Nonsense From Wonderland

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!

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!

Hard to believe spring break is almost half over! The boys are having a great time at my parents, playing on the Wii! I took them to Casper yesterday. Originally we were going to meet on Saturday, but then had the crazy blizzard, which prevented us from going Sat. and Sun. Last night, Jason and I went to Texas Roadhouse for dinner, then out to see Fast and Furious. I LOVED it!! I was so excited that Jason actually decided to go, because he kept telling me he wasn’t going, so I had planned to see it at a matinee. We were planning on seeing Knowing, but he decided to go see F&F since I have been talking about it a lot. He said it was what he expected, but it definitely wasn’t the worst movie I’ve made him watch. LOL I’m sure he enjoyed it more than Twilight. Today I got Easter shopping done, picked up my license plates for the motorcycle, and went to lunch w/Jason at the new KFC Buffet. Our old KFC was so nasty, so it was good to see how nice this one is. I hope they can keep it that way. I shopped until 4, then came home and did some housework catch up–laundry, vacuuming, bathroom cleaning, dishes. I also did some “spring cleaning”, I guess you could say, cleaning up Brecken’s desk area and their shelf w/the coloring books, etc. I got the guest room picked up too, as it’s been a catch all for everything. I came away with 2 grocery bags of trash, mostly just papers. Jason had to work a little late. We had some bierocks (cabbage rolls) that mom made us, and watched Reaper. I love that show, and need to pick up season 1 on DVD.

Tomorrow we are going to Denver to watch the Nuggets game. Should be a pretty good time, just hanging out with each other and cruising around downtown. I’m not sure where we are eating yet. I had mentioned Maggiano’s (Italian), just because we always walk by it on 16th Street Mall, and it always say that we should go there, but never have. We didn’t make it to a basketball game last year, so I am really looking forward to this one. I think I might shampoo the carpets tomorrow, or at least get the boys’ rooms and their bathroom done in the morning. Jason’s planning on riding the bike to work, and I’m debating if I want to go out for a little ride.

Guess I should head up to bed. Jason is all ready there, as he was up really early for work, since he couldn’t sleep. I woke up to ask him why he was up, then went back to sleep after he left.

Going out to buy my DVD after bit!! I bought the Director’s Notebook by Catherine Hardwicke the other night, and am halfway into that. Loving it!

The Indy Monster, Feb. '09

We had a pretty good, productive weekend I think!  The boys were both at sleepovers last night, so Jason and I went to the Chinese buffet, then over to the mall to see Taken.  We both liked it.  After we got home we watched Eagle Eye, which I had from Netflix, and we liked that also.  I always enjoy Shia.  We slept in a tiny bit this morning, then Jason decided we should get the bikes out and ride to breakfast at the Luxury Diner.  I wasn’t so sure my bike would start, after not running since about October I think, but she fired up and went!  It felt so good to be out again, even if I was a bit cold.  Hopefully we’ll be looking at some warmer days, where I could ride to work.  After breakfast we headed to Barnes and Noble.  I’ve been on a book buying spree lately.  Today I bought 4 books by Neil Gaiman, the guy who wrote Coraline and Stardust.  I ended up getting Stardust, The Graveyard Book,  Neverwhere and Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders.  Can’t wait to start on them.  I really need to get serious w/my reading.  I had planned to finish Breaking Dawn this weekend, and I did read both days, but didn’t finish : (.  When Breck came back from his sleepover, his friend came w/him and hung out for a couple hours.  Jason got them McD’s for lunch, while I was busy scraping old caulking off the kitchen counters.  I was only going to do right behind the sink, but kept going and decided I’d do the entire counter on that side of the room.  It looks so nice and fresh w/the new caulking.  We also redid the caulking in our shower, and put new stuff around our vanity.  I rearranged the stuff on the kitchen counter, got dishes put away, and did some laundry.  We also finally hung Jason’s new Bengal thermometer mom and dad got him for Xmas.  It looks nice, and I’ll be able to see it w/out my glasses.  We had a digital one that came w/the house when we bought it, but I couldn’t see it unless I had my glasses on, and even then, the numbers were tiny.  We were going to replace some pieces of lattice on the bottom of the deck, as the dog has been going under there, but we couldn’t find just the strips, so will probably end up doing the whole piece.  While at Lowe’s, we browsed the sinks, faucets, stoves, and carpet.  It would be so great to carpet both living rooms and the basement in one swoop, but that stands to be very pricey.  Might actually have to have someone from Lowe’s or Home Depot come and measure, so we can get an idea.  The basement definitely needs carpet first, since it’s in a semi-unfinished state.  I told Jason today we need to make a list of what’s a priority, because we’d like to have a lot of new things (couch, dining set, sink, stove/micro, carpet). 

Tonight we watched Stardust.  I bought the DVD last night before dinner.  The boys and I had seen it, and since I’m on a Neil Gaiman kick, I just had to have it.  Plus, it has a small appearance by one of my favorite people–Ricky Gervais.  The boys stayed up late to watch it, so hopefully morning isn’t a pain.  I showered tonight, in hopes of making my morning go faster.  This week I have class on Tuesday, and the kids have their school carnival Friday.  It’ll be the first time Jason gets to go, since he no longer bowls on Fridays.  Peyton’s done w/basketball, and will have a pizza party at school Thursday, to turn in his uniform.

I guess it’s about time to hit the hay.  I need to take some laundry out and throw in another load before I go up.  Looks like we’ll have some decent temps this week, which I am hoping really is true, since I have bus all week!

Dana and I went to see “Twilight” this afternoon, and I absolutely LOVED it! I don’t have one single complaint about it. Rob Pattinson is the complete embodiment of Edward….just amazing. As we were leaving, I heard one girl say, “But the book is sooo much better!” I think people always forget that when they translate books into film, things are going to be cut, certain moments changed, etc., but I am the kind of person that looks at the book and movie as two separate things. I know a lot of people hated “Queen of the Damned”, because it didn’t follow the books much and combined things from another book as well, but I still enjoyed it for just being a good movie. I will definitely go see “Twilight” at the cheap theater, and Jason will go w/next time : ). I bought the soundtrack a couple weeks ago, and have been listening to it nonstop. It was cool seeing the spots they chose to stick the songs in at, and I felt all were very fitting. I need to get my butt in gear and finish Breaking Dawn. Just have not had the time or energy to read, and my DVR is almost full, so I’ve been working on cleaning it off.

On another note, I am PISSED they have cancelled “Pushing Daisies” and “Dirty Sexy Money”. I get so sick of the different, outside of the box shows not getting a break, while we have 700 different versions of CSI, and every other possible law drama out there. All they do is rehash stories from the news. I am happy all our crazy shows from Showtime and HBO are still going, but the wait in between seasons is killer.

Jason brough home a lot of goodies from his trip! The boys got new jerseys and 3 or 4 shirts, plus Bengal footballs. I got 3 shirts, and plastic Bengal mugs. Dana gave me a surprise today too–these really cute earrings that are itty bitty footballs w/the Bengal logo, and a snowman on top. They will be fun to wear to school, to see the kids’ reactions. Jason is cooking dinner at the moment–a kind of scramble w/kielbasa, hashbrowns, eggs, sour cream and some seasonings. I worked w/Brecken to finish his visual aid for his Thanksgiving speech that he has to give tomorrow. I’ve been doing a lot of laundry, as Jason added about 2.5 loads of his stuff and the new clothes!

I am looking forward to this nice, short 2 day work week, and just hanging out w/the family for the rest of it. I’m going to bake my dinner rolls on Wed., and possibly make the pie. I was hoping Jason would make the pie crusts, and don’t know if he’ll get time to do that on Wed. I believe he’s taking Friday off too. Saturday is our city’s Xmas parade, and as long as it’s not snowing, I think we’ll go. Last year it wasn’t snowing, but had previously that week, and it was just downright chilly. We went to a Mexican restaurant after for dinner, and got all nice and toasty. This year we need to remember to take hot chocolate.

We stopped to visit cousin Lauren and baby Tobiah yesterday. That is one of the freaking cutest babies ever! He is such a happy little guy! Can’t wait to see him again!

After a VERY long week, we are off to Denver to pick Jason up at the airport tonight. He’s been in Cincinnati for a class, and got to go to the Bengal game last Sunday. We actually saw him on TV! We have a stop to make on the way to Denver, and will then go visit my cousin and her sweet baby : ). I have not been to DIA for a while, and only at night, so I hope I don’t get lost! We plan on parking and meeting Jason by baggage claim. I’ve been busy cleaning this morning, and really need to get in the shower. I wanted to leave by noon. Tomorrow is my sis’s birthday! Dana and I are going to see “Twilight” in the afternoon. I cannot wait! \

The darn weekends just go way too fast.  Jason and I went out on the bikes this morning to get donuts and dinner groceries.  The weather was pretty decent for a November day.  My sis has been here visiting, and we did some shopping this weekend!  I got a couple shirts, one at Maurice’s and one at Target, although I was in search of pants.  I couldn’t pass up Dexter season 2, which was on sale for $18 at Target.  Last night I bought Journey to the Center of the Earth, and we watched it in 3-D.  Very cool!  We watched Iron Man for the second time, so sis could see it.  Jason did some yummy cooking this weekend!  Yesterday he made French toast pockets for breakfast, and baked potato soup for dinner.  Tonight he made this ham and cheese roll-up that he’s been into making lately.  Sis will be going home tomorrow.  Wish she could stay longer.  She brought all her goodies for the craft show.  It’s less than a month away and I have done absolutely nothing to get ready!  I’ll be lucky to do some beading or make some dishcloths. 

This week shouldn’t be too busy, I hope.  Jason has Tuesday off, but I have to work.  The kids are out at noon.  I am going to a writer’s workshop from 1-8.  Should be pretty interesting.  A couple girls from work will be there too.  I enjoyed the class I took last week, which dealt with managing classroom behavior.  I have another class coming up, called Skills for Success.  In January, I will start another class that deals w/the math program they use in primary. 

This picture is just too cute, so I had to post it.  This is “Itty Bitty”, a baby squirrel that hangs out at my parents’. 

Itty Bitty

How cute is this pumpkin?  Wish I was talented enough to pull this off, but alas, I suck at carving, and leave that to Jason! 

Boo!

So yesterday didn’t quite turn out like we had planned.  Jason didn’t want to go anywhere, so we ended up staying home, which was fine w/me.  It was nice to just be lazy!  We played around on the computers all morning, and after lunch played cribbage and Scrabble w/the boys.  It was pretty fun, even though Brecken completely steamrolled us all in cribbage!  It was the first time he ever played.  I won at Scrabble, of course.  It’s not Jason’s favorite game, but Peyton’s teacher taught them how to play last week, so he wanted to play.  I learned to play when I was younger than Peyton.  My great grandma, grandma and great aunt were all big Scrabble players.  The Scrabble game I have was my grandma’s, and it still has their old Scrabble dictionary in it.  I love it, because the game still smells like Grandma’s and Papa’s house : ).  After dinner we watched Cloverfield.  Peyton was scared initially, but I think by the time it was over he had calmed down.  Sometimes the things that scare hiim and the things that don’t really baffle me!  We did not get to watch The Princess Bride, so maybe tonight.

This morning I ran out to get donuts at King Soopers.  They have the best donuts.  It had only been an hour since they’d put the donuts out, and they were pretty much wiped out!  I started some laundry, took a quick shower, then headed to the library and Albertson’s.  It had escaped my mind that the Bengals weren’t on until this afternoon, so it was nice to have the time to get things done earlier in the day.  We are having chicken avocado flatbreads for dinner.  They are so amazingly good and simple.  I still need to make my snack mix for tomorrow.  I got a can of pumpkin to do some frosted pumpkin cookies.  Been craving those for some reason.  I haven’t gotten to do much baking with life being so different and busier now w/me working.