The boys emblems

The Boys Quilts

Here is a picture of some of the fabric.

It's cuter in person.

Okay, so here is my next big project which I am in way over my head, but I had to try because I know the boys will like them. (better) I am working on three superhero quilts which may or may not be done for Christmas. I saw the cutest fabric that was on George's friend Sotirs quilt. George wanted it so bad that I looked everywhere for fabric but the one I loved was no where. Then this lovely lady Cyndi who made Sotirs quilt had some extra and shared. (bless her soul) I have gathered a bunch of cute fabrics, now I just have to figure out how they go together. That is hopefully where my very very talented sister Corrie who can tackle anything will come into play. I am just showing a little of the fabric and these emblems I made to go in the center on each of the boys quilts. We tell superhero stories all the time to the boys, and Johnny is always superman. George is always Spider man, and Jame he gets to be batman because he doesn't have much say. Anyways they always are saving the world or someone in danger, hopefully they will love their superhero quilts. Let's hope I can later put a picture of the fished quilts on here. Wish me luck.

Picture of the emblems I made for the quilts.

Also cuter in person.

First Day of Soccer

First official Day of organized sports.

The coach is really great with these boys. He gets them in order quick and they listen and follow his instructions. I wonder what his secret is. It is so cute to watch them and they absolutely love it. It is hard to believe the first time we had to practically spank them and did a lot of threatening to get them there. Now they can't hardly wait till the next week. Whew.

Just Leaf us Turkeys Alone

Well, my boys did not get their fill of the fall leaves, and asked if we could go on another walk and collect more leaves. They said "mom what else can we make with our leaves?" SO this is the best I could come up with. Turkey anyone? We collected the pine cones on our walk as well because I was brain storming what else I could do. I wasn't sure how these were going to come together but I think they turned out pretty cute. The boys really liked doing them. Again George was very particular about what he wanted and his looks different from the rest. I really like his. He picked out all the leaves that were different. Below are some pictures, their are a lot but they all wanted to show of their feathers, I mean leaves. Happy Thanksgining! Gobble Gobble. This has been a winter bazare entry. To see more winter bazar posts visit scribbit.

GERMANTOWN INDOOR SWIM CENTER

John took the boys swimming at the indoor pool last week, a trip they all love. Usually it is just John, Johnny and George who go but recently James through mental telepathy knows where we are going and finds a way to snake his way in. He really loves to go and gets excited when we get there. Johnny is a good swimmer and loves to wear his goggles the entire time. John has talked him into jumping off the diving board. He is a little hesitant at first but finally gathers the courage to take the plunge. The pictures are of him standing next to the monstrous other diving boards and two of him actually jumping. The 2nd picture was supposed to be a cannon ball. The indoor swim center has four different slides and the boys (even James) love to go down them. If George had one wish he would be able to go down the dark tunnel one everytime. Someday when you all come visit we will make the trip.

Shoes

James is now 20 months, and he has ALWAYS LOVED shoes. All day he walks around in either Kelley's, George's or Johnny's but never in Daddy's as they are just to big for his little feet. Most of all he likes his own, especially his blue vans, even though they are a size to big. Once they are on, they are on! (witnessed in the pictures below) He slept the entire night with them on and even tonight he has trumped the two pictures and is sleeping with both on his feet. We will be sure to sneak in this evening and provide evidence. We thought Johnny was bad with the twirling and the thumb sucking but James is in a realm of his own. If we put the shoes away he goes on a hunt to locate any shoe that will remotely fit his feet. Currently, we are down two whole pair of shoes because James has trapsed off with them. Often there is only one being worn cause the other is MIA. Johnny and I really think it is cute for now but our daily ritual of finding a lost shoe is getting old. It makes leaving the house somewhat of a chore. So for Christmas this year James wants shoes.

Fall placemats

FALL LEAVES

Yesterday, we took our annual Fall walk. The boys and I go every year and gather up their favorite leaves, and make placemats. We pick all different colors, sizes and shapes and glue them on to construction paper. This year we did not have a huge variety of shapes but the boys loved it anyway. Big John even went on the walk this time. George was especially into it. He glued all of his on and helped with James' and his Dads. He was really particular about his, and he had the perfect spot for all of them. I would suggest one and he would look at me and say "no Mom that does not fit there." Sure enough it wouldn't then he would look around at the leaves and pick the one that would. He even wrote his name and my name on the placemats with no help. He is pretty clever and has good penmanship for a 3 year old. He didn't leave the table till the placemats were finished. Then we all went to Staples and got them laminated which I might say was a lot easier then contact paper (used that in the past). It was getting late and we had not had dinner so we ate at Chipotle. George had to bring his placemat so he could eat on it. It was pretty cute, he really likes it and did a good job. Below you will see our beautiful family art project. Our November Fall placemats! Ta da! James blue

Johnny's Green

Dad white

George Black

Mom's Brown

All of them together.

Happy Halloweeen 2006

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2006

He was ment for this even at age 4.

Dad and his little 6 month old lady bug.

Johnny as the Incredible Hulk. This is what he wants to be when he grows up. He is very into being strong, and flexing his muscles. We try and bribe him into eating veggies by telling him it will make his muscles grow.

George as a Skeleton. He was a bit scared when he looked at himself. 2 1/2 years old.

Happy Halloweeen 2007

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2007

Johnny's preschool class after their Halloween parade.

Johnny 5 years old as a Vampire in the Day.

John and his puppy.

After trick or treating out at the haunted forest.

Everyone looking a bit hammered.

Group picture of friends and Family.

James as a Dalmation, 1 half years old.

George 3 and half years old as Optimus Prime. -can't figure out how to turn it.

Johnny as a vampire at night. Sitting next to him, his pirate cousin Mitchell and witch cousin Camille and the beautiful cousin witch in front is Natalie.

Meme: Life-fixing classes

Devise a list of 5-10 courses you would take to fix your life. It’s more fun to be in classes with friends, so include one class from the person who tagged you that you’d also like to take. Tag five.

Corrie tagged me with this.

1. Patience 101. Corrie I will take this one with you, and follow it up by 201, 301 and anything else on patience. It a virtue right? I can't stand yelling at my boys and feel awful when I do. So sign me up for a heavy dose of patience.

2. Vegitarian cooking 101. Something I would love to know more about and get a handle on. I am in a cooking group and we have decided to eat less meat, which I love, but I am racking my brain everytime it's my turn to cook. If anyone has some good recipies please pass them on. Thanks
3. Finance 101. Why are we not taught this in school? This should be a general ed class but instead we are forced to take classed like geology. Nothing against sedimentary rocks but I am sure I could have used some better knowledge on money. They should start teaching us about finances when we are young, so when we get my age it makes sense and we know what we are doing.

4. Hair dresser/Beauty school. Okay! I have always wanted to learn how to do hair. I think it would be a fun job to do on the side to earn money. It makes sense to learn something like this because it is actually something you can do when you have kids at home. Put them to bed and then you have all night to do hair and not to mention some grown up interaction. I would love to talk to people while doing their hair.

5. Communication 300. I know how to talk, I guess I need to do a little more work on asking find out questions. Thats what my husband says anyway. Find out more information and don't assume.

6. Playing 101. I wish this came as natural to me as it does to my husband. He is so much fun. It's no wonder the kids love him, and not just mine, but any kids in the vicinity. They are drawn to him like a magnet. While I seek grown up time he runs out and throws the football around with the kids. He just thinks like them. What would he like to do if he was them and then he does it. He is also not one to sit around the house and be bored. He always tells me, "why don't you take the kids to someplace he names and let them run around and play"? I say it is to hard with three little ones going different directions and that if he was in my place he wouldn't do it either. I have since changed my mind, he would do it, but he would call 2 or 3 more kids to go to add to the fun. What crazy person takes his three kids plus to extras all under the age of five to the store. "Nobody right"? " Wrong," John does. So I wish I could have a class on being young again and just having fun, not caring if the house is clean, laundry is done, and if their is food to eat. You would think he could just rub off a little on me, he is the best example around.

7. Math 210. I could always use this as it has never been my strong point. I should brush up on it so I can help my kids get through elementary homework. This is one reason I would never home school, because I am weak at this subject not to mention English.

Well my list of classes could go on and on and on. I know I still have lots to learn these are just a few to get started on. If anyone has any tips please let me know.

I don't even think I have five people to tag. But here goes. The five I tag for school are:
Jessica Nicol
Jayne
Kenna
Syd
Chad or Emily

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the best DAD and HUSBAND! You are the BEST! We LOVE YOU so much. Thanks for all you do.

Playing at the Beach

They were all working really hard to make a huge hole and they did but the picture won't load.

"I'm DONE"

James looks happy but he was actually crying

"Wahoo" So cute and so dirty.

Wow, it finally worked. I have been trying to load these pictures of the last trip to the beach this season. For some reason the kids were very amused by this hill and pipe. They spent a long time jumping off. "Hmmm can you tell which kids are mine and which are Jennifers."

Sister-in laws

Here is a picture of two of the four beautiful sister-in laws that I have. Jill on the left, me center and Jennifer on the right. These two live in Maryland with me and are lifesavers in many many ways. They are great friends and mentors. They also are great at decorating. It runs in all the Millers blood.

Things that make me HAPPY

I was just thinking of things that make me happy and thought I would list a few so that when I need to remember they are already written down. I tend to have a wealth of knowledge in my head,(I like to think) but for some reason poor access. I call my syndrome NO Re-call-y. If anyone would like to add or let me know what makes them happy I would absolutely love it. Okay no real order just what comes when.

My list
Snickers ice cream bars-just had one go figure why that is 1st
Salads from Nordstrom Cafe ***the best***
PF Changs spicy chicken with peanuts
Chips and salsa or Guacamole
Okay pretty much FOOD
Taking naps or when kids are taking naps
My bedtime
warm clothes right out of the dryer
kisses from my boys
fresh sheets on my bed
When I finish a hard workout
Big hug from John
A good book! -does anyone know one by the way I am looking?
Hearing people laugh really really hard-you know what I'm talking about
Did I mention FOOD
decorating
running fast
holidays
seeing the leaves change colors
the first snow
The smell of the house when you turn the heat on for the first time of the season-weird I know
sleeping in-can't really remember what that was like but I know it made me happy
A good relief society lesson
No debt-I know that would definitely make me happy an feel good
Birthdays-not so much now, especially since I am turning 30 soon and their is no going back
Girls night out
Any night out with John
When everyone is healthy-it's been awhile at our house
Babies-everything about them except crying, poop, and spit-up (but especially their breath)

This without fail makes me laugh

Little Johnny had a few:
Getting stronger muscles
playing with friends
money, I love to hold it---Ooh I should add that to my list except change it to spending money
New stuff
picking up turtles, frogs but not toads, ewe
"I think fishing would, mom can we go"
Getting a beat down from Dad--aka-wrestling
Giving Mom hugs and kisses-(so sweet he is)
inventions-"Mom do you have any metal"?

George's list
Opening presents (go figure)
drawing pictures
shredding paper
when he goes off the diving board
friends
horseback riding
when Dad gets home from work (I second that)
Halloween, costumes, candy & friends
When Mom reads books to me (aah)

Here goes nothing

Let's see if my lesson on blogging from my sister Corrie works.

Well I have a new respect for all those blogger moms at home who have figured out how the heck to do this stuff. Corrie gave me crash course in blogging 101. I am impressed that she can walk a completely computer illiterate through starting a blog. Hopefully we can have a few more sessions and I can get this thing looking right. I have been delaying learning because I was looking for a bubble template for my background, and Corrie came to the rescue so I guess I am out of excuses. Or wait I could use the fact that I have know idea what I am doing. I did manage to add my sister-in-laws Jessica and Jayne's links to their blogs, to mine all by my big self. (So proud)

I have to say I am using this as a way to keep a journal of our family and what is going on with us Millers in Maryland. So it may not be pretty or cute, but at least I won't feel so guilty for not keeping a journal. This is one thing I can hopefully if I keep this up, check off my very very long list of things I need to be doing. Please if read don't critique the writing, spelling, or overall correctness of what is being said. English was never a strength of mine, and I tend to think a thousand times faster than I type. Did I mention I can type about 17WPM with about only 5-6 errrors. You think I am kidding but I have practiced and taken several typing tests and that is what I have been at since my 3rd grade computer class. It's no wonder my teacher did not much like me. I did get smarter in High school though, I found a cute boy to type my tests for me. Needless to say I got a good grade but for some reason my speed never actually improved to 50WPM. I guess it didn't transfer. So what I am trying to say is, for anyone who has even gotten this far is, please bear with me, and be very forgiving.