My top 10 favorite movies

Ok..I had to do a lot of thinking to come up with my top 10 favorite movies. I know Ryan's better than my own!!

1. Anastasia
2. Jungle Book (either the real live version or cartoon)
3. Any Lethal Weapon
4. The Matrix
5. Big Fish
6. There is Something About Mary
7. Monsters Inc. (this was Tanner's favorite since before he could talk and now mine)
8. Hook
9. The Dark Knight
10. Toy Story

I'm probably the only one who has animated movies is their top 10!! I guess when I have watched so many of them for so long, they become favorites!!

The Mills' Girls!

I know that title sounds a little funny, but I have a house full of girls. They smell and sometimes act like boys, but deep down they are girls!! I haven't caught them putting make-up on or painting toenails, but I have caught them having a pillow fight. Look who happens to be in the middle!! They are using Ella as protection!!

The whole reason that any of this started was Ryan was taunting Tanner and the fight then ensued. Next thing I know, Tanner starts taunting me?! Why? I don't know, but Ryan has the nerve to say, "What has gotten into him? Why does he do that?" I take a step back and look at him. Really? Are you kidding me? Do you really have to ask?


Sunday morning Tanner and Ella got ready to go to church with my mom and dad. Tanner woke up his solemn sweet self. Oh how I wished that he would have stayed that way all day. Oh no!! More running of the mouth. So this time, I decided to put a stop to it. I had him pinned on the ground with him still running his mouth. Ella at one point got up on top of me to help me with Tanner. She would then tell me to giddy up!! I don't know how much longer I'm going to be able to take him out if I need to, but at least I can for now!

Am I a Terrible Mother?

Oh my poor son!! He has a big red strawberry in the middle of his forehead. It is not small either. I feel terrible. Let me tell you what happened...
In second grade, the kids get to begin to compete in UIL events. Tanner had chosen to try-out for two events. However, on Monday, we find out that the two events he would like to do at competition time are usually close together and he may not be able to do both. So, we think ok, he won't do one and just do the other. But, what we didn't know, he still needed to try out for both of them. Poor Tanner should have been practicing all week on his poem for his try out. Yesterday came the time to try out and Tanner was nervous because he had not practiced his poem at home like he was suppose to because his parents are idiots!! But because he is so nervous, he scratches his head until he has a strawberry! He got to try out with a poem that he spent maybe 5 minutes on and apparently did a pretty good job. Every time I look at his head I feel terrible that he was so nervous about screwing up because he didn't practice!! I know, he survived, but I feel like I failed him.

Disconnected from the world

This weekend has been a mad house. Friday at lunch Ryan asked if I would go to Fritch with him. He said he needed help at the ball game. Being the loving wife I am, I called my mother at the last minute. Do you mind? Thank you mom, I love you and owe you so much!! We go to the game and I get to drive home as he is writing the football article.

Saturday we get up and head to go eat breakfast and then to the Jr.High for flag football. Ryan said he wasn't going to be a coach. He can't resist telling Tanner what to do and how is the best way to do it. Tanner of course, loves it!! After the game, we head home while Ryan is telling Tanner that the only reason the big girl was blocking him was because she liked him, which in turn gets Tanner all riled up and a fight persues. We get home and Ryan starts telling Tanner how to stand and how to get around big girls. Ella who is standing in her pull-up gets down in the stance with the boys and as they raise up, Ella heads right for Ryan. Oh yeah, she took him out!! I was so proud!! I told her to remember how she did that so if a boy messed with her, she could take them out!!

Later Satruday we get a phone call from Josh Johnson, Ryan's grandmother had died. So, we get to deal with his family worried not that their mother/grandmother has died, but what Ricky, my father-in-law will have to say to each of them. Anyone who knows my father-in-law knows he is a man of few words. But let me tell you. I have never seen him mad, much less so furious that I was afraid he was going to have a heart attack. The family decided it would be best just to do graveside services so the family didn't have to all be together for too long. If they would have, there might have been a killing.

I feel like so much has happened in the world and I know none of what is going on. I hate feeling that disconnected. I had to look at a calendar today, just so I would know what day it is and what I would need to do for the rest of the week. I know that I have still been working, but right now everything seems so surreal!!

10 reasons I love Fridays!

Here goes...
1. I love knowing that I get to spend the entire weekend with my family.
2. I usually don't work on Fridays!!
3. I can do laundry all day Friday and don't have to worry about it for the rest of the weekend
4. Going to Wal-Mart at 10 in the morning and it's pretty empty!
5. Not having to get up and be at work at 7am
6. Being able to go to bed Friday night knowing that Saturday is our family breakfast outing!!
7. I can watch my soap operas(love me some Y&R and GH!)
8. I love it that I can go get Tanner from school!
9. I get to spend some time with Ella by ourselves (but glad when dad comes home!!)
10. We(Ella and I) get to take a nap!!

Happy Cake

This week has been a pretty good week for a little girl. She has gotten to eat Happy Cake twice!! She is so pumped. Monday was Pop's(Ricky's) birthday. As part of the birthday celebration, Ryan and I cook whatever the birthday person wants for their birthday. Pop wanted some fajitas and we readily obliged. Before we ate, I was trying to get Ella to sing Happy Birthday to Pop. Everyone but Ella sang Happy Birthday to him. While we are eating Ella announces she is ready for some Happy Cake. I told her before she could eat any she had to sing Happy Birthday to Pop. We waited and no song. So we all begin talking again and she starts singing happy birthday in her sweet voice. We all stop to hear her and she stops singing. We start talking again and she starts singing again. We kept talking quietly so Pop could hear her sing. It was so sweet!

Then my grandmother had her birthday on the 17th, but she wanted to celebrate last night. I tried to get her to let me fix supper for her, but she said it would just be easier to go eat. Ok, I'm not going to argue with an 88 year old woman. (I pick my battles! Sometimes!) Anyway at supper Ella announces again she is ready to go to mamaw's house to eat some happy cake. By this time she knows she is suppose to sing Happy Birthday, but still refuses. Everyone had a piece of cake and was talking...and she finally pipes up and starts singing Happy Birthday.

I don't know why she is so stubborn. Must take after her dad!!

Bedtime Prayers

As a kid growing up my parents would say a bedtime prayer with me. I remember every night as I lay in my bed, my mom or dad would come in and say a bedtime prayer with me. I was a little sad when they no longer did that with me. It was a special time with my parents, just me and them saying a prayer together thanking God for all the blessings he had given me as a kid.

About 5 1/2 years ago, I started with Tanner, saying a prayer. We used the prayer that his prayer bunny said. "Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. To angels watch me through the night, until I wake in morning light. Amen." I started saying one with him before he could talk well, so he would know that it is a special time with me or Ryan. We still continue to say a prayer every night with him.

When Ella was first born, Tanner would always want her in his room to say a prayer before he went to sleep. As Ella got older she was going to bed before he was, so she wasn't always awake for him to say his prayer with. Now, that she is older, she is the one who is asking to tell Tanner goodnight and to say a prayer with him. All of us, Ryan, Tanner, Ella and myself all pile on Tanner's bed to say a prayer, tell each other goodnight and that we love them. Last night, I thought we were going to have to call Tanner to say a prayer with him over the phone. I told Ella that I would say one with her. At first that wasn't good enough, but she finally relented. We said our prayer and then she leaned over to me and kissed me on the forehead and said "Goodnight sweet Momma. I love you." I then leaned over to her and kissed her forehead and said, "Goodnight my sweet Ella. I love you." It wasn't long and she was asleep.

By far, this is my favorite time of the day. My children and husband are actually sweet to one another and they really do love one another. As a mother, that is the best feeling in the world. To have my family together with love.

Little Ears

I know that little kids are like spounges. They absorb so much of what we do, how we act and what we say. Today was no exception for Ella. In the past Ella wants to get on the computer like mommy and pay bills. She gets up in the chair, clicks the mouse and punch some keys. So she paid some bills. Today, I wanted some ice cream and Ryan said he would take us to go get some. I grab my badge, it has my id's and debit card in with it. Ella loves carrying it when we go places. She enjoys pulling them out and putting them back. No big deal. Today, she pulled out my id from my office. She said "This is my card." I said no, it's mommy's. "No it's mine, I need to pay bills." Ryan started laughing. I'm thankful she mimics me and glad that she doesn't mimic her dad! We might be in trouble.

Blessing?

We just found out today that my parents are not moving. I have mixed emotions now, like I did when he found out he was one of the finalists to be interviewed. He was actually one of the top two. Anyway, it brings a huge sense of relief to me, but along with that relief comes guilt for being happy that they are not going and sadness for my dad. In the words of my father "If it were meant to be, it would have happened. There are other things in store for us." I was telling a very good friend today about it and she said that it is a blessing because now they don't have to worry about selling their house, finding another one, trying to get packed up and everything that comes with moving to a new town. She is right. But I still feel guilty for being happy they are not leaving.

I love my dad and admire him for his strength and dedication that he has. He works very hard and is a very stubborn man, and Ryan says I am a lot like him. I admit that I am. I know my dad is not perfect, but I am fine with that. He is the reason why I am who I am. He taught me to be independent, sometimes too much!! He taught me how to work hard, be happy and how to roll with what has been given to us, no matter how tough it is. I am glad he is not going and excited that my family and I will be able to spend more time with them and create more memories. Have more Saturday morning breakfasts with them, go to church with them, eat lunch with them and yes, have a babysitter(I know, I am being selfish!).

Bath time

Last night was an interesting night. We didn't do a whole lot at our house. I didn't have to fix supper so I was being pretty lazy. Anyway, I decided to go tan and leave Ryan with the kids so I could. He decided to give Ella a bath while I was gone. I got back and Ella was still in the bath tub. Tanner has just gotten in the shower. I go into Ella's bathroom and she is playing in the tub and Ryan begins to tell me that she had pooted in the bathtub and had some pretty big bubbles and apparently thought it was funny (I'm trying to spare details!) Anyway, Ryan walked out and I hear that she is still making her own bubbles, and I tell her it would be a good idea to stop as she is laughing-apparently Ryan got a kick out of it and laughed so she thought it was fun!! The next thing I hear is "Uh-Oh"....yes she pooped the bathtub...A LOT!!! So, now I get to pull a kid out of the bathtub, scoop poop out of the tub, throw toys away (I was not cleaning them!!) and clean the tub just so I could give her another bath!! UGH!! Why does she act like a boy sometimes? She thought it was great...making her own bubbles...playing in the water...making her daddy laugh!! Granted, I know the tub needed to be cleaned, but I had planned on doing it Friday when I was off!! OH WELL! I am going to pay for Ryan's raising...please pray for me!!!

I want to first say Thank you to everyone who came Thursday night...I had an awesome time and needed that night. Thank you so much....Also, Casey, if you are reading this...underpass? I was so confused!!

As I was downloading pictures off my camera, I had forgotten that I had taken the pics of the kids dressing up. I had worked hard cleaning the house and they had helped all day...so that night, they decided to get in the play clothes...Ella had soo much fun and Tanner did too!!



This weekend, the kids and I rode down to my sister's house with my parents. I was wanting the kids to be able to go down there and see them before I knew we wouldn't be able to get away. We did and had a great time, it just wasn't enough time in the weekend to do all we wanted. The boys and Ella played outside quite a bit....And poor Jake,the baby wasn't able to play with them, he wanted to and got mad when he wasn't close enough. But we had a great trip. Rode 4 wheelers, played in the sand box, watched movies, played video games, went swimming, and came home with two exhausted kids. They slept on the way home, but none the less were tired when we got home.


Do these kids look like they are up to something....Cason, Ella and Tanner are ready to eat and don't want to wait...


Jake is a chunk, he is 5 months old...He is so happy!!


Tanner had to put on goggles....

Guess who else did?!


The kids did miss their dad and I did too...Ella especially missed wrestling with her dad. She tackled Cason at one point because he was laying on the ground and she did what she thought she was suppose to do!! Too bad, my camera wasn't around!!
We are glad to be home and back to a routine...but I had a great weekend with my friends on Thursday and family on the weekend!!