That's My Girl!

Just when I thought I couldn't love my daughter anymore, she decided to do a project after my own heart.  Organize.  You see, she got this big tub of beads for Christmas:

 The beads are awesome and easy for her little fingers to use.  There are endless possibilites and they came with a little book to give you ideas.  Like this:

 or this:

 But my sweet girl opened it to the back and found the packing list.  Her eyes got wide and I can only imagine the pitter patter that happened in her heart when she saw such organized perfection.  "This is what I want to make, Momma."

 I kind of did too so we got to work.  She was in charge of looking at the book to make sure that she got everything EXACTLY the way it was supposed to be.

 My job was to sort the beads so that they would be ready when she needed them.  Under no circumstance was I to place a bead on the table but I was allowed (and expected) to straighten out the rows.

After about two hours (this kid is persistant if nothing else), including our dinner break, she declared mission accomplished!

 A couple of things surprised me about this project.  First, that the tub of beads contained exactly what was in the picture and second, that we were only missing one.  That, my friends is the true miracle.  Thankfully it was one of the flowers placed randomly at the bottom and not one of the ones with a specific place.  Because while I tried to prepare her before we started that some may be missing, I don't think it would have gone over very well.

In the end, she was so very proud of herself and my heart was bursting just knowing that she really is her momma's girl!!



Sprucing things up...little by little

I love love love my house!  Really I do.  We spent a lot of time and money to make sure it was the perfect house for us, and it is.  Well, mostly.  The house itself is just what I have always wanted.  The space, the layout, all of the things that are difficult to change are just as I want them to be.  The things that I'm not so sure about though are the deco and furniture (and of course the yard but that's another story for another day). 

 You see, part of the problem is that I just don't know what I want.  I really have no clue what I like.  I know what I don't like.  I can find that everywhere, at almost any store.  But finding what I like has proven to be a challenge.  I am a minimalist of sorts.  I don't like a lot of clutter but the way I have been living is a bit minimal even for me.  If you have ever been to my house, you know that my couch is my only piece of living room seating.  And while it is quite comfy, it is awkward for more than two people to sit and have a conversation.

If you have had the opportunity to squish onto the couch after dinner with 8 of your closest friends, you probably have noticed that the end of my living room looks a be deserted.  Except for the month of December when this corner is the home to our Griswold style Christmas tree, this part of the house gets no love.  I take that back.  The kids LOVE the big open area where they can run and slide "Risky Business" style to their hearts desire.  But as for being a functional part of our living room?  Not so much.

Now it's not that I don't want anything over there, I just haven't known what it is I want.  Lazy Boys seemed too big and bulky and club chairs, while they had the right look didn't seem comfy enough.  So, half of the room has stood empty for 18 months.  Until last week when I was shopping at the place my bank account dreads the most...Costco. 

You know, you go in for a 6 month supply of toilet paper and come out with a new ladder?  What?  That has never happened to you?  You obviously have never been there.  They are geniuses actually.  Things you NEED at prices so low you can't say no.  And they have a little bit of everything.  Once I went to get new tires and they tell me that my car will be ready in an hour and a half.  What was I supposed to do but stock up on things like chicken wings and new area rugs?  Anyway, last week I was there to buy some fruit and cans of chicken when I happened to glance over and what I saw made angels sing!!  Can you believe it?  The very chair I didn't know I was looking for!!!  I made the mistake of sitting down and then I knew there was no going back.  This chair had the look and the comfort I knew I needed in my living room.  Robbie agreed.  And then he choked a little when I told him I thought we needed two.  So I settled for one.  I took it home and within 10 minutes, it looked like someone actually lived in the east end of my house.

Perfect!!  Well, almost.  I was still not convinced that one was enough.  The next morning, while Robbie was at work, I invited a focus group of my closest friends and my mother to come over and give me their opinion.  And what do you know?  They ALL said that we needed another chair.  And although he grumbled that I had been brain washed and peer pressured, he agreed!  And finally I have the living room seating that I have been wanting!!

Now the living room isn't the only room in the house getting some love.  You may remember that I gussied up the kids' rooms a few months back.  I also have been adding photos to my otherwise blank walls.  Our next big project was the playroom.  I wanted something cute and personal to help decorate their space, but I didn't want to spend a ton.  So off we headed to the craft store where I spent $25 on canvases and paint. 

The first thing I did was paint the canvases a neutral color so that they would have a finished look even if they kids didn't paint every square inch.  The next morning after breakfast, they set to work.  Abby was very precise, making straight lines and choosing her colors veeerrrrrrry carefully...

Ben, not so much...

Since there were 3 canvases in the package, they worked together on the third one.  Notice the orange line the Abby made down the middle so Ben didn't mess up her picture.

When they were done, we were all proud to hang them in the playroom!!

So there you have it.  My house is a work in progress.  As I find just the right things, I add them.  Maybe one day I will have finished decorating, but that won't be any day soon!

Miller Family Ohio Vacation

All our bags are packed, we're ready to go...Ohio here we come!!

 All snuggled up and sleeping (finally!) after a looooooooooong day of traveling.

 The first day of our vacation was a travel day and the second day we spent getting caught up with Robbie's grandparents who we haven't seen since the kids were about 8 months old.  On the third day, we packed up our SUV and headed for the Toledo Zoo with Robbie's Aunt Sharon and her grandson Justin (who was a lifesaver on this trip!) along with Robbie's parents. 

 We saw lots of animals that we don't see at home like giraffes....

 Rhinos (no idea why this guys horns are backward)...

 and the cutest little 3 week old elephant you have ever seen!!

 It was a little warmer than we are used to.  Abby even told me that she likes the weather in Washington better...pretty sure she is NOT my kid!

 Ben fell in love with a meerkat which was apparently "the cutest thing that I ever even saw" and had a hard time coming to grips with the fact that he couldn't live with him and be his daddy.  He walked around the zoo like this for close to 40 minutes.

 We had a great family day...

 even if it did leave us a little tuckered out!

 The next day was sunny again and we headed over to the city pool where we all had fun playing in the water.

 Ben really wanted to jump off the diving board and was disappointed when he didn't quite make it across the pool to pass the swim test.

 The following day was our big family outing to Cedar Point, a HUGE amusement park known for all of it's roller coasters.  While Robbie spent time riding the 3rd tallest roller coaster in the world, among others, the kids and I spent a lot of time on some tamer rides...

 They couldn't have been happier when we finally found Snoopy

 and we even had front row seats to his ice skating show!!

 Afterward we enjoyed some Icees

 and won some prizes (thanks Aunt Sharon!!)

 And we all got a little wet on the water rides!

 After our long day at Cedar Point we just kind of laid low the next day, visiting with Great Grandma and Great Grandpa and resting up for our busy evening.  Once again, we headed into Toledo and started out with dinner at the famous (or so we were told) Tony Packos where they serve gigantic hot dogs (and yes, he did eat all of it!)...

 and chili sundaes.

 Then we headed across the street to watch the Toledo Mud Hens, the AAA affiliate for the Tigers.  We represented the Mariners...

 hung out with a few of our favorite guys...

 bought new hats...

 and had our picture taken with a variety of Toledo mascots...

 (These are the Mud Hens mascots, Muddy and Muddonna!)

 The evening ended with a fireworks show (which Ben obviously loved...)

 The next day we were up bright and early to drive to another zoo in Cleveland to meet up with family on the Miller side from New York.  We had so much fun meeting cousin Abby!!

 We also spent the day with her parents Sherman (Robbie's cousin, can you tell?!?) and Melissa and Robbie's Aunt Peggy.

 We saw even more new animals...

 and the Abbys became fast friends!

 It was a great day!

 But it sure wore us out!!

 On our last full day in Ohio we had the Saul family reunion.  We met lots of new family and spent the day catching up with everyone.  Here are Ben and Abby with Great Grandpa.

 Here we all are, Robbie's grandparents and all of their kids and most of their grandkids!

 Abby and Ben loved Justin!!

 At some point Abby grabbed the camera to take some self portraits...

 I grabbed the camera back to snag some pictures of everyone with Great Grandma...

 Cousins, Ben & Ben...

 and Abby and Ben with Ben and Gage...

That evening we all played Duck Duck Goose in Great Grandma's backyard! 

 We had an amazing trip filled with lots of family and lots of fun.  While we were there, Ben perfected his cannon ball...

 and Abby perfected her belly flop!!

 Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for a wonderful trip!  We love you!!