter picture. Lets just say he didn't like the tie. I didn't even dare try to put the boys together for a picture. I was afraid biting would occur.
This would be little brother telling me he didn't like the tie. At least his stayed on 5 minutes longer than Ben's.
Of course Benjamin wanted nothing to do with the Easter bunny, but Carter couldn't wait to get his picture made with him. I think he knew he would get a sucker. This was at Ft. Richardson the State Park. Each year they host a Easter egg hunt. I liked it because the little guys were in a different group. They boys loved hunting for eggs. Benjamin was on the prowl to collect the most eggs. Carter just wanted to take it easy and eat the candy in between hunting the eggs. Needless to say we got plenty of candy, and it all went to my students on Monday morning.

Snow pictures

Is that my child?

Valentine's Day 2008

Have you ever had one of those moments where you are wondering if your child is really your child? Most of the time when my children do stuff, I end up saying, "you are your father's child!" I had that new experience this week with Carter. I am trying to keep/add vegetables in my kids' diet. So when I went to the grocery store, I got several different types of fresh and canned vegetables. I remembering their babysitter saying something about peas at lunch one day, so I got a can of green peas. Now just to update you on my eating habits. I DON'T eat vegetables and especially green vegetables (except lettuce). So I was shocked one morning when Carter was in the pantry and insisted on eating peas. He recognized the can and pulled it out saying, "peas, peas". I thought okay its 10:30, but if you asking for peas, I will give you peas. This whole time saying outload to myself (quietly), "You are not my child, where did you come from!" As I am quietly gagging while opening and draining the can, I am still mutterring it to myself. I pour a small amount of peas into a bowl and heat them up. Do you eat peas cold or hot? I didn't know, I figured hot so in the mircrowave they went. Carter was already sitting at the tables yelling for his peas, CRAZY! I gave him his peas, he began to eat. I went back into the kitchen to tidy up. A little later, Carter said all done and held up with bowl. I am STILL saying to myself, "Where did you come from?" I went to get him out and noticed green peas ALL over the floor. He didn't eat one! When I saw the peas all over the floor, I just laughed out load and shook by head. Mainly for two reasons, yes, he was finally my child; and second, that is what I used to do when I didn't want to eat something. I knew my mother wouldn't make me eat anything that hit the floor, and she was too cheap to open up another can just to make me eat a portion. Just a funny Carter story this week!

Carter

This blog is all about my baby! Little Carter turned 2 this weekend. Wow, I didn't know it would be quite a blow to see your baby turn 2. On a side note, I know it has been over a month since my last blog (things have been crazy; plus, this is my 100th blog (in 1 1/2 years, yes, I know I need to pick up the pace)). We woke Carter up to pancakes with chocolate and peanut butter! Benjamin was such a sweet older brother running in his room to sing "Happy Birthday" to him! Carter got a basketball jersey from us to go along with his love the game. We had a busy weekend with family and the boys!
His birthday cake! As soon as he saw it, all we wanted to do was blow out his candle and eat it. He had been practing blowing out the candles for quite some time now. We even did a practice run with the pancakes. When it came time to blow out the cake candles, he decided to swipe it out with his hands, ouch! Anyway, didn't burn him and still got the job done. I just think he wanted cake!!!!

Carter and Daddy
Carter and Aunt Robin

Back to the Grind!

Christmas Vacation is officially over for me! I went back to work yesterday! I love my job, but I really enjoyed being home for 2 weeks. Anyway, I finally had a few minutes to blog. Christmas was awesome. The boys were all into it! Plus, we spent lots of time with family! Benjamin is already making his Christmas list for next year! The Merriman family is quite large and still growing. Ryan had both sets of his grandparents come to Texas for Christmas. We hadn't had them down here for Christmas since 2001. We had so much fun getting to visit with them. We had a total of 23 Merrimans for about 4 days! 8 of them are grandchildren 5 and under, lots of fun playing together. Then we went to my parents and extended family for Christmas. We wrapped up our holiday with a trip to Houston to ring in the New Year! After all the traveling, it is nice to be home for awhile!

Christmas morning - B & C got this 4 "wheelie" as we call it!
These are our 2 Merriman babies - Meredith 12 weeks and Jackson 5 1/2 weeks
12/25 - London's birthday, we always have a birthday party for her after lunch. We got her the Hannah Montana Dance mat. She loved it! I can't believe she is 5!
The boys got these football helmets, one of their favorite gifts!

Christmas in the Stockyards

After running around trying to finish last minute Christmas shopping, we ended up in the Stockyards right in time for the cattle drive. The boys had a good time. They especially liked the little rides that were EVERYWHERE! We did get their picture made on the longhorn, they thought they were REAL cowboys!

Christmas Pictures

WE have finally hit that year where we are not scared of Santa, but we didn't get any great pictures with him. Oh well, at least we weren't screaming. We did get to see Santa several times.

Family pic with Santa!
Benjamin driving the firetruck. Santa came to our church party in a firetruck, pretty cool!

Christmas Cookies - Yummy!

Carter rolling out the yellow dough. My mother had some colored dough she gave me, it was very cool. The kids loved it!
Eating the icing. I think he ate more raw cookie dough and icing than anything else!
Benjamin after we made a gingerbread house one night we when decorated the tree!
Benjamin was pretty stuck wanting to make only Frosty the Snowman cookies. He chose the green dough.
Most of the icing did get on his face. Everyone that is was SO FUNNY, so even more ended up on his face!

Celebrate life!

Pics of the boys

I didn't have a chance to blog on Friday or for that matter over the weekend. As I am home this Monday afternoon and the boys are watching their new "Frosty the Snowman" movie, I have a few minutes. Last Friday 11/30 is a day that I always dread. There are not a lot of things I dread, but I dread that day. Mainly because in the past I have felt sad all day, partly because I add the sadness to myself. I tried to make the day as enjoyable as I could for myself, and I have to say I did a pretty good job. I took my students on a field trip to the mall. (I teach Apparel and Textiles, so it is not a stretch to go to the mall.) I can't complain spending my workday at the mall, right. Ryan and Benjamin went camping, so my mother came over to spend the night with Carter and I and do a little shopping on Saturday. As crazy as this sounds, I feel closest to my father when my mother is around, so it was actually nice to spend the anniversary of my father's death with her for part of the night. Also 1 sweet angel topped off the evening by teaching me a valuable lesson that I was wanting to learn. Life is about celebrating! I dread 11/30 because he physically isn't here anymore with us. I should use that day to celebrate his life, my life, my children's life, and new lives that form everyday.

Update, Finally!

Meet Benjamin the "bull rider"! His bull riding name is "Marcus Merriman", don't ask me, I just go with it. I really don't know what started us on the crazed cowboy stage. I think PP had something to do with it. It is so funny watching him bull ride, of course the bull is daddy (not a real bull)! Here he is practicing. I love the little hand up!
He has turned into such a sweet little boy. I love hearing him talk. I don't know where he comes up with some of his words. But most of the time he keeps us in stitches!
Carter has grown, he does not look like a little baby anymore. Where did the time go?
Carter's first black eye! There is a reason why the doctor said, "No more monkeys jumping on the bed!" He was a trooper!
I know before you say anything I just want to add, other than Tech, we show no loyalities to any school! We are going to be open and let our boys chose their college of choice. And because daddy is so cheap when it comes to the boys clothes (yes, you heard me DADDY), we will wear anything that is given to us as a gift! This picture is funny, they did wear those on game day!

I don't know where the month of November went, it is a fog! We are looking forward to Christmas. The boys are pumped. Their daddy even went for the blow up Frosty in the front yard! We officially have yard art now!

Merriman boys 6 vs. Merriman girls 2

Jackson Daniel Merriman arrived today at 5:05 pm. Jackson weighed 8 lbs 15 oz and was 22 inches long. Way to go Melissa and her coach Doug!!!!
Triplets hold Jackson (Richard, Ryan, and Doug, the proud dad)
Family picture with baby Jackson
Sweet mommy Melissa with new baby!
Cousin Dylan and Benjamin getting the news that it was a boy! We love our girls (Vaughn and Meredith) but we say "Boys rule in the Merriman family!"

We had the whole waiting room filled with family and friend awaiting the arrival of sweet Jackson. Finally Doug gave us the word that is was a sweet boy and everyone was doing fine. We are so excited to have another baby in the Merriman family. God has blessed our family with precious healthy babies. We are excited to all be together with our new additions this year for Christmas. Watch for more pictures to come of Jackson!!!

Ben's birthday pictures

Yes, I know his birthday was over a month ago, but due to our not having a computer for almost 6 weeks, I am still catching up. This are pictures from his party! We had such a great time playing baseball again!
Ryan and I have been watching Ace of Cakes at night. It inspired me to do a baseball bat and ball cake. Benjamin loved it!



Time is flying by, I can't believe he is already 3. He finally got the "birthday" thing this year. I think he is alreay excited about his birthday for next year!!

One funny story: (Well Ryan probably isn't laughing yet!) This story is truly the life of boys! 2 nights ago Ryan and his friend were putting together a deer tree stand (or something like that). The boys were outside "helping" him with the tools. Ryan was going a little crazy with the extra help because pretty soon the tools were everywhere. I just laughed to myself saying (to myself) welcome to my LIFE! After I put the boys down, Ryan was putting up his tools and trying to find the lost ones. Fast-forward to Friday morning. We put the boys in the car, it was a work day for me. I started backing out of the garage and stop to this horrible sound. Getting out of the car because I thought I had hit something, Ryan meeting me with that look of "What did you hit?" We inspected the back and car, nothing. I got back in the car and could not reverse it. I drove forward just a bit and tried it again. Same LOUD horrible noise. Ryan and I check under each tire and around the car again, nothing! At this point, I can not back up the car; it will not go!
Ryan gets in to move the car. Can't do it, so we goes forward. As he is putting it in reverse to go, I notice the tire. I screamed "Stop and get out"! Ryan wondering what is going on pops out to see me pointing to the tire - THAT HAS A SCREWDRIVER STUCK IN THE RIM OF IT!!! Somehow one of my angels stuck a screwdriver into the tire and caught it in the rim. Sweet Ryan ask which one did it. Yea right, even at 3 and 2 they are still not going to answer. So Ryan takes off the tire while I load the boys in his car to trot off to the babysitters. I so wished I would have taken a picture of the screwdriver in the tire, but Ryan was not in the mood for pictures!!!