Megan's Baptism

Megan was BAPTIZED!!! It was a wonderful day! She was baptized by her dad in a dress her Grandma Merrill had made. Megan told us the night before that she couldn't sleep because she was soooo excited!!! It was special to have all our family that could make it share her special day with her. After the baptism we had a picnic BBQ for all the family. It was a beautiful day and the cousins were able to play and enjoy the afternoon.

Sunday Megan was announced as one of the newest members of the ward and was invited to sit up with the Bishop. We had explained to Megan that now she was 8 she could share her testimony in church. So half way through the meeting she surprised us by bearing her little testimony in front of the congregation. I could tell she was nervous but she gave the sweetest testimony, testifying that the church is true, that she knows that Jesus lived on the earth, Pres. Monson is a true prophet and that she loves her family and knows that they can live together forever. Pete and I were truely touched by her sweet spirit and testimony. We can't believe that she is 8 and is growing up before our eyes. We hope and pray she will continiue to make good choices, CONGRATULATIONS MEGAN WE LOVE YOU!

Megan's 8th Birthday

Megan's birthday was celebrated March 21st on a beautiful warm and sunny Saturday. We enjoyed a layed back day with Megan's favorite breakfast "waffles & sausage" and that evening with her favorite dinner "spaghetti". Meg and Mel played all day outside doing their favorite things swinging, riding bikes and painting. Meg was excited over her birthday gifts...which consisted of her own set of scriptures and a "Barbie" laptop.

Shopping With Cousins

After we took Meg's pictures for her baptism we headed to the mall for a little shopping fun. The girls love all of their cousins and enjoyed the afternoon. Melanie and Abbey found some cute jammies they had to wear right then and there and Megan and Mikey were trying all the cool shades. Shopping, Carmel Apples, Cousins FUN FUN! Thanks Connie for a fun and productive afternoon!

Getting Ready for Megan's Baptism

We went to the Mesa Arizona Temple to take some pictures of Megan for her baptism announcement. Aunt Connie was the wonderful photographer, and Melanie, Abbey, and Mikey were our assistants! Thanks Aunt Connie, and Thank you Aunt Jill for creating Megan's announcement!

Baby Shower!

Feb. 28th the cute gals of St. David threw a fabulous brunch and baby shower! It was decorated so cute with pictures of their adorable little baby boys and of course footballs. It was fun to eat good food and visit with all the people I love to visit with! I was able to get stocked up on baby boy clothes which I desperately needed and a money tree that had cards on it for a car seat and stroller! My favorite part was all the "boy" advice to help me be prepared for taking care of our new little boy! Lots of laughs... it was a good time. Thank you to the girls for putting it on your the best! And a special thank you to Connie and Brianna for making the long trip to my shower...your crazy...but it really meant a lot to have you there!

*33 Weeks Prego

Tucson Rodeo

Pete, the girls and I spent a day at the Tucson Rodeo back in February and had a blast! We watched some team roping and by the end of the day Megan was asking her daddy if she could have a calf to practice her roping. Megan loves this horse stuff! She made sure she showed Pete every pink saddle that was for sale saying "Isn't it Cute Daddy!?!" Megan is currently taking riding lessons once a week from a Cowgirl Princess Megan looks up to here in town.

A Weekend Away...

This last weekend we enjoyed getting out of town and spending the weekend in Mesa!

Friday the girls and I were able to enjoy some shopping (other than the usual) and then Pete met up with us after his work. We stayed in a hotel for the night...Pete and the girls enjoyed the pool and warm weather while I enjoyed a session at the temple. Saturday morning Pete enjoyed the early am spanish speaking session at the temple.

Saturday afternoon we were able to go to cousin Mikey's 1st b-day bash, where Uncle Tim and Aunt Connie put on yet another amazing party! We enjoyed seeing everyone and loving on the newest cousin Delanie she is so cute!

After the party Megan had asked to "See the Temple" so we walked around it and smelled the flowers. It was a great weekend away ... it's always nice to get away from the normal routine.

Boys Jeepin', Girls Chattin', Cousins Playin'

For President's Day the guys had planned a Jeepin trip in Tucson. So the girls decided that we would have some fun too! So everyone met down in SD for a day full of "Country Fun". After Megan read "Country Mouse & City Mouse" she informed us that her cousins were the "City Mice" and she was the "Country Mouse". How cute! She really does love the country livin'.

We had lunch, and visited while the Merrill cousins enjoyed the weather and played outside and even rode Gray and chased the sheep up at Grandpa T's.

Happy Valentine's Day!

The week before Valentine's Day was fun for the girls and I...

Megan and Melanie were into the Valentine Spirit and reminded me of all the people we love and needed to show that we loved them! So we made Valentines packages for all the cousins and grandma and grandpa's and even a few friends we miss from Iowa! Then we baked up goodies so we could fill jars full of love to give to our home teaching and visiting teaching families within our ward family here in SD. It was a busy week but we had fun doing it!

On V-day Feb. 14th was also the Gila Valley Temple Ground Breaking Ceremony! We woke up and took the girls to the satilite broadcast at the stake center. What a sweet way to spend Valentine's day...with my eternal family whom I love, while witnessing a temple come to southern Arizona and closer to us! We enjoyed the ceremony and felt the sweet spirit and excitement of having a temple closer ... what an amazing answer to so many prayers!

The next day was Stake Conference where I had been asked to share my testimony and speak on the importance of temples and families. I am grateful for parents who taught me and showed me by example the importance of temples while I was young. I pray that I might be able to do the same for my children so that we too can become an eternal family. I am grateful for the opportunity (as tramatic as it was) to gain a stronger testimony of these eternal truths.

Peyton's Baby Blessing!

February 1st was my sister Brianna's daughter's baby blessing! Peyton Ella Hatch! We drove to Safford for the big event and enjoyed witnessing Peyton's sweet blessing given by her dad Tyler! Afterwards we enjoyed a fun family lunch and visited...it was a fun afternoon! Peyton is a sweet addition to the little Hatch family and Brianna is now having fun dressing her little girlies up!

28 weeks & January

Well here I am at 28 weeks!
January flew by! I took advantage of my free time and rested and relaxed from the Holidays!
I curled up on the couch and finally dove into the "Twilight" series everyone has been talking about. It was nice to be reading for fun and not as an assignment... 3 weeks later I finished up all 4 books! I am embarrassed to admit that I have been "bitten" and enjoyed the books.
Other January tasks have included:
*Getting the baby's room ready!
*Quilting a baby quilt!
* Primary, Primary, Primary!
* Ordering Track equipment!
* Working on Track workouts & meets!
Time is going by too fast and I am trying to get ready for the busy spring!

It does snow in Arizona!!!

The girls were able to enjoy fresh snow of almost 3 feet up in Pinetop at Grandma Merrill's in December. We were up for Pete's Grandma Beverly's funeral and stayed to spend time with family for a few days and ring in the new year. Meg and Mel enjoyed building snowmen, snow sled ramps and everything else that had to do with snow ...with their cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandma and grandpa. It was a good visit.

Big Time SLEDDING!

Megan and Melanie loved sledding on the BIG MOUNTIAN! They were fearless and loved every minute of it! The girls couldn't get enough of the snow while we were in Pinetop!

Grandma Beverly's Funeral

Pete's Grandma Beverly passed away a few days before Christmas. It was sad to see her go so suddenly yet good to know she was at peace free from pain and with her sweetheart again Grandpa Gib. Beverly was such a sweetheart that always tried to keep family ties close as an important priority. I will also remember her for her yummy fruit salad and her love for shopping and flare for fashion! She will be missed greatly and we will have her Christmas ornaments that she gave us each year as a treasure to remember her spirit of giving at Christmas time.
We didn't get any pictures at the funeral but we went out to eat that night, and spent the rest of the week in Pinetop to be with family and ring in the new year!