MERRY CHRISTMAS

Merry Christmas to all our family and Friends! We started our celebration the week prior with the Miller side of the family. We celebrated at the rehabilitation center where Chad's Mom is at. I know Sally was exhausted by the end of the day with all of us there but it was great to see her. Keep up the hard work "Mema" and you will be home in no time! We are all so proud of you and pray for you everyday.

We started our yearly traditions with Church on Christmas Eve. After dinner the girls fed the reindeer and opened their first gift(pajamas). Both girls were up at 4am and told to go back to bed until 6am. At 6am on the dot Ashley said, "GET UP! IT IS CHRISTMAS!" The excitement in her voice was priceless.

Mike and Angie came over in the afternoon. Thanks to poor planning on my part we ate dinner a bit later than scheduled due to the Ham that was still in the freezer. OPPS!! Fortunately we had plenty of snacks and good company to pass the time. Thanks to Angie for bringing such delicious snacks!

Chad and I feel very blessed to have had yet another fun filled Christmas with our girls and family. We will cherish these memories always. I hope everyone enjoyed themselves as much as we did. Enjoy some pics below from our celebration!

Blizzard

For those of you who are in the "Sunshine" state you may or may not have heard that we had a blizzard for two days. We got about a foot of snow and the kids did not have school for two days. The kids enjoyed playing in the snow with friends and hanging out inside for the most part. We finally ventured outside of the house on Friday night and Saturday to finish up our Christmas shopping. Happy Holidays to all! As you can imagine I am crazy busy with everything that comes along with the Holidays so be patient with my postings. I will try and post next Sunday.

With Santa at Wassailing



passing the time on a snow day with Gerard playing Nintendo DS.

Long Time...News and Info

Hi Everyone.....Some of you know and some are wondering where have I been?? Our hard drive crashed on November 1st and I have been playing catch up the past two weeks since we have been up and running again.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Chad worked on Thanksgiving and in the evening we had our close friends the "Strickers" over for Dinner. We had way too much food for two families but it was delicious! Sheri and I are proud of the fact that our gravy was a hit! Thanks Mom:)

The girls have been busy with school and activities. Everyone is getting excited about Christmas! Both girls tend to get a little extra excitement in them this time of the year and it officially started this weekend. Every year our town has "Wassailing". All the business in town are open and they have treats, warm drinks for everyone,and crafts for the kids. The High School band performs and everywhere you go you can listen to people sing Christmas Carols. Ashley loved the the singing! We had our first snowfall of the season that night. The snow was falling fast and was very wet. The picture of the girls with the snow is from that night.

Below you can see some pictures that we have taken since my last post starting with Halloween. Nicole's friend Lara had the same costume. They were so excited about dressing the same. Enjoy the pics and check back soon. I plan to get back on track with posting weekly.


Nicole really enjoyed her costume



Nicole and Lara(vampire sisters)



Hmmm...Who is that Masked Man??



Ashley as "Hannah Montana"

Can you do that?

1st snow fall

Miley loves eating snow

4 days off of School

The kids had Tuesday through Friday off of school due to sickness. Needless to say it was an interesting week. We decided to keep the kids inside for the most part so we could continue to be healthy besides Chad and I need them back at school!

The kids went to the Library, enjoyed a "movie" day at home with Dad, Nicole got a lot of homework finished, they enjoyed a day at work with Mom, and of course became a little stir crazy for friends. Religious education was cancelled as well as one of Nicole's soccer practices. Friday, Chad and Nicole went to the football game and Ashley and I enjoyed playing games.

Yesterday we were able to venture out only to sit in the cold rain at Ashley's last soccer game of the season. Nicole sat in the car part of the time. After the game it was a trip to Blockbuster to get more movies for another fun filled day indoors.

Looking back it was a good family week. I enjoy the kids so much at this age. They are growing up so fast! I cherish the opportunities to be together as a family.

Here's to everyone staying healthy next week and school back in Session!

Miley turns "One"

On October 13th Miley celebrated her first birthday. She has brought so much joy into our lives. I still remember what Chad and I refer to as "six weeks of hell". We got her when she was five weeks old and in a lot of ways that was a bit too early. She was nervous throughout the night so I would sleep on the floor next to her. It was then that I realized I wasn't as young as I used to be and had to blow up the air mattress to sleep on.

Nicole and Ashley have been great caregivers since day one. They bonded with her quickly and continue to shower her with attention daily. They use "Miley" as a way to get out of other chores.

Fortunately for us Labs are easy to train and Miley was not different. She likes to please us and for the most part does as she is told. Well.......she did eat branches off our tree, chewed any new plant or flower planted, and dug holes in the mulch all summer! Did I mention she loves to chew?!? Chad will never forget arriving home from work to find cedar chips(the filling of her pillow)all over her crate!

Although we have had a few frustrations along the way, she has been a blessing and so much fun to have around. She loves to play catch, runs around the yard so fast you can only laugh, has a passion for exploring the outdoors even in bad weather, enjoys listening to Ashley read to her, and loves to cuddle.

Enjoy a few pics of her first year.


Ashley reading to Miley.



What a cute puppy!




Merry Christmas Miley!




Miley's favorite Christmas gift.
Her "feel good" pillow. She used to hump
it until she got too big. She is laying
next to the heat vent something she did
all last winter.



Are you done yet? I am trying to nap.




Miley's first vacation. She loved the freedom
of nature and the lake.



Swimming with her cousin "Charlie"




Relaxing after vacation




Snuggling with Ashley's blankie.




New toy before she shredded it.




playing in the sunshine

You've Been Ghosted

"Ghosting" is an October tradition in our neighborhood that has been going on for years thanks to our friends and next door neighbors. They make up a goodie bag and deliver it to one family anonymously on October 1st. The person who receives the goodie bag follows the instructions, puts a ghost on their window so everyone knows who has been ghosted, and ghosts another family. This is something the kids look forward to every year! Nicole has been keeping track of the ghosts that appear in windows around the neighborhood and thinks she knows who ghosted us this year.


The letter




Ghost we place in window



All the goodies we received.

We went shopping this evening and "Ghosted" another family. The girls were so excited they nearly drove us crazy in the store!

What's been going on??

Sorry it has been a couple weeks since I have posted. We have been adjusting to our new school routine and I think we are all finally settling in. Below are some pictures of what's been going on.


Ashley's Birthday party was a success! We went to see "Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs". We had a dual birthday party with Ashley's friend Gerard who is 5 days older. Thanks to my dear friend "Amy" the entire party was themed around the movie. Thanks for all your hard work and creativity. The cupcakes were by far my favorite!


The kids played "hot meatball" in place of
"hot potato".



Pin the meatball on the fork

Nicole has lost 3 teeth(two are molars) in less than 2 weeks and another

one will be out any day. Did I mention she is

going to be a vampire for Halloween??

Ashley spent some of her birthday money

getting her ears pierced. She was very

brave and is so excited!

Happy Birthday Ashley

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY "BABY" ASHLEY.

My little girl is now 6 years old. Well...not quite....She was born at 10:59pm. Looking back it has all went by way too fast. Before she was born I told Chad that I knew that she was going to be a lot like him(all or nothing). Little did I know at the time how much that statement would become reality. With every year that has passed she has proven to be the spitting image of her Dad. From the way she looks from head to toe to her challenging yet loving and caring personality. She is a girl who knows what she likes and is not afraid to voice it! With all the love and challenges she has thrown at us so far and the ones yet to come I say...bring it on! I am blessed to have her as a daughter and thank God everyday for bringing her into our lives. Happy Birthday Ashley...I love you!

Ashley had a great birthday! I took treats up to school for her class to enjoy. For her birthday dinner she wanted"Chicken Fettuchini Alfredo". While Chad and Nicole were at soccer practice her and I played with her new cash register and Nintendo DS. Thanks to all who called tonight.....She loved answering the phone knowing it was for her. Sunday she is having a "kid party" at a movie theater.