Wordless Wednesday---That's one way to set up the nativity

Cleaning up

Since I just printed out my new chore list for 2009, I thought I would recycle part of a post and give a plug for this great resource I found.  I discovered this site at the end of 2007, and I must say I enjoyed using it throughout 2008.  So much so that I bought the calendar again for 2009.  The site is...

www.motivatedmoms.com

Here is what I wrote about it in 2007...

"This site offers a calendar to help with organizing your cleaning schedule. It is PERFECT for a list lover like me. It breaks down tasks into chores that need to be done every day (like making the bed, feeding the pets, washing the dishes), and then adds a few other tasks to be tackled each day. If you follow the schedule, your house will stay pretty clean without becoming overwhelming. Tasks include things like cleaning out the microwave, changing your kitchen towels, paying the bills, changing the filter in your heater, dusting the master bedroom, or clipping your children's nails. It costs $8 to download, and you can get it with or without a daily scripture reading to read through the Bible in a year. I LOVE to be able to check things off a list, and this helps make organizing a household seem less daunting when it is broken down. I was VERY excited about this find and hope you will check out the site and perhaps benefit from it as well."

I wrote that before using it, and I must say, most days the tasks take less than 30 min.  It helps me to feel like my house has some semblance of clean without needing to dedicate an entire Saturday to cleaning, and it reminds me of places I may forget need attention at times (aka cleaning all the doorknobs in the house or cleaning the computer screen and mouse).  It works for me, so I thought I would share the tip!

And you thought meeting friends through blogging was wierd...

I would like to introduce you to Terra...but I can't because she hasn't started a blog yet. If/when she does, I know you are going to love her. Many of you fellow bloggers have done posts about how amazing it is to meet people through this cyber world, and that non-bloggers just don't "get it." I am in awe of how connected I am to some of you and how much I know about your daily lives without ever meeting face to face. I didn't meet Terra through blogging....I met her through ebay. Yep, ebay.

I bought an adorable Pottery Barn kitchen set from her on ebay (which Adeline loves...I'll post pictures sometime). There were some problems with a discount offer from another company at checkout, and she suggested I call her rather than continue sending emails back and forth. Oh.my.word!!! We talked for almost 5 hours!!! She is a Christian, homeschooling, mommy of 6. You can find her on my facebook page...because we exchanged that info during our late night chat. She (and her whole family) is adorable! This story almost had another twist...the weekend after our talk, she was coming to VA for a funeral, and I told her if they took a day trip to DC (which they were hoping to do), I would drive down to meet her. She was so excited about the possibility, but they weren't able to make it work. Maybe next time, Terra. I enjoyed our talk and hope we can connect again soon!

Roommate Reunion

I know...I disappeared again...for a long time.  I'm hoping to load some Christmas pictures tomorrow to share with you all, but I decided to post this tonight just to get back into the groove a bit...

Before Thanksgiving, I met two of my college roommates at a Cracker Barrel on my way to PA to see my parents.  We haven't seen each other in YEARS!  It was SO good to reconnect.  We talked for over 5 hours and almost closed the place down.  Many of you may recognize Sarah.  Lauren is equally awesome but a non-blogger at this point.  

I know some of you are turning green as you look at this picture.  Yes, Lincoln is even cuter in person...if that's even possible!

Thanks ladies, I had a BLAST and hope we can do it again soon.

Seaworld

One more post from our Florida trip...

Seaworld gives free admission to military families, and we decided to take advantage of the offer.  Adeline loved watching the dolphins, fish, penguins, sharks, and various other moving, colorful creatures.  It was a fun day.

O Christmas Tree

Kristen over at We are That Family (you know the ones) invited us to link our Christmas Trees to her site.  Head there if you need a little more Christmas cheer.

We actually have two trees this year.  The first one pictured is a real one.  Love the smell...really tired of the forever parched tree.  My mom is the genius behind all things decorated at my house...including this tree.

Here are a few of my favorite ornaments (for sentimental reasons).  The first is from a set of ornaments that my mom made the first year my parents were married.  They didn't have a lot of money, so she made a lot of their decorations.  These were made with thread spools, ribbon, beads, and stick pins.  Not a great picture, but I'm tired...

My grandmother was a very crafty lady, and she crocheted several ornaments that now hang on my tree like the one below.

This tree is not real, but I always wanted that "tree shines through the window" look when you drive up to my house, and I love the cheer it brings when you walk inside.  However, I wanted our "main tree" to be in the main part of our house where we can enjoy it.

More decorations to be posted later this week.  Hope you are enjoying all your holiday planning!

Sunday Finest

Heidi told me this would happen...

Heidi, you warned me.  When my baby was tiny and I had such fun getting her dolled up in girly cuteness, you told me to enjoy it then because a day would come when she wouldn't wear whatever I choose.  Well, Addie is under the weather today (a cough that sounds like she's been smoking for 20 years, a runny nose, and a fever), and so I thought she may enjoy wearing this fuzzy sweatshirt and comfy pants.  I, of course, got out the coordinating purple socks.  She INSISTED she wanted to wear blue socks today.  And she is so proud.  She periodically looks down at her feet and says, "Blue socks!"  I just hope she doesn't get used to this choose what to wear thing...just yet.

Wordless Wednesday

Miller Holiday Gathering

Last weekend we enjoyed one of three annual gatherings with the family on my mom's side.  Our family has gotten so large that we don't try to get together ON holidays anymore because so many people would not be able to come.  We plan things just before or just after holidays.  This was our Thanksgiving/Christmas catch-all reunion.  There are a few families missing here.  My mom has four sisters, and all five girls have 2-5 children, so you can imagine how our numbers continue to multiply with marriages and great-grandchildren arriving.  Patrick and I are on the far left in this picture, and of course Adeline is with her grandma...

Sharing kisses with my grandfather.  He is the picture of joy and health and has blessed us with a rich Christian heritage.  I am so proud to be his granddaughter.

This side of the family is very musical.  We were encouraged to bring instruments and spent some time singing Christmas hymns in four part harmony.  Of course, I forgot to bring my flute, so I contributed by taking pictures.

The Wedding!!!

In case you don't remember, Patrick's twin brother got married in Florida on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  It was a great reason for EVERYONE to travel to FL for the holiday.  Here are the guys...

Patrick, Sean (a friend), Eric (groom and Pat's twin), Bobby (brother), and Mike (friend)

Pat's mom with her boys (they also have a sister)

Here's one picture to prove I was there...I didn't make it into very many during this trip.

Adeline with her Grandma and Great-grandpa (if Pat was in it, this would be a four generation picture)...

Siblings.....Steve, Nan, and Rich (Pat's dad)

The happy couple...CONGRATULATIONS Eric and Kristen!!!

Adeline had SO much fun dancing with her daddy...and just dancing in general.  She (and her cousins) were the life of the party.  We decided to let her stay up until she crashed.  The hotel was only 3 miles from the reception, and we don't push her bedtime like that very often.  She had a blast!!!

Eric and Pat leading the train...

Adeline in all her wedding cuteness...

Of course, I have a TON of pictures of my sweet baby from the wedding, so I decided to post them separately.  

Adeline fell in love with Patrick's cousin's wife, Kristen.  Here she's giving kisses...