Kendra

Who is this HOT mama!? Everyone, this is my big sis, Kendra. I am so proud of her. She is one tough lady and she is as beautiful inside as she is out. There is nothing that she can't do and there is no one that is going to stop her from reaching her fullest potential. When life hands you lemons...you make lemonade!! I love you Kendra. Keep smilin!! XOXOXO

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was at Nannie's house this year. We had our own live Nativity and as you can see most everyone wanted to be angels. Roper was a
shepard and Mylee was a donkey. Annie, being the only baby was obviously a shoe-in for the baby Jesus.








Papa read from the scriptures and we sang hymns and Nannie had a load of homemade candy for all of us to enjoy. I'd say Christmas Eve doesn't get any better than this.








Cari and the kids in their new jammies from Nannie and Papa.












The newly weds enjoying (with emphasis I might add) their first Christmas together. Ahhhhhh. Sigh. I remember the days back when....



















Not to be outdone......










Kysa and Taylor by the Christmas tree..oh so sweet

Utah Thanksgiving

We enjoyed Thanksgiving this year at Aunt Marquelle and Uncle Dave's house in Utah. As always the meal was excellent and so was the company. Marquelle out did her self yet again with a beautiful table and went above and beyond to make everyone feel comfortable. Mylee slept through Thanksgiving dinner. Here is a picture of her just before we were ready to eat. As you can see, she just couldn't make it any longer.




Obviously, (given the food all over his face) Roper thoroughly enjoyed his meal. He loves to spend time with his cousins!













Enjoying the meal...and discussing the finer points of Boise State and BYU football...as well as which team is best! (BOISE STATE!!)








After a nice nap....and a few hours after everyone else had their Thanksgiving dinner....Miss Mylee decides to eat. She did a good job too!!

A Baptism and A Blessing

The month of September was full of special events for our family. Roper was baptized and Annie was blessed. We were so proud of Roper. He has always had a fear of water. I don't know why! I can't recall any traumatic experience he had with water as a baby but it just seems like he came out of the womb not liking water. Sure he'd get in the bath tub or the pool but if any water touched his face or his head he would lose it. (You can imagine the drama every day when it came to washing his hair) Well, I gotta tell ya we were so proud of him when he decided he wanted to be baptized. It was a HUGE step for him because his whole body had to go under the water. He was so nervous! I can't tell you how grateful I am for Brody...Roper started to cry a little to his dad once they walked down the stairs into the font. Brody quietly reassured him that everything would be ok. There were more then a few tear filled eyes as we watched Roper put his trust completely in his dad. They said a little prayer that Roper would be ok and then Brody baptized him. The smile that spread across his face when he came out of the water was priceless. He was so proud of himself. I will always remember his baptism...it was so sweet and it took a lot of courage. I am happy to report that his fear of water has drastically subsided since that day!




Our precious Annie was not to pleased with getting her picture taken. It was really windy and she thinks she needs to eat ALL THE TIME!!

Our Big Weekend

We had soooo much family come for Rope's baptism and Annie's blessing. (It helped that it was also Labor Day weekend) The only person missing from the Miller side was Landon. (Geez...basketball is more important than your niece and nephew!! Just jokin Kess.. we still love ya)

We managed to get all of the Hessing clan here. Notice the cute girl with Nick...they were married the end of September. Her name is Chloe and we love her to death. She fits right in with our crazy family.

Our precious Annie

Life sure is busy these days. My days are filled with changing diapers, nursing, wiping noses, making meals, cleaning up the dishes and toys, reading stories, helping with homework, going to scouts, volunteering at school, coaxing kids to go to sleep, paying bills, balancing the checkbook....on and on and on. I'm sure most of you can sympathize. I can't seem to keep up with my blogging but I eventually get there. These are some pictures of our little Annie when she was a month old. Holly always does an amazing job. Annie is such a blessing! She is such a happy, sweet baby. Our only trial is the fact that she prefers mom to a binkie which can sometimes be a little difficult...especially at night. I couldn't imagine my life without her. Looking at these pictures makes me tear up all over again.

catch up time

Gleaning potatoes with the family.












Brody found the mother load where the tractor couldn't turn the soil.

















Roper (aka bumblebee) with his buddy Michael (aka dracula) at Nannies trunk-or-treat.


















Who does this cute little witch belong to?

hmmmm...Boise State Football....or...Scouts

Ok, so Roarke and Holly were throwing a BSU party for the first game of the season. Brody and I were so excited. Last year, Brody had the chance to go to Oregon and watch the Broncos take on the Ducks and beat them on their own turf. It was an exciting game and definitely one that he still talks about. Apparently those Oregon Duck fans are vicious...(excluding you of course Dave). Anyway, The night of the game also happened to be Roper's first pack meeting for cub scouts. He was to be receiving his Bobcat award. Brody and I had talked to him about the football party and we let him know that next month he could receive his bobcat award and he didn't seem upset about it at all. Well, the primary president met with him to give him his Faith in God book and he confided in her that Boise State football was more important then he was. She relayed this to me and naturally, being a mother, 5 alarm bells went off in my head and I informed my sports crazed husband that we would have to go to pack meeting and possibly miss the start of the game. What's more...I told him that he had to act excited about pack meeting and act like he really wanted to be there so Roper wouldn't get his feelings hurt and so he would know that he is more important then BSU football. So, here we have the pictures of me, in my BSU shirt, receiving my bobcat pin. (I guess they give awards to the mom's too because we help them so much). Brody obviously took this picture while sitting in the back by the door with the two girls waiting to book it to the car and get the heck over to Roarke and Holly's to watch the game. The good news, Roper knows that he is more important then BSU football to his parents and Brody made it in time for the kick-off after all. I guess you can have it all!

Dad! There's a badger in the backyard!

"Dad! There's a badger in the backyard!"...this is what we heard one evening from our Roper. We both thought...sure, wow, a badger...it's probably a dog. Well it was a badger and it wasn't really in our backyard. It was in the field behind our backyard but I think that is close enough for me. Brody called Grandpa and told him to bring his gun. Grandpa shot him from our driveway, went out into the field, and brought us back our badger. Ya know, they are kind of cute little animals until you look at their 5 inch claws!! This one happend to have a pipe stuck around it's neck. It wasn't very old so we probably saved it from strangling to death. Grandpa cut one of the claws out for Roper to keep but our dog ate it...LOVELY HUH?! Just another day on the farm...

Rope's Birthday Bowling Bash

For Roper's 8th birthday this year we decided to go bowling...it's fun for the kids and easy for a mom who just had a baby. We had a great time but I think all of us could improve on our bowling form...don't you?

She's Here!!

OKAY....We decided for the 4th of July this year that we would take a trip to eastern Idaho to visit Rich and Lindsay for a day and then head on over to Poky to celebrate the 4th with Tee, Mike, Bryce and Marianne....well....I woke up bright and early (5:30 am) the morning we were to leave so I could shower, finish packing, and get the garden watered etc... I was feeling a little crampy (for lack of a better word) but I thought nothing of it. I still had a month before my due date and the last time the doctor checked I was barely dilated to a one. We got the kids loaded up and headed to the gas station in Eagle to fill up and get some goodies for the road. The whole time we were in the car I kept telling Brody I just didn't feel good but I still thought nothing of it. While Brody was filling up the car, I went inside the store and bought some cereal, bananas, muffins, and drinks. On my way back to the car I had a big enough contraction that I had to hold onto the side of the car. You would think that THAT would have clued us in but, NO. When we arrived at my parents house my mom convinced me that we should go to triage just to get checked out before embarking on a 4 1/2 hour drive. I felt silly checking into triage. I kept telling the lady at the desk that it was probably nothing. I'm sure she thought I was strange. So, they outfitted me in a hospital gown, laid me on a bed, and wrapped a strap around my belly to monitor contractions. The nurse told us that I was having a few contractions so she was just going to check me and see if I had dilated any more. She slapped on some gloves, told me to spread em, and proceeded to check (I HATE THAT PART). Low and Behold, I was dilated to a 5 and 88% effaced. She said, "Well honey, you aren't going on any road trip I can tell you that right now...you are going to have a baby!" My mom and I just started laughing our heads off. We had to call Brody and have him come to the hospital and after an epidural and a few hours later...Annie Leigh Miller was born!! She weighed 6 lbs 8 oz. (which they said was great for a preterm baby) She was covered in that white stuff they call vernix because she was early. She came out screaming her little head off and no sound could have been sweeter. The NICU nurses checked her over, gave her a clean bill of health, and wrapped her up in a blanket and handed her to me. It was love at first sight. It still amazes me...the instant love you have for your child. When you feel them growing and moving inside you, you already love them...but seeing them for the first time...that just seals the deal and they have your heart forever. I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVE THREE KIDS!!! After trying for so long to have children...I really feel blessed...I can't even begin to describe the joy I feel. I HAVE THREE KIDS....an amazing son, and two beautiful girls!! My cup runneth over!! So, I posted these pictures from that glorious day...You can tell that I am hopped up on drugs in them....Don't you love those labor room pictures?!

What!! $26.00 No Way!

Justin, Drake, and Cody decided to have a kool-aid stand placed strategically at the entrance of the subdivision where they live. They invited Roper to join in on the fun and to share in the loot that they were sure to collect. I thought they would earn maybe ten dollars max but imagine my suprise when I heard that in three hours they made twenty-six dollars! Wow! That is some great work. It must have been Roper's big baby blues or the Moyle boy's strawberry hair and freckles...whatever it was it worked! Maybe I'll borrow their kool-aid stand and sit out in my front yard! Nah, something tells me that I won't be so lucky...maybe it's the baby on my lap or the one in my belly...on second thought maybe they'll take pitty on me and just throw me some money...Hey! This could actually work! See ya later...I'm off to make some kool-aid!

Ahem...Yeehaw!!

Meet Brody's brother Roarke, the duke of dentistry. He's riding atop Grandpa Miller's trusty old steed Gunner and hangin on to the wee little lass princess Avery.

This strapping young man is Roarke and Holly's oldest boy Miles.

Here we have the beautiful maiden Sadie also atop the noble steed..Gunner. It's as if she were born to ride!

And don't forget the fair maiden Emma...she loves Mylee and is such a big help.

Here we have Roper the horse whisperer...Gunner and Roper have quite a bond.

Roper

Mylee and Mom gazing longingly at all the riders

Finally, Mylee gets her turn with Sir Brody

The many faces of Mylee...the cherub, the cowgirl, the sweet, and the flirt.
Welcome to our Noble Rodeo!!
(pictures compliments of Queen Holly)

Grandma Hessing's 88th Birthday Party

We had a little birthday bash for my beautiful grandmother, Ava Hessing. I snapped some pictures of my Dad and his brothers. The one on the left is my personal favorite.
(Tom, Bill, Keith, Ken, Chuck, Dale, Grandma, and Lyle...we are missing Lynn)

Simplot Family Fun Picnic

Brody's work had a really fun family picnic this year. It was a kids dream! They had all sorts of games and activities which Roper and Mylee loved. It was a Hawaiian theme so they had dancers and polynesian performers. The food was excellent! They had a great hawaiian spread. You could also get roasted almonds and pecans, ice cream, shaved ice, cotton candy, and ice cream for free! You can bet we tried them all. My only complaint was being 9 months pregnant with the sweltering heat! We can't wait for this event again next year.

Sunscreen!!

After our venture to Simplot's family fun day we noticed that Mylee may have had just a little bit too much sun.

Miller Family Reunion- Lagoon

Mylee's first ride... she looks a little worried.

Maggie and Mylee in a rocket ship

Paisley= cute...need I say more

Taking a nap Lagoon style

Eight months pregnant and taking on Lagoon...which means pushing Mylee around in a stroller and watching everyone else ride the rides...it was fun but, next time, I'm doing it without being pg.

Dave, Marquelle, Preston, Oakley, and Cooper enjoying the rides.

I think it is safe to say that Dad pushed a little too hard to get Roper to ride this one with him...Rope just doesn't have the "that was awesome" look does he. Brody on the other hand..

That is the look I'm talking about!!! Marianne obviously loved it.

Brody, Rope, Preston, and Briggs.

summer fun with my best big brother

It gives me warm fuzzy feelings of childhood joy when I see these two playing and having fun together. It reminds me of my brother and sisters and I playing on the trampoline in the hot summer sunshine...those were good times.

big fun, little leak

Well, I just blogged about how much Mylee loves to be outside, even by herself...this is what happens when mom turns her back for 2 minutes! The hose was turned off but it was leaking just a smidge into the flower bed. I found Mylee sitting in a small puddle of mud. It started out as just a tiny bit of mud on her leg but as she kept playing it turned into an all out bath...hence the pictures that follow...










Wow this stuff is pretty great!

















What woudl I look like with one brown leg and one white leg?














I can make cool designs on my leg with this stuff! Mommy is going to love putting me in the tub after this mess. Mommy really loves putting me in the tub. For some reason, she does it all the time!

Outside Girl

It doesn't matter rain or shine when it comes to being outside, Mylee is all about it! We spend most days watching her play outside in the backyard all by herself. She doesn't mind! She lets the dogs slobber all over her, knock her down, and sniff her diaper and she never makes a peep. Her favorite thing to do is play in the dog's water (yuck) . She also likes to put dog food down the cracks in the deck and watch them fall to the ground. We have to stay on top of what we call "poop patrole" so she doesn't pick it up and bring it to me. (acckkk!) She is definitely her father's daughter!! It doesn't matter how gross or dirty it is they love to be involved if it has to do with an animal. Gotta love em...and make sure you have some purell in your pocket!!