New Year's Resolutions

I contemplated even doing this. I am not going to actually tell you all of my resolutions for the up coming year, but after I thought about it, I thought I would tell you some of my past ones. Especially the ones in the past five years.

Every year, I always ask for a healthy year. For the past 5 years, either, Ryan, Ella or myself have been so sick that we should have been in the hospital, actually been in the hospital or visited the ER. So instead of asking for a healthy year, I'm hoping that we have a year with one less visit to the hospital or doctor. And I am almost certain I just jinxed myself on New Year's Eve. Here is for hoping!!

I also ask that we are more blessed each year. And we are. We are blessed by our friends, family and jobs. We have family and so many dear friends who we love and would do anything for. Please know that we will always be willing to lend a helping hand and each of you hold a special place in our hearts.

I ask for patience each year. I need patience more than anyone will ever know. I have to remind myself daily that Tanner is still a child, not small, but who I love and adore. Even though he is smart, he is still a kid. I need patience with my daughter who is very demanding of her mother. She wants me to hold her or hold her hand or sit with me. I love it dearly, for I know that one day that will all be gone. I have to remember that daily too. I ask for patience for me to deal with Ryan being impatient at times. I also ask for patience for my husband. He is terrible with patience. I ask for his patience to deal with me. I know I am not easy to deal with all the time. I know I always have a lot to do and not ever enough time with anyone. Hopefully, I will get better.

The last thing I want is love. Every year I have been extremely blessed with love. More so in the past 5 years. Until Ryan came along, my mom and I didn't have the best relationship. He helped me open my eyes and through him I have been blessed with more from my mother, my family, from him, his family, his friends, and our children. It feels great to know that there are so many special people who we love and adore.

I wish everyone a safe, healthy and Happy New Year! See everyone next year!!

My wish!!

My Christmas wish came true!! Everyone in the Mills' house was healthy and happy this Christmas. We had a great Christmas and everyone had a few surprises this holiday. Christmas Eve was not as long of a day as I had expected, but did end on a late note. We had family movie night, and put out cookies and milk for Santa. Finally crawled in bed around 12:30. To ensure we wouldn't be up at 4, Ryan, had a few beverages. Great idea, get to sleep til at least 6!!! I could not have been more wrong. Tanner, the one who always wants to sleep later than anyone else, was up at 3:30. 3:30!! He woke up and came into my room at 4 and says "Mom, Santa has been here!" I roll over and peek from underneath my heavy eyelids at him and tell him to come get me in 30 more minutes. 30 minutes on the dot, he is in my room telling me it had been 30 minutes and he cannot contain his excitement any longer. I roll over and punch Ryan and tell him it's time to get up. He asked what time it was and then proudly announces, "I want the record to show that I wasn't the first one up this year!" We go to the living room and he sees what Santa has brought. Tanner is so excited over his Nintendo DS he can barely stand it. He also got a Mega Spinosaurus to go with his Mega TRex. I'm trying to delay getting Ella up, but Tanner has started going through her stuff, so it's time to get her up. With her eyes closed, she tells me that she can't see. The boys start telling her what all Santa has brought and she is still saying she can't see, but then all of a sudden she jumps out of my lap with a huge smile on her face and heads straight for her baby doll and stroller. The best thing for me, was seeing the look on Ryan's face when he opened his last present. I wrapped an iTunes giftcard thinking he would know he was getting an iPod and when he opened the iTunes giftcard, I thought he would know right away that the iPod was next. Obviously, he didn't know why he got the giftcard. Priceless...he was so excited, I almost started crying. He kept saying, no way, this isn't real...no way! We were finished opening presents at 5:30 and I had to delay until everyone got up at Nesey's so we could go over there. Ryan didn't want to leave his iPod, but it had to charge. Of course, Ella crashed before we got to eat lunch and I did soon after lunch. That night we went to my mom and dad's and opened presents with them and then home to bed. Tanner was trying to argue that he could stay up for a movie. His day was not complete until he was able to watch a Godzilla movie, and he finally crashed.

Ella decided to see if she could fit her in baby doll playpen...looks like she can!

This one is of my nephew who is so sweet and happy...My great grandmother is holding him and he doesn't seem to mind.


This last one is of 5 generations on my dad's side. My great grandmother, my grandmother, my dad, my sister, myself and our kids. It amazes me that she has lived as long as she has and to have seen as much as she has. She is going to be the one who out lives us all.


I hope everyone had a great Christmas!!

Weekend Wrap-up

What a great weekend we had. I'm so excited that my sister and her family came up for us to do Christmas this past weekend. We had a great time. The kids played, we ate way too much food and I got to see my nephew who is so stinking cute!! Love his little round face. I will post pics later..promise. The kids were excited over their presents. I was really surprised that my older nephew enjoyed his Spy Gear stuff as much as he did. He wore his watch all day and dang it, I owe my sister some batteries...I didn't remember it all needing batteries! Oh well. Ella got some more dress up clothes, another purse, some baby bottles and diapers for her baby dolls, and her notepad with pens!! Loved every bit of it, she did. So much so, that she has been carrying ALL of her presents around for two days now. Anytime we go anywhere, we have to wait for her to put everything in her purse, grab her wings, her diapers, her notepad, all of it just so we can go. So funny!! Tanner played with Cason all weekend. No fussing, no arguing, no tattle telling. So nice. They played dinosaurs and what not. It was neat to see how much both of them have grown up and how well they played together and used their imaginations. Now for my littlest nephew Jake. So sweet, I wanted to just squeeze him and eat him up!! (not literally) He was always pretty happy and just wanted to be in the middle of it all. My brother-in-law was at our house Saturday night to watch the Cowboys. I loved his entertainment. He is a true die-hard Cowboys fan and he was yelling and cussing at the tv, like they could actually hear him. I do not think I have laughed that hard in a while. Ryan had more fun listening to him and my dad than he did watching the game!! Loved to see and visit my sister. I miss her, and I wish that we didn't live so far away. I do enjoy going to see her and her coming here. Just wish it wasn't so few and far between.

I've been wanting to write about our year, but I may wait until December 31st, so not to jinx myself!! I truly hope everyone has a great week with family and friends. Love to all and have a Merry Christmas!!

Practice

Well, I can defintely say I am not ready for this!! Ella gave me a little practice run for Christmas Eve/Christmas morning. I'm failing miserably right now. I can barely keep my eyes open.
My sweet, wonderful, beautiful little girl went to bed at normal time last night. She wakes up this morning, not knowing what time it was, and wants me to lay in bed with her. I lay down and fully expect her to go back to sleep. Nope, the next thing I know, I feel her little face in my face telling me she is ready to watch some tv. I said it's not time to get up yet, hoping she would lay back down and go back to sleep. Yea, that didn't happen. So after an hour of laying there and her talking she gets back in my face and asks where her daddy is. I told her he is in bed sleeping. By this time I thought well, it's almost 6 and the alarm will be going off soon. So, I pick her up and we go to mine and Ryan's bed. As I round the corner I look at the clock to see if the alarm is fixing to go off.....NOPE! It was 4:48 am!! I lay her in bed and tell her that her daddy is on the other side of the bed and to tell him good morning! He grunts and groans and wants to know why I brought her to our bed. I told him, she wanted her daddy!! After wrestling with her for 15 minutes she proclaims, I'm ready to watch Tigger and Pooh momma. Ryan, who is clearly exasperated says will you just get up and put it on. I roll out of bed and take Ella to the living room and turn on Tigger and Pooh. Thirty minutes later, she wants Mickey Mouse, 30 minutes later, I tell her daddy it is his turn so I can get 30 minutes of sleep before I have to jump in the shower and head off to work at 7. Hopefully, Christmas morning I will get more of an opportunity to sleep and it won't be a surprise!!

It's beginning to FEEL a lot like Christmas

This year has been different for me. This is the first time in a while that I can think of that I am actually looking forward to Christmas. I made myself start Christmas shopping back in September and therefore, I am not running around at the last minute looking for presents that will do simply because I waited too long. Ryan even asked me why I was so excited. I told him because I'm not stressing over what to buy and hoping I don't go over budget. The weather in the past few days has really put me in the Christmas mood. It has been cold, which I really don't like, but what is Christmas without cold or snow? I can also say that because I wasn't out much.
I have also decided this Christmas Eve, I am sleeping in what I plan on wearing Christmas day. I'm sure you are thinking that is CRAZY!! Let me explain. On Christmas Eve, Ryan is so wound up about what Santa will bring for him and the kids that he keeps me up until 2 or 3 and then we get up at 4 or 5 to see what Santa brought. I keep telling him Santa won't come if you are waiting for him. He will relent for about an hour or two and then he is ready to see. He wakes the kids up and we all, half asleep, have to open presents. So, to save me time and so I can get a quick nap later, I will sleep in my clothes for Christmas day.
I hope everyone is ready for Christmas!! I wish everyone a HEALTHY Christmas that is filled with love, peace, joy and no sickness!!

Christmas Tag

Here's to you Sharon!!

1) Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper, more fun to open
2) Real or Artificial tree? Artificial, less mess
3) When do you put your tree up? The weekend after Thanksgiving, usually never soon enough.
4) When do you take your tree down? Usually,New Year's Day, depends on how much time I get to have off.
5) Do you like eggnog? No
6)Favorite gift received as a child? My Child Doll
7) Hardest person to buy for? My dad, father-in-law and brother-in-law!
8) Easiest person to buy for? Ryan
9) Do you have a nativity scene? No...maybe next year
10) Mail or e-mail Christmas Cards? Mail
11) Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Can't think of one
12) Favorite Christmas Movie? Polar Express...great movie
13) When do you start shopping for Christmas? This year it was September...hopefully earlier next year.
14) Do you hang mistletoe? No.
15) Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? fudge and cinnamon candy-when my mom used to make it
16) Lights on tree? Yes
17) Favorite Christmas Song? Noel
18) Travel at Christmas or stay home? Home on Christmas day, it is too hard to travel with santa gifts and other ones too!!
19) Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph
20) Angel or Star on top of tree? Neither-Santa hat
21) Open the presents Christmas Eve or Morning? Christmas morning. We did Christmas Eve one year because Tanner was sick
22) Most annoying thing about this time of year? How wrapped up we all get with getting the perfect gift for someone.
23) Favorite ornament theme or color? My angels
24) Favorite for Christmas Dinner? Ryan's beef tenderloin...hopefully I won't be sick this year and really enjoy it
25) What do you want for Christmas this year? To see my family happy
26)Who do you tag? Jami, Sharalyn, Karin, Ryan, Casey

Random Post

Today I was downloading some pics off my camera and found some I wanted to post. My family always seems to be chaotic at times. Sometimes they are sweet, sometimes they are funny and sometime they are mad. But this picture is the one that really worries me...they are too calm and quiet...kind of like the calm before the storm!
See, I heard noise later, and this is what I walk in on...Ella standing on the bed telling me, actually she was yelling at me she is playing football with the boys mom!


I couldn't pass this one up. One of my favorites. I had help blowing out my birthday candles with my kids...good thing they did not put 30 individual candles on the cake...I had a hard enough time blowing those out!!

Ta Da!!!
Meet Lizzy!!! The kids enjoyed helping me put her up and the ornaments too!


And last but not least. My new bedding that I got an awesome deal on at 5 am at Wal-Mart. Yes, I was one of the crazies out that morning, but I got an awesome deal...Now to paint my bedroom...UGH!

Sam is dead!!

I know, it is so sad, but Sam is no longer with us!! He had to go on to Christmas tree heaven. So, we ordered a new one and Lizzy is just perfect for our little family. She was delivered to us on Tuesday and we were able to put her up yesterday. The kids were so excited and were dancing around the living room. Tanner being a bull in china closet, but yet a perfectionist and Ella just excited to put one ornament on the tree! She dropped one ornament, as she called it, the North Pole and it broke. After we got all of the ornaments on, Ella kept walking around the tree saying how beautiful it was and wanting to touch it. At one point she laid down in front of it on her belly, propped her chin on her hands and had her legs curled up. It would have been a perfect picture, but couldn't get to my camera fast enough.

We also had a great night Friday night. We went to the Childress Christmas festival and had a great time. Tanner was upset because he didn't win a cake at the cake walk. Maybe next year. Before we went, we promised the kids we would go to McDonald's and then come back home for movie night. So, I left with the kids and we headed to McDonald's to get food and made it home to eat. After we ate, we took showers and baths, and snuggled down for movie night. Tanner was so pumped that Ryan was joining us. Ryan, had a rough night at movie night. First, he tried to get Ella to sit with him, only to be turned down because she has her own special chair she sits in. Then he put in the wrong movie, then he couldn't figure out how to get the main menu to pop up with his PS3 remote!! He started pouting and said, I guess ole' dad just ruined movie night. We had a great time and watched a good movie.

Friday morning was crazy too. I went out to Wal-Mart at 4:30 in the morning so I could get a few things on sale. CRAZY, CRAZY, CRAZY!! Mom and I get there and as soon as we get in, a cashier tells us, we can't put anything on sale in our basket. I said ok and went to go see if I could find everything I wanted. I did except for the sheets. The sheets did not come in, but they did put some others on sale. Super pumped at this time to know that I can get a king size sheets for next to nothing. Then I also saw a comforter set. Even more pumped because it is not that expensive either and I have been wanting it in the dark brown!! Let's just say blue and yellow weren't doing it for me! Anyway, I thought I would try to go over to electronics and pick up the digital photo frame. There was absolutely no way that I would be able to get over to it. Then the next thing I saw was two dudes fighting over an XBox 360. CRAZY! The funny thing was, neither one of them got it, because as they were fighting a lady went underneath them and took it!! Leave it to a woman to WIN!!

I know Monday is coming soon and all the laziness and sleeping late is over. It was fun while it lasted!! Now, I can't wait until Christmas. I have a few things up my sleeve. Hopefully, everyone will be surprised. I think I am going to have to put the singing peguins up...Ella keeps hitting the button. As I have been sitting at the computer, she keeps playing it over and over. Maybe the batteries will go dead soon!! I hope everyone had a great holiday!!

As soon as I get to work tomorrow, I will post pics of Lizzy, we are so happy she is with us now!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

I hope this finds everyone having a great Thanksgiving with friends and family. I know that as I type this, my house and heart are filled with love and best wishes for all of my family and friends. I cannot even begin to tell you what all I am thankful for this year. There are so many things! Even at 6:30 in the morning when my son comes to my bed, his first words this morning, "Happy Thanksgiving Mom" quickly followed by, I can't sleep anymore, what do I do? Dad is snoring in my bed and you are still asleep in here. What do I do? I love and am eternal thankful that he is pretty self sufficient! I told him that he could watch tv in the living room or one of his shows that we recorded. So, off to the living room he goes. About 30 minutes later I hear Ryan. Then the boys start wrestling in the living room. Ella wakes up and goes to see what is going on. She then comes and piles in the bed with her dad and brother! I tell Ella Happy Thanksgiving sweet girl! She tells me "Tanner said that to me too" It was too funny.
I hope that as a family, I can create good memories for my kids as my parents did for me. I remember spending time with family and everyone laughing and talking. Ryan still is not used to that. My dad's side of the family is pretty big, and when we all get together, we can get pretty loud. I remember one thanksgiving where we were sitting on my grandmother's porch in her porch swing. I know at least 7 grandkids were piled in the swing. We were swinging and the next thing you know, the swing is down on the porch. We broke her swing. She was not happy with us and we were all laughing so hard.
This is also the weekend that we start putting up Christmas decorations. The kids and Ryan are so excited. They actually wanted me to put up the tree yesterday!! I told them that we can't put the tree up before Thanksgiving. It is something that started 7 years ago. Not only will we put the tree up this weekend, but we will have to find a new ornament for everyone and a new Christmas decoration. It's another tradition Ryan and I started. Every holiday, we buy a new decoration. It's amazing, in 7 years just how many decorations I have now!! I love it though.
I wish everyone a great Thanksgiving. Love to all!

My Big 8's

Here you go Steph!!

8 TV Shows I Love to Watch
*Priveleged
*Criminal Minds
*Little People, Big World
*One Tree Hill
*Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
*Property Virgins
*House Hunters
*Little Einsteins

8 Favorite Restaurants
*Roasted Peppers
*Olive Garden
*Abuelo's
*Chili's
*Sam Hill's BBQ
*Zookini's
*Guero's Taco Bar
*Hard 8 BBQ

8 Things That Happened Today
*Got ready for work
*Got Ella dressed
*Took Ella to Denese's
*Kissed my kids bye
*Kissed my husband bye
*Became swamped with work
*Talked with a good friend
*Blogged!!

8 Things I am Looking Forward to
*Thanksgiving
*Christmas
*To see what my kids do with their lives
*Growing old with Ryan
*Traveling with my family
*Spending time with family
*Spending time with friends
*Getting my house fixed!

8 Things on My Wishlist
*For my family to be happy and healthy
*For my kids to be compasionate and caring
*Travel the world one day
*My house fixed now!
*Debt free
*Worry less
*Always be this happy
*To have my dream house!

Movie Night

Friday night instead of going to the playoff game, Tanner, Ella and I, changed into out pj's, snuggled in our favorite places, ate some popcorn and watched a movie.We watched Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. Tanner liked the movie and Ella did for about an hour. We had a great time. The next morning Ella asked me if we were going to watch a movie and eat popcorn. I told her no silly girl, we were going to eat breakfast and then get dressed. She was so disappointed that we weren't going to have a movie day I guess! Last night Ryan was gone again and I thought about doing movie night again, but Ella was way too hyper to try to watch a movie. So instead, she and Tanner danced around the living room while I was baking cookies. He was tired of dancing and was running from her so he wouldn't have to dance with her any more. She kept hollering at him "Tanner, get back here. Right now. I need to dance." So funny. So it looks like now Friday's are going to be our designated Movie Night. I can't wait, because now with the weather getting cooler, we can snuggle down for the night and watch a good movie with the kids!

So Fortunate

I am so fortunate to have the wonderful husband that I have. I know he may slug me in the middle of the night, or put bouggers in my hair, but he is so awesome! He called me up last night while I was fixing supper and said I want to give you your birthday present tonight. I could tell he was all excited and had no idea what it could be. I told him last night like I have the past 4 years that I don't need nor want anything for my birthday. So when he told me he had a present I told him it better just be a big bag of 3 Musketeers. He walks in with his hands behind his back and a huge smile on his face. That tells me he is super excited over what he has for me and that I am probably going to like what he has. He pulls it out from around him and it is a new camera! I know, it's not anything fancy or high tech, but a new camera!! I knew that I didn't have to have a new camera and told him that I would wait until spring so I could save some money and buy what I wanted. My old camera, takes good pics and holds quite a few of them but it is six years old and lets face it, digital cameras have come a long way in six years. Not only are the pics crisper, but my new camera zooms further (it seems like it does)and takes pics quicker. So, not only is it an early birthday present, but a Christmas present as well. Now I really have everything I want. So Ryan, no more Christmas presents!! I had to show you some pics that I took last night with it. I love it!! Thank you Ryan, you are so good to me. Love ya!

Fall Cleaning

This weekend I did the fall cleaning on the kids rooms. I clean out their closets, their toys and we do it in the fall before Christmas instead of the spring. The biggest reason I love doing it, is because I get to spend time with the kids and really get to go through their rooms and see what they have. After we clean out the toys we don't play with any longer, we take them to Ms. Angie's. I couldn't believe how many toys Tanner has and Ella for that matter too! A lot of Tanner's are toys that he has had for years that he no longer has any use for. Another funny thing I found in Tanner's room were some of Ella's toys. I would tell the kids to clean up their rooms and put their toys up. Evidently, Ella put them up in Tanner's room. At least she put them up. It took a full day alone in Tanner's room. He likes the idea of giving his toys to Ms. Angie or to someone who could use them. He realizes how fortunate he is to have as many toys as he does and not everyone is as fortunate as he is, so he is always willing to go through his toys and donate them. Ella's room took half a day. As soon as I would start putting her toys back up, she would pull them back out. Finally, she took a nap and I got everything back in it's place. Last night, she cleaned her room and even put her babies to bed. So sweet! I hope that she will enjoy doing this as much as Tanner does.

Forgot!!

I forgot that I finally found my camera and I have been snapping away. Finally downloaded my pics to my computer and remembered that I was going to show you that Ella and I scared Ryan. Greatness, we think!!

Ella refused to be standing on the ground with the remote controlled rat so she had to sit on the cabinet and I had to sit with her so we could scare her daddy.

She tries so hard to be big and do EVERYTHING Tanner does. The other night, he was working on a project and had to have his crayons, markers, pens and pencils all out and I made him sit at the table. Ella wanted to do a project too. I get out Tanner's folding table, get her a chair, get her a poster board, get her some crayons and pencils so she can do her "Homework" too!! I love it!

In all of her sweetness, she can be very demanding. We got the JCPenny catalog that has a lot of babydoll things in it and I cannot throw it away because she looks at it everyday. One day, after a very long day with no nap, she wanted to watch My Friends Tigger and Pooh, great show for her, and she had to have her "Babydoll book" She had laid on the couch for 5 minutes and was completely out!! Her legs crossed, book in hand and sound asleep!


I can't believe how big she has gotten. She is growing up into a little girl and not much longer until she becomes a woman. That scares me. Something else that scares me, my son and his eating!! He amazes me everyday with that. I have talked to Amy about this, and she said the same thing. I thought boys didn't start eating out of house and home until they were like pre-teens to teenagers?!! I'm so amazed. Last night, he ate steak with my in-laws, potatos and some cauliflower. Then around 7ish, we had to go run some errands real quick and stopped by McDonald's to get Ella something to eat and he is wanting another meal!!! ANOTHER MEAL?! Oh my gosh!! Ryan ordered him a double cheeseburger. He ate that, my fries, and some of his sister's fries. I know it won't get any better!! But I didn't know it would start this early. Maybe, I just need to get over it and go on.

Another Day?

Trey posted a blog yesterday that I loved. He was talking about things that happen throughout the course of the day that make us say "AAUGH" Yea, well, have you ever had a whole day that was like that? My entire day yesterday was like that. It started really early. I got to work a little before 7 and spent 5 minutes digging through my purse for my office keys only to realize, they are not there. Went and had my teeth cleaned and wound up wounded (my own fault). Got back and spent the entire day by myself at my office, keep in mind, first of the month is our busiest time!! Finally get home and think, "It can't get any worse." Only to have to clean my stove. Not just wipe it down, I'm talking pulling burners out and those little silver pans out and cleaning under them type of cleaning! Which I found out, I obviously don't do it often enough! I was so glad to go to bed last night!! Have you ever had a day like that? Where it seems everything you do is jinxed or you have some kind of hex on you?

Halloween

This Halloween was different this year as Ryan was unable to go trick-or-treating with the kids. He was a little sad that he didn't get to go, but the kids had a great time.

Tanner wanted me to make a robot costume this year, which I was all about. However, he waited until Wednesday to tell me exactly how he wanted his robot costume to look. I told him, I don't have enough time to do that, but what if we find something else for you to be. So we searched online and looked and he was either going to be a chef or a mad scientist. He finally decided on a mad scientist and I start planning and looking through what we had at home so I would know what to go get. Amazingly, we had everything but a lab coat for him. That problem was easily solved and he had a great time. Ella's mind switched every day. One day, it was a butterfly, another, a lady bug, another, a princess, the next-a fairy, finally she was a fairy princess!! I think this year was probably my favorite year of trick-or-treating. Since the guys were out of town, Sharon and I take the kids downtown and had a good time.




After we finished, we went to roast marshmallows and the Horton's joined us and had a great time being with them!!


I hope everyone had a safe and Happy Halloween!

Amazed

Tonight Ryan came home and we had a visitor. As we were sitting talking with her, Ella decides to ride the horsie, aka my leg. As my leg was getting a work out, she starts counting. I'm half listening to her as I am carrying on a conversation with our guest and all of a sudden I hear Ryan say "Holy Cow!" I looked at him and he is in complete amazement.

R: "She can count!"
M: "I know"
R: "She can count to 10"
M: "I know"
R: "When did she learn that trick?"

I'm sitting here thinking, it's not a trick. It's something she is suppose to be doing honey. He was wanting to know how long she has been counting to 10 and I told him for a while now. He keeps telling me I'm full of it, and I'm not. She has been counting for a while, just only on her terms!

I love to sit and watch her. She loves to dance. Yes, I dance with her. We do the hot dog dance among many. When I am off on Friday's we turn on a mixed cd real loud and start dancing around the kitchen. She tries to sing, but poor girl, she tries her best. I love to watch her excitement and face as we dance. It is all smiles and beautiful!! Tanner and I used to dance when he was little. But then he got too big and I had a hard time holding him as we danced. I look back and wish he were still that age and we could do that again. He too always was smiling. I loved his little round face that was always bright with a smile and happiness.

Gone

My camera is gone. I have no idea where it is or where it could be. I have looked everywhere I know to look and it is gone!! It had some pics on it that I wanted to download and now I can't. I was wanting a new camera, but not at the expense of loosing my old one!! I'm going completely nuts looking for it. I'm not totally convinced that Ryan did something with it, because it has some pics that I have of him and he is mad at me for taking them (he he he!)

Let me explain that... Ella and I were at home one Saturday. I had just pulled out all of our halloween decorations and was going through our stuff. I found our remote controlled rat. Ryan amd Tanner weren't at home and Ella told me the rat was ugly. I said "I know, looks scary doesn't it." She said yea and that it scared her. I said "Oh, it won't hurt you, but I bet we can scare daddy with it." She start giggling and says "Yea." Great, we've got a plan and she will not sit in the floor in our kitchen because she is afraid it will get her. So she and I are perched on the cabinet by the back door waiting for our prey to come in. FINALLY, they arrive and Tanner zips by. Ryan looks at Ella and I as we sit smiling and then jumps straight up. He then saw the flash of my camera and realized we got him on camera jumping at a stupid remote controlled rat!! Ella laughed and said "That was funny."

So now I'm sad, because it had some pics on it, that I really wanted and I can't find them. And now I'm going to have to go buy film for my other camera so I will have halloween pics. Dang it!! I'm not giving up on finding it though. I know it is at my house somewhere. It has to be.

Real Dreams

Have you ever had a dream that feels so real that you wake up thinking it really did happen? Yea, me too. Last night as a matter of fact. I was having a crazy dream that I was fighting someone and I was beginning to get tired wondering if the fight was ever going to be over. Well, I finally woke up and realized I was really fighting. I was fighting with Ryan. You know, the little girlie fight where you do nothing but slap each others hands. Yea, that would be Ryan and I. I think that it just a defense mechanism that I have when I sleep. Since I never know what I am going to wake up to, I'm already in self defense mode. Crazy?!

6 & 6

I was curious to see which picture was in my computer....I know I'm a little slow, but I have been off since last Thursday and today is my 1st day back. Here is my 6th picture in my 6th file....This really makes me sad!! To know she will never be that little and INNOCENT again.

Recharged and Energized Again

As I sit here typing, I have a two year old saying, "Tanner just told me no" I have no idea what he told her no about, but I'm sure he didn't meet her demand right then.

I had an awesome weekend with Ryan. I needed some time away with just the two of us. An opportunity arose to meet some of our wonderful friends at the Tech ballgame, so we jumped at the chance. The morning started at 7:45 for me and 8:30 for the rest of my family. Ella came and crawled in bed and went right back to sleep, I got up while there was still peace and no chaos. I was getting their clothes together and stuff ready for the day as I knew that my mom and dad would be doing for me. Tanner had pictures at 10:30 and a game at 11:00. I gathered his stuff up as well as Ella's bags and clothes. I walk into our bedroom getting ready to jump in the shower and Ryan looks at me and smiles...Wow! It's been a long time since he has done that!! Then this puzzled look comes over his face. He looks to his right and then back at me. Looks to his right again and back at me. This look has yet to vanish on his face. He looks at me again and this time raises up...yes, honey, you are playing with Ella's hair and not mine. I go on into the bathroom and just as I am climbing in the shower, he tells me, oh by the way, we need to be gone by 9. By 9? Are you kidding me? Both kids are still asleep, I haven't had a shower and I still need to get all of my stuff done!! Oh well!! Rush around and get out of the house, meet mom and dad and leave all of the kids stuff with them. We are heading out of town and I look down and realize, I will be Ryan's girlfriend today and not his wife!! All of my jewelry was left on my nightstand, my wedding ring included.

We get to Lubbock and go the long way around to Jones stadium. I tried to tell him to go a different way, but like with last time, he went a different way. Hmm...you would think he would know better by now! Finally get there and watched an awesome game. I loved the traditions that Tech has, enjoyed watching the band, and really enjoyed watching Tech win. It is so awesome to see everyone in the stands getting into the game. It wasn't just the student section, it was everyone, young and old alike. Tanner is a lot like the Mills' men-tight lipped about how much he really likes it! At one point during the game, we were surrounded by kids, mostly high school, but some jr. high mixed in and it was hillarious to listen to them. I am so glad that I do not have to go back to that age ever again. It also opened up Ryan's eyes, as to what he is in for with his little girl as there were mostly girls in front of us for a while. We hated to part with our friends, but knew they had to go, next time we will go eat after the game with them!! We did get to meet his parents for supper and had a great visit with them. Our romantic evening ended with us at Home Depot!! I needed a fan for our bedroom and a vacuum cleaner, however, we wound up with a digital thermostat!! We left and came home and I got to sleep late on Sunday. I actually slept way too late. But I needed that time to recharge.

Yesterday was spent doing laundry only to still have 10 more loads to go today and still in trouble for not having clean clothes for everyone!! Jeez, you would think a little gratitude would be nice simply because he did have clean underwear!! Oh well, today will be spent doing more laundry and ironing and maybe a little house cleaning...noticed I said maybe!!

Kids in trouble

I usually try not to say too much about my job, for many reasons, but lately it is all I have thought about. Mostly because I have been so busy with my job and not as much time with my family. My job requires traveling and I hate missing my family. Ryan, I will tell you now and a thousand times more that I am sorry I have been gone so much and you have been wonderful through this difficult time. I love you more than anything.

Anyway, lately with my job, I have been dealing a lot with kids, and I say kids because they are under the age of 20 but over the age of 17 and the law considers them adults. As I sit and type this, I pray that my children will not do some of the things that I have had to deal with. There are some kids who come from good homes, or at least I think they are good homes, who are completely screwed up. By screwed up, I mean into drugs, into violence, drug trafficking and that scares me. Then I have some kids whose home life I'm sure is less than "normal", who are the same way. There was a kid who lives in Oklahoma who was placed on probation for Possession of a Controlled Substance. The controlled substance he possessed was shrooms. This kid is 18 years old and is on felony probation. He lives at home with his mom and dad, mom and dad pay for him to go to college and will probably wind up paying his probation fine and court costs for him. At the same time, I had a 20 year old who was placed on felony probation for Possession of Marijuana. He is the oldest of 4 boys and he lives with his uncle in Florida. He had to drop out of school to start work to help support his brothers. He will more than likely spend the next 5 years trying to get this paid off. The reason I mention these two particular stories, is this is just not happening in Carson County. Most of you know there is a particular case that I have been dealing with and the parent(s) seem to ignore what everyone is telling them. They still think that their child is fine and he is not. Not by any means. As a parent, if anyone sees either of my children do something they are not suppose to be doing, please get on to them or tell me and I will get on to them. I do not want my children to go down a wrong path. I do not want my head to be buried in the sand or minimize what my child is doing. My parents kind of had the philosophy that it takes a village to raise a child. If I did something wrong, someone got on to me, whether it was my parents, a neighbor or someone in the community. I know I made some wrong decisions in my life, but those decisions did not land me in jail and in serious trouble. I'm trying to raise my children to be smart, not to be tempted, to stand up for what they believe in, and to do what is right, even if it means they will not be popular. (I'm starting to sound like my parents!) My ramblings probably do not make much sense to anyone but me. And I think I have been spending way too much time at work. But I am serious if you see my children acting up or doing something they are not suppose to, please correct them or let us know.

The Weekend Already?

I cannot believe that today is Saturday and the beginning of my weekend. I had a pretty good week, even though it started too early in the morning, Monday was court in Wellington. Drive to Wellington, only to turn around and come right back. Tuesday was spent catching up and getting a lot of things done since I knew I would be gone the rest of the week. Wednesday started really early for me, actually, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday all started the same way!! I got up at 5 (which I am no way used to!) and was gone from the house by 5:30 or 5:45 those three mornings. I had training in Amarillo which is one of my favoirte conferences to attend. It is the Women in Criminal Justice Conference. It has some really good speakers from around the area who come every year and discuss several different topics. It also gives women in the criminal justice field an opportunity to meet and talk with other women in our field. There were several women who I talk with on a regular basis and after several years finally was able to meet them face to face. Some of the speakers I know personally and it is awesome to be able to hear them speak at a conference. One man in particular, now works for the Carson County Sheriff's Department. He has stories upon stories from his career in law enforcement. The most facinating thing about him, he analyzes handwriting and has for several years. He has seen the ransom note in the Jon Benet Ramsey case, he has seen the handwriting of Charles Manson (his handwriting is not legibile), he has the handwriting from John Hinkley, and the list goes on and on. About two years ago, he asked me to sign my name and he would analyze it....He did and it was right on!! It amazed me just how my signature could tell him so much about me. Another speaker was Peter Harrell Jr.. If you are ever able to hear him speak, I encourage you to attend. He speaks on several different topics. Two topics he spoke about were Verbal Judo and Gender, Culture and Communication. It was awesome. he broke down a lot of misconceptions about our culture, the American Culture. His speech made me think about the different cultures we are in contact with every day and how to communicate with them without feeling awkward or making the other person feel awkward. Another one of my favorite speakers, Dr. Harry Hueston, from WT came and spoke about how safe is our workplace. Brought a lot of interesting things to the table. If an active shooter were to come into our place of business, where ever it might be, what would you do and even if you had a plan, would you be able to carry it out? What to do to survive an active shooter and how to help those who are in the line of fire. He talked about the Virginia Tech shootings and really amazed us all.

Friday, I got to go to my conference, but then had to leave to go to court. I get to court and find out that I will have several pleas in Carson County. Several? Oh boy!! I was in Panhandle by myself and wound up doing 8 pleas that day. Keep in mind, we were under the assumption that it was just a docket call with no pleas likely. I know going to Carson County could entail having pleas, I thought I was ready. I finally got to leave Panhandle at 5:45 and made it home at 7:20 and I was starving. But you know, even after it was all said and done, the previous days and the reflection on it made my trip home pretty good. What made the trip even sweeter was returning home to my family. They are the reason I drove every day instead of staying up in Amarillo, mostly to help Ryan out!!

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!!

Wohoo!!

I finally talked him into doing it, but I think I had a little help from Toby!!! Thanks Toby! Ryan is now blogging. He has had an account and loves to read everyone else's. So I told him it was only fair to post one too, so everyone else can read his take on our crazy life!! I may not like that in the not to distant future, but at least you will probably get a good laugh. GO check his out...

And it's only Sunday

This seems like it has been a whirlwind of a weekend. I had to work on Friday and then finish up buying Tanner's school supplies, go to the grocery store and start laundry. I still wasn't feeling too good, but knew it had to get done. I get off work, head the my grandmother's to pick up the kids and then on to United and The Dollar Store to finish it off. Tanner and I got that part accomplished and then we went to buy groceries. We came home and I started laundry. The rest of the night was pretty uneventful.
Saturday started off pretty well. Ryan went with Toby and KP to see if they could find any trapped hogs. Came back that morning with a snake...the whole snake thing gives me the creeps, but at least we didn't keep it!!
Then came the annual try on everything in the closet to see what clothes we need before school starts. It took us about an hour and a half if not longer to go through all of Tanner's clothes. Not only because he has that many shirts, like Ryan, but because we can't try clothes on without both of them trying to get cheap shots in at each other. Ryan helps him pull his shirts off and on while punching him in the stomach or any other body part that he can happen to hit. Tanner also helps by getting in just as many cheap shots as possible, like a slap across the face with a shirt sleeve or as he is putting his arm through his shirt trying to punch his dad. Head butts are exchanged as well. Lovely, just lovely...makes me wonder how many children I have to raise. They have fun though.
About 3:30 we wound up in the er. I had had enough itching, that wasn't getting any better and my rash was spreading. We tried the clinic first, but they were closed so we headed to the er. Let me explain, I cleaned our rent house and wound up with ring worm. Then I had to go to the Dr. to get medicine to help clear it up. I had some ointment and oral medicine. Then I had to go back and get some prescription benadryl and Zyrtec for the itching. Only to go back and find out that I am possibly allergic to the oral ring worm medicine...thus the rash and itching. I have itched for four weeks with no relief it was only getting worse and Ryan had had enough. I told him I could wait until Sunday to go to the clinic, but I was so drugged up from the prescription benadryl and tired I wasn't arguing too much. I got to get a steroid shot and more prescriptions. And so far, I don't have near as many spots from the rash and I GOT TO SLEEP LAST NIGHT!!!! That is the highlight of my weekend. My itching MAY finally be going away!!
So, we decided last night to go to Wichita Falls and get Tanner some more pants, jeans and shoes. I can never predict his growth cycles, nor how much he will grow. But I can with Ella, I know it makes no sense. Hope everyone had a great weekend before school starts tomorrow.

Going green

I know everyone these days is thinking about the eco system and how to preserve what we have left. I agree, but hate giving up the cleaning stuff I use that I know works. The other day I was out of dishwasher soap so I go to Wal-Mart to buy it and the price on it has gone up again. (I'm also trying to spend less and save us some money!) Anyway, I found that Palmolive makes an Eco friendly dishwasher soap and it is less expensive than my good old soap that I have used for years. I thought, ok, give it a try and if it doesn't work, go back to what I know works. So far, it has done better than my other soap. I was so happy. Not only did I pick up dishwasher soap but just regular dish soap as well. And it is eco friendly as well...also by Palmolive...it's Pure and Clear and it does just a great as job as the dishwasher soap. I just wanted to put that out there in case anyone is thinking stuff like that doesn't work. I know I was skeptical, but I thought what the heck, it's cheaper and if it works, it works, if not I will go back to my other!! Anyway, hope everyone has a great day!!

13 thoughts

ok...you win...
*My house is a total wreck and I need to get it picked up
*Oh my gosh-today is Thursday and I still have another day to work
*Will I ever quit itching? (UGH!)
*I wonder what is under my ceiling tiles...will I be able to take them down?
*Will Ella ever quit asking for her pap?
*When am I going to get the house cleaned and laundry done?
*I need to go shopping
*I'm ready to feel normal again
*I have an awesome husband who thinks I am wonderful (even though I know I haven't been, he still tells me I am)
*I need to quit drinking so many vanilla dr. pepper's
*I don't want to go to court on Monday
*Happy Birthday Jennifer- we are thinking about you today
*I am happy for my wonderful family who is the best.

Survivor

We are now playing Survivor at the Mills' household. Ella has lost her pap and it is no where to be found. Last night was her first night without it and considering all, went pretty well. She cried while going to sleep, "I want my pap, Daddy, go find my pap" "I want my pap" Finally, she gave up and went to sleep. Slept all night until 5 this morning when a clap of thunder woke her up. I knew I had to get up a few minutes after she woke up and just threw her in bed with Ryan and I. She never really went back to sleep and was in rare form this morning before I left. I don't know how my mom will fare today without pap and hope that today is not too bad for her sake. Say a prayer for us that all goes well and she doesn't find it today at my mom's(that is where she lost it). Hopefully, this is it, no more pap!!

The Talk

Every parents worst day is hearing the words, "The Talk." At the Mills' household today is no different than that day for some of us. Ryan, to be specific. Tonight as we are fixing our hamburgers, Ryan tells Tanner that he will help him another night get his shower ready just to make sure he knows what to do. I look at Ryan with a puzzled look and I said, "I thought he already did. He did that all by himself one night a few weeks back." Ryan's face had such disappointment. He realized as Tanner was fixing his plate, that his little boy is growing up. He is the one who normally fixes Tanner's plate for supper or helps get his shower ready and those two things, he was doing on his own tonight. As we finally sit down to eat, Tanner informs us that he is growing up and needs to take responsibilities. That it is part of growing up and that he doesn't need us as much anymore. Ryan walked back into the kitchen completely defeated, shoulders slumped and the realization that he is in fact growing up. Of course, there is humor in just about every situation-this is no different. Ryan trying to see just how far he would go, asked "Do you need to start shaving tonight?" Tanner said "Uh, I don't have anything to shave." It was the funniest thing, the tone of his voice was unbelievably funny. I had to walk out of the dining room.
Earlier tonight I had asked Tanner to take his shirts to his bed while I was putting away more laundry. Tanner without prompting goes to his closet and starts taking hangers out to hang his shirts on. Ryan and Ella come in from the volleyball game and without any prompt from me Tanner asks Ryan, "Dad do you hang your clothes up?" I had to turn around and walk out of the kitchen because I thought I was going to laugh. Ryan very confidently says "Yeah." (I'm rolling with laughter!) Ryan is still trying to keep a straight face and asks why. Tanner says I was just wondering. I guess he doesn't think his dad has many responsibilities.
God knew when he gave me Tanner, that I would need him. He is very patient, very kind and very loving. He can also be very straight forward and right to the point. He is wise beyond his years and my little boy is no longer so little. I guess too, that it is sad for me as well. I miss him curling in my lap and actually fitting. I take him for granted sometimes too. I try to slow down and take in all the moments I can with him. They have gone by so fast. I hope that what I do for him, gives him a strong foothold on the man he becomes. I just wish he would have told me that he doesn't need me as much 10 years from now, not right now.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Ok, I know you are going to probably get mad at me, but I am going to do it anyway. Happy Birthday Ryan!! I know I was groggy when I left this morning and not really with it, but I wanted to wish you a Happy 35th Birthday. I hope you have a great day!! I love you!!! Just be glad it was just one picture in the paper!!

Great Idea

Everyone knows I am semi working on getting rid of Ella's pap(pacifier). I was kind of hoping it would fall in a river while we were fishing or accidently get left on the bumper. But then I thought, do I really want a 9 hour ride home without it? The other night, we stopped by some of our dear friend's house and she had a great idea. Ella was talking about the moon and that her pap was broken. Sharon came up with the great idea that the moon could fix her broken pap!! Ella was a little unsure, but if it fixed her pap, she was up for it. Only problem, they couldn't see the moon. So, we took the pap home that night and the next morning, Ella was talking about the man in the moon fixing her pap. Still on her mind. I told her that the man in the moon would have to keep it to fix it and she wouldn't be able to use it!! Yesterday afternoon, I had some things to take by to some people and Ella and Ryan wanted to go with me. After we made one stop, Ella says "Here mom, send pap now" It was a very pitiful voice being she was tired. I told her we would have to wait until tonight to send it when we saw the moon out. She was quite realived that we didn't send it right then. So, last night comes and she finds the moon while it is still light outside. She holds her hand up and says "Here moon, Here my pap" She stood for a minute waiting to see what would happen and when nothing happened she brought it to me. I told her I would take care of it and send it to the moon. We lasted about 30 minutes without it. She said she needed it back. I told her it would still be broken because the man in the moon didn't have enough time to fix it. She whined a little and said ok. She then looked at me and said "Tomorrow." Thank you Sharon for such a great idea! Hopefully, it will pan out and we will be free from pap soon!!

On another note, the car is here and Ryan is pumped. After we picked it up, we were going to go eat. Ryan says, I will follow you. Ok... Well, not ok. I was going the speed limit of 40 and had to keep slowing down until I was going 20. Ryan was playing with his new car and not even paying any attention to anything else. In Lubbock, we were creeping along at 20 mph!! I thought we were going to get ran over! Anyway, his new car is here and he is so excited.

Home!

There is nothing like walking in to your home and the smell of being there. That is unless you forgot to take the trash out before you left for a week. We didn't, but I have done it before. We survived the 10 hour trip home from Colorado and really it wasn't a bad trip.(Just a quick note...I need help on getting the pics to post the right way...I have tried and can't...so the pics are a little out of order. Sorry.)
The kids and I at the radio towers


Tanner and Ella waiting patiently!

We had an amazing trip....Ryan got to fly fish, I got to shop, Tanner got to do nothing and Ella got to be pampered. Ryan is now the proud owner of some waders, yes, he is all about fly fishing. Of course, after soaking everything he had on the first day, I decided that I would buy him some waders for Christmas. After the second day of fishing his dad decided they would buy him some for his birthday. After the third day of fishing, Nesey bought him some waders. He even has his own creel. Next on his to do list is a fly rod!! We will see what Santa brings!! Of course, there is also the golf clubs he wants Santa to bring as well!!

My favorite place to shop is Pagosa Springs. I don't know why I love that place so much, but I do. I find some of the most comfortable clothes there. Last year was my polka dot pj pants, this year some light weight cotton pants....awesome!! Not to mention the fudge that is to die for...they make it fresh everyday!!
Ryan fishing

Tanner fly fishing

If you look you can see Ryan's pants are wet, thus he needed some waders!!

Nothing like potty training with no potty around...had to bring our own!!


Tanner was able to learn how to fly fish this year. Hopefully, next year he will have his own rod and be able to do better. He is so excited that he will have his own rod. He wanted to go with his dad, but dad doesn't have patience, so he had to go with Nesey. I was impressed at how well he fishes!! He had to wade in the streams, even though his feet were bright red from the water being so cold. You know, it's a wonder he didn't get sick. He is such a great big brother. He tries to hold her hand and take care of her, even though she hits him and slugs him. Tanner played with her and even let her help him play games. He and his dad did well, no wrestling or fighting for a week!! Wonderful, quiet, peace. Then we head home and both start running their mouths. Can't wait to get home to beat each other up. The funniest thing happened on the way home. We ate breakfast at the Hungry Logger before heading out. Tanner ordered a pancake sandwich....it was two HUGE pancakes, with eggs and at least 4 slices of bacon. Tanner at all the eggs, all the bacon and half of the pancakes. We get to Walsenburg which is about two hours from South Fork and Tanner asks "What is for lunch?" Are you kidding me? You just ate two hours ago and you are wanting to know what is for lunch? Ryan says well what do you want? To which the reply, "I want some food yo!" Ugh!! Boys!!
Ella had so much attention while we were gone it wasn't even funny. Of course, she only wanted me, but everyone jumped for her when she said she wanted or needed something...including her dad. Being with her all day, I was able to catch some of the candid things she says and just laugh at her. She is so funny on the things she picks up on. Just like her trying to fish with her pap(pacifier). Everyone else was fishing and I guess she thought that pap would work!! Wednesday, we went fishing and Ella decided she wanted to pet a fish. I don't know why, but she did. Of course, we had to wait until one was caught. Ryan finally came back with two and Ella got to pet the fish. Tanner wanted to hold it, so then she did too. As soon as Ella had it in her hand, she dropped it and said "Nasty fish, Nasty. Yuck." Wednesday night we were walking to eat at a restaurant down the street from our cabin and I was holding her hand and walking. Her dad walks up beside her and asks if he can hold her hand. She says "My hand broke" and turns it upside down. I asked her why her hand was broke, She said, cause. Our trip home was just as entertaining, about the time we get to Walsenburg, Ella looks at me in the car and says, "Ok, I'm through. Ready to get down" She had already had enough of her car seat and I was thinking OH, the next 7 hours are not going to be good. But she surprised me and did extremely well. She did figure out that she could say that she needed to potty and get out of her car seat. The last time we pulled over for her, she never used the potty. We had her potty in the back of the car. So we pulled over, got the potty out, she was sitting on it just waving at the other cars as they drove by....just as proud as she could be!! "Nasty fish, nasty"

We had a great trip, glad to be in my BIG bed!!! I did get some scrapbooking done, so now I just need to finish last year's trip just to start on this one!!I hope everyone has a great week. We had a great trip and missed our friends. We are glad to be back...not necissarily for the heat, but just to be home!!