Vacation...in Iowa...

Wow! What a week! It started off Monday my mom and brother coming up since my mom had to have surgery in Cedar Rapids early Tuesday AM. Heath stayed w/ us that week and mom came home late Wednesday then they headed for home Friday morning. Merrick loved having "Uncle Buger" (as he calls Heath) around. They were quite the pair this week.

Merrick watched Heath very close and did everything he did...If Heath was eating so was Merrick...when Heath was stretching for his run...so was Merrick! :)

We or should I say Heath ran to the park and Merrick and Mommy followed close behind. Merrick had a good time on the tire swing and then found the largest puddle at the bottom of a slide so we had to cut our park adventure kinda short! :)

Wednesday Lincoln and I celebrated our 3 yr anniversary. Can't believe 3 yrs ago this all started taking place. Since Heath was around he offered to watch Merrick for a little while and we went and got a couples massage which was AMAZING! Lincoln enjoyed his so much I was waiting for the snore :)! We both feel truly blessed with all God has given us in such a short 3 yrs and are very excited what God has instore for us for the rest of our lifetime together!

Friday after Mom and Heath left Merrick I think felt a little lost so wanted to be right next to me every step of the way. I was putting on my make up and looked down to my sweet boy's face covered in LIPSTICK!!! How cute...however Im still trying to get it outta the shirt and the hand prints off the laundry basket (actually havent tried to hard to get the handprint out cause its so dang cute!!!)

Friday we left for Des Moines to stay with my dad for a mini vacation to the fair and zoo. We had a blast!!! Merrick loved Gdpa's buitar (guitar) and Baxter!

Saturday AM we left bright and early to beat the heat and people of the fair. Merrick enjoyed the animals and loved the petting zoo...especially the goats! He giggled from the bottom of his toes when the goats would nibble on his hat and would put his head right there for them to try!
Merrick loved the baby lambs but kept calling them puppies! What can I say this kid loves his dogs!!!Merrick LOVED the giant slide and had to ride on it with Mommy AND Daddy!
He also enjoyed all the food at the fair...corn dog at 9:30am, an ice cream cone by 10:30 and chicken strips and fries for lunch!!! He knows how to enjoy everything to the fullest! ;)

While at the fair we got to watch Lincoln's cousin's Leslie and Sydney dance at the Bill Riley's talant show! Merrick loved that!!!! In fact after they were done he proclaims..."Mermick dance!" And took off for the stage! :)

Merrick loved riding on Gdpa Rick's shoulders!!!

Mommy and the hawkeye fan even got hawkeye tattoos! Merrick LOVES his "Hawkeye!" Go Hawks!

After a much needed nap we headed to the pool at my dad's place! It was a great ending to a HOT day!!! Merrick loved to float on his spider man Grandpa got him at the fair.

Gdma Deane had playdough for Merrick to play with while we waited for supper. Merrick told everyone that "It's a toy not food!" As that's what we told him...so he wanted to make sure to pass the rules on if you were going to play :)
Today (Sunday) we took Merrick to the Blank Park Zoo! It was HOT! but we had a good time!!! He especially loved the otter and girafees!

Merrick thought it was SO COOL to drink out of the hippo's mouth!

Merrick had gotten in trouble for hitting some random kid at the zoo and was pouting in this picture because we had told him he couldn't be mean or we would have to go home. Lincoln had asked him if he was ready to be nice and pulled his hat up so Lincoln could see Merrick's eyes. Merrick quickly pulled the hat down over his eyes and said "Not ready for nice!" Oh that boy!!!!
Daddy and Merrick were enjoying the rainforst (air conditioning) part of the zoo!!

The swinging bridge intrigued Merrick ONLY if Mom and Dad were close!!
We ended our "vacation" with lunch at Carlos O Kelly's! YUM! Merrick loves chicken and cheese quesidillas and fries!! Then slept the 2 hrs home! :)
As hot as it was we had a great time spending time as a family but are all VERY tired and Monday always comes too fast!!!!

One last thing we are excited at this Taylor's house is SUNBUTTER! I am constantly doing research on the peanut/treenut allergy to make our lives easier and more knowledgeable to keep Merrick the safest we can! This week we found Sunbutter which is very similar to peanut butter but made from sunflower seeds! It is kinda pricey but tastes pretty good and now Merrick can enjoy things that take peanut butter (PB sandwhich, cookies, puppy chow, scotch a roos) as I can subsitute peanut butter for Sunbutter!!! YEAH! Here's a picture of Merrick eating his first Sunbutter sandwhich!!!!
Alright thats all for now! Have a good week and we'll catch up next week!!!