Nonsense From Wonderland

I pretty much suck at blogging.  I just find it so much easier to Tweet little updates, although I wish I could be witty enough to have really intriguing blog posts.  Alas, I don’t, so it’s really just about family updates for me.  Since my last post, many moons ago, Breck and I each had a bday.  Both were great, and as always, we were spoiled!  Mom and sis were here for Breck’s bday, and ended up surprising me by staying for mine!  It was one of the best bdays ever .  I’ve been doing better about exercising and reading, both of which were my “goals” for this year (as I don’t make ”resolutions”).  Jason is rocking his workouts and doing so well on the path to being healthier.  I’m so proud of him for sticking with it.

DST is kicking my butt.  I will enjoy the extra daylight, once I get used to getting up again.  I’ve never been on good terms with the morning !  I believe we are down to 51 days of school left–wow.  We are in the midst of PAWS testing (state assessments), and will finish up next week, just before spring break.  The kids will go to Buffalo, as usual, and I have no idea if J and I will be doing anything exciting.  I would love to go somewhere warm or tropical, but that won’t happen this year.  I’ll just have to listen to how great everyone else’s trips were.  Last year it was so incredibly depressing to be in a blizzard for the first few days of spring break.

Got the bike out today, and will ride again tomorrow.  I have missed it so!  Looking forward to summer and LOTS of riding in the hot sunshine!  Hopefully the city gets in gear and fixes the potholes that have become like a plague.  I don’t remember them being this bad in years past.

Peyton’s all registered for junior high–eek!  Still not sure it has hit me yet.  I think he’s excited, but I am sure I will have some anxiety for him.  Going to be weird not having him in the same school with Brecken.  Life will get pretty crazy for us in about a month, with the start of soccer and baseball.  If it’s anything like last year–yowsa!  I get tired thinking about it.  All I ask is we have decent weather this year.  Last year, we had 3 weeks of rainouts, and that made for a loooong season.

I’m totally in love with my new car–a 2010 Jeep  Commander.  It’s everything I could have wanted and more!  The kids love the DVD/streaming TV, and I love the iPod interface.  Now we just need to take a trip in it.  I think we’ll do something this summer-not a big trip (I’m ACHING to go back to Disney, but that’ll have to wait until next year), but maybe something that includes Mt. Rushmore and that area, or Yellowstone.  Both are places the boys have never been.

All wrapped up in our new Bengal Snuggies from Ammie and Pa! 12-25-09

Here’s to a great new year!  I hope everyone gets everything they want and more in the coming months!  Xmas was great for us, and everyone was spoiled.  I thoroughly enjoyed break and had a hard time getting up this morning to get in the groove again.  The boys did not want to get up either!  Peyton got me in on their Pokemon fixation, by giving me Platinum for Xmas.  It’s easy to become obsessed with that game!  I never thought I would get the Pokemon thing.  Jason was home sick for a couple days the week of Xmas, and off 2 more days, so it was nice to have that extra time with him.  I ended up getting my first cold of the season as well, but thankfully it didn’t stick around. I think Jason’s finally over it too.

During break we saw a couple movies–The Princess and the Frog and The Squeakquel.  Princess was okay–definitely not my favorite Disney movie, and the boys were lukewarm on it (I think they thought it was more of a girl movie).  The Squeakquel was so cute!  Jason and I watched District 9 and Paranormal Activity.  I liked PA better.  District 9 was just odd.

Sis was here for 2 weeks, which was awesome!  She was planning on staying just a few days, for the craft show and the AFI concert, and it ended up being a longer visit.  The kids wanted her to stay for Xmas programs : ).  The AFI concert was great, even though their set was too short!  It was a radio station “festival” type show, and we weren’t into the 3 opening bands.  I am hoping they do a bigger, longer, headlining show!  We drove down to Denver in nasty weather, but I was glad we went.  Davey is so amazing live!  Jason and I went down a few days later to see Stephen Lynch for the 3rd time.  He was hysterical!  We were front row too!  I need to get something else lined up soon!  I always get antsy about not having any shows on the horizon!

I don’t typically make “resolutions” for myself at New Year’s.  I guess I don’t believe in resolutions.  Rather, I like to say I set “goals” for myself.  Last year I wanted to read more, and I did an excellent job of that, so will continue on with that this year.  I am trying to be better about exercising.  I was such a slug this summer, and have not been happy with the results of that.  I got Wii Active, after trying out Dana’s for a month, and am really enjoying that.  I just need to push myself more.

Happy Turkey Day!!!!

Oh how I’ve neglected you, dear, poor blog!  I guess between Twitter and Facebook, I just never think to come over here!  So what’s been going on with the Millers since I last posted in July!?  In short–school, work, school, work, life, life, life!  Peyton seems to be enjoying 6th grade this year.  The whole class went on a trip to Jackson, to the Teton Science School.  It was a great experience for all the kids, and for many, the first time they’d been away from home (not for Peyton).  He seemed to be a little nervous though, when it came time to leave, and I think it was because he didn’t have any family going with him.  Once he got there, all was okay, and he was able to call me and check in.  Peyton did flag football at the beginning of the year, and will most likely do basketball.  Breck’s flying along in 2nd grade.  He was in fall soccer, and won’t do anything else until spring soccer.   Brecken lost his 3rd tooth the other day–first front one on the top!  Peyton lost 2 last week!  He’ s so good about getting them out fast, whereas Breck is nervous about it, and takes his time.  I have actually pulled his teeth for him.  Gave him the option to do this one the other night, but he didn’t like the way it felt, and said he wanted me to get it!  The other top front tooth is loose, so maybe I can get him to do it!  I’m enjoying work, but it took me a while to get back in the groove after having summer off and sleeping in.  I was so exhausted for that first month, I could barely function after work!  I still hate mornings–just never been a morning person–but at least I’m not falling asleep in the chair every time I get home!  Jason’s been busy working out.  His arms and legs feel so nice!  I’m proud of his commitment to getting healthy.  I’ve been trying to work out on the Wii and treadmill, but it’s hard for me to fit it in, because I can’t force myself out of bed early enough, and usually have 100 things to do after work.  I will get there someday though!

I am amazed at how fast this school year has gone.  Can hardly believe it’s Thanksgiving week!  We’re heading up to Buffalo, which I am really looking forward to.  I think it’s been 3 years since we last went for Turkey Day.  Looking forward to just hanging with the family, relaxing in the hot tub, going to the mountains, seeing my friend that I haven’t seen for well over a year!

Paige will be coming down the first week of December.  Her main reason for coming is the AFI concert in Denver!!  I am sooooo beyond excited for the show!  I absolutely love their new album.  The day before the concert is the craft show we do every year, so it’ll be nice to have her here for that as well.  That same week, Jason and I are headed to Stephen Lynch in Denver.  This will be our 3rd time seeing him.  The show was actually in Oct., I think, but he had to reschedule for family reasons.

Jason and I got a good chunk of our Xmas shopping done.  I wanted to be done w/it early, to avoid crowds.  I will finish up most of it online.  I love the holiday season, but not the crazy shoppers.  My plan is to get the tree and most of the deco up next Sunday.

I’ve been reading like crazy.  Really enjoying Darren Shan’s Demonata and Cirque du Freak series.  We saw the Cirque movie and enjoyed it.  Friday night, the boys and I went to New Moon.  I LOVED it!  Can’t wait to see it again, and am hoping to after Tgiving.  I really want to read all the books again.  Just not enough hours in the day.  I always thought it’d be fun if the adults at school could have a silent reading time, just like the kids : ).

I guess that’s us in a nutshell for now.  Hopefully the next update won’t be 4 mos. from now!

I didn’t get around to posting ON Peyton’s birthday, so here are a few pics from his birthday, which was last Thursday.  He had a great day, and was thrilled to finally get his DS he’s been begging for for the last 6 months!  We had taffy apple pizza before heading down to Denver to Amazing Jake’s, bringing along Peyton’s friend Blake.  The boys had a great time.  The food at Jake’s was not all that great, and it was a bit pricey for what it was IMO, but we had a blast w/laser tag and the bumper cars.  The day after his bday we headed up to Buffalo for my cousin Aaron’s wedding.  It was a lot of fun, and of course the cake rocked, because it was made by mom .  Peyton’s always had a cake made by mom and/or sis on his bday, so sis made him the cute pizza cake in the pics below.  We stayed up there until Monday.  I got talked into buying a DS on our trip up.  I’ve talked about having one for a while, so Jason told me we weren’t leaving Caspser until I bought one!  LOL   Just so happened that the new Best Buy opened in the mall that day, so we took advantage of the buy 2 get one free sale on games.  I got Magician’s Quest Mysterious Times, Peyton got Zelda Phantom Hourglass, and Breck got Starfy.  I’m sharing games with them, since they have a bunch.  Today I bought Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness, and have been cruising Ebay for more games.

The kids will be heading to Buffalo soon for their summer time stay w/Ammie and Pa!  They are going later than usual this year, due to baseball being drug out, from all the rained out games.  Peyton’s team is in the championship tomorrow!  Breck’s team got knocked out in their first game.  The crazy thing is, he’ll be jumping right into soccer as soon as he gets back!  I have to take a class the first week of August, but other than that, I don’t think we have anything major planned.  Our 12th anniversary is coming up.  No clue what we’ll do for that–something lowkey I’m sure.  Hard to believe summer’s coming to an end and I’ll be back at work next month.  This has been an incredibly mild summer. 

Peyton's 11th birthday...w/Blake and Brecken

Yummy pizza cake made by Auntie P!

A bumpy ride! 6-21-09

Outside the pirate shop @ the Ren Faire, 6-21-09

Chowing on a turkey leg! 6-21-09

 
It’s finally trying to be summer here.  We had so much rain for most of the month, baseball was postponed for 3 weeks.  They are now cramming in makeup games and pushing back the tournaments.  Makes for a looong season, plus with everyone having vacation plans, a lot of kids are missing games, so coaches are scrambling to find kids to fill in (you have to have a minimum of 8 or you forfeit).  We’ll miss some games next weekend, when we head to Buffalo for my cousin’s wedding.  It’s the first wedding on that side of the family since ours 12 years ago!!  Should be a good time.  I’m just excited for the cake, since mom is making it!!  She makes the BEST wedding cake.  I need to find out if she is making the cream cheese mints.  Those are my fave, and I can make myself sick eating them!

Break has been good so far.  I’ve spent most of it doing things around the house and reading.  I’m determined to get a LOT of reading done this summer, because I know once school starts, my time will be limited.  I read 2 William Queen books in about 4 days, and a Spike (Buffy) comic and Cirque Du Freak last week.  I’m also doing a read aloud with the boys.  I love sitting on the porch swing w/them and reading.  Been trying to keep them up w/their independent reading too.  Even though they are both fantastic readers and do enjoy reading, they are occasionally giving me grief about doing it (I think because they are equating it with school work!!).  Oddly enough, they don’t give me a bad time when we do the read aloud.  We’ve gone to the library a ton!  All of us finished the summer reading program and got our prizes.  I think this is the earliest we’ve gotten finished.  I’m usually scrambling down there to get prizes right at the deadline.

For Father’s Day we went to the Renaissance Faire in Larkspur, CO.  It was the first time I had been since about 1980 or ‘81.  Breck and I rode a camel, and all 4 of us rode the elephant.  Very cool : ).  I had ridden the elephant before, w/my grandma (a fond memory).  We spent a few hours wandering around, and after enough pouting and begging, Jason broke down and bought the boys wooden swords.  They got spray paint and customized them the next day!  LOL   We had Father’s Day dinner at Bono’s BBQ, which is awesome!  Jason took me there over spring break.  We always enjoy good BBQ.  Our smoker box on our grill has pretty much burned out, so we haven’t been able to smoke anything for a while.  Been looking at a new smoker, so I think we’ll be getting it soon.  Jason is a master at the grill!  He made steaks and corn on the cob last night that rocked!

Last week we saw Transformers 2 and LOVED it!  We had planned on going for the midnight showing, but figured with it being nearly 3 hours long, the kids wouldn’t stay awake.  Heck, Jason and I were thinking WE probably wouldn’t stay awake either!  LOL   I’m hoping for a date night w/Jason to see Public Enemies.  Ice Age 3D is on our list next for the kids, as is Harry Potter.  I should reread the book, because it’s been about 3 years, and other than one main happening, I can’t remember much about it.

I’m attempting to knit the boys Sackboys from Little Big Planet.  After we got the Wii, we took a break from LBP, but have recently gotten back into it.  I hope I can make these little dolls (or action figures, as Peyton is calling them).  So far I have a body and part of a head done.  The boys are a lot more confident in my ability than I am!  It’s been forever since I’ve knitted anything, so fun to get back into it.  I just usually don’t like handling yarn in the summer.  Knitting for me is more of a winter time, stuck inside activity!

The end of school is in sight!  Only 5 days left!  Monday, all of the paras get to go to a lunch together, which will be fun!  I don’t think we’ve decided where yet, since we just got our invites yesterday.  Field Day is Thursday, and I will be helping at the popsicle/playground/bubble station.  The forecast isn’t that great for Thurs., so hopefully we still get to be outside for some of it.  The kids are out at 10:30 on Friday, so Jason’s going to take the day off to get them, as I have to work a full day.  We’re having a luncheon for our retirees that day too. 

Brecken ended spring soccer today.  We’re going to a pizza party after bit with the team.  Peyton had a baseball game this morning.  I only saw part of it since I was across the road at soccer.  I guess he was kind of out of it today; didn’t really have his head in the game.  I’m trying to figure out all the things I need to do when school is out, now that I have time.  Lots to do around here, and of course I’d like to catch up on reading and scrapbooking.  I’ve got a few outings that I’d like us to do before the boys head to Buffalo. 

Sis and I went to No Doubt in Denver on Wed. night and it was amazing!  Getting there was extremely stressful.  Traffic was horrible, and it was a 3 hour trip from here to Fiddler’s Green.  I made it to Denver in about an hour and 10 min., but driving out to where this place was just became a nightmare.  We sat on the stupid exit for about 45 min.  Unfortunately we missed most of Paramore.  The 3 songs we saw were good.  Our seats were great–about 5th row behind the pit.  We sat in the same # seats for Crue Fest, just 2 rows up.  Got home around 1:10am, completely exhausted and hurting.  My knee and neck were giving me fits.  It was a fantastic show though!  No other concerts lined up at this time.  I’d kind of like to see 3 Doors Down again at Frontier Days, but not sure I want to spend the $, since I have these other ideas for us this summer. 

Peyton ran for delegate-at-large for student council, but lost.  It was a very close race though.  He wasn’t upset though, as he’s going to be a Peer Mediator next year, and excited for that.  I’ll think he’ll be great at it, since he’s kind and fair, and gets along well with everyone.  I think the boys both had a pretty good school year.  I also really enjoyed my first year back at work full time, even though I couldn’t seem to keep up with everything around here.  Maybe I can use this summer to devise a better schedule for myself!

I was debating on going to see Night at the Museum 2 tonight, but I think we’ll wait and go tomorrow morning.  If you go before noon at one theater it’s only $4.25 (as opposed to $8.50 at night).  I swear everyone in school saw the movie last weekend.   

A couple pics:  Brecken @ the sheep dairy, in front of the sheep nursery.  I just finally took the pictures off my camera.  The other pic isn’t the best, but it’s Peyton while he was waiting to give his speech for student council elections.

Aww, Breck and the lambs

Peyton, candidate for delegate at large!

I am so frustrated right now with our rinky dink piece of crap airline.  Jason’s flight should have arrived at 1:05, but no, they had to sit around and wait, because of some stupid runway issue here.  The long runway was “down”, whatever the hell that means.  It’s not like we have snow and ice or anything, so I am thoroughly confused.  They were going to have to use the short runway, so were bumping people off the flight, and only taking 6, but apparently he was still on the flight.  Oh, but let’s wait some more, because they had to get a different plane.  By the time that happened, they had a t-storm warning and lightning, so not going anywhere.  Now it’s time to possibly get on the plane, but, oh wait, we’re only taking 3 people now and you aren’t on the list.  ARGH!!!  So they are told they will have to take the shuttle back here.  Oh, we’re not done.  Now you can probably be on the flight, however, the flights aren’t going anywhere because there is now a tornado warning.  At this time, he isn’t sure if he’s on the flight or not, and the stupid shuttle doesn’t even get here until 7:30 tonight!  I could have gone down and picked him up when they actually arrived from ATL at 10:00 this morning, and been home over 2 hours ago!!!  I am so mad.  They thought going the route of using Great Lakes instead of driving back from Denver would have been easier, but that’s not been the case at all.

I got up this morning and cleaned like crazy, then made brownies for Jason as a surprise.  The boys have no idea he is going to be home today, and we had this whole plan of going to the airport to watch the planes come in, so we would know where to watch for him tomorrow (when he was originally supposed to be home).  Not sure what’s going to happen now.  I’m just so upset.  Yes, of course, I want him to be safe, but damn!!!  I am tired of him being gone and was so looking forward to having most of the day with him, and now we are just sitting around waiting for someone to figure out what the hell is going on.

Mother's Day 2009

and summer vacation is upon us!  We have so much going on at school right now, with field trips, assemblies, student council elections, end of year stuff.  This week I took a personal day and went on a field trip w/Breck’s class to a sheep dairy in Bushnell, NE.  Yes, a SHEEP dairy.  They milk sheep and ship the milk to California for use in yogurt and cheese.  I’d never heard of such a thing.  It was quite educational!  The wind was horrible that day though, and being out there in the open was crazy w/dust, dirt, and everything else blowing around.  I have had a cold for 2 weeks, and add in all the stuff blowing around on top of it, and my nose is a mess!  I’m going on another field trip w/Breck’s class to the library next week.  Peyton’s class has the D.A.R.E. graduation next week, as well as THE movie (about growing up, etc.).  We’ve never delved into this topic with him, mostly because I don’t think we’re ready, but hopefully this movie will help, and I told him he can always come to me w/?s.

Jason’s got 10 days left at hs class in Atlanta.  It’s been a loooong week without him.  Seventeen days is a long time to be gone!  He’s been giving his brain a workout though!  My mom and sis are here!  Mom’s been cooking dinners, which is great, and helps so much.  Sis and I go to the No Doubt concert in Denver at the end of the month.  We’ve been running ourselves ragged between all the soccer and baseball practices and games.  I couldn’t imagine doing this with more than 2 kids!  I applaud those who do!  I’m stressing about the nights the boys have games at the same time, and going back and forth between fields.  The fields are all in the same complex, but still!  We have something going on every single night!  I am looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow morning, since we don’t have a game at the crack of dawn, like we have the last 2 weekends.  However, we’ll be out all day between the soccer and baseball fields.  We’re taking mom to dinner at Olive Garden for a belated Mother’s Day celebration.  I was able to get out on the bike a couple days this week, despite the wind.  It was just to work and back, but is better than nothing.  I miss not having my riding partner here : (.  By the time he gets back we should be having great weather, (at least that is my hope!).  I can’t wait to do some serious riding this summer!

Mother’s Day was great.  The boys cooked/baked all day : ).  Brecken made me a mug at school that came from the paint-your-own pottery people.  It’s really cute.  Peyton made me a scroll in art that said he would be my servant all day!  LOL   We did some Wii bowling and Monopoly on the PS3.  I had wanted to geocache, but the weather didn’t cooperate.  We actually woke up to snow.  Bleh.  Luckily it was that spring snow that was just wet and not sticking to anything.

to my mom, who is an awesome mom, and who I always aspire to be like : ).  I couldn’t have asked for a more loving, thoughtful, fun, caring mom.  I LOVE YOU!