Memories of 2007

I have finally decided to jump on the blogger bandwagon. It is one of my new years resolutions so hopefully I will be able to keep up on it. 2007 was a busy and exciting year so I thought I would post some of the highlights starting with the most recent and work backwards. I will do a separate post for December since that was such a fun/busy month. For those of you who check out my sister Brandy's blog, I must apologize. Any special effects, slideshows, etc will most likely be copied from her blog until I learn how to be creative.

Landen turned 3 on November 18. He has been fixated with cars for a long time and received plenty for his birthday. We have a small fortune in cars from the movie "Cars." Landen knows all of their names and constantly points out which ones he doesn't have. If they would only stop coming out with more. Landen also became potty trained a month before he turned 3. Whenever we call him Landen, he says "I'm not Landen, I'm potty train boy!"

Halloween was a blast this year. The kids really got into carving pumpkins and trick-or-treating. Gage was a vampire, Landen was Scooby Doo and Tanner was a banana.

Gage was a ring bearer for my cousin Taylor's wedding in October. He was asked to do this back in June and Mike and I had been sweating it ever since. Would Gage really do it? After months of bribes and begging, Gage came through. He did awesome. Isn't my boy handsome?

Back in January, I tore my ACL, MCL, and meniscus playing indoor coed soccer. I wish I could say some guy took me out and I went down swearing, but it wasn't like that all. I just pivoted hard and everything went pop. I wasn't able to get surgery because I was pregnant. When Tanner was only a month old, I went under the knife. I had no idea how hard it was going to be. I was flat in bed for a week and then onto "crunches" as Gage called them. I had to learn how to walk again. I never give Mike much credit, but he did a great job taking care of me, the new baby and the other two boys. My mom, Vickie, and my good friend Heidi also helped out a ton bringing us food and taking care of the boys. Mike had to go back to work when I was still on crutches. Gage and Landen were great for fetching me things most of the time. There were a few times I laid my crutches too far away for me to reach them to get up and I would ask them to bring me one. They would be too engrossed in their cartoons and say "no." After useless begging, I would end up on the floor and scoot my body towards the crutches. Little devils.

Tanner Broc Merrill was born August 8th, 2007. He was 7lbs 7 ounces. Many of you know my labor and delivery story. After being pregnant 3 times and giving birth twice, one would think I would know whether or not I was in labor. Let's just say I got to the hospital and I was a 7. Tanner was born a short two hours later. He has been a great addition to our family. Gage and Landen have been the best big brothers who adore Tanner. I am thankful to have 3 beautiful, healthy boys.

Gage turned 5 on August 3rd. This was the first year we had a real birthday party with friends invited. It was held at a park with a bugs theme. The kids made bug catchers and searched for bugs in the grass. Gage was so happy and remembered to thank everyone for the gifts they gave.

In May, we moved a little more west still staying in Syracuse. We have loved our new ward and the friends we have made. Mike is showing off his awesome physique and tan at the ward campout. Me being 8 months pregnant opted out of spending the night on the hard ground in a tent with 3 smelly boys.

This is Gage at his end of the year preschool program back in May. Gage really gets into singing and doing the actions.

Last March, we went with my side of the family to Disneyland. We met up with Brandy, Jeremy, and Ava. The kids always have so much fun with Ava. It is always so hard when we have to say goodbye. Below are some pics of our trip.