Happ New Years at the Sand Dunes!

New Years at the Dunes!!!!

We had so much fun with the fireworks this year, now that they are legal!

Jon loved helping Dad with them and seemed to know more about them than Dad did.
Jon also had a great time as always entertaining all the kids at camp! They always have so much fun with him!!

Austin could not give the poor quad a break..... He had a blast, a dream come true! He rode the quad day and night!

Charlotte and Kalicia got really good this year at riding Charlotte's little quad. They cruised all over camp with the other kids. I loved watching them! Can't forget how much fun they had sledding down the sand hills! I think Dad and Caroline had the most fun sledding!!!

Dad took us on lots of rides on the Ranger and Caroline fell asleep every time.....

Then the craziest thing.... after lecturing the boys to be safe on the quads, I of course have to give an object lesson right in front of them!!! I was following along on the quad right behind them and hit the jump just wrong, took air for about 10-15 feet landed it wrong and the quad came down right on top of me, crushing my leg. I just layed there in pain, not able to move with Austin trying to do CPR on me with me wide awake. It was one of those comical painful moments with Austin trying to help me.

Luckily, nothing ended up broken, but torn up muscle and a puncture wound was a great lesson for me. About a week later, I did end up in the emergency room with a major infection and blood clots, with the thought of losing my leg. It looked horrible and the pain was unbearable! With a blessing and the right antibiotics it is starting to heal, but they said what I did was worse than a break. I am lucky to have my leg and it will take almost a year to heal and get rid of all the blood clots. This has taught me I am not a teenager anymore. The scariest part is I have to keep myself together so I can be a mom. Thanks Aunt Satya for helping me with my leg while we were camping!

We had an awesome New Years!!! One of the blessings is that the injury happened to me and not one of my kids.

Happy New Year! 2011

I always love a New Year and the chance to talk about and set new goals. We had a fun Family Home Evening.
Kalicia decided she is going to learn to ride a bike and learn to listen better. ( I love that!)
Charlotte wants to learn to walk and she said her new therapist is going to teach her!
Caroline's goal is she wants to walk and play with all the bigger kids! She is on her way!

Then we older one's had fun interviewing each other and discussing goals:

Anna
1. Something unexpected I accomplished in 2010 is... I bought 2 Honda 400 Ex s for my family for Christmas. Crazy but fun!! Then I lectured my boys on being safe and I was the first to wreck in front of them at the sand dunes. (It was an object lesson of what not to do and one I am still suffering from......)
2. Something challenging I hope to accomplish in 2011 is... to get both my little girls to walk, run and play!!!!!
3. My favorite place to shop online is... Amazon and Shutterfly
4. My favorite place to shop in store is... Kohls, Target, Mills Mall and Ross
5. I worry about... my injured leg and hip and having no insurance
6. I will never eat...lard, my husband talks about having to eat it on his mission in Germany, ugh! Otherwise I love trying new foods, ask my kids..... I am always making new things!
7. I hope my children will remember me for...my kindness and creativity and love for my family and my faith.
8. My favorite season is... I love summer in Taylor. The weather is beautiful and then when it slowly moves to fall, it's absolutely perfect! (no wind!)
9. I will always remember...When Loren and I fell in love at the Las Vegas Temple!
10. If cost was no object, I would own...a plane and travel the world!
11. When I cook, I like to make... all kinds of creative meals, especially pasta. Tonight I am making my kids favorite (something I made up) Egg Roll Casserole.
12. I wish I knew how to make... an afghan. I have tried several times and they always turn out as a triangle.
13. A movie I saw and loved this year... Twilight, mostlly because of the fun memories, hanging out with a bunch of other girls!
14. My idea of a good party is... A lot of friends, good background music and tasty treats to eat and fun games!
15. It's time to do more... playing Barbies and having Tea Parties with my little girls.
16. If I could live anywhere...I do love it here, but I would like to try Germany for a few years! (and then come back)
17. When I go online I spend my time... looking at food recipe ideas, blogs, facebook, hotmail, and Shutterfly and Smilebox (digital scrapbooking) Lately lots of Eagle Scout Stuff with my boys....Yea! They are almost there!
18. When I have an hour by myself, I like to...Take a bath and give myself a Pedicure and manicure.
19. My favorite family tradition is...Christmas time and New Years! Two weeks of pure fun! Fondue Party and Christmas Eve with the Pember Family. FHE Christmas Party with the Merrill Family, seeing the Temple Christmas lights. White Elephant Gift Exchanges with Friends and Family.....party, after party! Then New Years at the Dunes! Don't forget the snow and sledding!
20. A song or artist I listen to when I am happy is...Loren has turned me to the dark side and I enjoy some country, actually had a great time in Nashville and saw concert after concert. I have really come to like Gretchen Wilson and Faith Hill. The Grand Ol Opry was lots of fun! I still enjoy Bon Jovi and Tom Petty from the old days!

1. Something unexpected I accomplished in 2010 is... [Loren Merrill] I helped my daughter charlotte to learn to read, she and my wife did most of it, but I think I helped some.

2. Something challenging I hope to accomplish in 2011 is... [Loren Merrill] Help my girls walk.

3. My favorite place to shop online is... [Loren Merrill] Amazon and walmart

4. My favorite place to shop in store is... [Loren Merrill] bass pro shops

5. I worry about... [Loren Merrill] my boys and the decisions they will make this next year

6. I will never eat...[Loren Merrill] I can never say never because I don't know what my wife will cook, and I always eat what she gives me! (and it is usually good)

7. I hope my children will remember me for...[Loren Merrill] my patience and understanding in dealing with adversity

8. My favorite season is... [Loren Merrill] fall, love to hunt, summer is a close second with fishing and hunting

9. I will always remember...[Loren Merrill] My wife the first time I saw her walk into class

10. If cost was no object, I would own...[Loren Merrill] an airplane, easier to travel.

11. When I cook, I like to make... [Loren Merrill] cheese crisps for my wife and I for our late night snack - I don't get the opportunity to cook that often.

12. I wish I knew how to make... [Loren Merrill] everyone be happy all the time.

13. A movie I saw and loved this year... [Loren Merrill] Inception, it was good, it made me think. I didn't see a lot of new movies this last year. My wife is not into movies lately, so we don't see them much.

14. My idea of a good party is... [Loren Merrill] Good food, good company and good entertainment

15. It's time to do more... [Loren Merrill] play, not work, time with my family and kids

16. If I could live anywhere...[Loren Merrill] Alaska, get the opportunity to hunt and fish there for a few years as a resident and then move back to az

17. When I go online I spend my time... [Loren Merrill] reading about sports and news and checking the weather and looking at maps, love google earth.

18. When I have an hour by myself, I like to...[Loren Merrill] sit back and watch a game and relax

19. My favorite family tradition is...[Loren Merrill] Camping in the summer and at the dunes for new years.

20. A song or artist I listen to when I am happy is...[Loren Merrill] Chris ledoux, always makes me happy.

Austin Merrill
1. Top 3 sports -track, football, and soccer
2. Hobbies and activities -Hang out, play games, lift weights, hunt and fish
3. Foods -Chinese, Italian, and Mexican
4. TV Shows -none, I don't watch TV only Movies
5. Movies -Clash of the Titans, Bruce Almighty, Fun With Dick and Jane
6. Talents -Singing, drawing, Air Brush Painting

What are your goals after graduation? Go on a mission, go to college, go into army and become a cop.
What would you consider the worst job to have? Trash Man
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? A guy who is married and in college.

Jon Merrill

1. Sports: Track, football, basketball
2. Hobbies/activities: running, hanging out, working out
3. Foods: Lasagna, pizza, Barbque
4. TV Shows: Heroes, Psych, George Lopez
5. Movies: Scary Movie 4, 300, Ace Ventura
6. Music Artists: Linkoln Park, Chris Brown, Eminem

What are your goals after graduation? I am planning on going on a mission, the army, then BYU Provo.
If you could do any job, what would you do? I would be an Olympic runner and a child counselor.
What would be the worst job and why? A painter, I have done so much painting I am sick of it.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? In the Army