All because two people fell in love...

We met in February 1989, started dating in May, and got married in September. And Josh came *almost* 11 months later, just in case y'all were wondering. And then no more came. We waited, and waited, and then Lauren decided to make her debut in May 1995 (5 weeks early), and then Kayley 1997, Jacob 1998, Krissy 2001, Lindsey 2004 & Joey 2006. We lived in Texas until 2005, and then we moved to Arkansas, just about 25 miles north of Texarkana, Texas. Fortunately all my children are Texans (and my handsome husband) because Texans are just cool. Wish I was a Texan... but husband had to settle with a California gal, which I think is pretty cool too.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

General Conference Packets

Here is the website for
My kids love it!

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Student Council

Lauren & Kayley have decided to run for Student Council again. I know Lauren was on it in 4th grade, but in all honesty, I can't remember if any of them won last year... such a poor memory now! So since I have this new PhotoShop program, I made these for the stickers that they are going to hand out this week (used Avery TEMPLATE 8163 labels). They also made posters last night. Elections are Monday. Jacob can't wait until he can run for it next year.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Kristen is 8!

Krissy wanted her party this year at the bowling ally. I gave in, even though like most know, I am poor. Poor child really hadn't had a party before at some place cool with her friends. We invite 9, and only 4 came, so it was perfect! We had a great time.
Krissy & friend, Kara.
The gang that hung out... Kara, Krissy, Carter, Lindsey, Jacob, Cole & Camron
Singing before blowing out the candles on the "Alice the Fairy" Cake (BTW, Alice the Fairy is being sold at Sams... such a cute book!). What is an "Alice" cake? In the book, Alice is trying to do real magic to become a permanent fairy, but she can only do "temporary fairy" things, like turning oatmeal into cake... thus the Alice cake: Oatmeal Cake!
Opening the cool presents from everyone!!
The guys had all they could take... Pokemon Cards had to come out!

Another Baptism soon...

I posted one of these a few weeks ago, but because of sickness this week in the family, I just didn't want to take the chance of spreading it to all my family that wanted to come. We postponed Krissy's baptism date until Thanksgiving since most of my family would be here anyways, and then they wouldn't have to make a seperate trip.

Four States Fair & Rodeo

Josh will be so proud, or maybe so disappointed, because Shawn, Lauren, Kayley & I (along with Shane & Mary) went to the Rodeo last night. I hadn't been to that rodeo since September 1997, so it had been a long long time! I did go to one in Bryan, and I did go to a big 4th of July one in 2004 in Belton, Texas before (thanks again Heather & Shawn... that rodeo was awesome, and so was the HEB-sponsered food spread). But the one thing that I have always loved whenever I have gone to a fair (which isn't often) is the funnel cakes. I was excited to go last night for only 1 thing... the funnel cake! After I paid for it~ $6.00 ~and after being up all night with a sick stomach and not pleasent morning in the bathroom, let's just say, I don't care if I ever get another one again!
But at the moment... IT WAS AWESOME!
We all loved the Barrel Racing, and Lauren & Kayley would love to do it, but it's Papaw's job to get the horses ready to ride, and since that will never happen, we can enjoy watching it, and dream! (If I don't get Krissy & Lindsey riding soon, it'll never happen for them either...)
Of course, we were excited to see the bull-racing, but it just wasn't exciting as the ones on TV. I mean, I wanted to see some good action... like blood & guts all over (ok, not really!)

On the way home, Shawn talked about going to the big one in Las Vegas. But we all know, THAT will never happen either! Dreaming is so much fun!

YUMMY... Oatmeal Cookies!

I got this recipe from a friend of mine many years ago. For all those with the Bryan 1st Ward cookbook, it's Jen Welch's recipe (thanks, Jen!). But over the years, I have modified it, and maybe Jen has too, but as of now, I claim this recipe as mine!! LOL!! Just joking, if you want to copy the recipe, and claim it as yours, then go ahead! Except for Mrs. Fields, if she does it, I'm suing! Ok, another joke...
Oatmeal Cookies
1 c. butter Crisco
2 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
2 Tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 c. flour (and maybe 1/4 c. extra for later)
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. soda
2 c. quick oats
Mix Crisco & sugar. Add eggs, milk, vanila. Add flour (not 1/4 c.), salt, soda & oats. If batter is sticky, then add 1/4 c. flour.
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (pictured above): Add 1/2 c.-1 c. raisins
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies: Add 12 oz. bag chocolate chips
Bake 375 for 8-10 minutes.

Like I said before, I have been trying my new PhotoShop program. I am still not an expert, but I am trying. I would love for someone to teach me better!
Elder Miller at the house he is staying in now, or the house he stayed in for 3 days before moving. Either way... such a goof!
Trying out his new bike... so proud of my Elder Miller!

I know I am way behind on updating Elder Miller, but it's the dial-up that is causing it! You just won't believe how long it took me just to upload these pictures!! I do have the laptop, but can you believe I haven't even been on the laptop since Josh left? I am going to get Lauren or Shawn to teach me how to put the pictures on that thingy so I can download them to the laptop, then maybe I can be more motivated to take the laptop to town to update/download on my blog.

Elder Miller is in Chubbuck. His area is the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. We have friends that live in the area, and one actually saw him the other night!! She Facebooked to tell me. Then I had another sweet sister named, get this... Heidi Miller Wood (!), call me last night to tell me that Elder Miller lives across the street from them, and that they had fed them last night, and that he is a great young man & elder. Makes a mother proud!

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Poor Peppy La Pew


What do you get when 2 wiener dogs, possibly 3 cross the path of a skunk? In this case, a dead skunk, and not a great smell! 13 hours later, I still smell it.
At 4:30am this morning, I awoke to Cali barking. Cali barks at anything at anytime of the day or night. She does not require sleep like Ollie, Zoe or us. Cali has been shut in her kennel before because she can't keep her trap closed. Bark, bark, bark, bark, bark, BARK! Get the picture? A week or so ago, my father-in-law found a dead skunk in his yard, but let's back up a bit. Lauren woke up one morning for school, and asked me if I smelled skunk. Sure enough there was a faint hint of skunk but not bad. I told her the dogs must have seen one in the night. Opened the front door, and smell could have killed me! Dogs stunk like skunk! Mostly Cali, of course. It must have been a Monday or Friday because Shawn was already at work, but a few days later, my father-in-law told Shawn that he found a dead skunk in his yard. You think maybe after being sprayed maybe a few times, Cali would learn? No... So at 4:30am we hear barking. WILL NOT STOP! My sister Hilary and her husband Paul were sleeping in our house, as they are heading from Ft. Knox, KY to Ft. Bliss, TX via Ft. Hood, TX, and I was a free bed. She even posts on her Facebook at 4:30-ish that the stupid dogs were barking because why? A skunk. Shawn looked out our window, and Peppy and Cali were beneath it "fighting", and then Peppy did it... sprayed Cali. Immediately the smell seeps into the house. (Note to Shawn: windows are NOT air-tight!). Dog barking ceases for a bit, but then picks up again. This time it must be at the other end of the house where Hilary & Paul are at. Hilary is looking out the window, seeing Peppy, Cali and sometimes Ollie. Hilary says Peppy sprays Cali again, and again! They heard it hitting the house! Hilary says the smell made her sick to her stomach, same as I told Shawn when Cali was sprayed at our end of the house. After that, no more barking. But the smell is there. Time to get kids up for school. I'm spraying the house with Lysol, trying to get the smell out. It does help some. Shawn opens the front door to 3 smelly dogs, and 1 dead Peppy. Thanks Cali... you are awesome! You know Cali, I'm not bathing you. You can live with this smell! I think for now on, I am locking Cali up in the kennel. Where was Zoe through all this? Sleeping in the jogging stroller that I got off Craigslist a few weeks back. At least the jogging stroller is getting used!

Trying to figure out Photoshop

Shawn and I celebrated our 2oth on September 8th. We went out to eat.
We then rented "State of Play" from Redbox. It was a good movie.
Krissy turns 8 on September 14th. We are having her party that night,
but she has invited you all to her baptism...

Friday, September 04, 2009

Elder Miller & the Mission Prez

I finally received the standard letter from Josh's mission president the other day, and included was this picture with our Elder Miller. Doesn't he look so grown up?

Josh is serving in the Tyhee Stake, amongst the people of the Blackfoot Indian Reservation. He also sent me an email this past Monday (that is his P-Day) telling me about the area, and how he is enjoying it. I posted his email below in a previous post,
but this is his address that he will use the entire time:
Elder Joshua Miller
Idaho Pocatello Mission
1246 N. Yellowstone Ave. F3
Pocatello, ID 83201-4372