Post Exam... check!

Dayson took his final exam today, it's what they call the Post. He was so excited to call me to let me know he had passed. He is able to relax and have fun now. We can't wait to meet up with him on Thursday. We are very proud of Dayson and love him very much. This has been a rough four months for all of us, but we got thru it. I have to give a very big thanks to Dayson's parents for putting up with him the entire time. Dayson had been spoiled with dinner, lunches made for him, laundry, hair cuts and good company. Thank you Gary & Sharlene for everything you have done for our family we love you very much.

Last Sunday to say goodbye!

We had our final weekend of saying goodbye to Dayson. Next Friday will be his graduation and we will be going to the valley Thursday morning. I am so excited, I have been waiting for this last week for seventeen weeks now. We will finally be a normal family again, I think?

We attempted to take a family picture with Dayson in his uniform, but it's kind of hard with seven kids looking at the camera and setting the timer and Dayson running in to sit down. (Dayson forgot his black boots at the academy so he had his brown ones on.) Oh well, hopefully we'll be succesful at a family picture at his graduation.

Clayton had his first baseball game yesterday. He played first base than came in as closing pitcher. Their team won 6-5. Clayton pitched very well and saved the game. Good job! I did not take any pictures because of the 20 mile an hour winds. I could barely hang on to my baby.

We also had visitors this weekend. Andrea, David, Zack, Courtney and Jenna. It was so much fun to spend time with them and their kids. We went to Rita and John's for burgers on Saturday night. I can't wait for this summer when we have more visitors. This is an open invitation for anyone to come and stay with us!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Marsha Rae Slade Wellman; daughter of Richard & Pauline Slade. Born May 1st, 1949. Married to Robert Wellman and mother to Rita Christine, Rebecca Lea, Andrea Rae, Deanna Marie, Kimberly Dawn, Kelly Ann and Jamie Lynn. She is a grandmother to 25 grandkids (10 boys and 15 girls). We are very lucky to have her as our mother, grandmother and bestfriend. I hope your birthday is special and I can't wait to see you and do pedicures with you next week.

Love,

Kimberly

Spring has finally Sprung!

The trees are blooming, the grass is turning green and the wind is blowing hard. For the last two weeks I was moving into a new house. Thanks to the elders quorum and a few wonderful ladies I was able to get into our house without a husband. The day we moved might have been one of the windiest, but the next day was gorgeous, go figure. A lot has happened since than, Harly turned 9 years old. Happy Birthday sister sue! Clayton competed in his track meet. All of the kids have started baseball, softball and t-ball practices. And I turned 32.

For Harly's birthday we went to Show Low and watched Hanna Montana the movie. Loved it! We than went to Walmart to pick out a birthday outfit. Aunt Rachelle gave Harly a High School musical clock and jacket. Thank you auntie Chelle! Grandma & Grandpa Wellman gave Harly $10 and so did Aunt Rita & Uncle John. She has big plans with her money when we make our way back to Show Low this weekend.

As for my birthday, it was just another day. I received many emails on facebook from my friends and phone calls from all of my sisters. I even got flowers from Ginger Wiltbank and Mandy Davis who are two very good friends of mine and I love them dearly. Did I mention Ginger helped me move into my new house, unpack some boxes, fold laundry and made us dinner the second night we moved in. She truly is an angel.

Carson had his raingutter regatta and came in fourth.

We also had a carnival at the primary school. The little ones had a great time.

Adam loves to eat corn dogs and he's just like all of my other kids, naked!

We are 16 weeks down and 2 to GO!

Finally!

Good Weather, Bad Weather....

...the Monday before I went to Phoenix we had a nice warm sunny day. Aarron ate lunch outside in the front yard. Peanut butter & jelly, yum!

And then a little time for shooting hoops.

As I was gone the weather turned bad. It was very windy and cold. The cold weather hung around for Easter weekend. We woke up to a ground cover of snow Saturday morning which melted by 10:00 am. And than around 1:00 just in time for our first Easter egg hunt it was hailing. It was a chilly day. Amy & Troy came over for a fun Saturday of cupcake decorating and egg finding. The boys of course made their way up to Big Lake by way of Alpine and a blizzard hit while fishing. They of course got stuck in the snow, but being the "cool law enforcement" guys they are, they were able to kick into 4 low and dig there way out. MEN!

MacKenzie, Lacy, Daycee, Harly

GET READY, GET SET, GO!

Aarron fully dressed looking for eggs.

Clayton eating while looking for eggs.

Carson taking a peek in the playhouse.

Daycee making a mad dash for another egg.

MacKenzie with no jacket looking for eggs.

Maybe that's why she got sick the next day.

Adam with cousin Christie picking up eggs.

Harly in her dress no jacket either and sandals. What is she thinking? um EGGS!

Sunday morning we woke up to MacKenzie not feeling good, so Dayson stayed

home from church with her and Adam. After church Dayson left and went back to Mesa.

Harly was participating in the Easter Cantata for our stake. She was in the girls choir. She did such a good job and looked very pretty for her concert.

When I returned home from the concert I found Clayton and Carson playing "Cowboys & Indians" instead of babysitting. Go figure.

Aarron and MacKenzie must have been the Indians.
Aarron is appropriately dressed like one.

Back to good weather. This morning when I took the kids to school there was no wind and the sun was shining. On our way to school this is what we saw down by the river. We are so lucky to have this view all of the time.

Finally one month to go until Dayson graduates from the Academy.

Growing Up!

...even though my baby Adam doesn't walk yet he sure is growing up. He definately has his own personality and attitude. While the boys were sick I gave them breathing treatments. Adam became a pro at it and decided he was big enough to do it on his own.

He also loves to play Playstation with his older brothers. As long as he has a controller to hold he won't throw a fit. He thinks he can do whatever the big boys do. What a stinker!

Clayton had his first track meet on Thursday the 2nd. He did such a good job for his first time competing. He came in last in the 200. Now that the nerves of a first time race are over I'm sure he'll do a lot better in his next race.

Where's Clayton? Can you find Clayton in this crowd of kids?

Hint: Our school colors are black & gold.

I really enjoyed watching general conference this weekend. I especially liked Jeffrey R. Holland's talk in the morning session on Sunday. His interpretation on Christ's last moments on Earth really gave me a better understanding of the Atonement. How lucky are we to have prophets, seers and revelators on Earth with us in these last days to help us in our trials, especially raising our children. I already can't wait until next conference. Inbetween sessions on Sunday our family went for a picnic near Alpine/Nutrioso. This is just one of the perks of living in the White Mountains, your only 15 minutes from beautiful wilderness. We had made sandwiches with some treats on the side. All of the kids brought a gun (of course). The boys went on a hunting spree for birds. They weren't very succesful. They complained about having to leave so soon, but I explained to them that we needed to get back and watch conference. They weren't to thrilled.

Carson

Clayton

Aarron

Adam (goofy the II)

Daycee

Crazy Marie

Dad is taking a nap, of course!

The whole Merrill gang with their guns!

(I must have forgot to take a picture of Harly by herself.)

Dayson is 13 weeks down and 5 to GO!! I can't believe how time has flown. I know it hasn't for Dayson. We can't wait for this weekend. Dayson will be home Thursday night. We get to spend three days with him instead of two!