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...

Thanksgiving in Florida

I'm back!  Back home and back to the blogging world.  I'm hoping to catch up on all your blogs soon and hope to send many more updates your way this week.

We were in Florida for Thanksgiving.  We spent the morning with Patrick's dad's side of the family, enjoying brunch at aunt Nan's house.  After Adeline's nap time, we drove an hour to Cocoa Beach where we had Thanksgiving dinner with ALL the fixings with Patrick's mom's side of the family.  Really fun day with LOTS of family and good food.

Here's Addie with her cousin Maddie (Madison).  They look like they could be sisters.  Maddie is three months younger than Adeline, but she is already a bit taller.

Tori, Tina, Megan, Adeline

The bride to be (pictures to come) with Patrick's grandfather