The Miller Family

Thanks In Giving

2011-11-27T22:06:00.000-08:00

This has not been an easy year for me. It hasn't been the worst either. When I consider the year as a whole, I realize that although some things have not come to fruition for me, especially one thing in particular, I have much to be thankful for.

I have a beautiful home in a safe and quiet neighborhood full of really good neighbors. I have two beautiful children who are healthy and happy and thriving. I have a sweet husband who, after nearly 16 years of marriage, still loves all of my craziness. I have three of the most amazing sisters on the planet and two kind and loving parents who still continue to teach me what it means to be a good parent myself. I have security, good health, a good job, great friends and Eric and I are able to provide for the needs of our children-such wonderful blessings from the Lord!

I have wonderful parents-in-law who treat me with love and respect. I am very grateful to have them in my life.

Overall, I am one blessed girl! I have had to deal with many personal challenges this year and come to grips with the reality that having more children is probably no longer an option for me. It has been heartbreakingly painful to watch that dream begin to fade. I have not always been the nicest person to be around as I've struggled to understand and work through the torrent of emotions that have seemed never-ending at times. This is a trial that has tested the very foundation of my faith at times. I am so thankful to be able to say that it has undoubtedly strengthened not only my testimony, but also my relationship with my Heavenly Father. There is nothing I love more than being a mother and I cannot express how much fulfillment and contentment I have experienced as I raise my two daughters. I cherish every moment I have with them and I do not take any of it for granted because I know how hard I fought to get them here.

My blessings are numerous and in a time where so many have so little, my cup truly runneth over. How grateful I am for the trials and tribulations I have been given by a loving Heavenly Father who has shown me kindness and compassion and provided me with multiple opportunities to build and strengthen my testimony, my character and my faith.

Beautiful Butterflies!

2011-11-27T21:25:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm not exactly sure what kind of butterfly Mikaela is trying to channel-frankly, I'm not sure I want to know. She's looking a little crazy.
We went downtown to the Farmer's Market with my parents one fine Saturday morning in August where my girls swiftly convinced my mom and dad to buy them magnets (or "maganets" as Mikaela calls them) and facepaintings. Now, my dad has always been a bit of a softie when it comes to his girls, but ever since the grandkids came along there's NOTHING he would refuse them. Any and all resolve completely melts the moment the grandkids run through the door. He's the kind of grandpa everyone wishes they had. I am beyond blessed to have such a completely kind and generous man who will drop anything he's doing if I ever call on him to help me with my girls. There are no words to describe how much I appreciate and rely on my wonderful father. There are not many men who are so completely devoted to their grandchildren and actually WANT to be around them for any extended length of time-I count my lucky stars that I not only know such a man, but was also raised by him too!
My girls love going to their house and watch my mother when she's cooking. They love helping her and want to do everything she does-teach them well mom, so I can hand over the keys to the kitchen! They especially love having her show them how to stitch and crochet. She's the perfect teacher for it too! I don't have half the skill she does when it comes to teaching those kinds of things.
I'm so grateful for such loving and generous parents. You are truly a blessing to me and my family and we sure do love you!

Sleeping Out!

2011-11-27T20:54:00.000-08:00

Sorry, I know we're a mile past summertime, but I'm just getting around to working on all the summer fun me and the girls had! This is where we spent the majority of our summer evenings-sleeping out on the back deck watching movies!
The girls loved it and I actually enjoyed the cool night air. Too bad there were so many mosquitoes! Those things are seriously my living nightmare during the summer months. Oh well, what's a few mosquito bites compared to a full summer of memories? The girls sure didn't complain-for once-and I am just grateful that I was able to spend the time with them.

A Few of My Favorite Quotes About Kids

2011-08-03T17:00:00.000-07:00

The only thing worth stealing is a kiss from a sleeping child. ~Joe Houldsworth

Anyone who thinks the art of conversation is dead ought to tell a child to go to bed. ~Robert Gallagher

Any kid will run any errand for you if you ask at bedtime. ~Red Skelton

If there were no schools to take the children away from home part of the time, the insane asylums would be filled with mothers. ~Edgar W. Howe

If you haven't time to respond to a tug at your pants leg, your schedule is too crowded. ~Robert Brault

There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million. ~Walt Streightiff

A rose can say "I love you",
orchids can enthrall,
but a weed bouquet in a chubby fist,
yes, that says it all.
~Author Unknown

A child seldom needs a good talking to as a good listening to. ~Robert Brault

While we try to teach our children all about life,
Our children teach us what life is all about.
~Angela Schwindt

An Observation

2011-08-03T16:49:00.000-07:00

I ran into an old friend whom I haven't seen for several years the other day. After catching up for a moment or two she began her lament about the summer flying by and not having had any time to spend with her children (she doesn't work, by the way) and began listing all of the things she needed to do ending with, "I still need to go home and clean my house, it's been neglected for three whole days now." Wow!
I chose not to say anything, but if she came to my house she would soon realize that my house comes AFTER everything else! Sometimes it can take me a couple of weeks before I decide it really is time to clean. But here's the thing: my house will NEVER be Buckingham Palace. As long as small children roam my house there will always be fingerprint smudges on the glass (right after I do clean it, of course); there will always be tiny shoes scattered across my kitchen floor; my carpets will never again have that "just vacuumed" look to them; there will most likely be Barbie shoes, tiaras, play dresses, and pom poms mixed in with my laundry baskets and there will ALWAYS be a place on my refrigerator for original works of art compliments of my little girls. It will never pass a white glove test, but you know what? I'm okay with it.
My children have one childhood. I have one chance to spend their childhood with them. If I have the choice between going to the park or cleaning out my pantry, the park will win every time. Being a mother is the most important job I will ever have and I enjoy every crazy, funny, stressful, hair-pulling, tear-jerking, wacky, loving moment of it. As Pres. David O. McKay once said, "No amount of success can compensate for failure in the home." To me, that speaks volumes. I could not imagine my life without my children, it's up to me to make sure they grow up knowing just how much they are loved and cared for. I'm just grateful that I have the opportunity to do just that. The housework can wait!

Backyard Fun!

2011-08-03T08:50:00.000-07:00

Sprinklers and a trampoline...pure magic to kids!

Why Can't Flowers Last Longer????

2011-07-31T11:06:00.000-07:00

Aren't these beautiful? They're from my mom and dad's backyard. Haylie and Mikaela persuaded my dad to give them some and he ended up giving all three of us pretty bouquets! I stuffed them all into this vase and just love how summer-y they make the house feel. I just wish they lasted a lot longer!

Just Dance!

2011-07-31T10:34:00.001-07:00

Feelin' Hot, hot, hot! My little flamenco dancer! Isn't she cute?

Stuck like glue! Haylie's adorable costume!

Haylie's dance group. They all looked so cute for their dance recital. I love these costumes-they are the perfect color for these little gals!

Mikaela's dance group. This outfit was for their dance to the Tangled soundtrack. Haylie also had another costume for Tangled as well, but I forgot to download those photos. They both did such a good job and they are learning so much. I love watching them perform.

My little dancers. They sure love posing for pictures!

Clucker's Cove...or The Poultry Palace...or the Eggs-Caliber...whatever!

2011-07-31T10:16:00.001-07:00

So, Eric decided one fine April day in 2010 that he wanted to try his hand at raising chickens. I was a little unsure about the whole ordeal, but thought, "What the heck, it's not like we don't have the room, and we like eggs." I told him I was all for it. The next day, I come home from work and Eric has five little chicks in a box and he's begun work on what I now refer to as the Poultry Palace. It took him four solid weeks of work, every night, to get this thing finished. It also required the help of four solid men to help Eric move this monster into the back yard.
We now have fresh eggs every day, to the delight of our daughters and our dogs, hours of entertainment chasing the chickens around the garden. I love the fact that they keep the bugs down and they are fairly easy to maintain. Eric asked a store clerk if we needed to give them shots or anything like that. The clerk's answer, "Nope, just food and water. If you see one laying dead in the dirt, don't eat it." Truly a wise man. :)
We have had them for over a year and a half now and have added two more to our brood. It would have been four more, but one of our older chickens is into bird murder and ended up offing two of them. That was fun, oh wait, no it wasn't!
If you ever want to try some of our eggs, give us a call- we'll hook you up!

Easter 2011

2011-07-31T10:00:00.001-07:00

Easter was fast and furious around our house this year. We didn't even make it to the candy hunt at the city park! Oh well, the girls didn't seem too upset by it so I wasn't going to rock the boat. We stored up a bunch of our chicken eggs (clarification: Eric and I bought some chickens a year ago and built a chicken "palace" in the back yard-see the next blog for more details), and went to work. I was a little skeptical at first about how well the eggs would actually color since our eggs are all brown, tan, green and blue. But they held the colors surprisingly well.

The girls colored all of the eggs this year. I was given the position of spectator/supervisor this year.

They turned out pretty darn good. Especially considering this was our first year using brown and blue eggs.

Luckily, the Easter Bunny didn't hide the eggs too well. Haylie likes her hunts to be quick and easy. She's not into "hunting".

Mikaela, on the other hand, loves the hunt and kept yelling at Haylie to quit pointing all of them out to her. Silly girls!

Mikaela Turns 5!

2011-07-31T09:45:00.001-07:00

I'm still trying to figure out how this rambunctious little ball of energy is already five years old. I'm sure by the time I figure it out, she'll be turning six. She has the most generous, kind, outgoing spirit of any little girl I know. She is sassy and sweet, sugar and spice, fire and ice all wrapped up in a pretty little package. I love her playful nature and spunky personality. She is my little helper. She is always looking to please others and I love her for that. Anyone who meets her is immediately taken with her beautiful green eyes and her angelic smile. Anyone who knows her also knows how fast she can flip her little switch to, as I like to call it, "demon mode". No matter, she captures hearts and keeps them and she has mine and her daddy's forever! We love you, Cricket! Happy Birthday!

She wanted a blue butterfly birthday cake. Since I'm definitely NOT Martha Stewart, this is my sad attempt at a butterfly. Just wanted to clear that up if you were wondering what the heck it was!

Las Vegas NASCAR!

2011-05-29T10:55:00.000-07:00

Well, although I swore it would never happen, somehow Eric got me to come to the NASCAR races in Vegas. I'm still not sure how that happened. Here we are at the top of the stadium. Behind us is just a very small portion of the RVs, trailers, and cars that fill up the surrounding areas of the speedway. It's like an ocean of vehicles.

Here are a few pictures of the racetrack. I wish my camera was sophisticated enough to get a panoramic view of the track-it's quite impressive. I've been told there are several tracks that are so big it's impossible to see the whole thing. We could see all of the track here, but it's still pretty darn big.

This is the front of the track and the view we had of the race. Not bad, huh?

Our awesome friends, Kaycie (in the wheelchair after surgery-poor kid), Stacie and KJ (seated) and Abbie (standing). They made the whole trip so much fun. We love them!

There was so much to see and do outside of the racetrack. They had trailers for all of the drivers set up to hock their merchandise. I bought a Danica Patrick hat and earrings (go #7!). They had contests and food, all sorts of cars set up to look at, BMX stunt riders showing off their skills and all sorts of alcohol (as I'm sure you can only imagine). Here is my cute dad with the Boost Mobile girls-doesn't he look just like "Weekend at Bernie's"? I love it! He's so funny. Abbie, Kaycie and Whitney dubbed him "Grandpa Jim" and were constantly making sure he was always taken care of. I'm so glad he was there with us.
So, here I am, after all the protesting and promising that I would never be seen at one of these things and I have to admit...not only was it better than I had expected, but I told Eric I'm definitely going again next year. Guess there is a little redneck in me after all.

St. George 2010

2011-05-29T10:43:00.000-07:00

Every February for the past six or seven years the girls and I have tagged along with Eric down to St. George for his annual building code conference. It's nice to get away from the snow for a few days and pretend it's spring. Sometimes the weather cooperates, sometimes it doesn't, but we don't care because there's NO SNOW! That's the best part ever!

The one thing that seems to work out, however is the outdoor swimming. My girls love to swim and they wouldn't care if it was 10 below with arctic winds blowing in. As long as the pool is heated, they're going in. This year was no exception and luckily for us, the weather wasn't too bad. I think the highest temp was around 66 degrees, but it felt like heaven to us.

We usually do a little shopping at the outlet mall, or go to a movie, but this year was all about the swimming. Every moment they could squeeze in was spent at the pool. It gave me time to work on my non-existent tan (I repel the sun), and catch up on my reading list.

Now, if only I could figure out a way to get one of these in my yard...

Haylie Turns 7!

2011-05-29T10:28:00.000-07:00

It is really hard to believe I have a seven-year-old. Every time I look at her it blows my mind how much she has grown. I love watching her grow and discover and learn, but I also remember how sweet and small she was as a baby and I truly miss those days.

She is so smart and inquisitive. She loves to read and I am amazed at how well she does. She is a very creative child with lots of energy and imagination. Just playing with her makes me feel like I'm seven years old again.

She is such a beautiful little girl and she has such a sweet personality. Eric and I love her very much and are so proud of her accomplishments. She brings so much joy and contentment to our lives and to her sister. She may keep on growing...but she'll always be my baby! Happy Birthday, Haylie. Mommy and Daddy love you!

Hoop Lake 2010

2011-02-24T16:04:00.000-08:00

Beautiful Hoop Lake!

Eric proves he's still got the skills!

Haylie's becoming quite the little fisherwoman!

Mikaela is right behind her sister when it comes to reelin' 'em in!

This is the road that heads in to our campsite. Eric and I let the girls ride their bikes all over the campground, but we always tell them they cannot ride on this road without us because on one side of the road is the dam, on the other side is a steep embankment that leads down to the dam outlet.
Bet you can't guess what Mikaela decided to do...

Yes, this is where Mikaela attempted to turn her bike around after straying too far away from us. She turned the wheel too close to the edge and ended up doing bike acrobatics down the side of the embankment. First, let me just say thank heavens it was Mikaela and not Haylie. Mikaela is one tough little cookie and although it scared the tar out of her, she walked away with just a couple of scrapes and bruises and had her crying over with in about ten minutes. If this had happened to Haylie she would STILL be crying about it, bless her little drama queen heart. Second, I will personally endorse the use of helments when bike riding for the rest of my life. Had she not been wearing it, she most certainly would have had a different outcome. When Eric and I did our little assessment of the whole situation, we realized that her bike put her right in the path of a huge rock that Mikaela actually ended up hitting with her head. Her helmet ended up with a nice gash in it and her beautiful little head remained perfectly round and intact. Tender mercies from the Lord!
Now for those of you keeping track of my personal quest for "Mother of Year" award, I'd say I'm safely out of the running!

Other than Mikaela's turn at becoming a stunt woman-the trip was fun and uneventful, which is just fine with Eric and me!

tHriLLs and ChILLs!

2011-02-24T15:45:00.000-08:00

Speaking of yearly rituals...here's another one of them-the annual jaunt to Salt Lake to watch "Thriller". Haylie was so excited to go back and see the zombies. She had a ball with her aunts and grandma. I'm sure glad she likes it because I have no intention of stopping this tradition.

Another fun performance and great girls night out fun with Aunts Erin, Darby and Dallin, Grandma Sue and "Auntie" Cher along for the ride. Next year Mikaela has made it known she will not be left behind. I'm thinking she'll be ready for it!

Dinosaurs and Draculas!

2011-02-24T15:31:00.000-08:00

Is it totally pathetic that I'm blogging about Halloween at the end of February? Yeah, I think so, too! Oh yeah, it's happening!
As it is no secret that I love Halloween, I will find anything and everything I can possibly cram into one month that has even a remote connection to the holiday. I found out about the Dinosaur Park and their spook alleys a few years back and now it's become one of the yearly rituals. My girls love it almost as much as I do.

This year my brother-in-law BJ and his wife, Alenna, decided to come and bring their two boys. My girls were delighted to have cousins to play with and I think both BJ and Alenna were impressed with how much fun it was.

The cousin crew! Vance, Mikaela, Haylie and Carter.

Fashionistas!

2011-02-24T15:24:00.000-08:00

Well...I don't see either of my girls becoming fashion designing juggernauts anytime soon, but at least they make a statement. I'm just not sure what it is.

Circus, Circus!

2011-02-22T15:16:00.000-08:00

Eric heard that the circus was coming to town and decided it was time for the girls to experience what a circus was all about. I was all for it, so we bought the tickets and treated the girls to dinner and dancing elephants. I can't remember the last time I went to the circus, but I'm pretty sure I was around Haylie's age and so it was a lot like going for the first time myself.

All of us had a great time and although Haylie initially was skeptical about the whole thing, once she got inside and saw how many different things were going on, she was sold. Mikaela was just happy to be along for the ride, as always. It doesn't take much to impress her.

This is the only picture that turned out halfway decent. It was one of the most crazy acts of the night. There are at least seven motorcyclists inside an iron-cast sphere. They all drove in different circles and then stopped lining up side by side. Pretty cool. The circus was great and the family time was even better!

Haylie's A First Grader!

2010-10-31T12:37:00.000-07:00

How did that happen? I could swear I just brought her home from the hospital and now she's going to school all day! It's bittersweet-I love the little person she is becoming and watching her as she learns and grows, but I miss the days of bottles, blankets and tiny little toes. I always hear so many mothers say how happy they are when the baby stage is over, but not me. I love the baby stage. I think it goes by way too fast! I prefer to keep them small and innocent for as long as possible. Here's hoping she gets an education from the books, and not an "education" from the older kids.

Now That's What I Call A Good End To The Summer!

2010-10-31T12:24:00.000-07:00

Somehow Haylie and Mikaela talked me and Eric into having a friend summer party. Against our better judgment, we gave in and ended up having a fabulous time with the girls and half the neighborhood! They invited all of their friends over for some end of summer slippin' and slidin'. I think these girls are pretty spoiled!

The girls chose a "Tiki" theme for their party so we hunted down some fun decorations including these two cute little figurines.

The calm before the storm! Haylie and Mikaela got in a few runs before the crowd showed up.

Happy faces and lots of fun! Totally worth it (even if they are spoiled).

DaNcInG qUeEnS!

2010-10-25T17:21:00.000-07:00

What a poser! She sure is cute though!

I love Mikaela's big old cheeser!

My bathing beauty! Her class danced to "Yellow Polka Dot Bikini".

These were the girls' cute dance outfits from their dance recital over the summer (yes, sadly it's been that long since I last blogged. I suck!) They were so cute and the dance recital was really impressive. I loved watching them perform and they seemed to like the attention, so they're signed up again for the fall to start again. Just one more reason I love being a mom!

Some of my Favorite Pictures

2010-10-25T16:52:00.000-07:00

I'm not gonna lie-one of the best perks of being a makeup artist is having the opportunity to work with awesome commercial photographers! These were taken by one of best in the business in my opinion. He's got such a great eye for detail and he knows exactly how to capture someone! I love these photographs of my little beauties!

Mikaela Turns 4!

2010-07-27T17:41:00.000-07:00

This little rambunctious ball of energy has been a constant source of both entertainment and complete chaos! She is equal parts sugar and spice, although some days she's more spice! She has completely turned mine and Eric's world upside down with her never-ending need to be the center of attention. Luckily for her, she and her sister are the centers of our little world.
At times she can be the most obstinate, stubborn, strong-willed little girl you've ever laid eyes on, but give her five minutes and she'll melt your heart with her beautiful green eyes and sugary kisses. My little Sasafrass!
She's made our family just that much more special and I'm so grateful to be her mother! I just pray I can keep up! Happy Birthday, Peanut! Mommy and Daddy love you to the moon and back!

It appears that 2010 is the year of the Barbie Cake! Oh well, at least it doesn't look too bad!

Baby Animal Days!

2010-07-27T17:31:00.000-07:00

My sisters and I decided to try something new this spring-Baby Animal Days in Logan! Its hard to find things for the girls to do when the spring weather is so crazy, but we lucked out and didn't get rained on. The girls loved it and there was so much more to do besides looking at the animals. Definitely worth doing again next year!

Haylie giving us a puppet show in one of the barns.

They had all sorts of old fashioned musical instruments for the kids to try out. Of course Mikaela would choose the drums. She loves to make noise!

Petting a baby calf.
Thanks for a fun day, sisters! Good times!

Tiny Whiny Dancer!

2010-07-27T17:28:00.000-07:00

Even though she was pretty much "throwing the big one" at this moment, I couldn't help but laugh at how cute she was-evil scrunchy face and all! Her reason for the tears: her costume was itchy. Yep, that's worth a tantrum.

Easter 2010

2010-07-27T17:16:00.000-07:00

Okay...you know its been too long when you're playing catch up from EASTER! So here are the girls in all their Easter glory at the park hunting for candy. It wasn't much of a hunt. You couldn't walk two feet in front of you without stepping on something sweet. The girls had a grand old time and Mikaela made out a like a fat rat!

The girls had a blast coloring all the eggs. They even did most of the stickers by themselves. I was impressed.

I was hoping the weather would cooperate enough to let the girls hunt for eggs outside, but it was to nippy! Maybe next year.

Mad Hatter Tea Party!

2010-05-07T10:33:00.000-07:00

Our local "Color Me Mine" had an Alice in Wonderland tea party in honor of the movie debut a few weeks ago. I've taken the girls there in the past and thought it sounded like fun so I rounded up some friends and off we went to paint our own tea set! It was so much fun and the girls had a grand old time eating all the goodies they could get their hands on.

Ta Daaaa! The finished product! They turned out so cute!

When Your Mother's a Makeup Artist...

2010-05-07T10:29:00.000-07:00

...chances are the daughters will want to be one too. And if they get a hold of the makeup...no man is safe-even while asleep. But didn't they do a fabulous job? :)

Attention Tooth Fairy

2010-05-04T14:33:00.000-07:00

Before the gap!

It finally happened! Little Haylie has been complaining all school year that she was the only one who hadn't lost a tooth yet. Well no more! Her pearly whites have finally succumbed to her wishes. She has joined the exclusivity of the gap-tooth brigade.

Of course, she wasn't about to let me help her pull it out, after all what could her mother possibly know? Nana Sue was given that distinct honor, with little sister Mikaela looking on intently, supervising the whole circus. After her initial excitement, some protesting, crying and eventual giggling, not one, but two teeth met their demise. Oh happy day!

Nana's ready to bring the pain!

Haylie wasn't so sure she wanted to keep going. Check out Mikae in the background-classic!

My little Gap-tooth Princess!

Mikaela smiles her approval!

So Sweet!

2010-05-04T14:31:00.000-07:00

This is my darling little Haylie. She tried so hard to stay awake. Isn't she adorable?

Vegas, Baby!

2010-05-04T14:13:00.000-07:00

My blog is so out of order, but I just don't have time to try and change it, and so it goes!

In February Eric and I loaded up the girls for our annual jaunt to St. George. Eric has a building officials conference down there every year and we usually go a couple of days before and hit Las Vegas. This year was no exception.

I cannot fathom why anyone in their right mind would want to live in Las Vegas (the surrounding areas aren't bad). It's dirty. DIRTY, people! There were beer bottles and glasses, smutty magazines and filthy cards everywhere. I can't even begin to imagine how much it takes to clean up the crap each night. From the way things looked I'm guessing they don't. Eric and I don't particularly love Vegas, but we enjoy going to the M&M store and the Coca-Cola factory. There are a few fun places inside of Caesar's Palace and of course, my mecca, Sephora, to visit too, but as a whole, it doesn't take long for us to tire of the place.

Happy Birthday, Big Stud!

2010-03-15T16:56:00.001-07:00

Eric being silly!

Happy birthday to my loving, crazy, hunting-obsessessed, NASCAR-nut, camping enthusiast of a husband and father. You are truly the apple of all your girls' eyes. Because of you we understand way more than we should about elbow joints and couplers, we appreciate "real" forest campfires, we know who Ryan Newman is, we now root for the M&M car, and we certainly know how find the humor in all things related to hunting!

Happy birthday. We love you!

Turning 34...not impressed so far!

2010-03-15T16:48:00.001-07:00

I want to know where it is written in the book of life that once you hit your 30s you must be subjected to premature gray hair, crow's feet and a road map underneath your eyes. Gah!

Haylie Turns 6!

2010-03-15T14:43:00.001-07:00

Well, here is proof that I take FOREVER to blog! Haylie turned 6 in January and I am just now getting around to blogging about it. Wow, I'm lame!
She begged for a friend party this year, and since I kept turning her down last year, I felt I should give in and do it since all of her other friends had invited her to their birthday extravaganzas. All I can say is "holy crap, that takes a lot of energy". There were so many cute little girls in my house with so much energy I felt like I'd need to sleep for at least six months just to recover.
Luckily, I had the help of my sisters, Erin and Darby and Dallin to entertain the kiddos. They saved the day-literally! It was super fun and the girls all got along really well, but I told Haylie we'll revisit the friend party when she turns 8...or 18. :)

Here's Mikaela and Chloe after all the excitement! That's what I needed!

Haylie had a whole "Princess and the Frog" theme going on for her birthday. She asked for a Princess cake so we chose to use "Charlotte" from the "Princess and the Frog" movie to make her cake. Here's my attempt at professional decorating. Oh well, Haylie was impressed.

Lately I look at my sweet little Haylie and wonder how it is possible that she's 6 already! It doesn't seem possible. I love her inquisitive little mind, and her funny comments. She is so smart and learns so fast. She told me recently that she plans to be a cheerleader doctor when she grows up. I say "Rah rah, Dr. Haylie!" She is such a blessing to me and Eric. We love her so much and couldn't even begin to imagine our lives without her! Happy Birthday, Haylie-bug!

To The Loser Who Now Owns My Childhood Home...

2010-03-08T13:25:00.001-08:00

Ya'll suck at taking care of it! Thanks for obliterating all my wonderful memories of the beautiful yard my mom and dad worked so hard on!

Funny Haylie!

2010-02-17T15:10:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I know I've got lots of updating to do, but before I get to all of that I have to get this documented before I forget!

Last Sunday we were getting ready for church when Haylie brought in a dollar and asked Eric if she could pay her tithing. Of course, we were obviously proud and pleased that she not only wanted to pay it, but that she was also (finally) paying attention to the lessons in her primary class.

Eric and I explained that by paying her tithing she would receive blessings from Heavenly Father for her obedience and her willingness to help build His kingdom. She seemed pleased by this and had Eric help her fill out her tithing slip as soon as we got to church.

Skip to the end of church. Eric and I were waiting by the Bishop's office to get our temple rec's renewed when out pops of member of the bishopric and right on cue, Haylie holds her hand out and says, "Where's my blessing?"

Apparently, we have some more explaining to do. It was pretty darn funny though!

Silly Quotes

2010-01-03T18:26:00.000-08:00

While driving to a party one night recently Eric and I overheard the following:

Mikaela: (starting to sing)
Haylie: "Mikaela, stop singing! I'm trying to daydream!"

Christmas Bowling with the Cousins

2010-01-03T18:05:00.000-08:00

Instead of trying to buy gifts for all the cousins this year, Eric's family decided it might be more fun to take all the kids bowling. Good call! The kids had a great time and the parents didn't feel the pressure of trying to find the perfect gift! Everyone wins.

I think this might have to be a new Christmas tradition.

Happy faces and lots of fun!

The "Three Beauts"! One day, I know I'll get a decent picture of Mikaela-if she ever sits still. Sheesh!

Drama Squaw Lives!

2010-01-03T17:49:00.000-08:00

Yes, I haven't blogged in what seems like a million years and I feel really bad about it, but I've been BUSY! Blogging has had to wait. Unfortunately, that means I have a lot of catching up to do (again) and now I'm already behind in the new year. Oh well, that's not really a surprise to anyone who knows me. Actually, I think I'm right on schedule.

Anyway...here's Haylie as a native american indian. She and her classmates were given the option of dressing up for the "First Thanksgiving" at school. I thought being an indian would be easier (and totally more fun) than trying to come up with an appropriate pilgrim costume. Luckily Haylie agreed with me and thus, we have Haylie the indian, aka-Drama Squaw! She had a great time dressing up and gave me specific instructions to keep the outfit so she can wear it next year.

Guess what????

2009-11-22T19:54:00.000-08:00

Go here to enter my makeup giveaway! It's gonna be FUN! And there's more to come!

Check Out My New Blog!

2009-11-15T22:51:00.000-08:00

Go here to check out my new blog!

10 ThInGs I'm ThAnKfUl FoR

2009-11-15T20:17:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving season always makes me reflect a little over the past year and put things in perspective. So this year I've decided to jot down just a few of the things that I am most thankful for.
1. My family. While I am so grateful for my husband and daughters, and couldn't imagine life without them, I am also thankful for the family I grew up in and the family I inherited when I married Eric. I love them all equally and cherish each one of them. I love my parents for their unfailing support and love. They have always believed in me and been my biggest cheerleaders in life. I am so thankful to have such awesome parents. I love my sisters for their constant humor, optimism, charity, unfailing love and support and their awesome comedic timing (not to mention their willingness to babysit). I'm thankful for my two sisters-in-law. They are wonderful mothers to my neices and nephews. I'm grateful to my brothers-in-law for their funny comments and easy-going attitudes. My in-laws are amazing and so supportive. They've become such a great set of second parents. My two little girls are the most beautiful, sweet natured, stubborn, smart, tenacious, vibrant little souls I have ever met. They are so full of energy and optimism and they make me try that much harder to be a better person. I love them with my whole heart and soul.
Finally, I love my husband for the man that he is. I have been blessed with a loving, kind, and caring husband and father, who honors his priesthood and protects his family. He amazes me with his work ethic and his devotion to his daughters and me. I'm forever glad he's mine!
2. My home. It only takes a moment of watching the news or surfing the internet to see how little some people have. I am so incredibly grateful for the home I have to provide to my children and I never take for granted the fact that it could all be gone tomorrow.
3. My health. I thank my Father in Heaven every day for the health that I have and for that of my family. I pray that nothing ever changes that!
4. My testimony. Just watching my children grow in the gospel is a huge testimony builder for me. Their little spirits shine so brightly! It gives me a much greater understanding of just how much my Heavenly Father loves me. It gives me such a sense of calm and peace.
5. My neighborhood. We have a great neighborhood family.
6. My friends. Eric and I have been blessed with meeting some of the most genuine, awesome, kind hearted friends since we've been married. We've been fortunate to be able to continue those friendships and strengthen them over time. We love them all dearly!
7. My trials. Yes, I really am thankful for the challenges I've had. How else would I learn to overcome them if I didn't have to go through them? Also, they build character, wouldn't you agree?
8. My hobbies. I know this sounds silly, but I do know people who have none. NONE! Yikes, that's just plain scary to me. I would be a crazy person if I couldn't get lost in a good book once in a while, or draw, or sing, or play the piano (on occasion-I'm not that good), or cross stitch, or crochet, or just sit and watch a really good chick flick now and again!
9. My optimism. I am definitely a "glass is half full", the "cloud has a silver lining" kind of gal. I CANNOT see the worst case scenario or plummet into the depths of despair. It's not me, I won't do it. There is always a way to make things better. One of my favorite sayings is, "Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it."
10. My businesses. I've been given a lot of opportunities to meet new people and help them in ways that others can't. I've learned that sometimes business and family don't always mix, but when they do, it can be the best experience for both of you. I've learned that you always treat people the way you would like to be treated and hope they will, and then learn to live with the fact that most of them won't. I'm grateful for the lessons learned and the opportunities I've had to help someone and make their lives a little bit better!

Halloween 2009

2009-11-15T20:01:00.000-08:00

Better late than never, right? It's only halfway through November (how did that happen, by the way?) and I'm just now posting about Halloween. Wow!

Anyway, here's the fam! We're a motley crew aren't we? We have Sharpay-from High School Musical for those of you who are not familiar with those movies (aka Haylie), I'm my usual-a witch (what else would I be?), the Joker (aka Eric), and the green-haired witch (aka Mikaela). I realized I didn't even get a pic of our awesome carved pumpkins this year-I'm really slackin'!
These were taken at Eric's parents' house on Halloween. We got pictures with all the cousins this time. Woo hoo!

I love Halloween!

Going Batty!

2009-11-03T22:28:00.000-08:00

I wish I could say I was creative enough to think of this on my own, but everyone would know I was lying so I must admit that I stole this idea from my friend's blog (thanks Becky!).

I was looking for something fun to do with the girls since the weather was less than spectacular the weekend before Halloween. I found this simple and fun idea and the girls LoVeD iT! We painted miniature pumpkins black and after they dried we painted on a pair of eyes and hot glued wings and ears to make "bats". They turned out so cute!

I think this may just become part of our standard Halloween time fare. The girls had so much fun and we ended up painting 13 pumpkins. The best part was it kept them busy and focused on something other than teasing each other...YES!

A small sampling of our labors. They turned out so cute.

Finished Product!

2009-10-25T21:10:00.000-07:00

Well, here they are in all their glory. The results of our fun day at Color Me Mine are in. Here we have Haylie's scary "Carrie" prom-themed princess, Mikaela's purple-haired mermaid (I helped her a LOT with this one, otherwise Haylie's would look like a professional job compared to Mikaela's) and my cupcake container. I'm thinking next time I go, it'll be a girls night out! Lots of fun and easy to do. If you haven't been, go check it out.

Spooktacularly Thrilling!

2009-10-25T20:53:00.001-07:00

Last Saturday was our annual trek to see Thriller. We went to Kingsbury Hall this year and it was definitely worth it! I LOVE this show. I decided to bring along little Haylie for the first time. I know she's only five, but I figured with me and Nana Sue and all her aunts there, she'd feel pretty safe if she got scared. I am happy to say the girl loved it as much as I did and keeps asking when she can go back. She was a little leary of the "zombies" walking around before the performance started and even covered her eyes a couple of times, but for the most part she was a brave little soul.

After the show I convinced Haylie to get her picture taken with a few of the zombies. I walked her over to a male dancer, thinking he looked a lot less freaky than some of the girls (just a drawn on scar on his face) and Haylie flipped. She wouldn't go near him. Now the girls, on the other hand, seemed to suit Haylie just fine. Check out the blood and gore! This is what she felt more comfortable around. Silly kid! Pretty wicked makeup though (coming from a makeup artist point of view!)

The Punkinaze!

2009-10-25T20:36:00.000-07:00

After our jaunt to the pumpkin patch we took the girls down the road to the Punkinaze! The girls had a great time running through the corn maze (after all, they are "children of the corn"-as I'm sure you've all heard me at one point or another refer to them as such). They played in a huge vat of dried corn to search for candy, went down the slide so many times I lost count, and basically ran Eric and I in circles for the better part of an hour. It was lots of fun!

PuNkIn' PiCkIn' TiMe!

2009-10-25T20:26:00.000-07:00

One thing I love about the fall is all the COLORS! I love the leaves, the crispy weather and especially the PuMpKiNs! Without them, it wouldn't feel like fall. Eric and I took the girls to one of my favorite pumpkin patches and let the girls pick out some pumpkins to carve. As you can see, there's quite a few to choose from.

I think Haylie was having more fun just trouncing through the mountain of pumpkins.

Mikaela kept picking ones that were as big as her. We had to talk her out of a few just so we could actually lift them.

Halloween at the Dinosaur Park

2009-10-25T20:12:00.000-07:00

Earlier this month I convinced Darby to venture back to the Dinosaur park with me and the girls. We all went last year and had so much fun that I figured if I lured with lunch at The Greenery she might just decide it was worth it. She did!

The girls love the park at Halloween and had been asking me for weeks when they would get to go again. They were pretty happy girls when we finally went. I love how they decorate the park for Halloween. The weather was great and it wasn't crowded so we got to enjoy lots of time in the museum and park without feeling rushed.

The "bone collectors".

Anyone who knows Mama Sue knows we hear this frequently. Darby and I laughed our heads off when we saw this. Love ya, Mom!

Colbie Caillat Concert

2009-10-11T22:33:00.000-07:00

Darby and I went to the Colbie Caillat concert last Friday night with Dallin! Sooo good. We took Frontrunner down to Salt Lake, it was the first time I've ever ridden it and I must say it was so nice not to have to deal with freeway traffic. It was absolute torture driving back from the zoo last Friday and the last thing I wanted to deal with was more traffic going back down. So, thank you Frontrunner, for keeping me sane so I could enjoy the concert even that much more!
And thank you sisters, for the good time, as always! I love concerts. I can't wait until Thriller!

Boo At The Zoo & Color Me Mine

2009-10-11T22:03:00.000-07:00

Last Friday I loaded up the girls and headed down to the Hogle Zoo for a fun afternoon of animal watching. My good friend Melanie and her daughter Olivia & son Jack met us and we took the kids to see all the new baby animals. My favorite was the baby elephant. Haylie seemed to be more interested in the baby giraffe. Mikaela just liked it all. I hadn't been to the zoo since Haylie was born so it was nice to see all the changes they've made. I was pretty impressed.

I also took the girls to Color Me Mine last Saturday for the grand opening in Ogden along with Melanie and Olivia (awesome suggestion, Mel!) The girls had a great time picking out figurines to paint. Haylie chose a princess and Mikaela found a mermaid. I helped Mikaela paint hers, but let Haylie go nuts with hers. I'll post pic's when I get them back from being fired. I also painted a cupcake container for my sister since it was her birthday last week, too! So fun! Because it was their grand opening the store had a goody table set up with lots of yummy treats and punch. It didn't take long for my girls to find it. I swear they have a built in sonar for all things sugar. They certainly got their fair share. Oh well, at least it didn't go to waste, right?

Sleeping Beauty

2009-10-11T21:54:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when Mikaela tells me she's not tired. I leave the room for five minutes and come back to find this. That's my cricket!

Give It To Mikaela, She'll Eat Anything!

2009-10-11T21:47:00.000-07:00

We stopped in for dinner at one of our favorite places-Javiers (yummers). Eric almost always orders their fried ice cream for dessert, and this is what happens when we're not paying close attention to our child-she finishes off the whole thing. Good grief! Apparently she's a fan of the fried ice cream.

Dancing Queens

2009-10-11T21:33:00.000-07:00

Haylie-far right in (what else?) pink!

My little Cricket Mikaela!

These pic's kind of bite since I had to take them through a window that looks into the dance studio. They're so cute though! This is the first year for both of them and they seem to really like it. Haylie took one class over the summer last year, but it wasn't anything formal. They both have pretty good teachers (although Mikaela's teacher seems to be a little obsessive when it comes to the outfits they wear to class-hello, it's practice lady, not the Nutcracker!)

I can't wait to see how the recitals turn out. My cute little dancing queens!

My Husband, My Hero!

2009-10-06T21:46:00.000-07:00

Yes, this picture is old, but it's one of my favorites! This is typical Eric-chillin' with his girls, having a grand old time!
It's nice to have such a good guy for my husband-really nice. He listens to all my worrying and crying and nagging and all my crazy questions and usually just goes with it. He helps me out when I have trouble figuring out what I'm doing, worried about, stressing over, etc. He is an amazing father and the girls love him so much (although, they sometimes feel the need to torture him, but he gives as good as he gets). He is such a hard worker and everything he does is for the good of his family. I sometimes take him for granted, and I always feel bad about that, because he really does try hard to make our lives a little better.

I feel so blessed and also a little lucky to have such an amazing man in my life. I never thought I'd find anyone as good as my Papa Jim, but Eric has really been a blessing to me. I think we balance each other out nicely. I only hope when our girls get older that they find someone equally as good, who treats them with respect and dignity and honors his preisthood. Heavenly Father certainly broke the mold when He made him. Thanks Dad and Mom Miller for raising such a good man.

I love you, Eric!

Fun at the Gorge!

2009-10-05T22:00:00.000-07:00

What a cutie!

Haylie got to help the tour guide at Flaming Gorge Dam

For our farewell to summer, Eric and I took the girls on one final camping trip to Flaming Gorge. The weather was beautiful and the girls had a great time playing with their friends. Alan and Angie joined us with their three girls so there was plenty of drama, PMS, and last but not least giggles! Eric got his Elk while we were up there so he was a happy man!

The happy hunter!

Anna and Haylie were pretty impressed with the elk head.

We also had a fun time taking the dam tour! The scenery was gorgeous and the tour was really interesting. At least the kids got a little education while we were playing!

Mikaela gives dad the sign of approval after hunting.

A fitting end to another fun summer!

We Have A Kindergartener???

2009-09-13T22:36:00.000-07:00

I guess Mikaela thought she was heading to school too.

Okay, Eric and I have both had five years to prepare for this day, but I can tell you, it definitely snuck up on us. I really cannot fathom that fact that I have a child in school. It's just so unbelievable sometimes.

Haylie was so excited. She has been ready to go to school for quite some time now and she's a smart little cookie so I really don't worry about her fitting in. I worry about her not shutting up. The girl can talk. Seriously! I told her teacher to keep an eye on her, otherwise, Haylie might just end up taking over the class.

Haylie didn't want us to bring her to school the first day. She wanted to ride the bus with the rest of the kids. We were a little disappointed, but then decided she'd have to figure it out sometime so why not get it over with on the first day.

She's ready to learn!
While I admit I did get a little teary eyed as I walked out of the school building, I didn't exactly have a melt down (thank goodness). I guess I was more prepared than I had originally anticipated. Eric held it together too. I think he was just as excited as Haylie was. While I'm happy that she's enjoying something new, I'm not so sure I'm ready to start doing homework again. Now THAT is going to be an adventure.

Random Summer Photo Ops

2009-09-13T22:23:00.000-07:00

They're totally cool!

Downtown 25th Street. They have all these horse statues painted by different artists with various themes. Of course, my kids want to be photographed by the one that looks like it has money plastered all over it. Haylie asked me where our "money horse" was. I told her to look in the mirror when she got home. She gave me a blank stare. Figures!

Child Prodigy?

2009-09-13T22:19:00.000-07:00

At least she's taking an interest. You can't really tell by these pic's, but the book is upside down. I guess prodigy is kind of a stretch! :)

Nothing Spells Fun Like Lagoon!

2009-09-13T22:06:00.000-07:00

Madi, Gavin and Haylie-ready to ride!

Grandma Ginger and Grandpa Ernie treated the entire family to a day at Lagoon. The girls were so excited because it meant spending the day with their cousins. We had a great time with the family, riding all the attractions, eating hamburgers, and watching the kids have a grand old time. Thanks mom and dad for a fun day full of great memories.

Gavin and Haylie sharing a ride!

Mikaela and Grandpa smile for the camera after Grandpa successfully blocked her attempt to ride "Bulgy the Whale" for the 15th time in a row. Yay, Grandpa!

Grandma Ginger trying to round up all the kids.

Take Me Out To The Ballgame

2009-09-13T21:56:00.000-07:00

Eric and I loaded up the girls and met my family down in Salt Lake to watch the Bees play baseball. We've tried to make this a family tradition, and for the most part we have. I personally hate watching baseball on television, but when I go to the ballpark, it is really a fun time. There's so much to see and do and the girls get quality time outdoors doing something fun and spending time with family. Grandma Grace came with us which is always fun, we enjoy having her with us. We can't wait until next year for more Chicago dogs and peanuts!

Mikaela found "Bumble" the Bees mascot and got him to autograph her cheek. She was thrilled.

Eric and Darby, happy to be at the game.

Haylie clowning around with Aunt Ewee and Grandma Sue.

Hula Haylie!

2009-09-13T21:53:00.000-07:00

Really, I have no words....this is Haylie's idea of being "dressed". Don't you just love the underwear sticking out of her modest grass skirt?

Annual Miller Family Party

2009-09-13T21:37:00.000-07:00

The first weekend in August was Eric's family's annual party. We always look forward to this since it's the only time we get to see a good portion of this side of the family. We also get to see how much all the cousins have grown. Time seems to be moving in fast-forward because all the kids seem so much bigger. It's hard to keep up. The girls love visiting with their cousins and chasing around the pool house, but it's definitely the swimming that they most look forward to. In true Haylie and Mikaela form, they were the last ones out of the pool at the end of the day. I think they're part fish!

Grandma Ginger came up with some clever games for the cousins to play, this one involved "shaving" a balloon without popping it. Haylie and Mikaela were covered in shaving cream, but they had a ball(oon).

Grandma Ginger and Grandpa Ernie doing the "Hokey Pokey" with all the little kids.

Hoop Lake 2009

2009-09-13T21:20:00.000-07:00

Eric and I took the girls camping at our favorite spot in the Uintahs-Hoop Lake! The 24th of July marks our annual trek up the mountains for fun, fishing, family and friends. We had all of it in spades this year. Not only did our good friends the Kelly family make it up to stay, but so did my little sisters, and Eric's sister and her husband even came up for the day to visit! The more the merrier! We had a great time, caught lots of fish, played tons of cards (mostly because the weather wasn't all that cooperative) and became semi-professional Yahtzee players. We can't wait until next year!

Mikaela looks so silly, I couldn't resist taking her picture.

Dallin, Monica, Darby and Sarah, the cardsharks!

Haylie and Jenna, the biker babes.

Haylie and Jenna spent hours making these "cupcakes" out of leaves and rocks. They're so creative!

Fourth of July Parade

2009-07-19T19:40:00.000-07:00

Eric and I decided to shamelessly promote our businesses this year (and well, last year and the year before...) and entered ourselves into the Plain City parade! The girls had a grand ole time chucking (not throwing) candy at innocent bystanders. I had to keep reigning in Haylie, she would throw it at anything that stood still. How much candy does she think a tree would eat?

Wow-now that looks sooo professional! :)

What a poser!

So cute!

Tales From The T-Ball Tykes!

2009-07-18T11:53:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'll be the first one to admit I'm sooo not crazy about soccer! I'll avoid it like the plague if I can. I didn't play it growing up, I don't really like watching it, and it seems to take up the majority of your life on Saturdays (not my idea of a good time). So, that being said, I decided to introduce Haylie to the wonderful world of T-ball.

Batter up!

I hope Haylie likes this, because I love watching her play. It's so much more interesting to me (although watching 5-year-olds play is a little like watching "yard ornaments"-not much there yet). Daddy made sure she looked the part. Check out those awesome softball pants.

Haylie's team was called "The Ladybugs", which consisted of a bunch little blonde girls and Haylie. They were all so cute.

Yay for T-ball!

Memorial Weekend Camping Trip

2009-07-12T15:04:00.000-07:00

It's been quite a while since I last blogged so it looks like I have some major catching up to do.

Over the Memorial Day weekend Eric and I took the girls camping up to one of our favorite spots-Hoop Lake! It wasn't very warm, but at least there wasn't any snow on the ground and it stayed fairly dry considering the endless supply of storm clouds that hung over us for most of the trip.

Still, it was time with my family so it could have rained the entire time and I still would've been just as happy.

Eric and Mikaela reeling in a fish!

Haylie likes to reel 'em in herself.

Mikaela's fish! It was good!

On our way home we got held up on the freeway by a bunch of cows. The cowboys were herding them right down the middle of the road. We saw one cow headed the other direction, we figured it was headed to the "Green Onion" (the only bar in town). It looked like it needed a drink. Now there's something you don't see everyday right outside your vehicle window!

Now I Remember Why I Like To Shop Alone

2009-05-20T19:39:00.000-07:00

Don't get me wrong-when it comes to my two daughters there isn't anything I wouldn't do for them as long as it's in their best interests or best for my sanity. Case in point:

While visiting our neighborhood grocery store this evening with both kids in tow, I had no more than stepped inside when Mikaela (bless her little demon soul) decides to throw the big one since her favorite shopping carts have all been taken (you know the ones I'm talking about-those gigantic carts with the "sports car" attached to the helm which make them ultra inconvenient and prone to ramming anything and any child within a 10 foot radius).
There's screaming, wailing, gnashing of teeth, and a few death threats involved before we finally head off in search of food. Everyone in the store gives me the evil eye because, heaven forbid, a child should throw a temper tantrum that I apparently cannot control. Even those who were looking on sympathetically are no match for Mikaela's ferocious antics and thus, look for the nearest escape route. I can't say that I blame them. I was beginning to do the same!
And why is it the elderly old ladies think they need to hone in on these "extra special bonding moments"? I mean, I'm trying to threaten bodily harm and the maiming of extremities when these gals show up and want to wax nostalgic about how they remember going through this as well. One granny was bold enough to tell me, "Don't worry, honey, this too shall pass." Uh huh, yeah well, would you mind keepin' it moving on down the aisle so I can have a serious "smackdown" with the spawn of Hades masquerading as my child without catching crap for it? And just for the record, I would NEVER smack my child....in public. :)
It's much more fun to keep them in anticipation. Kidding, people! Sheesh!
Thus ends another fun-filled day. Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings. Wait...

Kid Conversations

2009-05-12T19:53:00.000-07:00

Driving home from the store last week I asked Mikaela if she needed to go to the bathroom. She told me no. Haylie took this as her opportunity to "educate" Mikaela on the finer points of listening to her body. Here is just a small sample...enjoy:

Haylie: Mikaela, you need to listen to your body and your brain. It tells you you need to go potty.
Mikaela: Uh uh.
Haylie: Yes huh. You will pee your pants if you don't listen to your body.
Mikaela: (in full-on monkey voice) I don't "fink" so.
Haylie: Mikaela, what does your body say? It says you need to go potty. Mom, tell her she needs to go potty.
Mikaela: I don't "fink" so, Haylie.
Me: Well, if I tell her to go potty, then how will she know when her body tells her to go?
Haylie: Because you will tell her body.
Mikaela: Whatever, Haylie.

So glad Haylie feels the need to make sure I'm doing my job as a mother correctly.

A Bit Of Sadness

2009-05-03T12:39:00.000-07:00

Last week we lost a really good neighbor. He took his own life and unfortunately, Eric was the one who had to help his family take care of the aftermath. He was a good person, and a great neighbor. We are very sad to lose him, it won't be the same without him. In a weird way it's been a good lesson for us though. It makes us both appreciate what we have and the blessings we've been given. It has also given me a greater sense of making sure I do what's right and making sure I teach my girls what's right so that I will have the opportunity to live with my eternal family after we leave this life.

Thank goodness for eternal families.

Totally Wicked!

2009-05-03T12:26:00.001-07:00

I had completely written off being able to go to Wicked in Salt Lake, since tickets sold out in less than 30 minutes, until my fabulous sister Darby called me with the best news in the whole world. Her co-worker couldn't use the tickets she had bought and wanted to know if Darby or someone she knew could use them. Heck yes! Darby called me and asked if I wanted them. Again, heck yes! I was totally excited. I'd never seen the musical, but I knew all the songs by heart. I went with Mama Sue and we had an awesome time. The story line was great, the actors were wonderful and hearing the songs performed live was so cool. I love theater!

The stage just before the musical started. Haylie was pretty disappointed that she couldn't come. She knows all the songs by heart, too. I told her next time it comes, she can definitely go with me. Thanks a bunch, Darby! I heart you!

Mikaela Turns 3!

2009-05-03T12:06:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe my little baby has turned three years old. I know everyone asks the same question, but I still can't figure out where the time has gone! When I woke Mikaela up the morning of her birthday I asked her what today was. She thought for a moment and then shouted, "It's my birthday!" Then without missing a beat the next words out of her mouth were, "Where's my blue cake?" Every time I've asked her what she wanted for her birthday, her only reply was, "Um...blue cake." No presents, no dolls, just blue cake. This was the little cake I bought for her actual birthday. Cute huh?

That smile says it all! Blue cake-all is right with the world.

Opening her huge stack of gifts. This kid was spoiled rotten!

Here's the second blue cake. It a blue kitty with white polka dots.

We love our little "cricket" so much. She is such a sweet, funny little girl and she makes Eric and me laugh constantly with her antics. She is also such a good little sister to Haylie. I am so thankful they have each other and that, for the most part, they love to be together and watch out for each other. She is such a little show off, but it's mostly just to make people laugh. And there is no denying she is her Papa's girl. We love her so much and are so grateful that she is part of our eternal family. Happy birthday, Cricket!

The Easter Bunny Strikes Again!

2009-05-03T11:53:00.000-07:00

Haylie and Mikaela woke up to a living room full of candy, baskets and new Easter outfits. If we're lucky, the weather might actually warm up enough for the girls to be able to wear them. It sure is taking a lot longer this year!

The girls were excited to start hunting for eggs.

Out on the deck looking for eggs. It was too cold and wet do a hunt outside in the grass so we opted for the covered deck instead.

We also had hidden eggs all over the living room. The girls had lots of fun finding all of them. Another fun Easter. It seems to go by so fast!

Easter Candy Hunt

2009-05-03T11:44:00.001-07:00

On the Saturday before Easter we took the girls over to the park by our house for their annual "candy hunt". There's really no hunting involved, they make all the kids line up in a circle and as soon as the siren from the fire truck sounds its a mad dash to pick up as much candy as you can. It's over in less than two minutes, but the kids love it.

Mikaela gives a big thumbs up for her experience. She got a ton of candy.

Haylie showing off her loot. She didn't do too bad either.

It's always fun spending time as a family. We love Easter!

NASCAR Nuts!

2009-04-06T16:41:00.001-07:00

Eric went to NASCAR in Dallas, Texas over the weekend with his brother, BJ. Talk about a whirlwind trip. He flew out Saturday morning, went to the race on Sunday and was home Monday afternoon. It looks like they had a great time though, and at least they had better weather than we did.

Eric's brother, BJ standing next to what I like to call the "heartburn" car.

The boys trying out for the pit crew.

The Boys' birds-eye view of the track. They had a pretty good view of the whole thing.

Two very happy guys. I think it's safe to say they had a good time.

What Happens In Vegas...

2009-04-06T16:19:00.001-07:00

Back in February (yeah, it's been awhile since I've really sat down to blog about anything) Eric and I took the girls down to Fabulous Las Vegas! Eric has a building conference in St. George every year at this time and so we usually go with him for the week and spend a day or two down in Vegas. This year was no exception.

We went to a casino/hotel off the strip called The Silverton. They also just happen to have a huge Bass Pro Shop attached to the hotel which certainly didn't break Eric's heart. Just inside the front entrance of the hotel is a gigantic aquarium, complete with mermaids. They only show up every few hours, so we hung around until Haylie and Mikaela could get their first glimpse at a real live mermaid. Haylie was completely enchanted, Mikaela wasn't as impressed.

As we were leaving the Silverton, we saw this car being pretty well guarded. I think it was a Lamborghini. Eric was instantly in love. I told him he might as well get his picture with it, since that was the closest we'd ever come to owning one.

Of course, no trip to Vegas is complete without a stop at the M&M store.

Eric especially liked the racing car, but we'll save the details for another blog.

We also made sure to stop in at the Coca-Cola store. I love their vintage stuff. If I ever finish my basement, I'll do a Coke-themed soda parlor!

Can't wait until next year!

36 Years Ago...

2009-03-29T18:20:00.000-07:00

Another year has come and gone and Eric is another year older. Here are some of the highlights of why I like to call him my hubby:

1. He's an awesome Daddy! His girls are top priority and he is a sucker for their little smiles. They get away with murder when he's around!
2. He's also a great husband. I'm very lucky to have such a good provider and caring man who takes his responsibilities seriously!
3. After he was born, the ducks and geese in Utah were put on the endangered species list (well, I might have made this one up, but you get the idea).
4. He's fun to tease!
5. He likes cruises (just like me) and so at least I know when we're old we'll have something in common!
6. He loves his family more than anything else.
7. He's got camping skills than put most mountain men to shame.
8. He makes a mean BBQ chicken.
9. He's an incredibly hard worker.
10. He's all mine.

Happy birthday, honey! I love you!

We Love The Wii!

2009-03-29T18:13:00.000-07:00

Well, we finally gave in a bought a Wii. Actually, we did it a couple of months ago, but I just haven't gotten around to blogging in awhile. Haylie is already better at than Eric and I and she has absolutely no form! The girl can kill us at bowling and she doesn't even have a clue what she's doing-go figure!

We've also become quite attached to Guitar Hero! Soooo addicting! I have to really watch myself-if I'm not careful, I could play that all night. It's super fun! Once we get our entertainment center sold and get a bigger TV we'll definitely be having Wii game nights with our friends!

Bye Bye Binky!

2009-03-02T21:26:00.000-08:00

I was beginning to think I'd have to have the silly thing surgically removed from Mikaela's mouth around the time she turned 10. She was practically borderline psychotic without the plug! But, after several (SEVERAL) failed attempts and thousands of not-so-thinly veiled threats (there goes my Mother of the Year award once again) I'm happy to announce that the binky has gone the way of the Dodo at our house! All I can say is, "It's about bloody time!"

I will admit that I didn't always do everything in my power to help speed the process along, in fact I probably hindered it more than I should have (hey, I value my sleep okay?) but it is nice not having to worry if we have the stupid thing "just in case" anymore. I'm just glad we went through the battle and all lived to tell about it! If I have another child I will have serious reservations about starting them on a binky. I don't know if I could do that again. Yikes!

33 years ago...

2009-02-17T15:14:00.000-08:00

I gave up announcing my birthday after I turned 30. Actually, 29 would be more accurate. Honestly, I really don't look forward to my birthday, mostly because I know it means I'm getting older (but don't worry, I'm not any wiser than I was at 19). I really liked my twenties and that might have something to do with the fact that, although I got married pretty young, I really had no major responsibility for the majority of my twenties unlike most of my friends. Looking back, I'm grateful for the time and FUN I got to have being with just my husband and for the adventures we got to share together.

Since I don't usually get to do anything new or unusual for my birthday, I thought it was worth mentioning that I had my first In-N-Out burger at the ripe old age of 33! I cannot believe how crowded that dang place is. I thought it was pretty good, but not worth all the hype. However, considering that it's kind of a novelty where I live, I will say that I am happy to finally be able to say that I've had an In-N-Out burger. Happy birthday to me.

Happy 5th Birthday, Haylie!

2009-01-19T19:20:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure who was more excited about the birthday cake, Haylie or Mikaela. I hadn't had the cake box open for one minute before Mikaela was swiping at the frosting! Silly kids. Haylie was pretty pleased with it herself.

Haylie goofing off!
I cannot believe I have a five-year-old! I honestly don't know where the time has gone. Eric and I are so thankful for this little girl. We have been extremely blessed with our children and Haylie is a constant reminder of that blessing. She is so smart and quick-witted. We are always amazed at how much she knows and how quickly she learns. She is a spirited, beautiful little girl with a head-strong attitude that Eric and I hope will serve her well when hardships come her way. She has lots of sunshine in her little soul and she makes our lives brighter because of it. The past five years have been the happiest of our lives and there is not a day that goes by when we haven't been grateful for our little Haylie. Happy Birthday, Sweet Pea! We love you to the moon and back and beyond!

Ding, Dong the Ducks are GONE!

2009-01-19T19:02:00.000-08:00

January means the end of duck hunting for yet another season. I, for one, am extremely glad. While I know my hubby enjoys it-to the extreme sometimes-it's nice to see him on a Saturday once in a while before the sprinkler season starts up. He does seem to get his fair share of ducks and geese though. I hope he doesn't plan on me fixing them for dinner any time soon. I do my hunting in the grocery store!

Sleddin' With The Girls

2009-01-19T18:43:00.000-08:00

Dallin gives a "thumbs up" for the sledding!

Darby and Mikaela get ready to "rip it".

Mikaela loves sledding!

Darby, Dallin, Erin, Haylie, Mikaela and I all took to the park up by my parent's house for an afternoon of sledding during the Christmas weekend. It was cold, but there was plenty of snow and perfect hills for the girls first time. They weren't exactly into it at first, especially considering the fact that mine and Haylie's first run down the hill ended up with us wiping out and me rolling on top of her, thus resulting in a snowy face plant. Poor kid! She wasn't exactly jumping up and down to try it again after that. Erin and the twins convinced her to go again with them and the results were much better after that. Mikaela absolutely loved it! She got to sled down the hill and then get pulled up again since it was easier than carrying her up the hill. Thanks, sisters! As always, it was good times!

Haylie making a snow angel

Darby and Haylie playing in the snow

Winter Wonderland

2009-01-19T18:36:00.000-08:00

Our version of "Randy" and "Ralphie"

No winter is complete without the annual "sleigh" ride in the sled attached to the back of Daddy's fourwheeler. The girls love it when it snows enough to pack the roads so Dad can pull them up and down the street. All I can hear from the house is their little laughs and Mikaela's constant "Hi, Mom!" every time she passes by. They're so freakin' cute!

Fat Cats Fun!

2009-01-19T18:29:00.000-08:00

The day after Christmas Eric and I loaded up the girls and decided to explore downtown Ogden. We ended up at Fat Cats for an afternoon of bowling, arcades and pizza. It's actually a pretty fun place and keep the kids entertained. The pizza was good too. We got to watch some people try out the i-Fly wind tunnel and then headed downstairs to the FloRider. I think Eric and I will definitely have to try that sometime-that looked awesome!

Once There Was A Snowman...

2009-01-19T18:23:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted for a little while and from the looks of my photos I've got a lot of catching up to do. Haylie, Mikaela and Eric decided to do family of snow people while I was at work. This is their masterpiece. Haylie had to explain to me that one was "Dad", one was "Mom", one was "Big Sister" and one was "Little Sister". I thought they did an excellent job. As an afterthought, I asked Eric what they used for the eyes and mouths, he told me they couldn't find any rocks so they used Oreo cookies. Pretty yummy snowmen!

Sleepin' In The Living Room!

2009-01-04T22:02:00.001-08:00

The girls got princess sleeping bags from Nana Ginger for Christmas. On Christmas night, this is what I found out in the living room after I finished putting things away. They slept in the living room all weekend long. I guess the sleeping bags were a hit!

Reindeer Games

2009-01-04T21:53:00.001-08:00

Eric and Mikaela watching Haylie sing.

The week before Christmas Haylie and her preschool classmates got the opportunity to perform some Christmas songs for a small group of elderly people at an assisted living home in Roy. They did such a great job and Haylie was loving every minute of it. She's a born performer. She loves to sing so she was totally in her element. We had a great time watching her and she knew all the songs. Yay for Haylie!

Christmas 2008! Great, Great, Great!

2009-01-04T21:33:00.001-08:00

Haylie concluded that our tree was a "girl" because it was covered in pinks and purples. I just went along with it.

Mikaela's baby changing station-that thing weighs at least 50 pounds! Ugh!

The rest of Mikaela's haul from Santa Claus.

Haylie's new vanity!

Haylie's haul. If you look close you'll see a Red Ryder BB gun in the bottom of the picture. Bet you can't guess who wanted to get her that. Actually, my husband, er uh Santa, wanted to get her a .22 just because Haylie saw it at Sportsman's Warehouse one day and thought it was cute because it was pink. My husband was seriously going to buy it for her. Someone has to be the voice of reason in this family, so I calmly convinced him that arming a 5-year-old with live ammunition is probably not the best idea. He settled for the BB gun. Gee, I feel so much better. Haylie seems to like it though and Eric covered it in flower stickers so it looks a little more "girlie". Oy!

It was a good Christmas and we were all more than a little spoiled. We were able to keep breakfast from burning this year so that meant no "Cajun Christmas". Woo hoo. To me, that's the best part of whole day and worth waiting for all year. It was good to have Dallin back this year too-we missed her while she was serving her mission and last year just wasn't the same without her.

We hope everyone had a happy holiday season. Merry Christmas!

Miller Family Christmas Party

2009-01-04T21:18:00.000-08:00

Eric's parents had their annual Christmas Eve party at their house again this year. It was lots of fun. We're growing in numbers so it's a good thing they have a large house to accomodate all of us. We enjoy spending Christmas Eve with his family eating, playing games, eating, opening gifts, eating, singing songs, listening to the kids screech and play and...did I mention eating? Momma Miller always puts together a great dinner and lots of it.

Mikaela showing off her new "princess shoes". Sheesh, she looks drugged!

Haylie and Cousin Madison showing off their "princess shoes".

Nana Ginger's second attempt to read the story of the Savior's birth. It went relatively better this year-she actually got through the whole book. Not an easy task with this crew, especially my little midgets. Go Nana!

Papa Ernie observing the chaos of Christmas.

Batteries, People! Remember The Batteries!

2008-12-15T22:40:00.000-08:00

Edward Herrmann

Today I attended the Utah Film Commission Luncheon. It's an annual luncheon by invitation only where members are treated to a nice lunch and annual updates on the film industry in Utah for the coming year. This year it was held at the Little America ballroom. I brought my sister Erin along for the fun.

Edward Herrmann was the guest speaker and he was awesome. In case you can't quite figure out where you've seen him, he was Grant Staton III in Overboard (Goldie Hawn's snobby husband). I loved the speech he gave and he was very gracious and quite a gentleman. Needless to say, I was impressed.

After the luncheon was over, I was able to meet him and talk with him for a few minutes. What a warm and kind man, he even took the time to call me by name and ask me about myself.

Now for craptastic part: I had my camera in my purse and he agreed to pose for a photo with me. Sadly, the batteries were dead and the person taking the picture couldn't get it to work. Guess who took the picture? None other than "Don" from Napoleon Dynamite ("Summer's" boyfriend in the flick). His real name is Trevor Snarr and he's quite the nice guy himself. So, here I was standing with a screen and theater legend and well, "Don" and I don't have anything to show for myself. Oh for the love of all that is holy! I was so ticked. Opportunity missed.

As soon as I got home, I marched straight to the freezer and pulled out two new batteries for my stupid camera. I've learned my lesson: Batteries-don't leave home with 'em.

A Fun Old Fashioned Family Christmas!

2008-12-15T22:20:00.000-08:00

Mikaela and Santa. I'm not sure what she's pointing at.

Haylie is all smiles on Santa's lap.

Saturday was the annual Cowles Family Christmas party. It starts at the bowling alley (Eric and I opted to play pool with my mom and dad this year and let the aunts do the bowling with the girls) and ends at the church gymnasium for food, family, singing (it's not pretty) and Santa. The girls love Santa and so they were more than excited to sit on his lap and receive a small present-and hopefully a reminder to be good-from the jolly old elf.

Mikaela was so busy trying to tease her Grandpa Jim into chasing her around the gym that she almost missed it when Santa called her name. But, in true Mikaela form, as soon as she did hear him, she about knocked him over from running to him so fast.

Haylie must be feeling the crunch on the economy this year because her only wish was for Mariposa Barbie. She has since asked me to tell Santa she also wants the Mariposa movie, the Diamond Barbie, the Diamond Barbie movie, and all three High School Musical movies. I guess she got over small little wish list. Dang it.

The girls with their cute Great-grandma Grace

Eric and Erin clowning around

My cute Papa Jim

My family-the girls were too busy with their presents to pose for a photo

Baby Bratz

2008-12-11T21:23:00.000-08:00

This is my darling toddler, Mikaela. Isn't she cute? This is how she decided to greet me when I picked her up from daycare at "Teesa's house" as Mikaela likes to say it (her daycare provider's actual name is Teresa). Apparently, my little two-year-old has latched on to a show called "Baby Bratz". Now, I'll be the first one to admit that I really don't know much about the Bratz dolls. Haylie has asked me to buy her one on almost every trip to "Little Tijuana" (most of you know it as Walmart) to which my response is always the same, "I'm not buying you a hooker cleverly disguised as a doll." She gives me the standard evil puke eye for several seconds and then quickly recovers so that she can beg for the next item wrapped in pink packaging.
Anyway, when I picked them up tonight, Mikaela refused to budge from the sofa, completely entranced by the Baby Bratz movie. When I told her to get a move on and physically removed her from said sofa she threw the big one. It was ugly, people. There was wailing and gnashing of teeth and death threats; don't even get me started on Mikaela. The fun continued as soon as we got home. When she wouldn't calm down, I told her to go to her room. Between broken sobs and pounding her feet on the floor all I could hear was "I want Baby Bratz" over and over. I finally went in and tried to calmly explain to my pint-sized nemesis that she didn't need to watch the movie when she was acting just like a "baby bratz" herself. Probably not the wisest move in my parenting career so far, but...whatcha gonna do?

To make matters worse, Special has lost every last binky she owned. While I don't necessarily see this as a bad thing, I do have a few reservations about the timing. Any other night I would've welcomed the challenge, but seeing as how the night wasn't exactly off to a great start and considering how upset she is with me, I'm almost afraid she might go all Lizzie Borden on me and Eric. To say that Mikaela has a wee bit of a temper is like saying that elephants run a wee bit on the large size. Both gross understatements.
I think it's going to be a long night.

Thirteen Years Today!

2008-12-08T19:53:00.000-08:00

Who would've thought that a chance meeting on a blind date (not with each other, keep in mind) would lead us here? It's been thirteen years, tons of dead ducks (among other animals) three homes, three dogs, two amazing little girls, too many cars to keep track of anymore and one fantastic life. There has been lots of laughter, lots of tears, lots of great memories, and lots of wonderful friends along the way.
It hasn't always been the smoothest ride, but it's sure been worth all the bumps.

Happy Birthday, Dad M.!

2008-12-02T20:43:00.000-08:00

Okay, so most of you know that December is crazy busy for us, but for those of you new to my blog let me give ya'll a quick recap of why December is nuts:
2nd-my Papa Jim's b-day
3rd-Eric's sister Jodi's b-day
4th-Eric's Papa Ernie's b-day
8th-mine and Eric's wedding anniversary (13, if you're counting. And can I just say, "Holy crow how did that happen?)
Moving on...
12th-Nephew Carter's b-day
16th-Niece Maddie's b-day
AAAAUUUUUGGGHHHH! Serenity now!
Although it's total chaos, it's also a good way to end the year! And in honor of my wonderful, super funny father-in-law, I would just like to say that as far as fathers-in-law go I think I won the jackpot. Before I was married I was under the general assumption that in-laws were to be endured not endearing. Luckily, I have the two most loving, supportive, fantastic in-laws a girl could ask for. Dad welcomed me into the family with open arms and a great sense of humor. Like my own father, he knew that-for me-laughter is definitely the best medicine. It's because of this that I think we get along so well.

So Dad, thanks for being my father-in-law and for being such a good example to Eric. You're a terrific father and grandpa. We hope you have a very happy birthday! We love you!

Watch out! Eric will goose ya!

2008-12-02T20:38:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's that time of year again. No flying fowl is safe in the skies. Eric is on the prowl and the bullets are a flyin'! So, beware friends of the feathers-keep 'em indoors until February, hopefully by then Eric will have it out of his system until next October. Sigh!

Happy Birthday Dad!

2008-11-30T15:20:00.001-08:00

Well, my dad's birthday isn't until December 2nd, but there's no time like the present, as they always say.

Here's a little about the man I have the privilige of calling my dad:
-He's a brilliant man, very smart.
-He has a wicked sense of humor. I love that he can find the humor in almost anything.
-He's extremely patient.
-He's very generous and will do anything for you.
-He's an awesome grandpa to my girls. They love him so much.
-He loves his family and has always been such a great example of what a father ought to be.
-He understands politics better than most politicians.
-He's not a fan of musicals! But in a house full of girls, he's always been a good sport and suffered through them in silence (mostly), with just an ocassional "I feel a song comin' on" comment here and there.
-He's taught me a lot about how to handle children with patience and love.

I could keep on going, but my blog isn't big enough. I love you, Dad! Thanks for being mine! Happy Birthday!

I Heart Twilight!

2008-11-30T14:49:00.000-08:00

Well, I've dragged all my sisters to Twilight and after seeing it (a few times now, actually), I must say...I totally loved it. Was it exactly like the book? No. Were there flaws? Yes. Would I buy it? I'm counting down the days until it is released on DVD.

Yes, I'm a Twilight freak, I'll admit it. I'm okay with that though. I can think of far worse things I could be involved in.

I must say, I'm very excited that Summit Entertainment has given the green light for New Moon and, with lots of luck, I am hoping to nab a spot as a makeup artist on that set. I would LOVE it. Keep your fingers crossed for me. If I think positive (and do a lot of groveling) I just might get my wish! Here's hopin'!

Gobble, Gobble!

2008-11-24T20:35:00.000-08:00

Maybe it's just me, but 2008 has really flown by this year. I'm excited for Thanksgiving and all the yummy food though. This is definitely one of my favorite holidays simply because our only expectation is good food and lots of it. We cook all day long and then stuff ourselves silly in a matter of minutes. Sounds like a great time to me. Think about it, what other day do we really get as an excuse to imitate a Hoover vacuum?
I like the fact that Eric and I trade off on this holiday with each other's families. This year we go with mine; we're a big, boisterous, loud group with lots of kids and even more on the way, which roughly translates to Pandora's Box. We have to have our Thanksgiving in the church gymnasium in order to accomodate everyone. Normally, this is a good thing, unless you like to play basketball. Usually, someone has to stand guard at the banquet table and act as defense against the rouge basketball. Even then, it always seems to land in one or more of the casserole dishes. It's still a ton of fun. My favorite part is playing games afterwards. We're all a bit nuts, so it makes for some very entertaining moments.
Eric's family is a little more refined. His family is spread out more, so we don't always see everyone. The ones that do make it are always a lot of fun to be around and Eric and I can usually get a wicked card game going with his grandparents and a few cousins.
And although the turkey is the main event, I still can't have Thanksgiving until I've watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I can still remember watching as a kid every year with Mama Sue and Papa Jim. It's one of my very favorite childhood memories. Now I watch it with my little girls and I love it every bit as much as I did as a kid. Let the holidays begin. Happy Thanksgiving!