Friday's Funny - our christmas princess

merry christmas

yes, yet again...we have a crying toddler who refuses to smile nicely with Santa!
Just the other day, I asked her "Haven, why don't you like Santa Claus?
Her smart reply, "I like Mommy instead" :)
Ahh...such a smart girl!

Merry Christmas from the Millers

isu christmas party

This past Thursday night we hosted our college kids for their annual Christmas party. They were all done with finals & looking forward to their holiday break so this is their last big horrah before heading back to their home towns...and quite the horrah it was! An early estimate put the number at about 30-40 kids, which I figured I could easily handle...however, I should have known with finals being over & their break beginning, more were going to show up...and they did as we shoved, pushed & feed about 60 total that night...I know, I know...I'm kinda crazy!

It was a great, fun-filled night of food, carols & games. Also included in our fun evening was a white-elephant gift exchange were some of the more "stolen" items included: a princess basketball hoop set, a saucer/sled, someone's license plate (car NOT included), $20 Walmart gift card & Ghiradelli chocolate. As the video shows, Haven was well loved all night!

Thanks to the other mentor couples who helped out tremendously...I couldn't have done it without them!

Enjoy your break guys & gals & see you next semester!

lovely ladies

This past Tuesday, my friend Ashley and I hosted a holiday tea at The Tea Room at the Depot in Mackinaw. It was a lovely time of catching up, reflecting & spending time with some quality ladies from Gridley church. So often we don't get/have the time on Sundays to spend time asking questions with some of the older, wiser ladies and this was a perfect setting.

Thank you Katie, Carolyn, Marty & Anna Marie for your conversation, time & wisdom.

Friday's Funny - eric the babysitter

Eric, one of our college kids, comes & plays with Haven 2 days a week while I go to the gym.
I get my cardio in & he walks away with some home cooked food...it's a great trade-off!
Thanks to Eric she now says "woot-woot" & can say (and now identify) a certain teenage heart-throb by the name of Justin Beiber!

monkey pile

Hannah, Kaitlin, Emily & Chase...and Havers!

While in Iowa over Thanksgiving, we had dinner with some friends that Haven got to know when Papa Iowa passed. Some family friends & their kids (above) took such fabulous care of our Toodles that I didn't worry even once while we shuttled her there, here and everywhere during Dad's last days. Chad & Sandi...we are so grateful!

Friday's Funny - gotta love the Clones!

Thanks for my new Cyclone shirt, Cade & Kylie!

Go Clones!

tuesday tales

Every Tuesday at 10:30 am the Normal Public Library holds Tuesday Tales...a 30 minute time of songs & books. We attended our first Tuesday Tales this past week & Haven loved it...while she started off a bit shy & reluctant, she definitely picked up steam and confidence by the end and was eagerly clapping her hands and answering questions.

miller thanksgiving

While Haven and I stayed in Iowa with my family, Arlan came back to Illinois for work & spend some time with his family at their Thanksgiving. Looks like quite the time was had by all! Thanks Aunt Twyla for hosting!

William & Charlee

the very fun & intense "don't let the ping-pong ball drop" game

another intense ping-pong game :)

Mr. Grey (Janelle & Brent's)...isn't he getting so big!?

the Grandma's with Grey & Addi (Jeremy & Rachel's)

Friday's Funny - Grandma's cart

So if you read my last post, you'd realize shopping with my mother in her current handicapped state & my 2-year old daughter isn't exactly the easiest thing in the world...but with several laughs, several bumps/crashes, and hooking both a table & clothes rack in Children's Place within 30 seconds of each other, we survived a 1/2 day shopping at both Target & the Empire Mall in Sioux Falls.

If you are curious:
1. the Empire's motorized carts are WAY better than Targets.
2. Targets carts actually beep when you back up...just like construction trucks!
3. the mall's carts have two speeds: rabbit & turtle...I'll let you decide which speed my Mom used.
4. Yes, much to Mom's chagrin, we did see people we knew!
5. Mom could actually go faster (when on rabbit speed, of course) than I could walk pushing Haven in a stroller laden with bags...she liked that!

thanksgiving week

Last week was a hard week...the first holiday without Dad, his farm sale & Mom found out she has/had a stress fracture in her foot and is thus in a boot cast & on crutches...needless to say, many emotions went through my head & heart.

Sale day was yucky...rain, cold, sleet & then icy roads, but the sale still went on; regardless, a fair amount of farmers, friends & community members still showed up and it went well.
All of Dad's farm possessions were polished & shiny for the sale and so many thoughts went through my prayers as I realized this all has vanished for my dear Daddy and he no longer is caring about his beloved tractors in the heavens; yet to us still here, we see the hard work, the diligence in taking care of his machinery & what our Dad stood for while here in this world...so emotionally draining.

On Sunday night, Mom hosted an appreciation dinner for all those friends & family who helped Dad plant & harvest his crops this past year; it was held at a nearby winery in NW Iowa (yes, we have those too!) and it was a neat night of sharing & remembering Dad. Haven had come down with a 24-hour bug so Arlan stayed home from church & the dinner to take care of her before flying back on Monday morning to be with his family on Thanksgiving.

Mom did well despite her handicapped state & Haven and I enjoyed staying through the Thanksgiving holiday with her and spending time with cousins. Continue to pray for my dear mother...it's daily prayers & grace sustaining her.

Friday's Funny-cousins

Haven & Lucy (Curtis & Cathy's)

Haven & Mali (Lonn & Jammie's)

Friday's Funny-crowd control

hanston john

My cousin Betsy is now a mommy of 2!
Hanston John Strahm was born on Tuesday night, weighing 8 lbs. 14 oz & is 20.5 inches long.

Congratulations John & Bets...anxious to smooch those cheeks!

spoiled

So while we were away for our couples weekend to Michigan, Haven received ROYAL treatment from my Mom who flew in from Iowa AND her two sisters from Phoenix. Haven now chews gum (she prefers pink gum), says "oh nuts" or "oh sugar" when something goes wrong, and LOVES candy! Hmm...what a parent sacrifices for time away :)

Thanks again Mom & Aunts for watching Haven....it was so fun to have you here!

Chutes & Ladders and Memory are some of Haven's favorite games right now...I have yet to beat my daughter in Chutes & Ladders...I'm not sure what is more pathetic: the fact I'm 0-4 or the fact I'm NOT purposefully letting her win! :)

Haven and Aunt Vonnie tied during Memory.

Aunt Vonnie & Aunt Lo showed Haven how to really make a splash with her rain boots & coat :)

the Aunts & Mom even got in on Haven's first trick-or-treating...her outfit?
a garden gnome!
I mean, how other many garden gnomes do you suppose we saw?!

Friday's Funny-pen pals

They hadn't spent quality time together in a while & yet...

Well, to be fair, Arlan had a stressful week at Watershed & Clint had only had 4-5 hours of sleep in the past 36...so I guess, this IS quality time!

praise Him!

the group

2 weekends ago, we traveled up to South Haven, MI, and spent some time with a dear group of friends...some have been friends for years; others we recently got to know; yet others either I or Arlan knew just one member of the husband/wife team...regardless, it ended up being a fun, refreshing, "starter" weekend for us six couples. Arlan and I had never been part of an "out-of-town potluck" and since starting a family and transitioning through many phases of life [moving, career change, children, grief, etc], we determined a spiritual/emotional/comic support group was needed. Thus "the group" was formed...we use this name because we couldn't determine a different title & we feel like there our plenty of other "out-of-town" potluck groups out there using that name to the max!

Thanks friends for making our first get together a special one & we look forward to this coming May/June with kiddos! Thank you to all the Grandma's, in-laws & friends who took care of children while we were away...it was SO appreciated!

(click here to see additional pictures from the weekend)

Saturday morning Bible study

the boys, ehm, spiritually focused on the Michigan/Purdue football game :)

meal time! Kim & Alesa were the food committee this time & made some delicious meals of pancake waffles for breakfast and homemade pizzas for lunch...yum, so good!

Sunday morning picture...we all attended South Bend, IN

Friday's Funny - Doorneweerd cousins

This fun picture of Haven's 1st cousin, Maden (on the left) and her 2nd cousin, Jackson (on the right), was taken after Iowa State proudly beat the Hawkeyes this fall.
Too cute of picture not to post!

birthday party

We celebrated Haven's 2nd birthday on her big day as Grandma Iowa was in town for the occasion. The birthday girl got some wonderful gifts: books, puzzles, a doll stroller, a few movies, new Slugs & Bugs CD's, a darling new place setting, fun toys....and the ehm, "scare" of the night was a hamster/gerbil cage, lovingly wrapped & given by Dix-ee. While thankfully there was NO live animal[s] in the packaging, the kids got a kick out of seeing Dixie's dog, Madden, tied up in the backyard. And of course, Madden didn't disappoint as he showed off many of his tricks.

Thank you all for making it a fun party!

she's two

It's hard to believe our little baby is two already...the frequent saying "it goes so fast" or "it only speeds up" is now believable as Haven is her only little person ~ talking, singing, playing, dancing, having likes/dislikes & her own personality.

She is a trusting little girl who loves kids, puppies & will do just about anything for Dora fruit snacks or a "popsicle" (aka frozen gogurt!). Haven still loves her books, loves exploring & loves her cousins & friends, repeatedly praying for them over the course of the day. She likes music & dancing and enjoys her pacifier all too much for a 2 year old who knows all her shapes, colors, most numbers & even letters!

Haven ~ you are the apple of our eye & we are humbled, proud, and blessed to be your parents.

Happy 2nd Birthday sweetheart!

Friday's Funny-cousins

"Are these really my cousins", thinks Charlee.

california - Oct. 2011

Arlan and I were fortunate enough to spend last week in lovely California with friends, nature & each other! We started off flying into Orange Co. & then stayed with our dear friends Justin & Robin in the L.A. area & after attending church together at Altadena on Sunday, headed up the coast. After stopping to see some elephant seals, William Randolph Hearst's architectural wonder, & beautiful coastline we eventually ended up at Monterrey. Over to Yosemite, King's Canyon & Sequoia National Parks was next on the agenda & oh, how God's power sings through that beauty! We then headed back down to Palm Springs area to enjoy some desert heat with our friends Clint & Alesa (who were attending a Urology conference in CA) ~ we couldn't have planned it better!

Enjoy a few shots of our trip!

Friday's Funny-gotta love chocolate pudding!