Blog burn out

So, I have been contemplating...am I doing the blog for my own satisfaction? I think most of the people I know just aren't that interested anymore. I have quite a few friends who I got to start a blog and there posts have become few and far between. I don't really hear from anyone anymore. So, is it time to quit? I'm leaning towards the yes :(

I don't think there would be that much disappointment.

Everybody can be great

I love this quote:

Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to have your subject and verb agree to serve...You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.

3 generations

Happy Birthday wishes to Auntie Holly, Lila Grace and Grandpa!

Cole and Uncle James-they really know how to have a good time.

Lila doing what she loves. Calle, (AKA-Prince Eric, courtesy of Lila) showed up later and gave Lila an authentic Minnie Mouse. She loves it.

Go Home!!! We couldn't get Grandma Carol to leave. All she wanted to do was play the guitar. You never can tell with these Grandma types!

Thank you for a fun day. I hope everyone had as good a time as we did. Lila was exhausted by 4:30pm. Being the birthday girl sure takes a lot out of a kid.

PS-Lila can't wait for it to rain/snow so she can wear her new rain boots! :0)

Hands of God

Girliest of girls, good grief!

Lila, with desperation in her voice: "Mom, please write me a note so I don't have to go play at recess today."

Mom, quite concerned: "Why?"

Lila, sad puppy dog eyes: "I have a nail hanging off to the side."

Mom: "That's called a hangnail, honey. You'll be okay to play today."

Lila: "I really don't think I will be."

So, is this the epitome/cliche of a girlie girl?

If it is...not in our house. We nipped that in the bud real quick! Silly Cuckoo.

Do you have 6 minutes? Wait until 1:40 then enjoy

Evolution of Wedding Dance

4 more days 'till Papa is at our house!

Lila is giddy about her upcoming shared birthday party with her Grandpa and Auntie Holly. She can't wait for everyone to be at her house. I can't wait either kiddo.

This picture is from August 2006. We were at the island and Papa wanted us to take a picture of Lila's dirty feet. That's what you get for wearing sandals when you go for a walk with Grandpa. He doesn't play around...He should have called this one a hike in the woods!

Although dark, this is a very sweet picture of Auntie Holly with Lila at a Mother's Day celebration May 2008.

See y'all Sunday!

United at last!

Free at last, free at last, thank GOD ALMIGHTY we are free at last!

I bet MLK is smiling down from heaven today.

Happy Inauguration Day Barack H. Obama and the United States of America!

We are ready for this historic change.

Jesus died on the cross for ME, Mama!

Lila came home from school last Wednesday and told me she needed the "hugest" piece of white paper so she could draw Jesus on the cross. This surprised me, very much. Lila takes things in very deeply and emotionally and will dwell on them. She spent a lot of her little years literally mourning for the pain Jesus went through when he died on the cross. It made for a sad little girl with little that I, or anyone else had to say, to put peace in her heart.

But now, still with apprehension when speaking of it, she is able to speak of it without such a sad heart...she is growing. Growing into a young lady that loves her Jesus and loves to talk about him to everyone. She still likes to tell me she wishes Jesus was colored in and not invisible :)

She drew this picture for our Pastor. It was 3 days in the making and I don't think she has ever been more proud of anything she has ever put on paper before. What a beautiful picture. What a wondrous cross!

Harland Clarke Holiday Party

Okay, better late than never I guess. We went to Emerald Downs for Tim's company party. They had dinner, horse racing, dancing, karaoke and lots of fancy prizes; 2 big screen TVs, video camera, digital camera, Wii, laptop, along with baskets of fun things. What did we win?


Nothing!

Oh well, nice time spent together. Look at my cute hubby's face.

Busy weekend

We started the weekend fun a little early (Thursday). We went to

Odyssey 1 for a fundraiser for my dear friend Amanda's 3 year old, Paul's school.

Lila really enjoyed this part of the play area.

But, I think she had more fun pushing the other little ones around. What a good helper!

Adios Special Services!

This was the information sent home to us this week from Lila's school:

"This is the report to dismiss Lila from speech services-and all special education. Congratulations to Lila!!

Lila is a seven year old student who has been receiving special education services for communication, academic and social skills since 2 years of age as a student with Autism. Reevaluation of Lila's academic skills are within the average to superior range. Lila has participated in structured speech/language activities with a small group of peers since kindergarten. Therapy has focused on turn taking, using words to ask/answer questions, and respond appropriately in conversation.

Lila is an enthusiastic and cooperative participant. She responds easily and appropriately with questions, comments and humor, (that's amazing!) Lila enjoys sharing ideas and opinions, stands up for herself, but also attends to a peers needs. She not only accepts not being first at a game or activity, but also shares in the excitement of her peers doing well.

Lila is an outstanding student who applies herself in all areas. She is building relationships with peers and loves to write stories.

Though Lila has a diagnosis of Autism there is no need for specially designed instruction at this time."

How cool is that?

New U2sday

The wait is over!! The new U2 debuts on The Mountain 103.7 with a sneak preview Monday morning and then listen all day Tuesday – renamed “New U2sday” – for the song “Get On Your Boots."

Like, leggings are totally awesome!

I wish Lila still had on her hot pink vest with this outfit. It was so cute.My friend Amanda got Lila a bunch of leggings and this outfit that is amazing (you'll have to wait to see that one), but we have been having fun with the leggings. These are hard to see, but they are grey and white hounds tooth. Lila has to wear a uniform to school and think we got away with these ones.

and the rest of the party

Cake time!

6 pink and 1 yellow candle.

Make a wish.

My brother, Cousin Kyler, Grandpa Jerry, Auntie Michelle, Grandma Julie and Lila.

The end of the party. Thank you Grandma Ina for cleaning up. And thank you everyone that came! Thank you Port Orchard Grandma for the loom. How exciting for Lila! Please pass on to K & M that they forgot Kyler's ornament here. We love you all so much. Happy New Year!

And so, the party begins

Friends begin to arrive and Lila, like a moth to a flame, right to the babies.

Lila said she had to sit down to hold her cousin because he is too big.Lining up to play pin the crown on the princess.

The boys weren't too thrilled with the "girl game", but they quickly got over it when they saw there were boy prizes.
Time for presents. Lila read all of her cards loud and proud. She would, ohh and ahh at all of the little animals that were on the front of them. It was so cute how she was equally excited to open her cards as she was her presents.

The rest of the party later! We're off to church and then a party for Lila's little friend Alyson.

Biggest Moon of 2009

Tonight's the night. We saw this happen last year and it was awesome!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20090109/sc_space/saturdaynightspecialbiggestfullmoonof2009

Decorating fun

I'm so tired, but I couldn't not share this with you before I turn off the computer for the night. Lila and I had so much fun making this cake for her party tomorrow.There are purple polka-dots with little flower candies in the middle of each one around the sides.

And this is what happens when you leave anything that can be lined up or stacked around the little girl. Nice!

Looking forward to a fun day tomorrow. I'm super excited to see my brother . He is going to Japan for 4 months! He'll hardly recognize his baby when he gets home. What an experience.

I love my husband!

I have to admit for the last 15 years I have been very spoiled. I appreciate my husband and know I am one of the most blessed wives around. See, everyday when I come home from work all the dishes are done, beds made, floors swept, garbage/recycle out. On the weekends I make dinners and Tim does all the dinner dishes. (He takes after his father). Okay, you get the picture, because I could go on.

Tim is back in school taking 2 classes this semester. One of the classes is 5 days a week. After class he goes to work and works 40+ hours a week. So, what does this mean for me? According to my girlfriends, I now have it like everyone else! I laughed. I love it. I love that Tim is doing everything that he is doing. I love that I have WAY more to do everyday. I love that Tim is going to school for us! What a wonderful man.

Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is worth more than precious rubies. Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. She will not hinder him but help him all her life.
Proverbs 31: 10-12

I am here to help him and to support him, forever.

I'm thinkin' Arby's

Lila wanted to go to the Tacoma Dome a couple days ago. VERY curious? Me too. According to her they are having an Arby's sale. She likes Arby's.

Mom: Um, honey I'm pretty sure Arby's isn't having a sale at the dome.

Lila: Uh huh, they are! I heard it on the radio!!!

(Picture hands on hips with furrowed brow.)

Well, to no avail, I couldn't convince her that is wasn't an Arby's sale it was an...

RV sale!

Happy Birthday Cuckoo Puff!

Lila Grace is 7 today!

Here are the requested cookies for her class. Made with love by Mama last night while Grace Face slept.

Here's the reaction to her birthday surprise waiting for her downstairs...

A new fish tank with 2 baby goldfish. Affectionately named Orange Blossom and Peanut. (Lila and Daddy fish went to the giant fish bowl in the sky last summer).

Sitting and watching her new pets.

Ready to go to school and excited to wear her new skort and brown and pink tennie runners for P.E.




Enjoying her birthday waffle, that we cheated and bought pre-made.

One waffle with jam only please.

When Tim and I decided to have another baby after Evan, Evan was 5, and we thought no problem. Little did we know God had different plans for us. Plans that involved tears, heartache and confusion. I remember sitting at my sister-in-laws baby shower after having lost the first pregnancy and regretfully keeping it a secret. I cried all the way to my Mom's and thought, I can't believe this hurts so bad. Not too long after that, joy came-to only be followed by sorrow again. Jer. 29:11 shouted in my head, and I knew.

I knew it wasn't my timing. Not even close.

Unbeknownst to me, little Lila Grace found her home inside of me. What a shock when I went in for my first ultrasound to find out I was 13 weeks 5 days pregnant! Probably for the best. My body was so out of whack. I would have worried the first trimester...what if, what if? It was as if it was God's little secret. Then when everything was ready, He let me know.

This is our journey. This is how our family came to be. Would I change any of it??? It wasn't for me to decide. God is good all the time.

Happy Birthday Lila Grace Miller-you are a very special little girl!

Meet Marie!

We were getting a calendar last week and there was a game kiosk next to it. (The kids had a little Christmas money from Grandma). We were browsing and Lila found her new friend. A little white puppy with a pink bow in her hair. She barks and walks and is very sweet. Lila named her Marie. Lila likes to name all her special dolls and toys after people that are important to her. We have a dear friend that has been a part of Lila's life since she was born. Lila calls her Aunt Marie now, and is very excited that she gave her puppy the same name.

Lila posing like her Grandma Carol-eyes closed.

Here she is getting her first official birthday present. A carrier for Marie. She said it was very important Marie stayed in there so she didn't escape during church.

All was safe and sound Sunday afternoon. Marie never escaped!

Surprise!

Imagine Lila's surprise when she came home from church today and Nana and Ina had set up a surprise party for her! Lila's B-Day is in 2 days, but they started off the birthday week in a very fun way!

Ina made 2 very sweet cakes.

We tried to have Lila give the little cake to Marie (we'll introduce you later), but she wanted the little one just for her.


Here's what the inside of the cake looked like. It was yummy.

Now the infamous pose. My mom appliqued Tinker Bell onto a jacket and Nana got her Disney Princess pink boots. They were extra cozy when we went out tonight to get the birthday supplies and it was...is, snowing like crazy!

I can't believe Lila is going to be 7! Evan was 7 when Lila was born. Tim said if we were keeping up the pattern I would be having another baby soon...Oy, vey!

New year...new calendar

One of my most favorite things to do in the new year is switch out our calendar. Lila sat with me last night after going to the calendar store and we copied over all the important birthdays and anniversaries. Lila is very excited that not only is her birthday in 3 days, but that her daddy will be 40 this year and that Father's Day is also on the first day of summer! Too cool.



But the most special part, is seeing all of the fun things that we did that were written down through out the year. Farmer's markets, baseball games, date nights, trips to Anderson Island, friend and family birthday parties, kid's camps, play dates, the list goes on.



When sitting there flipping each month and saying, "Remember that day or remember how much fun we had doing that?", it's a special time.



As the page in January starts to fill we look forward to all of the fun adventures that are ahead of us.



Happy New Year!