And on to August

We all piled in last minute to satisfy Erik's need for football by going to the Cardinals preview game.  Cause it's FREE.

This is the complimentary photo they took of us.  Now you've had a sneak peak of our epic Christmas card.

Ah, Home Depot day.  All of Morgan's creations are still painted pink, but at least the craftsmanship is getting better.

Happily modeling new duds.  This girl loves clothes.

Demonstrating her new winking ability

Behind the scenes at our family photo shoot.  All of us trying to get the kids to smile is a much better picture.

All out of ice cream and begging for more. I knew he was mine.

If you need to wash out the kiddy pool, wait til the kids are asleep.  Otherwise you get this: fully clothed swimmers that eventually turn into nudists.

July in Pictures

Finishing out our trip to Utah 

Yeah, this happened.  Church basketball is evil.  Then we paid $400 to find out it would heal on its own. We didn't take any pictures of my reaction.

The never-ending 4th of July parade in weather I swear is hotter than AZ

Sam was less excited when he got blasted by the water cannon at the end. Seriously, who thinks its funny to hose down a 1-year old?

Sam revived when we lit fireworks - in fact, he clung to Andrew and said "more!" when it was time to go home.  Morgan was asleep inside the house because she's afraid of fireworks.  Really. I'm not sure that she can be counted a Merkley anymore.

Playing with friends

Visiting old stomping grounds (and trashing the USU bookstore)

Aggies all the way

Teachin' em young

4 generations of Merkley men while visiting Grandpa Merkley in rehabilitation

Torturing my nephew.  This will be blackmail someday.

A little drunk driving

But never fear, we got them sobered up for church

AZ + July = lots of swimming.  It's all you can do outdoors.

And Sam and his fat belly are loving it.

Just to end on an adorable note.

Lake Powell

We went to Lake Powell with family at the end of June.  It is now October.  Don't dwell on it.

Yes, Morgan actually rode on this tube, going about 2 miles an hour, holding on to me.  But she did it, which shocked us all.

Our lovely houseboat

This is what happens when you try to give the kids a bath in the lake.

"I've been waiting all my life to go to Lake Powell!"

This is how Sam looked much of the time, hence the bath.

But really, he loved the water as long as there wasn't soap involved.

The kids were pretty awestruck that Dad could do this

Best time of his brief life

See you again in October - oh wait, we couldn't because the politicians were throwing tantrums and closed a LAKE. We contemplated sending hate mail, but they'd probably just shut down the post office.

Wedding #2

Last month my brother Ben got married in Portland, and I got to fly there with Erik minus the small ones.  I think it might have been our first kid free trip since Sam was born.  It was glorious to fly without children.

The Portland Temple is beautiful, and absolutely surrounded by vegetation.  We were a little dazed after our year in Arizona.

The girls with our dad: Becky is glamorous, Lindsay is classy, and I just look bossy

Our newest member, Valerie!

Erik with the happy groom

After the reception, we hurried to Multnomah Falls to get a taste of Oregon's scenery.

My family, or as Erik calls us,"The Shire"

 We flew in late Friday night, back midday on Sunday, and Sam was still mad at me for leaving him.