Time for cake!

Gigi makes the best homemade chocolate cake! She had each kid put their candle in so we could celebrate everyone's birthday. Even though it was her birthday we were celebrating. Then we sang Happy Birthday 9 times! We tried to sing faster and faster towards the end and the kids thought it was hysterical.







Kayla trying to blow out just her candle.


After dessert the kiddos all climbed in the big bed and giggled about every little thing. 3 ended up on the floor and the 2 littlest slept next to Evan. Trevor apparently flails his arms while he sleeps so Evan was miserable. Boo hoo...



So, he ended up sleeping alot later than everyone else. The other kids couldn't take it any more and insisted on waking him up.

He was NOT amused...we all were.

When you go to Anderson Island you can't waste your time sleeping!

The end to a great time

Brother and sister, Lucas and Chloe, out for a walk on the final day so Auntie could vacuum and mop without little feet about. This is a very sweet scene, since the 2 don't live together. They really bonded at the island.

Apple ball

Pictures taken in the dark... Evan does not like picking up apples that fall from the mammoth apple tree.
So, he created apple ball. You put out a bucket and try to make the shot. He acts really excited about it, gets all his friends interested, then he slowly sneaks away while everyone else "plays". Okay, Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.
In the end Evan, Jessie (seen here) and her sister, Nickie, all played H-O-R-S-E...in the dark. Jessie had the moves and won. Jessie was in a very good mood. She is 16 and just got a car. Exciting!

The final dip

Last night I had to get another blanket out for the bed...this morning the air was crisp with that, school is about to start, smell. Autumn is definitely fast approaching. This has to be one of the quickest summers for the Miller fam. We didn't even take a big trip! We just stayed busy with lots of fun things to do.

This little pool is the one we put between the fence and the house so Lila Grace can talk to her friends. The big one just doesn't work. It was a bit chilly when she was in it, but she enjoyed and soaked in the moment of knowing that back to the toy outbuilding the little pool was going...going ...gone. Just like summer.

Tacoma Public Library Reading Celebration

Why this is sideways I do not know???

Lila finished the T.P.L summer reading club and was rewarded with a trip to the zoo for a concert by the Recess Monkey Band. It was so cute. The songs were great and Lila danced the entire hour.

Then, we were off to the lemurs and meercats. This is a new exhibit for the zoo. It's called Animal Avenue. (You might have seen the billboards or ads on the sides of the buses?) It really adds to the kids zone. Good job L.G. keep up the great reading!

Happy Birthday Gigantor!

Birthday cake? Nope, cherry cheesecake was the request.
Mc Lovin' the pillow Aunt Marie made him. Lila slept on it the 1st night since Evan went right to camp.
Flash back to the 80's. Remember the break dancers carrying their boom boxes by the Villa Plaza?
Sweet Cousin Abby away from the madness.
Fun day, fun party for a 14 year old boy. He really had a good time, we all did. Now we are trying to master the drums on Rock Band...so hard.

Thank you to everyone who shared in Evan's special day!

A wrench in our daily routine

Oh, happy day! I came home from work today to a beautiful new dishwasher snugly in it's home. You don't realize how much you depend on certain things until they quit on you...the week before a big get together...totally filled to the brim. Oh well, that's when you count your blessings. It may sound silly, but every dish I washed by hand I took the time to reflect and thank the Lord for the running, hot water that we have, the fact that I have 2 hands to be able to wash the dishes, that is a lot more than some of our wounded soldiers are able to say. I've been thinking about the soldiers a lot lately. Trying to be a faithful prayer warrior. Wishing things could come to a successful end sooner than later. Will there be a successful end? We are praying a resoundful YES! Take the time today to write a letter to someone serving overseas. Tell them you appreciate them, tell them job well done and you support them. It will make their day. http://www.anysoldier.com/

Isn't it funny how God can reach right down and send you on a different path than the one you started on? His path-the right path-every time.

Off he goes

6 days, Evan free...Wait! Who's going to wash the dishes at night and take out the garbage and recycle for me? Who's going to close the top window in the kitchen I can't reach? No, Evan don't go! I need you...you're such a huge help for me. You are so appreciated for everything you do everyday around our crazy house. You've really stepped up since Dad has been in school all year. I bet you can't wait to go to camp and be FREE!!! We can't wait to hear all the stories of the great time you had. Really soak it in. You truly grew last year and this year will be no different. You are blessed and so dearly loved. Have an awesome time...with no dishes to wash! WooHoo!!!

Rats! (As L.G. likes to say)

Well Guitar Hero play-offs are over and Big E. wasn't the grand champion. The guy that beat him told him he felt bad because Evan's part was much harder than his and it didn't seem very fair. Yea, that's right it was rigged I tell ya! It was kind of silly that they didn't have them play the exact same part. Oh well...C'est la vie!

"Mommy, I'm pretty like Auntie Gwen!"

With the comfort of her angel bear Lila could NOT wait to go get her hair cut. We were going to go tomorrow, but we were all just too excited. Our friend Andre from Ireland, (who use to cut Evan's hair years ago) was the lucky stylist. From the time she sat down and for about 2 hours after Lila had the biggest smile on her face. We went to Target after for icees and every mirror we would walk by Lila told us she looked just like her Auntie Gwen and she wants to change her name to Gwen now. It's funny how a hair cut can make a little girl look like a not so little girl. 1st grade here she comes!

It's the final count down!

21 inches in all. She will donate 13".
Hair to her belly button.
Lila playing the air guitar.

Bye, bye Goldie Locks...soon another little girl with be able to have a hair piece made just for her. A haircut is on the horizon! We are so proud of you Gracie. And so proud of Lila's cousin (Abby) for having already donated 2 times!

Top 20

Okay, I know 3 posts in one day is a little silly, but Evan just got an exciting phone call. Ted Brown music had a competition July 1-25th for the top 20 G.H. players. Apparently, you were able to come in once a day to test your skills and try to qualify. Evan went on the last 2 days of the contest and qualified. He goes back Saturday to compete against the other 19. And the winner is...?

Thunderbirds!

Last weekend the Thunderbird's put on a show and we had front row seats from our own front yard. And just when we thought it was over and came in the house to the computer room, a single plane flew by. We looked out the window and you could see every detail of the plane it was so low and LOUD! Some of the formations were so close together it looked like the wings were touching. They are amazing!

My Amazon kids

Lila's cousins, Kayla and Chloe, had a sleepover and fun, fun, fun! Here is Lila and Kayla. Hard to believe they are less than 2 days apart in age. I think I ate too much broccoli when I was pregnant!

They wanted matching "Hawaii" hair...I wish you could see it. It was French twisted around the back to the side with a sweet bun.

We went to the farmer's market, had kettle corn and bought a new plant for the garden. They girls really enjoyed their time together.

Reflection

Give thanks...

Buy me some peanuts and crackerjacks

Tim, Evan, and Tim's folks went to the Mariner's game and had a blast! They took the train over...
Evan was spying on his grandparents who were sitting on the opposite side of the field.
This is hard to see, but an attention seeker ran across the field, which was a good thing because it added some excitement to the game.
It was turn back the clock day and the first 20,000 fans received a retro cap.
Snoozin' on the ride back home. Speaking of snoozin'...Papa was asleep when a fly ball landed right next to him, bounced and hit his hand. It scared him awake, but alas, he did not get the ball because his reflexes were too sleepy. Poor Papa works too hard!

Fun day with the fam!

Coolest mom ever!

Why dirty dishes when both containers are almost empty? Lila thought this was "awesome". BTW-It was lite icecream ;o) Don't tell Daddy!

$3.69 a pint? Not at our house!

Fresh berries are so yummy, but crazy expensive. So, around 5 years ago, we planted our own little crop. And a booming crop it is. Tim & Lila just harvested our first treat of the season. These bowls were both full when the picking was through. Daddy was off to the store for vanilla bean ice cream and Corn Flakes. His 2 favorite things to have with raspberries. I will make an angel food cake later this week with Cool Whip...tasty!
You can't see any of the berries in Lila's bowl because they are in her belly. You have to love having a nice warm bath, then coming down stairs and dessert is waiting for you at the table.

Summer time, summer time, sum, sum, summer time...

Water Park Saturday

One of the many things to do in T-Town. Water park shenanigans.








Dueling buckets of water...ATTACK!!!













Happy at the bottom of the water slide.

Wedgie? Not so happy.







Maxin' relaxin'.











Evan got a C in P.E. because he didn't do the warm-ups or aerobic activities because, and I quote, it made him feel "too girly". But this move...manly, right?

Through the eyes of a child

Lila told me she didn't want to cuddle bug with me tonight and I could cuddle with Jesus instead.

:o)