The Miller Family

Really?!?!?

2010-01-27T21:45:00.002-06:00

Has it been that long? I really thought that I had posted in August...oh well! Let's do a run-down of what is going on in the The Miller Family, shall we????

I love, love, love my job at BNHS!!! I work with great people, who make me laugh every single day! It's not always easy, but it's always fun. It has been a challenge at times, trying to juggle work, home and all of the stuff the girls are involved in! It has been an adjustment, but well worth it!!

McKenna loves her new school! She has made some great friends and just got straight A's on her latest report card! She played soccer in the fall and improved a great deal. She isn't playing right now, but says she may want to try softball. She started horse riding lessons in October and loves it! She has a passion for horses and has learned so much!

Caris loves kindergarten and is learning so much. She has also made some wonderful new friends and is always excited to share what she has learned. Caris also played soccer again this fall and played on a great team. They only lost one game. No soccer right now, but she began dance in September and absolutely loves it, and she's pretty good!

Chris continues to be busy at work, which is a good thing! He drops the girls at school each day and even worked at their school one day as part of the Watch DOGs (Dads of Great Students) program.

We had a wonderful, white Christmas! My Grandmother was here for the week, so we were blessed and excited to spend time with her. The girls each received an American Girl doll from Santa, which they love! We spent the new year in Big Sandy with the East Texas Millers and had a wonderful time-eating, laughing, setting off fireworks and enjoying each other's company.

We are well into 2010 and so far we have enjoyed a great start. God has continued to bless us and we look forward to what this year has in store for us!

~Beth

It sure has been a long time...

2009-06-28T19:12:00.002-05:00

I knew it had been quite awhile since I posted anything, but I didn't realize it had been that long!! We have been super busy, so I'll bullet some highlights!

McKenna finished 1st grade with great success. She participated in the science fair, played in her first soccer tournament, made great friends and had great grades! She learned so much this year!
Caris finished her last year at FBC KIDS...and I must say, I was a little sad. Not only that she'll be starting kindergarten and is growing sooo fast, but that we have been attending that preschool since McKenna was just 2! We have made some awesome friends through school! Caris had a wonderful end-of-the-year program, full of songs and tears from me...no surprise there!
We have been swimming alot and begin swim lessons next week.
We just got back from our summer trip. We were in Kansas City for one night and got to see my family, including my wonderful Grandma, whom I love so much. Great visit, but short. We were off to Guttenberg/Colesberg, Iowa to spend several days with the Miller's. Grandma Miller passed away in December, so we were there to remember and celebrate her life. We had a great time with our extended family and the Texas/Florida Miller's had run of an inn on the river. We shared alot of laughs and made some great memories. We were then off to Chicago for a couple of days of fun! We visited Navy Pier, the Chicago Children's Museum, the Hancock Building, ate at Giordano's, went to Legoland Discovery Center, the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, went by Wrigley Field and did a little shopping. Then we were off to spend on night in Memphis. The next morning, before starting for home, we went to Graceland. I'm not big fan of Elvis, but my MIL and Chris are...the house was interesting, surprisingly small. Visitors aren't allowed to view the upstairs, which kinda bummed me out. We finally made it home. The girls were great travelers and did great in Chicago with all of the walking. I'll try to get some pictures posted soon.
Looking forward to the 4th of July. It is one of my favorite celebrations!!
We also have some big changes coming to our home in the upcoming weeks!! After being a stay-at-home mom since McKenna was born, I am going back to work. I'm excited, nervous and anxious. I will be working at Byron Nelson High School, which is opening this fall. It is the new high school for the Northwest ISD. Caris will be able to go full day, which our current school was not offering. This means of course, that McKenna will have to change schools. We know that this change will offer up different challenges for all of us, but we are ready! However, all prayers are welcome!!

Hoping that this post finds everyone well and having a wonderful summer!

~Beth

8 Things...

2009-04-24T15:47:00.003-05:00

My sweet friend Kim tagged me on her blog, so here goes!

Here's how to do "8 Things..."
1. Mention the person who tagged you...in this case...Kim
2. Complete your list of 8 things
3. Tag 8 friends, or like Kim, as many as you can! It's 3 for me too!
4. Tell them they have been tagged!

8 things I'm looking forward to...
~Visiting Chicago this summer. Tips, anyone?
~Swimming
~Sleeping in once school is out for the summer
~Dinner, which hopefully will be Mexican...my favorite!
~the next girl's night out
~checking Facebook
~reading blogs of people I have never met, and most likely, never will.
~Chris coming home at the end of the day

8 things I did yesterday...
~got groceries
~went to Hobby Lobby
~finished reading a book
~quizzed McKenna on spelling words
~made dinner
~went to the library
~watched The Office and 30 Rock...hilarious!!
~started a new book

8 things I wish I could do...
~play the piano
~sing...well I can sing, just not well
~sew
~jet off to Italy, Hawaii or New Zealand
~hire someone to clean my house
~meet Troy Aikman, just to get his autograph for Chris
~be an extra on CSI:
~find time to scrapbook

8 shows I watch...sadly, I could name more than 8.
~Castle
~CSI:
~The Office
~Brothers and Sisters
~30 Rock
~Law and Order:SVU
~Without a Trace
~One Tree Hill

Now these are the people I am tagging...we'll see what happens!!

Nacar Crew
Journeys of Jessi Joy
The Norwapps-a 'beautifully blended' family

Hope everyone has a great weekend...we have soccer games and a birthday party!

~Beth

Random Thoughts

2009-04-09T12:50:00.003-05:00

Not much exciting going on here lately...just busy running! But I do have several random thoughts to share...

1. We have been advised to turn our king bed 1/4 turn. Both my Aunt Glenna and friend Mindy have offered this solution for our trouble sleeping and sore backs. We rotated it last night...we'll see if there are any results.

2. McKenna devours books! I can't believe how fast she reads. It is truly amazing. I worried if she was comprehending the text, so I ask her questions after she completes each book. She answers and gives detail. She has read 5 books in less then 3 days. They are all books from the Magic Tree House series. I must say, I love, love, love the fact that she loves to read. I guess the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree!

3. On Sunday evening, as we were tucking the girls in at bed, Caris was playing with one of her phones. I asked her who she was talking to...she replied, "No one." I said, "then what are doing?" She looked at me as she continued to push the buttons and said, "I'm sending a text to Logan." I turned around and started laughing...she was so serious about it! She is hilarious! I guess it's just a sign of the times.

4. Chris and I are having date night tonight! We are going to dinner and a movie. So a big thanks to Gram and Grampy for allowing us a meal with no kid's menus or trips to the bathroom!

Have a great day!!

~Beth

A Tribute from my Cousin

2009-03-26T17:41:00.001-05:00

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The One That Makes Me Wonder

2009-03-26T15:48:00.002-05:00

I wonder how this could happen? Twice within six months, at the exact same eating establishment...I mean, who does the ordering of products?
On Tuesday, I pulled into the drive-thru of a fast food restaurant, famous for its colors of orange and white and the 45, 326 (or something close to that number) different ways to order its burgers...
I place my order and was told, in a very friendly voice, that this restaurant was out of my drink choice...Dr.Pepper. How is this possible? I mean twice in six months? Shouldn't every restaurant have Dr.Pepper stockpiled, it being the official drink of Texas? (Not that this is factual, but hey, Waco has a museum celebrating the wonderful soft drink.)
The first time, the girls and I walked out. This time, I said, "Ok, well, please cancel my order" and drove off.
I wonder, who drinks it all? Who orders the syrup for the machines? How many other people were disappointed that day? Did the truck delivering said syrup get lost? There is a big Dr.Pepper plant on 35W...I'm just wondering...
Yes, this might seem rather shallow and petty, given the state of our country today. I understand that...but I just really needed a Dr.Pepper. Those of you that love this soft drink as much as I do, will get it. Sometimes you just have to have a Dr.Pepper and nothing else will do.

I know that this post isn't profound or life-changing, but as I write this, I realize that there are somethings in life that just aren't worth compromising for...whether it be a silly Dr.Pepper, how you mow the grass, or standing up for something you believe in or have a passion for, how you raise your children or how you value relationships or your personal faith. So take the road that leads you to be uncompromising, unwavering in whatever it is that you believe in.

~Beth

24 Hours Ago...

2009-03-11T19:17:00.005-05:00

it was sunny and 80 degrees. Now, it is cold, rainy and just slightly above freezing. As I told Caris, a great day for a nap! The weather is forecasted to remain like this through Friday evening/Saturday morning.
Tomorrow, I'm heading to The Cheesecake Factory with my wonderful friends Mindy and Vicki...oh and Rhett, Mindy's son, who is about 5 months old. He loves cheesecake! We try to go have brekfast or lunch once a month and we are totally splurging this time! And I can't wait...Orange Chicken and a slice of cheesecake...yummy!
Have a great day!

Made with My Cool Signs.Net

Another Busy Saturday!!

2009-03-07T14:31:00.002-06:00

McKenna had individual and team photos this morning at 9:15, followed by the game at 10:15. Not cold this week, but overcast and WINDY! But McKenna had a great game! She played goalie for the 2nd quarter and no goals scored on her! Yea!! And then in the 3rd quarter, McKenna scored! We were so excited!! So that's 2 so far this season for her! Awesome!! And they won, even though we don't officially keep score. Go Gator Girls!
We had about 25 minutes after McKenna's game, before Caris's game was scheduled. So we ran and got the girls a quick bite and got back to the fields. Her pictures were after the game...all windblown! Caris really hustled and she scored her very first goal! And then she scored another one!! So two for her today! Caris was soooo excited! And we were so proud!! And her team won as well! Go Doodlebugs!!
Now we are off to the carnival at school. Caris would like there to be a roller coaster, but she's out of luck. Nothing that elaborate!
And then to dinner...Caris gets to pick since she scored today. And guess where she picked to go??? Pappasito's! I just have to laugh, because I didn't put her up to it~she just loves it too! So a great day, followed by a great dinner. Sounds like a pretty wonderful day! Hope everyone else has a great weekend!

~Beth

2009-02-25T12:41:00.002-06:00

We have been so busy the last few weeks! Soccer has started. Caris had her first game and McKenna scored her first goal this past Saturday It was a wonderful day...until they both started running fevers that night. Not so wonderful! Caris has been fever free since yesterday, while poor McKenna is still running a fever and I finally took her to the doctor this morning! She is not herself and is really missing school. Her class has 6 out today! I will be glad when we free of sickness!
On a positive note, the girls and I are heading to KC for spring break. We are excited to see Great Gigis and just spend time with our family. The girls are crossing their fingers for snow! My cousin's wife, Michelle, is having a baby shower the day before we arrive. We're sorry to miss it, but hopefully we will get to see her and Jay before they head home! They only have a few more weeks before their world changes, but totally for the better!! Best get back to nurse duties!! Have a great day!

~Beth

Family Time!

2009-01-26T09:30:00.005-06:00

It has been a whirlwind of activity here the last few days!

Out to dinner with my Mom on Friday evening, while my Dad was in DC. Saturday morning began early as I drove to NHS to administer the SAT-good times! Then it was of to Casa de Miller in beautiful Euless!
We celebrated Gram and Callie's birthdays with everyone! Callie, Nicole and Brent flew in from Florida on Saturday morning, while Doug, Laura, Camry and Adi drove in from Big Sandy. The sister-cousins were so excited to be together again! They played, watched movies and engaged in alot of silliness and on Saturday evening had a giant sleepover! Nicole, Laura and I spent a good amount of quality time walking through the aisles of Target. While the boys bonded while sitting in the dank RV and then headed out for a delicious(ha-not!) meal at Panchos. Yesterday, we all celebrated Callie's 8th birthday with a party at The Main Event. We bowled and played laser tag-so fun!! Unfortunately, Caris is still to small to play tag~I know she would have loved it! Then we had cake, opened presents and then hit the game floor for game time! Caris won two toys out of the machine with the claw! All by herself! It was very exciting. She also bowled a spare, with the help of some bumpers. All the girls had so much fun together! At the end of the day, we were sad to say farewell to the East Texas Miller's as they headed back to prepare for the new week. The rest of us went back to Gram and Grampy's for a rest before heading out to dinner at everyone's favorite, Pappasito's. I was giddy~we had eaten there Friday night too! Great food, great conversation and great family time! We headed for home and within moments Caris was fast asleep, while McKenna asked questions the entire ride home. Sounds about right!
I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend~I know we did!!

The Sister-Cousins

Laura, Nicole and Me

~Beth

KLTY...

2009-01-07T16:11:00.002-06:00

McKenna's class will be reciting the pledge next Wednesday on KLTY! McKenna is so excited and has been talking about it since they recorded it several weeks ago. She always has news updates at breakfast from the station, so she thinks it is really exciting to be on the radio! In fact, she's talking about it right now..."We're gonna be famous"...is her direct quote! So tune in at 6:45 am and 8:25 am next Wednesday!

~Beth

Happy New Year...

2009-01-06T19:36:00.005-06:00

a little late, I know, but things just haven't settled down yet.

We had a wonderful Christmas~spent lots of time with our family, ate a ton of food and made alot of memories! We also experienced some sadness as well...Chris's Grandma passed away quite unexpectedly. She was 93 and lived an amazingly full life! We are so thankful that we spent time with her this summer as we toured the Midwest. Grandma Miller made wonderful sticky buns and even went four-wheeling with McKenna. We know that she is in a much better place now. Here is a picture of Grandma and the girls...

Chris surprised me with a trip to Vegas for our anniversary. We celebrated 10 years of marriage in November and were finally going to get some time for just the two of us. We left after Christmas and had a great time. We didn't have anything planned out, but we did have tickets to see Mystere at Treasure Island on Sunday evening. The rest of the time we spent shopping, eating, walking, some gambling and just enjoying each other's company. It was nice to have "us" time, but we were also glad to get back home.
Now we are just trying to get back into the routine, but Chris has been sick, so its been challenging...he throws my routine off! McKenna went back to school yesterday and Caris was back today. Chris has been home and he hopes (and I do too) that he will return to work tomorrow. Of course, I can feel my throat starting to hurt...big surprise there...it will just keep making the rounds through the family until we've all had it!
No resolutions for me...I never keep them. However, I do need to start exercising again and cut back on my Dr.Pepper intake. These will be challenging!
I guess that's all for now...hope everyone has a great start to the new year!

~Beth

Shopping is done!

2008-12-17T19:06:00.002-06:00

I have officially finished all of the Christmas shopping! Now all that's left is the wrapping. I am currently beating Chris in this endeavor, 18-6. We still have alot remaining.
Tomorrow is the big program at school! Caris is super excited. She has been practicing her songs at bedtime each evening. She always says, Mommy-you do the motions. But what are the motions? Its dark and I can't see what she is doing. Our neighbor Brenda brought over some banana nut bread this evening and later while we were eating dinner, McKenna suggested that we take something to her in return. I replied that I was already trying to think of something. Caris piped up with...maybe we could take her some cornbread. Its not as funny when you type it, but it totally cracked me up.
McKenna had her ears pierced last Friday and was so brave. She chose her birthstone and they look great. We went to Sweet & Sassy and the girls were very nice and patient.
Guess that's it! Have a great evening!
~Beth

Shopping...

2008-12-09T19:13:00.003-06:00

After dropping Caris off this morning, I spent a fun day with my friend Mindy. We had a great time...roaming the aisles of Target and then we headed off to the mall. The mall was flooded with kids~they were performing Christmas songs in front of Macy's. I was able to get several names crossed off of our list, but it seems we still have a ton of gifts to buy. Then we headed back to pick up the girls. It was freezing when we came out of the mall!!! Thanks friend for a great day!!
I have to get started on cards and wrapping gifts. I told Chris that my goal was not to wrap all of the gifts on Christmas Eve! On Saturday, Mom and I are going to finish up the last batch of coasters, which means I have to make a trip to Home Depot before then. It seems that time is running out before school gets out!
I also have a box taunting me to open it...from my SS on Simply Obsessed. I can't wait to open it and see the goodies inside. I have really slacked on scrapbooking the last couple of months...its gotten so hard since school started. The days just get away from me!! I'll have a ton of pics from the holidays to scrap, including our upcoming trip to Vegas!!! So excited!!
Hope everyone has a great day!!
Beth
Can't wait to see our Huskers in the Gator Bowl! Go Big Red!!

Happy Birthday McKenna!!!

2008-12-03T09:32:00.002-06:00

Today is McKenna's 7th birthday. It is hard to believe that so much time has gone by! She is an amazing little girl~smart, funny, kind-hearted and generous! Chris and I are blessed to call her daughter. She brings joy and challenges, lots of laughs and even more love to our lives. And she is a great big sister! Over the past few weeks, Caris has been calling her McKenna instead of Sissy...and it is driving McKenna crazy. She said to Caris, "that's not my name! My name is Sissy!" Too funny~I guess they're both growing up! So, my sweet girl~Happy Birthday! We can't wait to see what the next year has in store for you!! We love you so much!!

Have a great day everyone!!

Beth

10 years ago...

2008-11-07T07:24:00.002-06:00

Chris and I were married. So I thought that I would list 10 things that I love about my wonderful husband!

1. He loves me unconditionally. It doesn't matter what I say or do, how I look or anything else. I have never doubted how he feels about me, even when we were dating.

2. He is an awesome dad. Chris loves our girls so much. It is wonderful to hear them laugh and scream and run to him when he gets home from work each day. He is super at helping with whatever they might need. He would get up in the middle of the night and help with a feeding or change a dirty diaper. Whew~I'm glad we're past that! Chris plays with them, helps them and teaches them. Awesome!!

3. Chris can quote lines from movies at the drop of a hat, that is perfect for the situation. I mean from thousands of movies. They had a contest at work~seriously.

4. He is the funniest person I know. There is no one that can make me laugh like Chris. Stories from work, impressions or comments. He can getting me laughing.

5. When Chris cooks something, which is not often, and he thinks it looks really good, he will photograph it. We have pictures of waffles, with syrup and granola sprinkled on top, an omelet wit a sprig of rosemary along side...

6. He is generous of himself and his time. Chris will go out of his way to help you. He cares about others.

7.He loves his family~his parents, brothers, sisters-in-law, our nieces and my side too. Family is important.

8. He indulges my Mexican food obsession at least once, sometimes twice a week. Chris likes it too, just not as much as me.

9. Chris likes to shop and he has the clothes to prove it. He will never have to go on "What Not to Wear."

10. He is my rock. I can lean on him and know I will not fall. He has proved with countless times over the past 14 years (10 married). I am blessed beyond measure by having Chris as my husband. I know that our life will just get better as we continue to be together and raise McKenna and Caris and see what else God has planned for us. I can't wait!!
I love you!!!

Hope everyone has a great day!!

Beth

Field Trip

2008-10-22T16:28:00.002-05:00

Yesterday we took the girls to the Kimball Art Museum to see the Impressionist exhibit. It was amazing to see these works of art up close! Monet's "Water Lilies" was my favorite. The girls weren't quite as excited as I hoped they would be. They were the only children there...hmmm? We did get to enjoy a scrumptious dinner at Pappasitos! My absolute favorite~and it did not disappoint! We hadn't been there since my birthday in July, so I was pretty excited. In fact, we'll be eating it again tonight, seeing as how I brought home about half of my fajitas! Yummy! And I don't have to cook!

We are headed to the Pumpkin Patch on Saturday after McKenna's soccer game~should be fun!

Have a great day!!

Beth

Sleeping Beauty

2008-10-07T19:44:00.002-05:00

Sleeping Beauty in now on DVD! Caris is beyond excited~she has been counting down the days until it would be in her little hands. And Mrs. Brenda was kind enough to pre-order it for her birthday, so all I had to do today was pick it up! Excellent! Of course, it was the first thing that Caris wanted to do after school today! And she wanted to watch it by herself, not with McKenna. While picking it up, I bought them each a T-shirt; SB for Caris and Tink for McKenna. The one for C is too big, but it was all they had!
Besides that I made a trip to Costco, where I scored a great deal on toothbrushes! I know, pretty exciting, huh? But I got 8 for $6.97! They are normally almost $3 a piece at Wal-Mart or Target! That was my deal of the day. But, it is hard for me to go there and not want to buy something from the bakery items. Goodness! I bought a pack of mini cinnamon rolls and they look delicious!
Have a great day!
Beth

It's Back!!!!

2008-09-25T15:49:00.002-05:00

The Office, that is! We are super excited!! First and foremost, it's hilarious!!! Seriously one of the funniest shows e-ver! Catch the reruns on TBS sometime!! Secondly, this is only one of two shows that Chris and I watch together, the other being The Amazing Race-which begins on Sunday-yea! I'm not including the Huskers or Cowboys, because those are events, not shows. Speaking of, Huskers will be on Saturday night! We'll finally be able to see them! We've had to listen to the games online so far this season. Go Huskers!!!

Have a great day!!
Beth

We are busy!!!

2008-09-22T11:36:00.003-05:00

Time flies when you are busy! Caris has started school, Chris had a birthday, we went to East Texas, tiled our bathroom, McKenna started soccer and we've been sick! Whew! I'm hoping to post some pics soon!
Hope everyone is doing well!

Beth

First Day of First Grade!!

2008-08-27T14:43:00.004-05:00

Well, it is official! McKenna is in first grade! She started on Monday! However, it was very quiet when we got home from taking her to school!

Two comments:

From McKenna~ "Mom, did you miss all of my questions while I was at school?"

And later...

Me~ "So, it sounds like you had a good day."

McKenna~ "It wasn't just good, it was amazing!"

So, its just me and Caris until school starts for her next week. She has been wanting me to play...alot. Like tea party, beauty salon, dance recital...etc! Today she came into the living room with the saddest face. When I asked what was wrong, she said "I miss Sissy." Awwww!!

We are planning on tiling our bathroom this weekend~sounds like a fun way to spend the holiday!

Have a great day!

Beth

My Baby is Four!

2008-08-13T11:38:00.002-05:00

It's hard to believe that four years ago today, Caris was born. It seems like yesterday! Caris is sweet, dramatic, sensitive, funny and a cuddler. Does anyone in the world love Disney Princesses as much as Caris? It would be hard to believe! She loves to dance and watch herself in the mirror. And she loves her big sister! She has been excited for this birthday for weeks now. But one of the first things she said was-"after I'm four, I'm gonna be five!" So we will celebrate her birth today and all of the blessings that she brings to our lives. I know God has big plans for her and I can't wait to watch as each day as she continues to grow! I love you my Bug!!!

Have a great day!

Beth

PS-The Olympics rock!

McDonaldLand Cookies

2008-08-05T16:57:00.002-05:00

Do you remember them? There was always a bag in your Happy Meal...Well, they are my favorite cookie, besides chocolate chip, and you can't find them anywhere here!! They all sell the "made-from-scratch" ones. This past January, I found them in Kansas~at a McDonald's on the turnpike. So, on the way back, I bought 5 bags. They would need to last until June, when I went through again. Barely made it! So, in June I bought another 5 bags~gone! My wonderful Dad drove up to KC last Friday and stopped and bought me 3 bags! Sadly, there are now only 2 bags remaining. Does anyone know where you can buy them in the DFW area? In Kansas, they aren't on the menu, you have to ask for them! Let me know if you have some information! They're so yummy!

Project Runway!

2008-07-31T09:46:00.002-05:00

"Suede loves Tia. So Suede would never give her up."

"How are you this morning Suede?"
"Suede's fine."

"Suede is here to bring it!"

Suede was selected to be on this season, not for his designs, but quite simply to make me crazy! Ugh!!

And did Jarrell sleep with that stuff on his face? Gross!

Loved Tim trying to figure out how to say "Holla atcha boy!"~too funny!

I absolutely loved the skirt that Leanne made tonight. You couldn't even tell that it was two pieces! And, I gotta say, Kenley is rockin' it! I think she has a distinctive POV. And Terri's was pretty cool as well~loved the pants!

I really thought that Jennifer would be sent home tonight, but when Nina had NO comment about Emily's~that pretty much sealed the deal. It was pretty hideous. Maybe if she would have made the dress itself a vibrant color, instead of black, that would have helped.
Can't wait for next week!

Too many?

2008-07-28T10:27:00.003-05:00

How many is too many? Did I take too many pictures?
In 30 minutes...I snapped 260 photos of McKenna and Caris during Fun Day at swim lessons. Did I go overboard? What are some of your photo numbers?

A couple of rants...

2008-07-24T10:50:00.002-05:00

First off, I can't stand Love Field! I went to pick up my sweet Grandma yesterday and ugh! Its far, the parking is awful and the parking is awful! We drove around for at least 10 minutes to find a space and then it was a long hike to the terminal! But, Southwest gets the job done! The flight left KC at 1:05-they were in the air at 1:05. It was dues in at 2:30-they were at the gate at 2:15~amazing!
Second, for all of you who watch Project Runway...is it just me or why do some of the designers~Suede and Blayne~think they need to have some kind of schtick? Like Suede (is that the name your Mom gave you?) talks about himself in the 3rd person~so annoying. And Blayne ~he is way too tan~saying everything is ____licious! Babelicious, tanlicious and on and on.
I loved the dress Kenley made last night! It was so cute! The other one I liked was Terri's-it looked very wearable. But sending Wesley home was the right choice! His hem was a mess!!!
Well, we are off to take my Grandma to lunch and a little shopping! Maybe I will have time to scrap later. I'm almost finished with the mini album from our trip to Dinosaur Valley at Spring Break! It's pretty cute!! Have a great day!!
~Beth

Happy Fourth of July!!

2008-07-04T10:57:00.004-05:00

Well, we made it back from our trip through the Midwest! Yea!! We were so glad to be home! I'll update and share pictures on that later! McKenna said she never wanted to get in the car again! So we spent the rest of the week doing laundry and getting caught up on stuff around the house. I did have a massage on Wednesday and Chris played golf yesterday. Last night we celebrated the 4th a little early-by watching the fireworks in Southlake. We continued what has become an annual tradition by watching with our great friends the Phillips. Here are a few pictures from last night. We always have such a great time together!!

Here are our beautiful girls! We hope everyone has a safe and happy 4th!!

Beth

School is out!

2008-06-04T11:45:00.005-05:00

Caris has been out for two weeks and she misses school so much! She wants me to invite her teachers to her birthday party! This is from her program on the last day. And beside Caris is her best friend Emma. They are soooo cute!! Caris had a great year. She learned so much and had so much fun with her new friends! She can't wait to start again in September!!

McKenna's dance recital was last week and she did great! They were the 1st dance to "Sugar, Sugar". Their next dance was to "It's Hairspray!" Both dances were really cute! And if I do say so myself, isn't she beautiful? Yes!!!

Well, McKenna is now a 1st grader!! I can't believe it. She had a fantastic year and learned so much. McKenna's teacher is awesome and its just amazing how much she has changed and grown since the beginning of the school year! Here she is at graduation!

We are getting ready for playdates and vacation!! This summer is shaping up to be pretty busy. Unfortunately, we had to cancel our playdate today because Caris and McKenna were sick with some type of stomach bug-yuk! And Caris and I only got about 3 hours of sleep night before last, and she ran a fever and then last night, she stuck a bead up her nose! So, off we went to the urgent care facility! She was very brave, didn't cry or wince when the nurse removed it. I just can't believe she stuck a bead up her nose! I'm glad Chris's trip was delayed or I would have been nutty!! Tomorrow we are meeting some friends at the local waterpark, and on Friday I'm off to the Great American Scrapbook Convention! I'm taking a Basic Grey class, which I'm really excited about! And to shop~since we have no scrapbook stores around here anymore! Then I'll be giving the SAT on Saturday, church on Sunday and maybe see Kung Fu Panda next week! Hope everyone has a great week!!

Colonial

2008-05-27T16:55:00.002-05:00

Wow! What an awesome experience! Of course, Chris goes to Colonial every year, but this was my first time. Chris went on Friday, but wanted to go again since we had tournament badges.
We went on Sunday and got a VIP parking pass from Stephen-thank you!! Thankfully, the humidity had dropped so it wasn't too miserable. There was plenty of shade and a nice breeze. Chris knows the course, so we were able to strategically get ahead of the crowd following Phil. We were able to see Phil quite a bit. At one point, we were waiting for him to cross over to the next tee box and I was standing right at the rope and he walked right by me and handed a ball to the little girl standing in front of me-awesome!! Phil rocks! After his awesome shot on 18 and victory, he thanked the soldiers for serving. And thanks to my Mom and Dad for taking care of the girls! We spent yesterday swimming and hanging out at my parent's-the girls did so great and had so much fun! My parents bought a basketball goal and it was so much fun! We are wrapping up school, have McKenna's recital and tons of other stuff! Hope everyone has a great week!

Weekend Project: Part One

2008-05-18T19:54:00.006-05:00

Well, it took some prep work during the past week, but this is how we spent our weekend! We tiled the girls' bathroom! And for first-timers, I think that we did a pretty good job! We just finished grouting and we will need to caulk and re-set the toilet tomorrow evening. We also plan on painting, putting in a new light fixture and a new mirror, but that is for another weekend! Have a great week!!
Beth

Celebrity Morph by MyHeritage

2008-05-15T11:31:00.001-05:00

MyHeritage: Family trees - Genealogy - Celebs

Celebrity Morph by MyHeritage

2008-05-15T10:18:00.001-05:00

MyHeritage: Celebrity Morph - Pedigree - Family tree program

MS 150

2008-05-05T09:21:00.004-05:00

Chris finished his third MS 150 yesterday! Here are some pictures from the weekend!

Day One
This is the start in Frisco. There were over 4,000 riders in this year's event! It was freezing and very, very windy!

This is at the finish line at Texas Motor Speedway. At the end of day one, Chris rode 86.1 miles!Day Two
The day started at TMS and ended in Sundance Square in downtown Fort Worth. At the end of day two, Chris rode 74.3 miles! From left to right: Alan, Chris, Laralynn and Keith

Chris, after finishing day two.
Great job honey!! We are very proud of you and love you very much!!!
Beth, McKenna and Caris

Happy May Day!

2008-05-01T17:20:00.006-05:00

Here are some pictures from McKenna's field trip to the Botanical Gardens in Fort Worth. I hadn't been there since Chris and I had our engagement pictures taken there-about 10 years ago! It was beautiful! And all of the kids had a great time!

Saturday is the MS 150 Frisco to Fort Worth! Chris has been training really hard. A big thanks to everyone that has supported him and in finding a cure for MS. And its still not too late to donate! Every little bit helps! So keep Chris in your thoughts and prayers this weekend that it will be a safe and fun ride! I hope to post pictures from the ride next week!

Have a great weekend!

Beth

Busy!

2008-04-08T12:06:00.002-05:00

We have been super busy! Brent, Nicole and Callie were here last week-and we all had a great time! The girls always have so much fun together! We ate at Pappasito's(a given when Nicole is here and my fav!), went to Build-a- Bear, celebrated Grampy's birthday and just hung out! It just went by so quickly!
Chris rode on Sunday-it was very windy. Only a few more weeks until the MS 150! I'm not sure if he will start riding in the evening as well..? This is his 3rd year to ride and it is always an amazing event! We make it a little bit of a getaway too. Since it begins super early, and in Frisco-a world away from us-we drive over Friday evening and eat dinner, spend the night at a hotel, then get up for the ride the next am. All while my folks keep the girls. After the start, I head back, gather our stuff and make my way back home. The half-way stop is at TMS, about 8-10 miles from our house, so the girls and I go and sit at the finish line. And on Sunday, they ride from TMS up close to Decatur and finish in downtown Fort Worth. It really is an awesome event and a super way to raise money to find a cure for MS!
Caris cut her hair yesterday. It must be a rite of passage-McKenna did the same thing around this same age-took a big chunk out of the middle of her bangs! Fortunately, with her hair, it was hard for me to even see where Caris had cut it! I just saw pieces of hair on the floor! It scared me because today is Picture Day at school-of course. But where Caris did cut goes up when I put her bow in...so no biggie.
I planted flowers yesterday and finished up today. It is supposed to rain today and tomorrow, so I'm glad I got them in! Guess that's all for now-have a great day!

Beth

**Oh and mark your calendar for May 2-3-there will be big happenings over at SO for National Scrapbooking Day!! Too bad for me since this is the same weekend as the MS150, but I still hope to get some time in scrapping!

After a break...

2008-03-24T12:54:00.006-05:00

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter! We spent time with our families, went to see Horton Hears a Who, went to the Mavs game (they lost) and drove down to Glen Rose to Dinosaur Valley. We had a great time, climbing and exploring. The girls thought it was great, especially McKenna. Here are some pictures...

Here's a LO that I completed during the awesome SO crop. It was so much fun and I got alot done. Yea!

I'll post some Easter pictures after I get a chance to download them. The girls had a great time with Camry and Adi, hunting Easter eggs and just having a great time together!

Have a great day!

Beth

It's Friday!

2008-03-14T09:23:00.002-05:00

And so begins Spring Break! I'm thinking about taking the girls to see the new Horton movie either next Monday or Tuesday, since it is supposed to rain. Chris is off next Thursday and Friday. We are headed to the Mavericks' game Thursday night. I'm excited because I haven't been to a game at the AAC. The girls are going to be entertaining Gram and Grampy that evening.
It's hard to believe that Easter is just about a week away. It's early this year! I went and bought candy for the girls' baskets yesterday. I'm hoping for a nice Easter...it was so cold last year! The girls didn't get to wear their Easter dresses until a few weeks later.
We are also looking forward to a visit from out Florida family! Nicole, Callie and Brent are coming at the end of the month-the girls are so excited to see their cousin!
Hope everyone has a great weekend-head over to Simply Obsessed...the big crop starts today!!
Beth

What is this foreign substance??

2008-03-06T15:04:00.003-06:00

Oh, its called snow! And seriously, it coming down hard. We usually only get snow once a year and this is it. Honestly, I've never seen flakes this big-and I was in Iowa in January! Of course, about an inch of ice/slush is already covering the roads, so we can pretty much count on two things: no school and lots and lots of program interruptions to update us, you know that its snowing outside. I love the weather updates! Chris thinks that he could do just a good a job as the certified meteorologists-you know just taking a guess-haha. When McKenna and I went to pick up Caris, there were a total of 3 kids remaining in her class.

Just wanted to share some Texas weather with everyone!!

Beth

Cool Project

2008-02-28T17:59:00.003-06:00

Here are some photos of the fabric-covered canvas that I made to organize and store all of the bows that Caris has. It was easy and I think it turned out pretty cute.

Happy Wednesday!

2008-02-20T14:07:00.002-06:00

Hope everyone is having a great week-going towards the weekend! We are having our pictures made Saturday morning and then onto celebrate Doug and Camry's birthdays!! Doug turned 40 last Saturday and Camry will be 10 next week! She was just a baby when Chris and I got married and now she's 10? Where does time go?!? Then church on Sunday...
Still waiting on the car to be repaired after the wreck last Thursday. But I have a really nice rental car-2008 Toyota Highlander. Chris jokingly asked if I would want the van back-
Oh, and the guy who caused the accident doesn't have enough coverage for everyone that was involved(yikes-4 cars), so I have to file on my insurance as it being "underinsured". Boo on that! But the deductible is $250, not $500, so I guess that's something...
We finally got a new computer and the flat screen rocks!! Love it!
I have some new layouts that I need to post, just haven't gotten around to it...but head over to Simply Obsessed and check out the kit for March! It is fantastic-the colors are bold and vibrant! Can't wait to get it!!
Beth

Happy Valentine's Day!

2008-02-14T08:18:00.002-06:00

Hope everyone has a great day and that you can share it with the ones you love!!
A big welcome to Preston!! He was born on Monday to proud parents Kourtney and Patrick-he is the cousin to Alivia and Andrew, who were welcomed in the last post. Congratulations to your family!!!
In other news, I have been fighting some kind of cold this week (Thanks Chris!) and haven't done much of anything. I was able to get all of the Valentine's goodies for the girls ready.
McKenna has class pictures today and her party. She also pulled another tooth on Tuesday! Awesome!!
Caris is the line leader today. They are having pizza and she is taking mini cupcakes for snack!! She is very excited!
Guess that pretty much sums it up! Hope everyone has a great day!
Beth

Welcome!!

2008-01-31T11:26:00.000-06:00

Just wanted to say welcome to sweet new babies: Alivia and Andrew Nacar! They were born yesterday afternoon, about 9 weeks early, but are doing well. My friend Kristen just had her shower on Saturday. I said to her, we didn't think on Saturday that you would be a Mom today. Congratulations to Kristen and Chris!! These two will surely bless your lives!

Chris has started training for this year's MS 150. It will take place the first weekend in May. This will be his 3rd year to ride and it is something that he really looks forward to during the year.

Here's a cute picture of Caris...

Have a great day!
Beth

Good Friday Morning!

2008-01-25T10:09:00.000-06:00

Well, it is cold and rainy here. I don't mind one or the other, but can't stand the two of them together.

It is shaping up to be a busy few days. McKenna is at school, has dance this afternoon and then a birthday party to go to this evening. Tomorrow I am giving the SAT and then onto a baby show for my sweet friend Kristen. She is expecting twins-one of each! Baby hugs to her and her hubby, Chris.

McKenna lost another tooth-she pulled it herself! Wow. The tooth fairy managed to dig up $3.05 in dollars and loose change.

Here is a new layout with McKenna. Chris took the picture when he took the girls fishing-I converted it to B&W.
Enjoy your day!
Beth

2008-01-23T14:41:00.000-06:00

Its been awhile since I last posted...before Christmas? Where does time go?
In my case, it went to Iowa...my Grandmother passed away on January 11. She had been in decline for some time, and fortunately my Mom was able to get up there Thursday afternoon and spend some final time with her. Although my Grandma was pretty much out of it, due to pain medication, I really believe that she knew my Mom was there. My Dad and I drove up Saturday morning and got in about 10 that night. It was a relief just to be there for my Mom. By the way, Iowa is very cold in the winter, not sure if anyone realizes this...and there is snow-the real stuff. Not like what we have here. On Sunday, there was actually a man out running-running!! It was about 10 degrees-crazy!!! Anyway, we wrapped up all of matters and we will have a memorial service in late June-when its warmer...
We headed back on Tuesday, stayed in Kansas City and then drove on home on Wednesday. We were able to see the rest of our family while in KC, which was nice, just sorry circumstances.
On to lighter subjects...is anyone else tired of the writer's strike? No more new episodes of CSI:, Without a Trace, SVU, The Office and only 2 left of Brothers and Sisters! Thank goodness for Project Runway and my guilty pleasure, One Tree Hill.
I have really been doing quite a bit of scrapbooking lately and have actually had the nerve to post some layouts on my favorite site, Simply Obsessed. There are some talented ladies over there and I get inspired from them daily. Oh, and the monthly kits rock too! Check it out!

It's Getting Close!!

2007-12-19T16:13:00.000-06:00

It is hard to believe that Christmas is less than a week away! We are finished with our shopping and now the daunting task of wrapping gifts. I don't mind one or two, but whew!! Bust out the bags and tissue paper-so much easier!
I finished making 9 sets of coasters for friends, family and teachers as gifts and they turned out great! I didn't think to take a picture, darn! Both the girls have their parties at school tomorrow and on Friday, McKenna gets to wear her jammies, drink hot chocolate and watch Polar Express during her short day. She is pretty excited. I think I'll make her wear the jammies to bed, that way I won't have to ask her to get dressed. Save a few minutes!
My Grandma is coming on Friday-so excited! Haven't seen her since the end of August and the girls are super excited.
Congratulations to our awesome friends Chris and Lisa...they are finally in their new home-just in time for Christmas!! They are thrilled and we're are glad they are getting settled! Yea!

I hope that each and everyone of you will take some time to celebrate the awesome reason for Christmas-the birth of Jesus-our ultimate gift. God is amazing and to think that a tiny baby would come to save us all-awesome!!!

Enjoy the time with your family and friends-we will-Chris starts his vacation!!
Merry Christmas to you all!

Sickness runs rampant!

2007-12-06T18:48:00.000-06:00

Hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving!! I was in bed with a fever and didn't leave the house until the Monday after Thanksgiving, and that was to go to the doctor. Then McKenna stayed home Monday and Tuesday, and now Caris is sick! Fun! Well, at least it will be through with our family before Christmas. The question is...when will Chris get it??
So, I missed the shopping, family and seeing our friends. Oh, and the Parade of Lights in downtown Ft. Worth-complete bummer.
But, we were all well to celebrate McKenna's birthday on 12/3!! It is hard to believe that she is 6! She changes every day. She is learning and growing in so many ways. She is an incredible blessing to us and we thank God for her everyday!!
So, I think that we are pretty close to being done with Christmas shopping. We really only have our parents left. Speaking of parents...the Miller's are in NYC! Carolyn has always wanted to go and they will celebrate their anniversary there tomorrow!
Headed to Big Sandy on Saturday for Adi's birthday party, hopefully Caris will not be running a fever by then. She always seems to come down with something when it is time to go east!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-20T09:37:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! We are looking forward to spending time together with our family and friends! We are so thankful to God for everything that he has blessed us with over the past year. Although there have been difficult times, we trust in the Lord and continue to trust in His plan.

McKenna is almost 6!! In about 1 1/2 weeks, our baby will be 6. She loves kindergarten and has taken karate and is now enjoying cheerleading!

Caris loves preschool and loves taking dance. Of course, she's better at ballet. We did go to the orthopedist yesterday and he said walking on her toes is just a bad habit-one we have to break! Had this been a recent development it would have indicated a neurological problem-so that is a big blessing! So if you hear us say "Flat Feet" you'll know why!

Is anyone going shopping on Friday? Kohl's is opening at 4am-is it just me or is that just a little much? Anyway, I want to see the ads before I decide...last year my cousins Jessi, Bethany and I went at 5:30 and had a great time! I wish they were here again this year!!

On a football note, our beloved Huskers play Friday and we are, as always, hoping for a win. They could still make it to a bowl, which is hard to believe, considering how bad they are this season. Anyway, Go Huskers!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Today is the Tour de Cure

2007-10-20T09:46:00.000-05:00

Well, we are waiting for Chris to call us to meet. At 9:30, he was at the 1/2 way point. A huge thanks to all of you who donated to help fight diabetes!!
Things are super busy around here-McKenna and Caris keep me on my toes.
I received an invite to a friend's baby shower and have already purchased the gift. I am so on top of things...actually I was trying to waste some time before dance class for Caris started and knew this was something that I needed to get done!!! Just 3 weeks early!
Well, I hope to post some pics of Chris when possible!! Love to hear from you!!

Some Pictures...

2007-09-22T18:47:00.001-05:00

This picture was taken on Caris' birthday. We went bowling and then ate at The Purple Cow.

This is from McKenna's first day of school. She loves being in kindergarten!!

Confession

2007-09-20T11:17:00.000-05:00

I love Webkinz!! Chris and I purchased one for McKenna and now I'm hooked! It was so much fun to play with McKenna and get Blackie (her black lab) set up in Webkinz World. I love the games and shopping-of course! So, this week I purchased my own Lil' Kinz and I am an official member! Of course, now Caris wants one too. She just likes to watch, so tomorrow we will be buying one for her. Is this a sad state of affairs for me? That I love Webkinz??? Its fun and something that the girls and I can do together. So that makes it totally ok...right?

Many Thanks...

2007-09-14T10:36:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to say thanks to all of you that sent sympathy cards. This is the first time that I have had to deal with the loss of a grandparent. It is hard and I miss my Grandpa everyday; however, I know that he has seen Jesus and is no longer in pain. And one day, I will see him again.

Both of the girls are in school. McKenna loves kindergarten and is learning so much. They started Saxon Phonics this week. It is amazing to think how much she will learn this year!! She is also taking karate and last night was student of the day. Ha-Yaaa!

Caris started preschool at FBC Keller and loves it!! She takes music and Spanish and loves playing with her new friends!! Caris is taking dance-perfect sine she is always on her toes anyway. She really enjoys it!

Chris is riding in the Tour de Cure on October 20. It helps fund Diabetes research-here is the website http://www.tour.diabetes.org/
where you can sponsor Chris and help raise money for the awesome cause!!!

We are off to Big Sandy for the Nebraska v. USC game...Go Big Red!!!
Hope everyone out there is doing great-love to hear from you!!

Whew...busy!

2007-08-12T19:07:00.000-05:00

We have been so busy! My Mom was in the hospital for several days with kidney failure-due to an allergic reaction to a drug prescribed for an infection she didn't have. Anyway, she is home now and recovering, slowly...
We had my sister-in-law, Nicole and niece Callie in town for several days. As well, Camry and Adi, since Doug and Laura were in Hawaii (not jealous, really). The girls had so much fun together! We went to Build-a-Bear, had their picture made, swam, had sleepovers and so much more! All the girls were sad, but tons of memories were made.
My Grandpa is in the hospital in KC, not doing very well. But he and my Grandma are at total peace with the situation and they totally trust in God and know that this is His plan. My Dad flew up on Friday evening and came back this morning. His longtime friend Steve has a plane and flew him up. How awesome. God totally blessed my Mom and Dad with Steve and Valerie. They have been friends for over 30 years and its great to know you have someone in your life that will go above and beyond for you.
And tomorrow our baby turns 3. Caris is so funny. She even sings Happy Birthday to herself! We had her party on Saturday and everyone had a great time. We had food, fun and family. And Caris received some great gifts. Tomorrow we will officially celebrate her birth.
Happy Birthday Bug!!

Where have all the trash cans gone...?

2007-07-24T10:13:00.001-05:00

So after the sudden thunderstorm last night I failed to bring in the trash cans. Not wanting to violate the code that the city so strictly enforces (cough, cough), I ran out this morning to put them up. But where were they? How could two huge trash cans just disappear? Did someone actually steal them? So, I thought maybe one of my neighbors put them up for me...nope. Neither huge can was in the backyard...did someone steal our trash cans?? Then as I gazed down the street, I realized what had happened. All of the rain had washed our cans down the street...so, here I am out in my jammies, lugging these two huge cans from down the street. Oh, and they are filled with water. So when I finally get them dumped out and into the backyard, I'm a sweaty mess. I'm ready for Chris to come home!!

Huge Gripe!!

2007-07-23T19:31:00.001-05:00

Ok, first of all with Chris being gone, the first question always is...What's for dinner? So tonight Chili's had the honor of serving us a delicious meal! HA-the laugh was on me. Not wanting to handle the girls in the restaurant solo, we ordered to-go. Get home and whew, the order is correct. Because we all know that ordering to-go is always a walk on the wild side. Anyway, I get the girls set up and they start eating..and after they need 100 things and then are finished, I finally get to sit down. Given the fact that I have already zapped the food to re-warm, I am ready to eat...cut the sandwich in half and to my dismay (and disgust), you guessed it - raw chicken! UGH!! So after zapping it again and again, it is finally done, but I have rubber chicken. Needless to say, popcorn for dinner? Chili's has already heard from me, or should I say corporate. I sent an email to Brinker. I'm sure that I will hear something within moments...or never.

Over for this year...

2007-07-21T11:20:00.001-05:00

Swim lessons are over!! McKenna did a great job-bummed that Marcia wasn't there for the last class. McKenna went down the enclosed slide twice, but they ran out of time before they could jump off of the diving board. She is already looking forward to next summer's lessons!

2007-07-19T12:08:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday Mom!!

Swim Lessons

2007-07-18T11:28:00.000-05:00

McKenna has two more days of swim lessons left. Next summer, I plan on putting both of the girls in two sessions each. It is hard for Caris to sit out this time. So, I can totally see a difference in the teachers that McKenna has this time. With Marcia she is more confident and relaxed, with Katie...not so much. When Katie was gone on Monday, you could see the difference in McKenna and yesterday Katie is back...and McKenna goes back too. I'm not sure if this is Katie's first year teaching, but there is obviously something going on with her teaching style. Because it is clear that McKenna can do it!
Tomorrow is my Mom's birthday-we will be going out to celebrate but she hasn't decided where yet. Should be a fun time!

First Post

2007-07-17T13:13:00.000-05:00

This will be my first post. I hope that this will be a way to stay in touch with those who live here and away! I would love to hear from you!
Beth