Photo Blog Update!

Things have been to say the least, WILD here in the Miller household! I decided instead of writing a huge long blog about everything we have been up to since the fatal computer crash, I am just going to post some pictures of the events I happened to document. Lets be honest here, most of you only come for the pictures anyway :)

First things first, lets start with the diet! Things have been going great! Still going to the gym three times a week and really watching what I'm eating. The reason I started December 1st is so I could get portion control discipline for the holidays and it totally worked! Okay, enough about me.

Miller Family Fun night! We took the little darlings to go see Santa Clause and out to dinner for Josh's birthday. 31 for any of you counting :) I thought I had a better picture of the two of them on Santa, but I guess not. Malakai proceeded to tell Santa that he was a very good boy and Leila was naughty!

We then headed to Mr. Randy's for his annual Christmas Party Open House. Malakai LOVED all the Christmas decorations and there were little twin boys just his age whom he had a grand ole' time with. Leila was the hit of the party as she is my little social butterfly. It doesn't matter if she is hungry, tired, sick, or if it is way past her bed time, as long as she is in a social situation she is SO happy!

We are still going to hockey, as much as I dread it! I am a firm believer in finishing something once we start it, and I'm not gonna lie, Malakai LOVES it!

My dad, Lisa, and Kiera came into town for Malakai's birthday party. We went to a really cute new place that just opened up here called Once Upon A Bash and had storytime with Cinderella, ate cookies with Santa and danced with Dora. It was a lot of fun!! Lisa has some really cute pictures from this event that I will hopefully have soon. My precious baby turned four on the 21st! I can't believe how quickly the time has flown! We had a wonderful time at his party at Pump it Up! This is definitely the way to go people...paying someone to do all the work for you! They do everything from the food to the writing down what and who the gifts are from. Josh and I really got to enjoy ourselves and socialize with other parents because we weren't running around like crazy. Oh yeah, and the kids love it to!! It's a win win! Thank you to all our family and friends who were able to join us! Thanks also to Nicole for some fabulous pictures!!

Tuesday the 23rd was a super busy day for us! We had Malakai's Christmas party at school, then we were off to Mr. Randy's so he and Stacey could give the kids their Christmas presents, which by the way they LOVED and who needs Santa when you are given a HUMONGOUS dinosaur! OMG! After that, we were supposed to be going to a nice dinner with my mom, Carrie, and Sarah, and their hubbies for Christmas. Long story short, Malakai threw up ALL over me and himself at Randy's house!! OMG! It was crazy! At least we were on the tile and he made it to the bathroom before the second dose hit. I felt SO bad for him. So needless to say, he and Josh went home and Leila and I met them all for dinner. Poor guy, he is still kicking this thing. He did the same thing on Christmas :(



Last but not least...CHRISTMAS! I hosted Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas day was wonderful! We miss not being in KC with family, but it has been nice starting our own traditions over the past couple of years. It was chaotic and heartwarming all at the same time. I look forward to many, many years of times like this. Here are a few of our favorite things.

BEFORE

Malakai

LEILA

ME

JOSH

AFTER

XOXO,

Miller

Best thing since I last blogged: Being able to have such an amazing holiday and celebrating the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ with my family whom I am so joyfully blessed by.

Worst thing since I last blogged: No internet access at home for WEEKS!

I'm Baaaaack!

Half way at least! I am typing this on my newly acquired laptop!! My other computer is still totally crashed and I need to have Geek Squad come out next week. However, I am not COMPLETELY disconnected from civilization anymore! YEAH!

I am however, totally exhausted! I promise tomorrow there will be an update on birthdays, Christmas parties, Christmas, family visits, and sicknesses!!

I hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas!

XOXO,
Miller

No food will EVER taste as good as being skinny FEELS!

This has been my mantra for the past week. Big Fat Pat on the Back for me...I have been AMAZING! Go Me!! As you all know the diet started on Monday. Basically I had a Healthy Choice or a Smart One every single day for lunch AND dinner. Usually a fruit for breakfast. I know, it sounds pretty boring but I am trying to spend the first couple weeks shrinking my stomach and getting use to NORMAL sized portions. Something that I am SO not good with! It was a pretty tempting week in the office as well. Let's see, Monday was catered from an AMAZING pasta place her in the Lou...didn't touch it. Wednesday was Pizza Hut pizza and Pasta...didn't touch it. Thursday was a catering company that brought in pasta, chicken and all sorts of other stuff...didn't touch it. Friday was Chevy's, I had a few chips with salsa. This doesn't even count the doughnuts, bagels, and treats that are brought in on an hourly basis. I didn't touch ANY of it!!

I also made it to the gym Mon, Wed, and Friday before work. I actually love walking in there at 6am. You get to be known as a regular, in there with all the other crazies who only have time to fit the gym into their schedule BEFORE work. One of these days I am going to get the courage to join in on the 5:45 spin class. They are always going at it when I walk in...it's awfully intimidating though. I just take my work clothes and shower and get ready there. It is amazing how peaceful and enjoyable the getting ready process is. Could it be because there are no kids?! Surely not! Even though the kids are usually still in bed when I leave for work, there is always the worrying of waking them. I will be weighing in tomorrow morning. Don't worry, good or bad, I'll keep you posted.

We have had a pretty tame weekend. Went to a birthday party today, going to see Christmas lights tonight. I just wanted to share a few pics of the kiddos. Leila is at the stage where she is pulling herself up on EVERYTHING then doesn't really know what to do. She is SO dramatic!! I have NO idea where she gets that. Malakai has just been an angel lately. He must be really trying to impress Santa. He wrote me a letter this morning, well he dictated and daddy wrote, and he told me he loved me more that Mr. Incredible. Now that is love! He also said I was prettier than a flower...for some reason I am thinking that was Josh's line :)

XOXO,

Miller

Best thing since I last blogged: Getting my Malakai back...I missed the little stinker

Worst thing since I last blogged: Having to work SO hard at self-control!

I'm sorry in advance!

I am going to go ahead and say I am sorry for any future bi*** that might come out in me during the weeks to come. Tomorrow is December 1st! The first day of my new diet and exercise extravaganza! I know people think I am crazy for starting this right smack dab in the middle of the holidays, but if I don't get some sort of control, come January 1 I will have another 15lbs to lose! At least if I get a grip now, I can enjoy Christmas food and not feel TOTALLY awful about it!

I am tracking and journaling over at Fit Day! I even let Josh measure every part of me so I can keep track of that also. Should be good times! I just LOVE food SO much! That is the hardest part for me. I actually enjoy the gym, so that isn't really an issue. It is the food! I love food that is absolutely AWFUL for my body. For example, pasta in white sauce, all potatoes, ANYTHING fried, bar food, and taco bell to name a few.

So here is to losing weight and getting my new tata's in the spring! I am off to Olive Garden for a last meal!

XOXO,

Miller

Best thing since I last blogged: Talking to Malakai on the phone while he has been out of town! Conversations with an almost 4 year old are priceless!

Worst thing since I last blogged: I haven't gotten anything done around the house that I was hoping! Leila, Josh, and I have been SUPER lazy!

Turkey and Stuffing and Pie...Oh my!

There is nothing I love more than a good Thanksgiving meal. In my own opinion, it is the PERFECT meal. Turkey, stuffing, potatoes, gravy, greenbean casserole, and pumpkin pie! Doesn't get much better than that! My Thanksgiving chow-down actually started Thursday when lunch at work was catered by Cracker Barrel and it was all the famous Thanksgiving fixins!





We headed up to KC around 6pm on Wednesday. The kids were perfect in the car. Leila slept and Malakai talked the ENTIRE time! Arrived at the in-laws around 11, put the kids to bed and I headed over to Kristens for a beer and some quick catch up. I hate that everytime we are up there it is for such a short amount of time! We spent Thanksgiving morning with Bob and Barb and headed over to my Grandparents for dinner. Can you believe I actually had the cutest coordinated outfits for us and didn't get ONE family picture! I did get one picture of Malakai, but he wouldn't take those crazy Chiefs things off his face! He told me they were his "game face!" Leila's dress matched the pattern of his vest and Josh and I had gray and navy sweaters :) He is such a trooper sometimes!

We headed back to STL early Friday morning, but not before I hit the local Walmart at 5am! I wasn't fighting for anything this year. There were a few things that if they were still there, I would get them and I ended up getting them!

Malakai stayed in KC with my dad, Lisa, and Kiera. They have a fun filled schedule like usual! Ice Skating, movies, Santa, and much, much more! I miss the little stinker! He will be back on Wednesday.

That's about all the excitement going on here! Hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving! Remember, be Thankful for what and who you have in your life! It's why we are here :)

XOXO,
Miller

Best thing since I last blogged: This video! I love EVERY guy in here! Sometimes, when I'm by myself, I re-enact the Risky Business scene also ;)



Worst thing since I last blogged: Not seeing Twilight on opening night :( I did go last night though and it was amazing! I got Josh a Tshirt that says "I'm her Edward!"

Mission...FAILED!

I obviously did not reach my goal of blogging everyday for the month of November! Give me a break people, I'm going for quality, not quantity! Lol!





I have however, succeeded at many other things recently that this failure is making only a tiny notch on my headboard of goals ;)



For example, I have:

• 
  Spent very valuable time getting together a diet and an exercise plan that is ready to be implemented December 1st! I have even managed to work the gym into my schedule and it is not taking any more time away from my children.







• Not yelled at my mom for something in two days...so what if she is in Phoenix, it still counts :)







• Managed not to pull my hair out strand by strand while my sweet little Leila Jane has gone missing and been replaced by the spawn of Satan. Please teeth, just come in already!!







• Worn my pink power ranger mask that Malakai made for me on the computer during dinner the past two nights and haven't complained once!







• Cooked...almost every night the past two weeks!







• Given up my $5/day Starbucks habit and settled for lower class Quick Trip Mocha's.







• Not tried to kill my dog this week







• Went to the post office AND the UPS store!

So see, even though I didn't blog every day this month, there is a list of other things I have accomplished while I wasn't blogging :)



On a different note, Malakai had his Thanksgiving Lunch at school yesterday. Since I was unable to attend, Josh and Leila were there. From what I hear it was good times. Josh took a few pictures. In the last parent/teacher conference that we had Kai's teachers told us that he shows NO interest in the girls in the class. He is perfectly fine playing transformers and football with the boys. He also NEVER mentions ANY of the girls in his class. So here it is ladies, the key to Malakai's heart....offer to feed him icing off your finger! It gets him every time!!

These are the only pictures we got, however, I can't blame Josh, the room was CROWDED and he was going back and forth between Malakai and Leila. I give him the #1 Room Mom title :)

Here is a little video of Leila just moving along! She can have a MILLION toys out and she will find something else that she isn't supposed to have. I managed to catch a "happy" moment and believe me, there haven't been very many lately. She has been CRAAABYYY!! She is getting used to me not being home, she has a nasty cough, and her gums are SO swollen there HAS to be more teeth coming through!

Best thing since I last blogged: Goddard telling me they can switch Malakai' days! YEAH!

Worst thing since I last blogged: Having to clean up after a four year old who has covered an ENTIRE room in baby powder! Ugh!

I'll be lovin you 4-ever!

I know I didn't blog yesterday, BUT I was not planning on getting home from the NKOTB concert at 2am either!! All I can say is that it was AMAZING!! OMG!! I am still on a high! Some of my girlfriends drove in from KC and got to my house around 6. We had SO much fun laughing and getting totally 80'sed out! We met up with another gf from KC who now resides in STL and headed out. Let me tell you, it has been 18 years since I last saw New Kids in concert and they STILL put on an amazing show! Obviously the crowd was filled with now women instead of adolescents, but everyone was totally decked out in side ponytails, leggins, and neon colors!

I think I could have possibly had the BEST t-shirt there! I had probably 15 random people stop me and ask if they could take my picture!! We were initially up in the top section, but got our tickets upgraded to a much closer and better seat. They did all the great classics and it was SO loud in there with everyone singing and screaming at the top of their lungs you couldn't even hear yourself think! I loved it!!

Here are a few pics from a night I will NEVER forget!!

My pictures from the actual concert sucked! I am waiting to get Kristen's she took some great ones!!

XOXO,

Miller

Best thing since I last blogged: Duh!! Best night I've had in a LONG time!

Worst thing since I last blogged: Having to get up and put a smile on my face the next day for work!

I can do this!

I can go back to work tomorrow! I can't believe the time is here! I am so happy to be returning to the work-force tomorrow, but the anxiety that is coming along with it is so unexpected. Okay, maybe not totally unexpected, but still a little overwhelming. I love working! I don't feel guilty about it at all, which I know some mothers do. I know I am a happier person for personal and financial reasons when I am working. I have always had the mind-set that a mother sets the tone for the ENTIRE house. If mama isn't happy....Nobody is happy!! Working makes me happy. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I am an unhappy person as a SAHM, I just am happier when I'm not. I love my kids and I am comfortable enough with my parenting to not have the guilt that goes along with working outside of the house. Being a SAHM is the HARDEST job I will have ever done. I have so much respect for all my friends who do it. I have been lucky enough to experience having a career and being a SAHM and I will argue till I am blue in the face that staying at home is 100 times harder!

So how do I handle this anxiety that is upon me? I called Carrie and Sarah, the two darlings who are taking over as dual nannies for Ms. Leila and asked them if they could come over this evening so we could go over their four pages of typed instructions. Yes, four pages! 3 pages of her daily schedule and one page of "helpful tips" to keep Leila happy :) I have a notarized emergency contact and medical information sheet with all insurance documentation needed in case of an emergency and notarized to authorize all medical and surgical treatment to be performed or prescribed by her pediatrician. They have strict instructions to NOT call me if they have any questions but to call Josh at work. This is because I will just freak out and it is so much easier for Josh to deal with it since he works literally 30 seconds from our house and has the freedom to leave if needed.

Yes, they think I'm crazy! However, because they and my husband love me dearly, they let me go on with this whole thing like it is perfectly normal. Thank you!

XOXO,

Miller

Best thing since I last blogged: Making a fort with Malakai in his room and hiding from daddy!

Worst thing since I last blogged: It's FREAKING FREEZING!!

$49

Is what it cost to fill my gas tank today!!! I swear I felt like doing a dance around my car!! Whoo Hooo!!!!! Gas is $1.97 right now!! Mama needs a new pair of shoes!!

XOXO
Miller

The Greatest Show on Earth!

Miller Family Fun night was a success! Well at least for 75% of us. We left Leila at home with Grandma while Josh, Malakai, and I headed to the Ringling Brothers Circus. We had great seats and just seeing Malaka's wide eyes through out the entire show was priceless!

I just had to post this one because the 10 year old behind Kai had his feet up on the seat the ENTIRE time and was kicking!! Would you ever let your child do that?!

On another quick note, this was my last week staying at home with Leila. I will be starting my new job on Monday. She is almost the exact age Malakai was when I went back to work with him. It is bitter-sweet. I have enjoyed so much the time I have been able to spend with her, however, I enjoy working also. Josh says I am a different person when I am working. Not sure if that's a good thing or bad thing :)

XOXO,

Miller

Best thing since I last blogged: Picking out an outfit to wear to the New Kids concert on Monday :)

Worst thing since I last blogged: I believe the gorgeous fall weather is gone...it's officially cold!!

Unplugged

As I was listening to the local morning show this morning the DJ asked a question. "What is playing on your iPod?" I totally cringed! What if I had to publicly reveal my personal playlist? It's one thing when Malakai asks, "Can I hear?" because I can quickly switch to a more appropriate playlist. It would be quite another thing if someone plugged into my tunes as they are, almost like reading my diary. Sometimes when I'm at the gym I wonder if someone walking by can actually hear what I am listening to!

My iPod gets me through evenings of unwinding and the chores that come with this life I live. I plug into my escape, I pour a glass of wine, tasty, but not too expensive. If you were a fly on the wall at 9:30pm, you would know I love to dance to the music in my ears. I probably would have become a stripper if it wasn't for the whole nudity thing.

Doing the dishes, I am rolling my hips to the Pussycat Dolls:

I'm a sexy mama

Who knows just how to get what I wanna

What I want to do is spring this on you

Back up all of the things that I told you

Later I fold laundry and I am jamming to Justin Timberlake. "Mom, what are you listening to?" Malakai mouths while he is up to get a drink of water. I push the pause circle and tell him "I'm getting my groove on. Go back to bed."

Are you feelin' me?

Let's do somethin'

Let's make a bet

'Cause I bet I'll have you naked by the end of this song

When it's time to pick up legos, socks, and unknown plastic parts not in their places and return them to their rightful positions, I am rockin to Prince's Little Red Corvette.

A body like yours

Oughtta be in jail

Cuz it's on the verge of bein obscene

Move over baby

Gimme the keys

I'm gonna try to tame your little red love machine

I find a used diaper stuffed in the corner of the bathroom and then sniff the sour laundry in the washing machine that was forgotten today. I plug into Gwen Stefani's Hallaback Girl (the explicit version of course) and feel vindicated when she says, "This shit is bananas." And then goes on to stomp and spell it out, "B.a.n.a.n.a.s." I think she wrote that song for me!

There may be some research to back up the comfort that "This shit is bananas" brings me. I remember being told once that regular swearing at work can boost team spirit and allow people to express themselves more fully. The work of housework, while there are currently only two employees, Josh and I, really need all the team spirit it can get.

I like to think there are a few advantages to knowing explicit song lyrics. For example, I was able to filter the elementary students' music at a school talent show. I knew the extended version of YEAH by Usher and it should not be played, even in try-outs and that Ne-Yo's Addicted should not back up the the trio of ten year olds in tank tops! It is not rare for my girlfriends and I to know the lyrics to Promiscuous Girl by Nelly Furtado, Naughty Girl by Beyonce, and Beep by the Pussycat Dolls. GASP!

Where does this love for raunchy music come from? All I can think is that I did see Flashdance and Dirty Dancing at a very early age! Becoming a daytime welder and a nighttime dancer was a dream of mine! Talk about glamourous, living in an abandoned warehouse with a big dog, saving up paychecks for a better day. Jennifer Beals (playing Alex) was my mentor to learn to remove my bra with my shirt still on. And still today, I have an urge to accidentally rip the neck out of my sweatshirts so I can let my right shoulder hang out. Now that is hot! To this day, I quiver when I hear the song, "What a Feeling" by Irene Cara.

Yes, by day I am the woman responding to her calling through work and her family. But by night, I am the woman passionate about strutting my fine stuff while wiping the counter down. It's Pussycat Doll Nasty! Don't cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me?

From one sibling to another...

Just wanted to share that Malakai was more than willing to share one of his favorite toys with his baby sister Leila! He loved this thing when he was her age!! I just can't believe how fast they grow! It is times like this, when they are having one of those "moments" that it crosses my mind to have another. Ummm, that lasts about 2.2 seconds!

Leila: Almost 8 months!

Malakai: Almost 8 months!

XOXO

Miller

Best thing since I last blogged: Having a night out and drinks with the hubby

Worse thing since I last blogged: Two words....Presidential Election!

Rock the Vote!!

Well, we voted!! Actually at our voting location Josh and I were in and out in 25 minutes! Not bad since we were expecting a few hours! Malakai was asked to take off his shirt :) I kind of knew that would happen which is why he had another shirt under it. I really wonder if a four year old's t-shirt would really influence the way some people vote?

Not a secret how the votes went in the Miller household. We voted against the socialist. Against the person who repeatedly calls my family and all our middle and upper-middle class friends selfish for not wanting to give money to those 47 million Americans who have NEVER once paid a dime of federal income taxes.

It all comes down to this...Whoever wins the election, I truly wish them all the success in the world! President is one position I would not wish failure on ANYONE!

One a Day!

Thank you to Kate for informing all of us that it is National Blog Post month! She has put up the challenge of blogging once a day for the month of November. Like Kate, I'm a little late, however, I'm going to try and tie three blogs into this one post to catch me up :) I then will challenge myself and my fellow bloggers to blogging at least once a day for the month of November! Whoo Hoo!

Blog 1: Trip to Phoenix

Amazing!! Too short!! Refreshing!! I loved seeing my new nephew, my family, and my bff and her family! Traveling went super smooth, the kids were amazing on the flight and adjusted really well to no scheduled naps, meal-times, poops, etc.

It flew by! We could have stayed 12 weeks and not gotten enough quality time with everyone! I enjoyed a girls night out with Colleen and some of her wonderful girlfriends. Josh got some boy time with Denny (with Kai and Alex), Kai got a little time with Jackson and Tyler, even though I wouldn't be surprised if Jackson never wanted to see him again, Kai was not very nice, and I got to witness the amazing parents that my brother and sister-in-law are becoming.

Josh showing he can have a good time at the mall :)

Blog 2: Malakai started Ice Hockey!

OMG! I like to think that Josh and I are educated on many sports. However, hockey IS NOT one of them!! People just don't really play hockey in KC. That's why when we moved to STL and saw that High School's had hockey teams, we were shocked!! With it being the busy season for Josh, and hockey being on Saturday morning, I was tackling this task with myself, my two kids, and my mom. NEVER AGAIN with out Josh!! You have to arrive 30 minutes early just so you can get all the freaking equipment on! I've never seen so much padding. However, Malakai was VERY impressed with his biker shorts with the built in cup to protect his pee-pee. We are talking shorts, pants, cups, padded shorts, socks, suspenders, shoulder pads, chin guards, elbow pads, helmet, skates, mouth guard, and hockey stick! I'm sure I'm forgetting something....oh yeah, JERSEY!

The coaches are amazing and their patience is even more amazing. Malakai really enjoyed it and is looking forward to next week! As for Mommy...not so much :)

Blog 3: Wedding Shower/Halloween Parade

I hosted a wedding shower for my dear friends Sarah and Carrie who are having a double wedding next weekend. It went well, pretty much the standard shower, food, presents, cake, leave :) Just thought that Leila looked adorable for the party and wanted to share a pic :)

Malakai had a Halloween parade at school on Friday. So cute! Just wanted to share a pic.

Well there you have it! I am now caught up for the month of November :) Now there will be one blog a day from here on out!

XOXO

Miller

Best thing since I last blogged - Family Vacation

Worse thing since I last blogged - Airlines no longer giving complimentary beverages (except for southwest) we spent $25 on the way home just on sodas, crackers, and peanuts. Oh yeah, and my $7 rum and coke :)