Ten on Tuesday

1. We have been making the best of our last few weeks of summer! It is bitter-sweet with school starting in just one short week. I love the relaxation of summer. No standard bed times (even though the kids are usually always in bed early), it's okay to stay up later. No homework. Lots of fun!

2. Malakai has been spending his summer at Vetta Sports Complex. By far, hands down, the best summer camp I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing! They are so organized, and he has a blast there! His days are filled with soccer, swimming, field trips, racket ball, karate, kickball and much more. If there is ever a time I have "working mom" guilt, it is in the summer. I just remember how excited I was for summer as a child, and I don't want him to lose out on that because I work. He has DEFINITELY had a fabulous summer!

3. We are going to the lake this weekend for the annual Rader Family Lake Trip. All my extended family goes and it is ALWAYS a fun time. I am planning the 2nd annual Scavenger Hunt, so I am very excited. Hopefully it is as successful as last year

4. Malakai had is first official sleep-over at our house! He has had my nieces and my little sister spend the night several times, but never friends. Thanks to Josh and Jason for being a part of it! They were perfect gentlemen and enjoyed eating pizza, watching movies, and making pallets on the living room floor. They went to bed late, and woke up early. It was good times had by all! As I was talking to Leila that night, she looks at me and says "Mommy, boys are SO loud and stinky!" I hope she keeps that attitude for a long time :)






5. Josh and I had some quality adult time at an adult only pool party Saturday night. It was SO much fun playing pool volleyball and relaxing, kid free, with great friends. I wish I had taken my camera, but I forgot. I did manage to get one photo on my phone. Look at these Hot Mamas, Sam and Jen! Love them :)




6. More swimming was done at a Bday party on Sunday! Malakai's little friend was turning 7 and we spent a beautiful day at the pool! We are truly blessed that Malakai has made such amazing friends and Josh and I as well, have met such amazing parents.

7. I cut my hair! I go through these phases where I grow it out, cut it off, grow it out, cut it off. I know it is time to cut it when I start wearing it pulled up all the time, and I was definitely at that point. What do you think?

8. Leila is a total photo poser now! I wonder where she gets that from ;)

9. We had yet ANOTHER pool party for the end of the year celebration for Malakai's St. Paul baseball team. Again, a fabulous time of swimming, friends, kids, pizza, and beer. What else can one ask for??!! I think the men had just as much fun as the boys!!

10. I am officially addicted to pinterest! It is the best thing next to the flat iron! If you haven't checked it out yet, you are totally missing out! LOVE IT!

XOXO,
Miller

Homemade Playdoh!

The kids are going CRAZY with how hot it has been. Playing outside isn't even an option, unless it is swimming which we do A LOT of at the subdivision pool.

I thought it would be fun to do a little craft today after summer camp!

So, here comes the homemade play-doh!

Ingredients:

1 cup flour

1 cup warm water

2 teaspoons cream of tarter

1 teaspoon oil

1/4 cup salt

food coloring

Here are the directions:

1. Combine all ingredients (except food coloring) in a medium-sized saucepan...

2. Stir over medium heat until smooth

3. Stir continuously until the dough balls (about 1-2 minutes). Remove from heat.

4. When dough is cool enough to handle, knead until smooth.

5. Form into a ball.

6. Divide into as many colors as you'd like to make. A single batch makes a good amount for four colors.

7. Add food coloring to the divided dough. Gel food coloring works quite well, but mine was a little dried out, so I used liquid as well.

8. Knead the food coloring into the dough. To protect your hands, wear plastic or rubber gloves.

9. Put the dough in separate containers. Toddler-sized containers are a good size, and i have also wrapped the colors individually in wax paper and stored in zip-lock baggies.

The kids loved this activity, and had a blast making different creations. It was a nice project that they could be a part of from beginning to end!


Let me know if you try it out!!

XOXO,

Miller

August 1st...I have my life back!!

Forgive me bloggers, for I have sinned...It has been 2.5 months since my last blog!

*GASP*

I am devastated to think that the whole reason I do this blog is so I can have it made into books for my children, and they are going to think "What the hell happened in 2011?!" All I will be able to say to them is "I'm sorry dear children, mommy had some f'ed up, crazy months!" They are not going to care, as you probably don't either to hear the details of my techy/nerdy job that has caused me check out for a while....at least from the blogging scene. They will however, be happy to hear that at least I cut out blogging and not laundry, cooking, going to the park, putting them to bed...well, you get the picture.

All that matters is, I'm back and I survived.

So, because I realize you all have been out of the loop, here are 31 "What the hell we have been up to" updates for you...In no particular order.

. We have a roommate! As many of you remember reading, my mom (who used to live in St. Louis) moved to Arizona about a year and a half ago. Well, she is back and has been with us since late June. My brother and sister-in-law are making the move from AZ to KC. Once that move is final, she will be spending two months with us, two months with them, and back and forth for....tbd. It has definitely been nice having her around and the kids ADORE her.

2. Since Malakai is entering 1st grade, he will become a cub scout!! At the end of the school year, we attended the cub scout picnic. It was cold, rainy, and a ton of fun!! It is nice for him to have an activity that isn't "Sport" related.

3. We hosted the 2nd annual Miller Memorial Day BBQ...our air conditioner DID NOT break this year so that in itself made it better than the year before ;) Complete with washers, water gun fights, and great friends. The little ones would cool off inside with a little Wii time...

4. We showed an outdoor movie, which was a HUGE hit!

My camera didn't do my "Screen" justice! You really couldn't see the design in the sheet...

5. My bestie of 20+ years came in town for the festivities....LOVE HER!

6. Leila has thrown her American Girl doll to the side and now goes nowhere with out Suzie! I'm not even sure where we acquired Suzie from, but she is like a rag doll and we had to duck-tape her body due to Bella torturing her.

7. I posted previously about Malakai and his Bandits Baseball team. Well, we also had a great season with the St. Paul Panthers. Lots of baseball around this house, which we LOVE!

8. Do you notice anything in the above picture? Malakai FINALLY lost his first tooth! Whoo hoo! We are at a total count of 2 so far this summer :)

9. Leilicious had her very first dance recital!! OMG! She was HILARIOUS! Those that know me know I have dreams of her being a competitive dancer/cheer girl. Mostly because my life was full of sports, sports, and more sports. I'm not sure how achievable this dream is. She doesn't take direction very well, but she definitely is the cutest one up there ;) I'm not biased at all!!

Getting a pre-game chat from dad...

I had to post this picture because it is a CLASSIC Malakai face anytime he is at Leila's dance classes!! LOL!

Yelled at him to actually SMILE!

Thanks to everyone who was able to join in the festivities of her first time on stage!

10. Poppy, Tutu, and Kiera

11. TT and Dada

12. Grandma

13. Melissa and I are selling Pure Romance!! If you aren't sure what that is...google it, then, if you are female, call me and book a party! We have been doing this since about April and it has been super successful. Especially considering how we both work our "Real" jobs together, so the craziness has effected both of us! It's fun, it gives us a girls night out, and it is making our Plastic Surgery Bank Account grow MUCH faster...Holla!

15. Back to Baseball...the Kirkwood Bandits were selected Channel 11 Team of the week!!! If you missed the video I posted, you can go to my facebook page to see...can't figure out how to put it on here. Josh did an AWESOME job!!

Malakai's Biggest Fan!!

Albert Pujols stance...

Well, I think this is enough for one post. Stay tuned for our July vacation, then that will be it for my catching up. It's all about the present!

XOXO,

Miller