Welcome Baby Thomas

Johnn's sister Mandy had her first baby, Thomas, yesterday. He weighed in at 7 lbs. 2 oz. and 21.5 inches long. We are so happy to have him here, and are so glad that Mandy did not have to have a c-section this weekend as he finally decided to come on his own. Congrats Richard & Mandy. Michael is so excited to have a new cousin to play with.

How many years ago?

Heather tagged me 2 months ago, but I just saw it so here it goes.

20 Years Ago…
1. I was in first grade.
2. I like to play with My Little Ponies, night games, & the playground.
3. I loved building domino houses when we had free time in class.

10 Years Ago…
1. I was sixteen, trying to figure out the dating scene, and no longer VL.
2. I played on Firebirds and Olympus High's soccer teams & loved it.
3. I learned how to drive a stick shift, and then taught all my friends on the "gutless wonder" Protege.

5 years ago…

1. Johnn and I were married in the Salt Lake temple and started our life together in student housing.
2. I graduated with a Bachelors in ESS & a Minor in Nutrition.
3. I was working full time for my Dad and teaching Aerobics at the YWCA.

3 years ago…
1. We were burning the midnight oil doing one house project after the other to fix up our cute little place.
2. I was serving in the YWs program as Laurels Adviser and Johnn was in the YMs with the Teachers.
3. We were thankful to be alive and uninjured after the truck was smashed into by a Tahoe and then a jackknifed semi.

1 year ago…
1. I was burning the midnight oil with a newborn baby.
2. I was adjusting to & enjoying parenthood.
3. I was feeling so blessed.

This year so far…
1. My little brother CJ got home from his mission in Brazil.
2. Michael has learned how to climb on everything.
3. I have enjoyed a fun two weeks with the Elggrens in town, playing hard every day.

Yesterday…
1. I went to work in the morning.
2. I took Michael to get his bowed legs x-rayed.
3. I was sad when my indoor soccer game got canceled.

Today…
1. Enjoyed the fact that I don't work on Fridays... ever!
2. Did 4 loads of laundry, cleaned the house, ran on the treadmill, and played with Mikey.
3. Blogged

Tomorrow…
1. I am going to the gym.
2. I am going grocery shopping.
3. I think we should have a fun night out and rent a red box.

Next Year…
1. I will be pregnant or have another little one already.
2. Hopefully, we will have sold our house.
3. Michael's legs will be straight.

I tag Alli, Andrea, Natalie (that's what you get for being related to me- Lisa your off the hook, that is unless you get a blog) and anyone else who wants to reminisce.

Welcom Home Elder CJ Miller

The fam at the airport. There have been 4 more additions since CJ left 2 years ago- Noah, Claire, Michael, & baby Meg

No longer empty nesters

Gabe, CJ, & Adam

Kate & Ellie

We are all so excited and thankful to have our CJ home after 2 years in Brazil. We missed him so much and are so proud of him. He doesn't think that he has grown, but he seems taller to me. He was so cute when he got home. He was so excited to see real carpet and had to do a few carpet angels to enjoy it. Plus, he was amazed to see a clothes dryer. Isn't it amazing the things we take for granted? CJ was thrown back into reality quickly as he got home Saturday, had his homecoming on Sunday, then started school on Monday. Hows that for getting right back into the swing of things. We are so happy to have you home baby bro.

The Michael Update

Michael is 15 months now a weighs 25 lbs. We have been a little worried about his little bowed legs, but we got x-rays done yesterday and the growth plates look fine so he should grow out of it within the next 6 months or so. If his legs don't straighten up by the time he's two, however, then we start worrying again, but for now it's a huge weight off my shoulders.

Also, Michael is just barely cutting his first two teeth at 15 months! Johnn kept saying that Michael was going to be the first baby with dentures, so we are glad that he does in fact have some teeth hiding in there. I've heard around that if they get teeth later when they are little that they usually have healthier teeth later in life. I am hoping that it is true. Maybe he has a future as a teeth model. I'm just happy that it will be easier for him to eat more grown up foods. Right now he can gnaw on a piece of apple for over an hour and it still won't be more that half gone.

Sledding

To get my favorites of the billions of pictures I took, I had to have them pretty small to fit, so you might have to pull the collage up big to actually see much. We had a blast and I am definitely enjoying my new camera and photo software that I got for Christmas.

My little cowboy. I take him in to have his legs x-rayed this Thursday, so cross your fingers for me.

My cute sisters (minus Natalie)
From left to right: Lisa, Alli, me, Andrea

Michael liked tubing. At first we didn't get much reaction out of him. He just stood or sat taking everything in. Then Johnn put him in a tube all by himself (Johnn held on to Michael's tube and they formed a litte train) and he loved it. It was a fun winter outing while the Elggrens were in town to play.

Nutcracker

We have this fun Miller family tradition where all of us girls go and see Ballet West perform the Nutcracker at Capitol Theater every December. It is always a fun GNO. My nieces are always so darling and funny. They pick out special dresses just for the Nutcracker, and many times their moms can't get them to wear them for anything else until it's over. They also are so well behaved throughout the whole thing and make the best little comments. At intermission (or as my nieces called it "half time") my sweet Grammy bought the little girls nutcrackers or ballet shoes. It was a fun night and the dancing was amazing as always. Thanks Nance for the tickets.

Christmas Day with Millers

Michael loves his ride on Leap Frog toy & Johnn and I are loving our new camera. We took over 400 pictures in less than a week. Thanks Papa & Nanny. My family always draws names for gifts and stockings every year. The stockings take a lot of thought, but are always so much fun to do for others. We also had our extended Miller family party on Christmas night and then our Jackson family party the next morning. It was fun to see all my aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Christmas Week at Snydermill

Michael playing with the bolts on the wall... go figure.

New Trike from Grandma & Grandpa. He loved riding in it almost as much as he loved pushing it around the room.

Michael loved the Kjar's train that they got for Christmas. He could stay on the thing forever... that is if he has a candy cane to suck on.

Christmas Eve nativity

Michael loved putting his things in the microwave. Of course it was his favorite "toy" while we were there. Sometimes I wonder why I even bother buying real toys.

All the kids in their new pajamas and blankets. Thanks Mom & Teresa.

Michael & Kenna

All the great-grand kids from the Miles extended family party.

We had such an amazing week staying up at Snydermill with the Miles family. It was so fun to be together for the holidays. Here were a few of my favorites: waking up with everyone there Christmas morning, 5 crowns, delicious food, movies... especially Mamma Mia, Wii tennis matches, sitting by the fire, snow & more snow, Bingo, and watching Michael unwrap his presents.

Kjar's Pirate Ship Room

Matt & Becky built the most amazing pirate playroom in their basement. Talk about attention to detail. The room is completely decked out. I love how the carpet is made to be sand and water and lines up perfectly with the paint on the wall. It is all truly amazing. Every surface is covered. They have a big slide, climbing wall, bars, zip line, love sac, plasma tv, the works. Michael never wanted to leave.

New Christmas Decore

My very sweet and talented Mom made this darling advent calendar for me. She has made them for all of us kids, usually working on them when she travels with my Dad to ophthalmic conferences. I know I will always love and treasure it. It is a labor of love.

I have always wanted a nativity set, but have never been able to find one that I liked that I could afford. That's why I was so excited when cute Teresa brought us this darling little nativity from Ecuador. Thanks Teresa, we love it.

It is a favorite Miller family tradition to make gingerbread houses every year. I went pretty simple this year, but that's how I like 'em.