Tonights Snickers count:

only 3!

But the Butterfinger count (which Mom likes better anyway):8
Kit Kat (Mom likes those better than Butterfingers):8!!!

And Lainey's favorite, SUCKERS:12!

And not a single Smarties!

What's your Snickers count for

your Halloween haul this year?

Halloween Happenings!

A few thoughts this Halloween afternoon:

• In keeping with this holiday season, gotta tell you that I just finished Eclipse from this series. Very good. Cannot wait for the next one. One of my Mia Maids brought me Eclipse on Sunday after I complained that I was still #29 on the library waiting list. I didn't even ask to borrow it. She just brought it for me. So sweet! They made shirts for Halloween that said "Sorry Bella..." (front) "Edward bit me first" (back). So cute. I love those girls!
• The weather is crazy here. Monday- high of 70. Tuesday- high of 73. Wednesday (Halloween)- high of 50!!!! And tonight is suppose to get down to 20. Luckily, Lainey has a warm costume and she's only 3 and will not be trick or treating long. (Thanks for picking up the costume, Aunt Betsy!)
  
  
• I just realized we've snapped 297 pictures this month. Thank heavens for the digital age. What would I have spent to develop that many pictures 10 years ago? At least a small fortune.
• After Lainey's 5:40 wake up call on Sunday we put a clock in her room and covered the last two numbers. She isn't suppose to get out of bed until she sees a 7. So far it's worked like a charm. We'll see how long it lasts. And I guess that doesn't really mean that she is sleeping till 7, which is actually what I want.
• Please don't mention the Rockies' crushing defeat to Tyler. They had a great run, sweeping every post-season game but the World Series. Unfortunately, their humiliating defeat is all Tyler sees at the moment. It'll pass! (You probably shouldn't mention the Broncos either....)
• It's suppose to be quiet time at our house right now, but neither of the rugrats are actually being quiet. Ggrrr. It'll make for a long night!
• In a momentous Martha Stewart moment, I decided to try a unique way to decorate my pumpkin. Here are some pics of our pumpkin carving night.

• Yes, that's a drill. I drilled holes in my pumpkin. After I painted stripes on it. Tip: Use a large drill bit. Mine was too small, the light hardly shines through at all.

The finished product.

• This cute boy had an occupational therapist and a speech therapist play with him all morning. He's in the 5th percentile in his gross motor skills and 5th percentile for his expressive language. Fine motor skills are at the 67th percentile, which is great. So we get to start some physical and speech therapy, which will take up some of my mornings for a while. I was kinda hoping that we wouldn't need it, but his 'muscle tone' is low. (mostly putting this in for you, Gabrielle, since you know all about this and have helped me understand stuff!)
  

• He got to wear his costume to our ward party last night, didn't think the hat was too great, but he was so cute. I hope I get some cuter pictures tonight! He gets to go to nursery a week from Sunday. Mom is SssSSoOOoO happy!
• Speaking of the ward party, Lainey has decided to change our names, or at least everyone else's. Tyler cannot be called Daddy, his name is Cowboy. Brady is not Brady, duh! He's Elephant. Get it right, Mom. Lainey is Care Bear, she won't answer to Lainey anymore. And Mom is... Mom.
• I wanted to do a post about how awesome my birthday was, but it's past and I've run out of time. Can I just say that my hubster is a superstar? I didn't lift a finger all day. Literally. It was great. Thanks, babe! I love you! He always makes me feel like I stink in the birthday department because mine are always SO AWESOME!
• Took this picture this weekend. It was so funny. Lainey was vacuuming the family room and she picked up Daddy's shoes to make sure she vacuumed under them. It was adorable. I must be doing something right if, by age three, she knows to vacuum under things.

• After my Thanksgiving plea, I might not have roped anyone in for this year, but next year we'll be having a party! Thanks for all the love!
• I'm already writing my Christmas letter in my head. Is that sick or what?
• We hit our 1 year mark in this house. It feels good. Dang good. Here's to many more!
• I can't believe tomorrow is November. Where has 2007 gone? Time is just flying by. Which is why I better quit typing this random list of nonsense and get to the housework! But before I go, as an adieu to fall, enjoy these leaf playing in pictures of Tyler and Lainey!
  

Jesus' little Sunbeams

So today was our Sacrament Meeting Primary Program.

(Sidenote for the non-LDS crowd: The children in our church go to Primary while adults attend Sunday School and other meetings. It's kinda like Sunday School for kids starting at age 3. Once a year the kids do a program for our Sacrament Meeting. Its super cute, and this is Lainey's first year.)

Okay, back to my story. The primary program was great. I was crying with tears of laughter because those kids were so darn hilarious. There were kids making funny faces (tongues sticking out and everything), one kid got a bloody nose, some kids were publicly picking their noses, and there was one kid that fell asleep after the first song. The poor kid's head was bobbing up and down until finally settling on the back of her chair. She looked hilarious with her head tipped all the way back against her seat, mouth opened wide. Eventually, her teacher pulled her onto her lap where she slept the entire time. I thought how sad her mom must be to see her child sleep instead of sing the primary songs with all the energy of her three year old heart. Oh wait- I was that girl's mom.

Lainey slept all the way through her first primary program.

After I got over how funny she looked, I didn't know what to do. Should I go get her? If she wakes up she'll freak out that she's not with her friends. Should I go sit with her while she sleeps? I didn't really want to be the mom that goes up there because of her child's bad behavior (or lack of behavior). So I stayed in my seat. Poor Sister Hamilton snuggled with her the whole time.

I have to say that Lainey has never been one to sleep at church. Even as a baby she wouldn't sleep in my arms and it would drive me crazy. In fact, while we lived at BYU, I would skip church and just go home because the church was right across the street. So why, years later, would she choose the Primary Program meeting to sleep at church??

Aside from that, it was really funny. Her teacher didn't see what was happening at first, so Lainey was head bobbin, droopin, and bowing. She woke up earlier than usually this morning and after Daddy told her to go back to bed, who really knows if she actually went back to sleep. After her narcoleptic episode, I'd guess she didn't. When the program was over, I went and collected her sleeping body from her teacher and she quickly woke up. She had the presence of mind moments after waking from her nap to see that all the other kids were getting treats and she hadn't gotten one. At least she has her priorities straight.

Gold star for every primary teacher like Lainey's who chooses simple moments to show these children just how much Heavenly Father loves them. And thank goodness for a sense of humor that kept me from feeling sad that Lainey wasn't singing her primary songs with the ad lib gusto of her fellow Sunbeams.

Whaddya think?

This new design seriously took hours. (I am computer and Photoshop illiterate. It really wan't that complicated, I just don't have any skillz - yes, skills, with a z. Plus this is design #2 cuz the first one I made me wanna puke. See, I don't got any skillz. I did, however, figure out how to find HTML codes for more background colors than blogger offers, so that's something.) PLEASE leave a comment and tell me what you think. I'm not a graphic designer, so if it doesn't look right, I'd love your ideas. (does it make your eyes hurt? is the text color not quite right??)

And then answer me this: Who said this lovely quote ? (Lori and Jeanine, I'm sure you'll get it!)

“[Homemaking] is surely in reality the most important work in the world. What do ships, railways, mines, cars, government, etc. exist for except that people may be fed, warmed, and safe in their own homes?….[The homemaker’s] job is one for which all others exist.”

We make the world go round, ladies!

I did it!

Guest Blogger: Brady Tyler Miller
Age: Almost 18 months

I did it. Mom can finally calm down. I finally decided to just give it a try and it was actually easier than I thought it would be. I know I'm a little later than most of my buddies, but I finally got here, didn't I? Mom says Lainey only did one or two steps at first, but I can already do like 10 in a row. And I just started yesterday. I must be a genius.

I still crawl most of the time. It's just faster. And I get so tired of Mom trying to get me to do it more, but whatever makes her happy. They call this walking. Isn't that a funny word? Anyways, I can walk now. Mom is so excited. Dad is glad cuz he was worried I wouldn't make a football team some day unless I got this walking thing down. And Lainey loves it cuz she thinks I'm trying to be like her. Which I so totally am not. I'm doin it to be cool. And to make Mom happy.

And it really does. Make Mom happy, I mean. Which is good. Mom's nicer to me when she's really happy. Like today, I got cake after lunch. I never get cake after lunch. Or even after dinner, but I got some today. Probably cuz I learned how to walk. Now I just gotta get this running thing down. Then I'll throw a football, or a baseball (go Rockies), or I could kick a soccer ball. And that'll make Dad really happy. I wonder what I get when Dad's really happy. It's gotta be better than cake, right?

Baseball and turkey.

So while I'm spending HOURS on the computer trying to get World Series tickets, I thought I would post to the blog. The World Series starts this week. Tyler really wants to go to the World Series. We're trying to get 4 tickets so that 2 will pay for our own 2 tickets to the World Series. The site to get World Series tickets crashed yesterday. There were lots of upset fans who wanted to buy tickets to the World Series. Okay, I guess that's enough about the World Series. Can you tell we're excited that the Rockies are going to the World Series?


I've been getting geared up for the holidays. I love the holidays. Thanksgiving is just around the corner but this year its got me depressed. Since half the readers of this here blog are family, you know what I mean when I say holidays are family affairs. And to be so far from family has got me sadder than sad. Last year, Danner came over and I made the whole stinkin meal for the 5 of us, one of which was not on solid food yet. Although Danner was great company, it was depressing to the nth degree to sit in such quiet and eat a teeny tiny portion of what I cooked. No loud screaming, no crying, no games, no raucous laughter...


So this post is a plea. I wanna hijack someone elses Thanksgiving guests and convince them to come to Denver instead. And since we in the Miller family are good at Sales (with a capital S) here is my pitch on why you should come to Denver for Thanksgiving.

• I promise to make a turkey that looks like this or at least die trying.
• We can have whatever dessert is your fav. even if I hate it.
• Tyler can do day-after-Thanksgiving shopping for you. He'll be out there anyway, so he might as well pick some stuff up for you.
• We won't make you do any work unless you want to.
• We won't get on anyone's case about school, work, or when they're going to have another baby or get married.
• We won't care if you unsnap your pants if and when you eat too much.
• I think I'm a good cook, ask Danner. He thought so this summer.
• Martha's got nothing on me. Not only do I have the cooking skills, but my house will be decorated perfectly without any stuffiness ensuring the most comfy cozy holiday atmosphere.
• We'll reinact the first Thanksgiving dinner for dramatic effect. Don't worry, guests do not have to participate.
• And finally, the guilt tactic. If you and lots of other families are getting together, couldn't one make the lonely drive to visit the lonely Millers so that we aren't all alone?

Now I know you're all dying to come. And I promise, we'll make room for you all. It's gonna be a great Thanksgiving, isn't it?

(Seriously, anyone wanna come over?)

You woulda thought...

That the Rockies website would be prepared for the influx of customers hoping for World Series tickets that went on sale today, but no. Their server crashed. And I've been trying all day to get some tickets. Whats a girl gotta do? Since I'm sitting here on the computer I thought I would blog some thoughts. Did I mention I'm trying to get tickets to the World Series? The World Series that the Colorado Rockies are playing in? Exciting stuff.



Warning: This post contains gushy and lovey dovey gratitude to my dear, sweet hubby. If you're not up for the love, don't keep reading.



So, I love my husband. For reasons why, click here. And to add to that list let me tell you about my day yesterday. No, it starts before that. Let's start on Thursday.



Thursday night some girls were headin to Chili's for a GNO (girls night out) and I HAD to get to Toys R Us to hit the Little Tykes sale, so Tyler graciously let me go while he put the kids to bed so I could still make it to Chilis to have some girl time.



Then, Friday I had volunteered to help with TOFW and had to leave at 3:30. He got home, helped me pick an outfit and spent the evening alone with the kids so I could do my own thing. I got home at 10:30. The house was picked up, dishes done, floor swept... what more could a girl ask for?



THEN, Saturday was more TOFW stuff and I had to leave at 6 am. Tyler not only spent the whole day with the kids, but he got up with me to clean out his car for the girls I was carpooling with and made me a mug of hot cocoa. While I was out, he vacuumed and cleaned the inside of the van and kept the house as spotless as it was when I got home the night before.



Now here's the icing on the cake. Sunday was my birthday. After having the weekend off from mommydom I got to sleep in. After waking up, my dear husband had the presence of mind to tell me, "I feel I better warn you that pictures will be taken at breakfast." When I went downstairs, presents and cards were signed, wrapped, and on the table. I got my fav breakfast (biscuits and gravy, yum) and preceded for the remainder of the day to be as lazy as I wanted. I didn't have to lift a finger. Daddy did the baths, Daddy did the feeding, Daddy dressed everyone for church (I did do Lainey's hair, Daddy isn't that good), Daddy did the dishes, Daddy brushed the snow of my car before I left (I had a meeting so he went out in the falling snow to clear my car for me), Daddy took Brady for almost all of church, Daddy made a birthday cake, Daddy made dinner, Daddy invited friends over, Daddy put Brady to bed (and would've put Lainey down too, but I wanted to), Daddy did it all. I felt like a queen.

For Mom and Gabrielle...

I changed my settings, so you can now post anonymously. Don't worry about remembering passwords and having google accounts!

Good Housekeeping

After reading this post, I decided to post a modern list of "The Good Wife Guide" that I heard at TOFW this weekend (more on that later) from the illustrious domestic diva Daryl Hoole (that's a woman, crazy name).

1. No meals on wheels. (Serve it at the table, eat it at the table)

2. Stop dirt at the door. (Shoes off. Sweep your porch)

3. Don't make 2 jobs out of one. (When cooking, try not to spill, etc.)

4. Clean as you go, wipe as you work, pick up as you pass, put away rather than put it down.

5. Leave any area better than you found it.

6. Clutter attracts clutter- messes multiply.

7. Develop a system rather than conduct a search.

8. Assign a 'home' for everything.

9. Do today's work today. (Who wants to do today's dishes tomorrow?)

10. Skim before you scour.

11. Be prepared.

12. Put the house to bed before you go to bed. An ounce of evening is better than a pound of morning.

13. Keep house, don't just clean house.

14. Revitalize your life be keeping the sabbath. To keep Sunday holy, you've got to keep Saturday hoppin.

15. Develop good habits. Its just 3 weeks to a better me. (21 is how long it takes to form a habit)

And as a side note...

It's snowing in Denver!

And not just a dusting, people. We've got INCHES on the ground and its still falling fast! Yesterday's high- 63. Nice, fall weather. Today's high- 36. Where did fall go?

The puffy blue coat

Just bought this coat

For this boy

And it reminded me of a similar bomber jacket style coat bought nearly ten years ago. This is actually one of my favorite stories from my youth. When I was a junior in high school my fam moved and to say that I was upset is putting it mildly. I did not want to move. Needless to say, you can guess where my finger pointed the blame... the 'rents. I was probably not the best live-in daughter at the time.

We moved at the onset of winter and I needed a new coat, as did my other two live-in sibs (I think). So on one of the first nights in our new place, the fam took a trip to the local mall in search of winter coats. We decided to divide and conquer, Dad and Danner going off together and me and the girls heading our own direction. After meandering through department stores, I stopped at the Gap. Now, we're not talking the Gap of today, we're talking about the Gap in its prime, its glory days, when it was the hottest ticket to fashion success in young America. I was just window shopping, knowing that even if they had a coat there is no way my parents would buy it for me. (I had actually been exclusively buying my own clothes since I started babysitting, so the fact that they offered to buy me a coat was celebratory in and of itself) And there it was...

powder blue

puffy

fleece lined

and adorable.

Mom let me try it on. I looked at the tag. If memory serves it was just over a hundred big ones. Way too much. Especially with two other coats to buy. Ah, well. It was fun to try it on. Then Dad and Danner mosey our way. The conversation went something like this:

Dad: Carrie, thats a nice lookin' coat.

Me: Yep. It's too much.

Dad: Let's see. (Dad glances at the tag) Do you want it?

Me: Nah, there was one at Penney's that was nice.

Dad: (knowing my 17 year old heart well enough) Let's get this one.

Me: It's okay, Dad. It's too much.

Dad: No, lets get this one.

And he did. And my transition to the new high school was smooth because everyone thought I was SsSSooOoOOo cool. And I was. Thanks to my dad.

And before you think me the worldliest girl in America, you gotta know that I wasn't lobbying for a coat we couldn't afford (at least I hope not), and Dad wan't trying to buy back my affection that was left behind at my old school with my old life. He was givin me some lovin in good old Daddy B style. And I'll never forget it. Ever.

Rock it!

Help! Where do I know this song from? Is it in a commercial? And isn't it so fun? I wanna rock out in a blue jumpsuit with a bajillion friends too! 1-2-3-4 . . .

What is my problem?

I've been in Forks, Washington.

I've been in the Arizona Territories.

I've been anywhere but here.

But I am here. And I have TONS to do. But I keep getting sucked in. The library is off limits for me. The problem is I have three books left to read from my last trip there (yesterday, I was there yesterday.... someone help me please!) and one of the books happens to be New Moon so we know I'll be making a return trip to Forks.

But that's not what this post is about. Its about These is My Words by Nancy Turner recommended by this girl. Shan, LOooVVveeEEdDdd it! I was so skeptical because I really don't do sad-never-a-happy-moment books, and that's totally what this looked like. And it is sad. But its also so happy at times. In fact, do you ever come across a book and wish that your husband would read it to get some romance ideas? (Nicholas Sparks, anyone?) I'm not saying my hubby isn't romantic. He is romantic for a married-for-six-years-with-two-young-children-and-working-long-hours-to-provide-for-us kind of husband. But the guy is this book is so sweet. It almost seemed worth living in the Arizona Territory from 1881-1901 to have that dude for a husband.

And beyond just the relationship, there was so much I connected with in the main character. Namely her feelings of never being as good as her dear sis-in-law, or never being smart enough. And then there is lots of gripping, nail biting (no, I didn't actually bite my freshly grown out nails) drama that inherently comes with pioneer life that makes this a page turner! Check it out!

PS Shan, what else have you been reading? How was A Walk in the Woods?

This is the way...

We play on the farm!

Play on the farm

Play on the farm

This is the way we play on the farm
So early in the morning.

(okay, it was like 10:30, not early, but still morning)

This is the way we ride on the farm

This is the way we roast a pig.

(no kidding... the volunteers ate it later.)

This is the way we 'baa!' at sheep.

This is the way we wash our clothes.

(thank heavens, no!)

This is the way we make some cider!

(What you don't see is Lainey "helping" to turn the crank that crushes the apples. She isn't quite tall enough, is she?)

This is the way we chug our cider.

This is the way me munch some cookies.

This is the way we pet the horse.



This is the way we count the chickens.

This is the way we smile for the camera!

Because we are a happy family!

Its Autumn Time!

Lainey had her first field trip. We went to the Pumpkin Patch. She went through a maze, decorated a 'pun-kin', had a tractor ride, and played on the farm with her preschool friends.

It's actually like 77 degrees today... I don't know why she wore a sweater. It was HOT!

Not much of a 'tractor', but the kiddos loved it!

Can you believe this the best picture I could get of these two together? Ugh.

We had so much fun that we're going again on Saturday to a different farm with Daddy! We love Autumn time!

Where have I been, you say?

Reading this:

After a bajillion recommendations to read this book, I finally caved. There are vampires, weird. It is young adult lit, immature. And it's written by an LDS woman, never a good sign. (meaning that generally talent isn't as great in the literary field as you would hope amongst those of our faith.)Before I even turn page one, its got three strikes against it.

But I'm an adult.

I can admit when I'm wrong.

I was wrong about this book.

Very, very wrong.

It was SssSsoOOoO good! And even better, it took place in my homestate of Washington. Even if the story is juvenile, its so well written that you forget your reading about a girl's high school experience. The story is gripping and just complex enough without overdoing it. And who doesn't love a great love story? And now I wait. I'm dying for the next book, but I'm number 20 on the library waiting list. Will Edward give in to Bella? Will they be together forever? Because right now, that's what I'm honestly hoping for. Kinda sick and twisted, eh?

Baseball Fever!

THE ROCKIES ARE OFFICIALLY IN THE PLAYOFFS!

WAHOO!

They played a tie-breaker game against the San Diego Padres to see who got the wild card, and we won! Tyler went. It was intense. The score was 9-8, but it went to 13 innings! I've never been a bigger baseball fan than I am right now in this moment. A few fun facts:

• This only the 2nd time the Rockies have ever gone to the playoffs.


• Last nights tie breaker game was only the 7th in MLB history.


• The Rockies have won 14 of the last 15 games. Incredible.


• They had to use 9 relief pitchers to pull out the win and were facing the best starting pitcher in the National League.

I heard fireworks last night, and turned the news on to see if they were celebrating a Rockies win. Tyler won't like me saying this, but I'm gonna do it anyways. They'll be the underdog, but I've always liked underdogs, so

GO ROCKIES!