Day 2:

Well, I woke up this morning (alongside 2 munchkins) with snow out my window. This is a personal record for the latest snowfall that I have seen, but it didn't damper my spirits. Now my sister-in-law texting me to tell me she was out in the sun catching some rays, that may have dampened my spirits a little, but she ended up getting burnt so there is some sweet justice. =) Anyway, I have a long list of spring cleaning to do--and I got a ton accomplished- I even pulled out the refrigerator to clean behind (Muy Macho- I know). A special thanks to Abby for taking the girls and their friends from church on a lunch outing to the Mall of America...they had a great time. =)

So, I tried to start our girl time off on a good note. I took the girls for donuts at a new to us bakery in Chaska--very good. And then I went for all the gusto and although, I am pretty much anti-stuffed animals, the girls added two more to their collection today. It is Webkinz Extravaganza Weekend (if you don't know, just think beanie babies with virtual lives--somebody is making millions). And the girls still had some money that they assured me they really, really, really wanted to spend on new Webkinz. So we now have a chihuahua named Cutie and a persian cat named Beautiful (they are in the pictures).

I did get to talk to Jamie this afternoon. Well, at first, I was talking and he was typing which was incredibly weird, but Yay for Eric who fixed that problem in a jiffy and we are no longer in radio silence. Now I just need to figure out this time difference thing and we will be golden.

The comment of the day:

"Mom, you are like a widow." (This made for a nice teaching conversation)





Macie really just wanted to read her book, but then I told her the picture was for Daddy and she perked right up.



Sweet Dreams!

(two posts today...read the other one first....please)

Day 1:

We all deal with our emotions in different ways. I have been mentally blocking out this trip for one reason or another. I do pretty good when Jamie goes out of town, but overseas seems to be a little more difficult for me. I am a cell phone user and although I do not always answer it or even know where it is, I can normally call and Jamie's voice is right there. This is not so with overseas travel. We have set up Skype, so we should be able to talk while he is away through the computer (that's amazing), but as of today he could hear me, but I could not hear him. So, hopefully Eric can figure that one out or we will be in what I am calling "radio silence" for the next ten days and that will be unfortunate.

Now the girls on the other hand have not given much thought to the trip until today. As we drove away from the airport I was holding back the huge lump in my throat and then I looked in the rearview mirror and saw Tori trying to hide behind the seat, tears flowing down her face. I heard her give a little sob--my lump now started flowing out my eyeballs--but then I had to laugh, because Tori looked at Isabelle who was happily singing a song and said, "You don't even miss him". So, that made Isabelle start to cry and argue "I do miss him, I'm just not crying, Tori said I don't miss him, but I do". Tori will sleep with his picture every night and Isabelle will probably draw him 100 pictures. Macie probably won't have any idea what is going on, but she will be really excited to see him when he comes home. We will all miss him, but we will just show it in different ways.

p.s. pictures tommorrow- I promise.

In today's world it is all about "total access". We get behind the scenes looks at everything from the homes of the rich and famous to how they make movies and tootsie rolls for crying out loud. So, I made an executive decision...brace yourself..this week we are going behind the scenes.

Background:
Jamie is in flight to Germany as I type. He and Eric Beavers are headed there for a book tour/ speaking trip with one of Consumed Ministries' authors- Rob Stearns. You can stay updated on all that is happening on their trip at Consumed's website (www.consumedministries.com). But I am here in good old Bloomington with the girlies and it is my sincere intent to give a daily update (hopefully with pictures) of all that is going on at home. "Why?" you may ask...well, one, I have had a good number of people express that they are praying for me this week (THANK YOU!!!!) and so I thought I would give you a more accurate picture of what you are praying for....and probably give you a few good laughs. Two, Jamie will not get to see our beautiful faces for the next 10 days, so this way he can keep caught up, too. And, three, I expect I am going to be bored, so....here we go...A behind the scenes look at the family behind the scene- Germany 2008.

Here are the girls are snuggly buggly for Friday night's showing of Enchanted--complete with popcorn and peanut butter m&m's.
I just love 'em!

I hear we may get some snow today...Maybe a song will cheer you up...

http://www.noggin.com/shows/spring.php

Believe in Spring! =)

Jamie's bowling league career was cut short when he broke his ankle playing basketball and could no longer hop on his release. (this is absolutely true)



The Miller fam went bowling for Family Friday Night...It was quite fun. We have never really gone bowling with the girls, but I got a coupon in the mail (of course). Tori had gone with us once when we went with the Alumni Department at BBC during Volunteers week, but that was many moons ago- she was about Macie's age at the time. This time, the girls actually bowled, so against Jamie's wishes we used bumpers. Isabelle was all over the bumpers (otherwise she may have scored a 4). Instead I think she scored an 80 and is now under the false assumption that she is a very good bowler. Oops. Tori, on the other hand didn't actually use the bumpers much at all--and she did pretty well. But Isabelle ended up beating her "technically", which made Tori not so happy and not so cooperative for my photo shoot. I, admittedly, may have used the bumper one time, not on purpose, it just happened. My puny little arm has a hard time staying straight after a few frames. =) Jamie, for the record, did not use the bumpers at all and he won--in case you thought I did. I am not ready to join a league or anything (Jamie may have said something about that---ay-yi-yi), but I do think we will go again sometime.

Did you note that Jamie has a different outfit on in some of the pictures? See the ones of him in his black "Go Bucks" shirt...well, that is our little Tori girl with him at the aforementioned PA bowling trip...Can you even believe it? Where has the time gone?

I am the first to admit that I am totally gullible and believe many absolutely absurd things that I am told. But I was told that the size of the squirrels in the fall is a good way to determine the length and severity of the winter to come. You know, because God provides extra nuts for them to eat in the fall to survive the winter. (Go ahead and mock me--I can take it) =). Now it may be coincidence, but the creepy albino squirrel that lives in my neighborhood was so chubby this fall and now it is March 31st and we are supposed to get 4-8 inches of snow. I don't know...seems kinda interesting to me...
Heed the squirrels people!

The simple joys of the past couple weeks...

Take the time to smell the roses....even if they are buried under the snow. ;)

So sorry...I have been getting spammed and so I had to add the word verification thing THAT I HATE onto my blog. Darn spammers! Sorry for the inconvenience.

I wanted to introduce you to some new residents in the Miller household. We got them last Friday night for Family Friday Night, Yeah Family Friday night (Columbus people you can sing it with me--to the tune of Football Friday night). Anyway, I thought I should introduce them now before, well...you know what happens to fish.

Here are our fish--Tori named hers "Buckeye" and Isabelle named hers "Shakey" and then changed his name to "Bunny". They are Male Betta fish and we had a wonderful and informative worker named Kevin help us get them all set up.

It was Jamie's idea and the girls were actually squealing when we told them. I was not thrilled about the idea, because I am not interested in going down the slippery slope of pet ownership. I am just not a pet person...sorry. I am taking good care of the fish...at least I am trying to take good care of the fish.

It is a GLORIOUS day here in Bloomington, MN and I have total spring fever. So, Isabelle, Macie and I went on our first walk of spring. Isabelle rode her scooter through every puddle and I pushed Macie in my "made for the mall, not for the outdoors" stroller through an ice slushy. It probably wouldn't have been so bad if we would have stuck to the streets, but if you have seen Ponsi ride her scooter you would know why it is much safer for us to stick to the sidewalks. So despite the bottoms of our pants being covered in mud (actually Ponsi fell twice so she was completely covered in mud) and my arms being a little sore, I feel so refreshed to have felt the sun on my face and to have breathed the fresh air into my lungs. Ronsi, however, lost her steam after about 3/4 mile and made me carry her scooter home (well, she didn't MAKE me--I gave in--she had fallen twice for goodness sake)and she is now taking a hot bath and expecting hot chocolate when she is done. Oh well. Happy Spring!

(p.s.--I fully realize it is not technically spring yet and we may get a snowstorm in a day or two, but I am relishing my spring day today--that's all.)

Macie was not happy when I made her come in. Temper, temper. ;)

Jamie was having deja vu last night...good deja vu of attending a choir concert for one of his sisters. =) Tori was a lovely ladybug in the 1st and 2nd grade production of "BUGZ". She has been excited about it for weeks and I have heard the songs rehearsed over and over and the motions practiced (in secret) until she got them just right. I realize she was one of 200 children up on the stage yesterday, but I was beaming with pride because, of course, she was the cutest little ladybug I have ever seen! ;) And Isabelle soaked up every glorious moment vicariously through Tori--dreaming of the day when she, too, could be a ladybug. Those of you who know Ronsi well can imagine the squeals of delight when Tori let her wear her antennae after the show. Bravo Victoria!

Jamie was not the only one having some "Mardi Gra" fun this week. Today we girls went to Tori's school carnival that was all done up in Mardi Gra decor. Isabelle played all the little games-- winning a bag full of notebooks and bracelets and plastic frog treasures. Tori decided that the game prizes were junk (Thank you Jesus--we are making progress) and spent her tickets on hair extensions and food (I said progress, not miracles). So, maybe it was not exactly the French Quarter, but we had fun!

One of the great responsibilities of being a parent is navigating them through the questions of life. And while someday I am sure the girls and I will tackle some really big questions, we have answered a few here and there, I was laughing today at the kinda silly questions I seem to spend most of my time answering right now...

1. Do I have to wash my body? (she was taking a bath--you know, a bath, some people do it to get clean- my daughter currently thinks it is a fun time to splash around in her own filth and then get out). I told her "Yes, you definitely have to wash your body EVERY time you take a bath".

2. Is today tommorrow? (now you may have to think on that one for a while...we were supposed to do something tommorrow and she wanted to know if that was today--follow?) Seriously people, I just could not even think how to articulate an answer to help her understand, so she just got a no. Yet another thing I am dumping on her elementary teacher to take care of. :)

Jamie is away this week at the Christian Life Center in Waveland, MS. He and some others from our church community are there helping with the rebuild from Hurricane Katrina. My friend, Chuck (who is on the trip) is posting updates and pictures of their time down there on his blog--check it out!

"Angel you were born to fly and if you get to high I'll catch you when you fall" - Nickel Creek

So blessed to be your Mom. So amazed by all the strength and gifts that you have been given. I love you! Happy Birthday Tori!

Despite my normal routine of hibernating in the winter, the girls and I went on an outing last night to the Richardson Nature Center in Bloomington. As is typical me, I came across a flyer advertising that this week is "BLIK" or Bloomington Loves Its Kids week. These events are hit or miss--more often than not they are kind of cheesy and boring, but last night was a winner. Isabelle was in learning heaven with animal puppets and tiny turtles. And Macie just kept saying "oh--what's sat?". And Tori, well, Tori pet a snake--didn't even think twice about it. Who is this child?

So, they had hot chocolate and cookies, made a craft, saw a live owl, falcon and some other bird I can't remember (owls are so cute by the way), they pet a turtle and a snake and I was the coolest mom in the world (well, until I made them go to bed then my cool status plummeted). The only fun thing we did not do was go on a snow shoe walk (it was a little chilly for that)...but I will be going back to do that if we ever break into the 30's, because how fun is that? And did I mention it is all FREE--Here is to new discoveries!

Did someone say they weren't having a happy Valentine's Day?



Do you need a hug?



How about a big old kiss?



Will you be our Valentine?



Jesus loves you and so do we!!! Happy Valentine's Day!

Macie has recently joined the girls club. It is quite entertaining to see her "playing" with the big girls. She is normally the dog--that is how Isabelle started out, too.



That is her little hand around Isabelle's neck...she did that all on her own. She knows the classic "girl" pose. I love it!



Don't worry- they are only allowed to play this under my supervision.



And pictured below is Macie's face when she is done playing. Poor little thing.

I have never heard of this before in the blog world, but my blog well is dry so why not? I was tagged by Amy...

8 things I'm passionate about:
1. Jesus
2. Jamie and the girls
3. My family (by blood, by marriage, by Jesus)
4. Speaking Truth
5. Journaling (leaving a written legacy for my kids)
6. Women (in a totally pure way, but there are too many areas I am passionate about so I had to shorten it)
7. Being Hospitable
8. Ohio State Football (Go Bucks!)

8 things I want to do before I die:
1. See my girls all growed up
2. Adopt some aged child/children (maybe a boy) from some place (this is all very sketchy)
3. Travel places I have never been
4. Learn to speak Spanish
5. Take the girls to Disneyworld
6. See the dreams of GC and Consumed continue to come to fruition
7. Finish the laundry. (I am running short on answers)
8. Live downtown in a loft

8 things I say often:
1. Jame
2. Maso, Butters, Ronsi Ponsi, Tor, Tor-Dor
3. Stop Whining
4. Sweet thing
5. The church building or the church is the people
6. What's that?
7. kisses
8. He/ she is on my team

8 TV shows you recently watched
1. American Idol
2. Miss Spider's Sunny Patch
3. 30 Rock
4. Little Bear
5. Survivor
6. Sportscenter
7. Wow! Wow! Wubzy!
8. The Office

8 Artists I never tire of listening to:
1. Charlie Hall
2. Nickel Creek
3. Brad Kilman
4. Sarah McLachlan (especially her Christmas album)
5. Country- whatever
6. Indigo Girls
7. Norah Jones
8. Dave Matthews Band (this is Jamie's fault)


8 things that attract me to my friends:
1. Down to earth
2. Sincere
3. You cry easily...you're in
4. You laugh easily...you are also in, especially if you laugh at your own jokes =)
5. Loyal
6. Humble
7. Friendly
8. Common Interests

8 Things I learned in 2007
1. I am assertive, especially when I feel attacked and that is NOT a bad thing.
2. I love having older women in my life and being an older woman to younger women.
3. Macie's smile can brighten anyone's day.
4. I can bring forth food from the ground (this was quite empowering).
5. All day school makes kids old.
6. Tori is good at soccer and Isabelle, well, she looks really cute in her uniform--and that is okay cuz that is how God made them.
7. God wants me to make a difference in this world and I can.
8. I turn into a junior high girl when I see The Ohio State University Football team.

Who am I gonna tag?
1. Tara
2. Abs
3. Lisa and/or Eric
4. Chuck
5. Heidi
6. Marissa

If you are sad your name is not included just keep this in mind a. I did not think you would participate or b. you are hiding your blog life from me (come out of the secret blog closet).