Merritt Memories

I love music!! I am so grateful for music. I believe it is such a powerful thing. It's unbelievable how all sorts of different rhythms and instruments can make your emotions flow. You might wonder why on earth I am writing about music. Dustin was asking me why I had I'm Too Sexy on my blog play list . I told him a lot of these songs have inspired me in some way or another, some have special memories to me, some just make me move! (not that I move all that great) They make me experience different emotions. I'm Too Sexy does two things for me. It makes me remember doing it for a lip sync in Young Womens . We were so sexy with all our vintage 70 clothes! It also reminds me that I am sexy! Call me vain I guess. Some days I don't feel that way, this song helps! I believe music is a blessing. Have you ever been so down and heard a song that made you feel better? Or maybe it just comforted you in your feelings, knowing it's okay to feel the way you do. I believe you ...

Is there a recipe that your whole family will eat without complaining? It has to be something you have made!!! I could count pizza if this was not the case, but if I make homemade all I hear is about the things I put on it they don't like. I am so frustrated. I was wondering if you who can answer "Yes," would be willing to share them. I would like to try them out on my family. There is nothing worse than cooking a whole meal just to have everyone spout out complaints they have against it! I also would like some feed back on this recipe. It is the one that instigated this post. Cook it and tell me if your family loves it, or hates it. I got it out of my ward cookbook. Dustin, Grace , and Kate can't stand it. Ryan, Aaron, and I love it. Becca? She doesn't count, because she'll eat anything. Never a complaint from her! Let me know! I'm serious. Sweet & Sour Meatballs 1 lb hamburger 3/4 c oatmeal 2 eggs, slightly beaten 2 Tbsp dehydrated onion (or fresh, c...

My Mommy blindfold was torn off today, and shredded into a million pieces!! Aaron came upstairs and told me that Ryan had said some awful words to him. To quote (please know that I don't normally talk this way) "suck my crap" is what he said to his brother. I was in shock!! How on earth could one of my sweet little boys say such a nasty thing? I had Ryan come up immediately. I told him that I did not appreciate that kind of talk. I didn't know what else to do, so I resorted to the old soap on a toothbrush to "wash his mouth out." (something I told my self I would never do) After much gagging and rinsing, I asked Ryan where he had ever heard such talk. He told me he heard some 6th graders say it at school (6th graders, uuugh). I asked that he would not talk that way, and sent him back to bed. End of story? Nnnooo! Aaron came back up to tattle on himself about a half an hour later. "Mom, I said something mean to Ryan when we were fighting," he explai...

Kristin and I have been friends since the 8 th grade (that's 18 years!). Our friendship started when we moved onto Hassett Ave. We ended up living right behind one another. We share Jr . high memories and high school ones too. I am so grateful for her. She and I have always been able to have good talks. Even though we do not see each other much these days, she lives near Houston, we are able to keep in touch by blogging and phone calls. It is fun to hear from one another. I love ya Kris! Happy Birthday!

Manti Pageant 2008 We took an overnight trip to Manti , UT this past weekend. There are a few of us with motorcycles in our ward. We all went together. It was a fun, fast trip. We rented a cute home. It sure was filled with "antiques." Roger got a few pictures of the inside, I'll post them when we get copies. We are the Prairie 4 th Ward, that is how got our "name." (really we don't call ourselves that, it's just a funny joke) It was either that, or Heaven's Angels, Dust says you don't ride a bike to have a "nice" name.

We had such a fun Father's Day. I'm sure Dustin felt the same. It was great for me because I actually pulled off a surprise (he always seems to figure things out). Ten years ago Dustin won a nice drill from a work Christmas party. We were so broke that year. We even counted that as his Christmas present. Well, a few months later our budget was really tight. In order to have some extra money, Dustin sold his drill. I know it was really hard for him because it was a NICE drill. The past years he has had to settle for his cheap Black & Decker. I decided I was going to replace that drill that he gave up so many years ago. He has been saying he needed a new battery for his old one, so no better time. I did my usual poem. I added a new picture of the kids for his office. I also bought a new bit set for is drill. I put these in a gift bag. He thought that was all he was getting! (I had the boys run and get the other gift) He loved the poem and picture. He commented on the bit set...

This post is about a month late. I was backing up my photos (yes, I do that now) and realized i had taken these photos of Grace when she learned to ride her bike. She was so dedicated ! i told you all earlier how she likes to do things on her own . She took this task and conquered . I did it all by myself! May 6, 2008

we have joined the bandwagon and have gotten cable. I have always resisted because of all the TV watching I know my family will dive into. The kids are extremely excited (me too, I must admit). They can't wait to watch Nick and Cartoon Network. I myself like the Discovery Channel. We are only getting Basic, so no Discovery Health, sad. Anyways, to let you all know of Ryan's excitement , (and maybe you will understand why I limit TV) Ryan asked this morning, "Mom, do you think Larry the Cable Guy will install our cable? I think that would be cool." I laughed, then had to explain that Larry is just a character . There is no real-life Larry the Cable Guy. He seemed a little let down. I'm sure it would have been something neat to brag about. Oh, how sad reality can be sometimes!

I was in sacrament meeting, listening to the speakers, and it dawned on me how much I take the Gospel for granted. I think it is so hard to stay focused sometimes (especially when your 2 year-old is telling the old lady behind you who is sleeping, "Hey, wake up!"). The Gospel is such a blessing. I am grateful to be here at a time when I know the Truth has been restored. What the Spirit was telling me today is that I need to remember when I was baptized I took upon me Christ's name. That meaning, I am to live as He would and become like Him. My will needs to be "swallowed up" in His will. The speakers today did such a good job. They spoke on Fellowship and Service. Truly,treating others the way our Savior would if he were here. In RS we talked how a lot of times we think we are doing okay, only to find later that we have let our priorities slip. I know I am so guilty of this. I won't able to hear the rest because Ryan had a talk in Primary(Grace had one in ...