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.

Merry Christmas

"I Can't Put My Arms Down"

With all the recent snow, I just had to see what Michael would do with it. It was funny because I usually can't get the kid to hold still, but he just stood there frozen in position for the longest time. Eventually he got more adventurous and started walking down the driveway digging in the snowpiles left by the snowblower. And as always, he didn't want to come back inside the house.

Christmas Tag

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper because it is more fun to unwrap and then the presents are stackable... it is definitely the way to go. I do, however, write the to & from right on the paper with a sharpie. Tags and bows are too much work.

2. Real tree or Artificial? Real. We usually cut one down on our property in Wyoming, but since the baby we haven't been up to it.

3. When do you put up the tree? Right after Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take the tree down? January sometime when it dies. If we cut the tree down ourselves, they live a lot longer.

5. Do you like eggnog? Love it, but I have to dilute it with milk. I also have a weakness for the eggnog shake at shivers.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? I always loved getting a new pair of jammies to sleep in every Christmas Eve.

7. Hardest person to buy for? My Dad. If he wants something he buys it for himself.

8. Easiest person to buy for? Michael.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes. Teresa just brought us a little one from Ecuador.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? An old fruit cake that got passed around at our office Christmas parties for years until my Grandma finally ate it. All I can say is YUCK!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? A Christmas Story and The Grinch

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? early November

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Only White Elephant gifts like stale fruit cake.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Fondue, homemade carmels

16. Lights on the tree? White lights... I only used 6 strands this year instead of the 16 strands I had to use on my huge tree 2 years ago.

17. Favorite Christmas song? I can't pick just one. I LOVE Christmas music. I start listening to it before Thanksgiving and I annoys Johnn.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home. I am so glad that the majority of both our families live close by. But we do so much that I feel like I could use a vacation afterward.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Both. Usually Christmas Eve with one family and Christmas morning with the other.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? There never seems to be enough time.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? My tree is red, silver, and white with stars, snowflakes, and bells.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Christmas Eve fondue... But then there is Christmas breakfast steak & eggs or sausage casserole & sweet rolls.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Our house to sell.

26. Who is most likely to respond to this? No clue.

Halloween

Mikey loved Halloween and trick-or-treating with all his Miles cousins. He was a cowboy because everyone told us that's what he should be. Even his pediatrition said that he should be a cowboy because of his bowlegs. Yes, that's my little guy, always looking like he just got off a horse. It's a good thing that we know it won't last. I think it is pretty cute for now.

I've Been Tagged

I've been tagged by Alli, so here are 7 random things about me.

1. I hum primary songs to myself when I am scared.

2. I have had more nicknames than I can count... Moes, Mo, Mon, Moni, Mono, Monique, Moniker, Mojo, Miller, and those are just the obvious ones. If we go back to elementary, then we get the really silly ones like Cheese, Cheesehead, Monty, Monteray Jack, etc.

3. I have a permanent dent in my quad from dropping a 75 lb weight bar on my leg in high school. The muscle never grew back.

4. I refuse to eat fish.

5. I physically cannot eat a banana. I like the taste, but the texture makes me gag. It has to be blended into a smoothie.

6. I always check in my shoes before I put them on to make sure that there is nothing inside that shouldn't be. It comes from the dead mouse in my slipper at the cabin. I think I am scarred for life from that one.

7. I can't snap with my thumb and middle finger like most people do. I have to use my fourth finger instead.

Well, that's it. I am not tagging anyone, but if you do this on your blog, let me know.

Look Who's ONE!!!

Michael loved his cakes. He got to do it twice, once with each family.

Stats
Height: 30 1/4 in (68th percentile)
Weight: 22 lbs 11 oz (49th percentile)
Head Circ: 48 1/2 cm (95th percentile) a.k.a. orange on a toothpick

Favorite Foods
grapes, strawberries, bananas, yogurt, goldfish, tomatoes,
whole milk, apple juice

Favorites
* Being outside- he loves running around the yard and down our driveway... which if you've seen our driveway, is really scary.
*Tubs- he has even climbed into the water by himself... clothes and all
* Making friends- he is so social.
*Climbing- he loves climbing on anything to make himself tall... couches, toys, people ( if you sit or lay on the floor you are fair game)
* Slides
*His blankies
*His Grandparent- he will reach for all of them when I drop him off
*Walking/running
*Being chased- he loves running away, I have a lot of pictures of his back lately :)
*Jumping in his crib
*Reading books
*Walking on Grandma's pool cover
*Getting into any and all drawers and cupboards


Words
Dad, Dada, Mom, Uh-oh, Huh?, Hi, Hot

My Favorites
*His heavy breathing
*His giggle/laugh
*His Peek-A-Boo
*His cute little body and bowlegs

Birthday at the Zoo

Miles'- Karen, Lisa, Mandy, and Angie

Kids on the train- Kylie, Michael, Sam, and Kenna

On the loose

First carousel ride with mom

Silver Lake