LIzzy Comes to Town!!

Aunt Liz came to visit us in Dallas last weekend!  Woo Hoo!!  We felt so lucky!  Here are a few shots from our weekend.  

 Pappasitos...

we HAD to introduce this girl to Tex-Mex and she loved it...right Liz?

 Georgie fixed Juliets hair

 Big brother, big girl!

 Riding the kiddie drop ride at Six Flags

 The swings were a favorite.

CUTE!

 Sisters

 Aunt Lizzy and Juliet at the Blue Mesa Grill...YUMMY!  

Isaac lost his tooth.  

Check out that gap NOW!!

 soooooo big!

Thanks for taking time out for us Liz.  We wish it happened more often.  We look forward to the realizing of our plans to get you out to Italy for a few months after your mission.  Save your money girl!

xoxo

Sluffing School and The Haunted House

Sluffing School for A Haunted House

A couple of weeks ago I had a most interesting experience on a walk with a friend of mine.  There was a really old house in the neighborhood that I knew was being renovated and was vacant at the time so when we passed it, naturally, I wanted to peek in the windows.  My friend happens to be a very devout Muslim (I've learned sooo much!) and told me that the house was a "bad place" (English is her second language) and wouldn't come to look in the windows with me initially.  After my first peek I told her that she had to come take a look.  After a few minutes of snooping a mans face suddenly appeared in the window and scared the day lights out of my friend (poor thing...she was already nervous!)  He laughed at us and came out and began telling us how he was convinced that the place really was haunted.  He told us stories of pennies flying at him from no where, a whistling sound that frequently echoes through the house and tools that are found in new places when they come back to work the next morning.  My friend, Wejdan, promptly put a blessing on the house in Arabic and after a great discussion on ghosts and spirits beyond this life she removed herself to wait in the street.  I asked for a tour.  The house was beautiful inside.  100 years old and well taken care of, intricate wood work, gorgeous fireplaces, flooring....my kind of place.  The renovations were underway on the third floor and I talked more with the workers up there about it being haunted.  I asked them if I could come back and bring my kids.  They were so nice to agree.  I thought of Georgie a lot while in there and knew she would love the place as well as the fact that it was haunted.  She loves spooky stuff.  

Later that same day when I picked the kids up from school I told them all about my adventure that morning.  Both of them were very excited about the prospect of touring a haunted house.  I was quite surprised that they expressed no fear whatsoever.  So, on Tuesday of the following week I picked them up from school during their lunch hour and like a bunch of High Schoolers sluffing Chemistry we giggled the whole way, excited about our upcoming adventure.  

 Here they are eating their lunches in the car!

 wooooo!!!  Spooky!!  

Here's the plaque on the front steps.  1905.  Rumor has it that Dr. James E Fowler committed suicide in this house...but I'm not so sure about that tall tale;)  He was a prarie Doctor.  At the time he had this house built there was not a town near by for 50 miles.  

 The ground floor

The tiny secret pink room on the third floor
There were hidden halls, rooms and closets all over the place.  Georgie, of course, loved this little hide out.  Whatever little girl gets to call this room her own is one lucky little princess!

We didn't see or hear anything spooky while we were there, darnit.  The worker said it had been pretty quiet around there lately.  Maybe Wejdan's blessing really worked.  I told the guys we might be back for more because we'd love to see or hear something of the local ghost.  One of the guys rolled his eyes at me when I said that.  He didn't seem to be so sure about it's being haunted.  But its a fun story to tell so I'm stickin' to it!  

xoxo 

Mothers Day 2012

Happy Mothers Day to Me!

with love,

Isaac, Georgie, Juliet, Joey, MOm and Dad

The above people gave me a very special day! 

I woke up to a gift from Georgie full of her handprints painted into 12 different figures.  She was so excited to give it to me all weekend long;)  We sat in the front living room, all three of us and looked through all the pictures.  I will save it for always:)  Thank you Georgie!

 Joey made my Mom and I breakfast.  Spanish Tortillas with fruit and baguette, his specialty;)

 After church we did a photo op on the front steps.

 Me and my boy!

 My best girl!

 And my forever baby!!

My Mom, my safe place...

Gaga and her babies!

Juliet...too cute not to share!

And my "other" forever Mother, Ruth!

A couple of cute stories from the day.  I had my piano recital that evening and Isaac colored pictures for all the mothers in the room.  "Happy Mothers Day!" he wrote. "From: The Merbacks"  What a charmer;)  Georgie said to me this evening, "Mom, I forgot to give you another present...haha...but it cost like $30,000!"  Whatever it was I want it.  Sounds AWESOME!!

It feels nice to be celebrated, even if Hallmark made us do it.  I'm grateful to feel and know of my families appreciation as well as to extend my own to the Mothers in my life, my Mom, my Aunts and few choice friends.  Thank you Hallmark!

xoxo

Last Day on the Field

We've spent a lot of windy mornings out here.  And Isaac learned how to play the game.  A Father coached his son and Georgie turned a whole lot of cartwheels....And Mom yelled her lungs out.  

Memories....

Georgie Turns 6

Georgie Turns 6!!!

We remember when Georgie was our baby.  Over the last couple of years she has grown up and changed sooooo much.  But we love her anyway;)  Here's a little bit about her big day!

Her Birthday morning

began with the traditional Breakfast in bed!

This year Georgie requested pancakes with whipped cream, bacon and eggs.  Gaga threw in her famous homemade Orange Julius and Georgie felt like a Queen.  She seemed a bit embarrassed at all the attention actually and acted silly to overshadow her discomfort.  She does that a lot lately.  After the feast we gave her the gift from Joey, Isaac, Juliet and I...a new beach cruiser bike!

 Isn't she cute!!

 Then Papa read the girls a story.

A few days before the big day we promised Georgie we'd take her swimming for her birthday.  So as soon as it was time to get dressed she put on her suit, even though we weren't actually going to the pool for several hours.  She's such a fish...takes after her namesake;)

 Before we left for Isaacs' soccer game Georgie took me over to her "private play house" for her annual birthday photo shoot that just so happens to be in the neighbors front yard. (we hope they don't mind;)

It's a little alley protected on either side by a fence and some really tall bushes.  She loves outdoor nooks and crannies and has managed to find or create several of her own within the two or three yards around us.  When the weather is nice she and spends hours out there.

Such a lady!

 After Isaacs soccer game we went to the Air Show on base.  Papa wanted to tour the airplanes and Georgie heard there would be free cotton candy so she was game!  We brought Georgies' friend, DC along.  She's our neighbor, such a good girl and so good to Georgie.


They got their faces painted and had a really good time exploring air craft, jumping in the bouncy castles and playing together.

 

 

A little (no a LOT) of fun for Isaac on Georgie's birthday!  All kinds of cool weapons in the ARMY tent at the Air Show.

 Check out those bullets.  That'll kill ya!

 And some fun for Gaga too!

 Ruth made Georgie a prairie girl dress, apron and bonnet!  So fun!!

 Georgie's special cupcake!

 And we finally made it to the pool!

 Back home for presents!

Balloons to send to the sky with a birthday wish!  

And her favorite dinner, Garlic Farfalle Chicken Pasta.

That's our girl.  Our 6 year old girl!  Love you Geeg;)

xoxo

Isaac: Student of The Month!!

 Isaac was awarded Student of the Month from his award winning Principle last week!! 

 He was soooo excited and we were soooo proud!

Look at that face;)  "I can't believe I got it!" he said to me after the ceremony!  We can believe it buddy!

The week before we saw Isaacs teacher, Mrs. Richeson at the garden center and she bragged on him to a friend that was there with her.  "If every student was as good, smart and as responsible I would have the easiest job in the world!" she said!  His little shoulders just melted.  He enjoyed that compliment and so did we.  

Congrats buddy!  You're such a hard worker!!

xoxo