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.