Beach at Day Break

Last Thursday, July 23rd, we went out to the Day Break community and spent the afternoon playing in the sand. It was really nice because the kids love to play in sand, but I hate the mess. Here you have the best of both worlds. They can play all they want and then go wash of in the little lake.

It's not the clearest water, but that is because it is so shallow quite a ways out. There was a dock the kids could jump off and be fine, that's how shallow. I liked it that way because I could relax a little.

We brought our lunch and some shade and that's it. A nice FREE afternoon! Then the kids went to bed early because they were so worn out!

If Momma Ain't Happy...

My kids know how to finish this saying.

Yesterday I was having a pretty awful morning. I was NOT very happy. Grace realized this right off the bat. She got a little bee in her bonnet to fix me. I went to the bathroom and returned to a nicely made bed (as good as any 7 year-old could do), and I found this note lying nicely on a pillow:




If you can't read it, it says:

to Mom
from Grace

I hope you liked that I made your bed.

I'm so glad somebody knows me! That made me feel better.

Getting My GRIN Pin

I realized I did not tell about this exciting event for me. Some of you may be wondering what a GRIN Pin is. Well, it is an acknowledgement that I have read my scriptures for 100 days. You don't have to read 100 days straight, just 100 days. So, why the excitement?

I have been working on getting my first pin for 3 years! That's right 3 years. Pathetic, I know. To redeem myself from all patheticasy (is that a word?), it took three years due to my lack of keeping track. They make it easy enough. You get a little card numbered 1-100 and all you have to do is mark it off. I would, however forget to do this. (I guess that doesn't really redeem me, what idiot cannot make a mark through a number) Anyway, I didn't want to "guesstimate" how many days I had forgotten to cross off, so I just went by the days I remembered. But , I did it! Here's to many more lining my scripture bag! Hopefully, not every three years!

Allergies of Another Sort

We have a few types of allergies in our family. I have terrible hay fever, along with Ryan and Aaron. Kate has her own definition. But Aaron woke up like this the other morning!




The mosquitos think he is scrumptious! I always feel bad for him though. Those bites swell to 5 times normal size.

Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House

On Saturday, July 11th we took the kids to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House. To prepare them we had a family home evening lesson to remind them how sacred and special the Temple is. We talked about being reverent and respectful and about the work we do there. We told them that we make promises to live a better life and we also do work for those who have died before their work was done. I was really excited to take them. I wanted it to be a neat experience for them.

We dressed in our Sunday best. The girls were mad I curled their hair. The boys were a little upset that they had to wear a tie. I wanted it to be a BIG deal for them. I wanted them to understand this was a special event, a privilege, to go into the House of the Lord. They looked smashing!! Everyone complimented the girls on their dresses.

When we got there they first have you watch a movie that explains about the Temple. I was worried the kids would be bored, but all of them paid attention. It was only 12 minutes! When they showed a picture of the inside of the Temple, they quickly opend their brochures to see if it was in there. If it was, they read the little caption under the picture.

Everybody walked from the white movie tents to the Temple a few hundred yards away. We walked into the waiting room and for the first time in history, absolute silence from the Merritt Clan! They knew this place was special! The silence was broken when Grace saw the chandelier hanging in the area after the recommend desk. "Mom, that's so pretty! It looks like diamonds!" The chandeliers in this Temple are BEAUTIFUL! (To view pictures of the inside of the Temple click here.)

We continued on through the building, everybody amazed by the beauty. Becca and Kate were counting all the pictures of Jesus they could see. There were a lot. I think they stopped at 23. That was only floors 1 and 2. The Celestial room was one of every one's favorite rooms. The boys really like the baptismal font though.

We came out and of course we Mormons believe in refreshments. We all enjoyed a cookie and a bottled water. We like watching the piano play all by itself.

When we loaded into the car, I asked the kids what their favorite part was. Right away Becca said, "The jewelry!" I was little confused, but then realized she was talking about the chandeliers. The boys answered the font after making cookies and water their first favorite. Grace and Kate liked the celestial room. I loved all of it!

I asked them, "Do you think the Temple is a worthy goal?" They all agreed that they would like to return to the Temple. I couldn't have been happier!






No, we don't have 6 kids. Our cousin, Logan, is spending the week with us.

4th of July Snapshots

Late 4th of July Report

For the holiday weekend we went to a family reunion for the Riding side of Dustin's family. It was located up Fairview Canyon at his Uncle Jon's land. It was beautiful! We right smack dab in the mountains!

Since the selling of our motor home, we had to tent it! I thought it wasn't too bad. I was able to sleep on a cot. It was a little chilly, but once I fell asleep, I slept like a baby! I heard some coyotes howling as I was drifting off and thought, "Who brought their dogs?" That's what happens when you are in the middle of nature! They were really close! We were free of bears though!

We got up there and pulled out the 4wheelers right away! The kids had a blast on them! It was one of the highlights of the trips. In the city they don't get to ride them much, so it was nice to see them getting used.

Aaron, Ryan, and Jeremiah

Grace

Kate

After 4wheelers we attempted to go to the lake with Cory and Adam. They brought their fishing poles, but we did not. Our boys decided they would try to spear some fish. Aaron said he got one, but it was an easy target, it was already dead!

Aaron and Ryan enjoying fishing

We went back to camp ate, and got ready for bed! We woke up the next morning and had yummy french toast and dutch oven egg casserole! Thanks Lori and Cory! They were the fabulous cooks!

Ashlee and Acacia

Becca, Rylee, Taryn, Lexi, and Kate.

Aaron, Ryan, and Cody enjoying breakfast.

After breakfast we kind of hung around and enjoyed each other's company. We were looking at the beautiful scenery. Across the way was a lone standing pine tree and Taryn wondered who far it was to that tree. After everyone gave their estimates, I asked Dustin. He has gone hunting on this land the past two years, so I figured he'd know. "Oh, it would take about about 20-30 min." Taryn, Acacia, and I figured we were up for the challenge. We got our shoes on and we were off.

We came to Uncle Jon's trailer and got instructions for the best way to go. We knew we would have to cross the river, but we figured it couldn't be that bad. We were in for a surprise.

After hiking down the CLIFF, we made it to the river. We decided , well I suggested, we take our shoes off. It's what they do on Little House on the Prairie. After THREE attempts and almost falling in, WE MADE IT! We felt so accomplished.

Preparing to cross, Little House on the Prairie style.

Taryn crossing the river

We put our shoes back on and as we ascended the mountain, we came to realize this was going to take a lot longer than 30 min! From far away you couldn't see all the hills you had to climb! We were unprepared for along hike. We hadn't brought any water, but we were determined to reach that tree!

I think it took us about an hour to get there. We snapped some pictures there and started back. I suggested we try another way and it ended up that we had to go all the way back to the way we came. The trail didn't go the way I thought it would. I'm glad Taryn and Acacia were good sports about it! Sorry guys.

Taryn and Acacia at our pine tree. I stayed down in case of bears, but later learned they were sighted on the other mountain.

This is a picture from our tree looking to our camp! It's a lot farther than it looks. And there are a lot of hills to climb!

We made it back to the river and decided to keep our shoes on! Much better! I think Little House on the Prairie should try it that way!

We climbed up the cliff and as we neared Uncle Jon's trailer, we were greeted with a little welcoming party. Cory had brought a few of the kids AND WATER! Ice, cold water. It never tasted so good!

The rest of the the day we visited and waited for dinner to get done. The guys had dug a huge pit with Uncle Jon's tractor and buried the turkeys with the hot coals! So yummy!

We had to be back for church so we loaded up and headed home. We had a flat tire on the way home, but we were safe! The trailer did lose a fender! Luckily no one hit it!

As we pulled into the driveway all the fireworks were going off, so we stopped and enjoyed the view! It was a lot of fun! I love making memories with my kids!

(I will be adding more pics, but have not time right now. Check back for cute snapshots)

Go Ahead and Call Him...

Officer Merritt!!

Dustin's life long dream of being a cop is finally happening. We are all very excited for him. We know it will be an adjustment for all, but that's okay. We're happy to do whatever needed to make this work.

He will be working for the Sandy Police Dept., the 34th safest city in the nation! I like that. I guess in the last 110 years there has only been 3 officer involved shootings. Sandy is a more upscale neighborhood, so not as much violence. He was getting ready to turn in an application for West Valley which is the exact opposite!

The way this all came about was a huge blessing. It started about a couple weeks ago. For work he was entered into a golf tournament - tough job, I know. It was a celebrity golf tournament, so the Whose Who of UT were there. He could have been put with anyone, but he got paired up with Byron Jorgenson, the City Administrator for Sandy, he just happens to be over the police dept. Dustin was already going through the process of trying to get on with Sandy, so he mentioned this to him (he gave it a while, he didn't want to seem too anxious). Anyway, Byron was really impressed with Dustin. At lunch he introduced Dustin to Chief Chapman, Sandy's police chief! They both wished Dustin the best! Especially Byron! He really was impressed with Dustin!He met with Byron today and he made it official. Dustin got a badge # and everything!

I told the kids yesterday and they were jumping up and down! We decided to make him some "congratulations" banners! The kids were so creative! We taped them to the garage door so he would see them first thing!

They all want to ride in the police car! Dustin said he'd make sure they get to ride in the car and work the sirens! That's the perks of your dad being a cop!