The Mergenthaler Family

You know those projects that seem to grow and become more intimidating the longer you put them off?  You think to yourself, "I just have to get to that today!"  Then, the day ends with the promise, "I'll definitely start that in the morning."  The morning arrives with other, seemingly more important activities, and you tell yourself, "This is the kind of project that won't fit into a short 20 minute block of time.  I promise it will be the first thing I get to when I find I have an hour to focus on it." Laundry is like this for me.  I don't like tackling the laundry unless I think I can finish it in one day.  Piles of clean clothes waiting to be folded bother me just as much as piles of dirty clothes.  I like the clothes clean, folded, and put away at the end of the day.  As you can imagine our family is big enough and busy enough that "one-day laundry" is rarely a reality.  I would even venture to say that it is never completely d...

For the last couple of months, I would take pictures on my phone and they would instantly disappear.  About a week ago, they all miraculously returned.  I thought I would share them with you before they disappear again. Sean swinging . . . Gangsta/preppy Sean showing off one of his favorite binkies . . . .  Cowboy Sean  Copycat Sean (and Emily) In December, I took Ricky and a couple of his friends to a UI volleyball game.  They had a kids' carnival there where they could play games and win prizes.  There was a clown making balloons too.  It was a really fun and inexpensive activity--one of the benefits of living in a college town.  Ricky just loved the pink UI sweatband.  So did his friend, Luke. We spent Thanksgiving at a friends house.  We had a lot of fun.  Sean even got a manicure. We have had a very warm winter thus far with several 50-60 degree days.  This is so unus...

I'm guessing you are too busy with your Christmas celebrating to read much about ours, but I'll share some pictures anyway. Rick was heavily involved in planning the ward Christmas party this year.  It turned out pretty good.  The primary children sang a song and, as usual, Ricky found a place right in front of the microphone.  Andrew and Makayla hid toward the back.  I was proud of Reyes for participating willingly in the song the young men sang.  I know this is a tough age for wanting to be in front of people, but I found myself slightly irritated by the "too cool" attitude of some of the boys.  The kids got to visit with Santa.  Sean's attitude toward Santa was the complete opposite of my expectations.  He LOVED him!  I was too busy running around with other things to get a picture of him, but Makayla did pretty good with the camera snapping a picture of Ricky and Reyes. The kids were so excited for their break from school....