Super Sariah

Sariah is now 4 1/2 years old. The realization that she will be attending kindergarten next year hit me really hard this week when I realized that enrollment is coming up very soon. Sariah is smart and very vocal. She sang a "Rockstar" song while swinging on the swings today. It was loud, funny and all made up by her. I'm sure the neighbors had a good chuckle. Sariah is also my super helper during the day. She strolls the stroller, plays with kids, picks up in front of the vacuum and can pour juice for lunch.
Sariah also loves to color and draw. This is one of her many creations. If she isn't around for a while... I find her quietly coloring in her room. What a wonderful girl!

Her imagination is truly amazing. I can't wait to see what she does next. We are lucky to have her in our family.

Cutie Keira

Keira will be 17 months old on Sunday. I thought I'd document some of her cuteness and give you an update on her. She loves bath time because she can play with her plethora of duckies. She also enjoys hanging upside down and swinging back and forth.

She is talking more and more in understandable words. Her most difficult words to say are graham cracker, but we can understand. She is almost to nursery age. After Christmas she'll go into her new class. She is growing taller and can almost run without falling. Everyday we play at the park where she has lots of friends and enjoys going down the slide. We really enjoy our super cute girl!

Turkey Bliss

Yes, I know it's crazy, but I get excited about cheap turkey's. I bought two 25lb turkey's today at .28 cents a pound. Each turkey cost me $7, that's a GREAT price! I am so tickled because I save the turkey meat in the freezer, boil the bones and extras in a big pot for broth and freeze that too. So during the year I can substitute turkey for chicken in casseroles, enchiladas or in just about any dinner. I also can make turkey soup with the broth and meat throughout the winter, very yummy and cost effective. Usually when I buy two, we need to cook one right away because we could only store one in our small freezer. Now we have a small deep freeze in our garage (Thanks Jennifer) and I can fit both turkey's out there and cook them at my convenience. How great is that?

Super-duper turkey buying tip: The bones all weigh about the same, so every extra pound the turkey weighs means pure turkey meat. So if you buy a 20 lb turkey you are getting 5 more pounds of meat than a 15 lb turkey with the same bones.

Our Cat Zoe

Our cat has an allergy to fleas. I finally got her to the vet today to handle the problem. The poor thing has been scratching herself raw for about 3 weeks now. I've learned that a flea allergy is not an allergy to the fleas, but the flea saliva. The allergy creates intense itching. The veterinarian gave her a shot (which I'm surprised she didn't scratch him to pieces when he gave it to her) of steroids to calm the allergic reaction and give her skin time to heal. We expect a happier, less scratchy cat by next week.

Flu Shot Funnies

Ok, so on Saturday we all went down to Kaiser to get our yearly flu shots. Last year we had trouble with Katie John going wild on us in fear of the shot. The others did just fine. So we were all there just waiting for the nurse to start poking totally focusing on KJ to make sure she won't go wild. Jonah goes first, no problem. Katie John is next (we hold our breath) no problem (whew!). Sariah sits on daddy's lap, doing well... no problems. Since John was already sitting down, he was next in line. The nurse go the shot ready as John rolled up his sleeve. Sariah pipes up "Daddy, your arm is so furry!" Classic Sariah comment. We all had a good laugh about it, then John got poked.

Vote!

Today is the Big Day! Do your civic duty and get out and vote!! Yay, election day is here!

~Important Notice~

There is a delicious new poll out! Scroll down to the bottom of the page and vote vote vote!!!

Trick or Treat Delights

Today was Halloween! The kids dressed up in their costumes and bolted out the door to canvas the neighborhood for candy. Surprisingly the kids came back with happy faces and full buckets. Keira even held her own bucket the whole time, though John had to pour some of the candy out into another bucket because she couldn't lift a full bucket. After trick or treating we all went to a neighbor's house for a party. Jonah won the donut on a string contest for the kids and John won it for the adults. I was the "mummy" in the mummy wrap contest. I'm not sure who won that one. Halloween was great this year, we all had a fun, fun time!

Pumpkin Carving

Pumpkin carving is getting better each year! John helped the kids cut out the faces they wanted. If you notice, each pumpkin resembles the personality of the kids. Sariah- cute and happy. Katie John- smiley and missing some teeth. Jonah- Now that he's in 3rd grade, he's playing around with different attitudes and really, really into jokes. What a fun evening of carving, even though the rain drove the carvers inside.
The Jack o'lanterns in action!

Katie John Looses a Tooth!

Katie John has had a loose front tooth for a while now. Monday night we noticed that it was really loose and was consistently set forward in her mouth, no longer in its original position. So we decided it was time for the tooth to go. Katie John was a little reluctant, but in the end agreed that it would be easier to eat without the tooth. John tied the dental floss the first time and it slipped off, the second time worked and she had a wonderful jack-o-lantern smile after a few tears. You can already see the new tooth growing in. Our little girl has been talking to person's unknown.... she had questions about the validity of the tooth fairy.... ack! We assured her that the tooth fairy would come... but only if she believed. I'm not sure how skeptical she really was or if she was just floating a theory by us to see how we'd react. I hope we passed the test.

The tooth fairy was kind enough to leave a shiny quarter, despite the waverings in belief. Thank you tooth fairy!

Giant News

On Saturday October 25th, the 2008 Myrick Family Giant Pumpkin Contest contestants gathered at the Myrick home. This year's committee worked hard all pumpkin season by first declaring independence from oppression and voting out the old committee, nurturing the competitive nature of the participants with poultry references, issuing challenges (again with poultry references) and putting together a very yummy potluck dinner complete with desserts. The results of the competition were phenomenal. As predicted, the reigning title holder was dethroned. The James Smith family pumpkin won with a whopping 185 lb pumpkin! Awesome job Uncle James!

Other category wins include:

Smallest - Julie Myrick
Roundest - Elias Smith

Orangest - Matthews Family
Most Unique - Julie & Mike Myrick (their pumpkin resembled an elephant seal and weighed in at 180 lbs)
Best All Around - James Smith Family
Yummiest - TIED between Smith and Matthews Families

Honorable Mention - Steven & Erin Smith Family for participating from across state lines, great job! We were very impressed with your successful pumpkins.

Matthews Family poses together in triumph with the orangest pumpkin!A king dethroned... good sport though winning the 'most unique' with daughter Julie.

*A Special Thanks to the Heathcote, Emily James, Fox & Arnesen Families for showing up to support our fun event.

Making a Pumpkin into Dessert

As a contestant in the yummiest pumpkin portion of our Giant Pumpkin Constest later today, I am determined to make my own pie from scratch!

I sure hope it turns out well.... it sure looks yummy!

Wilton Ward Trunk-or-Treat

Halloween here we come!! The kids pose for a quick picture before we enter the main area of fun! My mom's ward puts on a trunk-or-treat every year, and it seems we go every year. This year was no exception as we participated in all the fun activities.

There is so much do do: Games, bouncy house, haunted house, food and DESSERTS!
Jonah = Superman (minus a cape he forgot at home)

Katie John = Fauna (the green good fairy in Sleeping Beauty)

Sariah = Cinderella

Keira = Purple and green dinosaur w/pink bow

Jog-a-thon Excitement

The small cheerleaders watch from the sidelines! (Dylan, Keira & Sariah)

Today was the long awaited jog-a-thon. The kids (especially Jonah) have been practicing by running laps in the backyard or up and down our street for weeks now. The small kids and I cheered, waved and championed our runners.

Both Jonah and Katie John ran better than last year. Jonah busted out with 24 laps- that's 2 whole miles!! Katie John ran a whopping 17 laps, which is impressive for a 1st grader. We are so proud of our kids!

Jonah and Katie John enjoy a cooling orange freeze after the big event!

10th Anniversary Celebration

Happy Anniversary to us!

Friday the 17th was our 10th anniversary. John came home with a big bag of gifts and a dozen roses. What a wonderful thing! I got all sorts of useful as well as yummy things in the big bag. I really appreciate the giant bag of gummy bears (i'll just put off kicking my gummy habit for another week) I can again listen to my ipod with the ear thingy's that John got me and of course there was a wonderfully pink sappy card. Thank you John for being that wonderful husband that is a diligent worker, helps where needed and is a devoted husband and father. I love you!

Things that I find myself thinking about lately as I ponder the last 10 years and the coming 10:

1) it's already been 10 years? that can't be right...

2) I guess that makes sense... Jonah is 8

3) wow, does this make me old... or what...

4) do I even remember who my bridesmaids were? (Christy, Kelly & Margarette Wahoo!)

5) how long will the next 10 take...

6) is my favorite color really green? blue and purple are nice too.

7) exercise... i should be more involved with that.

8) why are the gas prices in Mississippi $1 less that our prices?

9) how wonderful it is to have great friends who have made it this far with me :)

10) I sure love my family!

Watch out Christy you're next!