...shepherds abiding in the field (Luke 2:8)

Staff photo by Christena Dowsett (Texarkana Gazette, 25 December 2010)

The Miller family from Ashdown, Ark., poses for a live nativity scene Thursday night at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Texarkana, Texas. Jileen Platt, spokeswoman for the church, said the congregation wanted to do its part to “help the community think about Christ at Christmas.” Although this is church members’ first year to do this, Platt said they’ve had great results.

Shawn's Family

Taken on 24 December 2010

Front row: Mom Barbara, Dad Talmage, Shelly
Back row: Jon, Shane, Shawn

One last winter!

Miller Children 2010

Once again, Christmas is upon us, and I hurry to get pictures of the children. I gave up on school pictures years ago because they were always so awful. I just don't know how Lifetouch stays in business. They totally suck! And the other company that Bryan schools were using for a while too... began with a P. Just totally sucked. I figured I can take almost as good, as I am not a professional, but I do know how to use PhotoShop.

Jacob & Joey

Lindsey, Lauren, Kayley, Krissy

The gang--

Lindsey, age 6 3/4

The gang again--

Lauren, age 15 1/2

Joey, age 4 (okay, on the 27th, but close enough)

Krissy, age 9

Jacob, age 12

Kayley, age 13 1/2

So ya, I tried to do the whole "color theme", and I thought I did a pretty good job considering it was last second. I realized that if I wanted to get Christmas cards out on time, I needed to get pictures done, so on the 11th we did them. They were ordered by the 13th, and mailed to me, and I mailed them out today, the 21st. Not bad. Hopefully everyone will get them by 24th.

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Pritchard Family 2010

The last time all the Pritchards had a family picture was in 2000, when Gramma Pritchard died. In 2004, youngest brother Scott returned off his mission, and we were all together again, but for some reason, another picture was not taken. Good reason for me was because I just had Lindsey, and I was super fat. Oh, wait, I am still super fat. =/ This past weekend, brother Todd, who lives in Boise, decided to come for a quick weekend visit. Brother Chad, who lives in Orem, also just so happened to be coming down for some business. Sister Hilary, who lives in El Paso, were already coming, so that meant I had to come too. So after scrounging up some gas money, we headed down to Killeen on Friday. It has been a good visit with almost everyone present-- missing a few in-laws/family members like Shawn, Josh & all of Todd's & Chad's family. 18 of the 28 cousins were present, with the hope that Scott & Val's little baby would be born yesterday or today, but not. Their new baby isn't due until the 31st, so maybe she will hold out until the 29th when I come again. So the line-up front row (L-R) Scott, Hilary, Mom, Dad, Todd. Line-up back row (L-R) Me, Brett, Holly, Heather, Chad.

THe BiRTHDaY CaKe

Grasshopper Fudge Cake

1 box white cake mix

2 tsp. mint extract, divided

12 drops green food coloring, divided

2 jars (16 oz. each) hot fudge topping

8 oz. container Cool-Whip

5 drops of yellow food coloring

Andes Mints (either buy in candy form, chop; or buy in pkg by chocolate chips)

 

Heat over to 350.  Spray 13x9 pan.

 

Make cake mix according to directions, adding 1 1/2 tsp. mint extract.  Reserve 1 c. white batter.  Pour rest into pan.  In the 1 c. batter, add 3 drops of food coloring.  Stir well.  Drop onto white batter, and then marblize (?) in a swirling pattern on top.  Bake for 27+ minutes, or until knife comes out clean.  Let completely cool.

 

Spread hot fudge all over the top.  Depending on how much you like hot fudge depends if you use both jars.  In medium bowl, add Cool-Whip, remaining 1/2 tsp. extract,  remaining 9 drops of green food coloring, and 5 drops of yellow.  Blend well.  Spread all over top of hot fudge.  Garnish with Andes Mints.  Store covered in fridge.

 

9 YeaRs oLD!

He loves his home state!

I sent him a Texas flag for his birthday.
He finally sent me some pictures.

Awesome, or what?

~8tH GRaDe VoLLeYBaLL~

Kayley is #7  Hard to see her in the last 2 pictures, but she is there!

Go Kayley!! Go Panthers!!

Ashdown Panther (bad pictures)

Lauren is the new 2010-2011 Ashdown High School Panther mascot!!!!!  Joey & I went to her first pep rally yesterday, and she did a good job considering it was her first time and had no practice with the cheerleaders at all!!  I took some pictures with my Blackberry (as I forgot to plug in my camera), so the quality of them are bad as I was high in the stands, not close at all.  Next week I am prepared, as my camera is plugged in already!  Her first game last night:
Ashdown-27, Hope, AR-0!

Go Lauren!!  Go Panthers!!

I {heart}

And why do I love them so?  Because they are awesome!!

About a month ago when I had the extra money I went there and got 4 kids shoes for $90.  It was Buy One Get One 1/2 Price.  The Nike shoes that I got Jacob, Krissy & Lindsey were $30 each, so basically, I got Joey's pair for free- That's how I like to see it. =)  Well, school started, and athletics for Kayley.  She is in volleyball.  The shoes that she thought would be okay from last year, were just a tad to small once she was having to jump and all that.  She really did need a new pair.  We went to Shoe Carnival on tax-free weekend, and by that time, I really didn't have enough money to buy more than 1 pair, even if it was 1/2 price (deal was still on).  Bought her a good pair of Nike's that would be good for her for 49.95, no tax.  Awesome!  My budget was only $50.  

Just the other day, Lauren was chosen to be mascot, and needed a good pair of shoes.  I am still in a bind with money, but went anyway to look for shoes.  The pair of Nike's that looked nice on her on her skinny narrow foot was $54.95.  I told Lauren that I was going to see if I can still get the Buy One Get One 1/2 Price even though I didn't have another pair of shoes.

I go up to the counter, show the receipt from Kayley's pair, and told the guy that when I had come weeks before, I didn't need another pair of shoes, and really didn't have the money to buy any more but now my other daughter needs a pair now, so can I get these or the other pair 1/2 price?  Told him I would even go get the box of shoes that I had gotten Kayley.  He said he didn't need the box, and that he would "return" Kayley's pair, add them back on, along with Lauren's pair.  And to make this long story shorter... I saved $30!  I was so excited!  AND they didn't charge me tax!!  Even after Academy is opened (Sep 24), I think Shoe Carnival will be the place I will go for shoes (we swore by Academy in College Station) for now on!
Moral of the story: Save your receipts, and don't be afraid to ask!

HaPPy...

21st Anniversary~ 8 September 1989
(Yes, if you are wondering, Josh came 1 week shy of our 11 month anniversary! LOL!)

Fun mission times!

When Josh was called to the Idaho Pocatello Mission, I told him I knew people all over that mission, and that they could keep an eye on him.  LOL!!  One of the people, is my brother Todd and his family.  They live in Boise, but Sunde is from Rexburg.  They travel there often, and only this past Friday where they able to catch up with Josh and take him to lunch.  He was excited to see his Uncle Todd and Aunt Sunde, and cousins Brynn, Camryn, Luke and Max. They went to Roadhouse on the 20th.

Then a few days later, our former bishop & his wife, Brother & Sister Bowman, made their way up to Idaho Falls to visit their son, Ricky and wife Heather, and grandson Kyle.  Of course, Sister Bowman had to call me and brag, but that's okay.  I am glad they got to see him, and take him to lunch too.

And this is Josh and his companion, Elder Morgan doing whatever they are doing.  I don't even know what to say... ya!

On 15 August was our Stake Conference in Shreveport.  We made arrangements with Josh's girlfriend, Amanda, to meet us there.  It was fun to see her after a year, and to have lunch with her in one of the rooms at the stake center.  Yes, we eat lunch at the stake center because it's 100 miles away, and it's either eat there, or go out to eat (Jacob can't go that long without food, thus the reason why we eat).  Afterwards we went over to where Shawn works and saw him for a few minutes before heading home.

A cute picture of Lauren, age 15.  Not sure who took the picture. But I thought it was cute.

I really have good kids.  I really do.  I think I am a good person.  Maybe sometimes I post things on Facebook that I shouldn't say, and there have been times when someone has messaaged me about it, and I am always quick to fix the situation, either by trying to re-explain myself (haha!) or by deleting it, and a few times have even apologized when it was taken the wrong way.  But it saddens me when people can't and won't "listen."  Especially after they find out that I have a different opinion, and then it's like they hold it against me.  I am sad for losing 2 friends over it.  A friend pointed out to me (and yes, I did delete like almost this whole post): Friends will come and Friends will go.  I just need to remember that.  

 

Pea-Shelling 101 (be prepared to get sick)

Everyone knows we live on a farm.  Shawn and his dad, and the kids grow a garden every year.  One of the things that is grown is purple-hull peas.  What are those?  Like a black-eye pea, but these have a purple "eye" instead of a black one.  It's a southern staple around here.  Growing up in the south most of my life (lived in Alabama until I was 11 1/2), the only southern thing I had and didn't like were lima beans.  We only had those at the Jenne's house.  Thank goodness that my parents were displaced Californians at the time, and didn't learn to cook the true southern way. LOL!!  

So now my kids have the opportunity to grow, shell and eat purple-hull peas.  And they do the shelling at Mamaw's house, as I don't shell them nor cook them, and ONLY ate them while I was pregnant with Joey because she offered to cook dinner, and I was like great since I didn't have to cook then.  WHILE they weren't bad, they weren't something that I was going to make, ever!  But for them to cook & eat, they have to be shelled.  For the first few years, the kids shelled them by hand.  Past few years they have been using the electric pea-sheller.  And the girls know then, but especially now, that hair has to be put up in a pony-tail!  

If not, accidents will happen:

Yep.  You saw it right.  No hair!  Lindsey was just busy helping to realize that her hair was about to go through the pea-sheller.  The thing yanked her hair out so fast that she had no time to even try to work it out.  No blood.  Just no hair.  This happened on 8 July 2010.  As of Sunday night, her hair is growing back, but it will take a very long time to ever get it back to how it was.  She has short hair all over the top.  I took her to get her hair trimmed the other day, and Kelly said not to give her bangs, and maybe when it grows a bit more, to go get extensions in it.  I figured that is what Britney Spears did right?  

So until then, we just pull it into a small pony-tail on the side and finish it with a bow.  I need to go get more ribbon since school is about to start.  

The wider the ribbon, the better I like:

I had my Mom-in-law, Mom and sister Holly to swear to secrecy about it, and you all should be happy to know that your most awful secrets are safe with them!  I decided to tell because 1) we went to the beach with my brother's family, and cousins do tell.  =) and 2) School is starting soon.  And while I have it cute in a band and ribbon, it doesn't always stay in place.  I am just glad that the brother I went to the beach with is an attorney. 

HuMp DaY!

Pictures... BIG & small! Not in order!

I think I have gotten most of the pictures, not in order of course!  I don't know if Blogger has changed the format or what, but for the last few times when I have tried to post tons of pictures, they are not coming out in order.  Anywho... enjoy them all!

The beach house we stayed at on the West End of Galveston.  I am at the beach, this is how close we were! 

Eathyn, Joey & Lindsey enjoying the little pool on the deck instead.  Actually, Lindsey was just posing... she was at the beach every moment she was awake!

Night before we left... Joey & Lindsey freshly bathed; Brandon being a goof!

Kids loved being on the bikes too! Rachel, Jacob, Lindsey, Joey & Austin.

Me & Cindy being sexy fat mommas!  Ok, Cindy isn't fat... just 7 months pregnant!  I don't have an excuse!  Little Mari enjoying the beach air!

Me & Joey ready to watch fireworks, July 4th!

Me, Joey, Jared & my Momma... July 4th.

Taco madness at the Pritchard home! July 4th.

Me trying to get tanned... hahahahahaha!  I know, right?!  Beach house in the back!

More Taco Madness! July 4th

Brandon, Nathan & Jacob enjoying the tacos.

Jacob caught a baby crab!

Jacob, Kayley, Joey, Lindsey, Rebekah & Lindsey.

Kayley & Rachel headed to the beach!

Rebekah & Lauren coming back from boogy-boarding!

Shawn taking a nap... beach air has worn him out!

Some of the kids making a sand castle.

My ACTUAL birth day... the 18th.  I made my cake.  And Brett decided to have a piece of it... for those who know Brett, it's becoming custom to have a birthday cake sliced into before serving (only the adult sibling cakes!)

First day we got to the beach! Absolutely gorgeous!!

5 kids posing on the ferry... after waiting almost 2 hrs to get on it!

Lindsey couldn't see well, so Shawn helped her.  

Lindsey posing at Mimi's & Grampa's house.

We have made a lot of these this summer... COWPIES!!

Our new cocker/hound puppy, Chloe.  We got her July 24th.  MaKayla visiting us too!

Waiting for the dolphins to show up while on the ferry!

Day we left Galveston. This is the very north end (east end?) past Crystal Beach just before turning to head north to Beaumont.  Very pretty beach here!!

Kids looking for tons of shells!!  Shawn & Lauren found nice sand-dollars.  Tons of shells here, hardly any seaweed at all!

Joey already wet from the water... we said "don't get wet!" How many 3 1/2 yr olds really listen to that?

A serious storm was heading our way.  They said on the news that this was part of the Tropical Depression that closed the BP Oil Site down for a while on the 22nd.  Or something like that!  Serious lightening and thundering was going on... we left! 

Pioneer Day!  Getting ready to head to the church for the Bi-Ward Pioneer Potluck/Party.  Lindsey is wearing a dress that my aunt made for me when I was 6!  It has been used as a Pioneer/dress-up dress for the last 15 years (all my girls wore it... Lauren wore it for Halloween one year when she was 3 or 4).  The horse was almost made by the same aunt, but a year or 2 before the dress.

Shawn & I celebrating my 40th birthday (on the 2oth) at Fishermen's Wharf by Pier 21 in Galveston.  Very good!!  We've been together for 21 years!!  

Same beach at the north end.

Austin with the shark he caught at the bay!  Totally real!!  He was so proud!

Kristen & Lindsey chillin' in the water!

A cute seashell Lindsey found at that north(east) beach.

Kristen, Rebekah, Lauren headed back from the beach...

Cindy & Brett with us at Fishermen's Wharf.

My 40th birthday celebration at Cheddars.  Holly, me, Momma, Heather, Hilary (red shirt)

Me with my first short haircut of the summer... no make-up though!

Jacob & Joey looking for clams, but found that crab instead!