summer fun ~ June

As I upload pictures on to my computer from my phone, I am quickly realizing almost one month of summer is gone (insert sigh).  We've spent some fun days at the pool, playing out back, bike rides, park/picnic trips & zoo trips already...before I get too backlogged with pictures, I thought I would update with pictures from June.

a trip to Peoria Zoo with our Hodel friends

the 3-some of cousins with their friend Ashlyn at the Central IL Preview Show

whale pool time!

a trip down the slide at Savannah Park

backyard water gun duel!

trying to conquer the monkey bars

she's getting stronger, but can't quite do it on her own yet ;)

 

"look Mom-I created a hanger Monkey"...whatever that is!

thank you Aunt Twyla for the yummy watermelon

Father's Day 2013 and her new haircut

thanks Arianne...we love it!

Sunday morning photo shoot

 

Tuesday night Family baseball in Bloomington

Anderson Splash Park with her friend Kate

 

 in the nursery with cousin Will at Gridley's VBS

the zoo lady painted Haven's face at the Miller Park Zoo's birthday bash!

meeting a new friend, Keegan Dohman

We also hosted the Miller & Schlipf's for Father's Day so it was fun to catch up family...below are just a few pictures of that festivity.

Daddy opening his Father's Day presents...he got a flashlight "for camping" from Haven & 2 new dress shirts & a new tie from me...handy, huh?

 an attempt at a Father's Day shot :)

Almost done...pictures from our family camp out:

smore time!

Haven, why do you like tenting so much?

"Because it's SOOOOO cozy!"

Yep, Mommy set up the tent all by herself!

If our camp site looks a lot like our backyard...well, because it is!

 

sooo, maybe I was the last one to wake up :)...at like 6:30AM!! 

Ahh...the joys of camping!

a Daddy-daughter date at Parklands!

she loves Parklands :)

this Friday!

Elegantes Trunk Show--Shop for a cause & support our adoption!

Date: Friday, June 21, 2013

Time: 10:00am till 7:00pm...stop by anytime!

Location: my house in Normal

 

I've unloaded the apparel and there is some CUTE stuff hanging in my house!  Love to see each of you & thanks for supporting not only survivors of trafficking but also our little Miller in Uganda.

www.elegantees.com

Friday's Funny~some scary politcal humor :)

Friday's Funny~an oldie, but a goodie!

Elegantes Trunk Show--Shop for a cause & support our adoption!

Date: Friday, June 21, 2013

Time: 10:00am till 7:00pm...stop by anytime!

Location: my house in Normal

 

 

The Clothes:Elegantees are the merger of elegant and tees, and mix in the season’s coolest trends. Designed in NYC with modesty in mind, the brand is wearable and affordable.
To check out possible styles & see what this company stands for check out their website...
http://elegantees.com

 

The Cause:Elegantees are sewn by survivors of sex trafficking in Nepal and in New York City. One of the biggest challenges for survivors is finding healthy employment. Elegantees offers fair-trade employment to them. The sales are reinvested into back their lives and toward the freedom of others in modern-day slavery.  A portion of this sale will also help fund our Ugandan adoption.

 

The Event:Come join me in supporting a great cause and have some fun shopping too...I will have samples to try on, which will help you know if you like them when ordering. Of course, there will also be snacks...I hope you can come!

 

**Note: if you are not from Central IL but would like to support this great cause, please email me & I can get back to you on what styles are available.  Only certain styles will be mailed to me & I can be in contact with you regarding what styles (from online) will be available to purchase at my show.

 

Email me: katiekmiller@gmail.com or facebook me with questions!

 

 

surprise time!

This past Wednesday was a fun day for several of us and a SUPER surprise day for a good friend, Ashley.
Ashley is the type of friend who is honest, loyal & never really gets/takes due recognition of her talents & time.

Thus, a few months ago, her best friend, sister and myself got together the idea of surprising her on her 1/2 birthday...her real birthday is Nov. 29th...tucked in between busy holidays and usually logistically impossible to honor or even surprise her as her family usually takes a trip to the Dells around that time.

She was completely surprised & we had a fabulous time on our road-trip (thanks in part to the Gentle Giant as our "limo"), a SUPER fun Segway tour, good food, good shopping & good conversation!

 what's a surprise birthday reveal at Starbucks without large, obnoxious signs?!

and the Gentle Giant all painted?!

 Jami, me, Alison, Kate, Arianne, Becky, Ashley & Tara (taking picture) ready to go!

 

but first...we must get instructions-exits, storage bins, legroom...wait, does that sound like flight instructions? :)

the girls loved it!

 "uh, Jon...you need to take care of transferring our food to the new refrigerator...I"m heading to Chicago!!!"

 

parked & ready to EAT & SHOP!

lunch at Lou Malnati's on State...gotta love a great salad & deep dish pizza!

they balance each other out calorie wise...right? :)

 next stop...Sugar Bliss on Wabash for a gourmet cupcake...no caloric balance here...just straight sugar!

when planning this trip months ago, Ali got out of Ashley that if she was to head to Chicago with some friends, she would LOVE to do a Segway tour sometime...so without disappointing our birthday girl, several of us braved the challenge!  Personally, I was THRILLED she chose that option, as I'm sure I could never get Arlan on one of those things without a considerable amount of convincing...it was FAB!!!

 

 listening to instructions...folks, helmets.ARE.COOL.

 

birthday girl went first for one-on-one instruction

Arianne conquering her fears!!!

 

Absolutely Segway makes you practice for about 20 minutes in a tunnel before hitting the streets of downtown Chicago...wise-very wise :)

 

Jamie-looking good!

 

 photo opp at Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park...Becky was more than capable on her Segway, but Mr. Guide didn't allow time for her to properly park hers..."parking" a Segway takes some getting used to :)

 

 

 sisters!!  

we may or may not have broken a few rules regarding this Segway tour...rule #1 broken: you MAY NOT do the Segway tour if you believe you are pregnant.  Well, Alison was a trooper and while being 28 weeks pregnant, she hid her adorable belly under a very flowing shirt!  All for her sister's dream!

rule #2 broken...NO taking video, pictures, etc while Segway is in motion :)

ehm, well here's beautiful Lake Michigan.

 

ice cream & hot dog break at Shedd Aquarium

 

while we didn't know it at the time, apparently Obama was at the downtown Hilton & thus several hundred pro-life picketers were there rallying against abortion & Obama care....

 ...serious enough for mounted police.

 we finished our day up with dinner at Su Casa on Ontario St. where we met up with Tami for a bit! 

It was a super fun day!