Friday, October 29, 2010


Created this collage so I could print out some pictures for my little office space at work. Of course, I ran out of printer ink, so I can't print it until I get that replaced... so I thought I'd post it for now.

I love my family and thank God for each and every one of these very special people. As we enter this season of thankfulness, I am overwhelmed by the gifts that I have been given and the blessings that I receive on a regular basis from my loving God.
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Thursday, October 28, 2010

Zeke's Class Fall Fun Day


Zeke's class had their Fall Fun Activities Day today! It was sooo fun for the kids.
We had stations that the kids rotated around that included:
pumpkin golfing
dangling doughnuts
gourd bowling
the Great Popcorn Challenge (relay game with popcorn)
fall bingo with candy corns as the markers
face painting
giant pumpkin circumference guessing
pumpkin pattern mosaics
fall cookie cutter painting

I love that I got to be a part of the day!
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Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Blogging...

I have to say... having this blog has given me even more motivation to capture the everyday moments and to download my pictures off my camera regularly!  I have been enjoying this whole blogging thing! =)  Hope you are, too!

Now I'm starting to play with designs a little bit and figure out how to do more cute stuff... so that's fun... but I really have to go to bed.  We've got Zeke's Fall Fun class party tomorrow that I'm helping to put on--with special thanks to Keely and Melissa who are taking my 2 little ones so I can do it!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Mommy looked away for 2 minutes and...


Yep... yogurt all over the face. 
And he thinks he's sooooo funny.
Well, he's actually pretty cute, I must admit!

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Nana & Papa's Fall Visit

Brian's folks drove up super early yesterday to make it in time for Zeke's 8:55am soccer game, and then to hang out with us the rest of the day.  It was on and off sprinkling, but we were blessed with dry skies for a visit to Hurst Ranch where they had the train going, a petting zoo, a hay maze, and pumpkins.  After a fun time there, we enjoyed lunch at Camacho's, then Zeke was excited to share his new Wii game with Nana & Papa.  We definitely enjoyed the fun and relaxing pace of the day, and a special thanks to the in-laws for making the trip!

As expected...

...Emmy earned her way to the top of her ribbon mark!  Reward day for Emmy!!!  It was a bit of a bummer though, as she wanted to go see a movie for her reward and there is nothing appropriate for her viewing in the theatre right now.  She settled for $5 and hopes to spend it on something Barbie-ish. =) Yea, Emmy!

Friday, October 22, 2010

The hard work pays off!!!

It was an exciting morning in the Miller household today!!!  Zeke's reward jar was finally full of 'jewels'!!!  He's been working hard for the last 2 weeks earning jewels (see previous jewels post if your are clueless as to what this means!), and today was the day he got to the top and could choose his reward.  He's been saving money to buy the Lego Star Wars game for the Wii, and he just needed a couple more dollars to afford it, so for his first reward, he chose $5--and after school today, we'll take a trip to Walmart for the game.  He's sooooo excited!  And I'm sooooo excited our new 'system' is working so well! 

(Emmy is close behind, and will probably be at her mark today or tomorrow!)

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Playdate at Cover's Apple Ranch

Emmy, Ethan and I had good fun with great friends at Cover's today on the annual MOPS playdate.  Cover's is so fun this time of year with all the pumpkins and the hay maze in addition to the normal fun of the barn animals and playground, and of course... all the apples!  We took a train ride and then a tour of the facility where the kids got to see how they core and peel the apples, how they slice them up (and how yummy they tasted!) and then how they put a pie together.  Emmy was the most talkative one on the tour, answering all the questions to the best of her ability--and most of the time, right on! =)  Afterwards, we all got a delicious apple cookie and fresh apple cider.  We were able to stay and play for awhile and enjoyed our time throughly!
Emmy and some of her cute little friends

Ethan loving everything about exploring, eating, and playing!

Cover's Apple Ranch--October 2010

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

More Scenes from Grandpa's party

I don't think I got too many great pictures this time, but at least it's a snapshot of the evening and our time together.  If anyone wants individual pictures sent to them via email, I'm happy to send them to you (you can click on the image to view it larger)!  Love you, my FAB family, and it was great to be with you all!!!



Monday, October 18, 2010

Celebrate Grandpa Al!

We just got home from a wonderful birthday weekend celebrating Grandpa Al's 85th birthday!  We had a great time catching up with our beautiful and big Fabulich side of the family, meeting some new friends and loving on our beloved Grandpa.  I'll post some more pictures of the kids and some other shots I got around the party, but figured my first post about it would be focused on the guest of honor!  We love you, Grandpa!

Sunday, October 10, 2010


Well, I finally did it.... I actually got a 'chore' system that seems to be working for both of my very different children!!! Thank you Family Fun magazine for the article 'Don't Lose Your Marbles' back in the June/July 2010 issue, which I tore out and have been saving since I read it. When I saw this in practice in a couple of my friends homes, I was motivated (or should I say desperate?) to give it a try. We definitely needed something in place to help me be consistent with getting the kids to learn about responsiblities and doing their part to contribute to the household operations.

On Thursday, Emmy helped me decorate the vases (which I found at Walmart for $1 each!) for each kid, and when Zeke got home from school, we all worked together to come up with the name, the 'rules,' and most importantly, the rewards.

The 'system': They get jewels (which are little decor rocks that I also found at Walmart for $3 a bag) from me, the keeper of the jewels, for completing their tasks throughout the day. They get 2 jewels if they do it on their own without prompting, one if they are asked to do it and complete it w/out complaining or delaying, and if they disobey or otherwise, they have to give a jewel back. They can also earn extra here and there if the keeper of the jewels catches them being extra helpful, or having extra good attitudes, lovingly helping a sibling, etc. Zeke has to fill his jar up to the tip top, Emmy has to fill to the ribbon line and Ethan to the top of his name (figured he needed a goal to give the 'fairness' thing to the other kiddos). Once they reach these markers, they get to pick one of the 'rewards'--and they are sooooooo excited about this!

So, we are only on day 4 of this new adventure... they both have earned about 40 jewels so far and are constantly on the look out for how to earn more--Ethan has 8 =) and could truly care less--he'd rather chew on the jewels! They've been spending hours just like in the picture above, counting and sorting their colorful jewels and dreaming of the reward they get. Hopefully it will continue to be effective even as the excitement wears off. I guess it's only as effective as I make it, so... here's to consistency!!!
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Thursday, October 7, 2010

Emmy the Hula Hooper

Emmy truly learned how to hula hoop last week and I am proud to say that after only 1 week, I think she's the most fabulous 4 year old hula hooper I know! Look at those hips go!

That's my girl!

Monday, October 4, 2010



Emmy finally got to have her 'Cuffin Party' that she's been wanting to have since summer. Once we discovered that 'cuffins' were just like scones, we set the party date and decided to take advantage of the break from preschool this week to do it. So we made some heart shaped chocolate chip cuffins, and some raspberry ones to share with her friends, as well as blueberry muffins, strawberries and grapes. Hot chocolate (and coffee & tea for the mommies) and juice topped us off. The girls had a great time eating, playing together and painting princess (and mickey mouse) suncatchers.

Emmy is now recovering from her big morning by watching High School Musical and relaxing upstairs under a blanket. I suspect she may fall asleep soon...
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Sunday, October 3, 2010

Columbia Air Attack Base


I was able to accompany Zeke to his first field trip as a first grader to the Air Attack Base in Columbia this past Thursday morning. It was a great time of learning about the bombers, kids putting their hands in the retardant (Zeke calls it 'snot'), and climbing into the helicopter. Shout out to Melissa for watching my other two kiddos so I could join in the fun!

Saturday, October 2, 2010

About Me

I am a wearer of many hats. I've learned something about myself in the last few years... I like it that way. Jesus is the center of my life, and everything else revolves around that (or at least I want it to).

My most important roles are wife and mother. I have a wonderful husband who I just celebrated 10 years of marriage with, and 3 beautiful children who keep me busy, tired, laughing and fulfilled.

I love to be creative, but I don't really find much time for it...so what I have is a lot of creative ideas and a hope that I can actually see some come to fruition at some point. Maybe this blog will motivate me in this category. =)

I love to be organized, and I actually love the process of organizing as well. But there is that time factor again, and my perfectionist tendencies that sometimes get the best of me... if it can't be the perfect, end all system, solution, piece of furniture, etc., I won't bother with it and then the mess bothers me (and my dear sweet hubby).

Currently, I am working part time at our local community college, Columbia College http://www.gocolumbia.edu/, as a guidance counselor and instructor... which is wonderful that I actually get to use those degrees I worked so hard to get. I love working there--the environment, the people, the actual work--it's challenging and rewarding and flexible.

We are a busy family with a lot going on, but mostly I just love being with people, especially those I love the most. I love a good book, special friends, movie night, date night, a powerful sermon, babies laughs, a pretty flower, a done scrapbook page... I could go on and on. It's the simple pleasures that make life meaningful for me, and I try to live in that thankful place.

Friday, October 1, 2010

My own blog...

...so I debated for a while about starting a personal blog, but I think that if I can keep up on it, that this could be an effective way to let my loved ones know what we are up to. Facebook seems too public, email too specific. This way, I can just tell our stories, share pictures, process thoughts and ideas and then whoever wants to read 'em, can! I've been creatively inspired by so many other people's blogs, that maybe I can pay it forward with mine, too. So, here goes! I'm a blogger!