Tuesday: To-Do list for the week

1.        Cut vinyl dinosaurs for Trains room. (Why not trains for Trains room? He still loves trains but I don't have a cartridge of trains for my cricut. Is it worth buying one?)

2.       Find a large print, painting, some type of picture of Paris to put above the bed in Paris' room.

3.        Search through endless stacks of matted animal art for 4 animal prints for the kids bathroom.

4.       Hang the decorative knob in Pumpkins room, hang dress from said knob. Hang framed art and cut some vinyl sayings to hang as well.

5.       Cook dinner each night this week.......except Thursday. We'll be at this place. I guess it's mac & cheese for the kids.

6.       Finish this book.

7.       Finish reading  The book of Ether

8.     Keep the house C L E A N.

We have lift off.

 I wanted to start this year out with a bang. I spent the last part of December putting order to things; a new budget, a schedule for the kids and myself, written goals with a plan of action, got my work out equipment ready with a plan of attack. Then the flu struck. I'd been down for weeks, just started feeling better on Monday.I must admit I had some motivation. I was being treated to dinner.

picture from here

What is better than a night out with your man to a place like this? 8 other friends that you love dearly. It was a night out with the partners, spouses and a Latin diva. I loved every minute of it!

I thought about bringing my camera again (due to a previous crash, I've lost all the pictures from our last visit here) but decided against it. I should have thought twice.

But it was a thrilling experience and the change in the tide for me. I've taken most of this week easy. Putting small things in place for the BIG BANG that is next week. Our week starts on Saturday. We clean, do laundry, run some errands, have a lunch date and put life in perspective. Worship on Sunday and then a family meeting, kids back in school on Monday kids home for the holiday so they can take a turn at baby duty. That's when I plan on getting the real work done. With the basic cleaning out of the way I can paint, re-organize and simplify.

Saturday.......you can't get here fast enough. I'll be sure to take before and after pictures of projects.

Isn't that every one's goal for this year? Pare down, simplify and enjoy the simpler things in life?

Clean and crisp

With the new year upon us, I'm in micro-organizing stage. This time of year excites me! I love sorting, purging, cleaning, scrubbing and putting order or in this case super order to things.

Since our lives are in a state of "temporary" I'm trying to keep myself from fixing up or improving the aesthetics of the rental. Hopefully this will keep me in check. So I'll just put my home finds here.

Inspirations for the future place.

I've seen this in many homes that I've looked at and I love all the extra storage. (The white cabinets too but the husband prefers another stain.)

 Chandeliers, who doesn't love them? Maybe I like them because they are the trend right now but they sure add sparkle to any room. Ecspecially the entry way. I wouldn't mind having them in most of the rooms in my house.

 I love the grand bed, tons of pillows and the "hotel carpet".

Storage in a beautiful cabinet with seating to remove shoes. It's a lot of furniture but it does't seem to be too much.

 Bead board, white cabinets and baskets of course. Not keen on the pedestal sink. I feel like it's a waste of space. Hardword floor, is beautiful too. I'm really liking white right now.

 Mini topiaries on a mantle, I'd love a mantle. I also love the colors of the oil paiting and the size. Not keen on the gold as not a color I want in the home.

 Perfect organization. Wouldn't this be cute in a kids room?

 I totally see this for Pumpkins room. I love the pink and the white of course. Everything is perfectly organized.

 What a retreat. I'd love to have a cute little pation area like this.

 Rich hardwoods, embroidered, clean seats with a buffet and wainscoting. I'm loving it.

 Elegant entry. When I first saw this I thought, "wow, grand, then I toured a house in our price range that had two grand stair cases that go up and two that go down, one at each end of the house. It"s gorgeous and it would facilitate moving large pieces of furniture to the upstairs. More wainscoting and beautiful tile flooring. Not keen on the lighting. I'd want something a bit more "hotel or old lady-ish.

ooooohhh, aaaaahhhh, look at that gorgeous entry. I toured a house in Phx that had a similar entry. It's stunning. I'm not keep on two front doors but this makes it look amazing.

All the photo's were ripped from the internet months and years ago so I can't put a link to them. If you know of a link, let me know so I can add it.

Merrell Motto 2011

And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things.

-1Nephi 16:29

2011 Resolutions

I always anticipate the coming of the new year. I love the feeling of starting over, having a clean slate, renewed energy and strength. I also love the new year because I want to purge, put things in order and simplify.

Each year since I was about 12, I've made a list of New Years Resolutions. Many years have come and gone with minimal success. I always "shot for the moon" and missed every time. These are some quotes that describe my yearly attempts until THIS year.


Many people look forward to the new year for a new start on old habits.  ~Author Unknown


A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other.  ~Author Unknown


So this year, I've done some soul searching. I've reviewed lists of years past and prayed over what to do this the bounty of this new year.

So with much thought I give you Resolutions 2011

1. Piano lessons for year
2. Increase math knowledge
3. Photography-full manual mode with great lighting knowledge base
4. successfully bake a 2 tier cake and successfully use rolled fondant
5. Christmas Advent-stop talking about it, put notes in order and finish the Merrell Family Advent Book
6. Send out family birthday cards to all with an Abraham Lincoln quote.
7. Cook and bake with confidence
8. Attend the temple quarterly
9. 100% visiting teaching
10. Play more games with the kids
11. Read the Book of Mormon
12. Read the Book of Mormon as a family

“Each of us has come to this earth with all the tools necessary to make correct choices.”

—President Thomas S. Monson

As the new year approaches, I'm taking stock of the "tools" I've got and one's that need to be sharpened. I love the new year for several reasons and resolutions is just one.

Making correct choices seems to be a given, but in these "the last days" it isn't as such. Standing up for what's right seems to come across as making the wrong decision or offensive in some case or another. If doing the right thing makes some people cringe and reject you, is it a reason to turn away from that which is right?

My answer is no. I'm not here to impress others. Just use the tools I've been given to make the correct choices to do what is right. No questions asked and NO turning back!

I love being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I love knowing that Jesus IS the Christ. I love knowing that my family can be eternal, of course that depends on how we treat each other here. I love knowing that there is a God! He's all knowing but gave me agency to choose for myself. I love that I'm not here (on earth) alone. The Lord is here to guide and protect me. The Savior, Jesus Christ came before, set the example and died for us all.

Christmas Card

The story behind the card.

 I had planned on having family pictures taken in October. Then we spent half the month moving. I painted an accent wall in the dining room and bathroom, hung new lighting in three rooms and micro organized the kids stuff. During November I was in the middle of the Reflections Art Program at the junior high. Then we made two trips to Idaho...two weekends in a row. (totally worth it).

December began and the husband was no where to be found! C-sections, hysterectomy's, deliveries and my all time favorite......call shifts. Then one by one each of the kids banged up their faces. Not all at once BUT one after the other, after the other. I kept thinking "after this one heals". So finally in between photo shoots for others I grabbed the kids and snapped a few shots.

Minus the husband-he's been camping out at the hospital

Minus the mom- haven't had my hair colored since July (yikes!)

Train screamed the whole time.

Pumpkin kept pulling her arms inside her jacket and kept looking off to the side.

Train kept running away.

Paris was plain M.A.D that we were doing this.

What has been hidden:

Screaming Train

Ginormous bruise in shades of purple, blue and green on Pumpkins forehead

Some kind of weird rash above Paris' lip

Sheesh! If you didn't get your's in the mail. Email me and I'll get one to ya before the new year!

Despite all that has transpired at our place, we truly are grateful for this season to celebrate the birth and life of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Our lives have been blessed, they are fruitful. We are happy.

Nothing could be better than having the gospel of Jesus Christ and knowing that Jesus IS the Christ.

May your Christmas be merry and bright. One full of family, friends and the true spirit of Christmas.

Love- The Merrells