Christmas 2008

We had a great Christmas at the Merrill's.  Here are the girls helping mom bake cookies in the new kitchen.

We celebrated Christmas Eve with Todd's family.

Todd always makes baked french toast for breakfast Christmas morning.

Celebrating Christmas brunch at the Tolars.

A Visit with Santa

We went to visit Santa at Cox Media today! The girls wore very cute Christmas dresses made by Grandma Dawn.  Catalina was concerned about Santa's reindeer and sleigh..."where will he land mom?".  Ava wanted Santa to come home with her...."come home me Santa."  What a fun Christmas it will be at the Merrill's this year!

New Refrigerator Today!

The new Sub Zero frig was installed today.  And it looks great...really finishes off the kitchen.  I posted a couple of pictures just in case you were wondering what the finished product looks like (okay....ALMOST finished product).

Here is Ava in a cute dress that Grandma Dawn made.

Christmas Tree Sunday?

On Saturday, Mary brought dinner over for us (I was still recovering from surgery).  The girls spent the weekend at grandma's house.  When Cat got home and found out we had BBQ chicken, she ate four pieces!

Then we went and bought the tree.  As most of you know, we always have Christmas Tree Saturday.....but this year it was Sunday.  The lights are still not on......

Ava is turning out to be a big help in the new kitchen.  She made mac n cheese on Sunday night.  She is a worker bee......

The Polar Express

We had a great time in Flagstaff this weekend!  Papa and Mimi & Dona and Geramiah joined us to ride the Polar Express.  We all stayed at a friend's cabin.  On Sunday night we boarded the train and headed for the North Pole!  Catalina was very excited to see Santa.  She did not cry...in fact, she gave Santa her list with instructions to "turn it over and look at Ava's list on the back."

Unfortunately, right before we were packing up to head home, Ava fought a tricycle and the tricycle won!  Of course, she was not being supervised....so no one knows what really happened! 

Here is the whole gang...who gave them big wads of gum anyway?

Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving Brunch at the Wrigley Mansion.  It was great to have everyone in town!

Papa even got in some fishing....not Ava's favorite sport.

Kitchen Progress

For those of you that won't be joining the Merrill's for Thanksgiving :(, here is an update on the progress....

The granite was installed on Saturday and today.  We chose to install granite on the back splash all the way up to the cabinets.  It's gorgeous and so clean looking.  The cords hanging down are for the undercabinet lighting.

The sink is a granite composite and the new window was installed on Saturday.  Love it!

Double ovens work like a charm!

We chose to set the dining room table in the area our office was.  I think it needs a hanging light of some sort.  Todd hates hanging lights.

Breakfast with the Giraffes

On Friday, Ava and I went to the zoo at 8am to have breakfast with the giraffes.  The guide took us into the giraffe barn where the giraffes sleep.  We had to be very quiet.  We fed the giraffes carrot pieces out of our hands!  The giraffe's head was as big as Ava!  They had very long purple tongues and pokey whiskers.  Ava was a little freaked out and would not feed one.  The giraffe's zookeeper walked through and the five giraffes started circling and lined up at their VERY tall barn door.  They saw him or smelled him...realized it was 9am...time to head outside to the Savanna.  What an incredible morning!

Here are Murray and Ginger enjoying some down time.*

The girls enjoy bath time with Daddy!

Working Hard

Ava has figured out how to pound in the hardwood floor.  She needs little supervision except for the glueing.  She takes right after Papa Tim.  

We went to JT's birthday party at the park on Sunday.  Catalina picked out these outfits from Gymboree.  She could not wait to wear them!  The weather was beautiful!

This is the opening for the frig and the island is set in plce.  We will have the granite by next week Thursday!  This week our appliances will be installed.  

Front of island...we will have seating on the other side.

Ginger is Here!

On Sunday we brought Ginger home!  Murray is soooo not interested in her.  He continues to be the "boss" around here.  The girls love her....she is very sweet and playful.

Here is the view of the kitchen from our living room.  I wish it was done!!

Ginger and Catalina hangin' out....

.....reading before bedtime with Ginger.

Seriously Buba.

Happy Halloween!

We had a great party this year...even without a kitchen....

Papa and our ASU cheerleader.

Ava was Elmo.

Debbie was a witch....a good witch.

We bobbed for apples.

Grey and Catalina....BFF.