Christmas part 1

My parents just bought a bunk bed for when the the grand kids come visit. Who doesn't love a bunk bed? This one is great because both beds are full size. I really want one! Probably should have a house first:) When it's Darrin's night to tuck the kids in.......I often find all three boys tuckered out!
Colby and Ethan love the trampoline. I loved having one growing up and it is nice because it is in the ground. Much safer. The kids and I always have a blast on it.

This Christmas we went shooting, I love shooting. Soooooo much fun. Kayle has a handgun which is super powerful and had a nice kick to it. Darrin really loved this bad boy and Kayle would start from where we were shooting and take a ton of shots walking and jogging up to the target. I swear it was like watching some undercover agent/ James Bond kind of thing. Pretty sweet! Darrin was great at knocking off all of the targets we lined up.
( We also (each couple) bought an airsoft gun and we would print off a target and have competitions in the basement, I love those things!!)




The day we went shooting, it was freezing! By the end, Candice and I would warm up in the car and only get out when someone else was nice enough to load up the guns:) This gun we borrowed from the Dunkley's, it was super fun. You could load 2 shells and when you pulled the trigger the smoking shell would fly out, how awesome! I really want this bad boy, it's kind of heavy for me so I would leave the gun down until the skeet was thrown than lift it and aim. My shot might improve if I held it up the whole time!

Candice and I had a blast. Her official gun stance, that's how people shoot right? We had all of the fun while the guys were nice enough to go set up the targets( thanks to Darrin's massive pop addiction we had plenty) P.S. The guns not loaded, We do practice gun safety!!

I am shooting my dad's 22. I think this is my favorite gun. It is super lightweight and no kick, I am more comfortable with this one so my aim is a little better. Candice, my dad and I would have competitions to see who could knock down all of the cans. My dad hit every single one. Let's just say Candice and I had fun! :) At least I have swagger when I shoot!! HAHA



Grandpa Miller's Funeral

A couple of days before heading to Boise, for Christmas, we found out my Grandpa was not doing well; a few days later he passed. Darrin stayed in Boise taking care of the boys while I drove down to Rexburg, ID with my parents, Natalie, Spencer and his wife Juliann and their newest baby, Tanner.
  I have been to funerals before but never a close relative. Being L.D.S I know that he truly is in a better place. If anyone knows my Grandpa he definitely made it! (unlike myself for example; I could go anywhere :) But not him- he was amazing!
  Having my Grandpa pass is sad.  I get teared up knowing my Grandma and him will be apart. Now that I am married, I know how hard it is to be away from my husband and it makes me sad to know that my Grandma will be missing her loving and devoted husband everyday until they meet again.
  The funeral service was amazing. My Grandpa was such an amazing guy. Each of his kids gave a talk about different aspects of his life and being there made me realize (even more than I had already known) what a great guy he was. My Grandpa was a great dad, great at his job, served our country, great husband, served the Church, I could go on and on. I am proud to say that he is my Grandpa and know he will be missed. I am exited to see him again.












Grandpa Miller loved sage. When he was far away during World War 2 he missed the smell of it, he said some of his favorite letters he received was when someone sent a sprig of Sagebrush in the envelope. It just flooded him of memories back home. He was a good ole' Idaho boy who always wanted to get back home.
If anyone has been to Rexburg they should know how cold it gets; it is freezing. The wind does not help.  It always feels a good 10 degrees colder because of this. The day my Grandpa was buried it had snowed and the ground had a good foot of snow. After the burial service, everyone started getting in their cars when I noticed my cousin, Lincoln, discretely trudging deep through the snow to the very outskirts of the cemetery. I wondered what he was doing.  As he made his way back to our Grandpa's burial site I saw that he held something in his hand. As he approached the casket, he laid a bundle of sage upon his casket.
I could picture my Grandpa smiling down.





My Grandpa was a patriarch. He gave me my Patriarchal blessing and sealed me to my husband. The last song that was sung at his funeral was God Be With You Till We Meet Again. I have grown to love this song and which now has a new meaning for me.



God be with you till we meet again; By his counsels guide, uphold you; With his sheep securely fold you. God be with you till we meet again. Till we meet, till we meet, Till we meet at Jesus’ feet, Till we meet, Till we meet, God be with you till we meet again. God be with you till we meet again; When life’s perils thick confound you, Put his arms unfailing round you. God be with you till we meet again. Till we meet, till we meet, Till we meet at Jesus’ feet, Till we meet, till we meet, God be with you till we meet again. God be with you till we meet again; Keep love’s banner floating o’er you; Smite death’s threat’ning wave before you. God be with you till we meet again. Till we meet, till we meet, Till we meet at Jesus’ feet, Till we meet, till we meet, God be with you till we meet again.

Family Photo Shoot

We are to cheap and in school for professional pictures, for Christmas cards Candice and I traded off taking each others pictures. My kids decided it was best not to cooporate at all, we did get some pictures. After trying to get both kids to smile and look at the camera at the same time- I want to pull my hair out! Exhausting work, how do pro's do it! Bribes or drugs??


Guns a'blazing

When Candice and Kayle stayed with us for a couple weeks, we went shooting a couple times. I fell back in love with guns. We sold our guns when we moved to California for Disney passes, I think I want them back! We had a blast. Kayle is great to go with. I totally trust him and he gives me lessons and teaches me all about gun safety. I would NEVER go shooting with someone I didn't fully trust. We had a great time, that hand gun is POWERFUL! Thanks Kayle, Darrin and I had a great time!

Halloween

 My monkey did not take a nap on Halloween. He needed a quick nap in the car so he could have lots of energy from candy.
 The Man in the Yellow hat and his Monkey- Curious George


I still don't know if my kids really get Halloween but they know they get candy so I guess they get the good part of it. I wonder what they can be for next year, hmmm...........

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Craft time

Craft time. Pinterest has quickly became an addictive thing in my life. This is something that is so addicting and gives me the best ideas. I'm starting to love craft time.

 I made a black and orange wreath and had some adorable blocks from last year that I made.

 I already had a monkey costume for Ethan but Darrin and I made Colbys costume, the man in the yellow hat. They are SO handsome!!!  Can you tell we like Curious George:)

Randon Picts

The other night I went to check on Colby and could not find him anywhere. I was starting to panic and look everywhere in his room, his bathroom, Ethan's room, he was NO where to be found. I was going to go to the garage to check if for some crazy reason the door was unlocked and he went out there... nope. Just asleep on the floor right outside Andy's door.


 Sometimes while I am cleaning the basement the boys are off doing there own thing in their adventure land. Today it was playing sleep. I have to say I liked that adventure.
 Ethan is not camera shy. He still will take pictures with me. Yeah!
 Dawn came over to get some fabric and let the boys make and wear necklaces. Thanks Dawn:)



Grandma and Grandpa visit

My parents came to visit in October while Darrin was out of town. Ethan became obsessed with his Grandpa. He would wake up in the morning and naps always looking for his new best friend. Ethan quickly had a favorite and I was replaced. 

I always have a great time when they come and visit. We rode on the plasma car, went to a pumkin patch, visited the temple and made homemade raspberry freezer jam and applesauce. Yummy!! I am ready for the winter, good thing it is sweater season, this stuff is addicting.
 Here is "Paga" and Ethan on the plasma car.
 Ethan scootin down the driveway wishing he was on the plasma car.
 Ethan on the scoot and ride. He has no fear. He will scoot along super fast- face plant and get right back up to do it again but even faster. Hmmm like father like son.
 Colby and Paga carving pumpkins. My dad is an awesome pumpkin carver.
 The boys at the Pumpkin patch with Grandma and Grandpa. The Pumpkin Patch was a ton of fun. We picked out pumpkins, the boys went through the maze, they went on  a hay ride, we had a great time.

 These are some of the many pictures of Ethan with his most favorite person ever. Paga! We can't wait to see you guys again.


Ethan enjoys Gramps all to himself. He would not let Paga put him down the whole week. Thanks for visiting Mom and Dad. We love Ya.

ME, scared........

Not that this comes to anyones surprise, I am still completely scared of the dark. Darrin has been out of town the last couple of nights and so my parents were nice enough to come down and visit during this time. My parents could not stay the entire time so I had a girls night where two of my nieces came over for a sleepover. It was super fun, we painted nails, ordered pizza and watched a lot of Community- it was great.
Sunday came along and the girls went back home and the boys and I went to church and did are normal Sunday routine. I put the kids to bed at 7 and even though it was already dark outside I wasn't nervous because I new Darrin would be home by 9 or 10. I can handle being by myself until bedtime.......right? Well not anymore.
Let me just emphasize this: I am a crazy psycho person when it comes to feeling safe. I figure if I do everything I can to be safe than God will help me out by keeping creepy people away and we can have a nice mutual agreement. ( Don't quote me on my theory- it's a little out there) Anyways, I always make sure windows are locked and if I ever open one, it always gets locked again. I have every door locked at all times. I like feeling safe. When I have my own place I will have a big dog and a security system, maybe throw in some self defense and karate classes.
I always side with caution when it comes to situations I would rather not be in. Ex, I will now never have a cable or repair person come to the house when I am home alone, I always park in well lit areas, I always talk on my phone in case something does happen the person I am talking too will know what to do, I always hold my keys in between my fingers while walking to the car in case I need to punch someone. I get very anxious about certain situations, so I always try to be prepared and always try to avoid these situations- if I can. In California, a cable repair guy came while Darrin was at work, I hid all of my knives randomly throughout the house so he wouldn't know where any sharp object were kept and so I would have the advantage if I needed it. Seriously I did. This is how crazy and extreme I am with my irrational fear of some guy trying to get me, silly but I have it.
Now that you have enough of my back story, and are now thinking........ well I don't think I want to know what you are thinking. Okay, back to Sunday. It is about 8pm and I am just checking emails when I thought I should go feed Andy (the dog) some dinner. I went in and turned on the lights when all of a sudden, he starts barking like CRAZY. He runs out of his room through the doggie door barking frantically. (this dog does not bark unless it is a must) I am now starring at the door and realize that his door is unlocked, my kids and I never use that door. Now I have lost it. I decide to start calling people on my cell phone to see who can calm me down. I call Dawn to see if she can come over, so she immediately hops in her car but now I have to wait 10-15 minutes. Until then, I can be blunged to death. Lucid imagination, I know. This is why I never watch scary movies, my imagination is way better:) I try calling Spencer because lets face the facts he is always amazing with words, I did think to call my husband but he is with a bunch of guys and I don't want them all to know my craziness, even though now I am blogging about it so now everyone can know. Well, Spenc doesn't answer so I call Candice, she answers and at this point I am balling hysterically. The first thing she says is "Don't worry, why don't you just go and get your mace," now I am crying even harder because I am now explaining to her that I don't have any. Candice did do a good job calming down after the mace incident:) Luckily Dawn came and everything worked out, and now I officially have my own Mace. YEAH!!!!


!!!!!WATCH OUT BAD GUYS!!!!!!

Ethan's Newest look

In a couple of days Ethan has a new look, he makes the most adorable face. Through out the day he will just look over at you and give you the biggest grin... while doing so he is forever squinting one eye. I promise I am not holding a flash light up to the kid. I love it! This new look brightens my day and puts a BIG smile on my face.






Bakin' with Colby








Today was chilly outside and was a lazy day. I have not been in the mood to cook at all this week and I noticed my bananas were looking quite sad and forgotten. While Ethan was taking his afternoon nap Colby and I decided to make banana bread.
Okay, so on occasion I may loose my patience every once in a while, hmmm imagine that. I was trying to think of jobs for Colby to do while helping me make the bread. He wanted to help sooo badly. His first was to unwrap the butter, he did a great job, next he helped stir all of the dry ingredients, also fantastic. His final job as my sous-chef, to help put all of the dry ingredients into the mixer. I told him he needed to be super careful so the ingredients could make it into the mixer. As he was scooping the ingredients out he happened to scoop a lot onto me. I let out a kind of loud arrrrr, in frustration. Normally I would have been way more frustrated and would than say he was done helping. I surprised myself and kept my cool. I sometimes shock myself :)   I was just starting to look down at my clothes to see how much spilled out and if I should adjust the recipe. Anyways, I look over and you could tell Colby felt horrible, he was slowly putting his spoon down and looked at me and said "I am all done now?" as he was climbing down his stool. I quickly smiled and explained the bread would be just fine and so would mommy. Colby loves banana bread and kept sneaking away with Ethan's. Cooking with kids is messy but I love it, I have the best job ever.



New BFF

Okay, so I have kind of been horrible about being social since we moved back, it seemed easier in California. I have been a hermit. Being in Payson, where we live in an established ward, there is not a lot- of stay at home moms or  park day. I miss park days. :(  Anyways,  I signed up for a ton of upcoming MBASA things. ( MBA- spouses association) In the mean time I have been in super craft mode and starting to be more social.
Darrin's really good friend from high school lives here and they have 4 boys. Yesterday we went on a walk to Bridal Veil falls with their 2 youngest. I haven't been to the falls in so long, it's a super short walk so definetly kid friendly and it is gorgeous. The fall colors are peaking through- I want to go again soon. Aubrey and I had a great time with the kiddos. Colby and Tad are quickly becoming friends, they were playing freeze and making funny faces while running around, so adorable together. By the way, I LOVE listening to kid conversations. They say the cutest things.

Here they are having a good time





Ethan and Kel content in the stroller, chillin


Zebra Inspired





While pinning.... I am starting to think way too many of my sentences are starting like this, ADDICTED! Back to reality, I found an awesome tutorial on how to make a zebra cake, it was super easy to do and I love how it looks. The dessert for Sunday dinner was a success. My nieces loved it, they are so nice.

I have learned how hard it is to make a 4 tier cake and frost it while making it look good. This is only my 3rd attempt at trying to frost a cake, but boy is is tough. I am going to have to try more often because I need the practice. I still had a blast and am excited to try and get better at this whole cake decorating thing.