Happy Halloween!

Benjamin dressed in his costume for our church's Trunk or Treat!
Our family costumes: Carter (bat boy), Me (cracker jack seller), Ben (Texas Ranger baseball player), and Ryan (peanut seller).

I have had trouble uploading pictures, so sorry it has been awhile. I finally have my camera back! Thank you Cannon for replacing the broken part for FREE! I now feel right again if the camera in tow. I have tons of pictures from the pumpkin patch on Friday, I will try to get those uploaded this week. Friday we went to the PP with the Merriman cousins. We had 5 boys and baby Vaughn. It was extremely hard getting all to look at the same time for pictures. I actually don't think all were looking in any of the pictures I have. We went to J-town for Halloween this weekend. My mom took the boys and London trick or treating to her friends' house. Benjamin got the hang of it, he really liked it when we realized candy was involved! We had Trunk or Treat at church Sunday night. That is a fun event thanks Jenny B for organizing it. London came with us. Actually all my family came (sister, BIL, mom). I think the kids had a great time going to each car for candy and then playing games. Ryan did play in the egg toss with Ben. Ben was on the losing side of that offer when he took the egg to his face. He came into the church crying, "Daddy hit me mommy!" I am excited to have tomorrow off. Benjamin is enjoying Halloween more and more, I am looking forward to taking him around the neighborhood.

Random Pictures

Benajmin - Halloween 2004 (3 weeks old)
Benjamin & Carter - Halloween 2006
Benjamin - Halloween 2005
Picture of the rattle lure before removing at the ER - Ben greatest catch!

We are busy, busy! It seems that time is flying by so fast. We went to Benjamin's 2 year check up today. He was 35 inches (50-75%) and 26lbs (below25%). That is our skinny boy, I know 1 year olds that weigh 26 lbs! He had 2 shots today and his finger pricked. He really didn't like the shots. Sweet baby Carter had to have a shot too (flu). So, I was at the doctor's office by myself with 2 crying boys! So afterwards, we treated ourselves to Sonic!!! By the afternoon both had recovered, and Ben enjoyed pulling off all the band-aids! We are looking forward to spending the next 2 weekends with our family. Then before we know it, Thanksgiving and Christmas will be approaching! Since we sent our camera off to be fixed, I had to include old pictures. I love going back and looking at the changes from year to year!

Baseball and Pumpkins

Benjamin, Carter, and London riding the train at the Pumpkin Express
Ben waking up from his nap after his party!

Carter riding on the train with Ryan
Ben with cousin Dylan and Uncle Doug trying to hit a fast ball from Ryan.

Baseball Bash!

Benjamin opening his gifts!
Playing baseball with friends.
His baseball outfit, a gift from mom & dad!
Testing out his swing with his new uniform! (Sorry about the color)
Benjamin and friend Houston eating cupcakes during a break from the game!

We had such a great birthday party for Ben on Saturday. He was in heaven. His favorite thing to do is play baseball, and that is what we did for over an hour. We could not have done it without the help of our friends and family. They did everything so we could play and take pictures of all the kids - thank you friends and family!

Boys will be boys!

Getting ready for the big fish!
Don't really know what they are doing?
Catch of the day!
Lining up the catch!

Fish Camp

Sweet Carter not too sure about the lifejacket!
Beach Time!
Getting sleepy on the boat!
Slowly we lost all the clothes, he had a blast crawling around on the sand!
Benjamin having fun with the mud at the bottom of the water!

Pictures from our weekend at Fish Camp!

Finally, An Update!

Carter holding baby Vaughn's hand while she was sleeping! Best buddies!!!
Benjamin has gotten in the habit of watching baseball in our bed before he goes to sleep in his bed. He always wants his milk and cereal too!
Mike and Jodi - these were Carter's first Sunday school teachers! Carter is also stealing his friend's pacifier!

Well, I haven't updated in a long time. We have been busy! Plus, to top it off, my camera broke this past week. It just started taking pictures - ALL BLACK! I feel lost without my camera. Several times this week, I have said, "Oh, I need to take that picture!" And then I remembered, no working camera!!!! So, until I get a new one, you will probably be seeing old pictures.
Lots of things happening in the Merriman household. Last weekend, we went to the coast with friends. We had a blast! The guys went fishing, and we played with the kids. 7 hours in the cars with 4 children was very interesting, but not bad at all!!! This weekend, we had family pictures taken (for the first time) and Benjamin's 2 year pictures. My little boy is turning 2 this weekend. Once again Ryan is out of town all week. So the boys and I are out on an adventure! Carter is moving all over the place, he is a fast little critter! Ben is talking and singing all the time! That is just a short update on us!

Birthday Weekend!

Happy Birthday Daddy!
Ryan with his Sunday school class singing "Happy birthday."
Ryan showing Ben how to put the helmet on! This is Ryan's helmet from his junior high days! It is now one of Banjamin's favorite play items!

Happy Birthday Triplets!

Rich (baby Vaughn), Ryan (Ben and Dylan), Doug (Carter)

When there are triplets in the family, the birthday celebration turns into a week long adventure. I surprised Ryan this year with his present. Usually he knows what he is getting or he buys it WAY ahead of time, and then tells me that is his birthday present - Don't buy anything!!! Well this year, with the help of my parents and his brother, I surprised him with a shotgun he had been dreaming about! I purchased it about a month again after consulting with lots of people about the right one to get him. I kept it at my parents for over a month, and then my mother brought it and hid it at the house when she was keeping the boys. I gave in and gave it to him early during the week (birthday on Sunday) because I wanted him to enjoy it over the weekend. You know when you are expecting a great reaction because the gift is awesome. Well I got nothing! I got nothing because he was in SHOCK!!! It took him several minutes to recover from opening it. I gave it to him early also because I didn't want him opening it in front of the boys. Even though guns are apart of our lives, I didn't want Ben to see him get excited about the gun. Thursday night I took Ryan out to eat Texas de Brazil. If you have never eaten there, it is an adventure. I recommend that you starve yourself for several days, so you are able to eat more. Friday and Saturday we went over to his parents to visit with them and the other brothers. Saturday night was their birthday dinner. His parents cooked dinner and the wives brought the cakes. I was pumped about Ryan's cake. For several days, he kept telling me, I don't want a cake. Don't do anything, this isn't a big deal. Which if you know my husband, that doesn't sound right. Anything that involves him, he likes for it to be big. I searched for a recipe, and I made a peanut butter cake with chocolate buttercream frosting, can I just say YUMMY!!!!! It was fabulous! Sunday, I made muffins and took juice for his Sunday school class, he is the assistant to the 4 year olds!! they sang happy birthday to him. He was embarrassed, but the kids had fun! Then after church off we went to my parents for another party and gun bonding time!!!

New Pictures

Being a sweet big brother!
Carter is fighting back, actually I think Ben stuck his hand in Carter's mouth!
Ryan and Ben coming down the water slide at cousin D's birthday party. This is the only time Ben went down. He was too interested in the bat and ball in the yard!
Sweet boys!
Even sweeter boys!

This has been a very busy week (that is why I didn't have a chance to blog anytime during it). I worked MWF this week and Ryan went out of town Tues-Wednesday. The boys are growing. Carter is moving all over the place. Benjamin has turned into such a sweet boy. Carter is usually our cuddler, but Benjamin has been all about the hugs and kisses! I love it! He will come up and just sit in my lap, or he will come over and just give me a big hug! I hope it never ends! It makes me sad thinking about the future when they can't or won't sit in my lap anymore! We went to the zoo on Thursday with the Lynch girls. We had a great time, Ben has now reached the point he only wants to walk at the zoo. I think he is afraid he will miss something. The train was working this week, so we rode it twice. We always have a meltdown when the train is out of service. Mainly because we talk about the choo- choo train all the way to the zoo! Ryan's birthday is the weekend, so hopefully I will have some good pictures to show next week!

13 Thursday - 13 Disgusting Things the boys did this week!

Ben kissing Lady April 2006 (Granddad's dog)

13 Digusting things the boys did this week!

1. Carter pooped in the tub on Wednesday night for the first time ever!

2. Watching Ben try to catch the "poop" (I was quickly trying to get Carter out and then fish Ben out, Ben wanted to stay in with the poop and starting swimming in the water; in return sending the poop around the bathtub too!)

2. Changing both boys poopy diapers at Ckick-fi-la on Wednesday. After changing Ben, I let him down. I went to get Carter and then noticed Ben splashing the water in toilet with his bare hands!

3. As I was running the bath water on Wednesday night, I turned back in the bathroom. Ben had the toilet brush in his mouth!! The sad thing, I was more worried about the residue of chemical products than fecal matter.

4. The boys and I were outside enjoying the nice weather. Ben decides to eat a berry from our shrubs! After I told him, "No, they will make you sick." He then fed them to the neighbor's cats.

5. The boys and I went to Micky D's tonight for dinner (if you haven't picked up on it, Ryan is out of town this week, everything happens when he is gone!), Ben and Cater had a great time playing on the equipment. I don't even want to think how dirty it really is!

6. At Walmart tonight, Carter threw up 2 oz of his bottle. That wasn't the disgusting part (I am used to the spit up). I found the need to clean it up. Have you ever noticed what is on the floor in the produce section at Walmart!

7. Round 2: in the bath tonight (not wanting to be outdone by his brother), Ben poops! I was changing Carter. I walked back in the bathroom to Ben saying, "Mommy, I poop". As I stepped closer, he did poop - really big poop!

8. Okay, I am used to the pooping in the tub. The disgusting thing about Ben's poop. He had taken his foot and smashed it into the tub. Now making it smeared pooped in the tub.

9. As I was leaning over to get Ben, he reached for it and said"Eat poop, Mommy!" I loudy stated, "No, eat poop Ben, that is gross, hurt you." It seemed to work!

10. Cleaning bath tub for a second night that has been contaminated with fecal matter is pretty disgusting! I finally got smart with the toys and put the entire bath toy sack in the dishwasher!

11. Ben picking his nose and wiping it on me.

12. Ben drinking milk too fast. Yes, you guessed it, it comes right back up!

13. Knowing Carter pee peed in the bath water (can't prove it), but then watching Ben drink the water!

I LOVE BOYS!!! I can't image my life any different!

60 Years and counting. . .

Gramps, Ben, and Nina 4/2005
Nina and Gramps at 50 year wedding anniversary in 1996

This past weekend, Ryan and I traveled to Franklin, TN to celebrate his grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary. Wow - 60 years! That is a great accomplishment. We had a great time together visiting his uncles, aunts, and cousins. It was fun to have almost everybody together. Ryan and I had a mini-vacation because the boys stayed here with Mums! I think that is the first time Ryan and I have been anywhere together without the boys since Carter joined our family. Even though we missed them, it was fun not to have to change any diapers!!!!!

Base - Ball game

Ben & Ryan before the Ranger game on 10/2/05 - notice the outfit, Ben 12 months!
Ryan and the boys before the Ranger game on 8/31/06 - Carter same outfit - 6 months!!
Carter ready to cheer on the Rangers!
This is at home after the game. Ben is showing off his prize possessions. He got the bat for hitting several balls in the play area. And we sat right behind the pitcher area (don't remember what it is called). After the relief pitcher went out, the catcher threw us the ball! This was around 10:00, he was wired!!!!
Before the game, he was saying "Play ball". He always takes his glove to the game!

The great baseball outfit that both boys get to enjoy came from Ben's buddy PP. Thanks "P" man for the perfect outfit for my boys (and his mommy for picking it out). Ryan and I took the boys to the Ranger game last night to kick off family time. As soon as we walked in, there was a homerun, which means fireworks and a great big "BOOM". It took us 2 innings to recover from it. We were prepared for the other 3 booms, and we quickly placed our hands over Ben's ears. It helped a little! Today Ryan took a day off of work to enjoy time with the boys. We went to the zoo, we had never been as a family. It is a lot easier when someone else is pushing the double stroller, Benjamin was excited to show his daddy all the animals, our little zoo tour guide!

Have a great holiday weekend!

Contagious Joy

I went to a WOF (Women of Faith) conference this past weekend. I had a great time listening to the speakers and spending time with the girls. It made me think about the "joys" I have in my life.
I am very joyful and thankful that I have a wonderful husband that loves being a father. When I go places, he steps in and doesn't miss a beat. I never worry when they are with him, he loves the alone time with them. The boys bring so much joy to my life. I can't help stopping and laughing at the crazy things they do, or watching how they figure something out.
I am joyful for the friends I have in my life. For instance today, 2 nutty friends went to the zoo with me. Yes, it was raining, but we went anyway. We had a great time. The great thing about going to the zoo when it is raining: NO ONE is there (I think maybe 20 people were there today, we made up 7), we were wet and cool (usually we are wet too, but that is from sweating due to the heat), and all the animals were out! We have never seen the lions out playing and running, they were adorable. The boys had so much fun stomping in all the water puddles! I don't even think they knew it was raining.
I have to share one more "joyful" story with you. I have a best friend from college who is going to experience so much joy this week. She and her husband have been trying for 4 years to have a baby. They had many struggles, defeats, and downfalls. But this week, she will give birth to TWINS! (I am thinking this week because she stops her medicine that has kept her from having them too early.) I just think what joy the twins are going to bring to her life, and how long she has been wanting and waiting for a precious angel - now she gets 2! Good Luck Ann - I love ya!

Random

The boys playing together. Ben is actually sharing his blanket with Carter.

Random thoughts and sightings from the boys:

When Ben prays each night, he starts by saying thank you for my family (he usually list the ones he can remember and then we fill in the rest, he always ends with baseball, bats, ball, glove, and sometimes adds homeplate - AMEN!) If the prayer is getting too long, he will throw in the AMEN, and we wrap up!

Ben's favorite commercial on TV is the baseball one where the players are comparing their achievements, and it ends with "Can I get an amen from the bobbleheads?". If you say that to him, he will shake his head like a bobblehead - it is pretty funny!

Carter is starting to push his knees up under him and inch around. Ryan calls it the inchworm crawl. He will be moving around before long!

Carter loves it when Benjamin talks to him. Any noise Ben makes, Carter will look at him and start laughing.

Ben wants Carter to play with him so bad, he just doesn't understand he can not play rough with him! I am not looking forward to the days that WWF takes place in the living room. Something makes me think, Ryan will be right in the middle of it.

Okay this next picture is from our wedding. I always laugh when I see and remember this. On your wedding day you want everything to go perfect. WELL, our limo had a flat on the way to the reception. The driver wanted us to wait while he fixed it, we took the alternate route. We jumped out of the limo, hiked up the hill to my aunt's car! You can see the flat tire, back right!

Okay, the one advice I give new mothers after they have their child. Think about how you are going to look in the pictures. I didn't think about it with Ben, after seeing the pictures, my make-up bag and hair brush were the first things I asked for BEFORE pictures.

Picture of us after Carter - up in my house somewhere!

Picture of us with Benjamin - NOT showing in the house. Ryan learned too, no hats!

Baby Vaughn is here!

(Vaughn Elizabeth Merriman 8/14/06)
(Dylan and Ben giving Vaughn cousinly advice)
(Uncle Doug, Ryan, Daddy Rich, Chad - the triplets are the 3 on the left)

We were blessed on Monday with baby Vaughn into the Merriman family. Darby was a trooper, great job mom! She is beautiful! We have been waiting 20 weeks (that's when we found out it was a she) for pink in the family. Darby and I decided awhile back Vaughn and Carter would be best buddies (they are the youngest). I love it how our family is growing, all the little ones are blessings from God.