Parade

When I was a kid we got to dress up for Halloween at school and wear our costumes all day. We did a parade in the gym and all the parents came. I remember kids wearing crazy stuff like big snowmen and things they could not sit down in. I remember being an awesome witch in 3rd grade. I wish I could find the picture in my mom's big box of pictures. Anyway, schools got a different idea about Halloween and stopped doing that stuff. In fact, when Megan was in Kindergarten in Iowa, they did not even celebrate Halloween, it was just an "Autumn Celebration" so no religious affiliations were offended. LAME!

Well, the times have changed again and for the first time in their lives Brandon and Tyler got to dress up at school! They did a parade and partied all day! (I was there to help.) Megan's Jr. High even allowed it, but she was too cool for that. Sad, she never got to dress up at school. They might be big kids now, but it's never too late for a good Halloween parade!

ARRUUUGGHHH!!

Blagh! The pics say it all. Yesterday we got a little skiff and it was slushy rain last night, but THIS is what we woke up to this morning! Seriously? I mean COME ON! Over 4 inches? It is not even Halloween yet! Jason had to take Maya in to the vet (for her womanly parts to no longer work) at 7:am and I had to take Meg to the orthodontist at 7:30. B & T had choir at 8. (They had to walk - but said it was awesome- weird.) So, this lovely white stuff did not make for a fun morning for me. Lucky Jason: his car happened to be in the garage. Me: not so lucky. I already hate winter.

Growing Pains

Feb 6 Feb 22 March 9
Man, puppies grow fast! Here is Maya in her first 14 weeks.

BEARS, oh my!

Brandon and Tyler LOVE having their dad as their Bear leader in cub scouts. I love it because I KNOW they will get tons of stuff done, and done right! They earned their Bear rank 6 months sooner than most kids. They worked really hard to get it in time for the Blue and Gold banquet for everyone to see. The theme was a birthday party because it is the 100 anniversary of scouting. They loved getting their awards! I am so proud of all 3 of my boy scouts. They work hard together, learn a lot and have a good experience doing it together. Check out the video of Tyler calling out the coolest flag ceremony ever. (Choreographed by Jason of course!)

15 Years and Counting

Wow that is a LONG time to be married! I have lived with Jason for almost half my life! Now, because I refuse to post ridiculous (sorry to offend some of you) stuff about how much I love my husband and on and on about our 15 blissful years together, you just get a summary. This is a public post and I write the other stuff down, where it is private- in a journal! Not for the world to read (while I am alive anyway). (Again sorry to offend, it's just how I feel.) This blog thing is just to keep track of digital pics and show my sister (the only other person who reads this thing) what is going on. Just had to say that.

Anyway, I was in charge this year so I went totally cheesy. We had the most fabulous dinner at the roof and got this fabulous pic! Best table in the house, huh! We stuffed our selves silly with AMAZING desserts. Then we walked around the JSB and the Empire room where we had our reception. Then we spent the night at the Anniversary Inn. That is where we spent our first night on our honeymoon and we have not been back since. I chose the Enchanted Garden room because I was trying to be a little funny- it has a picture of an elk on the mural. Jason loved it.

Good Bye Grandma Miller. We love you!

When I think of Grandma Miller, I think of a funny, musically talented lady who made afghans. Sounds funny, but that is all good! She called us all affectionately her "little monsters" and was always so wonderful to me and the kids. I tried to remind her we were thinking of her by sending cards for major holidays and pictures of the kids. In the past 15 years or so, we have received a few very sweet letters from Granmda in response to the cards. She also wrote a few letters to Jason just to let him know how much she cared. They were typed on a typewriter and signed by her. Jason and I visited her in Las Vegas in 2008 and that was the last time we saw her alive. Jason did have a very sweet experience right before she died. He was able to get a few words to her over the phone and she said : "I love you Jason!"

Grandma Miller - Stella Miller (Jason's- Father's- Mother) Died February 12, 2010. The funeral was February 20th in Highland, Utah. Jason gave the Family Blessing when they closed the casket. I have heard Jason give many blessing and offer countless prayers, but it was honestly one of the most beautiful blessings I have heard him give. I just wept. It was wonderful and I was proud of him today. He also looked so handsome in his dark suit talking to his family.


It was also a good experience for the kids to see all their "other" - extended family. Most of them the kids had never met and I really enjoyed seeing all of Jason's cousins again. They are great people and it is too bad we don't get together more. Of course we all promised to do so, but... we know how life is.

We will miss you grandma, but we are glad you are with grandpa again!

Love is in the air!

Valentines day is always fun. Who does not love chocolate and strawberries? Jason's gift to everyone was a surprise dessert. He prepared chocolate fondue with all the fixings. It was sooo yummy! Love you all!

Card club card (February)

January in Review

Highlights included: Pingpong at Mowers (New Years), out to breakfast on MLK day, Braces, and a new puppies for the Farrell's (Lily) and us!

Metal Mouth Millers

Like father, like daughter! Jason and Megan BOTH got braces on today. Jason's took longer and will be a much more difficult fix. Megan's should be on for about 12-18 months. They both are pretty sore and just want soup and Jamba juice! We can't wait for the before and after post. I'm sure there will be a lot of sore mouths before then.

It's a Girl! 8lbs 2 oz

We adopted a black baby (not from Haiti) Labradoodle and named her Maya! She was born on December 1. We brought her home on January 24th at 7 weeks old. She weighs about 8 little pounds. She is half Labrador (black) and half Standard Poodle. The best of both worlds: A hunting dog with webbed feet for Jason and a "non-shedding" smart dog for the rest of us.

The kids are more than ecstatic. Now, we have wanted our kids to have a puppy (kind of) and have never agreed on the breed to get. We always said when we moved we would make a final decision. Well, as life goes, we have been saying that for 5 years now and Megan only has about 6 years left at home, so it is about time. Farrell's just got a cute new puppy last week and gave us the bug, too.

So this is how it went down. We were driving home from Tyler's soccer game and saw a truck by Draper Park with a sign: "PUPPIES". He had been there a couple times before, but we never stopped. This time, I thought, "Oh, let's just let the kids play with them." BIG MISTAKE! Warning/Note to self: Do not EVER stop where there is a sign offering ANY type of baby animals!

Anyway, we instantly fell in love with the little girl. There were 8 puppies in the litter. He had 2 boys left and this little girl. Man was the guy a good salesman. He convinced Jason what a good hunter Labradoodles are and what a good pet because of the poodle. (She won't be huge, but a little bigger than I ever wanted.) The mother is the lab and the father is the poodle. The only thing we were surprised was the big price tag. "Designer" dogs cost a pretty penny!

We finally pulled the kids away and said we needed to go home and think about it and look on line as to how much these really sell for and about the breed. We really had not considered Labradoodles. I thought they were huge dogs with really frizzy hair! Apparently, that is when the mother is a poodle. The great salesman/breeder offered to let us take her home and let her walk around then bring her back in an hour. (Smart guy-like we were going to rip her away from our kids.) So we went home, looked up Labradoodles...and apparently they are fantastic dogs! They were "designed" in about 1995 to be hypoallergenic guide dogs. How smart! We could not find anything bad about them! Well, that was good enough for me. Jason negotiated the price and we had a new member of our family. I could not believe I was agreeing to this! But, everyone was so excited, and with a little luck and A LOT of training I think she will be fine. We found a Crate on KSL, went to Walmart and loaded the cart with $100 in supplies and now the fun training begins! Welcome home little Maya Miller!

HAWAII WAS WONDERFUL

A few pics of our trip: Nov 13-20 2009. It was just the two of us- all by ourselves- that means no kids! We were on Oahu for 3 days and the Big Island for 4. We did a lot of sight seeing on Oahu, then relaxed and really enjoyed ourselves and the gorgeous resort on the Big Island (Hawai'i). My favorite things were the waterfalls, the best pina coladas every day, chocolate covered macadamias (everyday) snorkeling at Point of Refuge and of course the Plumerias. I was constantly picking them. I had to do this post because there is 3 feet of snow falling outside right now and I wish I could be in Hawaii right now! I miss is so much. We really had a great time.
Couldn't go anywhere without my plumerias.
The view from our lanai (back patio) at the Grand Kona. I had breakfast (of course POG and Hawaiian bread) every morning looking at this view with the warm breeze on my face. Ahhhh.
Yes, that is a wild turtle that swam up to Jason when we were snorkeling at Point of Refuge. (It knew we needed a picture.) It was the best snorkeling we have ever done! The reef is "Two Step" (two levels) and seriously, compared to Caman, Cabo and Hanama Bay, it was unbelievable! Too bad we did not have an underwater camera.... there were hundreds of schools of fish- every color of the rainbow, morey eels, turtles, etc!

Shouldn't every day look like this?

A Condo complex named after me!

The Royal Kona had the BEST pina coladas!
And you wonder where my temper comes from? Not Kileuea! It's barely blowing smoke!
Akaki Falls National Park is one of my favorite places. It looks like the Garden of Eden to me.
I showed Jason around my old stomping ground. It was EXACTLY the same 17 years later...so fun! Did I really say, 17 years later? Woah, Susan if you are reading this, how did we get so old?

Just a little ditty of Jason on the surf.

2009 Family Year in Review

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