The Oro Valley Holiday Parade

Wilson's 2011 float!
Wally the mascot rode on the float along with the principals. 10 Leadership kids helped hand out candy, and then we had 10 little elves that pulled wagon's behind the float.

In this pic you can see the wagon better!

Megan and Melanie each picked a few friends to walk in the parade and pull wagons behind the float. We also had the kids of the family who provided the truck and trailer for us.
We had to be at the staging area for the parade 2 hours early! The kids ran around and played hard the whole time not bothered by the cold or the waiting.

All the little elves lined up in the wagons ready to go!


The Merrill family's contribution to the Wilson PTO! Wally's Wagon was a clothing drive that I headed for the school the past 3 weeks. The Oro Valley Holiday Parade is a huge fund raiser for local community food and clothing bank. We were in charge of the float for the school as well. Wally is the mascot for the school and so filling " Wally's Wagon"with gently used clothes was the theme. Pete and a couple of good friends were great to help assemble the big parts of the float for us. AS well as the Brown family for their time by driving the float and providing the trailer. Thank you!

The Things to be THankful for...

THis past Nov. was a busy one that started out with YW in excellence, famly pictures, and Megan's volleyball season ending with lots of games and parties. Then found my self sick not feeling well and after a few x-rays and then a CT-Scan with a kidney stones! The stone was pretty big but I was told it would be painful but possible to pass. I of course with many things on my plate decided that I would not do surgery and take the natural passing route. After almost 3 weeks we decided to do the surgery and have the stone blasted out with a laser.
A friend did the surgery and we found that the stone was wedged in my ureter and stuck. All that cranberry juice for nothing. Recovery from that was worse than the stones with a 13 inch stent from kidney all the way down my ureter which had to stay for 4 days.
In the middle of this is of course is a busy time of year.
I just wanted to share some of my thankful thoughts as I was laying in bed.
I am thankful for a loving husband who tenderly took care of me and was at my bed side.
I am thankful for my mom who spent many days here and there taking care of me and the kids.
I am thankful for good neighbors, friends, and ward members.
I am thankful for family who had fasted and had prayers on my behalf.
The timing of all this could be ironic as it was the same time the baby we lost would have been born.
I am thankful for the time to Thank my Heavenly Father for the 3 beautiful children that we do have.
I am thankful for the gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ.
I am thankful for the His Atonement and the greater knowlegde I have come to learn of His great plan and Love for us.
We won't always know in this life time the "why" but we continue on in Faith in Him that we will be strengthed, learn compassion, and learn to not judge and to love and serve as He did.

Cute Christmas Moments

THis was Melanie's year to put up the star on the tree!
Megan loves telling Melanie about the special ornaments...and Pete was telling stories

We put Christmas music on and Melanie started dancing...then Jett came out in this skirt twirling to the music with Mel! I had to capture the moment with Jett putting on the ornaments with his skirt! The kids decorated my tree this year and I was grateful for it...still not feeling well I was glad we finally got our tree up this week! Thanks Pete for being so great and fun for the kids this year! Love you!

Baby Piper's Baby Blessing

Pete is a great dad and a good brother! He took the kids and drove over to Surprise for the blessing of our newest cousin Piper Joncas! I was sick and still in bed from my surgery and so Pete hopped in the car early for a 9am sacrament meeting. He said he was so glad he went and reported that Heidi and Jeremiah have a beautiful addition to thier cute little family. Jer gave a sweet blessing and said that the spirit was truly felt!

Thanksgiving 2011 in St. David

Delicious dinner ...Pies Pete and I are still talking about!
Grandpa T. and Grandpa G.

Pete and Jett waiting patiently for the feast!

My girls with Grandma and Grandpa T. they spent most the afternoon up at thier house playing checkers and watching Christmas movies and oh yeah helping grandpa pick up pecans. They had a blast and loved spending the time with them.

Small, quiet, and relaxing 2011 Thanksgiving. I was sick with kidney stones...it was nice to go home. Mom and Grandma T. handled the cooking and I was grateful to be a guest.

This is was one of my favorite parts of Thanksgiving...Jett sat down with his thanksgiving feast and did a happy, singing, thankful dance! Cute KID!

After dinner chatting and Jett 10 second cuddles with Grandma.

Landon came down to ask Dad if her could marry Brooke...Mom broke out the sparklers as a form of entertainment to detract from the awkward silence ! Ha! Ha! Landon was brave and we are excited for them to get married in February! Later that evening my cousin Brian and his family were down for Thanksgiving with Uncle Don and Aunt Beth we enjoyed visiting with them and eating a lot of Pie.

Megan's First Volleyball Season 2011

Warm-ups... love seeing her smile ...she really enjoyed volleyball and it boosted her confidence!
Megan was one of the oldest girls on the team and played really well...actually bumping the ball back on serve recieve and defense! She also was one of the best servers!

The games in the beginning of the season were well ... long but they really improved and the games were so fun to watch.

"Good Game, Good Game, Good Game..."

Red Hots Team Picture Fall Season 2011 YMCA Undefeated Season!

Halloween 2011

Cute little Trick or Treaters!
Meg and Mel have planned our costumes since last Halloween...they thought of the idea and I played it off that I couldn't find a costume for me til that night when I walked out dressed up! They were so excited! So fun!

Pete and Jett as G.I. Joe's ...Pete was also a good sport about dressing up and face paint! Jett loved it..."so cool dad!"

Cutest Little Devil ...I reminded Megan that even though she was dressed like a devil didn't mean she could act like one! She laughed and said "MOM!"

Cutest Little Angel ...Mel was worried all night about getting her costume dirty!
G.I. Joe Jett was a perfect fit for his active little personality!

I love these kids...makes my heart ache to think they will someday grow up and be too cool to Trick or Treat! Can't they stay this little forever?

Handsome Church Boys

Pete and Jett ready to go to church in their matching blue blazers...so HANDSOME!
They sure do clean up good!

Pete loves having a boy in the house...Pete told me recently he can't wait to take Jett to Priesthood with him during General Conference. Other things he can't wait to do with him is Scouting, and working on Jeeps.

Fall Break is over...

Saturday after a fun, busy fall break driving home after a double header of Megan'sVolleyball Games at the YMCA ....it was only a 15 minute drive home!

Not looking so much like a baby anymore :(

Sleeping on an Volleyball...love it!

Melanie's 7th Birthday Party!

Melanie's 7th Birthday Party at Peter Piper Pizza. We did it on Oct. 15 2001, just three days early but on a lazy friday afternoon at the end of a fun fall break week. Melanie wanted to plan a party and this is what she asked for....just a party and a build a bear easy enough!

Mel and her DAD...
Mel saying "Thank you" to her MOM...

Surprised by a fun Tangled T0wer gift set!

Blowing out the candels....

Mel's invite list was short...cousins Abbey, Mikey, and Ben were able to come and then she invited 3 other little classmates. My favorite invite was when she came to me and asked if it was okay if she invited Megan. Love watching these kids love eachother...melted my heart!

Melanie special TANGLED cake! She asked for a store bought cake this year?

Yummy Pizza time!

They spent sooooo much time picking our their prizes they loved it and the worker was so patient with them.

Melanie and good friend Shaylee
Happy Birthday Melanie! Can't believe your 7 years old! We love you so much and can't imagine life without you! Thanks for planning such a fun party for everyone!

The Zoo! (Fall Break)

Fun to have Aunt Connie, Abbey, Mike, and Ben come up for a fall zoo trip and Mel's b-day!

I can't tell you how many pictures I have of these kids on the same elephant almost getting too big!

This pic of Megan melts my heart... she is growing up and sometimes I don't notice til I look at pictures!

Abbey and Melanie are so fun to watch ...play like they live next door!

Did I mention that the weather was perfect! Loving this time of year in Arizona!