More changes....

So, even with the FANTASTIC news that we get to stay in our apartment, I have been a bit crabby lately...Think I need some Vitamin D..(On my shopping list for the next time I am in Williston!)
Anyway..We have changed our mind about Cierra's homeschooling..Not about whether or not we will continue, but about what we are using as a curriculum. At the end of January, when we have a little more money, we are ordering the A Beka book (http://www.abeka.com/ )curriculum. I am excited to try it. I am also greatful to know some people who homeschool, and to have read soo many blogs about homeschooling before I started, otherwise, I might see this change as a failure. Instead, I know that this probably wont be the last time I make huge changes, and that it is a perfectly normal part of being new to homeschooling! Woody and I talked a lot about this change, as it is nearly 400 dollars to get started, and we have to think about the fact that it might not work. We feel strongly that this will be yet another positive change for us.
We have also decided to start a very simple preschool program for Blayke. THIS for sure will try my patience, but he has been asking for us to do "school" with him also. It is going to be a very simple program, but I am excited for it as well. (Here is a link, if you are looking for something to do with your young'uns. http://www.letteroftheweek.com/index.html)
What else?? Hmm..Konnor is pulling himself to a standing position...Which means lots of falling down. How did we get to him being 8 months old already?!
Woody is liking his job still. Mostly. I love having him home at a DECENT hour.
Life is good. I just need to stop being so dang CRABBY!

HERE IT COMES!

2011 is RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER! And the question on MY mind?! **Where the heck did 2010 go?!** This year has been a good year for us here in the Merrell house! Well, mostly good. And I figure if you can say you had a "mostly good" year, life is going pretty well!
This year we: Moved from Fairview, Montana to Watford City, North Dakota. Celebrated Cierras 6th birthday. Welcomed sweet baby Konnor to our family. Decided to homeschool Cierra. Changed jobs. Visited Idaho. (Woody) Changed our minds about homeschool. Met the always awesome Mackenzies! Decided again to homeschool. Switched to cloth diapers. Celebrated Blaykes 3rd birthday. Met the super sweet Ericksons. Visited Idaho again. Got evicted from our apartment. Potty trained Blayke. Had an amazing Christmas. And just today: We found out we are going to be able to stay in our apartment! WAHOO! This year involved a lot of spiritual growth, not only for me, but for our family. We are doing very well, and were truly blessed this year.
We don't necessarily believe in 'resolutions', but since we should be an ever progressing people, we have set some goals for the new year. (I guess that is basically like setting a resolution, right?) Anyway, we are working hard on going to the Temple,and teaching our children the things of the Gospel. My personal goal? To work on my patience. I am often quick tempered, even with my kids, and I don't want to be. We are also working on a more effective form of discipline. I would also love to find the time to learn to sew, and to workout regularly. (Not even necessarily to lose weight, but because I think it would be very therapeutic to have some time away..Even if it is only a half an hour 3 times a week...)
I hope each one of you have a blessed 2011!

Merry Christmas!!

Well friends, it is here..Christmas!! We had a fantastic time this season learning of Christ's birth and ministry. I was wondering if any of it had sunk in to Cierra. Well, that question got answered last night while the Missionaries were here for supper. It was nice to know that all of our efforts to teach her the true meaning and reason for Christmas were in vain!!
Woody and I were up late last night, getting stockings ready and the last few gifts set out! I think I was at least as excited as the kids were and had a terrible time getting anything that resembled sleep last night. When the kids woke up..(With only a little bit of momys assistance!) They came down to their loaded stockings. However, before they were allowed to do anything with THEIR presents, we made them write (Blayke drew) what they were going to give Christ for his birthday this year. Then we tore in. I wont go into every detail, but there were a few funny moments. Blayke asked with every one of his gifts, "Can I open this?!" and then, upon opening it, "OOOOOHHHH NICE!" When Cierra got her Barbie and The Diamond Castle movie, (the ONE thing she REALLY wanted!) She said, "Santa is a good man afterall!" BAHAHA! I wonder what she would have thought had Santa forgot the movie!

Friends, it was so wonderful to start a lot of new, fun traditions with my family this year. It was fun getting the kids gifts that we knew they wanted. But teaching them of our Savior, of his life and eventual sacrifice for us was just so amazing. I learned as much as I taught. We are so blessed. I would like to bear my testimony that I know our Savior lives. That he was born to Mary in a manger, and that he is, without a doubt, our Redeemer. I am thankful for this knowledge, and am so blessed to have my wonderful kids to teach all about it... I hope all of your hearts are full this Christmas day!! We love and miss those that we couldn't see this season.

SLEEP IS FOR THE WEAK!!!...(And the childless!)

I am tired. Constantly. Why? Well, I have an infant who believes that sleep is for the weak! I have done everything I know how, and there is one final drastic measure that I am preparing myself to take. See, we co sleep...As soon as we get a play pen, he is goin' in it! I am tired. I tried eliminating things, to make sure he was not getting a tummy ache, I tried for 2 EXCRUTIATING weeks to eliminate caffeine...Nothing changed. And lets be real, I drank caffeine for most of my pregnancy and since he was born...I doubt the kid has a sensitivity! So, it has come to a time that I will end our bedsharing.....Cross your fingers for me. If you have met my 3 year old, you know, I NEED SLEEP!!!!!!

It is almost Christmas!!

It is truly, The most wonderful time of the year! We are very excited for Christmas this year. Woody gets it off! YAY!! (He missed Christmas last year.) We are having the missionaries for supper Christmas Eve, and when they leave, we are going to haul our TV downstairs, snuggle ourselves up under blankets, and watch "A Christmas Story", eat popcorn, and drink cocoa. Then Daddy will open his present from the children. They got him a beautiful copy of "T'was The Night Before Christmas". We will put out the "reindeer food" (Oatmeal which we will mix with 'magical' glitter) and Santa's cookies. (This year, Santa is getting picky. He requested chocolate white chip cookies and chocolate chip cookies with egg nog!) We want Santa to leave us good stuff, so we will fulfill his wish!! ;)
The only thing leaving me a bit stressed is that we ordered 99 percent of Christmas online, including my brother- and sister-in-laws gift. (We drew them in the family drawing.) They have yet to get theirs, and I haven't gotten 2 of my orders...One of which is REALLY stressing me out, as it is Blaykes Mack truck from the movie Cars. It is so cool, it is a carrier for all of his Cars cars. (Which he is getting for Christmas). I was really excited about finding it, and will be super bummed if, for some reason, we don't get it.
The kids are THRILLED. Cierra is trying to guess what the presents are that are under the tree, Blayke has tried to open a few already, and Konnor loves to rip my decorations off. (Surprisingly enough, they haven't managed to knock the tree over. Yet. **Knocks on wood**) We tried not to go over board. We have tried to make Christmas very Christ centered. But, at the same time, I want my kids to have all of the fun memories that I don't have. We have made construction paper garland, ornaments, sugar cookies and letters to Santa. They have seen Santa twice. We have listened to Christmas music, and watched Christmas movies. We have been working on The Story Of Christmas, which is also our advent calendar. It has been a busy season for us, and I am glad that we are on "Christmas Break" this week.

On another note, here is a slight update: Our housing situation hasn't changed. We will likely end up living with friends for a while, as we have decided that me moving to Idaho without Woody is just not an option. Cierra loves homeschool, and is progressing nicely. Blayke is finally potty trained! Even at night. YAY! Konnor is VERY mobile, and is trying to pull himself up onto things and is into EVERYTHING! Woody loves his new job! (I love that he isn't on the road, and is home by 9 every night. Usually earlier!) And me, I am just chugging along!

Well, Merry Christmas to you and yours!

http://www.danoah.com/2010/12/real-dads-dont-leave.html

I really like this article, and it really hit home for me...I have a father like #2, and so does my daughter...Sad, but if you have a minute, take a look.

Happy 4th Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary to my hubby!

You are such an amazing husband,
and wonderful Daddy!
I am so happy to be married to you!
I love you!

On our wedding day

With Cierra. She was a holy terror! LOL!

Right after Blayke was born..(I think Woody is

still wearing his hospital bracelet!)

All of us after Konnor's blessing