All for the little ones...

On the way to church the morning after our ward Christmas party, I told Kevin we were not taking the kids again until they are older. They are just too miserable at church the next day. He responded, "you are telling me that picture was not worth it?" Ok, we'll go again.

Kedrick was quick to tell Santa he wanted a train. Santa encouraged him to add to the list and a bicycle request was submitted. Brock, as you can see, was horrified to sit on Santa's lap. Kedrick was confused when we walked out of the room and wanted to know where his train was.

Christmas Family Photo Runner-up

We hung around Sea World all day having random people take photos hoping to get one with us all smiling. I think Brock was done.

Risky Business

The Miller clan has a long established tradition of playing either Risk or Monopoly during Thanksgiving weekend. It has been a few years since we have played with the addition of all the little ones to the bunch. This year, at my pleading, my parents, husband and brother gratiously agreed to play. We settled on Risk. My Mother had never played and is not really one to enjoy a game that has too many rules or involves stategy but was a good sport nonetheless. About half way through the game, we realized that my mother, whom we hadn't viewed as a threat, was well on her way to global domination. She emerged victor after 6 hours. My only consolation is that at least my Dad was conquered before I was. Beware of the first-timers!

The rest of the weekend sped by with pie consumption, shopping and a hike up Middle Peak.

Kedrick was not real excited about the hike what with the brisk temps and lack of nap time slumber. He could only be induced to walk by the hand of his fair cousin.Unfortunately, Middle Peak was a victim of the 2003 Cedar Fires, not the prettiest hike this time but the view was still beautiful.Ahhh, the time honored tradition of polishing off any remaining pies after the hike.

The Happiest Place on Earth...

when you go in November and there are no lines! Some highlights from our 2 day Disney adventure:

Brock loved the hugs from the roaming Disney characters. His favorite ride by far was the Casey Jr. train but mostly he just enjoyed anytime he was free to roam.

Kedrick road the Mattahorn three times! He wasn't too fond of the white monster and only agreed to ride it the third time on the condition that he would be allowed to take his "blue blanks" as he lovingly calls his two blankies. His favorite ride was still the monorail.

Kedrick really loved hearing everyone scream on the rides... the one place on the planet he can scream his little lungs out and not be told to quiet down. While I was on some silver rockets with him waiting to start he asked, "Mom, can we scream on this ride," as he was looking longingly over at the California Screamin' roller coaster ride. I told him once the ride got started we could. Two seconds into the ride, "Mom, can we scream now?"

We won! After a long day we finally got them to fall asleep in the stroller!

Trick or Treats!

A special thank you to this year's costume sponsors Taka (Mickey) and Rozanne (Gator)! The boys took readily to their costumes. By the time we went out to trick-or-treat, Brock was really ready for bed and looked dazed. He smiled in wonderment whenever directly handed a candy and clutched onto it for dear life. Kedrick was a seasoned veteran. We tried to teach him to look for well lit, festive looking homes. All looked welcoming to him. At the last house he somehow missed the moment when the candy was slipped into his pumpkin. I couldn't get him to budge. Finally he turned to me, a bit annoyed, and said, "mom, he has to give me a treat first." Seeing Kedrick's excitement somehow makes up for all the poopies, cereal smashed into the carpet and screaming fits. I can hardly wait until next year!

Sugar or Cake?

My whole life I have preferred sugar cones. To be offered a cake cone was disheartening at best. Don't get me wrong, not that I would turn it down or anything but a cake cone? A month or so ago I found myself in one of those cake cone or bowl situations and opted for the cone. I haven't been the same since. All of a sudden I prefer the cake cone. So easy to eat, so light and pleasantly crunchy, bows humbly next to the ice cream not trying to call attention to itself. I feel shameful for having slighted it for so long. Last night I stood in front of the cone selection at the grocer in quite the conundrum. I wanted a cake cone but of course nobody likes them so I had no choice really but to buy both. Such an extravagance.

Meet Ralph...

Friday night, it is dark. I walk into my backyard to watch a friend make a corn starch fireball and manage to walk right into a spider web! I did the freak out spider web dance but kept feeling the sticky strands clinging tenaciously to my face. Kevin told me there was no way there could have been a spider web in that spot. He retracted his statement when I showed him the webbing stuck to my glasses. Eek! The next morning I went out to survey and found the web rebuilt, a bee wrapped up in the middle of it and a large spider crawling up the web with another victim. Kevin did the honors of catching him (he also chased a rat out of our garage the other day, what a hero). We have named him Ralph. Kevin and Kedrick will set out tonight to find him a new home.

Molasses

Yep, a giant wave of molasses struck Boston in 1919. One person got it right, though they already confessed to looking it up first. A miss smarty pants in my senior ap biology class shared this. I don't remember much about biology but I've never forgotten this.

Breakfast anyone?

Any mother knows that two children playing happily together for longer than 5 minutes usually means trouble. I had some things to attend to however and decided to delude myself. I knew Kedrick had grabbed one box of cereal but somehow thought the boys were sitting nicely and eating it. Occasionaly I would shout out, "share with your brother" thinking that should keep them in order. They are smarter than I. We will be eating breakfast off the living room floor for the next week!

Another epidsode in the "Mommy, you really shouldn't turn your back on us" series...baby powder this time. By the way, I learned too much baby powder inhaled can be fatal (the kind that has talc in it). I threw mine all out since clearly I am an incompetent supervisor.

The other day Brock came up from behind and wacked Kedrick on the head with a remote. I gave him the "be nice" speech and told him to give him a kiss. He gave the remote a big smooch and went on with his play. Next time I'll have to be more specific with who "him" is.

Marriage

Headed to the temple one Sunday for a stroll around the grounds, Kedrick, who usually loves to go there, started acting up. As the temple came in sight he finally blurted out in a panic, "I don't want to get married!" It starts so young...

I guess he's gotten over his cold feet quickly though. Last week when I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up he said, "a married." Several days later I asked him what a married does. His response, "grow up."

Clean Hands and a Pure Heart

Aftrer getting in trouble for coating his brother in sand, Kedrick was sent to wash his hands. After realizing he had been back there for like 15 minutes with the water running, I decided I better check up on the little mischief maker. The sink and counter were covered in bubbles and he was having the time of his life! Upon inquiring what he was doing, he responded with a big happy smile, "I'm making lots of bubbles!" What do you do?

He had been sporting a diaper all day. When daddy asked, "Kedrick, where are your pants?" he looked down and said, "uh, I lost them!" and pretended to run around and look for them. He's a ham and a half. I sense a long lifetime of creative excuses coming.

I've been trying to explain to Kedrick that before he was born he was in Mommy's tummy and before that in heaven. Trying to gage how much of this he was taking in, I asked him one day where he lived before he was born. His reply, "the church." Close enough. Last night before Kevin went to play basketball at the church, he was telling Kedrick that when he gets big he can go too. Kedrick, with basketball in hand, excitedly turned to me and said, "I don't want to be in your tummy anymore. I can play this now!" I tried not to be offended that he would so readily trade in my womb for a basketball.

A Penny Saved

I recently heard of a family of nine living off of $35,000 a year. I admire frugality. I once visited our local dump to dispose of a couch we could find no other home for. Watching mounds of discarded items being swallowed up by mother earth made me feel a bit reckless with my own consumptive behaviors. I feel like a real hero every time I save something from the landfill. Okay, and I don't mind saving money either.
Things I've bought used off of Craigslist:
jogging stroller
double stroller
crib
exersaucer
fridge
washer
dryer
elliptical
toddler bed
little tykes pick-up truck
dump truck lamp

My summer best deal: a plastic dinosaur sandbox I found during my Saturday morning constitutional at a garage sale, $4 (retails for $39.99). I carried it home on my head.

Things I will never buy used: toilet paper, dental floss, tooth brushes.

Mangoes

It is no secret that I have a passion for mangoes. But a few days into my mission in the Philippines, I sampled my first mango. Ok, techinically I had eaten one mango my senior year in high school but the two pieces of fruit were so different it hardly seems fitting to give them the same name. I'll never forget standing in my apartment as a new missionary feeling so forlorn and well, terrified really and tasting for the first time, a real mango. It was like eating sunshine. I didn't want the moment to end. Who knows how long I sucked on that pit trying to extract every last bit of flavor. It has been called the queen of all fruits, for good reason. My companion promised there would be other mangoes and eventually convinced me to give up the pit. Some things are too good to let go.

1995 the Guinness Book of World records listed the Philippine mango from Carabao as the sweetest fruit in the world.

Brock's Birthday

I can hardly believe Brock's first birthday has come and gone! We let Kedrick choose what cake to make and shockingly he settled on a train cake. He was certain Brock would like it. Kedrick took a look at the cake in the morning before it had been dressed. He was disturbed to see nothing but white frosting and informed me, "um, Mom you need to do it over." He preceded to describe his cake from his last birthday in great detail. Happily, he heartily approved with the final outcome. By the way, Kevin and I were also so lucky to have train cakes for our birthdays this past year. It simplifies planning. Brock went nuts when he saw it. Brock ate little cake, gagged on the frosting but enjoyed his fork. He kept his focus on the camera, saying cheese at regular intervals. Kevin finally made me put the camera away so he would open his presents.