Merry Christmas!

I can't believe that it is Christmas day! This season has flown by and I am excited to have a day to be with family and friends. No last minute shopping, no baking, just the chance to sit back and enjoy my sweet sweet husband and my little lady luck! Merry Christmas to all of you!

Soouuieeeee, Pig Pig Pig!

If you don't understand the title of this post...count yourself lucky. I titled this one for Aunt Meggie who made me say this phrase over and over again, love ya Megs. So Claire has a problem taking things off when she is in her crib. Her socks are the usual suspects but today I went into her bedroom to find her pig less and barely able to see through her long straggly hair, how she pulled out those little tiny elastics is beyond me. I had do something to help her out because she looks a bit homeless when this happens. To cure her from her orphan state and to make it possible for her to eat breakfast with out her hair in her face we tried the one pig right on top. And to tell you the truth, I think it works for her...okay, maybe not her best look, but I got a good kick out of it.

I told you she looks homeless. Poor little lamb.

Kit Kats and Doodle Bops

We have a countdown to Christmas calendar that I made with treats and scriptures for each day and I put a couple of treats in each pocket, you know, so Jeremy could have one. Well Claire wanted both of the treats yesterday and wasn't satisfied until she had one in each hand. The only thing that made the Kit Kat experience better was being mesmerized by the singing and dancing doodle bops. Dinner and a show...

More Than One Way to Eat a Yogurt

Claire was taking some creative liberties when she was eating her yogurt. Who needs a spoon right? It just slows you down. She thought she was pretty funny.

Hapy Birthday Honey!!!

This is the first time I have posted anything on the blog, Katie usually takes care of all the blogging in our family and I just get to look good for the pictures. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to tell everyone how awesome my mom is. My mom, commonly referred to as "Grandma Honey" or just "Honey" on some days, is an amazing mom and one of the greatest examples to me as I grew up. Whether it was screaming for us at a track meet or having fresh-baked cookies for us as we got off the bus at least twice a week, mom was always there for us. She has endured more trials than anyone I can think of and has had a killer attitude through them all. I seriously look up to her in so many ways and I'm sure I don't tell her enough that I love her. What better time than on her birthday to let her know that she's an awesome mom and one super "Grandma Honey." Happy Birthday Mom, we love you!

Cousin Tubby Time

Claire and Greyson usually get thrown in the tub together whenever we have sleepovers at grandma's house. Claire thinks that Greyson is the coolest and always tries to get his attention by patting his face and sharing plates and dishes with him. Greyson is usually less than enthused about their tub time together, but I think she is growing on him!

And the Next Day...

I couldn't resist posting this picture! She looks so sweet in her little reindeer bobbles. Ahh, Clairey Janer.

Reindeer Games

The cousins party is always so great! We had pizza, went caroling to family and neighbors, made cute snowmen, and of course the best part of the entire evening... stockings! This year was extra special because Santa came to hand out the stockings this year! Apparently our children have been super nice this year, who knew! Clarie loved her reindeer headband but more than the reindeer she loved the orange in the toe of her stocking! We finally just peeled it and gave it to her so she wouldn't eat the peel. Thanks Keri for awesome socks and Grandma and Grandpa for a fun filled evening!

Our Much Needed Couples Night!

We have a tradition in the Merrill family that we have a siblings couple night as well as a cousins party so we can all hang out kid free for one night a year! Yes, it only comes once a year so we make it fantastic. We started off by dropping our beloved baby girl at the babysitters house (thanks Brad and Katie!) and then made our way to Iron Gate Grill for dinner. After stimulating conversation that consisted of Nacho Libre quotes, Dr. Brian associating all our food with gross human body parts, mixed with the announcement of a new grandbaby (poor Toni only had salad for fear that the gagging would become puking) we all met at the Swink house for white elephants, dessert, and sibling presents. Note to all: Never choose a white elephant gift that was given by anyone in the Swink family, you will end up with a thigh master, or even more enticing, a hot dog carousel that steams the hot dogs, whilst moistening the buns...and yes there were may "moist buns" jokes that evening. We had such a good time just enjoying each other and feeling the non-parent freedom for just a couple hours...except for Keri who was constantly threatening her children by taking away gifts if they were seen throughout the evening. I fear Santa Clause is not going to that house this year. We missed you Tera and Mandy! It just isn't the same without you!

Tree House Party...Minus one

We had a Christmas party with my old roomies from college and it was so much fun. Although we did miss our Jennifer in Oklahoma immensely! I am forever grateful for my amazing friends. I love to think back on all our memories: the pink couch, "The Bachelor"/pudding nights, our annual holiday dates, and ditching class to get breakfast...okay, that one was mostly Jen. I loved college and living with these amazing girls, who are by the way, totally rockstars. It is crazy to think that we are all mommies with lives going in a million different directions. I love you girls and I hope you have a merry Christmas!

The gang

Claire enjoyed the chocolated dipped pretzels the best

The girls...we love and miss you Jen!

Happy Birthday Dad!

I must say that I have the best dad in the world. He answers to many names: dad is the norm, daddy when I was a little girl, and "father" during my sassy teenage years. (and I wonder where Claire gets her sass!) I wanted to give him a big happy birthday greeting since he is turning 60 years old today. Last night we had a big surprise birthday party for this awesome guy and roast tribute in which my sister and I did the twelve days of dad. We sang about all of the dad-isms we remembered hearing throughout our lives such as: go bite a wall, oh maan, and my personal favorite, were you raised in a barn? I have to admit, I am definitely a daddy's girl. My dad has the most mellow personality and the kindest heart. I can't remember a project or concert he wasn't a huge part of or in the audience for. He has always been my personal cheerleader and I really can't thank him enough for you the amazing man he has been and the example he has set for my siblings and I. Not only is he a wonderful dad, he is a hands down fabulous grandpa. Claire absolutely adores her Grandpa Merrill and is known to monopolize his lap for long periods of time! Thank you dad for being an important person in my little girls life. I know she has often been in your thoughts and prayers. What a lucky girl she is to have a papa like you. Well dad, you are one year older and wiser too! I love you and Happy Birthday!

My wicked crazy awesome dad!

Claire's First Steps!

It is official! My little Janer Bug is too big! She started trying out her walking boots on Saturday and that is just what they are doing...WALKING! Everyone told us that we needed to practice with her, but if you know Claire she doesn't do anything she doesn't want to! Sassy much? Well, on Saturday she started taking a couple steps and then on Sunday we were walking to class and she let go of my hand and started walking on her own. Soon she will be running around the house and the hormonal door slamming is bound to show up sooner or later, right?

Claire's Halter Tights

So, Jeremy was getting Claire ready for church on Sunday and this is what I walked in to see, Claire with her tights up to her armpits and no dress. They seemed to think that it was pretty funny. Her crazy wet hair and beautiful red tights, now that is a great combination. I should know to never leave them alone for too long. It can only mean trouble.

Ahhh, Saturday Mornings

I just love Saturday mornings. It has to be the best day of the week. Claire gets so excited when she wakes up to Mommy AND Daddy! She just adores Jerm and they finally get the chance to play. This morning Claire and her dad enjoyed playing in her new car seat box. (Yes, Claire is finally a front forward facer! I think she is pretty excited about it.) It makes me so happy to see them together. I don't think there is anything better than being with my cute family.

Chugga Chugga Choo Choo...

Grandpa Merrill gave Claire this Christmas train for her birthday last year and when we set it up for her this year she loved it! It is sitting on our counter, which was probably a bad idea because she wants it to run all the time so now we can't put it away. Thanks Grandpa! She loves it.

Bangs Sisters!

I love Melissa Parrish Anderson. A lot of you may rember this fabulous lady and, yes, I am lucky enough to hang out with this Jamba owning, bang wearing, hot momma. Melissa came over to get a cut and color from her rockin awesome stylist. (Okay, I must explain... Whenever Jeremy gets compliment on his hair he tells people, "Yeah, thanks to my rockin awesome stylist!" It makes me smile every time. Oh, if only there was a Jeremy Young out there for all of us!) Anyway, it was so fun to just hang out, let the girls play (she has a boy, Henry, and a girl, Emma), and chat about how far we have come in life. She mentioned that people might think that she has fallen off the face of the Earth, but I am here to tell all of you that she is alive and well, and now sporting cute bangs. We are all here to cheer you on Melissa, you can do bangs this time, you can do it!!

Lights on Temple Square

We decided to take Claire to go see the lights on temple square Saturday. It was so beautiful because of the new fallen snow. Jeremy only wore his sweatshirt and jacket so he was a little chilly throughout our jaunt through the square, while Claire was content to eat her CHEEZ-IT's and enjoy the ride. I love all of our family traditions and since it was the first of December we decided to do something fun to kick off the Christmas season...even though I have secretly been listening to the Osmond Christmas CD for quite sometime now. Which reminds me...

That is one thing I loved about growing up in the Merrill home, there was never a shortage of good Christmas tunes, or any other tunes for that matter. I love that my parents loved vinyl records and that they have kept a lot of them so we can listen to them when we come home for the holidays, or really anytime we come home and feel like a good sing along. (Which is often for the Merrill girls.) The only thing that made it better was when Kavic started playing the accordion and then the infamous "polka night" was instituted and could be heard throughout the neighborhood. Ahhh, the memories. My family is awesome. A big shout out to everyone that is nodding and smiling while reading this post. I love you and I love thinking about all our fan-freakin-tastic times...even if you are in Mississippi, California, or anywhere I am not. I love you all!

**Note: These wonderful, award winning photos were snapped by the famous Dr. Fulks. (I told him I would make sure his work was given credit on my blog.)

Snow, Snow, Snow, Snow, Snow...

The title of this entry totally makes sense if you were as addicted to the movie "White Christmas" as the Merrill family was growing up! You gotta love Bing.

We visited Toni and Brian on Saturday and played in the awesome snow. We were so excited to finally have some snow to roll around in since Tremonton has zip-o of the fluffy white stuff. Claire had fun trying to walk in the snow and following her cousins around, she would point at them with her cute little finger and then it was our job to maneuver her over to them. Greyson had fun carrying his bucket full of snow and Will was the king of the snow mountain. Oh, boy do we love our cousins! Claire had fun until her nose dive and then the snow fun was not so fun anymore. I almost included a picture of her snow face, but it was too sad. What a good mom I am, I shoot a picture instead of help her up. Good thing her daddy was there to rescue her.

Our darling family

The cousins!

I love my girl.