Memorial Day

It is tradition to spend Memorial Day in American Fork visiting graves on the Miller side. Grandpa Miller's always has funny and intersting history/memories of his childhood. The kids paid their respects by coloring some pictures to put on their graves.

Mother's Day

Jeff is so thoughtful when it comes to Mother's Day. Not only does he let me sleep in and make breakfast, he makes sure Ryan helps him with all the planning and details. Saturday, they went to pick up our traditional Mother's Day coursages for me and the girls. Then they went shopping and to the grocery store to pick up stuff for breakfast. Homemade cards are the best. I never understood when my mom would say "just make me a card". But now I do. Jeff surprised me with the most awesome gift ever! A new running watch! I have been talking about this watch for a good six months now and I had no idea he was paying any attention! I can't wait to try it out!

Mother's Day from my kids

This year I gave alot of thought about Mother's Day. Every year Jeff gives me the "day off" and I usually leave and do something mindless and usually very relaxing. This year, I thought it would be nice to actually spend time with my kids for Mother's Day. I told Ryan, Abbey and Allie that my present from them could be to pick any activity to do together and they would have my undivided attention for at least an hour.

Allie of course wanted to paint her nails and toes and then she was good, didn't need anymore one on one time than that. I guess because she gets so much during the week!

Ryan wanted me help him build his lego.

Abbey had a whole weekend of things to do! She wanted her toes painted. Then she wanted to paint mine. Then we put her Art bag together she got fo her birthday.

Fun Times...I have awesome kids!

Talented Young Writers

Abbey was chosen from her class to have her poem published in a Talented Young Writers book for a few of the schools in our area. She chose to write about flowers:

Flowers

Pretty Beautiful

Blowing Growing sprouting

beautiful sall good pretty

Flowers

Afterwards we celebrated with Grandma and Grandpa Miller at Cafe Rio. Yum!

The long awaited ear piercing

I can still remember the day my mom took me to get my ears pierced. I remember walking into Fashion Place Mall down the long hall to a fancy store called Weinstocks. I walked in the store and sat on the chair and the lady pulled out what seemed to be this huge staple gun looking. That is where the memory stops, I am not sure if that is because of age or I've blocked out the pain.

So, here I am taking my daughter to the same mall to get her ears pierced. Weinstocks is long gone, so we went to Claires. She was not nervous at all. She sat up on the chair and let the girl take care of business. After that we celebrated together at Little America. Yum!

The Journey Begins...

Driving Ryan to the Orthodontist was a surreal experience. I started to remember the sounds, smells and pain of braces. I was 12 when mine were put on and I am going to torture my poor at nine years old. But he handled like a champ, except for an occasional ouch he got through it easily.

Pinewood Derby

I saw my son's competitive side come out at what else...the Pinewood Derby. Oh, Ryan worked very hard on his car. Jeff made sure this was his project and Ry did all the designing, carving and painting. But the night of the big race the awesome craftsmanship was not enough to keep up with some experieced Derby racers. Ry was so upset he didn't place in the finals he came home and threw his car away! After a talk about winning isn't everything, his "greek guilt" set in an hour or so later and he pulled it out of the garbage and kept it in his room.

Let's Snuggle!

Every morning when the kids go to school Allie says "just you and me mom". And then I say "yep just you and me" and then Allie says "lets snuggle". So we get back in my bed and snuggle while watching Dinosaur Train or Super Y. What a sweetie!

Easter

Oh the thill of the hunt! Easter morning was a little longer than usual this year since the Easter Bunny decided to hide the baskets in a place they never thought to look! Their own closets. I think they may have checked there, but they are so full of their treasures they couldn't see them the first time. Tricky bunny!

Then we headed to my Mom's house for a yummy Greek feast and Easter Egg hunt!

Last year in the single digits!

For Ryan's 9th birthday we had a celebration on both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday Ryan got to take his friend Jack, along with the rest of our family, to see "How to Drain Your Dragon." Very cute movie...I would recommend it!

On Sunday, all of the family got together for ice cream sundaes at our house. Yum! His birthday wishes were fulfilled when he got a water gun, 2 nerf guns, starwars laser gun, legos and a skateboard. What more could a nine year old ask for...weapons and transportation?

Nine things I love about Ry:

10. His good attitude. With three females in the house I am sure this has become a survival mechanism for him. He goes with the flow so easily and isn't hard to please.

9. Bravery. Ryan had to get a brace on the roof of his mouth in his first steps toward braces. He was so nervous. When we went in and got it done I know he was so scared but he took it like a champ!

8. Compassion. Ryan came home one day last week after I had been cleaning most of the day and opened up the pantry door and said "Well, I see you've done some cleaning today. Looks good mom." Thanks for the acknowledgement Ry!

7. He is very social. Ryan will play with anyone, anywhere. As long as he is moving and outside he is happy. He will go down the street looking for his friends without hesitation, ready for a basketball game. He has also befriend three neighbor boys in my mom's neighborhood that he plays basketball with every time we are over.

6. He keeps us on track. Ryan reminded us that we need to get up a few minutes and do scripture study in the morning. For Ryan this is a stretch since he is not much of a morning person.

5. Sense of Humor. Ryan has a silliness about him that comes out every so often. Usually it's when he is playing with Abbey and he is feeling couped up! He made up a song that goes "my name is Ryan and I am Funky, cause I like to get funky on the dance floor". We were also listening to conference and President Monson told a story about how his wife told him he was tall and skinny so he better go in the Navy. Ryan thought that was hilarious. He stood up and said "I'm tall" and shook his belly "and skinny...well kind of skinny." Then dropped to floor laughing uncontrollably.

4. Sometimes he is a little oblivious :). Whether it is some mustard or ketchup on his face or shirt a few hours after his meal or walking right through giant pile of legos in his room as if they weren't there.. Only a mother could find this enduring.

3. Kindness. At times Allie and Abbey battle for Ryan's attention. On the weekends the big question is who is going to get to sleep in Ryan's bed. For some reason it is more fun to play their DSI/leapsters in Ryan's room at night than their own. It is very conflicting for Ryan to choose. Usually one gets Friday night and the other Saturday night. But the big question is who gets to be first. So this is easily decided by whomever can make Ryan feel the guiltiest. Sometimes its a frown or pouting or when the stakes are high and it's a holiday out come the tears.

2. Likes to Volunteer. Ryan has given a talk in church at least twice this year. He is the first to run something to a neighbor or downstairs if I ask. He always raises his hand in class even if he isn't quite sure of the answer. He will go anywhere with Jeff to help neighbors or family. I am sure this is where the example was set for him. Jeff also is the first to volunteer if someone needs help.

1. He is part of our family. The wait was long to get Ryan in our family but he was sure worth the wait. He keeps things light in our family and is such a good example to me and his sisters. I am so proud of how hard he works even when he doesn't want to and how hard he plays. I love that he is nine year old boy who loves to get dirty and be rowdy.

Third Article of Faith

My sweet little sunbeam participated in her first opening exercises in Primary. With Jeff's help she said the 3rd Article of Faith.

Riding the Big Girl Wave

Abbey learned to ride a big girl bike. We bought this bike for her last year for her birthday, but didn't seem interested. One Saturday morning she got on the bike and rode it after one try! No training wheels!

St. Patricks Day

For those of you who know me, know I love holidays. I am not Irish, but I do love the color green! So why not celebrate! We have a tradition every St. Patricks Day to order green tortellini and green salad to celebrate (not a big corn beef and cabbage fan). This year Abbey had a great idea to have it outside to change things up a bit. The only thing missing was Jeff. He was at work paying for this meal. Love you honey!

Student of the Month

Abbey came home with quite a surprise. She was awarded Student of the Month from her class. As part of her reward, she received a gift certificate for Archibald's Restaurant. We called Grandma and Grandpa to celebrate. What a great student she is.

Disney on Ice

Allie and I went to Disney on Ice with our friends Jessie and Alisa. She could not believe what she was seeing. Mickey & Minnie Mouse, Cars, The Little Mermaid and of course Tinkerbell all on one night and they were on ice skates. She loved it!

Abbey & Junie B. Jones

After many months of trying to convince Abbey she could read a chapter book from start to finish, she has accomplished it! Way to to go Abs!

Kung Fu Wisdom

I was running errands this weekend, of course had the DVD player going in the car as bribery for my kids, this quote from Kung Fu Panda made me stop and think:

Yesterday is history
Tomorrow is a mystery
But today is a gift, that's why it's called the present

That Master Shifu really knows his stuff!

Spring Break

I was glad to have the kids home for a few days over Easter break. We did lots of fun stuff. They had friends over every day it seemed, a play date at Jumpin' Jacks, movie night each night and of course sleeping on the blow up mattress in the front room each night.

When I asked them what the funnest part of their break was, it was hands down the 6 hours they got to spend with Uncle Steve and Aunt Brenda. They made playdough, colored eggs, played the Wii and who knows what else those two did to entertain them. They loved it and thought it was "so awesome!" Thanks guys!

WICKED...Wicked Awesome That Is!

I have heard how incredible this production is from many different people. So when I heard it was coming to Salt Lake I had to get tickets. Conveniently, the tickets went on sale around Christmas so Jeff and I gave my mom a ticket to her as her Christmas present.

This production was incredible. From the music, the costumes, the set, the storyline for sure ( I love the Wizard of Oz references) it was pretty amazing. My favorite song is defying gravity. I down loaded it on my IPOD so I could listen to it in the car. Then I realized just how incredibly talented those performers are. Even with the music in the background I still sounded like a drowning cat trying to belt those lyrics out. But it didn't stop me I still kept singing. My only regret was not getting Abbey a ticket to see it too. She would have loved it. The singing and dancing is just what she loves.

After the show I was driving in the car and started to analyze the story a little more. Elphaba was a woman who was never loved by her mother or her father. She was an outcast because of her looks. She just was trying to help those who couldn't help themselves and then accused of betrayal by her best friend. I felt kind of sad for her and then I realized I shouldn't feel bad for her. Through all of that, she found who she was and stood up for what she believed in. Way to go girl!

Elder Holland is a Stud!

I always look forward to hearing Elder Holland talk conference weekend. This past conference was no exception. I usually am drawn to the talks that are more life experience based than scripture based, however his testimony and account of the atonement really spoke to me. He has such a firm knowing belief when he bares his testimony, I can't help but be inspired and want to do better.