The Merrill Reunion

Well, the snow did melt and we were able to have an awesome reunion. We stayed at the Kern's cabin up by Anthony Lakes. Some of us in tents and others stayed in the cabin. It was a lot of fun! We canoed, hiked, biked, made friend ship bracelets and played games.

We were fortunate this reunion, no one got hurt. There was some experimentation with full pop cans and mosquito spray. Luckily, all that was harmed was a few lawn chairs. It will definitely be one of those things that we will look back on and laugh. We missed Cory and his family and Ryan and his family. Hopefully next year there will be everyone! Here are some pics of the event:

Two of the three "cutest" members of the bunch. Wyatt and Korbyn.

With the snow melted, it allowed for some exploring.

Korbyn showing us his adorable grin!

Wyatt trying to one-up him. Not quite as broad of a smile.

Gage watching the kids on the canoe.

Hunter, "Huh, I can go on the canoe right now?"

Our other "cutest" member of the bunch, Cooper. Held by our cute Mya!

Morris and Stetson waiting for their turn on the canoe.

Jason taking Keaton and Hunter out on the boat.

Tiffany and Layne balancing on the log to get to the canoe.

Gage looking cute.

Layne on the canoe.

Wyatt on the hike up to Van Patten Lake.

All the troop heading up to Van Patten.

Mason getting excited to be closer.

This was everyone that stayed and watched Jason and Morris jump off the big cliff. They jumped off the cliff and immediately a storm came in. We huddled under the big trees until it passed. Luckily it didn't last very long, but we headed down with some wet and tired kids. Morris was amazing at his bravery to jump off the cliff. He and Jason were the only ones!

Just getting an idea for what their in for.

One of our crafts was making people out of twigs and rocks. Sierra made this for uncle Cory, because it looked a lot like him!

Just arriving into Van Patten Lake. The kids did awesome!

We Did IT!! A Half Marathon

This first week of July was a crazy busy and bizarre week for us. We had the famous Bingham reunion up here in Oregon. It was so much fun! We missed Cindy and Lynn and Percilla and Keith. They are on missions, Percilla and Keith in Russia and Cindy and Lynn just left to start their 3 year calling as mission presidents of the Sole, Korea mission. Everyone showed up between June 30th and July 1st. Jake and Wendy had their baby Brand, on the 1st of July. It was fun having everyone here for this great event. We worked cattle, had a 10K, 5K, and 1 mile race. Horse riding, fishing, and lots of relaxing and visiting.

On the 4th of July we ran the Haines race. Royce, Emily and I ran the 10K. I ran it with my friend Ronda, who I do all my workouts with. We have been training to do a half marathon. It was a lot of fun, Royce was really close to first but ended up taking 2nd or 3rd in the men and I took first in the women's 10K. I felt it was my strongest race ever!!

Early July 5th Jason, Sierra, Lindsey and I left for California for a biopsy. We zoomed down and back in 2 days. Sierra got a zero, and everything looks great. I started feeling really tired on the trip and was out of breath going up stairs. I couldn't believe it, I just ran a 10K. By the time we got home early Thursday morning, my feet were hugely swollen. Jason had youth conference in Nyssa and left at 1:00pm that day with the youth. I wanted to go out for one more light run on Thursday since my marathon was Saturday the 9th. I went to run and couldn't even make it a mile. I was short of breath and my legs were very swollen. I ended up heading to the ER in Baker for questionable congestive heart failure. After long hours in the ER, they couldn't find anything wrong and I came home to have a follow up with a cardiologist. We headed down to Boise Friday afternoon to see if we could get into a cardiologist.

We ended up getting no where in Boise, but I decided to go with Daisy and Ronda to check in for the race and at least get my T-shirt. By that morning my swelling had decreased significantly and I could run a little bit without being short of breath. The hotel Jason and I were staying in was right along the green belt where the race route was. So, I decided to go ahead and run with Daisy and Ronda until I hit the hotel, then I would get in the car and head back to the finish line and meet them there. Long story short, the hotel was further away than I thought and by the time I got there I decided to just run the whole thing. I ended up finishing the race! What an emotional finish!! Thank you Ronda for sticking by my side! Thank you Jason for all your support!!!

Daisy, Ronda and I at the finish line.

Ronda and I waiting for Daisy.

We Finally Finished the Siding

It was a monumental family event. We finally put up the last piece of siding on our shop that we have been working on all spring. With Garrity's wedding on the way, this will hopefully give us the time we need to get it painted and looking good for the reception. Yeahhh!! What a feeling.

Megan is holding the last piece in place, Lindsey and Hunter are there for support and dad is ready with the nail gun.

It fits "perfectly"

And for the final nail....KAPOWWW!!

Snow, Snow, Snow!!

You wouldn't know that it is June here. Don't pay attention to the date on the pictures, because they are wrong. We have had so much fun having Bradey and Lacey live by us. One of the many benefits is that Bradey is in charge of the Merrill reunion this year. He wants to have it here in Oregon.

Jason has a client that has a cabin up by Anthony Lakes. The client is allowing us to have our reunion at his cabin. We are so excited. Since the snow hasn't really been melting, we thought we would take a Sunday drive up to the cabin to show Bradey and Lacey what there is to do. As we arrived to the head of the road that heads back to the cabin, we hit a huge snowdrift that would not allow us to take our van down the road. We brought our bikes to ride, thinking it would be a fun family activity. Unfortunately, we couldn't make it further than 5 ft. down the road. We ended up hiking up the road in gym shoes and ankle deep snow. After hiking about a 1/3 of a mile, we made it to the cabin and this is what we found. (keep in mind that it is June).

Megan, Sierra, Lindsey and Sierra's friend Lola. Standing in the only bare ground there.

Gage thinking this is really not that fun of a family activity.

Stop taking pictures and come pick me up!!

You can't see the front porch and stairs, it was buried in snow.

Jason trying to peek in and explain to Bradey what the cabin looks like inside.

Megan wants a peek too.

Needless to say, after this venture, we are very nervous for the reunion that is 6 weeks away. That's a lot of snow that needs to melt!!