Happy 9 Year Anniversary!!!

Our story.....

It was the spring of 1996 and Roy High was playing Layton in boys soccer at Roy. The Clearfield High boys' soccer team came to watch the game since they had a bye and they wanted to scout out the two teams. My dad and I went and started talking to Aric Manning who was Clearfield's soccer coach. Aric used to coach me a few years back. After the game, I noticed two hot guys from Clearfield's team. Aric was yelling at them to clean up some pizza boxes and one of them was complaining that no one else was helping. Aric basically told them to buck up, be the captains, and clean up. Later I found out the two hot guys were named Mike Merrill and Kelly Sellers. I certainly noticed them, but later Mike tells me that he never noticed me. He just saw some guy (my dad) talking to Aric. Isn't that great? Mike didn't even notice his future wife.

Fast forward to the summer and my older sister Brandy started dating Jeremy Bair from Clearfield. He always brought a bunch of his friends over to our house which included Mike although I didn't recognize him at the time. I always happened to see them when I was in soccer shorts and ponytail all sweaty from soccer practice. I usually tried to avoid them the best I could. Then in August, I was sick one weekend night lying in bed and in walks my Dad with Mike. I looked awful! My dad proceeded to ask me if I remembered Mike from that last spring as the one whining not wanting to clean up after the Roy High soccer game. I immediately recognized Mike and wanted to run and hide. Mike was so cute and I was about to puke being sick. I must have looked gorgeous.

Mike seemed to always be at the house, but I was busy with my senior soccer season starting. I think Mike just liked hanging out with my Dad. I don't know why though they both talk so much I don't know how they ever had a real coversation. My dad kept asking Mike to come to one of my games, but he just made up excuses. He said he didn't want to get too involved because he just got his mission call and was set to leave mid-September. Finally, Mike did come to one of my games and according to him, fell in love once he saw me in my soccer uniform. Pretty cheesy huh? Our first date was two weeks before he left on his mission. We wrote the entire time he was gone, but nothing serious. He came home in September of 1998 and we just started dating where we left off. On June 26, 1999 we were married. And now, 9 years later look what mess I am in.

I am so grateful for Mike. He is a great husband and father. I really don't know where I would be without him. He supports me in everything I do. I love ya Merrill!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day! Yesterday morning, I woke up and made Mike a nice French Toast breakfast with chocolate milk. His favorite (I hope). He had an early morning church meeting so he wasn't able to sleep in much. Last weekend we went to Park City and he picked out some clothes for Father's Day, but I did surprise him with a book he has been asking for called "Scream Free Parenting." I promise he really has been wanting this book because he knows he needs it. Mike doesn't have the most patience when it comes to our boys so I will keep everyone posted on how well this book works.

After church, we went to my parents house and had a BBQ. Here's a pic of my awesome dad. I know he will be reading this so I hope all of this won't go to his head. I really do have a great dad. We have always got along. Growing up I think a lot times my friends liked to come to my house to hang out with him. I love the above picture of him because we joke about how that big chair makes him look small. I love ya dad!

Here's Mike doing his favorite thing. I let him relax and watch tv all day yesterday. Who am I kidding? I have three rowdy boys. He got to relax and watch Tiger Woods for maybe a good hour or so.

Mike is a great dad. I am so lucky to have him as my husband and the father of my children. I love ya Merrill!

Farewell BBQ

After highschool, I assumed my soccer playing days were over. I had no idea that there were lady rec leagues. After playing a few years on a team with girls from Ben Lomond/Ogden, I was asked to play on a team with girls mostly from Clearfield High. A lot of the girls are married to Mike's friends from school. Anyway, I have had a blast playing with them. What's funny is I played against most of them growing up. My sister Cami and I played for the comp team F.C. Pride and they played for Chaos. We usually battled it out for 1st and 2nd place and it was always ugly. Anyway, a girl named April has played with us the last couple of years and she is moving to England with her husband. We had a farewell BBQ yesterday. It was so fun hanging out with everyone. We will miss April on and off the field. Hopefully, Mike and I can make it to England to visit and catch some English soccer games. That would be awesome. Check out the pics of our fun.

What little posers!

Gage got a hold of the camera.

The boys ate so good because they only got dessert if they ate. There were lots of yummy desserts. I need to go on a diet!

Anyone who ever played soccer will recognize this classic soccer pose. Players stood tall in the back and the ones in the front knelt on one knee. The only thing missing is the soccer ball.

Yard Update

So, we started our yard over a month ago and not much has happened since. I will blame most of it on the weather, but in reality Mike and I haven't been able to agree on how to layout our yard. We are now moving forward and I have won most of the battles. I wish he would have just conceded to begin with. Anyway, our sand is in for the sandbox. I got the size I wanted. The kids have been enjoying it already. The basketball court is dug out, the fence posts are in, and the flags are set for the sprinklers. The court was supposed to be poured this week weather permitting. Our sprinklers are supposed to be pulled tomorrow, weather permitting, and rocks will come Saturday. We still have tons to do, but here are some pics of what has been done so far. No more big dirt piles!

Here are the kids enjoying the sandbox. I couldn't let Tanner play in it too long because he kept eating the sand.

Ok, I guess we still have dirt piles. That is where our island will go and the dirt is for my flowerbed.

Here's our fenceposts and you can see where the basketball court will be. To the left will be another flowerbed in the corner and a firepit if I get my way.

Tanner's Photo Shoot

I told myself that all my kids would get their pictures taken at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 18 months, 2 years, and then yearly after that. Well, poor Tanner my third child got pictures at 1 month, 4 months (oh I already messed up) and now these are his 9 1/2 month pictures. Well, better late than never I guess. I thought they turned out really cute. We brought his blanky along just to personalize it a little. Tanner has started being attached to a blanket only recently. It might have something to do with the fact that I force it on them by running and getting their blanky whenever they are hurt, etc. I think it's kinda cute!

Welcome Baby Ellie

She's finally here! Ellie Anne Merrill was born on May 30th (Grandpa Merrill's B-day) weighing in at 7 lbs 6 ozs and 21 inches long. We are so excited for Mike's youngest brother Casey and his wife Annie. Check out how cute she is! Everyone was a little worried because apparently Casey wasn't the cutest baby when he was born.

Casey is going to make the best daddy! I am sure Ellie will have him wrapped around her finger.

So cute!

Walking for a Cure

Last Saturday, we participated in the Great Strides Walk of Ogden as we do every year. The walk is to help raise money for Cystic Fibrosis. I have two adorable nephews, Brayden and Noah, who were born with CF. It is a devastating disease where the body produces thick mucus clogging one's airways leading to lung infections. It also affects the pancreas and inhibits the body from absorbing foods. The expected life span is only 37 years old. I am so glad my nephews have been relatively healthy thus far and we pray continually for a cure. Here are some pics of this year's walk. They always have fun games for the kids, prizes to win, and yummy food to eat.

Wow, doesn't my hubby have great form? My parents also came out for the event.

Ogden Clinic came and tested our blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar. I am holding some device that tested my body fat.

Castle Park

A couple of days ago, my friend Heidi and I took our kids to what we call Castle Park. It is in Fruit Heights just off of Highway 89. It is a really neat park where the kids can walk around a castle with slides, a pretend boat, and swings. The weather was great and the kids had a blast. Below are some pics of our fun!

Gage posing as usual. You can see the Castle playground behind him. There are swings off to the right, and a tiny tot area behind the Castle.

Here's the inseparable threesome. They pretty much played on the tire swing the entire time. Landen always tags along with the big boys. He reminds me of myself in my younger days trying to tag along with my older sister Brandy. Sorry Brandy, but Gage is a lot nicer to Landen than you were to me. I'm glad we get along now.

Here's Tanner who just finished up a nice chocolate chip cookie. He is usually pretty happy if he has something to eat.



Ava loves Baby Tanner.