Oh boy...or girl...or two boys and a girl...two girls three boys...

So, around the beginning of April my mom got a couple of guinea pigs.
This is Cookie, cute as can be, photo submitted for evidence:



Cookie is son *wink*wink*to Teddy:



So, of course the girls fell.in.love.
Every time they went to Grandma and Grandpa's house all I heard about was Cookie this and Teddy that. Well, the girls asked if they could save their allowance and buy themselves a couple of guinea pigs. After much discussion and warnings about having predator (Lucky, our dog) and prey (guinea pigs) living in the same home and the care that would take, they decided they were up to the task.
So they saved and saved and when they earned enough money, Grandma said they could have Cookie and Teddy and then we could just donate the money saved to Pet Refuge. So today we went and bought $60 worth of doggie/kitty supplies and took them over. Anyway, back to the pigs...

So about 2 weeks ago I noticed that Cookie was growing exceptionally large, and in a weird way too...like a light bulb. The (almost) illegal kind. Check this out...




Well, guess what...yep, we're going to have baby guinea pigs! Wanna see how cute they're gonna be? ***Not Our Babies***Found this picture online...



I KNOW!!! You want to call me right now and beg for one of the yet to be born babies don't you? I will be taking applications for the right family very soon...I will keep you posted.

A thought to put before you...

So, in my Irish History class I sit next to a young woman who is set to graduate this fall. A couple of weeks ago we had an interesting conversation that I thought I'd share with you, now that I'm blogging again.

We sit behind Sam, who I got to know in a previous class. It was time to turn in our papers and Sam turned and offered to take our papers up for us. Ever the match maker, I said "Sam is a gentleman, and ya know they're few and far between these days." Well, silly me, I forgot that women these days aren't interested in gentlemen.

So, continuing the conversation, I casually offered my opinion that the reason gentlemen are few and far between anymore is because women have so shamelessly lowered the bar for men. Well, she completely disagreed and offered her opinion on the situation. She believes that men have reverted back to their natural state of un-civilized-ness because women no longer need men. That's right my wise readers, she said women no longer NEED men! because...wait for it...women can have babies on our their now. Women have good jobs and can support themselves now.

I argue that she has a FALSE (and dangerous) idea of independence. She thinks because she CAN do something that that then is how it SHOULD be done? So, her plan is to intentionally deprive her child of a father, intentionally deprive herself of a lifelong partner, intentionally deprive her child of a peaceful two parent nest...to choose this life for a child...I sadly believe that my classmate is in the majority in her thinking. We've come a long way, baby.

Here I Go Again...

Yes, I'm gonna try this again.
This time I will not pressure myself to write huge and meaningful posts.
This time it's okay if what I write is not of intrest to anyone but myself.
This time I will not make myself feel like I need a photo for every post.
This time I'm just gonna write what's on my heart.
Hope you can handle it.

That time of year again...

Time for the Daddy Daughter Dance at the Century Center. The girls and I had so much fun shopping for their dresses and I was so proud of what they picked out. Behold...

Another year over, and a new one just begun...

So, here are my obligatory resolutions for 2011:

1.) Blog. I'm thinking maybe every Sunday evening with a recap of the weeks events.

2.) Stay on track to graduate with honors. All A's baby.

3.) Get my haircut. There is absolutely nothing wrong with short term goals.

4.) Attempt flying again. This time I'm seeing me on lots of (legal) drugs and a BiG airplane.

5.) Do better at making sure my kids are ahead of the game. Edjacationaly speaking. Here are some of my ideas I would like to implement, beginning tomorrow:

a.) poem and/or Bible verse memorization each week.

b.) hardcore math fact memorization.

c.) geography memorization.

6.) Learn how to convince myself that I actually Do know what's best for my kids and not to give a cows tail what anybody else thinks.

And now for a recap of some of the Merrill Family highlights from 2010:

Had a great time at the kick off party for Jackie Walorski. We ended up being on a bunch of campaign fliers she sent out.





I love this picture of one of Grace's many creations. She made this bicycle out of pennies while I was reading to her one morning.

Ahhh, breakfast at Krispie Kreme in our PJ's.


And one of our favorite traditions, St. Pats at the Knights of Columbus with the Kensingers and Weirengas.

Easter dinner, check out the folded silverware/napkins!


And Easter with the Merrills...


Another favorite thing we love to do: Kensinger/Wierenga protesting.


Every year we go up to Lake Michigan in the early early spring to play around.





Caught my girls cuddled up together reading.


Grace and Lucky...


The beginnings of cowgirls...


OMGoodness! Springhill Camp is the BeSt!

And of course, camping with Grandpa...always an adventure! And usually a pretty goofy one!


At the rodeo!


This was the BesT 4th of July fireworks display EVER! Beutter park with the whole gang.


And of course the fair. Thank goodness for daddy...mama does NoT do roller coasters!


We got to spend a few days in Chicago this summer. This is Grace and daddy building a little house at the Children's Museum on Navy Pier.








And, time for school to start. This year began a new adventure for Grace, a whole new school!


And check out this AweSome pumpkin patch we found up in Michigan. They had a zip line, gem sifting, all kinds of great fun. We will definitely be coming back here again this fall.

Shopping in Middlebury. Who knew a hardware store could be so much fun?

And finally, waiting to see if Santa came...

Happy Day To My Babies!

Babies? Ok, so my daughters are now 9 and 7...I will NOT spend this post discussing how shocking that fact is to me. I will NOT spend this post trying to figure out how life is zooming past me faster than a Jimmy Johns delivery man. I will NOT spend this post telling you that I would swear I just changed their sweet little diapers yesterday and how can they be 9 and 7 and...b r e a t h...

OK, I WILL spend this post sharing with you pictures of one of the funnest and most beautiful days I can remember...my sweet daughters' birthday party.

My nephew Ben:

Emily is in LOVE with this horse. If you ever hear her swooning on about "Otis" this is him:

Time to say goodbye to the horses *sniff*