A Very Good Christmas!!

Well, I have camp starting tomorrow that goes through the weekend, so I thought I'd hurray and post about our Christmas adventure. Me and Bree are here all alone today (Dusty's at work and Jack's gone with Steve until tomorrow), so we are a bit bored:)

But, we had a wonderful Christmas - we were actually able to go get Jack a little earlier than expected. He was so excited to come see what Santa had brought him. We even got him to sing a song on the way home which we NEVER can get him to do. (and, I was not driving - it was Dusty:)

We were very thankful to have Jack back, and I think he was very happy to be home. This was the picture I took when they walked in and saw the presents that Santa had brought.

We were able to spend time at my parents as well as Dusty's parents. The kids always love being around their cousins. It sure is great having both sets of parents live about 5 minutes apart:) It makes it easier to see everyone on the same day.

I am so thankful for my family - I love them very much! I think at times like this, it is easy to forget what is really important in our lives. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful husband and children to fill my life with joy.

Christmas, Almost...

Well, we are here Christmas morning waiting for Jack so we can open presents. We are not getting him until 1 p.m., and I seem to be having a hard time with this. Poor Bree has to wait to open her presents, but she is young enough that she doesn't realize that everyone else already has opened their presents.

But, we do have one family tradition that I love. The kids get to open one present on Christmas Eve. But, it is always pjs:) But, then they get to wear them to bed. Here are a few pictures of Bree opening her pjs.

Well, I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!! We love you all and are very thankful for your friendship. I am so thankful for the real reason we celebrate Christmas, and that I can teach my children about Christ and his birth.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Merry Christmas from The Miller's

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School Sing Along

Today was Jack's Christmas program at school. He did a great job, even though it took him a while to get going (singing). I think he wanted to make sure I was there and watching him:)

I was a very proud mother today! Here is a video - but, please forgive my bad recording! I was trying to record, and get Bree to sit at the same time. So, I hope you don't get car sick...

Fun and Crazy Weekend

We have had a somewhat crazy weekend. Our good friend Pancho was in town, and I had color guard clinics all day Friday and Saturday. Then yesterday we spent some time with him, and he headed back home last night. We are sure thankful for his friendship. My kids love him and are so disappointed when he has to go home. Jack asked him yesterday "why do you have to go back to your land" (which means California:).

Pancho and I met 6 years ago - and he has came out to Utah ever since to help me with my job. But, we have become such great friends, and he is part of our family. Here is the cutest picture of him and Jack (yep, that's Jack!).

And, here are some recent pictures of him with the kids.

Too Busy!

Do you ever feel too busy that you don't have ANY time to do the things you love? That is how I feel lately. I love scrapbooking, I love making cards, I love working on projects... just no time:) I was looking back at some pages I had done recently, but by recently I mean summer? Maybe sometime soon I will slow down and have time to do something fun...

Our Adorable Kids...

We got the kids pictures taken the other day, and they turned out great (THANKS MIKE!!). I hope he doesn't mind, but I had to post a few of them - they are adorable. And, what a great view:)

Pictures by Warner Photography

Let It Snow, again...

Let It Snow!

Today was the first time the kids have really gone outside to play in the snow. They asked me to help them build a snowman, but I graciously let Dusty do it instead:) But, I did help by taking pictures...

Our Little Singer...

Happy Anniversary!

Today is our 4 year wedding anniversary - can you believe it? What a fun and crazy 4 years it has been. I know how blessed I am to have Dusty in my life, and I thank my Heavenly Father every day for him. I thought I'd take cue from Ashlee's blog, and tell you all a bit about my wonderful husband.

Dusty went to American Fork High School, and that is how we knew each other. We had mutual friends, but we never really talked (he was too cool for me:) He loves camping and 4-wheeling (and I love it when he goes with his dad and Jack, and not me:) He is also a pro on the computer. He doesn't really have a favorite color, but he likes anything that is NOT red or pink. He doesn't like sports too much, but he will watch baseball with me. And, I do think he enjoys watching football and basketball every once in a while.

He is an amazing trumpet player, and he plays with the Wasatch Winds. I love to listen to him play! I especially love watching him teach Jack how to play. He loves Jazz music, and I think his favorite musician is Wynton Marsalis (I am sure I spelled that wrong). He likes all those "silly" movies (like Tommy Boy, etc.), and I really have a hard time watching them with him. He loves swedish fish and Mexican food. He served his mission in Mexico City and was a wonderful missionary.

Dusty is the most patient person you will meet (which is good, because I am not!!). Sometimes I wish he would just yell at me when I get so crazy, but he never has. He is a wonderful dad. The kids love him so much. Bree is defenitely a "Daddys Girl", and Jack looks up to him so much. I am so proud to be his wife - I wonder what I did to deserve him, but I'm glad I did it:)

"Because I knew you, I have been changed for good"

I love you. Happy Anniversary.

ABC Tag...

Well, I have been "tagged" before so when I got tagged by Alyssa I thought I'd get away with not doing it. But, Alyssa's is quite a bit different from the one I did, so here goes... And, I'll apologize now - I am quite boring:)

A - attached or single? attached (4 years today!)
B - best friend? my husband, of course (and Kristina:)
C - cake or pie? pie
D - day of choice? friday
E - essential item? my wedding ring
F - favorite color? red
G - gummy bears or gummy worms? niether
H - hometown? west jordan, utah (i do consider american fork as my home town, though:)
I - favorite indulgence? i love lucy and skittles
J - january or july? niether (but I'll say january)
K - kids? 2 (jack and bree)
L - life isn't complete without? going to the movies with my family
M - marriage date? december 4, 2003
N - number of brothers and sisters? 1 sister
O - oranges or apples? oranges
P - phobias or fears? definitely snakes (and the thought of being without my husband and kids)
Q - quote? “The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart.” Helen Keller
R - reason to smile? my family (and friends)
S - season of choice? spring
T - tag three friends? ashlee s, lindsey j, jackie w
U - unknown fact about me? i enjoy watching "what not to wear" on tlc
V - vegetable? squash and zucchini
W - worst habit? oh, i have so many... probably getting down on myself to much!
X - x-ray or ultrasound? ultrasound
W - your favorite food? pretzels from the pretzel maker (or italian food:)
Z - zodiac sign? leo

Decorating the Tree...

So, we have been so busy lately we haven't been able to put up our tree. We usually do it over the Thanksgiving Holiday, but of course we were gone. So I have to admit, we couldn't find a night this week when we were all home - so, we let Jack stay home from school yesterday because he couldn't wait any longer!!

We had a lot of fun - we have our little "traditions". Jack and Dad put up the tree, me and Bree unwrap all the ornaments. And, we all get an ornament every year for christmas - so we all get to put up our own ornaments.

I am so thankful for this time of year (it is my favorite, of course!!). And, most of all I'm thankful for my family. They are adorable, after all...

Just When You Need Friends...

So, today has been extremely hard around our house. It seems just when we have a system going on, it gets messed up! Well, we had a party for a good friend of mine who is expecting a baby. I was very excited to get out of the house and go enjoy myself amongst good friends!! And, of course, life throws you a curve ball. Jack's "other dad" seems to always know when I am in a good mood, and does something not so nice - and then I'm left to pick up the pieces.

I wanted so desperately to enjoy myself at the party - so, to all my friends there, I am sorry for my orneriness (is that a word?). I was extremely thankful to be among you all when I felt like I might explode! THANK YOU.

On a lighter note, for FHE on Monday we decorated Gingerbread houses. The kids had a ton of fun, even if the gingerbread houses looked as if they had seen better days.

New York, New York...

Well, we are finally home from our week in New York - and what a week we had. Dusty, Jack and I went with American Fork Marching Band to perform in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. We had such a great time (other than we didn't get to see Wicked because of the strike - ugh!!). Jack had so much fun, I am so thankful we got the chance to take him. Next time we'll take Bree.
We saw the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and lots of other sites. We went on a dinner cruise around the harbor. Even though we didn't get to see Wicked, the travel agency planned a fun night for us instead. They made arrangements with some actors from different Broadway shows to come sing for us in the ballroom at our hotel. They made it like an American Idol - it was hilarious. We had a good time, and they had AMAZING voices.

Dusty's mom and dad were there as well, and Jack loved hanging out with them - he really does idolize them! Jack loves his Grandpa Miller's Band, and was very proud to be a part of all the festivities. We are so grateful to Dusty's dad for giving us the opportunity to go to New York!!

So, please forgive all my random pictures (I did take over 200). I couldn't choose which ones to post, so here are quite a few...

Happy Birthday Bree !!

We celebrated Bree's birthday tonight with the family since we will be gone on her actual birthday. Dusty, Jack and I will be in New York this week, and Bree's birthday is on Thanksgiving. So, our families came over tonight and we had pizza and cake and ice cream. Bree loved having all the attention - she is such a little princess!
We sure do love Bree, and are so thankful she came into our lives. She has surely blessed us more than we ever thought possible. Happy Birthday Bree! We will miss you!

"Broken Tooth"

So I'm feeling very old today - my baby lost his first tooth yesterday! We were sitting in Sunday School, and Dusty leaned over to tell me Jack was in the back with the Primary President. I couldn't think why, unless he got in trouble. So, I met them in the hall and they were both so excited to tell me his tooth had fallen out (that Sis. Wyatt is sure great!!). Jack kept calling it his "broken tooth".

Well, he was very excited to put the tooth under his pillow and see what the Tooth Fairy would bring. To his surprise, he had two dollars waiting for him - but, he wondered what had happened to the tooth?

And, Dusty still wonders why he got two dollars - we usually got 25cents!