Ten Years at the Job

I have decided I am married to the luckiest man alive! Last Friday Shan went to work and his dad took him and Kelly to Sportsmans and told them to pick out any gun they wanted. I guess it was their bonus for working for D. Miller for ten years. Shan picked out a new kind of 22 and brought it home today. It was really nice of David and I'm proud of Shan for sticking with it for ten years. Way to go!

We can't wait!

Every other year my parents throw a really fun, creative new years eve party. Every year is something new a different. In the past we have done a murder mystery dinner, around the world in 6 hours, a casino night and now it's looking like a cowboy dinner! They are so stinkin' creative and we have so much fun together. My boys can hardly wait, especially since they get to dress up and it's not even Halloween(Carsons words). I just thought I would share the fun invitations. Since I can't post a scan, I had to take a picture and their fuzzy, sorry!

Wanted for indecent exposure. Michael "Muscle Man" Miller
Wanted for Stirrin' the pot. "Shameless Shan" Miller
Wanted for excessive cuteness. Blake "Chubby Cheeks" Miller
Wanted for Burnin' Rubber. Jenifer "Get-Away" Miller
Wanted for Grave Robbin. Carson "T-Rex" Miller

When they took our pictures they told us to try to look really mean - I think Carson pulled that off the best!

Warning, Stay clear of our house!

What a bummer! Just in time for Christmas our boys came down with Pink Eye. Wednesday night the red eyes and gunk started. So Carson had to miss his preschool Christmas party and we all have a bad case of cabin fever. I took them to the doctor and they should be un-contagious by tomorrow. At least they will be able to enjoy all the rest of the Christmas festivities. I didn't get a picture, but I am sure you can all imagine!

Ms. Clause comes for a Visit

Every other year, when we have Christmas with the Millers, my parents come down to bring our gifts and visit. This year just my mom came down (my dad was working). Since everyone seems to be getting married, including my brother, weekends are really busy. So my mom came down Wednesday night and left Thursday morning. It was a short visit, but the boys loved having her. She brought tons of gifts with her and now our tree looks like Santa already came! Thanks for coming all that way mom, your the best!

A Christmas Miracle

Shan and I have now slept through the night two nights in a row! At our house that definitely counts as a miracle.

For the last couple weeks all three of our boys have been waking up multiple times in the night. Sometimes even thinking they were ready for the day at three in the morning. So I finally bribed Carson with a fire truck if he would stay in his bed all night long for three nights. And it worked! Lucky enough for us the other two boys followed suite and Shan and I are now feeling much more rested! Thank you boys. This is a picture of the boys with their reward! It was well worth the ten bucks!

I don't think this is the REAL Santa!

Saturday was the Carter Christmas party. It was fun like always. We ate a delicious dinner, heard a Christmas story and hit a pinata. But the funnest part was the annual visit from Santa! Michael was SO excited! He was all wide eyed and could hardly wait for his turn on the big mans lap. When he got off Santa's lap we asked him what he had asked for (since as you can see everyone was all whispers this year.) He told us he asked Santa to bring him a present. Sounds like he'll be easy to please this year!

Carson was also super excited to see Santa. He jumped right up on his lap and let him hear a whole list of things he wanted. This year he has definitely started hoping for things! After he jumped off Santa's lap he turned to his cousin and said "I don't think this is the real Santa." We couldn't stop laughing! Looks like he knows that Santa has helpers!

Blake was super cute with Jolly Ol' Saint Nick. He just kept staring at him, trying to figure out who was holding him. He wasn't scared at all at first, but after a minute he decided he needed a familiar face.

It was a fun party and something our family looks forward to all year long!

Carsons Preschool Christmas Program

Today was Carsons preschool Christmas program. So Shan, Michael, Blake, Grandma Miller and I all went to watch him sing.

The program was really cute. Carson got to hold up a light bulb sign during rudolph the red nosed reindeer. He did a great job.


Most of the time he was happy watching all the other kids sing, but every once in a while he really got into it.

This program was so fun for me to go watch. It was fun to see Carson playing with his classmates and singing the songs he had learned! He is such a good boy and we sure love him!

Dinosaur Museum

Carson had to go to the dentist and have some dental work done on Thursday. So as a bribe I told him that if he was super good I would take him to the Dinosaur Museum(we drive past it all the time and he is always asking me to take him). So after giving him some Brave medicine(benedryl - as prescribed by the dentist) he headed to the dentist. He ended up being super brave and not making a peep for the dentist. I was so proud.

So today we headed to the dinosaur museum. The boys had a ton of fun looking at all the fossils. They especially loved the t-rex footprint and watching the movie. They got to color dinosaur pictures and they each got to pick something out from the gift shop.

Michael picked a toy dinosaur and Carson picked an excavating kit. He's been working on it all afternoon and has still only got out one bone. We had a fun time and it was definately a great bribe!

Blake's New Trick

Blake learned this new trick on Wednesday. He is so proud of himself and so are we!

Hot Tubbing

The boys have been wanting to go to Grandpa Millers house forever to swim in the hot tub. So Monday we finally went. They both are little fish and love swimming at Grandma and Grandpa's house. They had a blast and totally wore themselves out. It was great!

Both boys woke up the next morning asking to go back. They just can never get enough. Blake and I hung out inside since it was super cold!

Bowlin'!

Since it was rainy and cold outside on Saturday we took the boys bowling.

We have been before and they always love it. Carson is even a good bowler - he got a strike and scored 100.

He's been talking about it all week. Way to go bud!

Two New Teeth!

Blake has had his two top baby teeth coming in for the last couple weeks. Well this morning they have both poked through. So, Goodbye to big gummy smiles(I'll miss them) and hello to teethy big boy smiles!

Go Cougars!

Shan and I were lucky enough to go to the BYU vs. U of U game on Saturday. It was a close game and really fun to watch. We were surrounded by University of Utah fans which was a little different since we felt a little lonely rooting for the Cougars, even though it was a home game. BYU ended up winning the game 17-10 with a last minute touchdown. I forgot my camera, so no pictures.

A great big thanks to Jenny who watched all three of my boys so I could go. Your the best, I owe you big!

Bachelor Party!

Friday the boys all attended my little brother Brians bachelor party. They went to lunch at Iggys and then played backyard golf. Brian got lots of nice gifts and they all had a good time.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We went up North to be with my family for Thanksgiving this year. We had a lot of fun. The boys loved making rolls with my mom, she is so good with them.Shan and I were happy that there was a larger adults table, so we advanced from the kids table. Here's a picture of Abigale and Carson who loved the kids table.

Michael on the other hand decided he needed to be at the adults table too! We were happy to have him.

Blake had a great first Thanksgiving! He loved the mashed potatoes.
After dinner the adults all got to relax while Jessica watched Santa Clause 3 with the kids.
It was a great Thanksgiving, and it was fun to be with my whole family!

He's Rockin'

Blake has started rocking on his knees now. It's super cute and he does it all the time. It looks like crawling is just around the corner. I have to admit that I am not sure I am ready. I have just really enjoyed him little, and when he becomes mobile he won't be a little baby anymore. Video coming soon! (It was taking too long tonight)

Michael's first Early Morning Hunt

Michael got up at 4:30 this morning to head out hunting coyotes with his dad. This is the first time Shan has taken him on an early morning hunt. Michael was really excited. And I soon found out why, as they were heading out the door Michael said, "We need to get Donuts, Chocolate Milk and M&M's". It looks like he's got hunting all figured out, at least my kind of hunting.

Shan says they got skunked. He says Michael just couldn't be quite, he kept moving around, talking and singing little songs.(I'm not sure what he expected from a 2 year old) On top of that Shan forgot to take a diaper, so by about 9:30 Michael had a wet diaper and had fallen asleep. It was a short trip, but Michael was really excited when he got back and it sounds like he had a fun time!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

The boys were so excited for the Christmas decorations(o.k., so was I), so we broke them out this Friday. We put up everything, the tree, stockings and garlands. I still don't have a stocking for Blake, but I'll get one soon.

Then Shan smashed all records and put up the Christmas lights outside! I'm so proud of him, that is something he just dreads. But he always does a great job and they look so good.

I even got the rest of my willow tree nativity. I just love it and am excited to finally have the full set!

Yes, we are excited for Christmas! It's such a fun time of year!

Play Group, Our house

This week playgroup was at our house again. We made these cute picture frames with foam cutouts. The boys had fun, but the activity didn't last nearly as long as I had hoped, only about ten minutes. As you can tell they were a little put out to have their pictures taken, but I was glad to get a picture of all the boys together! We are so lucky to live in a neighborhood with so many fun friends!

It's Toe Touchin' Time

O.k., So Blake has been doing this for a long time, but it's one of my favorite things about babies! So, I finally got out the camera and took a picture. Isn't it cute!

Practice Makes Perfect - Another Successful Hunt

Shan was suppose to be hunting elk this weekend in Wyoming, but his hunting buddy backed out at the last minute. So, this morning he got up at 4:30 and went out coyote hunting. He tried out a new spot and was very successful. Two coyotes and a bobcat! He says he got one of the coyotes and the bobcat on the same call. He's pretty excited about it!

Michaelisms

I've been feeling like I only post about Blake and Carson, because they are both accomplishing so much right now. So I decided I would add a post about the cute things that Michael says, because learning to talk is what he's doing right now. I think that throughout the month when I hear him say something else I think is supper cute, I will come back and add it to the list. So, come back and check this post every once in a while!

1. When Michael notices that it's getting dark outside he says "Mom, the moon turned the lights out!"
2. "OoooKay", he says this so cute! He drags out the word just like that and it's the cutest!
3. Tonight I noticed he had a dirty diaper. I asked him if he had poop in his diaper and he told me "No, just pretty flowers."
4. When Michaels joking around with me he says something, laughs and says "I teasin' you. I a teaser weaser!"
5. We were sleeping at my parents house, all 5 of us in one room, 4 in a bed, and Michael started singing at what seemed an extra early hour. I told him to be quite, and when he stopped singing, we could hear Blake. That's right he was singing right along with his big brother!
6. In nursery all the kids were playing the "Going on a bear hunt" game. At the very end all the kids see the bear and run away screaming. Not Michael, he pulled out his imaginary gun and, Boom, he shot the bear!

Our Little Baby Sits Up!

He has been on the verge for awhile now, but today he is finally stable! What a big boy! He's been loving sitting up and seeing everything that's going on. Way to go Blaker!

Carsons Preschool Pictures

I can hardly believe my little boy is old enough to be bringing home school pictures! Time flies! Not a bad picture for a one time shot! The look on his face is totally the one he get's when he is being silly! So, I hope the photographer didn't have too hard a time getting this picture!(By the way, the poor picture quality is because in order to get the picture to post I had to take a picture of the picture. Does that make any sense? Anyway, it looks better in real life.)

Twilight!

O.K., so I jumped on the band wagon. Everyone I talk to has been telling me how great this series of books is. So, I borrowed my sister Jessica's copy of the first book on Sunday. I started reading it Sunday night while we were driving home from Salt Lake (it was Kevin's baby, Haylee's baby blessing.) I just couldn't put the book down. I finished it this afternoon. It was a good book and I can't wait to read Eclipse, the next book in the series!

I've Been Tagged!

1. I love being a mom! I couldn't write about myself without starting with this. There are so many things I have found that I love about being a mom. I love the hugs and snuggles, the boys climbing in bed in the middle of the night, the sound of little feet on tile, cute little voices and the things they say, sometimes being the only one who can understand them, babies who wake up in the night and give you such a cute smile you could never be mad, holding them all day when their sick, making a mom, Carson and Michael peanut butter sandwich in bed every morning and so many more things I could never list them all. I am so thankful for a sweet, hardworking husband who gave me those kids and so much more. I love that he works so hard to provide enough that I can stay home with my boys. I love spending every minute of my day with them! I will be so sad when they get too old to hold my hand when we walk in the store, or kiss me goodbye when they go to school. So for now, I just love soaking it all in! It's the best!

2. I love pictures! If you ask Shan he would definately agree. I love to have pictures of everything. I take them everywhere, and usually too many. I am sure this is why my boys have already started to give me the fake picture smile. But I don't care, I want to always remember everything this little family does.

3. I love reading! Give me a good book and I will read until it's done. Never mind the dishes or the laundry, only the essentials get done. I'm sure this is why Shan hates when I start a new series of books. I haven't started the new twilight series that is all the rage, I'm waiting for a good time to start. Maybe when all the laundry gets caught up!

4. I love crowds of people. Weird, I know. It's just one of those things. I love being in with a big crowd of people. Disneyland, Christmas shopping, concerts, football games, parades, it really doesn't matter just as long as there are lots of people. I don't even mind the long lines and slow moving people that accompany it. Shan, who hates crowds and lines, says it's because I feel like I'm in on all the fun. I don't know, I just know it makes me happy.

5. Potatoes. For those of you who know me best, this will be no surprise. Ever since I was a kid I have loved potatoes. I am notorious in my family for eating the leftover Sunday dinner mashed potatoes. But it doesn't stop with mashed potatoes. I love funeral, baked, twice baked, hashed, new potatoes, dutch oven, potatoe soup, it really doesn't matter, as long as it has potatoes.

6. Christmas. I love all holidays, but Christmas is my favorite. I get so excited every year when it is time to put up the tree. And from that time until December 25th, I just love it all. I love the smells, the crowds, the surprises, the parties, the decorations, etc. Every Christmas morning I feel a little bit of a let down. After all the fun I am always sad to see it end. But, right now the season is just beginning, and I can already feel the excitement!

So now it's my turn to tag! I tag Mom, Jenny and Louise. You're suppose to tag six people to write six things about themselves, but I'm new to this blogging thing and only know a few people who blog. So there it is, good luck!

Halloween!

Halloween night finally arrived! We started out the night at Grandma and Grandpa Millers house to have our traditional chili dinner with the cousins. It sure was delicious.After a few pictures we headed out the door to go trick-or-treating.
Blake and I stayed home and passed out candy. And we sure did get a lot of trick-or-treaters. Shan took the boys out in the Rhino for the second year in a row. They think that's so fun!
They made a haul - but what is funny is that their favorite treat was a toothbrush and tooth paste. They thought that was so cool! We had a fun night - and after so many parties Shan and I are sure happy that this Halloween season is finally over.

Pumpkin Carvin'

Last night after the Halloween Carnival we carved our pumpkins. The boys just couldn't wait any longer. Carson insisted his be a scary face and Michael didn't care what his looked like.

It was fun to light them up and see how excited the boys got to see the pumpkins glow!

Another Day, Another Party - Ward Halloween Carnival

Last night was our wards annual Halloween Carnival. All the kids wore their costumes. We met at the pavillion and ate chili and cornbread. I was assigned to bring chili, so I used Donettas recipe and it turned out great.After dinner we all went inside to play fun carnival games. This is Michaels best buddy Pierce. They were so cute following each other around all night.There were bean tosses, hoola-hoop throws, bowling, candy walks, basketball, go fish and a scary blow up house.
For completing a game, you got a piece of candy. The boys both had a fun time running around with friends and playing the games!