Ten On Tuesday

1. We have had a lot going on the last few weeks and I just want to take this opportunity to thank all of the people that have been there for Josh and I and the kids during it all! Everyone has offered their help in some way, shape, or form. Thank you to Autumn and Jimmy for really stepping in, your thoughtfulness and help has been SO appreciated. I am so lucky to have one of my besties as my neighbor as well! I bet you never thought we would be this high maintenance! Ha Ha! It's not easy living somewhere and not having a single family member around. Especially going through difficult times. Autumn and Jimmy dropped everything to babysit on several occasions, brought ungodly amounts of ice cream over, made early morning runs to the store to get the kids balloons that they had talked about the previous evening, played endless hours of WII with Malakai, let Leila paint nails, the list just goes on and on. There are no words that could express how much we appreciate them!!



2. Which leads me to Josh and our all night trip at the ER. To make a long story short, we were watching a movie and he started having stabbing pain in his upper abdomen. After HOURS at the ER, it was assumed that he was having issues with his Gallbladder. However, after a HIDA scan and more blood work, his gallbladder has turned out fine. He is feeling a little better, but has to be really careful with what he eats. I think I am still going to make him get an EGD to see if maybe there is something going on with reflux/GERD.



3. I can't believe the time has come for me to turn 30! I really am trying to embrace this new chapter of my life. If you had asked me 15 years ago, where I wanted to be when I was 30, I think I have surpassed my expectations. I need to be proud of where I am in life. I have met and married my soul mate, we have beautiful children, a beautiful home, a career that I actually enjoy, friendships that are irreplaceable, the list goes on. So CHEERS to turning 30!



4. I need to think of a special post to do on my bday. A list of 30 something? Any ideas?



5. A post will come with pics of Leila at dance. It is the cutest darn thing I have ever seen. She is one of the youngest in the class but you definitely can't tell size wise. She spent the first five minutes just standing there taking it all in, but then she participated fully! She is very excited to go back this week and wants to make sure everyday that all her loved ones are coming to watch her at her recital....IN JUNE!



6. We are painting! I will try to take some before and after pics. We are doing the loft and Leila's bedroom, then having someone do the rest of the main level. Leila is SO ready for her big girl bed and furniture. She asks everyday. The problem is, I can't decide on bedding!!! It's SO hard. I have to stick with something that will go with brown because that is the color of her huge rocker/chair that she loves, but I want bright colors to go with it. Here are some I am looking at, PLEASE give me your opinion!!! This is so tough!!

My Favorite

7. I have tried to make it a point to tell Josh one thing he does each week, rather large or small that I appreciate. It's so easy to fall into a routine and overlook the little things. I was giggling the other day because I am a thrower of things when I walk in the door. My mud room is a disaster! I kick my shoes off (on top of an already 3ft pile of shoes), throw my keys somewhere, pile my purses on top of the dryer, etc. However, every morning I never have to search for my keys. Every evening Josh takes my keys and puts them in the designated key holder. This is such a little thing that makes my mornings a whole lot LESS stressful! Thanks J!

8. Back to Autumn, she has me OBSESSED with a certain series of books. I am currently on book four of an 8 book series of The Black Dagger Brotherhood. There is nothing intellectual about these books. They are SO good though. Take Twilight and give it an R (or worse) rating and that is this series. SO GOOD and SO ADDICTING!

9. Chiefs are 1-0!!! Whoo Hoo!!

10. Anyone have any useful hints on washing white uniform shirts? Malakai gets SO dirty!! Help?

PS. I like to ask specific questions in my TonT because I like to get comments and I feel like if I ask questions people are more willing to leave a comment :)

XOXO,

Miller

Phobias

If you follow my BFF Colleens blog, you would be familiar with the fact that she has a pretty odd phobia. To make a long story short, she has a phobia of people knocking on her door. Every time I read her crazy, hilarious stories about her fear for the doorbell to be rang, I always try to think about if I have any silly phobias.

Yes, I have an issue with deleting emails. In fact, some will call me an email hoarder. As of right now, I have 21,316 in my Yahoo! inbox and 14,195 in my hotmail inbox. But guess what? I can find something from years ago if needed, and I've had to do it before! This isn't really a phobia though, unless you would count being afraid of hitting the delete button.

What is a phobia?

pho·bi·a   /ˈfoʊbiə/ Show Spelled
[foh-bee-uh]

–noun
a persistent, irrational fear of a specific object, activity, or situation that leads to a compelling desire to avoid it.

Why all this talk about phobias you ask? I recently discovered one of my own. That's right folks, I have a silly phobia. Guess what it is? I have a fear of checking my voicemail!!!!! This holds true for my cell phone voicemail and my work voicemail. Luckily at work I have a job where I am very seldom actually in my office, so people have learned to call my cell phone or send me an email. But when I see that red light on when I walk in, my heart starts racing and I have to talk myself in to checking it....sometimes 3 days later! I could have 19 or 20 messages on my cell phone before I get up the nerve to check my messages! Why is this? I have no idea!!! I don't have telemarketers calling, I don't have bill collectors calling (Lord knows I had enough of that in college), I don't have a number that previously belonged to someone else and no one got the memo. Most my messages are from my loving family or caring friends and sometimes I don't hear them for weeks after they are left.

There it is. You all learned something new about me :) Every now and then I like to share something with my handful of readers that they maybe didn't know. It makes me feel like we are bonding.

So, what is your silly phobia? I would love to hear!!

XOXO,

First Day of School!

Better late than never. Just wanted to share a few pictures of Malakai's first day of Kindergarten. He is enjoying the year so far, at least from what I can get out of him. Most of the time his response when I ask him how his day was or what he learned he says "Good" or "I forgot." I have even started bribing him with 5 extra minutes of WII time if he will give me one detailed description of what he did that day! The Cardinals back pack (which I love) only lasted through the first day because a)it was huge and b)he insisted on having one that went on BOTH shoulders. Day two he asked me if I would just drop him off so he could walk in by himself :(

XOXO,

Menu Plan Monday

School has started and we are trying to get back on our Planned Weekly Menus :)

Did you miss me? Ha Ha!

Monday: Sausage and Rice with biscuits

I don't even know where this recipe came from, but it has been made in my family for years and my kids LOVE it!!


2 boxes Uncle Ben's Chicken Flavor Rice


1lb ground sausage (we like it a little spicy)


1 can biscuits


Brown Sausage/drain


Cook Rice as Directed on the box


Mix Sausage and Rice together


Serve in a bowl with biscuits on the side

Tuesday: Fabulous Orange Chicken

Served with rice

Wednesday: Taco Night

Thursday: Breakfast for Dinner

Pancakes

Eggs

Bacon

Friday: Oven Baked Chimichangas

Rice

Beans

Saturday: Dinner Out!!!!

Sunday: Baked Ziti w/ Vodka Sauce

Salad

Texas Toast

XOXO,

Miller

Don't forget!!! I'm linked at orgjunkie.com!!!!

Reach for the sky!

As most of you know, it has been an unforgettable week for the Miller family. On Tuesday morning, Malakai lost his best friend, Connor Simpson. Not only did he lose his best friend, a mom and dad lost their son, a sister lost her brother, and a community lost a very amazing little boy. Never in my life did I ever think that Josh and I would be having the conversations with Malakai that we had to have this week, at such a young age. I can't imagine how our dear friends Charleen and Lonnie are feeling right now, I have never lost a child. What I do know is that my heart has hurt in a way that it has never felt before, and the thought of it only being a fraction of what they are feeling right now is unmanageable.

We have been selling the orange Leukemia bracelet's at the St. Paul soccer tournament this weekend and I was asked to write a little something to go up on the board that we made for Connor, I would like to share that with you.

Connor’s Story

Connor Simpson, at 5 years old, was a ball of energy. From the moment his mother Charleen got him up in the morning, until his father Lonnie put him to bed at night, he was nonstop motion-- laughing, tearing around, and alternately playing and fighting with his older sister Anna. He had a passion for Mario and Luigi, Toy Story and his friendships. In other words, he was a lot like any other kid his age.

Over July 4th weekend, 2010, Connor was admitted to the hospital with a fever and back pain. After several tests, he was released to go home with a diagnosis of a tick-borne illness. He took his medication and was back to his normal self.

On July 17th while out shopping with his family, Connor started complaining again of back pain. After a call to the pediatrician, it was decided that Connor would be taken back to the hospital. He was admitted and on July 19th, Connor was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia. Otherwise known as ALL.

A three year treatment plan was immediately put into place. Connor spent almost 28 days in the hospital receiving round one of treatment. It was a tough few weeks but Connor was such a fighter. The smile he would put on his face could light up the entire room. Every week we were all updated with the good news that the “Bad Guys” in Connor’s body were slowly decreasing and Connor was released to go home on Friday, August 13th. Still very weak from the intense treatments, he was happy to be home and in his own bed, spending time with his mom, dad, and sister Anna.

A fever and a stomach virus put Connor back in the hospital on Saturday, August 21st. His numbers were low upon arrival, but slowly climbed back up. On Tuesday, August 24th, God decided it was time for Connor to grow his Angel wings and join him in heaven.

What would you do in 5 short years? Would you make them the most or hide from your fears? Our little Connor chose to live everyday with a smile and love to give. Though stricken with Leukemia he lived life like it had just begun. No matter how bad he might have felt, he always knew to make your heart melt. Living life to its fullest each day he awoke, he could make you smile every time he spoke. He filled the room with laughter and tears, and touched many lives in his 5 short years. He fought hard to beat the “ALL” he had, and would never complain of feeling bad. For someone so young, his heart was of Gold. You would never have known he was just 5 years old.

Our lives are all forever changed with the loss of sweet Connor. Just remember, Connor would always want you to “Reach for the sky” just like his good friend Woody.

XOXO,

Summer Lovin...

The Miller Family is BUSY....everytime I say that I giggle to myself and think of THIS...I'm pretty sure I linked to this in my last post, but it was so long ago I can't remember...haha. I also tend to giggle now everytime I ask someone how they are and they reply with "oh you know, busy"

We have been scratching items off of our summer to-do list left and right. It has been a pretty HOT summer here in the Lou. Usually I love the summer and can tolerate the heat for the most part, but when you walk outside and the moisture is so heavy and the air is not circulating it makes me wish I was living in the Arctic!

The kids and I spent some quality time at the park which had a very refreshing Splash Pad. Leila is pretty timid about running through the water, but Malakai has a blast everytime!

Do you notice that most the pictures of Leila throughout this blog, include this scowl?! It is like her signature look! She really is a very happy child, she just is constantly giving this look! OMG! It drives me crazy!

Lots of updates to post....hope I don't get too "busy" *giggle*

XOXO,

Ten On Tuesday

1. I now know why I never grow my hair out! My hair is the longest it has EVER been and it is AWFUL in this humidity! The positive side is that it is long enough to wear curly if I want, but I have to be in the right mood. Unless I am staying in the office all day (which never happens) straightening my hair is a big.fat.waste.of.time!


2. Speaking of hair, Leila's hair is a HOT MESS! It is in such an awkward stage that I don't even know what to do with it. Someone PLEASE HELP ME!! I can't stand it when it is down, which means I am ALWAYS putting in pony tails. Would you cut the back to make it more of a shortish bob until it all evens out? Cutting her bangs is not really an option since I must have them grown out. Please feel free to offer advice!

3. I'm very excited for our family trip to the Lake of the Ozarks in August. We have been doing this yearly trip since I was a little girl. My whole Rader side of the family goes and it is eventful to say the least. I missed a few years here and there throughout college, but that is life. Malakai has went every year since he was born and it is now a much looked forward to tradition for him as well. We eat at the same restaurants, ride the same go-karts, and get custard at the same places. The family time is very much enjoyed by all!!

4. Fantasy Football is right around the corner!! Love it!!

5. Big Brother makes me VERY happy! Do you think it is a requirement to have an annoying laugh?! OMG!

6. I survived my first (that I count) Glamping/float trip! It ended up being a very fun and eventful time. There are a few things I would do different (like avoiding the Party Pit) next time but had a blast with everyone we went with. Definitely have to take Malakai camping! He would LOVE it!!

7. Not only have I been awful at blogging lately, I've been awful at picture taking! I hate that! You can blog and catch up on what you missed, but you can't catch up on those days of missed pictures. Ugh!!

8. If you NEVER read any of the posts I link, PLEASE, read this one! It is SO true and I can post it because I am guilty of it as well!!

9. I ordered the Planet Earth: Pole to Pole DVD for Malakai and he is now OBSESSED! Check it out, discoverystore.com still has it on sale for $1.99!! I also had a free shipping code (which is since expired) which made this an even more awesome deal. He loves it!

10. Whenever you go to a party and have to bring a dish (appetizer, side, whatever), what is your go-to item you like to take? Please feel free to link to, or enter the entire recipe.

XOXO,

Miller