Chirstmas Day

Christmas Day was such a fun day. We started at Grandma and Grandpa Miller's house. Of course they spoiled our kids but isn't that what grandparents do?




We started a new tradition of drawing names this year on the Miller side. Ryan and Abbey had so much fun with this. We went to Target and of course Ryan picked out a nerf shooter to give to Mitchel. He was so excited to give it to him!

Abbey and Adrianne drew each other for the drawing. Abbey couldn't have been more excited. We went to three different places to decided what to get her. Finally, she decided on this hooded shark towel for baby M. along with some lotion and soap. Very practical, my Abbey. Adrianne got abbey littlest pet shop (which she loves) and walkie talkies that you can decorate. I am sure she and Ryan will have fun going on their secret mission with these! I wrapped Adrianne's gift in wrapping paper that Abbey decorated out of butcher paper. This was such a fun experience for Ryan and Abbey.

Christmas at the Gamboa's. After we spent the late morning and early afternoon with the Miller's we headed of the Ho Ho's. The kids were once again spoiled with presents. They all had so much fun opening and playing with their new toys with their cousins.

As the night grew on, Allie decided to spice up her outfit with some ornaments off Grandma's tree. Looks good Al!

Christmas Morning 2009

Christmas morning is so magical! So magical in fact that Jeff and I woke up about 5:00 am and waited for our kids to get up. We thought for sure this was the year they would wake US up. So Jeff took a shower, I opened all the bedroom doors and of course Allie was in our bed so we tried to wake her up. Still nobody was making a sound. So about 6:00 am Jeff and I had all we could take and flipped on the Christmas lights and threw the words Santa and presents around hoping they would hear us and get up! Finally, after about 15 minutes of noisy talk and Allie trying to wake them up, Ryan and Abbey came out to find Santa had found them!

It turns out Santa is okay with weapons and decided Ryan did not have enough of them and brought him a full sized gun and one that fits in his holster along with 500 caps to shoot out of them! It's a good thing Santa is a boy!

Abbey want Tumbles the dog. She rolls over and barks like a real dog. I love this side of Abbey. She loves animals and wants to nurture them. Since this is as close as she will get to a pet, I think she loved it!

Allie has two loves...High School Musical and Elmo. Since she is too young for barbies, Santa brought her this adorable Elmo that tells jokes, tells stories, giggles and laughs when you touch his nose and tummy. He will keep her company once the kids go back to school!

One of my goals for next year is to learn the basics of sewing. My mom is a great sewer and I want to be able to show Abbey and Allie how do it someday. So with the help of my mom, I made us all matching pajama bottoms. Abbey helped me pick out the fabric and everyone thought it was fun to match.

I always make Christmas breakfast. This year I took everybody's favorite things. Bacon - Ryan's favorite, Muffins- Abbey's favorite, Eggs- Allie's favorite and milk- Jeff's favorite. And as for my favorite - all of it!

Christmas Eve

One of my favorite traditions is to reinact the Nativity. Jeff reads from the Bible and the kids dress up as the characters. Abbey was Mary, Zach - Joseph, Maddie - Angel, Ryan and Jake- Kings and Allie was a shepherd. This picture doesn't show how beautiful the costumes were. My mom decided at the last minute to sew the costumes and they were very nice.

We played a few rounds of Bingo. Maddie was our caller and Grandma and Zach were the big winners of the night.

We started a few new traditions this year. One of them was to come to Christmas Eve in our pajamas. I think everyone enjoyed being cozy for such an active night!

Everyone was so excited for Christmas we needed to burn off some energy. We decided to go to Boondocks. The kids had fun playing games and playing in the playland.

Gingerbread House

Every year we put together a gingerbread house. This was our creation for 2009.

Cookie Decorating

Jake, Maddie and Zach braved the snowy weather and came over to decorate sugar cookies for Santa. Their was lots of knife licking and finger licking. Mmmm...Santa can't wait to eat these cookies!

Abbey's Christmas Program

Abbey and her friend Sophia.

Abbey was so excited for this year's first grade Jingle Jam! She has a speaking part and could not wait to sing all of the songs. I think her favorite was Felize Navidad:

Snowball Launcher

Ryan loves the snow. He has been so excited this last week with all of the snow. He built a snowball launcher complete with fort.

Ryan's Jr. Jazz Team

Ryan started Jr. Jazz last Saturday and here is a look at his first game!

Bye Bye Ugly Light Fixture!

We moved into our house 10 years ago, I told Jeff the only thing I wanted to change were the brass light fixtures in the house. Well as the years went by, that project went to the bottom of the list. But I was shopping at my new favorite store HOME AGAIN ( a consignment shop) I found an awesome deal on a light fixture. So my handyman installed the light and the brass is gone for good.

Principals Award

Abbey won the principals award for October. The theme for the month was the student that "always does her best and helpful to others". Way to go Abs!

Our Trip To Breckenridge, CO

Ford Credit sponsored a trip to Breckenridge, Colorado for the top 4 people in Utah. Jeff was one of those, so we got to enjoy this fabulous trip! We were treated to yummy food and a massage the second day we got there. In years past when we have gone, we usually go on a guided snowmobiling trip the third day. (The first year we went, Jeff and I tipped the snowmobile over and it could have been very bad!) With the lack of snow, the snowmobile company would not allow passengers during the tour so everyone had to drive their own snowmobile. Well, for those of you who know my driving record, it probably was not the safest decision for me to steer myself on one of these things. So Jeff and I opted to lounge around while some of the others went on the tour. It actually worked out because we enjoyed another massage while others were freezing cold in the wind and cold air! It's not often you get two days of massages and relaxation! Much more our style! I would have to say the relaxing, good food, taking naps, watching movies was alot of fun. But one of the highlights for me was I probably beat Jeff at UNO (and I am not exaggerating) probably 40 times out of 45! He even stooped to cheating and still could not break my streak!

Thank you so much to Grandma Ho Ho and Uncle Michael and Aunt Adrianne for watching our babies while we were gone! They had a fabulous time and were very well taken care of. They got to have pizza, see Bolt, look at Christmas lights, take a bath in Grandma's tub and have lots of laughs. Thanks guys!

Lights At Temple Square

We went downtown to see the lights at Temple Square. Of course you can not go downtown without riding the train! Here is everyone anxiously awaiting the arrival of the train.

These are some pictures Jeff took. Not too shabby of shots!

Lots To Be Thankful For

Here we all are around the dinner table. It was our turn to spend it with the Gamboa family so we met up at my parents house. My mom is such an amazing cook we had the traditional Thanksgiving feast, but it was all so yummy! I should have appreciated her cooking growing up. (I probably should have appreciated alot of things about my mom growing up!) After dinner, my sister-in-law, Teresa, brought stationary to write get well cards to wounded soldiers. Then the kids wrote letters to Santa. It was a fun day!

I am thankful for many things. I of course am thankful for my family, friends and everything else about my easy life. I missed my sister at Thanksgiving this year, but need to be happy she is making the decisions that are making her happy. I missed my dad saying the Thanksgiving prayer, but need to be grateful for Teresa who did say the prayer. So my biggest Thanksgiving realization came when I realized I need to be thankful for the present and not an ideal or the past. To enjoy the moments I am in and not concentrate so much on what could be or what used to be.

Maddie and Abbey kicking off their Thanksgiving Feast!

The cousins put together turkey placemats to pass the time before dinner.

Camping Out In The Front Room.

Ryan and Abbey love to sleep on the blow up mattress in our front room. Since they did not have school they slept on in all weekend! Allie prefers the comfort of her own bed, however, she does crawl into bed with them early in the morning to say good morning.

Our Giving Tree

I started this tradition last year. We read The Giving Tree Shel Silversti and then we put what we are thankful for on our tree. I am glad that the first answers were mom and dad and grandmas and grandpas. About three leaves into it I knew it was time to quit. They started naming things like magnets and clocks.

Arrrgh!

It was night with the principal last week at Ryan and Abbey's school. The topic was how to prepare your child for college. Ryan was a little bored so we started passing notes back and forth. I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. His response was...a pirate! I wrote a pirate? He responded, yes a pirate or a hockey player and maybe a fireman. I love how his 7 year old mind works!

13.1

This day was one of my most emotional and inspirational days. I started this journey last June when Jeff gave me running shoes for my birthday (so I would no longer have an excuse) and could barely run three miles. Then it grew to six and then to eight and I thought I wonder if I could run a half marathon? As the weeks went by, I grew sceptical but kept running increasing each week. (Well almost every week I did take a few breaks in there). Then it came time to register and I paid my money so that I would commit to doing the race. I am so glad I did.

The race started out a half an hour late and the suspense was killing me. I could hardly stand it. I just wanted to get going! Once the race started it was a pretty steep downhill and I was having a sharp shooting pain on the arch of my foot. I slowed down until mile 3 and then I looked up to see a line of people running up a steep gravel paved path up the canyon. I thought are you kidding? My friend, Teena the running guru, said miles 3-5 are uphill but I didn't think it was that uphill. As I was going up the side of this mountain (and the leaders of the race had gone up and turned around and coming down the mountain me like they had just started) I felt the burn in my legs and I thought I just need to get to the top and then I can go down. I was inspired by the people around me in there 50's and 60's who were doing this. I was also inspired by Teena and Brittney who also passed me and said you are almost to the top. Thanks guys! Once I got to the top and came down life was good. From mile 6-10 I was feeling awesome. I took my gel to give me a boost and had made up a bunch of my time from the hill. At the end of mile ten I had a moment with myself. I started to cry and think I am really doing this. I have talked about it for so long and have wanted to do it for so long I am accomplishing my goal. Mile 11 was rough it was alot of ups and downs but I was at 2 hours and had plenty of time to finish. So I thought, the last two miles took me an additional thirty three minutes which is about 11 minutes longer than normal. My calf cramped and I was pooped so I walked and ran the last two miles.

As I reached the final stretch, Brit came over to cheer me on and then I heard "go Mom you can do it!" I thought that sounds like Ryan's voice. But I knew they were home and it couldn't be. I looked over to see my family at the finish cheering me on! Jeff had packed up the kids and drove to Cedar City the night before and then drove to St. George that morning to watch the finish and surprise me. I couldn't believe I started crying and trying to run and crying some more. It was the nicest thing Jeff had ever done for me. He knew how important this was to me and how hard I had worked and in his words "wouldn't miss this for anything!" I love you!

I also learned the importance of girl power on this trip. I never would have done this without my Saturday running partner, Brittany, and my go to girl Teena. You guys are awesome and I am so glad I have you as friends. Thanks for helping me acomplish my goal, you both are awesome!

So I said this was my first and last half marathon. However, I think I have been struck with the running bug. Sunday night I came home and was already looking at the upcoming races. We'll see what is next! Maybe one day 26.2?

I will post my pics once I figure out how to send them from Jeff's phone to my computer!

Our Star Student

Ryan received the Principals Award this month at his school. The theme this month was being responsible and helpful in all areas. Way to go Ryan!

Leah's Baptism

Ryan and Abbey's friend Leah was baptized on Saturday. Leah has been having the missionary discussions at our house the last few weeks and it has been such a blessing in our lives. We are grateful for the good example she is to Ryan and Abbey.

Happy Halloween!

Two Jedi's and a kitty!

Ryan and Abbey did not have school on Halloween so we made some visits. First up Grandma Ho Ho and Grandpa.

Then we stopped off at Grandma & Grandpa Millers! Thanks for the Candy!

Our last stop was to Uncle Michael and Aunt Adrianne's house.

The loot!

Perfectly Perfect In Every Way!

The last few years I have gone into volunteer with Abbey and Ryan's Halloween parties, I always wished I'd come up with a costume. My plan this year was to dress up in a bumblee bee costume that was at Target. But by the time I went to buy it, of course it was gone. So I came up with Mary Poppins instead. I was surprised at how many kids knew who I was. It was very fun and reminded me of how fun it is to dress up for Halloween.

Pumpkin Carving

We went to the pumpkin patch to find the perfect pumpkin!

Nothing like digging guts and slime out of a pumpkin. Ryan and Abbey thought it was awesome! Allie just wanted to play with the knives.

The Night of Nights Tonight!

About two years ago my friend told me I should rent High School Musical for my kids. At the time I thought High School awh that's a bit too old and they wouldn't be interested. Boy was I wrong. If Abbey or Allie find their passion in the theatrical world I can trace it back to this movie. Abbey fell in love with the movie and discovered her love of singing and we of course continued the following with the second. Allie even became obsessed with the music calling it "Na Na". On the second CD there is a song called The Music In Me and it starts out na na na na and this quickly became her favorite. Every morning she would wake up and ask for na na.

So when we heard the third installment was coming to the big screen the months could not go by fast enough until it came out! We went with friends and had a great time. I'd have to say the plot was a little weak and the outfits a little skimpier, but the music is awesome and Zac Efron is such a cutie! I also liked the fact that Gabriella still persued her life and Troy adjusted his. It made Jeff and I also reminisce our high school experience together! (I know gag!)

Hat Day at School

It was hat day at school for spirit week. Ryan of course sported a Ford hat and Abbey has taken over this hat of mine!

Abbey and Aunt Tracy

My Girls

I took this picture on a Sunday morning of my two girls. Why you ask? Abbey let me put a ribbon in her hair to match Allie!

B's Update

Allie is officially 9 days without her binkie or her B as she likes to call it. Jeff and I asked her where it went and she said "daddy ate it." A few weeks ago Jeff was playing around with her and he pretended like he ate her binkie. So now she thinks Jeff has devoured her binkies.

Birthday Celebration

Stephanie was kind enough to have a birthday dinner for Steve and Jeff on Sunday. We had french bread pizza and I made a german chocolate cake for desseret. Happy birthday you old guys!

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!

Ryan and Abbey woke up Sunday morning so excited it had snowed the night before. We dug out everyone's snow boots, searched for their coats and hats, got dressed in all the gear and then this is what happend probably 4 minutes later...


After sliding down the snow packed slide in the backyard, everyone decided it was too cold and they need hot chocolate and the fire!