Konnors Blessing

We blessed Konnor Ray Merrell on July 4, 2010! Here are some pics

Daddy and C

3 Kids

Me, Woody and his parents, Carrie and Howard

Konnor Ray and Grandma Pat

Konnor and Grandma again..Sorry it's sideways...

Grandma and the Kiddos!

Grandma and Grandpa and the kiddos!

Our 1st family pic since the hospital!

The back of Konnor's blessing outfit, Woody's grandma made it!

and the front! AMAZING!

The handsome LIL man in his blessing outfit!

What a great Weekend!!

This one is funny! We were washing the truck, and they were covering their ears!

He always looks SOO happy to take a pic with me....LOL!


Cierra with the bunny!!

Daddy helpin Blayke hold the bunny!

Handsome boy!!

Pretty girl!!

Sweet Baby!!

No, we didn't go on a vacation..Or to some grand theme park..We were just TOGETHER! Usually, woody works soo many hours, that he is so tired on his only day off (Sunday) that all he wants to do is sleep. It is hard, and I am working on being more understanding.

This weekend was a special treat, because Woody ended up getting off before noon on Saturday! We decided to go to the McKenzie County Fair..It wasn't quite what I expected, having grown up with the Easter Idaho State Fair. (I wasn't expecting anything that big, but I think my husband summed it up best when he said, "We just paid 10 bucks to pet some animals and have a free root beer float! We could have done that on the side of the road, and at home..FREE! LOL!) It was seriously NOT what I was expecting! You had maybe 10 booths..Some rodeo stuff...And...Well...That is pretty much it. I never saw Curly the Clown (Who was supposed to be there at 11) or where we were supposed to be able to get the kids' face painted... BUT, it was fun to just be out and together!! Then on Sunday, WOODY WASN'T EXHAUSTED!! YAY!! We went swimming, and it was OH SO FUN! The kids love love love the pool! =) Cierras swimming lessons are really paying off, she is getting VERY brave. The only thing she doesn't like is going down the slide. Blayke, of course, LOVES the slide. (Don't worry, either Woody or I are always at the bottom to catch him!) He is also getting brave..Except when I lose my footing, and both of our heads unexpectedly go under water..OOPS! We also had homemade milkshakes later that day..YUM!! All in all, it was a pretty great weekend!!!!!

back on track...

Have you ever tried to VACATION and stick to a diet and work out regimen?! Well...I tried....I lasted the 19 hour trip to Idaho, and for about 3 hours once we got there! I couldn't resist the white chocolate Reeses cups, (YUM!) BBQ'd burgers, or movie theater popcorn (extra butter)!! I know, I am WEAK!! Then, I resolved that AS SOON as I got home, I was going to get BACK ON TRACK.....Working out and all. But...I broke my toe...or jammed it or something, but it was incredibly painful...And, because I was determined before the trip not to leave a lot of food in the house when we left, when we got home, our food supply was PATHETIC! So, I continued to eat like crap..And..NOT workout....UGH! In a week and a half I gained FIVE pounds!!
Well, today, I restarted...Back on Weight Watchers..(I do this because it is easy to follow, and it lets me have enough to keep up my milk supply for Mr. Konnor). I worked out twice, and after my first workout (cardio) I felt great...like I didn't miss a beat! Then, I did the Shred...WOW!! Jillian kicked my trash tonight.....
This is a pointless post, mostly being typed to resist the rootbeer floats the rest of my family is having! **SIGH**

Out of my mind?! I think so!!

Well, we have thought, pondered and even prayed about what to do with Cierra's schooling...We want the freedom to go to Idaho without having to worry about her missing days...Woody has been fond of the homeschooling idea since we enrolled her in kindergarten, but the truth is I feel INADEQUATE to take this task on!! Plus, with the two boys, can u imagine my day?!
But....He has finally won out...I am researching homeschooling to a point of OBSESSIVENESS! I mean, this is my daughters EDUCATION being put into my hands..And I have nothing more than my high school diploma.
To start with, I googled HOMESCHOOLING...I then learned North Dakotas laws for it, which are far stricter than they are in Idaho. To start with, I have to fill out a letter of intent. This is NOT a permission slip, but a letter letting the school board know that I intend on homeschooling, and which (if any) extracurricular activities, and school subjects Cierra will be dual enrolled in. That is the easy part!! Then I start researching curriculums..WOW! There are a LOT of curriculums. I (THINK) I have settled on one..Time4Learning..At least for the core subjects (science, social studies, math and reading) I also want to get a spanish curriculum, and plan on "unschooling" her. My interpretation of this term is teaching her by giving her the REAL LIFE experience.. I plan on JOURNALING being a BIG part of my curriculum...We are ordering Encyclopedia Brittanica online, and getting Woody a new laptop so she can have his old one. We are also getting a new printer (YAY!!)..
We are doing a trial run with her for 1 year. I will be monitored by the school board, and have several requirements to meet... If it is going well, we are going to continue next year AND add Blayke in a pre school curriculum.
In order for Cierra not to become a social misfit, I am researching homeschooling groups in my area. I am also enrolling her in Girl Scouts, Ice skating, and piano lessons.
This is going to be a trial of my patience, and if I am RAMBLING it is because I am still so very nervous about taking this on! Pray for me! LOL!

Idaho

We went to Idaho for the week of July 1-7. What an awesome trip!!
We started out at about 10 o'clock the night of the 30th. We had planned on leaving MUCH earlier, but as usual, Woody worked later than expected, and then he had to get his stuff ready so we got a way late start..2 hours into it, he could go no further, so we pulled over, and he slept a bit. I hate driving at night, especially here on the 2 lane highways where the speed limit is 70, and the highways are FULL of oil trucks...So, I told him if he got me to the freeway, I would take over. I ended up driving most of what turned into a 19 hour trip. Our kids were FANTASTIC! Even the baby did super well! Except the lil' stink decided he didn't want to take the bottle that I had diligently introduced at 4 weeks and pumped for JUST FOR THIS TRIP! LOL! We FINALLY got to Woody's parents around 5 p.m. EXHAUSTED! It was so wonderful to see his family though, that it didn't even matter that we were so tired. We spent that night visiting his family, and dying of heat, as it was THE ONLY hot day while we were there, and they hadn't yet bought their air conditioners. Friday Woody took me shopping! Which, normallly I despise, but didn't mind at all this time. We bought me a couple of new Church dresses, shoes, perfume, jewelery..And him a new suit for Church! It was FUN to be able to spend a little money on US!
That night, I went to the movie, KID FREE with my mother-in-law, sister-in-law and brother-in-law. We saw Twilight:Eclipse...AWESOME movie, and I am not one of the hardcore fans...But I really enjoyed this movie. And it was nice to get a little break from the kids. (THANK YOU HONEY!) Saturday, we were supposed to go to the river for my lil' nieces birthday, but it was windy and chilly, so we had the party in the gym. (for those of you who don't know, my inlaws live in an old LDS church house.) It was CRAZY and fun. Oh, and Grandma and Grandpa Woodhouse, who we didn't know were coming, showed up. It was awesome. Sunday we had Konnors and Rylees baby blessing. What an awesome experience. We had a HUGE lunch at my sister-in -laws, and just enjoyed each others company. Sunday night, we played a game of Phase 10, which, when you get us all together, is always fun! Monday morning, we took my in laws, and Wooody's grandparents to breakfast, and spent the day with my BEST FRIEND EVER, Cherry. She took us to dinner at Chili's...LOVE IT! Tuesday, we spent the afternoon with my mom, and her boyfriend James, cooked us dinner..CRAB LEGS AND STEAK...SOOOOOO GOOD! We headed out Tuesday night, and got back Wednesday afternoon! It was soo awesome, and we didn't get NEARLY enough time!
Also, my baby brother from the Marines was able to come home...AWESOME! I FREAKED when I saw him!! It was truly awesome to see everyone, and I am sad about some I didn't get the chance to see! We love and miss you all!!!

Diet, Exercise, Princess and the Pea, Terrible Two's, and Baby Konnor!

Well, I have done 3 days of the 30 Day Shred (a workout vidoe from The Biggest Loser's Jillian Michaels). I love it. It is a pretty awesome 20 minute workout...Quick and seemingly effective. I wont know just how effective for a while, but I do know I FEEL my workout!! I also do a 20 minute workout in the mornings for my cardio. I usually do the Shred at night after all 3 kids are in bed so that I can shower afterwards. =)

In addition to working out, I am doing Weight Watchers, which I also love. It isn't too hard to follow, and is DEFINITELY making a difference! The week before I gave birth, I weighed 174..(YIKES) I now weigh 135! WOOT!

The last thing I have done to better my lifestyle is give up soda...Haven't had one since APRIL! I know, I ROCK! LOL! Instead, I am drinking 3 liters of water a day!

All of this, combined with the calories I get to burn by nursing has made me feel amazing! My confidence has sky rocketed, and I FEEL healthier!!

Next week will be a true test as we are headed to Idaho..And Idaho means, games, family, fun and...JUNK FOOD!! I will have to be strong, and resist as much as possible. I am going to make myself low fat enchiladas on the night we have enchiladas, and lowfat root beer floats that night as well! I also plan on keeping up with my workout.

Did I mention I paid in fifty dollars to a weight loss competition? The winner will end up with 300! WOOT! I hope I can win! =)

Well, I have went on and on about me...Maybe I should talk a bit about the real reason anyone visits this blog..The kiddos!

Cierra was just in an ADORABLE production of Princess and the Pea put on by the Missoula Children's Theater. Let me tell you, if this company comes to your town, it is so worth lettin' your children do it. It is free for the kids, and they do it for kids who have finished kindergarten thru 8th grade. All of the kids get a part, and I know Cierra really enjoyed herself!

Blayke is the epitome of TERRIBLE TWO'S! Into everything, destroying everything, and backtalking like no other. He is soo cute though, and sometimes, even when I know I should get mad, I just can't... But, if anyone is a potty training pro..We are gettin' desperate!

And last but not least, BABY KONNOR...Never has an infant been more loved by his 2 older siblings. Cierra has cried, just because he is crying, and Blayke sings him his own special song..."Baby Konnor don't cry"...The kid is ADORED..Yes, sometimes, I have more help than I need..But I am glad they love him so much.

Woody and I are doing well. We are just livin a simple life of work and family. Nothin' too exciting, but it is very fulfilling! We are very blessed!

We are all looking forward to our trip to Idaho..It has been 6 months! It will be nice to see everyone, and hang out and relax! I know a week isn't going to be nearly long enough though!

LIFE IS GOOD!

My life is good!! Here are just a quick few of the reasons why!

1. My kids...all 3 of them...are sleeping...before 9:30 pm.....

2. My house is clean

3. It SMELLS like summer outside!

4. I have succesfully been able to nurse my baby EXCLUSIVELY for almost 2 months! YAY!

5. I got to spend the weekend with my mom

6. I now weigh less than I did when I got pregnant! (I know, this one is vain, but what a triumph for me!)

7. I got in a full FANTASTIC workout without my baby waking up, crying and the inevitable "dropping" of my milk today!

8. My husband called me today just to tell me he loves me! (We always say I love you when we hang up..But it makes my day when he calls, and as soon as I answer, he says "I love you"....)

9. I am BLESSED to have the opportunity to stay home, which is why it was possible to watch Cierra's T ball game today!

10. We are only 1 week away from our trip "home"!

11. I got to wake up next to the love of my life....

12. ....And my smiling sweet baby boy!

Yep...Life is good...I am blessed to be the Mommy of 3 perfect, beautiful, intelligent children...I have a wonderful, supportive husband...And it FINALLY feels like summer out! LIFE IS GOOD!!!