Summer #2

There is something about summer that is so fun and relaxing.

It was awesome to get to go and watch Nayvee in swimming lessons

and enjoy a few moments in the sun...and the rain.

It helped that the new pool feels kind of like you're on vacation.

My mom is so good to the kids and wouldn't dream of making them get 

in a cold pool. So she strings a garden hose into the house to a laundry sink,

and fills the pool with warm water...and the kids love it!

Random shots from the summer 

haircuts, track meet, Ridge Park, cleaning the eavestrough.

My mom got the most darling mini table for the kids

from Costco and they of course had to 

have pancakes on it everyday.

We had so much fun camping! John thinks it's funny,

but my family is all about trailers and so am I! Who doesn't love to be able 

to give your kids a bath before they go to bed or warm up a bottle

in the microwave, all while enjoying the great outdoors!

Call me high maintenance, I don't care!

July 1st in Raymond Alberta Canada is the one of my 3 favorite times

of the year, along with Christmas and our family holiday at the lake.

It is so fun to walk around and see old friends 

and experience the bustle of the town.

It brings everyone's families together, which makes the whole town

a very happy place.

Summer #1

Scott and Janelle's little Lilly is so cute. She's lucky enough to have 4 sets of grandparents and a crazy amount of aunts, uncles and cousins. Needless to say not everyone could stand in her blessing circle.

We were just talking to Grandma and Sophie on the phone a few days ago while they were making gingerbread boys. Nayvee very honestly asked, "can you save one for me Grandma until I get there?"

This is my oldest nephew Justin who is now serving in Tampa Florida Mission . It was super exciting to watch him prepare to go, and now we wait every monday for the coveted emails. He is such a great example for all the kids. We love you Justy!

This was seriously the most amazing day ever. I had to take a picture of the clock because we were not only go to be on time for church but 10 minutes early. It rained almost everyday in June except for this one, which was an answer to a prayer for the outside family dinner afterwards.

We're Back

We are back in San Fran and though it was kind of nice to unplug for awhile

I am slowly going to update my blog on the adventures from the summer.

This page is from before we left. You may have heard of the storybook Flat Stanley. My niece Laynee sent her flat self to us so that we could document her visit to the City and send her back. Nayvee loved it!

This is the beginning of our trip to Canada. The kids loved being able to run around to their hearts content. Nayvee kept the trail hot to her cousin Sophie's house. She thought she was so grown up when would announce that she just needed to run over to Aunt Lisa's to make sure that things hadn't changed in the last 10 minutes. We are glad that they were so patient with her frequent visits.

This is my one of my favorite pictures from the whole summer. Sam and Nayvee or should I say "Wavy". That's Sam's name for her, played together awesome. Banks wanted Abby to love him and I think she did from a distance.

Birthday's are an important event when Grandma Joan is around and Nayvee is always so bummed when she misses one of the cousins birthday parties. Grandma Joan made it up to her by telling her she could have a late birthday party on the farm. She was in heaven. Every Sunday in primary she would announce that they had missed her birthday (since we weren't visiting in May) so on the last sunday we were in Welling, they had her come up so they could sing. She is the funniest kid.

I'm off to Canada!

So here is some of the fun stuff we have been doing over the past few weeks.

I thought Banks threw my little camera in the garbage but i thankfully found it last night.

I got to go and have a mini high school reunion with some of my best pals down in Orange county. We missed the ones who couldn't make it on account of Babies (you know who you are!)

I'm pretty sure that Nayvee wishes that she was in Mandy's family.

Nayvee has been taking Ballet Classes over the last 8 weeks at our church

It was definitely the high light of her life!

Did I mention I had a huge Cavity/Hole in my tooth!

This last weekend we headed to UOP housing for some crawfish.

My kids loved it! so thankful they aren't picky eaters.

Have a great summer everyone here in San Francisco,

and good luck to all those who are leaving us.

Crabbing

We headed up north to a place called Lawson's Landing in Dillion's Beach.

We were all first timers but were very successful in our catch.

I to this point had only had real crab once and wasn't the biggest fan, but right fresh from

the ocean it tasted awesome!

Nayvee was so brave and even held a live crab!

The kids had so much fun, as you can see Carter wasn't going to let a little cloud cover stop

him from playing in the water all day. The crazy part was even though we didn't see the sun

for one second, everyone got sunburned! Mostly John in our family.

Now for the crabbing. The boys would take cages bated with

fish fillets and drop them about 40 feet out from shore. We would wait about an hour

and then pull them up. To our amazement they were full of crabs.

Then they would bring them in and we would boil them up!

It was SO FUN!

We also learned a fabulous trick from our friends the Tarletons

Smores with Nutella...Delicious!

Banks is getting so big and is definitely starting to be able to 

communicate what he is wanting. He really loves to "help" me do my chores

and loves to give hugs and kisses.

He's a mama's boy, but cries his eyes out every morning when his dad leaves for school.

Jess Gordon ZoBell

My family likes to think of today as the day

Jess got to go to heaven.

I am so grateful for the knowledge and testimony I have 

that we are an eternal family.

BFF's

It was so fun to see The Fergusons on their trip to San Francisco.

I loved getting to know her kids and hubby better! We had a great time seeing them through

the week. Nayvee was in heaven having three fabulous playmates around.

The good news is that we are getting together again next week in So Cal but with 2 more friends

and their 5 kids! Can't wait!!!

I know some people would be happy to never remember high school again but I am not one 

of those. I had the most amazing group of friends growing up.

The best part is that when we get together we don't even skip a beat. Even if it's been a few years.

Maybe we were weird but our group was truly like sisters, we would slap each other's butts,

share gum....I don't know if we really did that, but I wouldn't be surprised. Anyways

while Mandy was visiting out of pure habit, I slapped her butt in my kitchen, and we both laughed

at how good friends never change! That's what i love about my girls.

follow the prophet...with a little spice!

I uploaded the pictures off my little camera that i keep in my diaper bag, and totally forgot about this little gem of a video. sorry it's a little shaky, banks was trying to steal the camera...enjoy!

Catch up!

Here's a little catch up for the first few pages.

I forgot to post the first two pages from when John's parents came to visit.

Oh and Linda if you see this I would still love to get the pictures from your camera as well.

This was my first time to visit the famous Mama's 

on the corner of Washington Square in San Francisco.

I had heard a lot about this place especially from the girls that moved away last year.

They were right, it was super tasty!

We went for a girls day out and combined it with Stevie Spillers wedding shower.

Way to get things done girls!

Nayvee was so excited to go the dentist for her first visit.

She wasn't allowed to see John, so the next best thing was  STEPHANIE!

Now for the most important post

Nayvee's 4th Birthday!

It just happened that Joy School fell on Nayvee's birthday, so we decided that it would be ok

if we did a lot of party'n and just a little joy school'n!

She has been waiting and waiting for it to get here. 

We went to Target the day before her birthday to get some party supplies

 and while driving around the store she says, "mom, do you know who's birthday it is in the morning?"

I replied with, "Yes, i do."

She then, acting really surprised and curious say, "You do, who's is it?" (like she really didn't know)

I then said, "it's yours!"

She got so excited and says, "it is! all my dreams really are coming true! I wished it would be my birthday tomorrow! Your dreams aren't coming true mom cause your birthday isn't for a long time!"

The lady in front of us starts cracking up over our conversation.

I seriously wish i could video tape her whole life.

notice on the top front cupcake a petal is missing.

Banks got on the table and stole it! little stinker!

We  hit free day at the Zoo.

When we were walking to the car afterwards it was so windy coming off the ocean

that the sand was hitting banks in the face so i had to walk backwards.

I was in such a rush to get the kids in the car that i hadn't noticed what was going on in the 

car parked next to mine.

I finally got in the front seat and took a deep breath and just happend to look to the right

There was two people in this little truck and the window's were pretty foggy,

I'll just let your imaginations go from there...crazy san franciscans! 

Tiffany Blasingames had this fabulous idea to start a strollercising

workout group! Best idea ever!

Last but not least!

On Saturday, the weather was gorgeous so we

decided to go and check out the new park up on Washington above our house.

Notice Banks' cute little ASU hat! John is so proud. 

I can't stand how fast banks is growing up.

I stared at him while he was sleeping last night, 

that's the only time he still feels like a baby I can't stand it.

Mothers

Joanie Babes!

I wish i was there to give you a gigantic hug

and tell you that everything I learned about being a mom

I have learned from you!

Thank you for always having a listening ear and 

great advice and instruction on everything

from laundry to that day's spiritual thought.

Thanks for always making us feel welcome and at home

at your house. We are counting down the days to get there.

Hope you have had a fabulous mother's day.

I know my opinion is bias but

YOU ARE THE

BEST MOM EVER!!!

love JULI

Mom (Linda),

    I owe most of the successes in my life to you (and dad) and the lessons that us kids were taught growing up in our little world in Joseph City.  I don't know if it was ever actually communicated, but we just knew what was expected of us as Linda and Richard Miller's children.  With that being said i realize that there were several occasions where I tested the boundaries of these expectations and i'm forever grateful that you guys hung with me and responded with love and encouragement.  I think of where i am at in life and it is hard for me to comprehend...although i still have a lot of growing up to do.  Thanks for teaching me how to survive out in the world (as i think back on our childhood i realize it was very Tom Sawyer-esque) and teaching how to laugh and make others laugh.  There are lots of laughs to come.  I love you very much and always look forward to my visits to the Joe C where i can get out of the rat race for awhile and remember my roots.  

John Fairbanks Miller (the 4th child)

I'm Finished!!!!

I know you are supposed to get worse with each kid but that is not the case for me.

These are my last few pages from Banks' Baby Book.

Now to start on Nayvee!

I was a little ticked at myself after working on these last ones.

I think I was having crazy mother mush brains and forgot to take pictures for like 3 months

I can't go back now but I can repeatedly SHAKE my head when i think about it.

yup, no pictures of any of our visitors! so if any of you are reading this and you have

a good picture of banks and yourselves or your children

I would GREATLY appreciate them!

This would be one of those moments when I am really shaking my head!

can you believe I didn't take of picture of Banks' in his outfit

that he got blessed in. Let alone a family picture... nope nothin!

This is a picture from the next day before Grandma and Grandpa left!

Yup shaking my head again as we speak!