Goodbye for now...

 

On Saturday, Oct 13, 2012, the world lost an amazing man.  My heart broke in so many ways that day.  It broke for my mom, who lost one of the most important men in her life.  It broke for my kids, who asked "who will give us goldfish crackers when we go there now?"  And it broke for myself, for losing my grandpa who I truly look up to.  I've never met another person who has sacrificed so much for someone else.  He defines loyalty, and also love.

There are so many things I will never forget about Grandpa.  He made sure that on all his kids, grandkids, and great grandkids birthdays, his card and money would be in your mailbox.  He had the system down, and knew what day he had to mail it.  If by any chance the mail got interupted and it didn't get to you on your exact day, he got really upset.

I will also never forget his smile, and the twinkle in his eyes as he watched the great grandkids play.  The last time he saw Maycee, he wouldn't take his eyes off of her.  It always warmed my heart.
Grandpa always had funny things to say, but my very favorite was when he didn't like something and he would say "I wouldn't have that up my ass if I had room for a sawmill."  Ha ha.  I giggle just thinking about it.

Oct 20th we had a viewing and a graveside service.  I was honored that I was asked to speak and read the obituary.  I was touched by all the people who came and honored him.  It turned out beautifully.  The best part was at a church for lunch afterwards, all the little great grandkids came together and played ring around the rosies.  No one prompted it.  We just heard singing, screaming and giggling and there they were.  We all knew hom much grandpa would love that and I'm sure he was smiling from above.

Great grandkids getting ready to do a balloon release.

 

 

Great grandkids doing ring around the rosies.

 

Love Lives On

 

Those we love remain with us
for love itself lives on,
and cherished memories never fade
because a loved one's gone.
Those we love can never be
more than a thought apart,
far as long as there is memory,
they'll live on in the heart.

 

We love you, Grandpa.  Always and forever.  You will never know how much you mean to us, how much influence you had, and how much we've always appreciated you.  I'm so glad you are at peace, but it is a painful loss for everyone here on earth who knew and loved you.  You taught everyone what it is to truly love, honor and cherish.  "You had silver in your hair, and gold in your heart."  Xoxoxoxo.



All sorts of shenanigans...

 

Minature golfing

Daddy and his girls at the circus

Beautiful baby girl

 

At Lagoon for Frightmares

Happy kids.  They had so much fun.

At Cherry Hill

Hay ride with Grandma

 

We've been having lots of fun enjoying the cooler weather and gearing up for Halloween.  I love this time of year when the holidays start.  There is always something fun to go and do or fun crafts and projects to do at home with the kids.
Unfortunately, I got really sick for a couple weeks and was down for the count, so I haven't been blogging about everything like I've wanted to. 

Daddy decided to take the kids miniature golfing for the first time and Sydnee and Kaydee loved it.  They don't like to hold the club right, or aim for that matter, but they had fun anyway.  Maycee was trying to run off to all the water features, pick up everyone's balls, and climbing anything she could find the whole time.  She's just not into these things yet.  We went bowling and she cried every time the ball rolled down the lane, like she was never going to see it again.  Ha ha.
Anyway, then we went to the circus and we had perfect seats.  It was so much fun.  All the kids were really into it this year.  They mixed a dragon theme in with the circus and the kids loved that.
We also did our yearly frightmares visit and it was tons of fun too.  They made the hay maze bigger which was fun, and the kids loved getting all the prizes they give out. 
This last week, we went to Cherry Hill with Grandma Sheriff, Staci, Jason, Britten and Kameron.  There were a lot of fun things to do.  First miniature golf, then a hayride, then a little maze and a bounce house and a ball pit.  The kids were mad when it was time to go home!
Last night Sydnee and Kaydee slept over at Grandma and Grandpa Sheriff's and they got super spoiled and had a blast.  They did all sorts of crafts, made goodies, even went to McDonalds to eat and play.  They are already talking about the next time they can have a sleepover.
School is going great for both of them.  Sydnee got her first report card and she got almost all 3's.  We are so proud of her.  I'm glad she loves school and learning so much. 



Happy Bosco

Bosco got neutered, microchipped, and a tooth pulled.  They gave him pain meds. 

Enough said.



Bear Lake 2012

We didn't plan our annual bear lake trip this year, because we were going to Colorado.  But we all were sad about it and the kids kept talking about it, so last minute we found out everyone could go labor day weekend.  I was lucky enough to find a perfect cabin that was actually available and it worked out perfectly.

On friday, we got all loaded up and ready so we could pick Kaydee up from preschool and leave.  We decided to meet Chris and Amy at Noodles for lunch, and have them follow us.  Grandma and Papa were going to come up a couple hours later.  So we headed up and stopped in Logan for gas, when Jeff noticed the fender was coming off on the boat trailer.  So the guys dropped us and the kids off at the park at the bottom of Logan canyon and left to go get some new nuts and bolts.  We ended up being there for like 2 hours while they got it all fixed, and the kids were bored, but Amy was so good at playing with and entertaining the kids while I tried to keep Maycee from getting hurt, and trying to run off to the water.

We got up to the cabin and grandma and papa showed up about 20 minutes later.  We got unpacked and started up the grill to make hamburgers.  The kids loved the basement of the cabin where there were toys and a train table.  After dinner, I got out a craft I brought which was little buckets to collect seashells in, and I got puffy paint for the kids to decorate them with.  That night, the kids got in their jammies and we watched the Lorax and put them to bed.  The adults stayed up and played a game and the girls won.  Hee hee.

Saturday it rained and rained.  We did find a little time to go to the beach and the kids collected seashells and played in the sand.  Maycee was hilarious.  She had sand in every place imaginable.  But she had fun which is what counts.  We went back to the cabin and bathed the kids and had lunch, and Grandma did a treasure hunt for the kids.  They got all sorts of fun things.  Balls, silly string, foam airplanes, bubbles, beach stuff, etc.  And then went to the park and walked down to the beach from there.  Then it started raining again so we ran to the car and headed back to the cabin where we hung out the rest of the day.

Sunday was much better weather.  The guys left early and got us a spot on the beach and then they left on the boat and went fishing.  When they were done they came and picked us up so the kids could ride on the boat.  Sydnee did better this year but was still nervous.  Kaydee loved it and wants to go as fast as possible.  And Maycee hated wearing a life jacket, but she was falling asleep in the boat.

That afternoon, we went to lunch and got raspberry shakes.  Yum!  Afterwards, we drove to Minnetonka cave and we had to wait for an hour and a half until the next available tour.  The kids had all fallen asleep, so I just sat with them and let them have naps in the truck while we waited. 

The cave was really fun.  Sydnee whined a little bit about all the walking (400 and something stairs each way), and she hated it at the bottom when they shut off the lights.  But Kaydee loved every minute of it.  She did really good. 

That night after putting the kids to bed, we blew up balloons for Christian's birthday. 

Monday we got up and watched Bubba open some presents and had yummy cinnamon roll waffles for breakfast.  Then it was time to pack up and head out.  We stopped at a little zoo in Logan and it was perfect weather and lots of fun.  Then we went and had a birthday lunch at a yummy restaurant, and then we all headed home. 

Crazy girl!

Heading into the cave.

It was such a fun trip, but I wish it didn't go by so fast!  I'm so glad we didn't skip it this year.  We made tons of great memories!

Funnies

These kids do and say so many funny things that I can't even remember them all.  But I do want to write down the ones I remember for future reference.

In Colorado, Sydnee kept putting her hand up in the L sign and saying Loser.  (Thanks to her daddy who taught her that.)  She said it over and over and I finally explained to her that it isn't nice, daddy shouldn't have taught her that, and not to do it anymore.  Her response:

"Well...If they really ARE a loser, then I can say that!"

Sydnee and Kaydee are always talking about who they are going to marry.  Well Kaydee always talks about a boy Trae who was in her class last year and again this year.  So after I cut her hair and showed her I told her that she looked so pretty.  Well she goes "Yes.  And now Trae will want to marry me, because I... Look..... SOOO..... Good!!"

While we were walking through the Denver airport we were in this huge crowd, and suddenly Sydnee just did this random cartwheel and almost kicked someone.  I think it's a form of tourettes!  We will be in the grocery store and she will break out in cheerleading.  We tell her no and she just can't help herself.

Sydnee's new word is 'apparently'.  She says it a lot, but every morning she (acting annoyed) says "APPARENTLY, Kaydee woke me up AGAIN this morning, and I didn't get enough sleep!"



Fantastic news!!

Sydnee had her annual cardiology appointment on Aug 15.  It is such a hard time for me.  I'm always so stressed and worried, but can't act that way around the kids.  Sydnee knows she has a special heart and that there is a hole in it, but she doesn't know what surgery is or that she may have to have it. So we play it off like it is no big deal for now.

Anyway, going in I was having a hard time being positive, because every time I have felt like there is nothing to worry about, we have gotten bad news, or had to have extra testing done because of possible bad news. 

We ended up being at Primary Childrens for a LONG time.  The echo took over an hour, because the doctor who was reading it wanted more pictures.  It was difficult to sit that long and then the echo tech made a comment that really made things worse.  But our cardiologist came in after with a big smile and said she was so pleased to tell us that the left side of Sydnee's heart is no longer enlarged.  The hole is also smaller, which is probably because the heart is smaller.  But just knowing the hole isn't putting the strain on her heart and causing it to enlarge is fantastic news!  She said sometimes when they get into kindergarten or early grade school and the heart is enlarged they will want to do surgery to patch the hole.  So we were about to that point, but now her heart is normal sized!

She still doesn't think the hole will close on it's own, but she said unless things change for the worse she will not have to have surgery.  So her heart can stay the way it is now forever and she would be fine.  We are so happy and thankful.  We couldn't have asked for better news.  And we don't have to even think about it for another year.  Yay for Sydnee!

Preschool time again!

First of all, Kaydee kept asking and asking for me to cut her hair short.  She doesn't like having rubber bands in her hair and likes it better short.  I think she looks adorable, but when her hair is short it is a lot of maintenance for me because I have to trim it so often.  But of course I gave in.  Here's her new do:

Her first day of preschool was Wed, Aug 15.  It was just the meet your teacher day and it was only an hour and I was there the whole time.  But her teacher is new to the school this year and Kaydee LOVES her.  She really is a nice lady and seems like she will be a great teacher. 

This is her on her first day:

She's gone twice by herself since then and is loving it more than she did last year.  I'm very proud of her!



Colorado

These cousins had a blast playing together!

 The family reunion in Colorado finally happened, after being planned for nearly a year.  We left our house on friday morning at about 7:15.  I was shocked I had me and all 3 girls ready.  But I did it!  So we picked grandma and papa up, and then went to drop Bosco off at the kennel.  The kids were excited, but unfortunately, Sydnee had gotten a fever the day before and wasn't feeling fantastic.  So she kept trying to go to sleep in the car, and just wasn't her normal self.  We got to the airport, and after finally finding a place to park, we shuttled to the airport.  Check in at SLC was quick and easy and we got to the terminal pretty early.  We grabbed some drinks and a danish and let the kids watch airplanes out the windows and let Maycee get some wiggles out.  Kaydee sat between grandma and papa and Sydnee and Maycee sat with mommy and daddy.  All the kids did really well, though Sydnee tried so hard to go to sleep on the plane and Maycee kept bugging her.  When we landed a little old lady in front of us turned around and told us we had all the right answers (when Sydnee was asking question after question), and that our kids did so great.  She told Sydnee how proud of her she was and how smart she thought she was.  So sweet.  By the time we got off the plane, Maycee was sticky and covered in snacks, treats, drinks, and whatever else we gave her to keep her happy.  But she did good.  Ha ha.  I'm glad it was a short flight.  When we got to Denver, the craziness began.  We got off the plane and had to take a train to our luggage, then a shuttle to the car rental company, and it took a bit to get our van.  Estes Park is a ways from the airport, but it was a nice chance for Sydnee and Maycee to get a nap in.  When we got into Estes, we stopped at Mcdonalds for lunch, and then went to the grocery store.  By the time we were done, we could check into our condo, so we headed over there and got settled in.  A lot of the family was staying at a lodge right down the street, so that is where we all gathered.  We had a yummy mexican dinner where everyone brought stuff and it was great to finally see family we hadn't seen forever.  Sydnee really wasn't feeling well and wouldn't eat and hardly played at all.  I felt sad for her.  Maycee and Kaydee had a blast though, but we were chasing Maycee the whole time to keep her away from the creek and pond.

On saturday everyone did their own things, so we decided to go to Rocky Mountain national park and drive all the way up.  It was gorgeous.  It was really windy and kinda cold the higher we got so some of the lookout points were short.  By this time, Kaydee and Maycee seemed to be getting a fever as well, and they didn't want to be in the car.  We went back to the condo to try to get them to nap (which they didn't) and they guys took Makenzie and Christian fishing.  When they got home we headed back to the lodge where we bbq'd and then the kids had smores.  The kids had so much fun that night and were sad when it was dark and we had to go.  We went back and put the kids to bed and then went across the street to where Aunt Sue and Uncle Joe and their family was staying.  Aunt Lisa and Uncle Lowell were there  too.  We had fun talking and laughing and catching up.  The next morning we got up and got ready and packed and left at about 10am.  We stopped to have breakfast and waited for like 45 minutes for our food.  The kids weren't happy at all, and we were worried about getting the rental car back in time.  We ended up getting it back 45 min late, but they didn't charge us.  Then it was back on the shuttle, back on the train, back to the airport, and the line was terrible.  By this time the kids were DONE.  But they did pretty good seeings how long everything took at the Denver airport.  We got to the terminal and a few minutes later it was time to board.

The flight home was pretty good except a baby behind us pooped before we even took off and then went to sleep so the mom never changed her and the smell was awful.  Again, I'm glad it was a short flight.

The kids were so exhausted after our trip that Maycee slept 16 hours straight when we got home!  I'm so glad we got to go and see almost our entire Merrill side of the family.  Hopefully it won't be another 15 years before we do it again!

Catching up again!

If you have seen Sydnee lately, this is what you've seen of her.  Constant handstands and cartwheels.  Sometimes mid sentence.  Lol.



Maycee had her 15 month appt and all is great.  She isn't gaining weight much anymore, but the dr said it is normal to thin out and I'm just not used to it since it's my first time dealing with a "chubby baby."  Ha ha.  I was so surprised she didn't cry at the doctor or nurses because she's been really unfriendly to strangers lately.  She cried for like 30 seconds when she got 3 shots and then she was fine.

Her personality is coming out so much lately.  She really likes to copy and mimic people.  If you show her something, she will do her best to copy.  Her new thing is to point at the dog and yell "BAD!"  I don't know who she got that from...

She has also gotten really jealous.  If one of the other girls is on my lap, suddenly she wants to sit there.  She gets really mad.  She actually had enough strength to push Sydnee off my lap one time, and another time she resorted to hair pulling.  Silly girl.  I don't know how to teach her to share at 15 months old!  She constantly walks up and gives me hugs and then says what sounds like "huuug".  A lot of the words she says, I'm the only one who knows what she is saying.  I know more from her tone than how she pronounces the word. 

Kaydee starts her last year of preschool next week.  She didn't love school as much as Sydnee last year, but she does seem excited to go.  She knows her way to and from Sydnee's kindergarten class, so I think she's excited for next year when she can go to big school.  Sydnee is going off track and Kaydee is starting this week.  Never a dull moment!  Kaydee has been really into coloring and drawing lately.  I don't know why all the sudden, but she just likes to do art all the time.  She's getting good at staying in the lines too.

We are flying to Denver friday morning for a family reunion.  The kids are so excited to go on an airplane for the first time.  We were going to drive, but  Kaydee's school was supposed to start on monday, so we needed to be back, but now they changed it so she doesn't start til wednesday.  I am still glad to not be making  that long of a drive with the kids though.  I think Sydnee and Kaydee would be fine, but Maycee doesn't like tv, can't play games or color or anything.  So she would be bored to death in her chair for 8 hours.  It's going to be a short trip, but I'm so excited to see family that I haven't seen since I was like 12!  And I haven't seen my grandpa since Sydnee was 5 months old.  He's never met my younger 2.  It's a long overdue trip, and hopefully the travel goes smoothly for all!



We have a kindergartener!

 Ready for her 1st day!

My tiny girl in her huge class.  She waved and said "See ya!"  While I walked out teary eyed.

How could Sydnee be this big?  She is LOVING kindergarten and is doing really well.  I'm very proud of her.  She has gotten much more independant with doing things and says it's because "I'm a kindergartener now."  She has gotten pretty bossy to her sisters though.  I think she likes to pretend she's the teacher.  I will hear her say things that I know must be coming from her teacher in class. 

She has a little friend in her class named Izzy.  I think they instantly bonded because they both have glasses.  Sydnee has adjusted well to wearing them, except we've had to have the rubber eye piece replaced like 3 times already.  She must mess with them. 

It was so funny.  The other day Kaydee did something and Sydnee said "Kaydee is SO smart.  I think it's because I'm wearing my glasses."  LOL.

Then grandma Becky was here getting her hair done and Sydnee was being so funny.  I told her she was being a drama queen and she said "WELL, I'm just grouchy today.  Everyone is bugging me and I just want time alone."  Ha ha, I told her to go have time alone and she just laughed.  She just likes to be dramatic. I think I'm getting a glimpse into what my life will be like with THREE girls all acting that way, and it makes my eye twitch, but I will survive!



Summer fun!

Centerville parade July 4th!

Twins?

Crazy girls and best friends!



This is so Kaydee!  My wild girl!

We've been having such a fun summer.  It's been super hot so the kids have been playing in the water a lot.  We've been going to Lagoon (gotta take advantage of the free season passes), and the girls are getting brave.  They love the huge white ferris wheel now, and the sky ride.  We took them to Roy aquatic center which they love and want to go every day. 

Maycee is officially walking!  She's 14 months, so right between when the other 2 walked.  Sydnee was 16 months and Kaydee was 13.  Maycee is also a climber.  She pushed her little play table over to the couch, then climbed on it, then up onto the couch and then looked at me and gave me her total cheese smile.  She is so much like Kaydee was.

A few funnies:

Sydnee talked the WHOLE time at the eye dr.  People were laughing at her motor mouth.  Well, she asked if I was getting glasses, or consequences.  I said "you mean, contact lenses?"  Lol.

Then Sydnee was showing grandma Becky her fingernails and the paint had come off of one and she told my mom "they are all jacked up."  So funny.

Also, Sydnee wants to know how everything in the world works.  She won't let me give vague answers.  Particularly she wants to know how babies come out of their mom's tummies.  When I wouldn't really give her an answer, she came up with her own.  "They find a magic hole to come out of."

Ha ha.  Love my kids.



Doctor appointments.

Sydnee and Kaydee had their 4 and 5 year appointments.  Sydnee had to get shots for kindergarten, and we had the option to get Kaydee's done and over with so I decided to do it.  It was awful!  Well, first of all they got their weight and height checked which was fine.  They want Sydnee to go up a little on the height charts by the time she turns 6, because she is falling lower.  She was only like 1.5 inches taller than Kaydee.  Sydnee is 33 lbs, Kaydee is 28.5.  Everything else was great with them.  But they had to poke their finger to get an iron test.  So Sydnee went first, she was really good and didn't cry or anything, so after I got her off the table, told her how brave she was, and she sat down in the chair.  Then I was holding Kaydee while she got hers done and suddenly Sydnee is behind me whining that her belly hurt.  She said she needed to go potty and she was white as a ghost.  I took her to the bathroom and she didn't need to go potty but felt like she was going to throw up.  She got really weak and had no color.  We came out of the bathroom and the dr met us there and said she needed to lay down with her knees up and drink some juice, because she was probably about to faint.  So she had to lay there for a really long time because if we sat her up she would immediately get white and feel yucky again.  She got good enough to where I could hold her on my lap and they gave her 4 shots in her legs, which she didn't like, then we immediately layed her down so she wouldn't faint.  Then I had to hold Kaydee while they gave her the shots and since she saw what they did to Sydnee, she immediately started screaming like she was in a horror film and did so the whole time they gave her shots.  I tried to comfort her, but I was also so worried about little fainting Sydnee!  We ended up being there for 1.5 hours because Sydnee just couldn't sit up.  She actually fell asleep on the table and I carried her out and when we got home she went straight to the couch and only tried to get up a couple times, but it made her sick so she went right back to the couch.  Her dr said it is a response some people get, and it's normal but there aren't many kids that young that do that.  Lucky us!
The other thing that happened is they had Sydnee do an eye test and I thought for sure she would pass since she passed at preschool a few months ago.  Well, the dr's office said her vision was only 20/50 and she could use an eye exam.  I had to go anyway, so me and Sydnee both went yesterday, an sure enough, she is getting glasses.  Her left eye is 20/20, but her right eye has astigmatism and is only about 20/60.  He said it's great we caught it early and for now with glasses he can get that eye to 20/25, but eventually probably 20/20.  If we wouldn't have caught it, eventually it would be a lazy eye.  So I'm glad for a great pediatrician!  She will get her glasses in about 2 weeks and I sure hope they are cute because my eyes were dilated when we were picking them out and I could only see her if I stood way back.  Of course, she's cute no matter what!

Happy 4th birthday Kaydee!

She was so excited about all her presents.

Her new bear that she has named pinky.

Her adorable care bear cake!

So much fun on the bouncy toys.



She loved climing up the skee ball ramp and cheating!  Little stinker.

Cousins!



Kaydee had a wonderful 4th birthday.  She wanted to have it at Classic fun center, so we did a semi private party, and there was only 1 other group there so we nearly had the place to ourselves.  The kids all had a blast and Kaydee didn't want to leave.  When we got home we blew up her new pool and they went swimming.  It was such a hot day.  Then we let her pick what she wanted for dinner and she wanted Noodles, so we went there.  The first thing she said to me that morning was "Now I'm 4 so I don't need naps anymore."  She was exhausted by the time the day was over, but she had the best day and got so many fun new toys!  She still hasn't opened them all.  We are so lucky to have amazing family that comes no matter what to celebrate our kids on their special day.  And now, no more parties to plan til April :-)