Where Have We Been??

Where have the Merrill's been? A lot has happened since July, so let me catch you up!

In July, we went to Encinitas, CA to spend a week on the beach with our friends (The Tolar Family). Fifteen of us slept under one roof! It was a week full of good food (each family cooked dinner one night), fun on the beach, games, naps, visits to the corner doughnut shoppe, and beach time. We look forward to this trip every year.

July 26th, 2010, was the girl's first day of school! They follow a year round schedule but it still seemed so early to start! Catalina started 1st grade with a bang and Ava started pre-K, 5 mornings a week.

And then the roof caved in....no really...

...it did. After a lot of rain one night, the ceiling in the BRAND NEW kitchen, yes, you heard me, the brand new kitchen, started leaking. So we called the roofing company...only to find out it was our air handler. See, a couple of years ago we had a BRAND NEW air handler installed and it was installed incorrectly. The overflow pan was leaking right into our dining room.

Then, my van was hit in a parking lot by a hit and run driver. Had to have the passenger door replaced with a $500 deductible...thank you very much. Finally, our computer stopped working, only to find out it would cost $900 for a new logics board. After returning to the Apple Store a month later with the iMac to have my data transferred to my laptop, they were able to find a way to fix it for free!!

And now I am back to blogging...I have a lot to post so stay tuned!

Summer in Wisconsin

The girls and I went to Wisconsin for three weeks this summer. It was the best summer ever! The girls are at a great age to entertain themselves and enjoy the simple things in life. We visited Julie & Scott in Madison (I forgot my camera) and the girls picked raspberries and caught fireflies in their backyard. We walked around campus and ate lunch at the Union on the lake. Ava asked me, "Do they have this ASU?" and made a mental note in her head.

We celebrated Catalina's "real" birthday at a favorite pizza and game spot. Dona and I dressed up for the occasion (not sure why we always wear the same thing?).

The birthday girl and her sister enjoyed lunch before the fun begins!

Grandma Dawn and the girls.

Daddy had flowers and balloons delivered to Grandma Dawn's house. It was a great surprise!

We had so much fun with Geramiah this year!

We packed up Dona's car and drove to the Wisconsin Dells. We stayed at the Wilderness Hotel that also had a waterpark. Amy and Elizabeth drove down from MN to join us!

The girls absolutely adored Elizabeth and she rode a lot of water rides with them. She also took them to the hotel arcade.

Here's a picture you don't see often!

The girls stayed over night at Jane & Thad's house and had a blast! They took them to the 4th of July parade in Oak Creek and they came home with an enormous amount of candy.

Roasting marshmallows with Uncle T.

We rented bikes at Frame Park and took turns riding them around.

We went to the 4th of July parade in Waukesha too!

Geramiah was in the parade...he walked with his Park and Rec group.

Finally, the fireworks. There was no rain until the fireworks show started. Ava does not like rain...or fireworks...so she sat in the car.

Catalina's 6th Birthday

Before we left for Wisconsin, Catalina celebrated her 6th birthday by having her first sleepover! Kaylie came over to spend the night but first we had many things planned. We went to see the movie Marmaduke, ate dinner at Chick Fil a, and then home to swim with dad.

Finally, an ice cream cake to finish the day! The first sleepover was a huge success. Kaylie spent the entire night and slept in Catalina & Ava's room. Catalina can't wait to spend the night at her house!

Oh Oh...Mexico

The weekend before we left for Wisconsin we traveled to Rocky Point (Puerto Penasco) in Mexico. It's about a 3.5 hour drive and we had to go over the Mexican border. We stayed at a friend's newly built, 5 bedroom, 6 bath home on a private beach....very few homes around. It was beautiful! We stepped off the stairs and onto the beach. The water was warm and the beach was full of shells and washed up sand dollars. Needless to say, we had a blast!

The girls wanted their hair braided in town. So the ladies set up a make shift salon and started braiding. It only took about 20 minutes each and did not hurt at all.

Ava May really wanted her hair done but cried for the first 10 minutes of getting it done. I felt terrible and kept telling her the ladies could stop. But Ava cried, "No!" so the ladies kept braiding.

Then Daddy bought them ice cream to match the beads in their hair!

Beach beauties!

This was our view for the weekend! We can't wait to be invited back!

Look What We Found!

This was so crazy! When we returned on Memorial Day from a long weekend in Flagstaff, we found something swimming in our pool. It was a huge turtle! It must have crawled up from the lake but we are not sure how it got through the fence. Can you imagine what it thought when it fell into our pool!

It was actually quite big!

The girls were so excited. Every morning that week Ava went out to check the pool to see if the turtle was back!

Even Murray was pretty excited about the find. Back in the lake he goes...goodbye turtle!

First/Last Day of School

The last day of Kindergarten was May 28th, 2010. It was so bittersweet for me. I am so proud of Catalina...she worked hard this year and really grew academically, socially, and emotionally. She is so sweet, caring, considerate and hard-working (okay...and a high achiever). Saying good-bye to her teachers and friends put such a pit in my stomach. Cat's teachers were amazing and understood her so well. They nurtured her when she needed it yet really pushed her to try new things. Catalina did not want school to end either...it was such a safe place for her.

The first day of Kindergarten (7/09).

Ava started preschool this year and went Tues/Thurs all day. Ava is an amazing student (much to our surprise!). She learned so much this year and made a ton of new friends. Ava loved school and never wanted to miss a day. I am so proud of her. Ava is strong willed, very social, funny, and a role model in her class. Next year she will be in Pre-K five mornings a week...and she is ready for it.

Catalina's last day of school with her teachers, Mrs. Reid and Mrs. Loop.

Cat's last day of school...on to first grade!

Ava's last day of school with her teachers, Mrs. Lyons and Mrs. Shiverdecker.

BUGZ Play

The Kindergarten Music Performance this year was the BUGZ Play. Catalina was a ladybug in the performance. The class practiced during music class since January so by April, Todd and I were very familiar with the songs!

The morning of dress rehearsal...we got up early so I could curl her hair.

All the kids also had speaking parts. It was the cutest!

The ladybugs did their own performance called, "Be a lady." Notice...the white gloves.

Grandma Dorothy even missed her Tuesday night Bingo to be there. One proud Grandma!

After the performance, there was a reception with lots of juice and cookies!