Taking a shower in the kitchen

Vance found the spray bottle in the kitchen, and figured out how to make it work. So he stood there and sprayed himself with it for about five minutes! He has drenched!

Okay, just one more thing

While I'm posting weird items from my past, here is another thing that I found a picture of. This was the oven that came with our first home. Now that is vintage! It was probably 40 years old. The range pulls out from the bottom, and you lift the oven door open, not pull. It was awesome! And it worked really well.
You can see ovens just like it on the show "Bewitched" or the movie "Blast from the Past."

What a beauty!

I was going through some old pictures yesterday, when I found this picture of our first couch. I had forgotten how sweet it was! Who doesn't want a 70's velvet sofa?
(You might have to click on the picture to view the couch in all it's glory.)

Disappearing Text

For some reason, the text from my last post keeps disappearing if you scroll down, then scroll back up. Do any of you blogger experts out there know why?

My Sweet Vance

I'm so lucky to have such a sweet baby. He has been such a joy. Babies are so much fun when they get to be this age becuause they learn to do so many new things.

One of my favorite times of day has been right after I put Mason and Miles to bed, and I get to have some one on one time with Vance. He seems to recognize that this is his time, and is always in a great mood. He thinks he is so funny when he runs away when I try to put on his pajamas. The last couple of nights, he has cuddled with me in the recliner. It was so nice.

Vance loves to talk with people. He'll just talk and talk like he's having a real conversation. He evens stops so you can respond, then keeps talking. Every once and a while, he laughs, as if he has said

something really funny. He does this on the phone too, which my parents love.

Miles may be British

Every once and awhile, Miles lets a bit of an English accent slip. Too much Harry Potter, I think.

You may have noticed the mustard on his face. This has become semi-permanent, because Miles treats mustard like a main course. What a funny boy.

What is that smell???

What is that smell? That smell, my friends, is the sweet smell of success! Finally, after months and months of trying, I believe we have Miles potty trained. Hooray!!!!!!!!(Hopefully I am not jinxing myself here.)
This picture is Miles' first attempt to write his name. While it may not look like it, I watched him write it, and I was pretty impressed!

Vance Puts Himself in Timeout

The other day I found Vance sitting in his older brothers timeout corner. I went to grab the camera, and he moved. So I said to him(in a much nicer tone then I usually say this), "Vance, go to timeout." And he went back so I could get the shot. The only crime he is guilty of is being cute!

Mitt and Mormons

I found this funny article about Mitt Romney and Mormonism. Check it out.

www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695229171,00.html

Eight Years of Wedded Bliss

Okay, it hasn't been all bliss, but I think it has been pretty good. We have made it through three kids, two states, five different homes, and other trials.

Thank you for being such a good husband, Jordan. And for putting up for me for the last eight years! I love you.

6 Things About Me

The rules of the game should be posted at the beginning of the post. Each player lists 6 facts/habits about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

1. Even though I am a mother of three, I still can not give up my rock and alternative music. I will still be listening to Metallica when I'm 90. If anyone wants to check out a great band, check out Alter Bridge.

2.I am really into music. In high school I could play about eight or nine instruments. Not well, mind you. When I was a senior, five of my eight classes were music classes. It was great! I really want to get back into music when my kids are older. Does anyone want to form a rock group? I'll play bass guitar! :)

3. I am an awful cook. Most things I make come premade in a box, and I heat it up. My poor family.

4. I have been skydiving. That was amazing! I would love to do it again. I also want to try bungee jumping.

5. I am a very picky eater. I don't like cheese(although I do love pizza, as long as the cheese isn't too heavy.). I dislike most veggies, especially onions or peppers of any kind(okay, I do like crushed red pepper). I hate pickles!

6. Some of you know this, but some may not. I only have half my thyroid. The other half was removed because of a tumor. This is why I have a scar on my throat. I have been very lucky though. It has had no effect on my health.

I am tagging: Amanda, Cindi, Crystal, Kim, Amber, and Michelle

Halloween 2007

Here are some pictures from Halloween.

Vance stayed in this costume for about ten minutes. Just long enough to take pictures. Then he got to stay in with Grandma and Grandpa(and out of the rain, which fortunatly for the most part was just a fine mist.)

Here we have Superman. Superman got tired of trick or treating, and kept asking if we could go back to Grandma's!

Pooh Bear was a real trooper. Despite the rain he wanted to keep going!

This year's haul. I won't be buying any treats at the store for a while.

Mason's 6th Birthday!

Mason had is 6th birthday on Saturday. How can that be???? It's amazing how fast they grow. He was sooooo excited about his birthday this year. We put him to bed on Friday night, then did the traditional decorating of the house. Around 10:30 Jordan and I were walking up the stairs to go to bed. Mason must have been waiting for this. He burst open his bedroom door, looked around, and said"It's still dark." I told him that it was still night time, and not his birthday yet. He held up five fingers, and I varified the fact that he was still five, and not yet six, so he needed to go back to bed. :)

His birthday was very nice. We(including Grandma and Grandpa Miller and Aunt Lindsey) went to Red Robin for dinner. He was insistent that they needed to sing to him! After dinner we went to Jordan's parents house for cake and presents. Diana, Jordan's mom, made the most amazing Candy Land cake. It was awesome!

We finished off the evening by going to the Trunk or Treat at the church, which was a great way to cap off the day.

Mason is so excited to be six. He looked at a picture of him that I took the day before his birthday, and said, "That's when I was five," like the picture had been taken years ago. :) He is such a joy to have in our family, and I am so grateful for him.

Mason blowing out birthday candles(trying to anyways)

Senor Miles

This is Miles with a Wildberry Toaster Strudel mustache. For some reason this picture makes me think of a sly Spanish man.
Funny side note about Miles... I'm sitting here making posts to the blog, and he's sitting behind me at the table. And I realize that he is singing, "If you want to be my lover," by the Spice Girls. What?!!!! It took me a minute to figure out where he learned that song. It's from the movie Chicken Little, which has been a favorite around here lately.

Vance Walking

Vance has finally decided to start walking. He's not a pro yet, but he'll be there soon enough. My mom really wanted a clip of him walking, but that was easier said than done. Every time I brought out that camera to try and catch him walking, he would have a huge fit. So, in order to get this shot, I had to be very stealthful. I hid on the couch and put the camera around the side, and watched Vance through the view finder. And, I managed to catch the furthest distance he has walked so far! How's that for timing? I just wish I would have buttoned up his onsie before I made the video. Oh well!

Stake Conference

This last weekend we had the unique experience of having an apostle at our stake conference. Elder Bednar from the quorum of the 12 spoke to us, along with a member of the area 70. They were both great speakers, and I am so glad that I had a chance to attend the meetings.
Right before Elder Bednar spoke in the adult session, we sang the hymn "Come, Come ye Saints." When Elder Bednar got up to speak, he looked at a woman in the front row, and asked her what her name was. It was Lily Flannery. He told her that he watched her sing , and that he could tell from her face how happy she was to be singing that song. Could you imagine an apostle singling you out and saying that to you? Anyone who is or has been a member of the Holt ward knows that this couldn't have happened to a sweeter lady.

If Vance Were a Girl...

I know this is wrong on so many levels, but I just couldn't help myself! I promise I'll never do it again.

The Strangest M&M Ever

The funny things kids do and say: Part two

Wow. I haven't posted in two weeks. Sorry!
I have been amazed at Mason's blooming knowledge of technology. I can tell that in a few years, he will be the one telling me how all the newest technical things work. He can already get on the computer, and find the web sites that he wants(things like Playhouse Disney or Nickjr.com). He knows that he can type in the first two letters, and the cookie will usually bring up the site he is looking for. He can out in a CD in the CD player, and get it started. He knows how to put a DVD into the computer, and start a movie. He had to show me how to pause the movie. How do they learn these things??
He has his last soccer game today. Honestly, I'm relieved it's over. It would be different if he liked playing. Whenever he's on the field, he's just...on the field. Is there a game going on here?

Vance has turned into a billy goat. I can see in his future many mountains that need to be climbed. He has learned to climb onto the table(see picture below) and can climb onto my piano bench, which means I will not be able to play my piano in peace for the next two years!
The other day I was upstairs getting a bath ready for the boys, and I could hear Vance crying at the bottom of the stairs because he wanted to come up. When I went to get him, I found him kneeling on TOP of the gate, holding on to the stair railing for support. It scared me to death! He had used the bar that goes across the middle of the gate to climb up it. I am in so much trouble!



Often times when I go to the bathroom, this is what happens. Vance comes over and sticks his little fingers under the door. It has become one of his favorite games!
Vance took four steps last Sunday. I thought maybe he was finally going to start walking! But, not yet. When ever I get him to stand, he gets excited and does it for a few seconds. Then he sits down. When I try to get him to stand up again, he gets very angry. Oh, well. He'll walk soon enough.

Unsuccessful Photo Session

This is unsuccessful attempt to get a good picture of my boys. :)

The funny things kids do and say

Vance loves to put shoes on his hands, and crawl around. It cracks me up!

Miles has been trying to find excuses to get out of going to the grocery store. Last week, he told me that it "Popped away." All the way there, he insisted that it had popped away, was gone, and we should NOT go to the store, but go to Isaac's house instead! But, the store did not in fact pop away, and we had to do our shopping.

This is the excuse he tried to use last week. I told him we had to go to the store, and he said, "No Mom, we can't." I asked why not, and he said,"Because we don't have fifteen thousand dollars." :)

Tonight I was having a discussion with the boys about private parts(One of the thrilling jobs you have to do as a parent.) Mason asked if girls have two private parts, and I said yes. Then he asked,"Just like humongous boys?" He was referring to man-boobs!!

Where do they get these things? I'm just glad that they make us laugh so much. It makes being a parent so much easier.

I've been tagged!

I have been tagged! (Thanks Michelle)


4 JOBS I HAVE HAD:

1-Telemarketer/admin. assistant at Trendwest Resorts

2-Telephone operater at Teltrust

3-Checker at K-mart. At Christmas time. Not fun.

4-Top Hat Video


MOVIES I COULD WATCH OVER AND OVER:

1-Slipper and the Rose

2-Fiddler on the Roof

3-The A&E version of Pride and Prejudice

4- Emma



MY FAVORITE TV SHOWS: (Most of these are coming back next week. Hooray!!)

1-The Office

2-ER

3-Friday Night Lights

4-American Idol



HOBBIES:

1-Reading. I could read the Harry Potter books over and over and over again!

2-Eating! If I could be granted a frivilous wish, it would be to be able to eat and eat all day long, what ever I want, withouth effects on my health or my weight! :)


3-Long baths

4-Playing the piano and cello



PLACES I HAVE LIVED:

1-Magna, Utah(I have lived in four different places there.)

2-Taylorsville, Utah-Only for six months. I lived in an apartment with friends. That was one of the best times of my life!

3-Holt, Michigan

4-Lansing, Michigan



PLACES I WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT NOW:

1-Utah, visiting family and friends

2-I've always wanted to see New York City

3-On a Euporean Vacation

4-Anywhere Jordan and my boys are(I should have put this first!)


SITES I CHECK DAILY:

1-Blogs of family and friends

2-Deseret News.com (I am a news junkie. I like to see what going on in Utah.)

3-Comcast.net

4-Ksl.com



WHO I'M TAGGING:

1-Amber

2-Kim

3-Crystal

4-Melissa


Okay, now that you are tagged, you get to copy and paste this onto a post of your own. Delete my answers and type in your own. It is true blogging etiquette to really do this!!

Mason in soccer

We put Mason in soccer a few weeks ago, and I just don't think it is his thing. Oh well. Hopefully he is having a fun time!

The Boys Room

I have made my first attempt at painting. When we first moved into our house, there was a really cute wallpaper border on the wall, but unfortunatly, part of it had been ripped off. Then, one day last year, the boys were playing up there, and they told me to come upstairs to see a "surprise." The suprise... they had climbed up on the dresser, and ripped down most of the remaining wallpaper.

Instead of replacing the wallpaper, I decided to paint a road on the wall, to match the car theme of the room. It's not perfect, and it needs to be touched up, but I am pleased with how it turned out.

BEFORE

AFTER

Bus Update

I decided that this is the week that Mason is going to try riding the bus home from school. (He rode it home on the first day of school, and threw up on the bus.) The weather has cooled down(yeah!) and I thought that the heat was one of the things that was making him sick.
So we tried this yesterday. I was so anxious waiting for the bus. When the bus finally got here, Mason came off the bus beaming! He exclaimed,"I didn't throw up Mommy!" The bus driver said he was so proud of himself the whole way home. I am sooooooo relieved. Hopefully he can keep it up.
Other good bus news. The bus driver that picks him up for school has agreed to pick Mason up in front of our house rather than the bottom of the street. That makes my life so much easier! It was kind of nerve racking to take all the boys down there and wait by that busy road.
Mason is doing great in Kindergarten. He really likes his teacher, and looks forward to school every day. I am so happy he is having a good experience.

Elaine's Parents Get Their Groove On

Star in Your Own JibJab! It's Free!

Check out our moves!

Star in Your Own JibJab! It's Free!We've improved since the last time we danced together!

Happy Birthday!

Happy 28th birthday, Jordan! The boys and I love you so much.

Farewell Elder Bryson!

My little brother Andy left for his mission on Wednesday. He will be in the MTC until October 31st, then off to Munich! Good luck Andy!!!

Kindergarten!!!

Taking the last link off of the Kindergarten chain!

Mason's big day finally came! He started Kindergarten at Elliott Elementary on Monday. He is is Mrs. Essell's class. She is very nice, and Mason really likes her. He did such a good job on Monday. Mrs. Essell says that he is doing great in class. The only problem we are having is the bus...
Mason has always had a problem with motion sickness. And it has been really bad this summer. Even small trips around town make him nauseous. So, I was really worried about what was going to happen on the bus.
I was just going to drive Mason to school on his first day, but a friend of mine recommended that I put him on the bus, then meet him at the school. So that is what I did. He got on the bus around 11:30, and I went to the school and waited. And waited, and waited. I was getting very nervous. I knew more time on the bus meant more time to get sick. By the time the bus finally got there, the rest of the Kindergarten class had already gone inside for music class. As I approached the bus, I heard the bus driver tell the principal that they were late because a boy got sick. But, it wasn't Mason!! (Although I did feel bad for the poor kid.) Mason got off the bus puke free and went into the school with no problems.
It was the ride home where we had problems. After a hot, tiring day at school, getting on an even hotter bus, which had to make many turns, Mason threw up. In front of the big kids. He looked miserable when he got off the bus.
I am going to pick him up from school for the next week, then if the weather is cooler, try the bus again. Wish him luck!!

Vance's 1st Birthday!!

Yesterday was my baby's first birthday!! It's amazing(and not fair!) how fast they grow up. Vance has been such a great addition to our family, and we love him so much. I'm thankful for all the little things he does that make us laugh, like making funny faces, grunting, and putting shoes on his hands and then crawling around the room. He is such a joy!
When my kids have birthdays, I usually decorate the house. Jordan says this is silly, but the boys love it, so I do it anyways. But the night before Vance's birthday, I just didn't want to do it. I was tired, I couldn't find the tape to hang the crepe paper, and Vance would never know the difference if I didn't do it. So I went to bed. Jordan, who had been watching TV in the mancave, came to bed later and told me that he was sad that there were no decorations up. Even though he thinks they are silly, I guess he likes them too. :) Mason and Miles had the same reaction when they got up the next morning. They were so disappointed. So, after church, the decorations went up. They really boost they birthday celebration mood!
Jordan's parents and his sister Lindsey came over for dinner, presents, and cake. I made my first attempt to make a round cake. It was pretty successful except for the back. I ran out of frosting. But, it was good, so that's all that matters!
Mason and Miles were very excited to help Vance open his presents. And everyone, including the adults had a great time playing with the presents once they were open!

Vance doing his best King Kong impression.

I feel really torn. I am so excited that he is growing up and getting out of the baby phase. It is so nice when they get older, and get more independent. It's great when they can get themselves dressed, buckle their own seat belts, etc.
On the other hand, there is nothing in the world like having a baby, and I am so sad that Vance is not going to be one for much longer. I just need to remember to enjoy every second!

Kindergarten Countdown

When summer first started, I made Mason a paper chain to help him understand how long he had to wait until Kindergarten. When I first made the chain, it reached all the way across this entryway, and half way down the wall. (I should have taken a picture of it then.) There were 76 days until Kindergarden. I thought we would never make it!

Amazingly enough, we did make it through the summer and there are only 11 days until school starts!!! I'm so glad I will only have to take two kids to the store! And, of course, I am really excited for Mason, and I hope that he has a great time.

Our Budding Artist

This is a recent masterpiece beautifully created by Miles.

He informed me that the subject in this picture is wearing really big boots.

I Give Up!!!

I have the most stubborn three year old ever! Miles is refusing to potty train. He just doesn't want to do it! Any suggestions out there????

I Won't be Quitting my Day Job Anytime Soon

Miles hair was starting to get to the wild stage. Jordan and I both think it looks pretty cute when it gets this way, but I decided that it was time to have it cut. Jordan is usually the one who cuts the boys hair. He just buzzes it off with the clippers. But, he refused to cut Miles hair because he liked it the way that it was.
So, on Monday I just decided to do it myself. I used the 1/2 inch attachment, and did a fairly good job with that. But then, I had to trim the back and around his ears.

I didn't do so well! He looked like a redneck juvenile delinquent!

So we had to buzz off ALL of his hair.

I made the comment to Jordan that we should carry around a donation basket! The bishop jokingly asked us on Monday night how Miles' Leukemia treatments were going. I hope it grows back very quickly!!

A couple more funny things about Miles. He calls Vance's baby formula Super Power Milk.

The other thing happened on Sunday when we were at Jordan's parents house. I took Miles to go to the bathroom, and after he was finished he wanted to flush, but I told him that mommy had to go too, and that he couldn't. He got very upset, so I told him to wait outside the door, and when I was finished, he could flush the toilet. He left the bathroom pleased with that arrangement. When I opened the bathroom door a minute later, he wasn't there. Instead of waiting outside the bathroom door, he was waiting outside the house! He was sitting on the front porch, waiting very patiently to flush the toilet! He is such a funny boy!

Steven and Andy are Here!

My brothers Steven and Andy are visiting from Utah this week. Mason, Miles and I drove down to the Detroit airport to pick them up. Have you even noticed that the minute you walk into an airport, all of your will to live is zapped, and you feel the need to go to bed and sleep for a week?
I think I just associate the airport with too many long trip with children.
We are having a great time with Steven and Andy here. The boys especially love it. They are being spoiled rotten. They have had so many horse rides and shoulder rides, and so many things that Mom and Dad don't want to do very often. I think my boys are going to have withdrawls when Steve and Andy leave.

The Lake Trip

Our bishop and his wife Lisa recently rented a house on the lake up in Lake City. They were kind enough to invite us to spend a day with them. We had such a great time. It was a beautiful day too. It did rain for a while, but that seems to be a tradition whenever Jordan and I go to someone's beach house. Luckily, this time the rain did not last long, and we were able to spend time out on the boat going tubing, and had a great time playing at the beach. The tubing was a blast, and both Mason and Miles (and Mom and Dad) were brave enough to give it a try. Mason even went out on the tube by himself(wearing a life jacket, and going very slow!)

The boys were so good that day, which helped to make it a complete success!

Cutie Pants Vance

Look at his curls!

I took this picture because he had a hammer in his hand, and looked like he was trying to repair the underside of the recliner.

Monkey Boy!