Blog or Facebook?

Friends and relatives,

I'm trying to determine if people are reading this blog regularly or whether we should just concentrate on the boys' Facebook page. How do you like to keep up with the boys? What do you like to read? Where is the best place to see photos?

I also have a Picasa page where I regularly add photos.

I'm adding a poll to the sidebar of the blog. Please take the poll. Also, you can leave a comment on the blog or send me an e-mail at sarahctully@gmail.com with your thoughts. Let me know so I can make a decision.

Either way, keep in touch!

Milestone for Austin

We've mostly been tracking Merrick's progress on the blog lately. But we're turning our attention back to Austin here.

Austin hit a major milestone this week: He started preschool.




Austin is going to the Tiny Tots program through the city of Orange two days a week.

He brought his Buzz Lightyear lunchbox with trail mix, apple slices, juice box and water on the first day. (Yes, I packed too much.)

Austin wore his favorite, new Lightning McQueen shoes to show his teacher. He also wanted to bring her a juice box, but I told him that she would probably bring her own snack. Austin immediately liked the city rug.

Austin did pretty well when I dropped him off, but he was teary when I arrived to pick him up. We're hoping it will be a little less traumatic on his second day tomorrow. We're so proud of him.

Below is an unrelated picture of Austin with Curious George at the library. Austin got to meet one of his favorite characters during a special story time on Saturday.

Tia Laura visits

Tia Laura was the first aunt to meet Baby Merrick this week.

She flew into town, coincedentally, when a family gathering was going on. Laura first got to see her nephew at the Crab Pot. Merrick immediately gave his aunt a big smile.

Laura got to have more one-on-one time with Merrick at home. But she really spent most of her trip with Austin, who needs a lot of stimulation these days. They went on bear hunts, made a menu for Austin's imaginary restaurant and played in the water. Those two were so busy that I didn't get a picture of just the two of them. 

When Merrick was awake, he really reacted to Laura, who is a master of kids' songs and entertainment.

We were so lucky to have her here. We miss her!

Great Grandpa meets his namesake

 

Baby Merrick's name comes from a combination of his great grandparents' names. Last week, Merrick got to meet his last living great grandparent, Richard Tully, or Tata (Sarah's paternal grandfather).

Merrick's due date fell on Tata's 90th birthday, although he was born a few days later.

We missed Great Grandpa's big birthday party, but we had the chance to see Tata when he came to California to visit family members.



Aunt Pat invited us over for dinner at her house, where we took these pictures.

 

Helen, as well as Great Aunt Linda and Uncle Chuck, also came to town. 

We later got together for a big family dinner at the Crab Pot in Long Beach.

We're so glad Great Grandpa got to meet the baby.

Grandparents' visit

The kids' grandparents came back to California to give the parents a much-needed break. 

But both Grandma and Grandpa ended up with a lot of work themselves.

Grandpa spent most of the trip working on a project to fix the kitchen table and take care of Austin. Luckily for Grandpa, Austin was happy to help out with the construction, seen below. However, I don't think Austin really sped things along. Still, I think Grandpa was glad to have someone take interest after raising three girls.

Grandma took care of all of us, but especially Merrick so Sarah could leave the house alone. Grandma cooked, cleaned, shopped and had fun with the boys. Here, she is reading "Tikki Tikki Tembo," one of our favorites when we were kids. Grandma didn't get to leave the house much.

Austin was spoiled by Grandpa. No, Grandpa didn't give him the lollipop. Austin got the candy after his haircut. But Grandpa later took him out for orange chicken and ice cream.

We miss Grandma and Grandpa!