The Merriman's: November 2007

Sleeping Ben..

I love checking on Ben before we go to bed.. he looks so innocent and calm! And yes, all those stuffed animals (he calls them buddies!) are mandatory. There are more under the covers with him.

Fun with a box

Our long weekend...

Friday was ultrasound day, so Mike took the day off. That was nice.. we got to go for lunch, get a few things from the mall, take it easy. He went to Chiro that afternoon, we got Ben and had dinner. Saturday morning he made us breakfast (I got to sleep in a bit!), Ben needed an early nap so Mike and I got busy outside: I raked the leaves in the back yard, he mowed it and tidied. Then he put up our new LED Christmas lights and I did some more gardening until Ben got up.

It is so exciting to be decorating for Christmas in our OWN house! I can't wait to put up the tree, start baking and just enjoy it all. Start our traditions!

Sunday was grocery shopping. It started to get quite windy and you could tell that a storm was coming. We came home and after Ben went to bed Mike said "You know, we aren't really prepared if the power goes out!". So I dug out the candles, then Ben got up and BAM! The power went out! No sooner did I put the candles on the counter did it go out.. that was freaky. Ben got a candlelit diaper change and I had to lay with him to get him to fall asleep. It weirded him out a bit.. no nightlight or music. Plus the bushes were scratching on the house (which Mike pruned back the next day — thanks Daddy!). The power came on a bit during the night, but was out in total for 25 mins shy of 24 hours. That was a LONG 24 hours! I am SO thankful we bought a house with a wood stove — and to have married a guy that a) chops wood and b) knows how to start a fire!

So that was our weekend. Ben was sure happy that the power came back on! He kept trying to blow out the candles during dinner LOL!

The new lid

Ben was WAY overdue for a haircut. But, we finally got it done on Saturday. Ta-da! Ya, he doesn't look too impressed in the after pic, but he was busy watching 2 kids scrap it out.

Happy 50th

Today is my Mum's birthday. She would be 50. I am trying to keep busy today, not think about it as it is innevitable that I always get upset. When she died, I was 5.5 months pregnant with Ben. Now it is her "big" birthday, and I am 5 months pregnant with the new little one. Crazy.

She was 21 in this picture, and I was just a few months old.
Love you Mum xoxo

Halloween...

Wasn't too exciting this year. I think part of the problem is the last 2 houses we have lived in, we never got any trick or treaters. I mean NONE! Well, maybe the 2 neighbor kids and my nephew and that was it!

I had heard that a lot come to our neck of the woods (being by an elementary school and a high school you would think so) but our street doesn't have lights. So, that just brings out the punks and hoodlums once it is really dark.

Ben actually wore his costume at daycare! She took them to the local mall for trick or treating.. brave lady! I laughed so hard when I saw him.. the last time he wore it (about a month ago as a test drive that didn't go so well!) it was not this snug on him! So funny.. had tears.

Raced home, fed Ben. Made our dinner, ate and then asked Ben if he wanted to go out again in his costume. BOOM! At the door wanting his shoes on. So changed him, costumed him up and Mike took him out while I was on candy duty and cleaned the kitchen. Woot! What fun. I thought it would be best for him to take him out as he can handle him a bit better when out and about... that kid is getting HEAVY!

We didn't get a pumpkin this year, which sucked big time. Everytime when we were going to go to the pumpkin patch, it rained. Or Mike had to work. Then we would go to the store and they would be out, or it was too late and had to get home. Mom gave Ben a blow up ghost thing for the yard, and that kicked the bucket Halloween night! Of course! There was smoke coming from it.. not good!! Got pictures of it before though..

All in all we got about 70 kids though. I think. Haven't counted how many goodie bags are left. I had to turn the lights off at 8 as Ben would NOT sleep when kids came to the door and he was TIRED and cranky. They had pretty much finished in our area though.