They really did it….. :(

I am still a little torn about this mission.  I am going to miss my parents so much.  I am so sad and don't know what I am going to do without them.  

My dad really is the sweetest grandpa ever.  The kids all love him so much and have so much fun with him.   I know they are going to miss his movie time, popcorn and yummy drinks and milk shakes.
My mom told me a cute story about them while I was home.  She said that when they were young and before they had started to date or anything she was dating other people and wasn't really interested in my dad because she thought he was "to nice"  so she didn't really give him the time she should.  Then one day while she was in the mountains riding a horse she had the spirit tell her that if she wanted to be happy for the rest of her life that she needed to marry Dennis Merrill.  So after that, we all know what happened.  I thought that was so cool, but really funny because how can someone be "to nice"  my mom made such a great choice and she has had a very happy life, and my dad has always treated her like a queen.  Sometimes we all can not believe how nice he is and it is just shows what an amazing man he is.  I love him so much!!!

Max getting some grandma time.  It makes me so sad that he is going to be two when they get back…. or older.  They keep talking like they are going to extend their mission and they don't know when they are going to be home.  

Summer took this picture the day they left.  I left the day before because I needed to go home for church and a few other things.   I was fine until I gave my mom a hug and then I cried like a big baby  (and then cried the whole way home… and when anyone talks about it) .  I am going to miss them so much and I don't know what to do about it.  I told my sister that I didn't really see us going to Idaho Falls a ton after they were gone and I think I hurt her feelings.  But it just makes it hard to not have my parents home to go and stay with them and see them.   I know they are going to enjoy the mission and they will be loved by everyone they meet.  I am so proud of them, and excited to see the things they get to do together.  It was so cute when they spoke in church my dad was saying, "you don't know what a spiritual experience it is to open a mission call with your wife" and then he started to cry and said how excited he is to do this with my mom.   I know it is going to be amazing, and I can't wait to read all about it.  I love you mom and dad with all my heart!

Friend time!

We had a fun get together with some of my friends from high school and it was so great to catch up with them for a little while.  It is so great when we get together it always feels like no time has passed and things have not changed at all.  They are a amazing group of girls and I love them all so much.  I am so grateful for good friends and so glad that we can get together every once and a while.
We went to Outback and it was the perfect place to be, no one else was there and we stayed until they closed and had a so much fun catching up and laughing.  

Cabin time

We all went up to the cabin for a few days so my parents could finish packing and have a little alone time.  They also had a ton of party's and friends to see and family.  We had a good time up at the cabin and the kids always have so much fun together and it is so nice to have a big place for them to hang out and play in.  

We stayed over on New Years eve and stayed up late playing games.  We laughed so much and had a blast with the kids.  We played hid and go seek in the dark, (sardines) and spoons, lots for rummy cube, the adams family, and a number memory game.  

The kids were so crazy and would go out and sled all through the day.  Even when it was below 0…. They had a ton of fun in the cold.

Spoons!

I stayed a extra night to help my parents and get a little one on one time with them.  Annette was nice enough to take the kids up to the cabin for me so they didn't get left out of all the fun.  It was a lot of work to get them moved out and pack it all up.  I think they had more than 10 huge boxes that they took to Chris's house to store while they were gone. It is crazy because it didn't ever feel like they had that much stuff in their room.  It was funny because while they were going through things my mom found over 800$ that she had no clue when she had put it in the closet.  

Brytlee sledding down the stairs.  

Adison showing of her cute pants she got for Christmas. 

She loves to take pictures.  She is so funny

Summer had to work and wasn't' able to come with us.  We missed her…. she is so "special"

So cute!  and so much fun

Party, Party, Party

We had another party in Idaho Falls the 27th so we went and just made it in time for my Grandma Merrills party.  It was so nice to see everyone and we played the present game.  I was in a big hurry and had forgotten about the gift for the game and just grabbed a few things that I had on hand…. (they were things that my mom was getting rid of and they were still new so I was re-gifting them….)  and of course my sister Annette picked my gift and was not that thrilled about the gift making a full circle.. It was funny
We had our own Merrill family party that night also and opened presents from the cousins and played games and hung out together.  It was so much fun.  

We played a fun game with my mom that was  called left, right, center.  I was horrible at it but Adison was doing so great.  it was so funny that she always ended up with all the money until the end…. then Elizabeth won and took it all

Adison loved to shake the dice.

SELFIE time

Max loves Karsten.  He was so cute with him, and Karsten loves babies and would hold Max and play with him.   Mike was also so cute with Max and is so good with babies.  I have some of the cutest nephews ever.  

I couldn't believe how much snow they have in Idaho Falls.  They had a ton more than us and the kids had fun playing in it.  

King Maximus!!!

I ended up staying for the whole week and Ryan went home with Alexis.  I missed them both a ton, but I was so happy to get to spend the last week with my parents before they left on their mission.  And it was so nice to get to have the kids spend some time with them also.  I don't know how we are going to make it a whole year (or longer) without grandma and grandpa!