*Update*

Here is an update of our 2009 Big Lake Merrill Family reunion.

Aunt Anna giving the kids a ride on the Ranger

Carson & Clayton up front and in the back: Daycee, Jenna, Kenzie, Aarron, Charlotte & Harly

Clayton, Dallin & Wyatt scoping out the meadow.


Dayson, Kim, Adam, Kristie, Amaron, Satya, Sean, Christine,
Zack, Angelene, Aaron, Rachelle & Glenn



Aarron on the quad, wishing it would go.

Clayton & Dallin's first kill.

Carson fishing with Uncle Amaron

Capri, Sage, Garrett, Tatum, Carson (back), Dusty,

Brodee, Daycee, Halee, Kenzie & Krew (front)

Our family photo

It's a good thing we all dressed up for the picture.

Little Aarron fishing with Big Aaron and Aunt Rachelle

Glenn, Aaron & Clayton on grandpa's boat.

Look what I caught!

On your mark, get set, SHOOT!

Wyatt, Carson, Clayton, Dallin

Let me see the light!

Thanks grandma & grandpa for the headlamp.

Dallin & Clayton's second kill!

Adam

This is great, as long as I don't touch the grass or dirt!

Aarron

CHEESE!

Brodee & Aarron

digging buddies

Carson, Clayton, Dallin & Wyatt

They had a blast all weekend, hunting & fishing!

Aarron

Look what I found

Let me scoop it up

Dinner Time Mom!

Sage, Halee & Harly love hanging out with Aunt Rachelle!



The fierce fisherman!

Adam, Amaron, Glenn, Aaron & Dayson

We had such a great time with Dayson's family. I can't wait for next year's reunion!

Hors'in Around

Harly choreographed a dance for MacKenzie and Daycee to perform for Dayson and I.

Than the boys decided to have a dance of their own, wrestling! Aarron had to jump in on the fun.

Carson makes the most awesome faces!


MacKenzie showing off her dance moves on the coffee table....

and Aarron with his...

Adam had to have a turn, look at his moves...

Encore! Thank you, Thank you!

We hope you enjoyed our show.

This morning I went out to pull weeds from my garden and saw the first sign of life. I've got radishes. Don't know what I'll do with them, but I've got 'em. I'm so proud of my very first produce. When I showed Aarron the picture he said, "Ooh, apples". I can't wait to see what else starts popping up!

....and this afternoon, Harly was playing "house" and Adam was her baby. He loved being pushed around in the doll stroller.

Special Tribute To My Sister Deanna

Kelly, Tricia, Kimberly, Deanna, Andrea, Rebecca, Rita and Jamie

at the Mesa, Arizona Temple visitor center in our Easter dresses, 1982.

Deanna's high school senior year portrait, 1993


My wedding reception 7-27-1996
Jamie, Andrea, Rebecca, Kimberly, Deanna, Rita, Kelly

My sisters and I made this photo for my parents after Deanna passed away. We had her added digitally. I think this was December of 1999.

Today Deanna would be 34 years old. She is missed by her mother, father, sisters, brothers -in-law, nieces, nephews and everyone who knew her.
None of my kids were born before Deanna died, but talk about her like they know and love her.

The Sunday before Deanna died, we sat in Relief Society together and were approached by somenone in the ward to substitute in nursery. Neither of us hesitated, for we loved kids and were both expecting our first child. Deanna a girl, and me a boy.I am greatgul for the opportunity to have served with her one last time. After church that day we went back to my mom's house for lunch and we ate tostadas. Deanna's favorite. Deanna asked me to fix hers and I am so glad I did. As I gave her the tostada, she told me to go back and put more sour cream on it. That was the last time I got to see her alive. I love and miss my sister very much. I can't wait to see her again.

Merrill Family Reunion 2009

This past weekend was the Gary & Sharlene Merrill family reunion. We enjoyed our weekend camping at Big Lake. The second day there I lost my camera, so I was unable to take any pictures of our great weekend. On the last night Sharlene found my camera and so I took some photos on the last day. Everyone was so kind to take pictures for me with their cameras, so when I receive those I will post them.

On the second day Anna & Loren were there

and our kids enjoyed playing together.

Caroline & Adam hanging out.

Daycee, Charlotte & MacKenzie playing chinese checkers.

The "last person" to have my camera before it went M.I.A.

Allergies

Today Carson was tested to see if he was allergic to outside allergens. And he is. He's allergic to everything including grass, trees, cats, dogs, horses and anything else you can think of. Carson has been having constant headaches for sometime now so we finally got him checked out. Hopefully the allergy shot he'll receive once a week will prevent him from having to many headaches. He was a trooper during the procedure. They numbed his arm and he received about 100 shots. It is a long process because they have to see how your going to react to each dose. Carson definately has some battle wounds to show his friends and family.

In this picture you can see the test shots at the top of his arm. This will let the technician know how his skin reacts to histamines.

Below those are the first 38 shots.

In this picture he was given the same 38 shots but with a higher dose. The shots in the third column are swollen so much that they touch each other so it looks like one big welt. Those are the grasses that he's most allergic to. On the bottom part are the last of the shots that were given at an even higher dose of allergen. You can see how swollen the they are, they grew even bigger a few minutes later.

Carson showing off his big muscles. He was such a trooper. When I was little my mom would always buy me a prize after I had to get treated for the 100 warts on my legs. Since I'm just like my mom and fully believe in "prizes", I had to take Carson to get a prize for being so brave. We went to "Short Stop" and he picked out a king size Twix.

Family Time

Monday night Harly's softball team challenged the parents to a game. The girls won 9 to 7. It was a lot of fun and the kids thought it was funny to watch their parents play.

Later that evening we took a family stroll around the block. There were a few on bikes, a wagon and a stroller. Two seconds into our outing Mackenzie crashed on her bike. So we had a crying girl the whole way. We were met by a little doggie and of course a few screams from the girls. That was definately an adventure.

Happy Birthday MacKenzie!

MacKenzie turned 5 years old on June 10th. She had a little party with her cousins and friend Rachel Condie. This is her with her pink phone and new outfit. We went to Phoenix over the weekend and celebrated more birthday at Peter Piper Pizza with grandma and grandpa Wellman, grandma Slade and cousins Courtney and Jenna. The kids had fun playing games and picking out their prizes. MacKenzie got $5 from her grandparents and $2 from her great grandma. Thanks mom for letting us stay with you at your house!

On Saturday night we went to Caroline's 1st birtday party. Everyone had fun swimming and seeing their cousins. Harly and MacKenzie received beach towels for their birthdays from Grandma and Grandpa Merrill.

Grandma Merrill with MacKenzie, Daycee, Halee, Harly and Sage



Thank you for the beach towels grandma, we love you!

Best Sisters!