Feel the Burn!

I was going to find some random, cheesy photo of Richard Simmons for this next blog, but then I remembered Erin's fabulous homage to the king of Sweatin' to the Oldies and thought this was much more entertaining. Sorry, Erin-it's just too dang funny not to use! I still love you lots!

So, as the title suggests, I have decided to join the ranks of those who are battling the bulge! Julie's recent goal and Natalie's progress has inspired me to "go for the gold" and lose weight! My motto for the rest of the year: "2008 will be great, lose the weight!" Nice!

Eric's even decided to join in and as of this date we have both already lost 5 pounds. Woo hoo! Well, now that it's on the blog, it's official. Hopefully, you'll all start seeing less of me by the time summer rolls around-and I mean that in the best way possible (unless you really would like to see less of me).

Squaw Gettem Firewood!

Look out, people-I have been called to serve as my ward's Young Women's Camp Director! Yes, I know, and I join you in what you can only be thinking as "What the heck?"

Apparently, the Lord seems to feel that a knowledge of various campfire songs, dozens of camping trips to Yellowstone National Park and the Uintahs with my family and making a mean hobo dinner equals qualified camp director material. Yikes! From now until we embark I will be praying nightly that the Lord will watch over me and save everyone from the path of destruction which I am sure to carve.

I'm not quite sure how my name got suggested as I have been buried knee deep in ankle biters since we moved out here. I didn't think anyone outside of the pre-teen world even knew who I was, but according to our First Counselor in the Bishopric, the young women in our ward "really like" me. That's awesome-now which ones are the young women again? :)

I must say though, I am kind of excited for the opportunity to serve the young women again-even in the smallest degree. They are so much fun and I miss being involved in the program. I got to meet some of them a few weeks ago when the leaders asked me to teach the girls about makeup and hair for one of their combined activities. That was so much fun. We'll see how much they "like me" when they're hiking up the hills or learning how to fish. It's no fun to camp if you can't at least fish once! It's a good thing I love camping or we'd all be in trouble.

Captain Jack Sparrow-sort of!

Meet the newest member of the Miller clan-our little Shnorkie (half mini-schnauzer, half yorkie)! While I swore I would never own another inside animal, dog or otherwise, after the death of our beloved Molly, it looks like I will now have to eat my words once again. Nothing new!
Eric found this little cutie on KSL the other night and so we went for a little drive to "just look". Yeah right, like that was going to happen when you have the kids in tow. Mikaela about had a stroke as soon as she saw him (she absolutely LOVES dogs), and Haylie was equally as giddy. Eric and I thought he was pretty darn cute and very playful. I still wasn't completely conviced I was ready to turn my new home over to the likes of a puppy, but the owner had already started the potty training and kennel training process (two very important things in my book) so that made it a little easier for me to say yes. I am proud to report that the first night went very well, he made it all the way through the night and then let us know when it was time to put him out. I'm sure both our families will be "thrilled" with our new addition. Oh well, the girls are in doggy heaven and I think my husband is right there with them. He tries to hide it well, but I think he secretly wanted the puppy as much as the girls-he's such a pushover! Let's hope this will teach Haylie and Mikaela a little about responsibility since he'll be in their charge now, thus the name Captain Jack Sparrow (Haylie thought up that one).

Hmm...we'd better pray for the puppy.

Cousins In The Tub!

Last Saturday Eric's sister and brother-in-law, Jodi and Jake, moved into their new home in West Point so I volunteered to watch my little neice Madison and nephew Gavin. The girls had a great time with their cousins playing all day and also getting into a little mischief. Halfway through the day, Gavin and Haylie decided to get in touch with their inner "Van Gough" and used Madi & Mikaela to display their masterpieces. All four of them ended up with colored marker (washable, thank goodness) all over their eyes, lips, cheeks, necks, backs and other assorted areas. Oy! Let's just say I will NOT be opening a daycare anytime during this lifetime. They looked awesome, but all of the pic's I took did not turn out. Instead, I ended up just snapping a few of them while they played in the bathtub together. It's the Three Beaut's (Cowles inside joke) in miniature form!

It was a fun day with puzzles, movies, pizza, watercolors, and much baby stroller pushing! My girls can't wait for them to come back again. I'll just make sure the markers are safely hidden next time.