i'm still here..

A weekend trip to Portland

Oops- I guess I've been a little distracted for the last few months. But we are still alive and kickin' here in Bend. I realize that I failed to blog about some pretty big holidays and events- so, now I will catch everybody up:

Thanksgiving: Awesome.
Christmas in Utah: Super Rad.
New Years Eve: Great.
Valentines Day: Lovely.
Carey's Birthday: Fun.

I think that just about covers it.
I'll try to get back to regular weekly posts now.



snowshoeing field trip

a perfect 10...

A very Happy Birthday to the sweetest boy on the planet!



Today Steven turns 10 years old- it's hard to believe that a decade has gone by since this guy joined our family.



And a good decade it has been. Steven has always brought a sweet spirit into our home. He is the most thoughtful kid I know. Always making sure those around him are happy and comfortable. What a joy he is, I'm so luck he's my son!


Happy Birthday, Steven!

me. all about me...

So I don't usually talk allot about myself. I'm kind of a shy person, and I don't like a lot of attention focused on me. But- since today is my birthday, I thought I would fill out a questionnaire that I came across recently... So- here we go, it's time to get to know Carrie:




What was your favorite subject in school? Astronomy
What is your favorite flavor of jelly beans? Black
Which flavor of ice-cream do you prefer? Rocky Road
What do you think is your very best feature or characteristic? I'm totally sincere all the time.
What is your strongest talent? Music
Do you play a musical instrument, if so which one(s)? Piano and Guitar



What do you usually do when you have leisure time on your hands? Play the piano, write music, sew, read.
What is your favorite season and why? Autumn. You can't beat the weather and the colors. Best time of year, hands down!
If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go? Backpacking across Ireland.
What is your favorite color? Green. and blue.
Who is your best friend and how did you meet? Becky is my best friend in the whole wide world. We have been friends since kindergarten. I love, love, LOVE her!!!



What is your favorite food? Sandwiches.
Do you prefer to wear pants or dresses? Pants.
How many siblings do you have? 5. Four brothers and one sister.
What is you favorite snack? Toast.
If you could be any animal which one would you prefer to be and why? A sloth- cause they get to chill in trees all day.
What kind of vehicle do you drive? I believe I touched on this in my last post. I have a 1999 Ford Taurus Station Wagon. Yep. That's how I roll.
What is your favorite sport to watch? Roller Derby.
Which sport do you most enjoy actively participating in? Racquetball- though I haven't played in years.
What do you usually do when you meet someone for the first time? Wonder if they think I'm weird.
What is your favorite book? Don't have a favorite- but I love all of Dean Karnazes' books- they are so motivating. Also, I love the Great and the Terrible series by Chris Stewart.
Are you ticklish? Yes. But I hate being tickled. It makes me want to punch people.
What size shoe do you wear? 8 1/2 WIDE.
How many pairs of shoes do you currently own? I think about 15 or 20. I got rid of a lot when we moved.
What age do you consider old? No certain age. I think when you just stop doing stuff- then you're old.
Which birthday are you most looking forward to and why? 40. I don't know- it just seems like maybe by then I'll feel grown up.
Do you prefer pens or pencils? Pencils.
Do you like your handwriting? Sometimes.
What is your full name? Carrie Elisabeth Orr Meerdink
Do you have a nickname? Yes, Basil. It's short for rrohtebasileeirrac. See if you can figure that out. I was also recently given a new nickname: Marvel- based on my slight obsession with comic book characters.
What day were you born on? November 6, 1978. That makes me 33 today. I actually thought I was turning 34, until my husband reminded me of my actual age. So it's like I'm not aging at all this year!
Where were you born? San Luis Obispo, CA
Where did you grow up? Orem, UT
When did you last visit the zoo? Last year, in Portland.
Have you ever stayed on a farm? No.
Have you ever been horseback riding? No.
Have you ever been water skiing? Yes.
What do you most like to do in the snow? Sledding/Tubing with my kiddos.
What is your favorite all-time movie? That is too difficult a question to answer. There are a few- Australia, Count of Monte Cristo, and An American in Paris.
Can you change a tire? I have no idea.
Is your room more clean or more messy? My side is more messy than my husbands side.
Do you prefer a bath or a shower? Depends on my mood. I do love a nice long bubble bath while reading a good book. Just have to be careful not to drop the book in the water...
What do you prefer to drink with your morning meal? Odwalla Juice. Any flavor.
If you had to be stranded on a deserted island with one person who would you want that one person to be? My husband. Cause he would make me laugh, and we could kiss and stuff...



Which animal would you most like for your pet? One that cleans up after itself.
Do you like sweet treats or salty treats? Sweet.
Have you ever sung in the shower? Every day.
Do you find it easy to save money? No.
Which do you prefer you had - straight or curly hair? I think my hair is just fine... It won't hold any curl.
What color eyes do you most like? Green.
What would you say is your normal exercise routine? I have no normal routine right now. Just following doctors orders trying to get my foot better.
Do your pants get hung or folded? Folded.
Have you ever had acrylic nails? Never.
Have you ever colored your hair? Allot in high school. Not so much now.
What do you do when something funny happens? Laugh.
Do you like to dance? Yes, but I look like Elaine on Seinfield.
Did you have a favorite toy as a child? Barbies



Do you like drinking from the cup or a straw? Cup. I hate straws.
Do you like ice in your cold beverages? Yes.
What is your favorite sandwich? Roasted red pepper.
Do you carry floss in your purse? No, but I probably should.
Which family member do you most resemble? Probably my brother Jason.
Which family member are you more like? I think my brother Chris.
What is the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you? Probably when I got my toe caught in the escalator at the mall. That isn't something that happens every day.
What is your most embarrassing moment? Okay- this could be a number of things, like the time I peed my pants in elementary school. Or the time I peed my pants in front of a boys house that I liked in junior high cause my friend and I were laughing so hard. Or maybe the time I peed my pants at my brother's house one Christmas cause I was laughing way too hard. But actually, I think is was when I got my toe caught in that dang escalator. I screamed so loud the entire mall heard.
Do you live in a house, trailer or apartment, etc.? House. Me and my husband just bought our first home here in Bend. Absolutely love it!
Have you ever won anything? If so, what did you win? Once. I won tickets to a Tom Petty concert.
Do you prefer fresh air or air conditioned air? Fresh. Nothing like having the windows open.
Do you prefer mountainous or flat regions? Mountains.
What is your favorite childhood memory? My dad telling store stories.



What is your favorite fruit? This seems like an unfair question, as I have never met a fruit I didn't like. I do love nectarines though. And raspberries. And cherries.
What color of clothing do you most like to wear? Black or green.
What is your favorite cereal? Lucky Charms.
What is your favorite breakfast? Toast.
Who do you spend more time with? My husband- well, actually probably my children.
What is the longest car trip you have ever taken? When we moved from Florida to Oregon. That was very, very long.
Do you know how to iron your clothes? Yes, but Carey does the ironing in our house.
Can you sew a button on your clothing? Yes.
Are you creative in any way? If so, which way(s)? I think so. I write music, sew, and can come up with some very entertaining songs to sing to my boys when we are camping.
What is most memorable about your high school years? I try not not remember those years. But one night stands out- sitting in Becky's backyard around a fire roasting marshmallows with some of my best friends. That night literally changed the course of my life.



What word describes you best? I don't know. Maybe the kind readers could answer this question for me in a comment to this blog posting???
What is your greatest accomplishment? My children.
What drives you every day? I want to make my parents proud. I also don't want to regret a single day.
Where do you want to retire? San Juan Island off the coast of Washington. The most amazing place I've ever been.
Where do you like to vacation? Anywhere with a beach.
Who do you admire? My little brother, Chris.
What is your mission? To help people know that they are loved. That no matter their past, they can do amazing things.
If you were invisible, where would you go? To my kids classes at school.
What traits in others are you attracted to? Kindness, honestly.
What is the kindest thing anyone has done for you? Listened.
How do you want to be remembered? As a happy, good, hard working person.
What would you do with a million dollars? Pay off student loans, then maybe replace my dang car. And I'd travel. A lot.

And that's me...