tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254097232024-03-13T14:37:11.020-07:00The Merrill FamilyAdventures in parenting, adoption, military living, homeschooling, and life.THE MERRILL FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021819035748596272noreply@blogger.comBlogger174125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25409723.post-59516259579444056212012-04-05T19:31:00.000-07:002012-04-05T19:31:28.773-07:00What could you win?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Just a few examples of what you could win buy purchasing a lotto square for our adoption travel fundraiser. We will take cash or checks from local friends and neighbors, and those farther away can purchase squares by clicking on the PayPal button on the side of our blog (notate what number you want and your email address in your payment notes, please!)</div>
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Thanks for helping to spread the word and making our family's dreams come true!</div>
<br />THE MERRILL FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021819035748596272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25409723.post-54461069561363081722012-04-04T10:30:00.001-07:002012-04-04T10:30:14.731-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our family is hosting a raffle for Silpada sterling silver jewelry to help raise funds for our adoption travel. We are in the process of bringing home E and L's biological sisters and the kiddos all want to travel with us for pickup. E and L want a chance to see their family again, and a chance to say goodbye to their village. G and El want to learn more about their sibling's birth country. Unfortunately, airfare is $2000 per ticket right now, so we are not going to be able to make their dreams come true without some love, prayers, and assistance from family and friends. Enter this raffle :)</div>
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How the raffle will work: You can purchase a square or squares for $10 a piece. Once every square has been sold, we will host our drawing on May 1st for a total of $1000 in quality sterling silver jewelry. The drawings will be Silpada corporate gift certificates, which can be redeemed by any Silpada representative anywhere in the country. There will be two drawings for $50, three drawings for $75 in jewelry, two drawings for $100, two drawings for $150, and a final drawing for $175! </div>
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Think of the thank you, Mother's Day, birthday, or just-for-me gifts you can win for $10!!! And, your purchase (cash, check, or use the PayPal button on our blog) will help our family travel together to bring home our two daughters. </div>
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Thank you for helping to spread the word! The more squares we sell, the more jewelry we can raffle off and the more jewelry you can win!!!</div>THE MERRILL FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021819035748596272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25409723.post-91412975650456163232010-10-31T23:09:00.001-07:002010-10-31T23:56:52.283-07:00Happy Halloween! Courtesy of SUPER MERRILLSSo, I'm learning that it isn't really Halloween unless you make a last minute run to the store for a new costume. For our family, it was a necessity for the boys as I had bought much to large costumes earlier and for the girls, well, if the boys were getting new costumes than they needed them too :) Of course, that meant that I had a family full of super heroes. Here are some pics of our fun evening:<div><br /></div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Iron Man and Wonder Woman </div><div style="text-align: center;">(G actually agreed to wear a costume this year and enjoyed it with lots of fun, leading the way much of the night! Major accomplishment in our house!!!)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3q49Pf0ObL3yxhhII45fbpYeUxl6zjJlbUEXaYEManPo77cWCcIgvN5hJa6IwwxT37Fwa-wAyog1CaM221mHtKcZuFlLlvqGRLp3YeSkZWdEpYOAARKLC_Ijs60dGBK3Gr3YDQA/s320/IMG_1075.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534465494428220050" /><div style="text-align: center;">Maximus Prime, Iron Man, Wonder Woman, and Spider Girl</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UAJ3EgAnzXJXmDCmoNK8GA1q4PBlATkdR441BFJ1VMLwUgn8g8Qzg61PNdjNFzmwCQKw_d0_qeLI3w8c0kX7lKnbbbrLKEfBYdEDduEyyFtEqZy6CHGs36h6AkSUPlpzPeTs3g/s1600/IMG_1078.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UAJ3EgAnzXJXmDCmoNK8GA1q4PBlATkdR441BFJ1VMLwUgn8g8Qzg61PNdjNFzmwCQKw_d0_qeLI3w8c0kX7lKnbbbrLKEfBYdEDduEyyFtEqZy6CHGs36h6AkSUPlpzPeTs3g/s320/IMG_1078.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534465489455057906" /></a><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">My strong girls</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi48WkBYazVprkcb2ZWgOq_IjRyAY9wl_bHoT_evEcLavdh_jtUP4Fv5PNfd_bDUx30a197O9NfAfsZsAMJDOxene_2Ovyi47RtY_jkasqx_CRJG8jnBxsPhLirH5rk7VKCGtL1Zg/s1600/IMG_1079.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi48WkBYazVprkcb2ZWgOq_IjRyAY9wl_bHoT_evEcLavdh_jtUP4Fv5PNfd_bDUx30a197O9NfAfsZsAMJDOxene_2Ovyi47RtY_jkasqx_CRJG8jnBxsPhLirH5rk7VKCGtL1Zg/s320/IMG_1079.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534465480941174626" /></a><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Powerful Heroes</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggXDLb4p5YR_w4rtn_aiDCmRFndzXBwtGtBkg_zkUj6Qk82XHMZTR5AsafAxkmH81h2M9c7A-UXB89ibVXLcx_yuShiJIpParifuGyuXXnvDW2pKOHZ0BY4Bkr9GX1-SmwL0JREA/s1600/IMG_1080.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggXDLb4p5YR_w4rtn_aiDCmRFndzXBwtGtBkg_zkUj6Qk82XHMZTR5AsafAxkmH81h2M9c7A-UXB89ibVXLcx_yuShiJIpParifuGyuXXnvDW2pKOHZ0BY4Bkr9GX1-SmwL0JREA/s320/IMG_1080.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534465478624471042" /></a><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Spider Girls -- Partners in crime ... I mean, crime fighting ;)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9G4JLk4TURUep6up63oBSPU-teaO0Rbp6Muv0naV6NsRkpaguehz5aOhYJT-5QBuh58ImqE_LqGPn2b17epa0KTqwwXaxRDNy0CoEwiZavG8DNbihpocN0JVxl6XdCmpDGuTcg/s1600/IMG_1081.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9G4JLk4TURUep6up63oBSPU-teaO0Rbp6Muv0naV6NsRkpaguehz5aOhYJT-5QBuh58ImqE_LqGPn2b17epa0KTqwwXaxRDNy0CoEwiZavG8DNbihpocN0JVxl6XdCmpDGuTcg/s320/IMG_1081.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534465474656740514" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Girl up a Tree</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHyXEqyVdP7dUi6CUp6ml-Vo2cU6zH_DTQMiaQGqi4VxIToWwwQyEqM-a_prPVGkah3Zd8ZieS7QSL7xTF2-EWNwtoptC33BuX6jGTymPaKDSz8zeqmFuUR3BStRUOVJSkkYNig/s1600/IMG_1093.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHyXEqyVdP7dUi6CUp6ml-Vo2cU6zH_DTQMiaQGqi4VxIToWwwQyEqM-a_prPVGkah3Zd8ZieS7QSL7xTF2-EWNwtoptC33BuX6jGTymPaKDSz8zeqmFuUR3BStRUOVJSkkYNig/s320/IMG_1093.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534464334232165842" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Crazy Boy up a Tree</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ERkDvmxbsLlXBw7wKLukS1PheCa8k_vxvLTJk3YyO4eOp6gIeFK1SJ5pRKQRKReWCYFPwjERmkSb-bf1hxbk0Nw6BTsDipUaF-dvht57BngSESHH-bTvn5SpWCnYVjgSdKogvQ/s1600/IMG_1094.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ERkDvmxbsLlXBw7wKLukS1PheCa8k_vxvLTJk3YyO4eOp6gIeFK1SJ5pRKQRKReWCYFPwjERmkSb-bf1hxbk0Nw6BTsDipUaF-dvht57BngSESHH-bTvn5SpWCnYVjgSdKogvQ/s320/IMG_1094.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534464329446662834" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Iron Man falling off a Tree</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRU9HL6TmCVEeFfdXvU6weybW_7wguXgj8uxaIVqurmo-XkLvIB3FffIUuSelNfAHZ0wiZ9W7SinXtXqsEKUbn0MOFJji1Wsv04xaBtNPQ17zQ270tiR5sHY4QTYSTedYmhHgkfQ/s1600/IMG_1095.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRU9HL6TmCVEeFfdXvU6weybW_7wguXgj8uxaIVqurmo-XkLvIB3FffIUuSelNfAHZ0wiZ9W7SinXtXqsEKUbn0MOFJji1Wsv04xaBtNPQ17zQ270tiR5sHY4QTYSTedYmhHgkfQ/s320/IMG_1095.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534464322578131778" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ninja neighbor</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSkkkA1opfmqaYEho-qHBJI1T391tNYhaHhFzdxTZRUV45j_r2Gp0y7O3xPfMEAJwIlj2jwRvQl7kKfXKSiR2KW4PwTsaw9Gum8ukU7C_3Nef3VauD15GdEJ46wPijZigwPv9jHw/s1600/IMG_1107.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSkkkA1opfmqaYEho-qHBJI1T391tNYhaHhFzdxTZRUV45j_r2Gp0y7O3xPfMEAJwIlj2jwRvQl7kKfXKSiR2KW4PwTsaw9Gum8ukU7C_3Nef3VauD15GdEJ46wPijZigwPv9jHw/s320/IMG_1107.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534464318920839986" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We're not doing nothing -- sitting in front of the candy bowl :)</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipAPLAIjDIwIl_1ydvlAg6gWnOvfnN2xo8GYPzBHMOggN1DhGfo94OrVdiVRsahGJNxk_UKNOn_RyjnCr8JeaFsbroumB_Q-chZrxD4ZHx0TSgusNGHilrXg8hfCkq_iVIA7AyKA/s1600/IMG_1111.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipAPLAIjDIwIl_1ydvlAg6gWnOvfnN2xo8GYPzBHMOggN1DhGfo94OrVdiVRsahGJNxk_UKNOn_RyjnCr8JeaFsbroumB_Q-chZrxD4ZHx0TSgusNGHilrXg8hfCkq_iVIA7AyKA/s320/IMG_1111.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534464313549371714" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">L flying high with Daddy home</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Sb66aEWe0QZS8ImUw_rwsCZGgbFpvTs_lmzysEFa2eFhffQpjGy-q2JwzER5Xe2ptrgDE-oIS9G7baxiz1Uc-NYHPOvzhjqOi6cTPklN1dDjw56zmAR2Uht1Tv6yLoa1CRB8wA/s1600/IMG_1123.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Sb66aEWe0QZS8ImUw_rwsCZGgbFpvTs_lmzysEFa2eFhffQpjGy-q2JwzER5Xe2ptrgDE-oIS9G7baxiz1Uc-NYHPOvzhjqOi6cTPklN1dDjw56zmAR2Uht1Tv6yLoa1CRB8wA/s320/IMG_1123.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534463271442956802" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Girl, no longer baby girl neighbor</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3psg_Jc_cohVhl_Ov2wVMmK3m28uIR2-p-GZp1EtAA6RpG1SFYUDUq64031rfHtb7gS_favhn6lG9-BCDF68tlgdcw-o2jvg2ASVm0Ozt10ZpwC3kweFKNShAvoMIDFx49jSCA/s1600/IMG_1133.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3psg_Jc_cohVhl_Ov2wVMmK3m28uIR2-p-GZp1EtAA6RpG1SFYUDUq64031rfHtb7gS_favhn6lG9-BCDF68tlgdcw-o2jvg2ASVm0Ozt10ZpwC3kweFKNShAvoMIDFx49jSCA/s320/IMG_1133.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534463261321926194" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">New neighbors, same fun in the 'hood!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCtcgLoGbCCqIIjoNnNwLOYfz0dvpom9xVEK8WYSHylQAGdEoHG8TUuJkwlMvXsVAQUcCMQP9nSkYI1eTHWFHG0Vo3Z5r7OaQScdm2YQ_b27vXW5U4HaE9f1kKxz2jx7JZ-62sSg/s1600/IMG_1146.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCtcgLoGbCCqIIjoNnNwLOYfz0dvpom9xVEK8WYSHylQAGdEoHG8TUuJkwlMvXsVAQUcCMQP9nSkYI1eTHWFHG0Vo3Z5r7OaQScdm2YQ_b27vXW5U4HaE9f1kKxz2jx7JZ-62sSg/s320/IMG_1146.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534463257492474578" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8umSPMSTMILhgTMgYiGi71amcqJYiHkKXug-vFkHaUL8_ijspB2FW4_YjgrM3zEwfCM0xc3djXJXrPG8s1WztxAiGtuFOhVCiON2HF1DNc3fqU06TDqax4Gp3mJIY8zyns7EBA/s1600/IMG_1147.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8umSPMSTMILhgTMgYiGi71amcqJYiHkKXug-vFkHaUL8_ijspB2FW4_YjgrM3zEwfCM0xc3djXJXrPG8s1WztxAiGtuFOhVCiON2HF1DNc3fqU06TDqax4Gp3mJIY8zyns7EBA/s320/IMG_1147.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534463254494770690" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0vIdHsSAHujp4rAYKzNEKXdDgmWUpbTmxFqbif03nfImVSVF25Ng8QkD8kvA2p2fhzrCqt4YjjmdzFRdhRzr7_4qJ20ySUz6QCxmkihKMg8XVBzdlxg-T8e6LybqkRaMHbpmA5A/s1600/IMG_1148.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0vIdHsSAHujp4rAYKzNEKXdDgmWUpbTmxFqbif03nfImVSVF25Ng8QkD8kvA2p2fhzrCqt4YjjmdzFRdhRzr7_4qJ20ySUz6QCxmkihKMg8XVBzdlxg-T8e6LybqkRaMHbpmA5A/s320/IMG_1148.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534463249206539490" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Leading the way getting the treats -- NO FEAR! Love it!!!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jekaJsoi2psKD0dDJ9Ev8bUPJ1pe1C0d1ZHtoqR9MxjywHFHcTJ8G10_JlaGyd8M5roHvn2hsFRaVp7ZWguG1JnRT8OQDyeyu6zCCxJw_5trRPdyF-chvm328RYAfEluF-20OA/s1600/IMG_1155.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jekaJsoi2psKD0dDJ9Ev8bUPJ1pe1C0d1ZHtoqR9MxjywHFHcTJ8G10_JlaGyd8M5roHvn2hsFRaVp7ZWguG1JnRT8OQDyeyu6zCCxJw_5trRPdyF-chvm328RYAfEluF-20OA/s320/IMG_1155.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534461498344253650" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Might have been E's first Halloween, but I think he quickly got the hang of getting free treats</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhiEaZmCPROqoW3aI0Srrto8B4xFtWvBMAfe0EQjRuOxY1DVMlxsaOyZ16NfEa6nSL7R7gIol4TogBN6SYAUexHPOT_Reh8iZyolrhI56JV2H3m5Qbe0kTcOqkZqzUcxhGMoTazQ/s1600/IMG_1157.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhiEaZmCPROqoW3aI0Srrto8B4xFtWvBMAfe0EQjRuOxY1DVMlxsaOyZ16NfEa6nSL7R7gIol4TogBN6SYAUexHPOT_Reh8iZyolrhI56JV2H3m5Qbe0kTcOqkZqzUcxhGMoTazQ/s320/IMG_1157.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534461483729892674" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">One cute chick </div></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30Oz2INui8F1O8bH3MalWh7IDGNgI_HxGsD0ri2Xvdkk_bWEf_xiLnpkBQu2hm11luxPufe4b1UrIUgb5aC0pmb-taOrSdiyn9E_D-_2A94znMJqoQwTcFeQsg8pcl30TqqTTog/s1600/IMG_1159.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30Oz2INui8F1O8bH3MalWh7IDGNgI_HxGsD0ri2Xvdkk_bWEf_xiLnpkBQu2hm11luxPufe4b1UrIUgb5aC0pmb-taOrSdiyn9E_D-_2A94znMJqoQwTcFeQsg8pcl30TqqTTog/s320/IMG_1159.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534461474299043698" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZOgBZqYSHc9Zy1g9iq0Rs9MQRN7EdIj4Oa1gqp0bzuyfB9Jedj3-LV6rF62lv9ni4kjKP-7pYe1BsCPDXkZUBWKfpVwb8Mgs32JkGAnhjgVA_OM5awWHyDFYWP79NaWMDbLeyyA/s1600/IMG_1160.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZOgBZqYSHc9Zy1g9iq0Rs9MQRN7EdIj4Oa1gqp0bzuyfB9Jedj3-LV6rF62lv9ni4kjKP-7pYe1BsCPDXkZUBWKfpVwb8Mgs32JkGAnhjgVA_OM5awWHyDFYWP79NaWMDbLeyyA/s320/IMG_1160.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534461465039568786" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There are still some men in our 'hood -- like this one "supervising", helping with glow sticks, and still enjoying life :)</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BD-rzokeEx_WbIPlL4XPNM_CCrRBse31mE-uukbOMKmZ3OWM3KA59GKEdBiYBb0FwNdSF4JG8Us0SOiXKPcPslbhfXxZFbLqEvGBf3bNtqeGpwwGoS6Ln8084GK9-umEwr2bnA/s1600/IMG_1167.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BD-rzokeEx_WbIPlL4XPNM_CCrRBse31mE-uukbOMKmZ3OWM3KA59GKEdBiYBb0FwNdSF4JG8Us0SOiXKPcPslbhfXxZFbLqEvGBf3bNtqeGpwwGoS6Ln8084GK9-umEwr2bnA/s320/IMG_1167.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534461458152075602" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy times with friends</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11YSuZ3bNtBHHHMloBv74ncFZlOlMn3nQynzmPeYYvB3U9C3sHoIQewRo7LIgsx57UlukwJYdXbuNx-X5j3k-Xcgu_R2N_BondE2DTfo7NX6Rc4BI6U4u4WsaNUpO5NTC6R01uw/s1600/IMG_1175.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11YSuZ3bNtBHHHMloBv74ncFZlOlMn3nQynzmPeYYvB3U9C3sHoIQewRo7LIgsx57UlukwJYdXbuNx-X5j3k-Xcgu_R2N_BondE2DTfo7NX6Rc4BI6U4u4WsaNUpO5NTC6R01uw/s320/IMG_1175.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534460535621043394" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not so sure about this house</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg646wcBpd4b6eK7al-KS2iXDGtCGoTdQe9_og7lXjHa9MJLmcmyXLTiInhBZ4ip2HMfShXLebF5ctic0ki2Guy7hXGtgoR69qb-NyyfeLWzSWqi8wASSLqLrLSPq3FsEB8_EdXEw/s1600/IMG_1193.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg646wcBpd4b6eK7al-KS2iXDGtCGoTdQe9_og7lXjHa9MJLmcmyXLTiInhBZ4ip2HMfShXLebF5ctic0ki2Guy7hXGtgoR69qb-NyyfeLWzSWqi8wASSLqLrLSPq3FsEB8_EdXEw/s320/IMG_1193.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534460529116550546" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Just a little scary </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_K_W0DQQknmW0vo6jKwUXzJY4Z9VEDuNTU5YYi9JU9ft3euY4RcwqWRAtDYW9XNcPvX_4_pKf1oeaoOWKlClaG3ZW5RjJfaIcoQqKSmBDXD6s1okpRXyUhIR5oGE22To0Va9tw/s1600/IMG_1195.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_K_W0DQQknmW0vo6jKwUXzJY4Z9VEDuNTU5YYi9JU9ft3euY4RcwqWRAtDYW9XNcPvX_4_pKf1oeaoOWKlClaG3ZW5RjJfaIcoQqKSmBDXD6s1okpRXyUhIR5oGE22To0Va9tw/s320/IMG_1195.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534460518982123954" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Miss Kim saving the day and ringing the bell</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIDY6G7I9uaRYrmTHWZyXt4tCAqJUy52UQUtarZWy3-2quILPCfzeJ-MHLFOHa-QN57L7srzc15FSijRbnDfGT7zS1oht6Ar680xfQcoON_ZX6cX2Fgb2Y9txPXeMZVmr5PTSIA/s1600/IMG_1196.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIDY6G7I9uaRYrmTHWZyXt4tCAqJUy52UQUtarZWy3-2quILPCfzeJ-MHLFOHa-QN57L7srzc15FSijRbnDfGT7zS1oht6Ar680xfQcoON_ZX6cX2Fgb2Y9txPXeMZVmr5PTSIA/s320/IMG_1196.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534460509580439362" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Time to head home after a fun night</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCnkfg_BBRji-ZXDZ_gi2_qcIb_2c3jWJejE1mKv4FHJwHCEoTfeZ561yFAbKCucAQYlc2rGQD_j5AtttoMWxyVlwwxf0F2db7WwxP5j02zfTgBcdmKQqr9cy1cUFOPB7HzzvBIw/s1600/IMG_1205.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCnkfg_BBRji-ZXDZ_gi2_qcIb_2c3jWJejE1mKv4FHJwHCEoTfeZ561yFAbKCucAQYlc2rGQD_j5AtttoMWxyVlwwxf0F2db7WwxP5j02zfTgBcdmKQqr9cy1cUFOPB7HzzvBIw/s320/IMG_1205.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534460504100081074" /></a><br />One last thought -- E and L both were content and ready to head home after about 5 houses. They couldn't believe the amount of loot they got for saying "trick or treat!" Yet, the rest of the rascals wanted more and more treats. Think the lesson Mommy learned is to find more ways to help little people be thankful for what they do have versus always wanting "MORE". Things kiddos teach big peoples :)</div></div>THE MERRILL FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021819035748596272noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25409723.post-2506543615720982162010-07-23T21:25:00.001-07:002010-07-23T21:27:15.867-07:00A Day in the LifeSlideshow of a "typical" day for the Fabulous Four. For family that can't be with us every day, hope you enjoy!<br /><br /><object id="vp1WcU6c" width="432" height="240" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000"><param name="movie" value="http://static.animoto.com/swf/w.swf?w=swf/vp1&e=1279945534&f=WcU6czkxutRSET1ypiWRHg&d=251&m=p&r=w+s&i=m&ct=Moments%20to%20Memories%20Photography&cu=http://www.momentstomemoriesphotography.net&options="><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed id="vp1WcU6c" src="http://static.animoto.com/swf/w.swf?w=swf/vp1&e=1279945534&f=WcU6czkxutRSET1ypiWRHg&d=251&m=p&r=w+s&i=m&ct=Moments%20to%20Memories%20Photography&cu=http://www.momentstomemoriesphotography.net&options=" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="432" height="240"></embed></object>THE MERRILL FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021819035748596272noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25409723.post-84966829142124174042010-07-20T20:26:00.000-07:002010-07-20T20:33:56.983-07:00Family Fun at the Beach<div>Evidently, I've been negligent in posting photos of the Fab Four. So, yesterday we hit the beach for an extended photo session with a pro (aka Momma), and got some much needed photographic attention for the quartet. Here's a sneak peek of the photos for family -- but be warned: There will be special presents in the mail! Enjoy!!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiScqCFrCchGKgpeB61r10n8hGeO-xFn5CQH890cWLxVEm_a9N8kKInD5DkokNFG2Rz4Hw0jFRDgd65-_bAmd5uSPRQ7mcLAcIJs_6fcBNyKCHb375mKDFc1xpQfkjROrhc0a42w/s1600/IMG_9393.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiScqCFrCchGKgpeB61r10n8hGeO-xFn5CQH890cWLxVEm_a9N8kKInD5DkokNFG2Rz4Hw0jFRDgd65-_bAmd5uSPRQ7mcLAcIJs_6fcBNyKCHb375mKDFc1xpQfkjROrhc0a42w/s320/IMG_9393.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496196667171749138" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7rLq-yeF_fAcG4QoMs67Iq-QKyBXta51i6vMk8z18bOBNdHWItfT1fYkVNFl8KmMiNRg-tHRn9V-HK7XMJUwT19Nal0xFa_8seZmodB2JN2Rbo8ZX-rGmEITPw4k-UoyOWht6Cg/s1600/IMG_9395.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7rLq-yeF_fAcG4QoMs67Iq-QKyBXta51i6vMk8z18bOBNdHWItfT1fYkVNFl8KmMiNRg-tHRn9V-HK7XMJUwT19Nal0xFa_8seZmodB2JN2Rbo8ZX-rGmEITPw4k-UoyOWht6Cg/s320/IMG_9395.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496196655989933314" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje3vUi5Zvw82Qq1pNjw0RQ-F8D2EZ1jVjzQTip5QH-bVesWBDTy-bK_ojqIRRDTW_fs7u3-6OX7mm-Htsn_7oG5nZqQIBWZImNS83CGsI5pYO0A4nnOvwJ8-f3tmKLggYZ2LrCzw/s1600/IMG_9396.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje3vUi5Zvw82Qq1pNjw0RQ-F8D2EZ1jVjzQTip5QH-bVesWBDTy-bK_ojqIRRDTW_fs7u3-6OX7mm-Htsn_7oG5nZqQIBWZImNS83CGsI5pYO0A4nnOvwJ8-f3tmKLggYZ2LrCzw/s320/IMG_9396.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496196647825094338" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Ct2VeUZO3dbslCOY79nJUdEPnLcweF3jlZBlQrFFWPSU7m5KkUTpMFslj4eG6yaSQHnkxw4oS9ImJ7Z2RbgVUTSqumMq13j0IbXuxg6S0iKukvp5n7QMWgsdVumnVtbnJ71Kqg/s1600/IMG_9416.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Ct2VeUZO3dbslCOY79nJUdEPnLcweF3jlZBlQrFFWPSU7m5KkUTpMFslj4eG6yaSQHnkxw4oS9ImJ7Z2RbgVUTSqumMq13j0IbXuxg6S0iKukvp5n7QMWgsdVumnVtbnJ71Kqg/s320/IMG_9416.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496196636776122226" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjH6cdmtNbaxsHfyCsDUUxK8a0_zAey1eWOLlTAytD1WCo8WgrHcLdUxqed1r_Xri7gV7sVi5hhNfhWekWSs4deDHovdqG8taG7BD4l5puRG7LTSPbjSrLg1buSR5ACshihGg6g/s1600/IMG_9447.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjH6cdmtNbaxsHfyCsDUUxK8a0_zAey1eWOLlTAytD1WCo8WgrHcLdUxqed1r_Xri7gV7sVi5hhNfhWekWSs4deDHovdqG8taG7BD4l5puRG7LTSPbjSrLg1buSR5ACshihGg6g/s320/IMG_9447.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496196628443365458" /></a>THE MERRILL FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021819035748596272noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25409723.post-73365743404323131482010-06-27T14:18:00.000-07:002010-06-27T14:25:08.099-07:00First Night of "Summer"<div>After Elena's birthday party and sleepover the crew has been chomping at the bit to have another sleepover party. Specifically, to have K and H sleepover. So, I promised them that the last day of school they could have their first sleepover of the summer.<div><br /></div><div>The kids had fun with dinner at Chick Fil A and playing outside. Once we went in for the night I got them set up in their "special" sleeping spot on the air mattress and pull out couch. We watched "Surf's Up" and laughed at penguins hanging ten. I thought for sure that the six of them would sack out during the movie, but no go. All were awake until 9:30-10, with K and El my last hold outs. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>However, by 10:15 this was the situation in the house:</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyhvnV2mY0oA9dsXn6k9oHOi6SePK9sl_h6kWaGCMeA5yLc7ROeeFe046gNhfZD7E3DxSohyphenhyphenHUN44ZwxplsIwLh7JqNagePVkH_EHV8NE7GUWlnqSP_xX7hw-MYHvXfO0PzWnyXA/s1600/IMG_9231.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyhvnV2mY0oA9dsXn6k9oHOi6SePK9sl_h6kWaGCMeA5yLc7ROeeFe046gNhfZD7E3DxSohyphenhyphenHUN44ZwxplsIwLh7JqNagePVkH_EHV8NE7GUWlnqSP_xX7hw-MYHvXfO0PzWnyXA/s320/IMG_9231.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487566679987468818" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyqUIpzJVeGN_MZRj_ZVwISqANBmZtcsBIJgP-vFGFGunb3GeTrE6GZI1AGl1_U3OBaB34yFmg78R8czQ4SuVcnKH2kUQrAUXZedKURvQdNIs9lRGbpfo-5564bdoG65X9ogi-Cg/s1600/IMG_9233.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyqUIpzJVeGN_MZRj_ZVwISqANBmZtcsBIJgP-vFGFGunb3GeTrE6GZI1AGl1_U3OBaB34yFmg78R8czQ4SuVcnKH2kUQrAUXZedKURvQdNIs9lRGbpfo-5564bdoG65X9ogi-Cg/s320/IMG_9233.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487566674211909666" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvVbYifjdTNicxgyz0Wff5fWm2URMsaG_LRLWyt6UON7ty4aXwtCkbGNdp1cjyJyFz4TTC9qZxG3RTLRnwcS_nyAV-tqaMSMyiGLQn6g5QwVn48nVkOotkPuKdzmLj_NspMPBcoA/s1600/IMG_9234.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvVbYifjdTNicxgyz0Wff5fWm2URMsaG_LRLWyt6UON7ty4aXwtCkbGNdp1cjyJyFz4TTC9qZxG3RTLRnwcS_nyAV-tqaMSMyiGLQn6g5QwVn48nVkOotkPuKdzmLj_NspMPBcoA/s320/IMG_9234.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487566660621682962" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2XbzKc1M8FGxswuHhtFQDpCNjjLZW8WLDHOEW1GFwe64-jeS6qD9kfPEx6IIdt5HXlCneYvGt9Xc2UQPmRtRQJLV4wShXeLJZxe8PF4ooxz5k07wAc4K7PRw0Tg7hAgBRxQjgQ/s1600/IMG_9235.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2XbzKc1M8FGxswuHhtFQDpCNjjLZW8WLDHOEW1GFwe64-jeS6qD9kfPEx6IIdt5HXlCneYvGt9Xc2UQPmRtRQJLV4wShXeLJZxe8PF4ooxz5k07wAc4K7PRw0Tg7hAgBRxQjgQ/s320/IMG_9235.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487566653272380946" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj465TRjpoTqO-4frp1h_CrWj91uukCweI7A0lO1-WyrVWxZXDNY_mpDqjkzRxfZXg1NEe3GYjaapCx0HRndxjiFTbLGDqvUKC12ebHS5Eo5XE4wxYvCZgjRpJra2_9UITPuQJSkg/s1600/IMG_9237.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj465TRjpoTqO-4frp1h_CrWj91uukCweI7A0lO1-WyrVWxZXDNY_mpDqjkzRxfZXg1NEe3GYjaapCx0HRndxjiFTbLGDqvUKC12ebHS5Eo5XE4wxYvCZgjRpJra2_9UITPuQJSkg/s320/IMG_9237.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487566644594186418" /></a>Lydia had to sleep in her own bed, but the rest slept soundly in the living room for the night. <div><br /></div><div>I think everyone had a good time. I know that my kids are excited for a repeat. H, however, thinks our house is "too crowded" and prefers to sleep in his own bed :) Pretty cute all around the compound!<br /><br /></div>THE MERRILL FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021819035748596272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25409723.post-25531083338138827802010-06-27T11:34:00.001-07:002010-06-27T11:44:43.946-07:00Mommy's first try at Friday Hair Day<div>The first, and last, time that I had the girls' hair done it cost me an arm and a leg. Literally. So wanting to save some money, but also wanting to save some time (and my sanity) on getting the girls ready every day, I decided to try my hand at doing their hair myself. </div><div><br /></div><div>After researching the internet on different options (specifically www.happygirlhair.com and the adoption hair and skincare group on Yahoo!) we got down to it. I gathered the elastics, combs, and creams, and sat the the kids down in front of a movie. It wasn't all fun. There were tears, and not just mine. But I'm pretty happy with the finished product for our first go:</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjryr9AZCBTEKPZ-exY7QGH-_sqXSi1yJPWPQgZ2AvlqM-XXF2tDdYQQPJMduj-mtEsQJJ1p3vXhDS9UMq2jy4_eEaPJcJAiMPS3nnCzTs2HuwCrovPCGjRnXoQrC7rRaEPOv0exw/s1600/IMG_9240.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjryr9AZCBTEKPZ-exY7QGH-_sqXSi1yJPWPQgZ2AvlqM-XXF2tDdYQQPJMduj-mtEsQJJ1p3vXhDS9UMq2jy4_eEaPJcJAiMPS3nnCzTs2HuwCrovPCGjRnXoQrC7rRaEPOv0exw/s320/IMG_9240.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487524774815150514" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3jahA8FoxxOhyx9Oh_vqCG7DlmfbJ7h3tmiJ9Lb9VcO_-F7t-jLJ-n6Zh444zHYG4rhXlpD-JmnCsAdtfeSsjgECDTCzTBmNKHxCRsFNH-0jsONNX0C0q9qzh9D2S1jVoGOs8w/s1600/IMG_9241.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3jahA8FoxxOhyx9Oh_vqCG7DlmfbJ7h3tmiJ9Lb9VcO_-F7t-jLJ-n6Zh444zHYG4rhXlpD-JmnCsAdtfeSsjgECDTCzTBmNKHxCRsFNH-0jsONNX0C0q9qzh9D2S1jVoGOs8w/s320/IMG_9241.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487524576957194978" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42RXIQhjC3h2ylLu-d5yanmtClNtQ-MbEvCCj7WZxB8WyzzvuFx4keR19-wIs02Sn7MijXU03kw8jzgytODETldbrfuTxvqtfLA1fxV5rdK6WHBhsRUSO8al9NQvWRsPTVsrQkg/s1600/IMG_9242.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42RXIQhjC3h2ylLu-d5yanmtClNtQ-MbEvCCj7WZxB8WyzzvuFx4keR19-wIs02Sn7MijXU03kw8jzgytODETldbrfuTxvqtfLA1fxV5rdK6WHBhsRUSO8al9NQvWRsPTVsrQkg/s320/IMG_9242.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487524570250946210" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqWKr-nNlOdh5rE5VBIoOBnK47Vkmdzu_FCktbjKBe0nTmGoRKotD_IqOhhtqgrRwjbHHX1lXh7PpobsM4k4mX4dIM2t8Jtv8O25N41EcpVq_a0IF0Ufuk_HuuagsBBtp8TK-yQ/s1600/IMG_9243.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqWKr-nNlOdh5rE5VBIoOBnK47Vkmdzu_FCktbjKBe0nTmGoRKotD_IqOhhtqgrRwjbHHX1lXh7PpobsM4k4mX4dIM2t8Jtv8O25N41EcpVq_a0IF0Ufuk_HuuagsBBtp8TK-yQ/s320/IMG_9243.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487524559056804114" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDjpQ2ukvUdwvO4tiyYJsHvETuSTOeAaget5nX1Z7EbxV5lpjQ3rCruIbm8NBMz_Q-I8j68AuKExRW0GacUpKAlo5LMwXk15Jt1-6oYmknfdVXYEBDMdFZ5jzGMgDnaPiESMOnew/s1600/IMG_9244.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDjpQ2ukvUdwvO4tiyYJsHvETuSTOeAaget5nX1Z7EbxV5lpjQ3rCruIbm8NBMz_Q-I8j68AuKExRW0GacUpKAlo5LMwXk15Jt1-6oYmknfdVXYEBDMdFZ5jzGMgDnaPiESMOnew/s320/IMG_9244.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487524544427823378" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNvV7CMwaSWelqUv9Md-_WLFilNlne6DL0wSY0qn5ZZBuW4ZRuCk1d0Sg-hl4k3lW-_kEX3HZL9FCWdYjHfvnkoZGcriGFVsxwWij-wejttYjxXE0qea6P2R2SAiEZKDeHRJCtUg/s1600/IMG_9246.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNvV7CMwaSWelqUv9Md-_WLFilNlne6DL0wSY0qn5ZZBuW4ZRuCk1d0Sg-hl4k3lW-_kEX3HZL9FCWdYjHfvnkoZGcriGFVsxwWij-wejttYjxXE0qea6P2R2SAiEZKDeHRJCtUg/s320/IMG_9246.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487524533424518786" /></a><br /><div>I think the girls' faces show what they think of their new 'dos. Now what to do with their hair next Friday ...</div>THE MERRILL FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021819035748596272noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25409723.post-3844361228524761732010-06-27T11:05:00.001-07:002010-06-27T11:34:10.027-07:00Ghana v USA football<div>Yesterday was the first game in the knockout stage of the World Cup and the USA faced off against Ghana Black Stars. Our house was divided with my Ghanaian angels rooting for "their" team, Elena fiercely loyal to the red, white, and blue, Garrett indifferent, and I was torn yet wearing Essien's Black Stars jersey. </div><div><br /></div><div>Here is a photo journal of our day:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4B4LIotXMpVLj-bzK5jkPorBoJRAyJjzm6b5lbfxyXy3zYh9QlPTXdNfBomDs7ZyebOO9xfIISgAjuUoEZcbYNG9VJtmIdLTVE5Q-QnmRNtZ3XL_3mBA_QIjGFl40ouMps56dw/s1600/IMG_9248.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4B4LIotXMpVLj-bzK5jkPorBoJRAyJjzm6b5lbfxyXy3zYh9QlPTXdNfBomDs7ZyebOO9xfIISgAjuUoEZcbYNG9VJtmIdLTVE5Q-QnmRNtZ3XL_3mBA_QIjGFl40ouMps56dw/s320/IMG_9248.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487518509409409650" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">"Gooo Ghanaaaahhh!" cheers Eddie at the start of the game.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiVEmUEWvJArHXz54PLArQsN6AqZ3IFoIEGAcabyt2MrIor4dRd3wHRcmErWjU5hL9TW8KH_m8uFrGcMiD3j8Sr3E7AzcsAmNtVNJOPz1lYiKGkrHb-EQwWiwxhq487hCF66rmg/s1600/IMG_9249.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiVEmUEWvJArHXz54PLArQsN6AqZ3IFoIEGAcabyt2MrIor4dRd3wHRcmErWjU5hL9TW8KH_m8uFrGcMiD3j8Sr3E7AzcsAmNtVNJOPz1lYiKGkrHb-EQwWiwxhq487hCF66rmg/s320/IMG_9249.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487518500039592386" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Elena: "I don't think that's very funny, Eddie."</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6N37OUi4wG6mGEdZgO55hVYiKxhClMp0KtJqvU1Kk_JnOh4ehOtSGzUxPRo1R4EUA6OR_kb0cjFkNmz1tvAhAvNTnLAh62Kd_Pqnd5vncW_XLBVWN988KE6brwoOrZziQK3LRzw/s1600/IMG_9250.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6N37OUi4wG6mGEdZgO55hVYiKxhClMp0KtJqvU1Kk_JnOh4ehOtSGzUxPRo1R4EUA6OR_kb0cjFkNmz1tvAhAvNTnLAh62Kd_Pqnd5vncW_XLBVWN988KE6brwoOrZziQK3LRzw/s320/IMG_9250.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487518485786623730" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Pregame hug while the captains shake hands.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikVgRKuUKG_gbsjwHXvxhtBBoXaAhbP6xZyVXA4-rY4qG-MGINObrUldkwMgOX6W-PS97mbRUM-6QPM6Wwnn8MTXBeKqaxPSTx2xSX2e4fP05XnYI7Rtk_5dpoZa4j8GnZauJ1g/s1600/IMG_9251.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikVgRKuUKG_gbsjwHXvxhtBBoXaAhbP6xZyVXA4-rY4qG-MGINObrUldkwMgOX6W-PS97mbRUM-6QPM6Wwnn8MTXBeKqaxPSTx2xSX2e4fP05XnYI7Rtk_5dpoZa4j8GnZauJ1g/s320/IMG_9251.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487517981546101842" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Garrett: "Hey, let me get in on that hug!"</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7597SlU8QhSpxlPT-EP93oKsfHQ2XGg5NxEBQvWv8ev-DS_W5UfkDyXCg4LbPR7ZofbaA8d-34OH8cpBCy2L8K1jJzFzGS3FK4lBBjrCkNhkiWeH6QzW_18_IDZxudadDXWFOMw/s1600/IMG_9252.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7597SlU8QhSpxlPT-EP93oKsfHQ2XGg5NxEBQvWv8ev-DS_W5UfkDyXCg4LbPR7ZofbaA8d-34OH8cpBCy2L8K1jJzFzGS3FK4lBBjrCkNhkiWeH6QzW_18_IDZxudadDXWFOMw/s320/IMG_9252.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487517970912741666" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">"Laina, quick. I'll hold him. You keep him from cheering."</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgveafFGExB7Ex7ug2u0zDJhbWGLWi_V8o4va4amV99vLrlh7bzUR42QWzOPbdLdMKpEyTQO5fUhp5KGcYt3iPhiZL42NONH4I5dxGcJNjAVolvXvS8RyWm5Mns7BIVUHr7ZJvrLQ/s1600/IMG_9253.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgveafFGExB7Ex7ug2u0zDJhbWGLWi_V8o4va4amV99vLrlh7bzUR42QWzOPbdLdMKpEyTQO5fUhp5KGcYt3iPhiZL42NONH4I5dxGcJNjAVolvXvS8RyWm5Mns7BIVUHr7ZJvrLQ/s320/IMG_9253.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487517964784995250" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Eddie: "GGGOOOOOAAAALLLLL!!!"</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipbJ9xTrxKWa5l_1uwZaXZnhtNM8mbpx8iQVuzFogT2KPcvRF-8kGVfPgCPE_SALbCKmQgcLZe4JBUKgxArKKFWVeRXR4_ccgoY4MkvKRGPFnvunWBh5jLcRPDQqUy5hA8AfgIEw/s1600/IMG_9255.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipbJ9xTrxKWa5l_1uwZaXZnhtNM8mbpx8iQVuzFogT2KPcvRF-8kGVfPgCPE_SALbCKmQgcLZe4JBUKgxArKKFWVeRXR4_ccgoY4MkvKRGPFnvunWBh5jLcRPDQqUy5hA8AfgIEw/s320/IMG_9255.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487517959199044786" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">"Shhhhh!!!"</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2y2wOAIHpYVqRmjsaKZIinvYfEC8quem1avjKNpdzxgftBuVVydEajfoRF6QNzwPtqUz4qjk4yrWgQLQ1Zy-vVdpFCTixua4ALjYfvjjLpW0Lq2s1ZflEHbhz6SSE9Ewfz4oI1g/s1600/IMG_9256.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2y2wOAIHpYVqRmjsaKZIinvYfEC8quem1avjKNpdzxgftBuVVydEajfoRF6QNzwPtqUz4qjk4yrWgQLQ1Zy-vVdpFCTixua4ALjYfvjjLpW0Lq2s1ZflEHbhz6SSE9Ewfz4oI1g/s320/IMG_9256.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487517938914013666" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">And three silly nuggets prepare to watch the game from a new viewpoint. </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wonder what they'll do for the quarterfinal game versus Uraguay? Stay tuned to find out!</div>THE MERRILL FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021819035748596272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25409723.post-30784617273516683472010-04-17T08:18:00.000-07:002010-04-17T10:19:10.236-07:00Videos<div><br /></div><div>Eddie washing his hair in snow -- the boy talked about nothing else once he learned about snow in Ghana. Crazy kid!</div><div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw6_eMqFiTjCMfLG_j76woy9NOGArAbbhminKMbxMKT7QAonU8QABZSpiPsOUiyPpP0hBGGhO2FGdQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><div><br /></div><div>Eddie and Lydia during our day of fun at Labadi Pleasure Beach in Accra. Here the kids are building their first sand castles. </div><div><br /></div><div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw4btpySRWi6eAVrEUAeLn5eLQnIq-uJP7DTnwq-PvnMw1nSUB9ZX1RX-PCUL-DK5tGMuwGdkX9E74' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>At Labadi we learned that people do all kinds of things at the beach -- mend fishing nets, wash their goats (yes, I also have that on video), and ride horseback near the surf. Here is Eddie enjoying his first ride on a horse (Lydia and I went riding after)</div><div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzNQVmyQwxPEs1OJWNMiDT8FDIbyzHkW5vaPVHaLYneQ0IFfYcr1sXFWvIZBE0URUUF03c089YtFbc' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><div><br /></div><div>Two of my favorite kiddos getting their groove on during the Boxing Day Children's Fete:</div><div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyw5EAGqPYZXxBx9gl-sBqWc0vUqHz4pP2m-Svi8MTpK_20vE3H4V1hYw0S1VjVQrzurX69B6pL6U8' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>THE MERRILL FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021819035748596272noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25409723.post-91862660978388471642010-04-12T00:01:00.000-07:002010-04-12T00:09:21.563-07:00Football Follies<div>While in Ghana I thought signed Eddie up for a rec soccer team would help him make friends and find common ground with others his age. Unfortunately, it didn't turn out that way. The team coach had the team doing drills from day one, and Eddie didn't understand what he needed to do. Practices became a challenge to get him to participate and the first game he sat on the field refusing to engage. Asked if he wanted to wait until the fall to play the answer was a resounding "Yes!" So here are some photos of my eldest's brief foray into playing football. It was cute while it lasted :)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBln_a19glybySEdBMEA2tdFsNf3rW0Tp72Ex6etnlstCu6r__2kDnUxVVfdcB8ri9mAdQIC6kQNEjD2AQFLCuuWsecyFQ5v6hZaEsYTQPf6XgMkyThzbkZYiS6bIZGM466rx8Q/s1600/IMG_8544.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBln_a19glybySEdBMEA2tdFsNf3rW0Tp72Ex6etnlstCu6r__2kDnUxVVfdcB8ri9mAdQIC6kQNEjD2AQFLCuuWsecyFQ5v6hZaEsYTQPf6XgMkyThzbkZYiS6bIZGM466rx8Q/s320/IMG_8544.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459142987105343922" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbBWvKVf57FudG4kDA-vWAESlne8SKnBYIsZl3ietnHUaxdLYgDNtvobfzmtK2DWVjj2bC4GlUvIDz7xah_Z50jO0mxo3NwZnXZQ4DBCy68y0RtcXhs4QjAYIEYxJl5dBgQ34wg/s1600/IMG_8545.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbBWvKVf57FudG4kDA-vWAESlne8SKnBYIsZl3ietnHUaxdLYgDNtvobfzmtK2DWVjj2bC4GlUvIDz7xah_Z50jO0mxo3NwZnXZQ4DBCy68y0RtcXhs4QjAYIEYxJl5dBgQ34wg/s320/IMG_8545.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459142976851816386" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnGm5QtJOLSBXlbfCuu_T3A5flJyygy75v0EmvZHh0QP5NcZHedxZZe0ZUy26NMyDeqwwnQ6Y-0sNY3eouPq8RmZU6YS1maonzsXB1XI0u4qyKVmboCd0HV_8TOTnd5r492IBSA/s1600/IMG_8546.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnGm5QtJOLSBXlbfCuu_T3A5flJyygy75v0EmvZHh0QP5NcZHedxZZe0ZUy26NMyDeqwwnQ6Y-0sNY3eouPq8RmZU6YS1maonzsXB1XI0u4qyKVmboCd0HV_8TOTnd5r492IBSA/s320/IMG_8546.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459142969493357986" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTxo-gLslR6PjxxutTU5vQh73mn1AIqnGdKDyHNWlQ5P_IXcBBy2ieqpoRbjgf3rjWN7awsmVO9TvoD-2rjOQ9inrw2jOf0WSNA7MkACEOt5z-4ZkndxTzjvSdAHazRXHJjALEA/s1600/IMG_8556.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTxo-gLslR6PjxxutTU5vQh73mn1AIqnGdKDyHNWlQ5P_IXcBBy2ieqpoRbjgf3rjWN7awsmVO9TvoD-2rjOQ9inrw2jOf0WSNA7MkACEOt5z-4ZkndxTzjvSdAHazRXHJjALEA/s320/IMG_8556.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459142962511386770" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXP-HpWtLJEF6QLQ3aECPhWMf3MLRLjk2CxyvIkl6SySZ5rsFkEKI6W9fVGneYBS3qk18I3pLJkILhRkAUgmzJUxre8J7fBDCN7uAs2UPUnGo__nn2RxRtSCrsHLrY5xmhKiQrwg/s1600/IMG_8559.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXP-HpWtLJEF6QLQ3aECPhWMf3MLRLjk2CxyvIkl6SySZ5rsFkEKI6W9fVGneYBS3qk18I3pLJkILhRkAUgmzJUxre8J7fBDCN7uAs2UPUnGo__nn2RxRtSCrsHLrY5xmhKiQrwg/s320/IMG_8559.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459142947400828546" /></a>THE MERRILL FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021819035748596272noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25409723.post-54216659526142431552010-04-10T11:34:00.000-07:002010-04-10T11:53:51.654-07:00G and E introduce E and L to the SD Zoo<div>Not even a week after Eddie and Lydia arrived in the States we attempted our first family outing to the zoo. Eddie and Lydia had seen many animals in the wild, but never so many and so close without being in danger. The kids' joy was so wonderful to share! A great family memory to treasure!</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">My four crazies!</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMntziC21gbSKDs0vf8K8fjVR5WJ6ul9A3RJ1DGRmxneZi3zkM5UAJxoiGTyqpmb6_mPvKMWtLqX0_hEMY86HjKPIuPw1z78Rf8xED_tgqYivmzvS9dDoVuVw1ATeNWFJ4FhvBMA/s1600/IMG_8276.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMntziC21gbSKDs0vf8K8fjVR5WJ6ul9A3RJ1DGRmxneZi3zkM5UAJxoiGTyqpmb6_mPvKMWtLqX0_hEMY86HjKPIuPw1z78Rf8xED_tgqYivmzvS9dDoVuVw1ATeNWFJ4FhvBMA/s320/IMG_8276.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458581201605557474" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Off on our adventure with Auntie Meghan and Nathan</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHt7Zwb6qZTeGL68AlBLbOJ7xW4IbchLuv2LEHzSsJSF9IPb2rDOgDqgHW2pj1_OaEBhwl5O_oyoXpftSYyMSoNpL2eg2YtQMGN5Urk7UQD0vgfvGkvUcqGP19GcVKURubgRmRQ/s1600/IMG_8280.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHt7Zwb6qZTeGL68AlBLbOJ7xW4IbchLuv2LEHzSsJSF9IPb2rDOgDqgHW2pj1_OaEBhwl5O_oyoXpftSYyMSoNpL2eg2YtQMGN5Urk7UQD0vgfvGkvUcqGP19GcVKURubgRmRQ/s320/IMG_8280.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458581033475446994" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Amazed to be so close -- and those eyes just slay me!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZ-4gdQ7mr9ON1a4QYvF2W8EjUfz8f7bEdBisAZPgMmNNaA5-3fW7u1468FrgqDnWvdFXQwTecyvyiC8iam767lzJJ5-sJanRhfeL4ycuQR7ikaQeAcTM0YD0Rsva47v9kH-iag/s1600/IMG_8289.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZ-4gdQ7mr9ON1a4QYvF2W8EjUfz8f7bEdBisAZPgMmNNaA5-3fW7u1468FrgqDnWvdFXQwTecyvyiC8iam767lzJJ5-sJanRhfeL4ycuQR7ikaQeAcTM0YD0Rsva47v9kH-iag/s320/IMG_8289.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458581026648204594" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Meeting Clyde</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_J2uIdTgqzgYN_dP7xPd5B3dFpP7KRt8ujt8_iyA3PUOZArwTgl8WuohKFLmAVSfbrob8Y-o9VspL1yiRryokdQHsahQ3jUKleyMYl9jRbJPEscxNVhj0d8zJmVdlYCPR0zbKA/s1600/IMG_8291.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_J2uIdTgqzgYN_dP7xPd5B3dFpP7KRt8ujt8_iyA3PUOZArwTgl8WuohKFLmAVSfbrob8Y-o9VspL1yiRryokdQHsahQ3jUKleyMYl9jRbJPEscxNVhj0d8zJmVdlYCPR0zbKA/s320/IMG_8291.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458581018043814754" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGP0lpzznx_PhZyhVuAUYBG2ZksijvSE3CV-JYmTU-FiHajkMJm-LpWSd14U5exqnIspyyATIXBQp2RhPbk6f5RoK_SneSKEh7_W-Z0h0Yq0FGg3nD-xpch_SeTCEVuil2lHAk0g/s1600/IMG_8300.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGP0lpzznx_PhZyhVuAUYBG2ZksijvSE3CV-JYmTU-FiHajkMJm-LpWSd14U5exqnIspyyATIXBQp2RhPbk6f5RoK_SneSKEh7_W-Z0h0Yq0FGg3nD-xpch_SeTCEVuil2lHAk0g/s320/IMG_8300.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458581008884508322" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Watching the gorillas -- happiest in the safety of Daddy's lap</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcX5YjJvdt8JNVvK1uRaklwMCB_I64tQKklblo2Fl8y1ZyQPeoHmToRBzGkZ8drvewCziNrrbAeoejCyIVEhwZ0ImgzlQXkdsSq-2KCaJPG6d6rZ3PhvU_0PrRFY27IK1QKWMBPg/s1600/IMG_8301.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcX5YjJvdt8JNVvK1uRaklwMCB_I64tQKklblo2Fl8y1ZyQPeoHmToRBzGkZ8drvewCziNrrbAeoejCyIVEhwZ0ImgzlQXkdsSq-2KCaJPG6d6rZ3PhvU_0PrRFY27IK1QKWMBPg/s320/IMG_8301.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458580997173812418" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdVUB6b2VS2SmxIC4SgvqZqmlPQsi8tREQ09eHZc59CS16zGIaVe3ua-Icx3rU8A6qiHjzyInduOPWjps_vaP2zRHoHuzbH9VLrmSN8L1FSZdF2k5l9AeQH9JC_vBxRa7VeYnUQ/s1600/IMG_8305.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdVUB6b2VS2SmxIC4SgvqZqmlPQsi8tREQ09eHZc59CS16zGIaVe3ua-Icx3rU8A6qiHjzyInduOPWjps_vaP2zRHoHuzbH9VLrmSN8L1FSZdF2k5l9AeQH9JC_vBxRa7VeYnUQ/s320/IMG_8305.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458580490755529714" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Mommy and her girls</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4gi8hT-Nhdsgf-TftXTfDvUlc5UIUxhIDuXMTRM4VGRlUy-yM5YBBRVbTxbPZLeL4J8bNKQWoHDy6BPmB8caCrEVMYc6JsHyT87Z4__pYTnKyBLkmZglAOS3jQI5I1x_-_WBwCw/s1600/IMG_8312.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4gi8hT-Nhdsgf-TftXTfDvUlc5UIUxhIDuXMTRM4VGRlUy-yM5YBBRVbTxbPZLeL4J8bNKQWoHDy6BPmB8caCrEVMYc6JsHyT87Z4__pYTnKyBLkmZglAOS3jQI5I1x_-_WBwCw/s320/IMG_8312.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458580481987831394" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I think Daddy's in trouble with these two :)</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vXBwF68VCLTYPnO4-yhxohQaW4_Ht6AJXhFG0wWc9lR3Oj_ywgY0JE7XXjgFMQahylDQj0IZ1R5wC1N5865oOTy3YF6DCHfEyjSC4ODrrczIPP44LCmiAWzk4n4ax7ZrNbXHMQ/s1600/IMG_8319.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vXBwF68VCLTYPnO4-yhxohQaW4_Ht6AJXhFG0wWc9lR3Oj_ywgY0JE7XXjgFMQahylDQj0IZ1R5wC1N5865oOTy3YF6DCHfEyjSC4ODrrczIPP44LCmiAWzk4n4ax7ZrNbXHMQ/s320/IMG_8319.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458580474081528194" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not so sure about all that he sees</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UPgZ-A1kBPIaJjnyRqf44XUZNirz8ILqBENPayelAm1Gk3XJS6WRWU8VT91h62Jm7evXCWpIMcdY9Zl_YOUAEpiRqfjVYc7BB5raDA68A4ph9-abiPWYG3jhBTu2d7utExj2mQ/s1600/IMG_8320.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UPgZ-A1kBPIaJjnyRqf44XUZNirz8ILqBENPayelAm1Gk3XJS6WRWU8VT91h62Jm7evXCWpIMcdY9Zl_YOUAEpiRqfjVYc7BB5raDA68A4ph9-abiPWYG3jhBTu2d7utExj2mQ/s320/IMG_8320.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458580465290377730" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEs72i82-KUsdkVST_UwqdHVTWBFxOlGKIC_8blj58Oh1kdqOmSj3qctQ-YfqEWN0DMCt005IDICnWKwE2HEqyXtie_PVs8GPcGkhmCUlywlNLJ3iXQpfXTwdsjQKPklzHHkBOQ/s1600/IMG_8336.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEs72i82-KUsdkVST_UwqdHVTWBFxOlGKIC_8blj58Oh1kdqOmSj3qctQ-YfqEWN0DMCt005IDICnWKwE2HEqyXtie_PVs8GPcGkhmCUlywlNLJ3iXQpfXTwdsjQKPklzHHkBOQ/s320/IMG_8336.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458580459851515122" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">My handsome fellas!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggx2SS94CGJbYY3XF2_FhGOkX0X-DPud4Y540T7dITg9JTilcNDYskozNErZa0VfN3dOZFqvncGDfiDRmbycFok3VjD79-6sdUiMP6Hv4-fLEaiBZmrcSyolJf7xPL5cIvzc7zdQ/s1600/IMG_8342.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggx2SS94CGJbYY3XF2_FhGOkX0X-DPud4Y540T7dITg9JTilcNDYskozNErZa0VfN3dOZFqvncGDfiDRmbycFok3VjD79-6sdUiMP6Hv4-fLEaiBZmrcSyolJf7xPL5cIvzc7zdQ/s320/IMG_8342.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458579670777443506" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">G could stare at the "tar pit" for hours if I and the rest of the family let him</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJUIH9E3An3snaryMt9gIOjeNL1GrUL-3VYl0Hi89lLflEhA312ZYqrzLJEhyxloi_hHKKpPAZQb_ubwEb5X2JqlINkWiUVq0lj6VbWPq-FibQmowj5JgMcZ60f-xeD_WRZC_GQ/s1600/IMG_8345.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJUIH9E3An3snaryMt9gIOjeNL1GrUL-3VYl0Hi89lLflEhA312ZYqrzLJEhyxloi_hHKKpPAZQb_ubwEb5X2JqlINkWiUVq0lj6VbWPq-FibQmowj5JgMcZ60f-xeD_WRZC_GQ/s320/IMG_8345.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458579668662704226" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Exploring a statue of an American lion through hands-on interaction</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilDrGSJkFxaXzecw2RZOT8OGNEXDyFoOw9eHVoVHzRM_A-B5xvASp4J1EVmRlzfVvUhBDVf2i9pUOdfL618AyqP-srB1uF3WqZ_3f0QozXIqo3sPn32GjRlVzpk55gSjYNujchuQ/s1600/IMG_8359.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilDrGSJkFxaXzecw2RZOT8OGNEXDyFoOw9eHVoVHzRM_A-B5xvASp4J1EVmRlzfVvUhBDVf2i9pUOdfL618AyqP-srB1uF3WqZ_3f0QozXIqo3sPn32GjRlVzpk55gSjYNujchuQ/s320/IMG_8359.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458579658007226722" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A lion, a lion!!!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBMa7qhc_iuoQ28BZUJyUI5l5TplC0E-XnATiTk9rSCod415zdPWgn2NacVkN5pefF_MjfM_SWQuHLomb_9WE8sKrZYTDOmzEbG0QBGD7PopCvnFvY_AFE-HoXQhOfw-Etr63tvg/s1600/IMG_8356.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBMa7qhc_iuoQ28BZUJyUI5l5TplC0E-XnATiTk9rSCod415zdPWgn2NacVkN5pefF_MjfM_SWQuHLomb_9WE8sKrZYTDOmzEbG0QBGD7PopCvnFvY_AFE-HoXQhOfw-Etr63tvg/s320/IMG_8356.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458579644296278002" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The cause of the excitement</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswj2inMaHW9u29yb5MTmFaMTeEXKbYhyUE4th0qjGs7AeDJHOv9s34E9vFZSnYsK25OQSvauALPx7Lo0VybH8kU0V_z32sk5a9i1wEM_ywERcqfl_Hdh3k_7n-MuW6AuFqNTlJA/s1600/IMG_8364.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswj2inMaHW9u29yb5MTmFaMTeEXKbYhyUE4th0qjGs7AeDJHOv9s34E9vFZSnYsK25OQSvauALPx7Lo0VybH8kU0V_z32sk5a9i1wEM_ywERcqfl_Hdh3k_7n-MuW6AuFqNTlJA/s320/IMG_8364.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458579639454307330" /></a><br /></div><div>Needless to say, I believe our zoo membership is well worth its cost -- we've already been back 6 times and summer break hasn't even begun!</div>THE MERRILL FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021819035748596272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25409723.post-30467255973656115632010-04-07T22:20:00.000-07:002010-04-07T22:24:23.742-07:00Snow Fun<div>President's Day weekend we headed up to the San Bernadino Mountains after our day at the beach. Gotta love living in the land where we can beach it one day and romp in the snow the next. Lydia and Eddie fell in love with the snow. First interactions with the frozen white stuff for my Ghanaian angels and they have been asking for it ever since!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNPTJTxTogS6BkPnmnu4JkMRpv-RcGb3MFrU_NyK2mfaLUaiM2-MhnLKNUw2xuNcvtYX9hf5_UbmGgrAgQju4jTcqKxSeMi-ZhHOXGfsbxw1v5Iv4N2o3iOTge_Vw8BU7vrFONw/s1600/IMG_8535.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNPTJTxTogS6BkPnmnu4JkMRpv-RcGb3MFrU_NyK2mfaLUaiM2-MhnLKNUw2xuNcvtYX9hf5_UbmGgrAgQju4jTcqKxSeMi-ZhHOXGfsbxw1v5Iv4N2o3iOTge_Vw8BU7vrFONw/s320/IMG_8535.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457632660392013602" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhaDUE3iqLJiHGDKipLpHnzdzrfiEbj5F4vIrKyxB6pDJJ1pIaf1gyC9uPbkCedsa-uwVF5TGhZcnMm5POJmeW9WyObzgtZLfNHQRvEXtsR7tj4Qf5MY84QQvMWXZCmCJmbum3DQ/s1600/IMG_8536.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhaDUE3iqLJiHGDKipLpHnzdzrfiEbj5F4vIrKyxB6pDJJ1pIaf1gyC9uPbkCedsa-uwVF5TGhZcnMm5POJmeW9WyObzgtZLfNHQRvEXtsR7tj4Qf5MY84QQvMWXZCmCJmbum3DQ/s320/IMG_8536.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457632653031542690" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKR5GSZ_kgS-LXEsDSUoNbCRqOvN9649amd-b295ukqQX1c1OLo2TnIhe6hw7FvsrG5WFgjRHJmkwZ0dh7j1C3Wh_o1SM75p4SRxwIzP150229OLVbp0pic7LsJ18CLqteZm5sQ/s1600/IMG_8537.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKR5GSZ_kgS-LXEsDSUoNbCRqOvN9649amd-b295ukqQX1c1OLo2TnIhe6hw7FvsrG5WFgjRHJmkwZ0dh7j1C3Wh_o1SM75p4SRxwIzP150229OLVbp0pic7LsJ18CLqteZm5sQ/s320/IMG_8537.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457632511598969826" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-8tPiOdXZXu2KKYmGmO09mlh7Rx6oubyAYHlVzz7nV9X5XH3q7lrWmaAdgO4odE4g9DZo7_ygL5vZaH5LeJzgOx5AZYLQBJKGdpU7M4eiLPBiyKNiEltfb-egwXs4CIzt-_AYg/s1600/IMG_8538.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-8tPiOdXZXu2KKYmGmO09mlh7Rx6oubyAYHlVzz7nV9X5XH3q7lrWmaAdgO4odE4g9DZo7_ygL5vZaH5LeJzgOx5AZYLQBJKGdpU7M4eiLPBiyKNiEltfb-egwXs4CIzt-_AYg/s320/IMG_8538.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457632501229985650" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUgr4E1_Q5u89BXSG7SW-iJkvex5uqFr7Ix9SdG8lbqIhAFgHPpeaDURoT1XGFf8a7Hk-ETASDYY22oC4uRtW7Az_wE6BDItR5GKjDsgP5OJLr03w_NFjzyTjybG5TQm0Z1jSAjA/s1600/IMG_8539.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUgr4E1_Q5u89BXSG7SW-iJkvex5uqFr7Ix9SdG8lbqIhAFgHPpeaDURoT1XGFf8a7Hk-ETASDYY22oC4uRtW7Az_wE6BDItR5GKjDsgP5OJLr03w_NFjzyTjybG5TQm0Z1jSAjA/s320/IMG_8539.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457632494953482274" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgvwPhfFYcmis3A-81Q5MIIM3EHlAyF_C2oYfZdMHVIacj8Jv_5VRlBhyAGZrOiqaPk3fsx3Jk9UmXz_fjH1U7lUeG_938iYe9hQecOiNlL0bWsgTtjC4bp88d_oUXRxwjKQpvCg/s1600/IMG_8540.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgvwPhfFYcmis3A-81Q5MIIM3EHlAyF_C2oYfZdMHVIacj8Jv_5VRlBhyAGZrOiqaPk3fsx3Jk9UmXz_fjH1U7lUeG_938iYe9hQecOiNlL0bWsgTtjC4bp88d_oUXRxwjKQpvCg/s320/IMG_8540.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457632486026521058" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-4XF2GMecwExs88f8tElOX59VrCoM0latvspPLE9jP-d2ufKhBQCf9PUT-wgIGPa6f3SvWKpQPW8R6fqK7J9zFBa51GWw1KYw49oIIaKu7TXgHnFdvi5OtMVMtw_CLMMu4MEpg/s1600/IMG_8541.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-4XF2GMecwExs88f8tElOX59VrCoM0latvspPLE9jP-d2ufKhBQCf9PUT-wgIGPa6f3SvWKpQPW8R6fqK7J9zFBa51GWw1KYw49oIIaKu7TXgHnFdvi5OtMVMtw_CLMMu4MEpg/s320/IMG_8541.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457632475313179490" /></a>THE MERRILL FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021819035748596272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25409723.post-68933860016315883592010-04-06T21:10:00.001-07:002010-04-06T21:38:36.143-07:00Family Frolicking Fun<div><br /></div><div>So, 1 month into the deployment and I'm finally catching up on blog posting of our family adventures before Chris left. President's Day weekend we headed to the beach to enjoy time with each other and introduce Eddie and Lydia to the Pacific Ocean. Good times were had by all, including introducing E and L to the joys of kite flying. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The loves of my life!</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgM6sXl9JTjZjGW_8TdoSsD5KJ8GEGAvW3xh2DK7cMnXo3uoQlVl9KGBTGwGTbHYeE8eEpFWLd4XD0yn1kUSFA0ZAmHKN0Q6loS4JEnlVW0GG7aFaacEFCNN0i9bJUIBGkT-FiA/s1600/IMG_8375.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgM6sXl9JTjZjGW_8TdoSsD5KJ8GEGAvW3xh2DK7cMnXo3uoQlVl9KGBTGwGTbHYeE8eEpFWLd4XD0yn1kUSFA0ZAmHKN0Q6loS4JEnlVW0GG7aFaacEFCNN0i9bJUIBGkT-FiA/s320/IMG_8375.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457247783174200706" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bP0MVbP-VvfBrDMZR6nOoiOgpDYHspM6pU_VcyqIfeHDbzjNb40xLfTO_H_91gZH4DSUBGhiaAUrXEr-RAMzTJlBceaBa6NHEt7r_q1Xc84N6jy47z595dyiYX2X56w30u60GA/s1600/IMG_8394.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bP0MVbP-VvfBrDMZR6nOoiOgpDYHspM6pU_VcyqIfeHDbzjNb40xLfTO_H_91gZH4DSUBGhiaAUrXEr-RAMzTJlBceaBa6NHEt7r_q1Xc84N6jy47z595dyiYX2X56w30u60GA/s320/IMG_8394.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457247771648353554" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqtKS-AXlk5AzwiolgWC2buNNbPqTHI3BE3zQaeEX7r6L980N8juZ6IGi5tDbUqzIHpZU_pVqtrdh-EEE5QlNaRdOaLNKiUdKcO6Jaguz4Rnrj46PqY8gHehpvb7u9waj8HogCQ/s1600/IMG_8378.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqtKS-AXlk5AzwiolgWC2buNNbPqTHI3BE3zQaeEX7r6L980N8juZ6IGi5tDbUqzIHpZU_pVqtrdh-EEE5QlNaRdOaLNKiUdKcO6Jaguz4Rnrj46PqY8gHehpvb7u9waj8HogCQ/s320/IMG_8378.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457247762267735186" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4DXRspwEwvJHL5IyWnLgeZ3PjfrEz-5KHGVYOqLNEzzLcEwjBs5iyZYrl2NAepRP4Vk4H8xybZrswnrr6C5Y7pjx4y7RfvZ3GtHjP3r_qrPrM1NkWyDop3rXfgaZe_gt7x2G5sg/s1600/IMG_8380.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4DXRspwEwvJHL5IyWnLgeZ3PjfrEz-5KHGVYOqLNEzzLcEwjBs5iyZYrl2NAepRP4Vk4H8xybZrswnrr6C5Y7pjx4y7RfvZ3GtHjP3r_qrPrM1NkWyDop3rXfgaZe_gt7x2G5sg/s320/IMG_8380.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457247754447797234" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmyTYls8IENC5CVrfMYnhBM-JVTaqKypXSkGbNKgHNBQfETGGLTWkbsIBxpZRzZKfI4ExoVy0UZka_BOm-CVbKu_TnAD5TT2zyKMoj0v8AeizCc0dPPxQSJ4wxt06ntjFbJCRvA/s1600/IMG_8386.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmyTYls8IENC5CVrfMYnhBM-JVTaqKypXSkGbNKgHNBQfETGGLTWkbsIBxpZRzZKfI4ExoVy0UZka_BOm-CVbKu_TnAD5TT2zyKMoj0v8AeizCc0dPPxQSJ4wxt06ntjFbJCRvA/s320/IMG_8386.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457247176164901090" /></a><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;">Learning to throw a frisbee</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhBl8QOoKqC9PbroBF595RKPz-qIt6uy0LAVI8Xh-xh0x7Hmc_WATlTQzyecFA_Xu5O2JcIFga3sS8sQLrpnjePUQgh9ecjmKhrv5z2nN1w48_Ok7kUUtLB1SJVMkzyDiEATk9w/s1600/IMG_8393.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhBl8QOoKqC9PbroBF595RKPz-qIt6uy0LAVI8Xh-xh0x7Hmc_WATlTQzyecFA_Xu5O2JcIFga3sS8sQLrpnjePUQgh9ecjmKhrv5z2nN1w48_Ok7kUUtLB1SJVMkzyDiEATk9w/s320/IMG_8393.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457247168509701410" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">While her face might not show it, L thought kite flying was lots of fun!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ADdJoj3lIkkyTNikrbQDjAGnVRKNXKcp_BCZzh1bWd6JSSH6I8nSLCPTlTTPGMWIPD5NhKbnchX_ANHp8gyPxi0RFNjsNGVJtjih_7vNCIKXxQI1wq1AEfN21aFRmYaMLodsNw/s1600/IMG_8396.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ADdJoj3lIkkyTNikrbQDjAGnVRKNXKcp_BCZzh1bWd6JSSH6I8nSLCPTlTTPGMWIPD5NhKbnchX_ANHp8gyPxi0RFNjsNGVJtjih_7vNCIKXxQI1wq1AEfN21aFRmYaMLodsNw/s320/IMG_8396.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457247160244111650" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAUoJk82iosUP0TPHXCxl8MBE6Hc17hjxUP7lIYoPT0_hDhaUL3frjgiYsLaQpAl1uAtSgLcf-fvfkvYsiUKfefgSwEHvKmoxLZ0gu4aO1XRhRaYABR_iAQCdnffwDP6Es-Mlzg/s1600/IMG_8401.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAUoJk82iosUP0TPHXCxl8MBE6Hc17hjxUP7lIYoPT0_hDhaUL3frjgiYsLaQpAl1uAtSgLcf-fvfkvYsiUKfefgSwEHvKmoxLZ0gu4aO1XRhRaYABR_iAQCdnffwDP6Es-Mlzg/s320/IMG_8401.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457247155109802898" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOoHtadTl2X795vA1IR_dTnKL9ZXOsgPp_JRVXjni1cpvWFBZr6RfspiwOLT-C0wUdP7iZPZZ9IiWRS1xX0ELMG3WPwQYTkbNOWC4yzIKqbCnzqw82nqkZokMIsMTavFO33LfXg/s1600/IMG_8406.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOoHtadTl2X795vA1IR_dTnKL9ZXOsgPp_JRVXjni1cpvWFBZr6RfspiwOLT-C0wUdP7iZPZZ9IiWRS1xX0ELMG3WPwQYTkbNOWC4yzIKqbCnzqw82nqkZokMIsMTavFO33LfXg/s320/IMG_8406.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457247137784781058" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This one's joy is obvious</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01_KLkP_Yr9BdvVgK4oyNWLXR4WQZtim9YnxzdDvJOsAkpCLZwscrSRsHyxrr7EyMFgL1Gn9QNshln2O1S7aCPii2nBjrUm4SO71fWLp_iDDzo5LayLB-8_zhTB7C2xOJTjMrsw/s1600/IMG_8407.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01_KLkP_Yr9BdvVgK4oyNWLXR4WQZtim9YnxzdDvJOsAkpCLZwscrSRsHyxrr7EyMFgL1Gn9QNshln2O1S7aCPii2nBjrUm4SO71fWLp_iDDzo5LayLB-8_zhTB7C2xOJTjMrsw/s320/IMG_8407.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457246570399857250" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">No fear of the water</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-LLv8fz1JZ3Gq19IgFqeofvkQrOquJQsa-6GZZZXGLy0wtmlo634bcLhwLIW1mZwhhR32prMyyrLkWQqLAX1nJdir5WTxLlvSSIDycM4jqsvEIXfyfeo-PANPZYlSDwOBYQZlg/s1600/IMG_8435.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-LLv8fz1JZ3Gq19IgFqeofvkQrOquJQsa-6GZZZXGLy0wtmlo634bcLhwLIW1mZwhhR32prMyyrLkWQqLAX1nJdir5WTxLlvSSIDycM4jqsvEIXfyfeo-PANPZYlSDwOBYQZlg/s320/IMG_8435.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457246561321941634" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sisters splashing</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnYhI35JGmqKfAS3Oj2QlT3O_Z6er6Elcc4Ks_8iJpUD7MVFUJXIEsm_6LO8C1S1QDIV_DBqkg9kIFKqEVWswQPPKNVwA8RsnICIr1knCApVLVOzShLlQ7sVam2gx9aXxsGZl_A/s1600/IMG_8437.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnYhI35JGmqKfAS3Oj2QlT3O_Z6er6Elcc4Ks_8iJpUD7MVFUJXIEsm_6LO8C1S1QDIV_DBqkg9kIFKqEVWswQPPKNVwA8RsnICIr1knCApVLVOzShLlQ7sVam2gx9aXxsGZl_A/s320/IMG_8437.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457246549603547906" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Crazy hair </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieUZWdaKhgdt6dPldLQ0Ymg9SWsNGZNj_vf0M78IFHs5yfbeDZKxAKLVmbUSU6xGehVr-5OgWWXFEUclRCQA8nK512eHsFs1Am4TV5vwVaV6VZj9ADu-2lwG8EOcQdRMuwR4EBsQ/s1600/IMG_8455.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieUZWdaKhgdt6dPldLQ0Ymg9SWsNGZNj_vf0M78IFHs5yfbeDZKxAKLVmbUSU6xGehVr-5OgWWXFEUclRCQA8nK512eHsFs1Am4TV5vwVaV6VZj9ADu-2lwG8EOcQdRMuwR4EBsQ/s320/IMG_8455.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457246536968870642" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Boys racing and laughing</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCrbDz6MeAhP-wDnESq0RwbKJcnZE7l9bla32RhNm9lOdM4btjTnTP8eIcw0xF5KDLcAn8co_jegKUh_AWa-W1H0cLWI7IY8ok0oHsUPZt5fJgCF_02zaNXdBgLGUf9_hf9hUQg/s1600/IMG_8463.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCrbDz6MeAhP-wDnESq0RwbKJcnZE7l9bla32RhNm9lOdM4btjTnTP8eIcw0xF5KDLcAn8co_jegKUh_AWa-W1H0cLWI7IY8ok0oHsUPZt5fJgCF_02zaNXdBgLGUf9_hf9hUQg/s320/IMG_8463.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457246528096197458" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-wNvlSwBlAxoS_EWopPWKbhITRONHVw247Ldfurstyzz5rLpuRYJ5iPeue6SNUxt4CeZmHphsurTB_SwoPZ98MfcHgeTrxeRmIVQbOfEF2_r_axWQmEJmrcBFZfsRRZ-2H63aQ/s1600/IMG_8464.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-wNvlSwBlAxoS_EWopPWKbhITRONHVw247Ldfurstyzz5rLpuRYJ5iPeue6SNUxt4CeZmHphsurTB_SwoPZ98MfcHgeTrxeRmIVQbOfEF2_r_axWQmEJmrcBFZfsRRZ-2H63aQ/s320/IMG_8464.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457245684157124386" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj06fVZPwUqUc5wjIEcO7XH64SgsGOjp8Bx4YmsIfXYT_sQ_9oOzlnTLNu1uTmkOxgAH_7CBlsFYbpT-gBut3ptbvMuTHbutbbCSskRQh7xbkheOftUbitH052H3lOzqLWKndP5Bg/s1600/IMG_8465.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj06fVZPwUqUc5wjIEcO7XH64SgsGOjp8Bx4YmsIfXYT_sQ_9oOzlnTLNu1uTmkOxgAH_7CBlsFYbpT-gBut3ptbvMuTHbutbbCSskRQh7xbkheOftUbitH052H3lOzqLWKndP5Bg/s320/IMG_8465.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457245672644551170" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Stop taking my picture, Mom!"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHSUWI35NS-bX4bTRNBS1MNT6qLSIQ1OzSFlkKhc_vMZtJca0fF_16ovQUY6UKRsW6pr7kO3ej5_OWBQywYoPQDNtENsQAsevdWj2oWfttp8iEdiB2uMy_IXu3JLkGJPHYER0pg/s1600/IMG_8499.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHSUWI35NS-bX4bTRNBS1MNT6qLSIQ1OzSFlkKhc_vMZtJca0fF_16ovQUY6UKRsW6pr7kO3ej5_OWBQywYoPQDNtENsQAsevdWj2oWfttp8iEdiB2uMy_IXu3JLkGJPHYER0pg/s320/IMG_8499.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457245662835897090" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"You can't catch me!"</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRoFDoK7BiVWdOueD2KMIn9UIgDEpjc6apAaGc43xW21fKIEbLkTg-s-xv8hLFg_RwHoyjQrKAjpMaz-S9jg-1HX3yzAYPKaLO-N6kAF6L7mQ8yjRdSk3U9RogtAV5lgBYXrcJw/s1600/IMG_8505.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRoFDoK7BiVWdOueD2KMIn9UIgDEpjc6apAaGc43xW21fKIEbLkTg-s-xv8hLFg_RwHoyjQrKAjpMaz-S9jg-1HX3yzAYPKaLO-N6kAF6L7mQ8yjRdSk3U9RogtAV5lgBYXrcJw/s320/IMG_8505.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457245646560659906" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Jumping for joy</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRoeaKetHK15kXog2mcigknztikgPmmo5lvXfmIdnHCq2nBvXGI7982eOCNBSt7SiQHQT4rh5segUzsphTeDFP01MDgjz8yKf1JBjajKu-lqROEpaXdokz7DEP1w_jxsCrtUq5Wg/s1600/IMG_8508.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRoeaKetHK15kXog2mcigknztikgPmmo5lvXfmIdnHCq2nBvXGI7982eOCNBSt7SiQHQT4rh5segUzsphTeDFP01MDgjz8yKf1JBjajKu-lqROEpaXdokz7DEP1w_jxsCrtUq5Wg/s320/IMG_8508.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457245640133244530" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wipe out!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9mQJSPSdhrOpog9uuxSFOT9Rt472lVFtegELeNfDAwDJYAeShPsRLW8foonUdMEfryMmd9W-1aouDlnfY_B2yVc7xa5YkrGGT5MrBZlvY3t_eyaS7yK8RhjSwkwjuO1MBzBtyQ/s1600/IMG_8514.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9mQJSPSdhrOpog9uuxSFOT9Rt472lVFtegELeNfDAwDJYAeShPsRLW8foonUdMEfryMmd9W-1aouDlnfY_B2yVc7xa5YkrGGT5MrBZlvY3t_eyaS7yK8RhjSwkwjuO1MBzBtyQ/s320/IMG_8514.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457243713215928370" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Last moments with Daddy</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCl6ph_-gX4akvWx79AJURrsel9VRN795p5OW7T3O_3NSUey7vpo5Y7xIkMONpsU52e7_G-TRNPKHWTy33UNRzBK1GijFuUzzVX0YWfxuPlB1PoNo9h8g85qNFWrUifZqThItwQ/s1600/IMG_8520.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCl6ph_-gX4akvWx79AJURrsel9VRN795p5OW7T3O_3NSUey7vpo5Y7xIkMONpsU52e7_G-TRNPKHWTy33UNRzBK1GijFuUzzVX0YWfxuPlB1PoNo9h8g85qNFWrUifZqThItwQ/s320/IMG_8520.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457243704321704754" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Still trying to figure out the kite flying -- "how does that stay up there???"</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-nhSRQz7XFWUQXvn6KIkiujTFT55vMni-LcSDGJmUi3l3OHYnVHcd8EtHPW8xqseU8gsvKcBapz_PJ7yco6WEwCXG_BmdSHbWMko4btK-ToX3-ZwiFFYs4sSal_bKDZfyLXEmg/s1600/IMG_8522.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-nhSRQz7XFWUQXvn6KIkiujTFT55vMni-LcSDGJmUi3l3OHYnVHcd8EtHPW8xqseU8gsvKcBapz_PJ7yco6WEwCXG_BmdSHbWMko4btK-ToX3-ZwiFFYs4sSal_bKDZfyLXEmg/s320/IMG_8522.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457243693424678386" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Giggle girl</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryCZLaYf3xwRCUqRd-VPyCVVIvrTd8OX9YUXjxa5iDEtoKn7FmxemK9hDUjh8WRx_SWUuf9pcPkIjzdF1tVBFyuXyJRWHq3PSP76xtQuq4f2b8NrQozjb5aAibYYsHs-VnAic3Q/s1600/IMG_8530.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryCZLaYf3xwRCUqRd-VPyCVVIvrTd8OX9YUXjxa5iDEtoKn7FmxemK9hDUjh8WRx_SWUuf9pcPkIjzdF1tVBFyuXyJRWHq3PSP76xtQuq4f2b8NrQozjb5aAibYYsHs-VnAic3Q/s320/IMG_8530.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457243680767994066" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">True love</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lCwWvIqIz-v2kfFc3kFCUAZ_hV9Jv1N8oXsWlSoRfS2qBTzD1pBDdyVHSa8smX_n08GcJ6GmZD4yObvyH6XRAQk5kcIjLFAEo_usuHAj-H_C9SQvCYRdeFqTKFWYODRWt8hG1Q/s1600/IMG_8532.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lCwWvIqIz-v2kfFc3kFCUAZ_hV9Jv1N8oXsWlSoRfS2qBTzD1pBDdyVHSa8smX_n08GcJ6GmZD4yObvyH6XRAQk5kcIjLFAEo_usuHAj-H_C9SQvCYRdeFqTKFWYODRWt8hG1Q/s320/IMG_8532.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457243670720579250" /></a><br /><br /></div>THE MERRILL FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021819035748596272noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25409723.post-12445268324829321522010-04-04T22:33:00.000-07:002010-04-04T22:47:29.259-07:00Mountain Misadventures<div>After a week of staying close to the house because of Garrett's pneumonia, we all decided it was time to get out and about. Our choices were the beach, the mountains, or the desert. Papa wanted to see something "different" so we headed east since we go to the beach regularly. The kids and YaYa weren't excited about a three hour trip to the desert, so we drove up the "roller coaster" of Mount Palomar and enjoyed some views. Unfortunately, there was some haze so we couldn't see all the way to the ocean, but PaPa and YaYa were still impressed with the scenery. The kids had fun tromping around the rocks and woods. All in all, it was a grand adventure for the day!</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">PaPa and Miss Sassy</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdL827yNJcINu2eIejIa1aiSMyY_MBbIYL0jP7uvymhmUZXgf2HvZT6QGZkpi7RtvWk9hk2XzO3tOLerWza3g7FwdiAoiq0ESrWKIGaawdChsDvpujlmGqXeniTGLzaOZ7sFxcg/s1600/IMG_8563.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdL827yNJcINu2eIejIa1aiSMyY_MBbIYL0jP7uvymhmUZXgf2HvZT6QGZkpi7RtvWk9hk2XzO3tOLerWza3g7FwdiAoiq0ESrWKIGaawdChsDvpujlmGqXeniTGLzaOZ7sFxcg/s320/IMG_8563.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456523513718708818" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">My best attempt at taking a pic of all 4 ruffians</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1G4JlyHB7fvXtpggWYk7cab7SujDGvxltBiNxJ5ZvhMfxKwRPHkbHJB-uet27rFwwWZ5hQFQFmkuOvueHHT3Iixwlw8ccaOWqrrGVLbrs-jBTKXnAtbqdabQkCjkw1tGAKtAYg/s1600/IMG_8565.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1G4JlyHB7fvXtpggWYk7cab7SujDGvxltBiNxJ5ZvhMfxKwRPHkbHJB-uet27rFwwWZ5hQFQFmkuOvueHHT3Iixwlw8ccaOWqrrGVLbrs-jBTKXnAtbqdabQkCjkw1tGAKtAYg/s320/IMG_8565.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456523504407637106" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Explorers on duty! (Notice the footware my Ghanaian angel decided to wear hiking!)</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA2dzqbBarv0xzi8oBk-bf-vSE91tWBo817yNyyE7cFEmhgtsTzccaEAFdOI914bFUqgF52DIzr7uXftAjuPUz4mOlm1k7Yb-oqun0azpKpN6D9U2-wiXgHXb7atQ4O0Tnoo3KVQ/s1600/IMG_8571.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA2dzqbBarv0xzi8oBk-bf-vSE91tWBo817yNyyE7cFEmhgtsTzccaEAFdOI914bFUqgF52DIzr7uXftAjuPUz4mOlm1k7Yb-oqun0azpKpN6D9U2-wiXgHXb7atQ4O0Tnoo3KVQ/s320/IMG_8571.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456523495593623874" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">G Man with a really big stick</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMd1zlpzL4Ewv6IUkZHF9zRiVtl8r7Gi4TsUHmsCD9ZD4i3bMMpGLY7JvtOU19Orr3RZbES5j1KqRjHkoW8IPk94fFPFF2oq0KztWbDYEc8HJJz8jQYatixHPJXDarAJpfrR5HQ/s1600/IMG_8578.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMd1zlpzL4Ewv6IUkZHF9zRiVtl8r7Gi4TsUHmsCD9ZD4i3bMMpGLY7JvtOU19Orr3RZbES5j1KqRjHkoW8IPk94fFPFF2oq0KztWbDYEc8HJJz8jQYatixHPJXDarAJpfrR5HQ/s320/IMG_8578.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456523486259478946" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hiking beauty</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfSelBhlWeo_It0q0NxyXpwm-lNsGlDaImoG6v0UyFk156s-HJMr3wg8M-NWCcwZa-z0HehjVuqVz80Z54hUWO1fAiSxxP1M2ujm5HK6U5GSBX6nYMVjdc9eJuv0r_EtnuIhjC1g/s1600/IMG_8580.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfSelBhlWeo_It0q0NxyXpwm-lNsGlDaImoG6v0UyFk156s-HJMr3wg8M-NWCcwZa-z0HehjVuqVz80Z54hUWO1fAiSxxP1M2ujm5HK6U5GSBX6nYMVjdc9eJuv0r_EtnuIhjC1g/s320/IMG_8580.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456523477437885426" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm so cool, I've got to wear shades :)</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrOKlQuCwFh-1cXPpF_Ll0aAgqt940cNicZRmtFtUtEcg5md-3OPDMz_e38hYc5HjklV1MlGIcl9TKZB-pkbTZ4dmObSSVKGJ2hVObQEWZlSzI-nK0QfJa-M1sIR1Ekff2F1tIA/s1600/IMG_8584.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrOKlQuCwFh-1cXPpF_Ll0aAgqt940cNicZRmtFtUtEcg5md-3OPDMz_e38hYc5HjklV1MlGIcl9TKZB-pkbTZ4dmObSSVKGJ2hVObQEWZlSzI-nK0QfJa-M1sIR1Ekff2F1tIA/s320/IMG_8584.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456523024770150034" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Nothing but grins and giggles from this one</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglq4TA6TEsV2AOYQfmewfuVZZrxcLi6Me6KEiE7r657Y9X6Z_mSuhsweH20fKEwCGWkQ2OU229aCid6APTQ3ChIf7MrMX-QTf1nw1I7mvWmCUAWrllPdkVF1CveUH5YWPL3jfgvA/s1600/IMG_8586.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglq4TA6TEsV2AOYQfmewfuVZZrxcLi6Me6KEiE7r657Y9X6Z_mSuhsweH20fKEwCGWkQ2OU229aCid6APTQ3ChIf7MrMX-QTf1nw1I7mvWmCUAWrllPdkVF1CveUH5YWPL3jfgvA/s320/IMG_8586.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456523014013008050" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Bouncing off the trees</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZtEvPnDn-_1KneNBXSSDd4JYmcpKyJQFq18gM9EI3e89rH_nD3agSspEKwnNTBwlxe3kXdMzRVME5OkPTDpPXj-gub2WWaH5GpH5_Hybnzpxug4TPxKcPidFOH8cjqDgbsvMtMA/s1600/IMG_8589.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZtEvPnDn-_1KneNBXSSDd4JYmcpKyJQFq18gM9EI3e89rH_nD3agSspEKwnNTBwlxe3kXdMzRVME5OkPTDpPXj-gub2WWaH5GpH5_Hybnzpxug4TPxKcPidFOH8cjqDgbsvMtMA/s320/IMG_8589.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456523002186022514" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'll do whatever my brother does!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DsfgM8ppKVKPLzS3QjvgBvR7JhDbB275XtowBGdqkDodx93eKnleWsxFkXm1e1Nz6Y_BKAB_V69f72OsoaXJ-rwYrSUTt1asBuxJIFjcAnXGAnntEb_zC7VowEKDbyDhmJfmuw/s1600/IMG_8592.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DsfgM8ppKVKPLzS3QjvgBvR7JhDbB275XtowBGdqkDodx93eKnleWsxFkXm1e1Nz6Y_BKAB_V69f72OsoaXJ-rwYrSUTt1asBuxJIFjcAnXGAnntEb_zC7VowEKDbyDhmJfmuw/s320/IMG_8592.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456522993878474306" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">The girls making "fufu" -- and I love the ensemble my youngest chose for our adventure! Let's just say E decided to listen to Mommy next time she suggests sneakers, while L said she didn't like her flip flops for hiking but still won't listen to Mommy next time. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvha6Y0lyKzgmESPuQJ3MhziSxfazoLnWgONhu382IrE93Sk3a34aVi3jCbfar9JUjzmw32hiKngNq66LjhJQ1t14hJY8rnCvnOTmfeCwe5fbx1noBSmQIglBQPDZgB4_JQOuww/s1600/IMG_8593.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvha6Y0lyKzgmESPuQJ3MhziSxfazoLnWgONhu382IrE93Sk3a34aVi3jCbfar9JUjzmw32hiKngNq66LjhJQ1t14hJY8rnCvnOTmfeCwe5fbx1noBSmQIglBQPDZgB4_JQOuww/s320/IMG_8593.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456522986140612562" /></a><br /></div>THE MERRILL FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021819035748596272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25409723.post-47289483061842340882010-03-25T08:19:00.000-07:002010-03-25T08:19:26.116-07:00Happy Birthday Lydia Naa!!!<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyoTyzGHohShYtgaVwQEYWC1oVlzj8REfCqXyNO6IXqUNHpSLW1d_5IXXeAU4TVBQFv46Y9QSho_YzZdPv2ULGwpoPihqKFjIEX-DJ0cbvyVfPiiXrF8WmEEY7vbvxhx60Yl8U2Q/s1600/IMG_4037.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyoTyzGHohShYtgaVwQEYWC1oVlzj8REfCqXyNO6IXqUNHpSLW1d_5IXXeAU4TVBQFv46Y9QSho_YzZdPv2ULGwpoPihqKFjIEX-DJ0cbvyVfPiiXrF8WmEEY7vbvxhx60Yl8U2Q/s320/IMG_4037.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgqYPFnglCI2tm9fQ-gVL1WVQScGxc65R4_XW9Gi9YPLwpLZrkDtwhVqCC-XS9Wk_VdDBiHHIaYM5dS4zBtzBQ50itUSaM3zigwfJmjbFDT8MAwv0yyp4ZPBjH_58fqwbN8cGBA/s1600/IMG_4039.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgqYPFnglCI2tm9fQ-gVL1WVQScGxc65R4_XW9Gi9YPLwpLZrkDtwhVqCC-XS9Wk_VdDBiHHIaYM5dS4zBtzBQ50itUSaM3zigwfJmjbFDT8MAwv0yyp4ZPBjH_58fqwbN8cGBA/s320/IMG_4039.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVHOPtucvDJMzWaTvvtMLmlZiVo3rOJmZQrjktLZkjFFiBmq_v9qB6ju5qFZp-1HBmwE8bMMa2QRaD4BBGttAsRAZNdTdy1oFKvPeNkNRxNz9I6LMlfDORYxi9LawFxpMqOyn8Q/s1600/IMG_4041.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVHOPtucvDJMzWaTvvtMLmlZiVo3rOJmZQrjktLZkjFFiBmq_v9qB6ju5qFZp-1HBmwE8bMMa2QRaD4BBGttAsRAZNdTdy1oFKvPeNkNRxNz9I6LMlfDORYxi9LawFxpMqOyn8Q/s320/IMG_4041.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pLIhgs-UmWhktEipWzhF8w0b95hDrjt_2ky0pwJkjSQhtR0dkZabJuGD5J3gEoVFoUWFHugSzQs6jvEZLajZjo5mWvAVpKoRmD6t9ZIFxv8DEHfK6CN_MLAmMSjtPrTCWcPNUA/s1600/IMG_4042.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pLIhgs-UmWhktEipWzhF8w0b95hDrjt_2ky0pwJkjSQhtR0dkZabJuGD5J3gEoVFoUWFHugSzQs6jvEZLajZjo5mWvAVpKoRmD6t9ZIFxv8DEHfK6CN_MLAmMSjtPrTCWcPNUA/s320/IMG_4042.JPG" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>THE MERRILL FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021819035748596272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25409723.post-44604763966382383112010-01-26T08:25:00.000-08:002010-01-26T09:34:48.000-08:00Happiness Personified<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYzS01AG1hR5AWMWBiMiUlEh3tgW4arwJvF0-YeBsZa0lF-vExhgcoXdFkfT8UR5CkT8YGHpUWPac35Zdk_p7QMzT8DbOvRDA2QuTmLrIqGgQ0KL4kXpHDpHCEvJXiIoLglLOwRg/s1600-h/IMG_8204.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYzS01AG1hR5AWMWBiMiUlEh3tgW4arwJvF0-YeBsZa0lF-vExhgcoXdFkfT8UR5CkT8YGHpUWPac35Zdk_p7QMzT8DbOvRDA2QuTmLrIqGgQ0KL4kXpHDpHCEvJXiIoLglLOwRg/s320/IMG_8204.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431103056650730674" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtfijfo2GUt36Oog0drqwNz1-TjdnQB4VwB1D60zszXOrdANyrFq2vslsTPBYuIDTsCeI2ew0XESY1xsP9Ml5yTa5QjIxNFvvpRuBE6mKp36DZBpuam2RCZYUrqH51rfxMTq7EQ/s1600-h/IMG_8205.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtfijfo2GUt36Oog0drqwNz1-TjdnQB4VwB1D60zszXOrdANyrFq2vslsTPBYuIDTsCeI2ew0XESY1xsP9Ml5yTa5QjIxNFvvpRuBE6mKp36DZBpuam2RCZYUrqH51rfxMTq7EQ/s320/IMG_8205.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431103054421429330" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnP7YTYaNnVlOcObqNQHIT59gcAcZ-uBulSa6KOonp2qbLPMHv3_63km5JqrxJhnBu-ZvwFQdl6GTi8o3APwN1rb-30ergcgMlt4o6mG-gxrA92-I1Iy6KQ0DlVS-tMFi1AuXbRg/s1600-h/IMG_8206.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnP7YTYaNnVlOcObqNQHIT59gcAcZ-uBulSa6KOonp2qbLPMHv3_63km5JqrxJhnBu-ZvwFQdl6GTi8o3APwN1rb-30ergcgMlt4o6mG-gxrA92-I1Iy6KQ0DlVS-tMFi1AuXbRg/s320/IMG_8206.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431103045223512834" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6bxk0B0JamqEnk4MG1mjI5Qq0WVXGYAnRuoaZkslg92PDh1Atlu2GluTqFtWgGYqG-gUK82NW_HFaDOS3RYrUtOH0XSk9zxipr-GzL2UAta-vKY28X54OEdkX2a4B15Ep3kitA/s1600-h/IMG_8207.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6bxk0B0JamqEnk4MG1mjI5Qq0WVXGYAnRuoaZkslg92PDh1Atlu2GluTqFtWgGYqG-gUK82NW_HFaDOS3RYrUtOH0XSk9zxipr-GzL2UAta-vKY28X54OEdkX2a4B15Ep3kitA/s320/IMG_8207.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431103038082686530" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizGiLVEn0YWDLxfCmPPyjh9MJGWrgTSfnOcXveopXdu9Xt8glk1-pU7ibxfoQs_y6k7fYTZ2D4yyrjHIs-uyvCWZyckNkYrXRPNShGy8YRa-JuxsAD1MPUk-ZI-_Je7aXBSb9NA/s1600-h/IMG_8208.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizGiLVEn0YWDLxfCmPPyjh9MJGWrgTSfnOcXveopXdu9Xt8glk1-pU7ibxfoQs_y6k7fYTZ2D4yyrjHIs-uyvCWZyckNkYrXRPNShGy8YRa-JuxsAD1MPUk-ZI-_Je7aXBSb9NA/s320/IMG_8208.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431103031189312162" /></a><br />That's right folks. Lydia's passport was finally issued today. It's been over 10 weeks since the first passport was applied for, and only 2 days since the second application was submitted. We have the passport in our hot little hands, and we are seriously thinking of bronzing both of these things for posterity. Now on to the embassy for our visa appointment on THURSDAY. So thinking it might be actually possible to be with my complete family this weekend!!!THE MERRILL FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021819035748596272noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25409723.post-55587354752996364082010-01-23T08:01:00.000-08:002010-01-23T08:07:00.952-08:00The Fihankra FoundationPlease visit the website for the non-profit I am helping to launch. The goal of the organization is to help provide for the physiological and educational needs of orphaned and neglected in Ghana. Many of these children reside in foster homes with 20 or more other children, homes that individuals have opened to these children without state or outside assistance. <div><br /></div><div>We have launched our first fundraiser this weekend and are hoping to raise at least $250 for juice, rice, and medications for the children. Simply visit the Foundation's website (http://FihankraFoundation.blogspot.com) and enter a guess of the date that you think I will finally make it back to California with my children along with your donation of at least $25. Winners of the pool may choose a Moments to Memories Photography picture from my time in Ghana to hang in your home -- a $250 value! </div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you for all your support thus far in the journey, and I hope many of you will be willing to take this next step with me! Please spread the word!!!!</div>THE MERRILL FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021819035748596272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25409723.post-2279822570372222812010-01-22T02:44:00.000-08:002010-01-22T03:07:32.805-08:00Beach Makes It BetterYesterday we received the news that Lydia's passport application file was lost during the transition to the new director. While a new file has been started (they still have her picture and her birth certificate, but the rest of the documents have been lost), I'm not sure if the new file has to go all the way through the approval process again or not. The approval for the first application took over a month, so I am really hoping the extra money our coordinator spent to expedite this application means that it will be processed quickly this time. <div><br /></div><div>Our coordinator gave me the news as he dropped the kids and I off at Labadi Pleasure Beach. As I was trying very hard to observe Ghanaian custom and not show I was upset (Ghanaians only frown with their butts, not their faces let alone cry), the sand, surf, and sun washed over me. Soon I was hugged by children's giggles and how could my heart remain sad???</div><div><br /></div><div>In total we spent 3 hours at the beach. The kids each got a ride on a horse in the surf (5 cedis each, Eddie with the horse owner, and then Lydia with me). That really helped improve my mood! We took several walks along the shore collecting sea shells and found several local sand dollars. Edward had a blast splashing in the waves, but Lydia was not as convinced and spent most of her time in the water firmly attached to my legs. I taught the kids how to build sand castles and decorate them with our seashells -- and Eddie quickly discovered the joy in wrecking sand castles. :) I didn't bring my camera to the beach, but I did get video and will post those later when I have the bandwidth to do it.</div><div><br /></div><div>While at the beach I got to practice my bargaining skills. The locals see a white person and immediately think "Obruni = rich". Like in other poor countries prices are hiked and bargaining is expected. If you are willing to pay the high price then they think you really are rich and deserve to be parted from your money. The first practice I got on bargaining was with the horse man. He told me 5 cedis for Eddie to ride, and I asked if Lydia could also ride with him for the same price. The horseman agreed, but Lydia was terrified of getting on the horse. When Eddie finished his ride, the man offered Lydia and I a ride which I took him up on thinking it was part of the 5 cedis I had already paid. Let's just say I was more than shocked when I got off the horse with my daughter and the man asked for 10 more cedis! He had seen the 20 cedis I brought to buy our lunch and thought it should line his wallet. He explained that adults are 10 cedis to ride and children are 5 cedis, but he let Lydia ride for free because she was so scared. Um, yeah. When he realized I wasn't going to give him anything else he finally accepted the 5 cedis I offered and I realized that price must always be arranged before accepting service. After that lesson I negotiated for 6 bananas instead of 4 for 1 cedi and then for 30 cedis for a beautiful oil painting of coastal Accra by a local artist that was hawking his wares along the beach.</div><div><br /></div><div>While Labadi Pleasure Beach was beautiful with its blue surf and fishermen mending their nets nearby, it definitely is a tourist destination. The beach is lined with cabanas for rent and local restaurants. People troll the beach trying to sell art, jewelry, shirts, and food. Horses are available for rent to ride along the surf. Yet, there are few (I found only 1) trash cans and garbage lines the beach. We sidestepped broken bottles, dirty diapers, water satchels, and small poo bags (yes, people poo in bags and then dispose of the bags). At one point Eddie and Lydia went racing off after a piece of garbage in the water that I quickly realized was a floating condom. I so wanted to grab a giant trash bag and start cleanup duty, but was afraid of offending the locals, plus I couldn't find any place to get rid of the refuse. Yet again I was struck by the dichotomy that is Ghana.</div><div><br /></div><div>Since Uncle P drove us away from the beach Edward has asked to go back. Since we are here until further notice, I figure another trip to the beach is in order for next week to keep us from thinking about how far we still are from home.</div>THE MERRILL FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021819035748596272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25409723.post-64615566635009012232010-01-19T01:57:00.000-08:002010-01-19T04:49:17.805-08:00School and random hotel fun<div style="text-align: center;">Trying to prepare Eddie for kindergarten. He loves doing school work and is so proud of his workbooks. I just had to take a picture of him practicing his letters. We also do some simple math and read every day. This kid is bursting at the seams to start school (and his little sister can't wait to follow in his shoes)!</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7PllEp1dLfh_-_5CRi0aH0_uFaBLJt-Hw1pfxdLy47CitlILnUgC_XdJ2CmXMI_4hBnAX-MpZMaVOtD6TtmczXmwBjpJqlU1vMBzUpOecw5TizpD3yUzc75UCsc87MXzblQDTdg/s1600-h/IMG_7902.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7PllEp1dLfh_-_5CRi0aH0_uFaBLJt-Hw1pfxdLy47CitlILnUgC_XdJ2CmXMI_4hBnAX-MpZMaVOtD6TtmczXmwBjpJqlU1vMBzUpOecw5TizpD3yUzc75UCsc87MXzblQDTdg/s320/IMG_7902.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428423978476771650" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86gVvD4hFDoykMMPejcV88sdOrSFMiFMebJFdE-d7j42wBxcWo_Q4n7B9vXMdRzQhBkOkqclTUz4tujlDSxbKB29I9hMNfu4iZmK_a6xs9f39G3IlK5J6aY0PaDcyq-wScfZ0Cg/s1600-h/IMG_7903.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86gVvD4hFDoykMMPejcV88sdOrSFMiFMebJFdE-d7j42wBxcWo_Q4n7B9vXMdRzQhBkOkqclTUz4tujlDSxbKB29I9hMNfu4iZmK_a6xs9f39G3IlK5J6aY0PaDcyq-wScfZ0Cg/s320/IMG_7903.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428423970436672770" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Honey loved his Lydia and Eddie, but he especially loved Lydia's clothes. Could this kid be any cuter wearing a tutu??? Of course, this is total blackmail material for when his high school graduation.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqiooOglKJcAJZ9vL2yNM4_1WaSFiVNWJkJz8jEHTfJNlpkPn53nPYMteYoHzruAHVmoOB5cf2P9vIy1WzW3CO2SME_UU4qCB742k2bkKlqhqNejGS9dkD4ToulmfvadV262b1tg/s1600-h/IMG_7904.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqiooOglKJcAJZ9vL2yNM4_1WaSFiVNWJkJz8jEHTfJNlpkPn53nPYMteYoHzruAHVmoOB5cf2P9vIy1WzW3CO2SME_UU4qCB742k2bkKlqhqNejGS9dkD4ToulmfvadV262b1tg/s1600-h/IMG_7904.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqiooOglKJcAJZ9vL2yNM4_1WaSFiVNWJkJz8jEHTfJNlpkPn53nPYMteYoHzruAHVmoOB5cf2P9vIy1WzW3CO2SME_UU4qCB742k2bkKlqhqNejGS9dkD4ToulmfvadV262b1tg/s320/IMG_7904.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428423968898565778" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Honey copied everything that Eddie did the last two weeks he was here. Of course, there was plenty that Eddie copied from Honey -- like wearing Lydia's tutu. Needless to say, Hannah and I were close to tears from laughter this night.</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdN8WFidTn9N75FN-6OM78vAzjrHhpqRYKDScWGukHFlsnrFUN_kIEZaacmj6qzSfbxQQSNCjpFJz42Mf4aRC5SmnYOaytLOJa_bBug7IjUDFbUY_4OGLIp9_CS9ipfCkuSXhoQ/s1600-h/IMG_7908.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdN8WFidTn9N75FN-6OM78vAzjrHhpqRYKDScWGukHFlsnrFUN_kIEZaacmj6qzSfbxQQSNCjpFJz42Mf4aRC5SmnYOaytLOJa_bBug7IjUDFbUY_4OGLIp9_CS9ipfCkuSXhoQ/s320/IMG_7908.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428397366941935362" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Movie watching in the hotel room.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hwDk7GrRtbSR_p8C5sPWHQXy6hyAZN1tdfGT7LVoOHPQCAV58EDnHzdgt27asQw7TAjEiFzINEic90h1gZx-brv8v4hugnKnIv35pnaKCIeq6sWgiznm7Dyt0Yb7ySeZK16sLA/s1600-h/IMG_8103.JPG"></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hwDk7GrRtbSR_p8C5sPWHQXy6hyAZN1tdfGT7LVoOHPQCAV58EDnHzdgt27asQw7TAjEiFzINEic90h1gZx-brv8v4hugnKnIv35pnaKCIeq6sWgiznm7Dyt0Yb7ySeZK16sLA/s1600-h/IMG_8103.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hwDk7GrRtbSR_p8C5sPWHQXy6hyAZN1tdfGT7LVoOHPQCAV58EDnHzdgt27asQw7TAjEiFzINEic90h1gZx-brv8v4hugnKnIv35pnaKCIeq6sWgiznm7Dyt0Yb7ySeZK16sLA/s320/IMG_8103.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428397359737317682" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Momma trying to wear Lydia. Lydia loved it. Eddie was extremely jealous. All I could do was tell him that I wished I had him when he was small enough to wear. Rough night</div></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK93WYgnfXxECrHkbNMhPBuSaqjZNCoXu3r1Tx-nVntI_YCnZRbBfXXvQ6zrpLedgEygGRRTDk_LVyeO8r4MxlbSDjbEy18dI5pEQ_2rXkbFg1GftigXwcLuh5J4e3j9KW9pwZCA/s1600-h/IMG_8106.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK93WYgnfXxECrHkbNMhPBuSaqjZNCoXu3r1Tx-nVntI_YCnZRbBfXXvQ6zrpLedgEygGRRTDk_LVyeO8r4MxlbSDjbEy18dI5pEQ_2rXkbFg1GftigXwcLuh5J4e3j9KW9pwZCA/s320/IMG_8106.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428397354314592082" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Family snuggles. These kids <i>love</i> each other!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSLVjzT1sFvVjWPkLZwx_eeg46Cjl73mXKEiRSvfczvnuCEAOl1ejzCsSlKI30TD_GVOMmVXiaZ0LJZw7lfcrFNsUahLVpnTLVuZGLA1RgWSoApzLld6HOp1ryF2tDf9SGwbZDxg/s1600-h/IMG_8107.JPG"></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSLVjzT1sFvVjWPkLZwx_eeg46Cjl73mXKEiRSvfczvnuCEAOl1ejzCsSlKI30TD_GVOMmVXiaZ0LJZw7lfcrFNsUahLVpnTLVuZGLA1RgWSoApzLld6HOp1ryF2tDf9SGwbZDxg/s1600-h/IMG_8107.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSLVjzT1sFvVjWPkLZwx_eeg46Cjl73mXKEiRSvfczvnuCEAOl1ejzCsSlKI30TD_GVOMmVXiaZ0LJZw7lfcrFNsUahLVpnTLVuZGLA1RgWSoApzLld6HOp1ryF2tDf9SGwbZDxg/s320/IMG_8107.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428397350601206594" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Brother-sister piggy backs. Lydia carried Eddie for a while too, but I didn't get the camera out in time to capture that cuteness. Gosh, do I love these smiles!</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjozeDHpDZKT3DrvILDys_e7qUb95J8ky0PPlk4YPEJ3JCDx9pN4ZKimSVqDse_kaADslLcQt4cwB_CzAyzkJxN_cv7BLEalOoUaQ7rJYXtHNuXDw7lWkmfOUm-hwW2Y3ReRZvw/s1600-h/IMG_8110.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjozeDHpDZKT3DrvILDys_e7qUb95J8ky0PPlk4YPEJ3JCDx9pN4ZKimSVqDse_kaADslLcQt4cwB_CzAyzkJxN_cv7BLEalOoUaQ7rJYXtHNuXDw7lWkmfOUm-hwW2Y3ReRZvw/s320/IMG_8110.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428397344882722338" /></a><br /><br /></div>THE MERRILL FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021819035748596272noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25409723.post-42534351391589763342010-01-18T02:24:00.001-08:002010-01-19T00:29:24.037-08:00Learning about Ghana's Independence<div>Needing a break from the hotel, the kids and I packed up and headed off to the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park. Kwame Nkrumah declared independence from Britain on March 6, 1957, the first African nation to declare independence from colonial rule, and the park is on the Old Polo grounds where he made his proclamation. The park also is the final resting place for his body, and the Mausoleum is the main structure on in the park, along with a museum of the man's history. It was a nice way to spend an hour outside of the hotel and the kids and I had fun together.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Eddie, our water boy, checking that his peshwas are still in his pocket</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlEqvy2KjX02bTaB16uOhUz5bIapMLb-3p31y1x2WCgbgVQ1V0X_83-oZSU-PwEIr4Z9RhREVv2F7psy5vlKAnZjN6ikBnqYJ7tpBJhFVGYfR95FGngK65k_yxwCkpEinX72VGZQ/s1600-h/IMG_8179.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlEqvy2KjX02bTaB16uOhUz5bIapMLb-3p31y1x2WCgbgVQ1V0X_83-oZSU-PwEIr4Z9RhREVv2F7psy5vlKAnZjN6ikBnqYJ7tpBJhFVGYfR95FGngK65k_yxwCkpEinX72VGZQ/s320/IMG_8179.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428034969566790034" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFhcaybnQlmkyCHzA3Ywx6WrQSzMHa5wrg82kWNTMBeWCcZ2AxOUrQ0dPoc9ZLqgSrYyfcuBN0kQck3LwM40cq39gd1_sorxTMC5Pdf89vUtOqH1UfPRg2phxwoV5kn1N76bmxA/s1600-h/IMG_8128.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFhcaybnQlmkyCHzA3Ywx6WrQSzMHa5wrg82kWNTMBeWCcZ2AxOUrQ0dPoc9ZLqgSrYyfcuBN0kQck3LwM40cq39gd1_sorxTMC5Pdf89vUtOqH1UfPRg2phxwoV5kn1N76bmxA/s320/IMG_8128.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428034962535493458" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggd6zlscgVi2oXWBjmKDwCH4wNZ25BnFJ1GdB5U2MVsttJc4sVOvKhSBRLwwp8S923qtvVrOrBd8uX5A3at_b3koOG8TFA7T76jZFiYqGN47No0mV-_wMk0unYeR2z1XyA1UUHOg/s1600-h/IMG_8137.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggd6zlscgVi2oXWBjmKDwCH4wNZ25BnFJ1GdB5U2MVsttJc4sVOvKhSBRLwwp8S923qtvVrOrBd8uX5A3at_b3koOG8TFA7T76jZFiYqGN47No0mV-_wMk0unYeR2z1XyA1UUHOg/s320/IMG_8137.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428034954265893234" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The mausoleum</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZ_3Z2LI1y29mFjHTxpg6VDQWYPfHDQQb7aorr5WMejqxXrwCio2NQVh6b4By1qlnM2Fm1-EZvKrRgIwoCEn_i8NTvVncYqKNaa0FCQVKqESJTNlBmvwfjjI1f5cbsFSU-n1oQQ/s1600-h/IMG_8140.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZ_3Z2LI1y29mFjHTxpg6VDQWYPfHDQQb7aorr5WMejqxXrwCio2NQVh6b4By1qlnM2Fm1-EZvKrRgIwoCEn_i8NTvVncYqKNaa0FCQVKqESJTNlBmvwfjjI1f5cbsFSU-n1oQQ/s320/IMG_8140.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428029511092045842" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7D3DHP3VrJ9rcttNzW0dsmu57O-EQxeE8nhcSgEXIypLqp25-yBRQEuzMPytjEH-mRLhRVmxmH9F2eaR0CGheFxvnlaZEBtM5CQqPFJEzGjMZgGau1TpyDGmFpDiLtMdJha3hOw/s1600-h/IMG_8143.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7D3DHP3VrJ9rcttNzW0dsmu57O-EQxeE8nhcSgEXIypLqp25-yBRQEuzMPytjEH-mRLhRVmxmH9F2eaR0CGheFxvnlaZEBtM5CQqPFJEzGjMZgGau1TpyDGmFpDiLtMdJha3hOw/s320/IMG_8143.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428029506299197586" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The kids were fascinated by the fountains in the park</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwbDJe1kafdPteCL2kCvuf-PmnFdTP9iei25IStogVfw6Gq67g3YPiln2PsMykeK3vI3jBdi2qp151jY1QATPX_9co5o5D9-NphrztFDUDN8XghhZ3WcOywK_jNRkZUdN9V7HUw/s1600-h/IMG_8158.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwbDJe1kafdPteCL2kCvuf-PmnFdTP9iei25IStogVfw6Gq67g3YPiln2PsMykeK3vI3jBdi2qp151jY1QATPX_9co5o5D9-NphrztFDUDN8XghhZ3WcOywK_jNRkZUdN9V7HUw/s320/IMG_8158.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428029495434895586" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_3QjpylU6x00yJRMaOrvEFJsYIMgcghuvKae0Rat9d0n_swOWN9fTxQOwpDGPPnU3AnA2beCf9pEw6PC6fOsyoNNYLNbeI9QU5AopLlc6XQlOK4hcGT2YK7Xnp7WnQo9HNtmmQ/s1600-h/IMG_8168.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_3QjpylU6x00yJRMaOrvEFJsYIMgcghuvKae0Rat9d0n_swOWN9fTxQOwpDGPPnU3AnA2beCf9pEw6PC6fOsyoNNYLNbeI9QU5AopLlc6XQlOK4hcGT2YK7Xnp7WnQo9HNtmmQ/s320/IMG_8168.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428029494063954914" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_91Lacj-ra8nC1kLzwcF6xI4hkrTgpX1VoVm1r8HffK1lW8Fq1bowTe8DAv-k12LEgtuoAXaDRLSiLW5oev-DX2sLsO7IX8fgv8QgzFtDlvi3X-zSUd-vHm-pkS6gScz1WoA6uw/s1600-h/IMG_8180.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_91Lacj-ra8nC1kLzwcF6xI4hkrTgpX1VoVm1r8HffK1lW8Fq1bowTe8DAv-k12LEgtuoAXaDRLSiLW5oev-DX2sLsO7IX8fgv8QgzFtDlvi3X-zSUd-vHm-pkS6gScz1WoA6uw/s320/IMG_8180.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428029482884774802" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtOqYF_sULWdR6qvbrxnGIfrf6G7noBDkVJFNii0AAgSMWsh1CAD6uhxJldwO699-ABLfPQ3zVRZkGUNjXDvtJ0lTDAVoOllDCjvvnPghEr1zW3Pgg7yAzX9xaLOnYzGrUecY9Q/s1600-h/IMG_8190.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtOqYF_sULWdR6qvbrxnGIfrf6G7noBDkVJFNii0AAgSMWsh1CAD6uhxJldwO699-ABLfPQ3zVRZkGUNjXDvtJ0lTDAVoOllDCjvvnPghEr1zW3Pgg7yAzX9xaLOnYzGrUecY9Q/s320/IMG_8190.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428027658836415938" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">The birds who serenaded our visit</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9TpmOkQk2gd2kps4OI0ZZGDJC2aYkyDnEKldldmfW9J-NXU4imLHs1U-PGQjyIi_El-i7-SRQjGO0_BTcJnpvgeI1tyV8oTi1_hVXFJd5IcaNCadONd9VlY55XbcdeNyl9ysdw/s1600-h/IMG_8174.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9TpmOkQk2gd2kps4OI0ZZGDJC2aYkyDnEKldldmfW9J-NXU4imLHs1U-PGQjyIi_El-i7-SRQjGO0_BTcJnpvgeI1tyV8oTi1_hVXFJd5IcaNCadONd9VlY55XbcdeNyl9ysdw/s320/IMG_8174.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428027650937923330" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeJrbxfZS4FnwUS5ZdNJi9RokUW4VnA_Yu8KhpWHD6WYM6QGhKdiPx1RKlQGNG4SO-OZ0imyBsE6hRXJmte8FBX7J-lQIV4LeWX3zd1dDnoqGrcZ_o-4Vpe_LUZmdflZT_nwXrCA/s1600-h/IMG_8187.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeJrbxfZS4FnwUS5ZdNJi9RokUW4VnA_Yu8KhpWHD6WYM6QGhKdiPx1RKlQGNG4SO-OZ0imyBsE6hRXJmte8FBX7J-lQIV4LeWX3zd1dDnoqGrcZ_o-4Vpe_LUZmdflZT_nwXrCA/s320/IMG_8187.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428027643398639426" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi1DR4jiqJBhpPe4oh_oDD_J0WvXru7lkMa1SQ0KDGTB6KoXpSeaLxN4nd1_oUHogIs5oczNTyrzQzBGmaHUABkzL19GHEVJ_f1fuvdjtuUgzymlrHx4G3ibBZKWN4MsRjezNupQ/s1600-h/IMG_8194.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi1DR4jiqJBhpPe4oh_oDD_J0WvXru7lkMa1SQ0KDGTB6KoXpSeaLxN4nd1_oUHogIs5oczNTyrzQzBGmaHUABkzL19GHEVJ_f1fuvdjtuUgzymlrHx4G3ibBZKWN4MsRjezNupQ/s320/IMG_8194.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428027635220864962" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The original statue of Kwame Nkrumah that was vandalized during the military coup in 1966. What is amazing to me about this picture is the fact that located behind this national landmark is such poverty. Ghana is truly a land of incredible opposites living side by side.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieie7z0uipITYIYoghrz-lXXfK_R3e04GfBmXtRysiK-I_ua68MnSGXgmaLIEbdW9hdhS8DUlt6rGDXnKlh8nuYla7HCA9hD70Y4Pv37qFHnVtk5kmCI3F09SCrIFLhbGRfpvMBw/s1600-h/IMG_8196.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieie7z0uipITYIYoghrz-lXXfK_R3e04GfBmXtRysiK-I_ua68MnSGXgmaLIEbdW9hdhS8DUlt6rGDXnKlh8nuYla7HCA9hD70Y4Pv37qFHnVtk5kmCI3F09SCrIFLhbGRfpvMBw/s320/IMG_8196.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428027627249758706" /></a></div>THE MERRILL FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021819035748596272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25409723.post-39086871182745475822010-01-17T02:25:00.000-08:002010-01-19T00:19:13.933-08:00Can it be???<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What is that the children are so fascinated by?</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8Z9jil7vh-1n6aplXEtRxqA5lEOT8SwoOk8LWt6L9dX1lfpm4AcmasUK9zroVwCxbqTIMdqkpnMjpfGe7bOL3GfRSWpXYy5pHNG2ZhVpp9IGc2EPKSafJZEoc_pgDvEuA80stA/s1600-h/IMG_8115.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8Z9jil7vh-1n6aplXEtRxqA5lEOT8SwoOk8LWt6L9dX1lfpm4AcmasUK9zroVwCxbqTIMdqkpnMjpfGe7bOL3GfRSWpXYy5pHNG2ZhVpp9IGc2EPKSafJZEoc_pgDvEuA80stA/s320/IMG_8115.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427657069083873618" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Look at the smiles as they stare in amazement</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVxTqobc0SY8PsDZUNLiBx29OwCsH8jRz1TO-EhllcJt6Jagxtz9Sa04fd-tgQFwoWxXqVX8Ho1Ai6uhMm1XRjUJLi3Vmm7Q-S0YUeMBxXYyg9zGdgD37ISBeflMaQKD5yatWow/s1600-h/IMG_8116.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVxTqobc0SY8PsDZUNLiBx29OwCsH8jRz1TO-EhllcJt6Jagxtz9Sa04fd-tgQFwoWxXqVX8Ho1Ai6uhMm1XRjUJLi3Vmm7Q-S0YUeMBxXYyg9zGdgD37ISBeflMaQKD5yatWow/s320/IMG_8116.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427657061925037986" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yes!!! It is a Ghanaian passport!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Eddie has to look at it up close to believe he really has it!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5GOBXgOSxhNWKCLDw_yOap2ukr5i46PLn8hSaQyV6UksC9ISoLMmabPR77qoz92UqdQdrympmyfOxqW_oITFQakB4sRBU_gpDJVkxzYDvQm-p9NYoktojfehPdqWKizjQlmBzAw/s1600-h/IMG_8117.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5GOBXgOSxhNWKCLDw_yOap2ukr5i46PLn8hSaQyV6UksC9ISoLMmabPR77qoz92UqdQdrympmyfOxqW_oITFQakB4sRBU_gpDJVkxzYDvQm-p9NYoktojfehPdqWKizjQlmBzAw/s320/IMG_8117.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427657049802231186" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDgKvVhokkh_Urbvrx3QZ6XQb9v7tdNpGjuJI8l2CVbk2Hou37V6BFo4eYaT46di-xQXS-34V0ykhY3CJbwTxd7mdn13_PlAtSIVKnPFyG_TBlvpMkDOorMq8zXMiXdzb7PtR5FQ/s1600-h/IMG_8118.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDgKvVhokkh_Urbvrx3QZ6XQb9v7tdNpGjuJI8l2CVbk2Hou37V6BFo4eYaT46di-xQXS-34V0ykhY3CJbwTxd7mdn13_PlAtSIVKnPFyG_TBlvpMkDOorMq8zXMiXdzb7PtR5FQ/s320/IMG_8118.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427657046044817986" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-kioTexC7038PrZwg93v4HKx0q9es8ho0CcOWliRLz6okab6N5h5WJH5LljaZmZHNsBwemAiYC7YA-onP_tNBKft52J7N64ud2Xb-FkumqlEhI8toWP5sjMa9j4eWa2IdaLtUYA/s1600-h/IMG_8119.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-kioTexC7038PrZwg93v4HKx0q9es8ho0CcOWliRLz6okab6N5h5WJH5LljaZmZHNsBwemAiYC7YA-onP_tNBKft52J7N64ud2Xb-FkumqlEhI8toWP5sjMa9j4eWa2IdaLtUYA/s320/IMG_8119.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427657041928877298" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">One passport down. One to go. Could Lydia's be issued on Monday??? We pray so!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Dear new Director -- please hear our plea. Issue Lydia Annan's passport so our family may be united in America! Thank you. Amen.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>THE MERRILL FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021819035748596272noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25409723.post-12422625534123511962010-01-11T14:32:00.000-08:002010-01-19T00:19:13.933-08:00The sweetness of slumber<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUseEkD2fP2rh-kNMXttmcFCnHmxXSI1AFNYpdXuQuBM6kfi4vgZud-tHNPC8x2T3FmHi0ma-XeBtF1Z6hNIqN-j-DmTn4k3oxyZWYrl9jt2aO4FYXflVqyXyKTnZ6yzESU_5rA/s1600-h/IMG_8114.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUseEkD2fP2rh-kNMXttmcFCnHmxXSI1AFNYpdXuQuBM6kfi4vgZud-tHNPC8x2T3FmHi0ma-XeBtF1Z6hNIqN-j-DmTn4k3oxyZWYrl9jt2aO4FYXflVqyXyKTnZ6yzESU_5rA/s320/IMG_8114.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427651528204162466" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqnfLxYRBQDcKbmA5pkAt4ddzahA5PBh9fAMj5astUOiMD-ihgHmt8UnMVLEXenTXWLUOEBok2iS1SHtDMSxT-fcOUDrfFiWqtGaCWiHtOOlykJ0G7iCy-onTGDibv4GyYxPE8Q/s1600-h/IMG_8112.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqnfLxYRBQDcKbmA5pkAt4ddzahA5PBh9fAMj5astUOiMD-ihgHmt8UnMVLEXenTXWLUOEBok2iS1SHtDMSxT-fcOUDrfFiWqtGaCWiHtOOlykJ0G7iCy-onTGDibv4GyYxPE8Q/s320/IMG_8112.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427651520243775714" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO9mFztP8xX5kon78I6fZyZBKrEKFYwb7YbpaFiURp6aRbrwif0vga1sPEXkVeUHz77vuwfX25QblHFMkTwz-ZCyKzy8g-3iGk2j0sWe2aRwjr3tjFtEfX6HD8tiKN-7Qqqh6cjQ/s1600-h/IMG_7728.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO9mFztP8xX5kon78I6fZyZBKrEKFYwb7YbpaFiURp6aRbrwif0vga1sPEXkVeUHz77vuwfX25QblHFMkTwz-ZCyKzy8g-3iGk2j0sWe2aRwjr3tjFtEfX6HD8tiKN-7Qqqh6cjQ/s320/IMG_7728.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425615058446716754" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmxURJOvHe4t7GrfeSgXU_6LaZjxqwhDn914XnGu4l08w2_1s0ZR3Jkt6qrhLMFexaUMYc15lkVSVaoYjl3yr-gHv3MEcWoi1GyVs5htNvVFdddWGM7b_4tzOl8lhT5lUjOzziQ/s1600-h/IMG_7457.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmxURJOvHe4t7GrfeSgXU_6LaZjxqwhDn914XnGu4l08w2_1s0ZR3Jkt6qrhLMFexaUMYc15lkVSVaoYjl3yr-gHv3MEcWoi1GyVs5htNvVFdddWGM7b_4tzOl8lhT5lUjOzziQ/s320/IMG_7457.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425615052672447346" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkln9ZADTHBePqJrsfOTlRcOdc1GCfyfCk0e0079GAiRLUIhEqi38XjbbqpwnskBxhkgl02yDWQ7TXjWlhgnGTEW2kuFkQRLdyJZNQYcrijkex7CxQr6U2E3UL8nZiBhtqQPxk8w/s1600-h/IMG_7458.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkln9ZADTHBePqJrsfOTlRcOdc1GCfyfCk0e0079GAiRLUIhEqi38XjbbqpwnskBxhkgl02yDWQ7TXjWlhgnGTEW2kuFkQRLdyJZNQYcrijkex7CxQr6U2E3UL8nZiBhtqQPxk8w/s320/IMG_7458.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425615046924774066" /></a>THE MERRILL FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021819035748596272noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25409723.post-41619783882340570402010-01-08T03:41:00.000-08:002010-01-19T00:19:13.934-08:00Half a family portrait<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmlz-0_7BEErxR-yIO6BZTZro-qm2AJNUpCPEHKtNjwXH1tRGGShMzOLoRRXDaISbKWj3T673wPwLIgNnu-GJzv_D0yKGi-00S2i9UA_xkp5dOTSY7uX_OAo1wGgLuYdS5X1sHg/s1600-h/IMG_7896.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmlz-0_7BEErxR-yIO6BZTZro-qm2AJNUpCPEHKtNjwXH1tRGGShMzOLoRRXDaISbKWj3T673wPwLIgNnu-GJzv_D0yKGi-00S2i9UA_xkp5dOTSY7uX_OAo1wGgLuYdS5X1sHg/s320/IMG_7896.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424334703358295682" /></a><br />Per request -- here is half the family living it up on New Year's Eve. Starting to think we should start a pool for dates on when this half of the family finally returns to Cali (won't say US, seeing as Hannah got stuck in NY last night). Any takers???THE MERRILL FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021819035748596272noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25409723.post-87922055701017356682010-01-07T11:34:00.000-08:002010-01-19T00:19:13.934-08:00Day Trip to Aburi Botanical Gardens<div>Sunday, Dec 13th</div><div><br /></div><div>Uncle P took us to Aburi Botanical Gardens for a day trip. Something to do to get out of the city and break the monotony of our routine. Definitely was more fun for the grown-ups than the kids, but at least there was grass for them to run around on for a bit.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The drive -- and you thought traffic in LA, NY, DC, Boston was bad. Seriously don't think "rules of the road" here. For example, cars have the right of way over pedestrians, and I mean literally OVER pedestrians. Then there is the always fun driving in between lanes to scoot up 3 car lengths and the constant blaring of horns. Will post video when I get home so you can get a better understanding of the insanity that is driving around here.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgofURmKLLIt0t6WL6wNrpiCUgbgpJAkr54FxRPwtTNXm9KwBAX8hBrS82gFyz0aCn9HMrvyMq8ziO1XRWvY9cCc-WV-1Qb2moHEld1yTykJ2W7s0tMo7NQgOW836KCAXZjvglpAA/s1600-h/IMG_7472.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgofURmKLLIt0t6WL6wNrpiCUgbgpJAkr54FxRPwtTNXm9KwBAX8hBrS82gFyz0aCn9HMrvyMq8ziO1XRWvY9cCc-WV-1Qb2moHEld1yTykJ2W7s0tMo7NQgOW836KCAXZjvglpAA/s320/IMG_7472.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424104706866327650" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Street peddlers -- these people literally walk around all day with large loads of water, plantain chips, bofrut, bananas, etc. and approach cars idling in traffic to make sales for a few peswas (less than 5 pennies for a lot of it). Their balance, physical strength, and determination to come back out day after day never fails to impress me.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjS8IVO6o4Re4zEAkY5ephsNwGS90YGx5EZo5MxlXt79BKUSJq1yCfhmifzf837Sdk8erz4WLiRFRSoFCathlFSGPNjLjWyjrqVwSaZUazxFUMcUcIIaBniLj-fUx4wrYSwy5aMw/s1600-h/IMG_7479.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjS8IVO6o4Re4zEAkY5ephsNwGS90YGx5EZo5MxlXt79BKUSJq1yCfhmifzf837Sdk8erz4WLiRFRSoFCathlFSGPNjLjWyjrqVwSaZUazxFUMcUcIIaBniLj-fUx4wrYSwy5aMw/s320/IMG_7479.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424104697989653138" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Once outside of Accra I got to see actual hills. The land is so beautiful here.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6BbkJoaBpJl7DZmMVJBkbiHF3mA3Eihs2A4AVvmhmGhDL0GUCKPtoq7lQMnCqGFTshRw1O8aETOBZth4OQNwHNq0BfcStE7zAfQXKO0kna7sZQpUwP_sxyi_iuAwhs2iTniLK4A/s1600-h/IMG_7485.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6BbkJoaBpJl7DZmMVJBkbiHF3mA3Eihs2A4AVvmhmGhDL0GUCKPtoq7lQMnCqGFTshRw1O8aETOBZth4OQNwHNq0BfcStE7zAfQXKO0kna7sZQpUwP_sxyi_iuAwhs2iTniLK4A/s320/IMG_7485.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424104695579979026" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Eddie's less than impressed face when he realized I was going to make him walk around the park.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2uDESKX0mE4nvOxm8Cob5nkBqo03USVCQT6xvG2Ak4SI8akJY1mmqyiBmdz7B3aXFKett-FQJOWy4UR_566FA5ijAJ-pTl8nNoAmxB1zsk1Sli6BoF8vVTY6M2r_PMTELk1XJBw/s1600-h/IMG_7499.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2uDESKX0mE4nvOxm8Cob5nkBqo03USVCQT6xvG2Ak4SI8akJY1mmqyiBmdz7B3aXFKett-FQJOWy4UR_566FA5ijAJ-pTl8nNoAmxB1zsk1Sli6BoF8vVTY6M2r_PMTELk1XJBw/s320/IMG_7499.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424100221768471938" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Lydia felt the same</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4eZoIc5YIcP4ZZ4xbXYYs7bd9JsCTW_hHkhrLYRYIB2KoSpXd9cPVvDBEMsF_9es39HaqSvTLwpBXkRhWhyphenhyphenRnp_WNXki_Sx5PKB3UhK5fggRF-4mbVshS6BL_PGdf2Yvp8kBXlA/s1600-h/IMG_7500.jpg"></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4eZoIc5YIcP4ZZ4xbXYYs7bd9JsCTW_hHkhrLYRYIB2KoSpXd9cPVvDBEMsF_9es39HaqSvTLwpBXkRhWhyphenhyphenRnp_WNXki_Sx5PKB3UhK5fggRF-4mbVshS6BL_PGdf2Yvp8kBXlA/s1600-h/IMG_7500.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4eZoIc5YIcP4ZZ4xbXYYs7bd9JsCTW_hHkhrLYRYIB2KoSpXd9cPVvDBEMsF_9es39HaqSvTLwpBXkRhWhyphenhyphenRnp_WNXki_Sx5PKB3UhK5fggRF-4mbVshS6BL_PGdf2Yvp8kBXlA/s320/IMG_7500.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424100209694127570" /></a><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">The majesty of the trees at this park -- INCREDIBLE. I was half a football field from Hannah and Stephen when I took this pic.</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8PG_Gc1CHDcaE79sHhwSQX5szyXZuqglu2ktyp1ioVEAgsP0NWL4i0TSuw1OmCsbXZY1oVYYlN2fsmQgagUXpdNLTgkcU_AYWoKGd3Hn1meX-SoFAogOsHNioqD-IPFOlOfnCg/s1600-h/IMG_7503.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8PG_Gc1CHDcaE79sHhwSQX5szyXZuqglu2ktyp1ioVEAgsP0NWL4i0TSuw1OmCsbXZY1oVYYlN2fsmQgagUXpdNLTgkcU_AYWoKGd3Hn1meX-SoFAogOsHNioqD-IPFOlOfnCg/s320/IMG_7503.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424100201339184914" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">HC laughing while getting some Eddie time</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PrdyW1cxv8DdLAZQtafKuaHRBxs5idC9U11cKeQGsPVn-34TlRWuLmF6WniHz4SAeasfe02vzJmhTzs4oajub5Ax6h1Em1iu0p3rlOiwNkb2bRrlVW7mPLyFLg0mowIGBF-axQ/s1600-h/IMG_7513.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PrdyW1cxv8DdLAZQtafKuaHRBxs5idC9U11cKeQGsPVn-34TlRWuLmF6WniHz4SAeasfe02vzJmhTzs4oajub5Ax6h1Em1iu0p3rlOiwNkb2bRrlVW7mPLyFLg0mowIGBF-axQ/s320/IMG_7513.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424100196561774658" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The saddest face I think I have ever seen. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I think she thought if she looked pathetic enough I would pick her up and carry her around with me. It almost worked. Instead, I took her picture.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN14LkODyIYjXIH_PIUpeezVc_qMW7qYBIEzh-eqU05aHibrNZPwVxbIQmGM6x7_FlPy0VQUDxIVFQhJD14uUu5pyC3KCzOEbJh1ArboO_aqDEHcwsJp1TVYxZ-s5E7tr5aXgmuw/s1600-h/IMG_7515.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN14LkODyIYjXIH_PIUpeezVc_qMW7qYBIEzh-eqU05aHibrNZPwVxbIQmGM6x7_FlPy0VQUDxIVFQhJD14uUu5pyC3KCzOEbJh1ArboO_aqDEHcwsJp1TVYxZ-s5E7tr5aXgmuw/s320/IMG_7515.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424100189023561458" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Uncle P introducing the Sneddens to the less than pleasant odor of the local ants.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwTFJowQviK9kpzg_MFLOIaY_zkDbnVTYTQABwk6lXJ7g11zhM7I46SEgqJ__DOqpXjCbezCIoFIG_H6aHC7kB29jxyv_P2id3CI_kscse7CSJGuGEc-oW9bTWCjUw9NIQdCLOqw/s1600-h/IMG_7506.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwTFJowQviK9kpzg_MFLOIaY_zkDbnVTYTQABwk6lXJ7g11zhM7I46SEgqJ__DOqpXjCbezCIoFIG_H6aHC7kB29jxyv_P2id3CI_kscse7CSJGuGEc-oW9bTWCjUw9NIQdCLOqw/s320/IMG_7506.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424091479992216162" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Looking up at the giant tree</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0plDJ3wLtlvMOth3hFQoA6lMJKfL4LjT0kl-6TrPGOJN33nOxd3b9TgeA9NO0xR_Rk3koXJjtiL89H0vyCDGNqM3UdWxZ1Ic6LpVlb4zDoZ90eAZ1Z5s06Rkr4qmG8DXR2zn_w/s1600-h/IMG_7520.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0plDJ3wLtlvMOth3hFQoA6lMJKfL4LjT0kl-6TrPGOJN33nOxd3b9TgeA9NO0xR_Rk3koXJjtiL89H0vyCDGNqM3UdWxZ1Ic6LpVlb4zDoZ90eAZ1Z5s06Rkr4qmG8DXR2zn_w/s320/IMG_7520.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424091476596456674" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__Ex_bU5xjgk9c22yw_V2Tyqdv-4fqzb1paqjOMVH5_gmGQ9EFPVRhT2SYNRaaza3vrRPoiAexWuEOaRC6igT0okHKmVt3I1FSic4jQKdTp-3MaidrcWKrDSQEalO6eKBvpMEhg/s1600-h/IMG_7523.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__Ex_bU5xjgk9c22yw_V2Tyqdv-4fqzb1paqjOMVH5_gmGQ9EFPVRhT2SYNRaaza3vrRPoiAexWuEOaRC6igT0okHKmVt3I1FSic4jQKdTp-3MaidrcWKrDSQEalO6eKBvpMEhg/s320/IMG_7523.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424091467195345282" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Large ants (by American standards), larger befoulers of the air</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtbTBXtUQyUY-FY_Eha9Qx_GFzcBuHSfjJWsU2T7xA6j2na7ltdFmZ040eYndCel802QiHKhmHwPXCWF9EoYDK5NgQla9ZyzlBEDNTtmTTr8dUgowa4jKTEpOfpp3ccfIA7VT36A/s1600-h/IMG_7530.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtbTBXtUQyUY-FY_Eha9Qx_GFzcBuHSfjJWsU2T7xA6j2na7ltdFmZ040eYndCel802QiHKhmHwPXCWF9EoYDK5NgQla9ZyzlBEDNTtmTTr8dUgowa4jKTEpOfpp3ccfIA7VT36A/s320/IMG_7530.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424091457819399874" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Millipede</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdG67EdybZ1p9Uvm1BOK1Ji_6FdtjHgYqKaCLKFjaCMdgQVVY0m9m77057y-yYAdNdrABTo_21DPAZd2gFC8KTP9x8-pWM0AOJlkt0Gx11b7n_TjhcZnlIbYdFa7jBBfLT6j4knA/s1600-h/IMG_7535.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdG67EdybZ1p9Uvm1BOK1Ji_6FdtjHgYqKaCLKFjaCMdgQVVY0m9m77057y-yYAdNdrABTo_21DPAZd2gFC8KTP9x8-pWM0AOJlkt0Gx11b7n_TjhcZnlIbYdFa7jBBfLT6j4knA/s320/IMG_7535.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424091454021589282" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cooper was a little concerned about his Dad letting the insect crawl on him</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXVXix8m8ZpakX7fL4a-NwDub_TsKK0ykOaeMn1ypH_rGfKAXS2Cgj6uLWEpeeFyQ_6WSsGEHcg2q-kDs-5mgje_bFNZUJ38zdxLMxuQfPocdoW0gX8gx1z1-jGJZslJqxIn05Bg/s1600-h/IMG_7542.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXVXix8m8ZpakX7fL4a-NwDub_TsKK0ykOaeMn1ypH_rGfKAXS2Cgj6uLWEpeeFyQ_6WSsGEHcg2q-kDs-5mgje_bFNZUJ38zdxLMxuQfPocdoW0gX8gx1z1-jGJZslJqxIn05Bg/s320/IMG_7542.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424089087046202546" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Mmmm... cocoa tree</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGa9ExLwxDNm8p3qTypK0aVFS7Riz1poio2lwkvn53mQSU1ZvZTxt9riRAfZ6LhtLJ2XJCOmumpRljjuFYC3ElPwbddihTUiY7lrbYCi8Em3avV3cyPQ2nXMw96UZ5VBZKHf6kA/s1600-h/IMG_7544.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGa9ExLwxDNm8p3qTypK0aVFS7Riz1poio2lwkvn53mQSU1ZvZTxt9riRAfZ6LhtLJ2XJCOmumpRljjuFYC3ElPwbddihTUiY7lrbYCi8Em3avV3cyPQ2nXMw96UZ5VBZKHf6kA/s320/IMG_7544.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424089082035875362" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sometimes it is really hard not to squish this kid up!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidaSYU6NiDe8LbFretkhiX3OVr8fObA31bXTB68TFPHLfJgRHdMobC9CDeGFRZED7u5lyDOPahI-P0X9s8UELyrC373RKBy6I6qFTY28YZ1ewMkIuBP5p9OxU3TiGN_8yr-APRqQ/s1600-h/IMG_7546.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidaSYU6NiDe8LbFretkhiX3OVr8fObA31bXTB68TFPHLfJgRHdMobC9CDeGFRZED7u5lyDOPahI-P0X9s8UELyrC373RKBy6I6qFTY28YZ1ewMkIuBP5p9OxU3TiGN_8yr-APRqQ/s320/IMG_7546.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424089076155158722" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Taking a stroll</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh64DoQ1GEITqP_Ci1Potc_b9Ck-6Y0bRS7nnNj3SQ1qPvEPvsRXl39z7mpzyfsngIiBcLEjYEGAkE7XX9rfuaEAqrigcEgcnq4pfj6jkVWA1lO0QOj0ob3cqD0MZl4AmsmQu7veA/s1600-h/IMG_7560.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh64DoQ1GEITqP_Ci1Potc_b9Ck-6Y0bRS7nnNj3SQ1qPvEPvsRXl39z7mpzyfsngIiBcLEjYEGAkE7XX9rfuaEAqrigcEgcnq4pfj6jkVWA1lO0QOj0ob3cqD0MZl4AmsmQu7veA/s320/IMG_7560.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424089066600028162" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Crazy girl became much easier to handle after a chocolate protein bar. Girl after my own heart</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgneDuzj-IeeHx-Cbm7m2_ZddqEaV05GEzH_en1tFqRcRlN3KXCFnw57meUUW6m-b78Z1nZ67478_M4T9FeMaCVpn9dE3L_iNVcVNj_9VjBuSRJlrRc7fGzK5KfoSPLHHRSjN77Cg/s1600-h/IMG_7561.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgneDuzj-IeeHx-Cbm7m2_ZddqEaV05GEzH_en1tFqRcRlN3KXCFnw57meUUW6m-b78Z1nZ67478_M4T9FeMaCVpn9dE3L_iNVcVNj_9VjBuSRJlrRc7fGzK5KfoSPLHHRSjN77Cg/s320/IMG_7561.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424089062123065250" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cooper</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-DBqNNPD0CE_EiBdYlITjwIOLp1BZ4fzV8xSy7U2m-qWaETmifuU_TE8ZRTRWtViLi9ZJ7MDwnyXG8cO3enSVvqa-JVmMSHrCucxn5zdBBhb9YfjRDgsPsIyD5HCdgUYwXU696Q/s1600-h/IMG_7571.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-DBqNNPD0CE_EiBdYlITjwIOLp1BZ4fzV8xSy7U2m-qWaETmifuU_TE8ZRTRWtViLi9ZJ7MDwnyXG8cO3enSVvqa-JVmMSHrCucxn5zdBBhb9YfjRDgsPsIyD5HCdgUYwXU696Q/s320/IMG_7571.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424085634522253810" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Uncle P</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcKo7TlYB_CyAhbaYUIcS-Z0Mf5ID5VaARkEDl-9jdQiYF2vFHIVgaOs9vohl2rx7IIJSaxNZeBr613w3IpwJainzPDttjdufH4knPtGQ9c1bhc3bd8mv1YH5i6YTdvKxEpC9nJQ/s1600-h/IMG_7572.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcKo7TlYB_CyAhbaYUIcS-Z0Mf5ID5VaARkEDl-9jdQiYF2vFHIVgaOs9vohl2rx7IIJSaxNZeBr613w3IpwJainzPDttjdufH4knPtGQ9c1bhc3bd8mv1YH5i6YTdvKxEpC9nJQ/s320/IMG_7572.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424085630577829106" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Crazy child o' mine</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6rRfVGi9O4C4W5ZXHwMa1KyEK4eiFe1ehjSuOKZiXjbc0udf6OtjJ8FAEsaTfgeg-3EQrN3m7pjJ3Xa0z9aNoTthJg6xz1DVedSKRycozbQLYiDePZAXZ-beq9hQWeqyXvFaxg/s1600-h/IMG_7576.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6rRfVGi9O4C4W5ZXHwMa1KyEK4eiFe1ehjSuOKZiXjbc0udf6OtjJ8FAEsaTfgeg-3EQrN3m7pjJ3Xa0z9aNoTthJg6xz1DVedSKRycozbQLYiDePZAXZ-beq9hQWeqyXvFaxg/s320/IMG_7576.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424085627564308562" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Family moment</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4uC0Jf31K55_ynF22IZzIXMa6l50aeQYaxXV2BeCDIVpuCSATusoRLa-ilBOs9cpGXhTX3HOjxnOzrKW2_Kwi-VPNM4MFzSuOZ67HXDtHxyAOu6C_8vptlRKHEy2_X9e4xtq52Q/s1600-h/IMG_7581.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4uC0Jf31K55_ynF22IZzIXMa6l50aeQYaxXV2BeCDIVpuCSATusoRLa-ilBOs9cpGXhTX3HOjxnOzrKW2_Kwi-VPNM4MFzSuOZ67HXDtHxyAOu6C_8vptlRKHEy2_X9e4xtq52Q/s320/IMG_7581.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424085616069023410" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Two things: yes, this is the recording studio that Bob Marley used in Africa, and it is still run by his mom. Second -- check out the actual monkey hanging out above the sign!</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSy2V5RHwtQ8hrdn811JFdfIpQ08EvcGhHRTjyAfcCIRX0FwD-DEq06l3HkYkgK1rXv6IHTGbXbH5MCHth-p-ttljeP-4qwa7UtKZK-DsQoqtLeBsM5AE_V1ahiWc-4Qxl-NQRRA/s1600-h/IMG_7583.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSy2V5RHwtQ8hrdn811JFdfIpQ08EvcGhHRTjyAfcCIRX0FwD-DEq06l3HkYkgK1rXv6IHTGbXbH5MCHth-p-ttljeP-4qwa7UtKZK-DsQoqtLeBsM5AE_V1ahiWc-4Qxl-NQRRA/s320/IMG_7583.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424085607649564722" /></a><br /></div>THE MERRILL FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021819035748596272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25409723.post-22738350007324420592010-01-06T23:00:00.000-08:002010-01-19T00:19:13.935-08:00A Day at the Museum<div><i>December 20, 2009</i></div><div><br /></div><div>The day we were initially scheduled to leave Accra we decided that we needed a little adventure. So we loaded up into a taxi and headed up the road to the National Museum. It was interesting to learn some more about this beautiful country, but all four kids for the most part were less than impressed so less learning took place than I would have liked. Overall, the museum was good for a two hour diversion from the hotel.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The first part of the museum that we explored was the statue garden inside the front gate:</div><div style="text-align: center;">A statue of Kwame Nkrumah, the first president/prime minister of Ghana and the man who declared Ghanaian independence from Britain in 1957. This statue is a replica of the one that stood in front of the seat of government and was destroyed during the coup in 1966. </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9c7PzvZooiQ4XY_1X9s2P26L1Rp6mkdjfj7UbFFeqfNn3HvNpilfA2mzpRZMbXQZkf26bSulySexZDmKfp9beh4E39D-Qhqp3TWWaqGmRfvc6YH8oXCzwqeHSjBM5N_9Az7y8A/s1600-h/IMG_7625.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9c7PzvZooiQ4XY_1X9s2P26L1Rp6mkdjfj7UbFFeqfNn3HvNpilfA2mzpRZMbXQZkf26bSulySexZDmKfp9beh4E39D-Qhqp3TWWaqGmRfvc6YH8oXCzwqeHSjBM5N_9Az7y8A/s320/IMG_7625.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423894167030120034" /></a><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;">The children were fascinated by this statue of fishermen and their canoe. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJk994TKuhdw2RUb7MkvsHRCZz-HBLdaal3rIw1BSW0-RCSJ5xi1gwB9pcLE63DfhKB0NtBEHJBxgm2GcPSfwrUgAHv2wpTyeEBwGUNgE2HF7-EN3xKq8Q8FCwIqQBwgYfCP-MWQ/s1600-h/IMG_7631.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJk994TKuhdw2RUb7MkvsHRCZz-HBLdaal3rIw1BSW0-RCSJ5xi1gwB9pcLE63DfhKB0NtBEHJBxgm2GcPSfwrUgAHv2wpTyeEBwGUNgE2HF7-EN3xKq8Q8FCwIqQBwgYfCP-MWQ/s320/IMG_7631.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423894166737206418" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The dichotomy of Ghana -- the beauty of the land and the local arts, and then the lack of stewardship of that beauty. The splendor of the statue garden, and yet there was trash all over the ground. I could not take in one without being fully aware of the other.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTucwqi5TqQuLB2PRS2dJ0qQ2fRWZ4UvReO_ZNM1Xlh0g-QLKWsUAx7by1oBXQV4x2bOZPQMrlXWuQKvWcAdig7wNZLTWObPW_kEjrisAb6vFKhiL5Tw6U42rUo3THZ2IKcfSNkw/s1600-h/IMG_7635.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTucwqi5TqQuLB2PRS2dJ0qQ2fRWZ4UvReO_ZNM1Xlh0g-QLKWsUAx7by1oBXQV4x2bOZPQMrlXWuQKvWcAdig7wNZLTWObPW_kEjrisAb6vFKhiL5Tw6U42rUo3THZ2IKcfSNkw/s320/IMG_7635.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423894156644193122" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirmwSnmu3dXEPACw2-88XNY7Rq2gb2S0jI-mv0d1i1qaZoYHuOtNRK1S41XaDEwk42_G80TFJWsruKy1vAALDW0v6DOcEjf1lXs7Mvv9ztDF6yar-5w-OdfuqiHL08m7fQbfVA3w/s1600-h/IMG_7646.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirmwSnmu3dXEPACw2-88XNY7Rq2gb2S0jI-mv0d1i1qaZoYHuOtNRK1S41XaDEwk42_G80TFJWsruKy1vAALDW0v6DOcEjf1lXs7Mvv9ztDF6yar-5w-OdfuqiHL08m7fQbfVA3w/s320/IMG_7646.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423894153795572194" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">How small HC looks in comparison to this soldier</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZoD8nnbslco4M7O-S974jxaJT6nu_I-ozxcaS3zxs8wleWtvqCYxl16dLoU_6Oo_mSJu35uwOl_Q6WZxUdz-EmUwCzoUMt2M7CFRBAua7R2hwBi7g6i_NVE3c2LPK4tLHZudltA/s1600-h/IMG_7650.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZoD8nnbslco4M7O-S974jxaJT6nu_I-ozxcaS3zxs8wleWtvqCYxl16dLoU_6Oo_mSJu35uwOl_Q6WZxUdz-EmUwCzoUMt2M7CFRBAua7R2hwBi7g6i_NVE3c2LPK4tLHZudltA/s320/IMG_7650.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423894148930581106" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I think they wanted to go for a ride</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKWxtv4BauwZr9dvvSOA3lGaJQJ3VVG2Z5w-NlKx19zoxypx366DitG7pGqWH2BDAYa8bytyJjbfVmSSYIxWyqtGZl-eXtMr7gLYUrEb39pR1oYAVS0Fc5OiTkriXxj75XW8E3Q/s1600-h/IMG_7656.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKWxtv4BauwZr9dvvSOA3lGaJQJ3VVG2Z5w-NlKx19zoxypx366DitG7pGqWH2BDAYa8bytyJjbfVmSSYIxWyqtGZl-eXtMr7gLYUrEb39pR1oYAVS0Fc5OiTkriXxj75XW8E3Q/s320/IMG_7656.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423892906337767618" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Beautiful smiles</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc7Lblh2U6RTIi7wheTKlaTdAno0J1_eaf1qlw5SlBvgy_DDLUSbHKDyXxV1CgPkjOc8hnXc7mHxgaERisrihygJY9plKOziGzth3-w1Z9uvqrMAzCphaQ-cvLACHe6Azhjw8QZg/s1600-h/IMG_7662.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc7Lblh2U6RTIi7wheTKlaTdAno0J1_eaf1qlw5SlBvgy_DDLUSbHKDyXxV1CgPkjOc8hnXc7mHxgaERisrihygJY9plKOziGzth3-w1Z9uvqrMAzCphaQ-cvLACHe6Azhjw8QZg/s320/IMG_7662.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423892901106011362" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Seriously, how can my heart not melt???</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS1Ydr3g4mQx8TPGWu5qNPQwM9vSI5p_62H1QTdk_bctKGiCvMrCzGwXQKuG2mfv0FpmJL0miLqmnlfWbU_NF94-JV9fsulRbDw8LXNtMoBHv_Df82SqhC3hjSJognYlz4FB6SIQ/s1600-h/IMG_7665.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS1Ydr3g4mQx8TPGWu5qNPQwM9vSI5p_62H1QTdk_bctKGiCvMrCzGwXQKuG2mfv0FpmJL0miLqmnlfWbU_NF94-JV9fsulRbDw8LXNtMoBHv_Df82SqhC3hjSJognYlz4FB6SIQ/s320/IMG_7665.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423892896571288450" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Snedden family</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjriItOEh6T6U97tBWOLtqvVB0cky_zmwkwBPX-JjhNAjuaKgB1_44cPdM39lJF2bQieXUbC6C597oyn_2ejycIJjyMrG818Z_pdGBTNYgchUQ6P_tdeiNrT0T-i2NnBvDUC0SueA/s1600-h/IMG_7670.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjriItOEh6T6U97tBWOLtqvVB0cky_zmwkwBPX-JjhNAjuaKgB1_44cPdM39lJF2bQieXUbC6C597oyn_2ejycIJjyMrG818Z_pdGBTNYgchUQ6P_tdeiNrT0T-i2NnBvDUC0SueA/s320/IMG_7670.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423892888077855362" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Inside the National Museum:</div><div style="text-align: center;">Amazing hand-carved stools. Each symbol represents a parable or truth of the Akan culture. The stools are dragged outside at night for story telling, how the history and culture is passed from one generation to the next still today.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50Keeo2L9kdhCrJzfvw045pFPW4IwFl_z99huURGrkU06CE4mj-D9sxlgN8ex2VzzzhqFzUU2zLBekpz8pNH_G4Fk13W4MA2gwgvEx13tH5_c0IODXK6L54YQdhUDYceFAnQU-g/s1600-h/IMG_7687.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50Keeo2L9kdhCrJzfvw045pFPW4IwFl_z99huURGrkU06CE4mj-D9sxlgN8ex2VzzzhqFzUU2zLBekpz8pNH_G4Fk13W4MA2gwgvEx13tH5_c0IODXK6L54YQdhUDYceFAnQU-g/s320/IMG_7687.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423892885860816290" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The variety of drums used here. The children love their djembe, and I'm still trying to find a way to get more types of drums home.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkJWv01IOCuvYaFp3BH8DgqbVAWxSoN_tWMd_DCqug1R6EK9jvYyhh6l3kbwGwjzBuzgwbD7YBSaxKbv4TM04C9uBlhWE3HkWChIcao2iHLZb7_DTvCfEciAbocJAbTbWoOmV5Q/s1600-h/IMG_7689.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkJWv01IOCuvYaFp3BH8DgqbVAWxSoN_tWMd_DCqug1R6EK9jvYyhh6l3kbwGwjzBuzgwbD7YBSaxKbv4TM04C9uBlhWE3HkWChIcao2iHLZb7_DTvCfEciAbocJAbTbWoOmV5Q/s320/IMG_7689.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423890511243815074" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A representation of a village hut</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZH73Gj3sf56asdzKcc6VLemFofznz1mZ2sxNc_8e-8M7J-whsP1KRCSEgNSt63_T1-sA0V8aiMxfeD0VEkyt5HRKaEqQVPgT6iKCPaq4gl_MnmAoTUyBZ9f0f22W-eX03UMOkw/s1600-h/IMG_7700.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZH73Gj3sf56asdzKcc6VLemFofznz1mZ2sxNc_8e-8M7J-whsP1KRCSEgNSt63_T1-sA0V8aiMxfeD0VEkyt5HRKaEqQVPgT6iKCPaq4gl_MnmAoTUyBZ9f0f22W-eX03UMOkw/s320/IMG_7700.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423890499358021378" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">E and L's first walk up stairs. They weren't quite sure what to make of it -- especially since they could see the floor they were walking away from.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxJYdBNMCHrBodw3-Y4QK_fA3Rq3bRzZaQDFeChmBUU6pEymmSdemv6Bv_1FSQ6ROq61Kl5sBsDbBnu7bLUrYAcExbHKSqkvDNeRaXEanaLIvkNegNKdPc5aFwjz1jaEWisLnGvw/s1600-h/IMG_7703.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxJYdBNMCHrBodw3-Y4QK_fA3Rq3bRzZaQDFeChmBUU6pEymmSdemv6Bv_1FSQ6ROq61Kl5sBsDbBnu7bLUrYAcExbHKSqkvDNeRaXEanaLIvkNegNKdPc5aFwjz1jaEWisLnGvw/s320/IMG_7703.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423890499030001378" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Checking out the view from above</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPo3mdSpQFZK989bzdSY-_pekd0muUd_rlH8TXoZS1iGBuWc6MGLmL9dRIHqbWqFBZLZRJh_upSuwacRO_2GMQVu0HtQAq3dZ7VCbcqSUPaSQ-fdX8HjN4gFQgYQA1sxuFvDOVQ/s1600-h/IMG_7707.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPo3mdSpQFZK989bzdSY-_pekd0muUd_rlH8TXoZS1iGBuWc6MGLmL9dRIHqbWqFBZLZRJh_upSuwacRO_2GMQVu0HtQAq3dZ7VCbcqSUPaSQ-fdX8HjN4gFQgYQA1sxuFvDOVQ/s320/IMG_7707.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423890485812642610" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZGdMpEsKioQuySbU3CvyL072_d3hkWamR9BoZeu4hXFHioZm-Yxb1ZUgNSa-72qDkwM7jW2lV4fzG6XEJtkKvz-7QKlrqSTcBs_WRCOS0lXDn9i_2bxau_LTW4UGjgrVkZ5wzQ/s1600-h/IMG_7712.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZGdMpEsKioQuySbU3CvyL072_d3hkWamR9BoZeu4hXFHioZm-Yxb1ZUgNSa-72qDkwM7jW2lV4fzG6XEJtkKvz-7QKlrqSTcBs_WRCOS0lXDn9i_2bxau_LTW4UGjgrVkZ5wzQ/s320/IMG_7712.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423890473795525250" /></a><br /></div><div>We had fun on our adventure to the museum. I'm glad that I went and that I took the kids with me. The pictures and things I learned will help me help them learn their story from here better.</div>THE MERRILL FAMILYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06021819035748596272noreply@blogger.com0