Another week in paradise

Its been a great week. I feel like time has just flown by here in Arizona, but at the same time, I can't believe we haven't even lived in our home for a full month yet! We've had a lot of fun and have a very relaxed schedule that I'm loving (while it lasts). This week we had the missionaries over for dinner and it was so much fun getting to know the Elders. Our stake is so full of life and excitement for the gospel and missionary work specifically so I was so thrilled to talk with the missionaries and see how we could get involved. This stake and our area was a determining factor in moving to Arizona, so I was surprised to hear that the missionaries were a little discouraged, they haven't seen as many investigators as they had hoped. I immediately got this feeling of excitement and determination! I told them we want in! Call us to go on visits or talk to investigators or invite neighbors to activities! We want all the way in! To add to all this missionary excitement, 3 of my cousins have received their mission calls in the past month, and in our family, we ALL get very excited about it.

 Look at these adorable missionaries! Baltimore, Mongolia and Texas! Amazing!

 Cant wait to see who else gets a call in the next few years from our family (cough cough, Kenna)

It was so nice to have the missionaries in our home, then the Bishopric the next night! We love our ward, they've wrapped thier arms around us and really taught us what they're all about. They've set the bar high and we're excited to be apart of it.

Also, My sister came into town! Sam and the boys came down to AZ for a few days and we got to spend a whole day with them!

 I wish i would have gotten more pictures of these cuties with their swim suits on. We went to the Basha pool, ate mac and cheese, played/shared/fought over toys, Liam went to time out roughly 5-7 times and we ate ice cream and watched movies! All the while Sam and i put a little dent in catching each other up on our lives. I love our relationship. Being in Idaho with the other Merrells allowed us to really love each other and gain so much respect for each others families and paths. I'm so glad i have in-laws that respect my family and genuinely support and love us! The feelings mutual. Just love hearing about their successes and watching them grow as a family (in numbers and through the experiences they share with us).
   Today we got to irrigate! It brought me back to my own backyard in the Greenfield acres. Watching Liam run as fast as his short bowlegged body could take him straight into the water flooded lawn was so wonderful! The warm water was so exciting to him and he ran around the front yard like it was all new territory.

 Stratton got in on the fun too! I love that i had one plan today and i ended up seeing my aunt and her family, Danica and my mom came over and Liam got to see his cousins too! Being next to family can be a real blessing.

I love when he just plopped down in the water and screamed with delight!

 He would have sat there all day if i would have let him! So glad my mom came to help me, i don't know why but i was nervous about the pressure being to strong or not knowing what to do if the top came off! But irrigating is awesome, i love it for the nostalgia and the family fun. I just hope Chad can be home for the next one, he would have been tackling Liam in that water all afternoon.

Just another week in paradise!