Erin Miller's Blog

Garvin's Baptism

2012-01-30T12:34:00.000-08:00

We had a great Thanksgiving weekend with the Millers. One of the highlights was Garvin's baptism. We are so happy that Aunt Susann and Uncle Shawn were willing to make the trip and the commitment! Cousin Robbie was there as well and was a true gentleman to let Garvin take the spotlight for a bit.

Parkside Student of the Month

2012-01-24T09:13:00.000-08:00

Baikal was selected to receive the honor of student of the month for November. We are so proud of her! She received recognition from the principal, a math manipulatives box, a book, and a piece of cake! She also had her bio placed on the front bulletin board. WAY TO GO!!!

Halloween

2012-01-24T08:53:00.001-08:00

We had an INCREDIBLE halloween this year at the new house. We had been warned that our street was a big street for trick or treating, so Matt loaded up on the candy. I couldn't find my counter this year (probably still in a box), so I didn't count the kids like I usually do, but I hope to remember to get one for next year! The biggest hit was our smoke filled bubble machines. We placed two right at the front gate and adults and kids enjoyed watching them pop and release their smoke. Baikal and Rybolt had a good time going door to door, and Garvin helped me hand out treats. Aunt Courtney and Uncle Bill also joined in the fun. Matt requested that the photos of him in his spandex superhero costume not be displayed on the internet, so I left those out.

Day at the zoo with Rybolt and Garvin

2011-10-01T19:34:00.000-07:00

Beach week part two

2011-09-30T21:21:00.000-07:00

Beach week

2011-09-30T18:49:00.000-07:00

This labor day, we were able to have a week at the beach. The kids had a great time!

Snack time!

2011-09-25T18:07:00.000-07:00

Let's have some ice cream!

Rybolt likes the sprinkles.

Baikal likes to drink it like soup.

Garvin will pass.

First Day of School

2011-09-20T17:39:00.000-07:00

Baikal started kindergarden in August. She is in Mrs. Howards class at Parkside Elementary. We are excited about her new adventure!

Angry Birds

2011-09-15T18:17:00.000-07:00

To beat the heat, we made our own version of the popular computer game: angry birds.

Soccer in the park

2011-09-13T18:40:00.000-07:00

Junaluska

2011-08-01T19:04:00.000-07:00

We had a great time at Junaluska this year. One of the highlights was meeting my new nephew, Jack Abbott! He and Garvin will be playing together in no time. Maddie and Baikal enjoyed their princess dresses from Aunt Sam. Matt was able to come for a few days. Here he is with Rybolt at our favorite pancake house, Joey's.

Garvin's first time at Joey's. He wasn't much interested in the food, but liked the company.

Baikal the babysitter

2011-07-29T18:41:00.000-07:00

Baikal is a great help and often asks if she can babysit Garvin. Here are some pictures of her recent babysitting job.

Because I do dat!

2011-07-26T09:18:00.000-07:00

Rybolt has a catch phrase that he has been using for sometime. "Because I do dat!" Here he is at the playground with some quality mom time.

Boy time

2011-07-25T09:01:00.000-07:00

BRING ON THE RUCKUS!!!

Baby, it is HOT outside!

2011-07-19T08:58:00.000-07:00

Time to cool off in the sprinkler!

Garvin turns one!

2011-07-18T09:03:00.000-07:00

One month that is! People have asked me what are some of the differences between Garvin and the other two Miller kids. Here are just a few. Garvin likes to be cozy. Give him a blanket and he is happy! He was born with black hair and blond eyebrows. He also loves to be held and will fall asleep instantly if held up on your shoulder for a few minutes. Of course, like my other Miller babies, he has this in common: he one of the cuteset babies in the world! What a blessing we have with all of our children!

Shhh! Garvin is sleeping!

2011-07-10T08:52:00.000-07:00

Summertime Community Sponsored Agriculture

2011-07-08T08:37:00.000-07:00

It is Wednesday, time to pick up our weekly veggie box!

Bribery for preschoolers

2011-06-30T05:50:00.000-07:00

Over the past few years I have tried different ways to motivate my kids to do my will without force. It can be a dangerous battle going toe to toe with a preschooler. They play dirty, and like it. But since Matt and I try to be kind and loving parents, sometimes a little bribery is just what is needed to accomplish our objectives. I thought I would share some of our tactics that seem to work with our kids. Who knows, maybe you can use them too.

Rainbow challenge night
This is a way that we have devised to get our kids to eat more veggies. I place all of the colors of the rainbow on their plate. When the plate is cleared, they get to have the final color: brown, which is usually a brownie or piece of chocolate. Here was last nights challange:
Red: cherry tomatoes, Orange: clementines, Yellow: summer squash, Green: english peas and cucumbers, Blue: blueberries, Purple: beets. We make a big deal when the kids complete their challange, giving high fives and other kudos.

Miller store
This idea came from two of my friends, Ginny Carson and Laurie Burlington. Every night before bed the kids look at their calendars. We talk about what we did today and what we will be doing tomorrow. If they made it through the day without getting a time out, they get a smiley face sticker on that day. On rare occasions I give a bonus smiley face for exceptional behavior. On the last day of the month is Miller Store. They get a token for every smiley face they had during the month. Miller store consists of various toys, games, candy, and seasonal items that they might like to have. Each item is given a numerical value and the kids have to use their tokens to buy them. Various price points are represented and high valued items may take more than one month to purchase. Here are some examples of June Miller store items: toy story bubble bath, a singing toothbrush, puzzles, glitter glue, swim goggles, sparklers, activity books, and fourth of july pajamas.

Garvin "the Moose" Miller at one week

2011-06-29T10:21:00.000-07:00

In case you didn't know...

2011-06-23T11:42:00.000-07:00

Garvin Alces Miller is named after my Grandmother Eddie Lou Garvin. Although she is still alive, she hasn't been living for quite some time. She loved children and was a great mother and grandmother and great grandmother! We plan on visiting her sometime in September when things calm down around here. She won't know who I am or who Garvin is, but she is still loved by so many. If she could remember, she would tell me that she loves me and Garvin too.

Garvin: up close and personal

2011-06-23T11:36:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of Garvin in his current, natural state. I have been around preschoolers for so long that I have forgotten how peaceful a newborn can be.

Garvin's first visits

2011-06-23T07:48:00.000-07:00

Garvin met lots of friends and family while he was at the hospital.

He even got some long distance love, from those that couldn't be close.

Welcome to the world Garvin Alces Miller!

2011-06-20T19:14:00.000-07:00

We welcomed our son, Garvin Alces Miller into the world on june 15 at 2:47 pm. He weighed in at 7 lbs. 13 oz. and 20.5 inches long. My c-section went well, and I stayed in the hospital for four days to recover. We are now at home. Garvin has his first trip to the pediatrician tomorrow. He seems to be doing great, but this is standard procedure, just to make sure. Baikal and Rybolt visited their new little brother the day after he was born. They took turns holding him and were very gentle. When we arrived home, the kids had planned a surprise birthday party for Garvin. They even made cupecakes with a zero candle for him. We all sang happy birthday and the kids helped blow out the candles. What a great family we have!

Erin was just taken back to the OR

2011-06-15T10:53:00.001-07:00

It should be 30-45 minutes before the little guy is here....

We are at the Hospital!

2011-06-15T10:45:00.000-07:00

Waiting for the anesthetist and OR availability. Should have new soon....

Baby blanket finished, what next?

2011-06-05T05:00:00.000-07:00

Playdate with the Frilingos

2011-06-04T08:22:00.000-07:00

We have really been enjoying our new yard. It makes having friends over so much fun. We recently had a playdate with the Frilingos boys. Fun was had by all!

More babies?

2011-06-03T08:40:00.000-07:00

Baikal has informed me that she would like to have ten kids in our family. Two boys and eight girls. We'll see how she feels once her new brother arrives.

Goat farm!

2011-06-01T08:33:00.000-07:00

With spring came our annual trip to Decimal Goat Farm.

Spring wouldn't be complete without a trip to Decimal Goat farm!

June already?

2011-06-01T08:17:00.000-07:00

May flew by! There were so many things going on that I was too busy and too tired to blog. But now it is June and things have slowed down around here. For awhile, at least! Here are two of our current favorite past times:

Block building! The kids have really taken to making elaborate block structures out of their duplo blocks.

Porch swinging with Dad and the ipad. Our latest toy, an apple ipad, has become a regular feature here at the house. We all love to play games and watch shows on it.

Memorial Day

2011-05-30T07:40:00.000-07:00

Memorial day is a day that we Americans pay tribute to those who have served and died in our military. In our yard there are three tombstones. Each one is from a soldier that served during the civil war. I have often wondered who these men were, but have not had the time to go through the stacks of archives left by the previous owners. Who were these men? I happened to have some free time today and came across this information about the original owner of the house, Captain James Austin Burns. His tombstone is one of the three in the yard and it faces the street. Here is what the article states:

James Autin Burns received his Ph.D in analytical chmistry from Bowdoin College and then went on to obtain a law degree from Yale University. He then enlisted in the union army during the civil war at the age of 22. Following the war, he moved his family to Atlanta where he set up law practice and became involved in the Western and Atlantic Railroad with Governor Joseph E. Brown. In addition to law practice and serving as a freight agent to the railroad, Burns established four companies dealing in a variety of services, one of which was construction. In 1888, Burns opened an analytical chemistry laboratory and began lecturing at Southern Medical college (now Emory University) and Washington Seminary. In his later years he published translations of Cicero, Virgil, and Caesar. James Burns died at the age of 62, after which his wife moved to Philadelphia to be close to their children.

Miller time!

2011-05-18T19:16:00.000-07:00

We are all getting excited for the next Miller to make his apperance. The most enthusiastic of the bunch is Rybolt. Every morning he rushes into our bedroom, throws off my covers and plants his face right into my stomach. " GOOD MORNING BABY!" he'll shout. This will usually be followed by a zerbert. Baikal has also been excited about the baby's arrival. She will often kiss or hug my belly. I have my last ultrasound next week at week 37. It will be weekly dr appointments after that up until june 15th! Not sure the game plan if i go into labor before that date, but I'll keep you posted!

Spring Festival

2011-05-02T18:32:00.000-07:00

Every year at the kids preschool is a spring festival. It is a sweet and simple event where the children sing songs about spring and are given a small seed planted in a little pot. Here is a picture of Rybolt.

Atlanta Fair

2011-05-02T18:15:00.000-07:00

We have had a busy spring! The weather has been perfect for picnics and playgrounds. One of our highlights was going to the Atlanta Fair. We all had a blast! The kids enjoyed the rides and I enjoyed the food. Can't wait until next year!

Yard art

2011-04-09T11:29:00.000-07:00

Baikal and Rybolt are really enjoying their new yard.

They made a picnic for the fairies, complete with little bowls made out of acorn tops.

They made rock mountian. Baikal said it was a nature sculpture and her art.

Boxes

2011-04-09T11:25:00.000-07:00

We've been at our new house for two months and have made really good progress on getting settled in. Here is the box village that Matt made for the kids.

Learning words

2011-03-07T10:36:00.000-08:00

I love it when my kids come up with new words or phrases to describe things. Here is a list of the most recent additions:

Swirlpool: when the water goes down the drain and makes a swirl
Eatmeal: what Rybolt calls Oatmeal, 'cause you eat it
Magnifound Glass: what you use to find small things

Welcome to the world Jack Abbott!

2011-03-02T17:38:00.000-08:00

Today my first nephew was born!!! Jack Abbott Garvin was welcomed into the world with open arms. Mother and Father are doing great. Photos to come!

How I roll...

2011-01-26T13:21:00.000-08:00

Photo curtisy of David Naugle.

First kicks and names

2011-01-03T18:00:00.001-08:00

I am 16 weeks pregnant today, January 3 2011. As I was laying down after putting the kids to bed I felt the first kicks. This one maybe small, but like its big siblings, is already learning how to get my attention.
Courtney recently asked both kids if they had a little brother or sister, what they would name it. Baikal said John if it is a boy and Sunshine if it is a girl. Rybolt said Buzz if it is a boy and Woody if it is a girl.

The Millers are moving!!!

2011-01-01T12:51:00.000-08:00

It may (or may not) come as a surprise to hear that the Millers are moving!!! We will be moving all of 5 blocks away! Pics coming soon! Update your address books!

New Year! New Baby!

2011-01-01T12:30:00.000-08:00

It is a new year! We're pregnant with a new baby! Due to arrive sometime mid June. Gender to be determined. We are thrilled!!!

Christmas Time!

2011-01-01T08:58:00.000-08:00

We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas at the Millers in Greenville. I remembered to pack everything but my camera! Fortunately, Uncle Kevin and Aunt Courtney did. As soon as I get some pics from them, I'll add them here! The big news from Christmas is that I told everyone that the Millers are expecting another gift to be delivered sometime in June! Everyone was surprised!

Let's sing!

2010-12-18T20:40:00.000-08:00

Baikal, Baikal, Baikal, you are five years old today.
And now that you are older, we'll play with you all day!

(to the tune of the dreidel song by Laurie Burlington)

Chattanooga weekend

2010-12-11T20:19:00.000-08:00

We had a great time in Chattanooga over the Dec. 11th weekend. The first day we went to the aquarium. The kids love it! Then it was over to the Olive Garden for a bridesmaid brunch for Karen Rybolt. The kids loved that too! Later, we enjoyed the rehearsal and dinner with authentic Honduran cuisine. I love that! The next day was the big event. Rybolt was having cold feet about being the ring bearer, but luckily a stand-in was arranged. The wedding between Karen and Marvin was lovely and we all had a great time seeing friends and family. We are so excited to welcome Marvin into the Rybolt family. Hootie Hoo!

Time to sing!

2010-12-07T19:15:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Rybolt!

2010-12-07T19:09:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes and calls! Here is Rybolt talking to one of his many well wishers. He is three! Yippee!

Last days of fall

2010-12-07T18:57:00.001-08:00

Halloween

2010-11-27T17:03:00.000-08:00

Cowdog.

A pirate and her parrot.

Buzz and Jessie.

Total count.

Day at the park: A series

2010-10-31T04:24:00.000-07:00

Kanuga

2010-10-15T04:00:00.000-07:00

We had such a wonderful trip up to Kanuga this year. The weather turned from summer to fall in a snap. The kids enjoyed making smores and apple picking. We enjoyed getting to spend time with new and old friends.

You go girl!!!!

2010-09-19T07:57:00.000-07:00

Baikal made her own bed this morning! All by herself! I didn't ask her to do it! She just wanted to! You go girl!!! I am so proud!!!

Good morning Rex!

2010-09-19T07:40:00.000-07:00

We are happy to announce our latest sponsored insect in project B.D.B.I.P.W.T (as in Bring Dead Bugs Inside to Play With Them). Baikal found this mantis a few days ago and has begun the transitioning process of acclimating him to his new home (I found out about this mantis just a day ago and drew the line at making him new clothes). She has taken to getting him up in the mornings and helping him start his morning routine. It looks like Rex has weathered the transition relatively easily, but I give him only a few more days until his exoskeleton crumbles into dust. Yesterday, when we were heading out, she called back, "By Rex! See you after work!"

Swinging: A series

2010-09-19T07:28:00.000-07:00

Push Me!

It's Hot!

2010-09-19T07:17:00.000-07:00

Let's go get some ice cream.

Happy Anniversary!

2010-09-13T18:51:00.000-07:00

Matt and I celebrated our seven year anniversary on Sept. 6 by taking the kids to Mason Mill park. This is where Matt asked me out for our first date (and smooched me for the first time). When we arrived at that auspicious place, I had packed Hershey's kisses for all of us, so everyone got a kiss. Afterwards, we found a great place to have our picnic. The park has several great trails for hiking. Rybolt enjoyed holding on to Merle's leash during the hike. Baikal enjoyed the tree swing that we stumbled upon. It was a great way to spend an anniversary.

Back to School

2010-09-07T16:56:00.001-07:00

Today was the first day back to preschool for both Baikal and Rybolt. Baikal is now in the pre-K class, called the Owls. I asked her if there was anything new or different about school now that she was an Owl. She told me that: 1. She does not have to wear slippers anymore in the classroom. 2. Her name is her symbol. She views these as major indicators that she is indeed among the oldest kids in the school and has all of the bravado that accompanies such status.

As for Rybolt, he is a Cardinal and his symbol is the cherry. Since, this is his second year at preschool he walked right into the classroom with little fanfare.

I'm Back!!!!!

2010-08-31T18:13:00.000-07:00

Did you miss me?
Did you miss my family?
It has been a great summer and we have done so much! I really missed blogging and am happy to say that the blog is back up and running. It feels good to be back. Now, a little taste of what you missed....

Last Post....ever?

2010-06-03T03:36:00.000-07:00

Hi all! We have been busy around here! So busy that blogging has taken a back seat. Good thing the lazy days of summer are just around the corner. Matt and I will be disconnecting our cable/internet services and so...this is the last blog entry. It has been a fun past couple of years. Thanks for being there with me.

Disney Day Five

2010-05-12T17:26:00.000-07:00

Today was our last day. We had a relaxing breakfast before loading up the car to head home. It was a long drive, but we were able to break it up by visiting Matt's grandmother in Hawkinsville.

Disney Day Four

2010-05-11T17:15:00.000-07:00

Day four at Disney was our day to take the bus over to Animal Kingdom. We saw a great bird show and went on a safari. We were also able to meet up with one of Matt's future University of Chicago classmates who happened to be vacationing in Disney the same week that we were! We met up for lunch at the Rain Forest Cafe. After lunch, I took Rybolt back to the hotel for a nap and Matt took Baikal over to the Magic Kingdom. We met back up for a luau dinner at the Polynesian hotel. We were all a little hot and tired, but after a great meal, we all felt rested and relaxed. Matt took Baikal back over to the Magic Kingdom to watch the fireworks. He said it was the highlight of his trip.

Disney Day Three

2010-05-10T18:09:00.000-07:00

Our third day at Disney, we headed over to Epcot. My mom had arranged for us to have a special story time with Mary Poppins and then to have lunch with some princesses! Unfortunately, she fell earlier in the day and had to go back to her room to recover. We stayed in Epcot through the afternoon and checked out the World Showcase. It was a great day!

Disney Day Two

2010-05-10T16:48:00.000-07:00

Today was our first full day at Disney! Tinker bell had visited the children during the night and left them two disposable cameras. She also arranged for us to have breakfast with some of her friends, Lilo and Stitch. After breakfast we headed over to the Magic Kingdom to ride some rides. We soon found out that Rybolt did not care for waiting in lines or for the dark and often loud ambiance that accompanies these rides. I thought that we would have better luck with the Winnie the Pooh ride, since that is one of his favorite characters, but he left that one crying also. No worries! We headed over to Tom Sawyer's island to play for a bit. The kids loved the barrel bridge. My mom had arranged for us to watch the afternoon parade from a reserved area which gave us a chance to sit in the shade. After the parade, Rybolt returned to the hotel for a nap and Baikal stayed with us to party! We had a blast on the Jungle Cruise and the Magic Carpet ride in Adventureland. Matt and Courtney took Baikal on the Pirates of the Caribbean and she loved it! The gang pooped out around dinner time. We all fell asleep easily that night and couldn't wait to see what Tinkerbell would bring while we were sleeping!

Disney Day One

2010-05-09T05:40:00.000-07:00

My parents gave us the gift of going to Disney for Christmas.
The first day, Matt and I got up at 4am and started the drive down to Orlando. We drove for almost three hours before the kids awoke. We stopped for breakfast and got back on the road. In no time at all, we were driving to the Polynesian hotel to check in. We immediately hit the pool and settled in to our new digs. Baikal and Rybolt love the pool, especially the huge volcano in the middle of it! We took the kids on the monorail over to the Contemporary hotel for dinner. Then it was back to the hotel. When we arrived at the hotel, Tinkerbell had visited our room! She had left the kids a note and a small gift. They got new pajamas for their Disney vacation. The note said that we would be having breakfast with some of her friends, Lilo and Stitch! It also said that we would be going to Magic Kingdom to ride on some rides and then to see a parade! Eventually, the kids settled down and fell asleep. What a great first day!

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-08T12:33:00.000-07:00

It is that time of year again: hand-written cards, flowers, breakfast made by little helper hands, all mark for me a wonderful day... Mother's Day. But the best gift of all is happening for me right now. As I write this, the kids are playing together in their rooms without fighting or yelling or screeching or biting or hitting or whining. They are instead, sharing and giggling and imagining and playing. Thank your for my wonderful gift. I love you.

Welcome Abigail Lynne Kroner!

2010-05-08T12:16:00.000-07:00

Emilie and Kevin Kroner are the proud parents of a beautiful baby girl! Abigail Lynne Kroner was born at 7:17 this morning. All are well. Check out the Kroner family link for pictures and updates. Yeah!!!!

Little Kroner is coming! Little Kroner is coming!

2010-05-07T05:27:00.000-07:00

Matt's youngest sister, Emilie Kroner, has been admitted to the hospital because she is in labor! Our thoughts and prayers are with her today. Let's go baby Kroner!

School picture day

2010-05-06T05:29:00.000-07:00

I took these pictures on our morning walk to preschool. Today is picture day for the kids.

Erin Miller...she's crafty....and busy....and a bit lazy

2010-05-05T07:54:00.000-07:00

So, I have been crafting, but just not posting. I finally got around to making Baikal pose for the dress that I made back in October and posted it on my craft blog (under August, since it is a summer dress). I really love how this turned out. Baikal did too, she just didn't want her cute face to detract from the beauty of the garment.

Easter

2010-05-04T18:09:00.000-07:00

Carrot trail

2010-05-03T19:14:00.000-07:00

The night before Easter Baikal wanted to lay out a carrot trail to lead the Easter bunny to our house. She also left a note inviting him/her to our house. The next day the kids found a trail of nibbled-on carrots. Hooray!

Easter egg hunt

2010-05-02T18:55:00.000-07:00

My parents and I took the kids to the Callanwolde Easter Egg hunt. There was an egg hunt, Easter bunny, face painting, and a petting zoo. Rybolt kept a safe distance from the Easter bunny. Overall, the kids seemed to have a good time, especially when they found out there was candy in the eggs!

Blog a day in May

2010-05-01T18:16:00.000-07:00

It is that time of year again: blog a day in May. It is a good thing, too, because April was a crazy month! And just look how cute these kids are getting!

Closed for repairs

2010-04-02T16:46:00.000-07:00

My blog will be temporarily closed for repairs. No ETA yet. Stay tuned!

Jack Phillip Cederbaum

2010-03-30T06:03:00.001-07:00

My cousin, Lisa, and her husband, Rob, just welcomed Jack Phillip Cederbaum into the world! Little Jack (or as I am going to call him Lil' Baum) made it here just in time for Passover seder dinner. L'Chaim!

First Day of Spring: A series

2010-03-27T15:15:00.000-07:00

Atlanta Fair

2010-03-21T18:32:00.000-07:00

I took the kids to the Atlanta Fair on Friday with our neighbors, the Hicks. Baikal barely made the height requirement for most rides, but Amelia, her friend, cleared it with no problem. They are only one week apart. Just goes to show that kids grow at different rates. I found one ride that I could take Rybolt on. After our rides we had corn dogs and funnel cakes. A great day!

Miller Family Portrait March 2010

2010-03-21T18:15:00.000-07:00

We had our family portrait done by our artist in residence, Baikal Miller.

Abbott Garvin's List for Families

2010-03-04T12:03:00.000-08:00

I came across this when I was cleaning up some old files. You just never know what you are going to stumble upon when you start to clean! Abbott Garvin is my father's father. He was the youngest of eight children (seven boys). This is his advice for families. He had a hard childhood and a difficult family to love. But he has continued to be a source of faith, love, and inspiration for all of his grandchildren. He and my grandmother are still living in the same house they bought when they were in their 20s! I don't get to see them as much as I would like to. But I hope to get down to see them some time this summer. I love you Granddad!

Abbott Garvin's List for Families
1. Forgive past wrongdoings.
2. Refuse to hold a grudge.
3. Keep communication open.
4. Listen.
5. Remember good times.
6. Remember your own shortcomings.
7. Plan time together.
8. Remember birthdays and holidays.
9. Give advice sparingly.
10. Encourage each other.
11. Forget embarrassing moments.
12. Respect friends and family of siblings.
13. Be honest.
14. Refuse to argue over possessions.
15. Unite to help parents.
16. Say, "I love you."
17. Pray for each other.

Baikal's Violin Recital

2010-03-01T18:01:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Matt!

2010-02-27T11:19:00.000-08:00

Matt turned 33 yesterday and we celebrated with a delicious dinner and cake! His parents came down for the event. Baikal and Rybolt loved singing "Happy Birthday" and helping to blow out the candle. Matt is getting better and better with age... like a fine cheese! We love you Matt!!! Thanks for a great year and we look forward to many more!!!

Quiet time: A series

2010-02-25T11:43:00.000-08:00

Every day from 2:00 to 3:00 the kids have quiet time. What do they do during this time? Here is a sample.

Shave and a haircut...

2010-02-24T11:36:00.000-08:00

I gave Rybolt his first haircut. He did not like it. Afterwards, he wanted to put Baikal's temporary purple hair die in his hair. That made him happy.

Too funny

2010-02-23T11:55:00.000-08:00

Baikal has started to really pay attention to what I say. *GULP* In fact, I was having a recent phone conversation with a friend and I used the phrase, "I don't want to rock the boat." When I was finished with my phone call Baikal said to me, "Mom, you are not IN a boat." And then today a teacher asked me, "Are you too?" (as in are you substitute teaching also). To which Baikal replied, "No. She is 34."
I guess we know who will play the straight man in our traveling comedy act...

Snow: A series

2010-02-14T11:30:00.000-08:00

Southeastern Railway Museum

2010-01-16T18:39:00.000-08:00

Matt and I took the kids to the Southeastern Railway Museum this weekend. Located right outside of Atlanta, it is a great way to spend an afternoon. The trains were huge! I tried to take some pictures with the kids, just to give a sense of perspective. Check out the size the the train wheel alone! They also had buses and other historic transportation at the museum, but the trains were my favorite.

Snow!

2010-01-16T18:27:00.000-08:00

Last week was a snow day! We woke up Friday morning to one inch of snow in the yard. We had fun playing in the park and around the yard. We also did an experiment where we gathered food items from the kitchen that animals would like and then put them in the snow. We waited a day to see what tracks would appear. After a day, the food was gone and so were the tracks!

Look who's talking...

2010-01-12T12:52:00.001-08:00

With two toddlers, there is always someone talking around here. Baikal is able to communicate quite well these days. She has also started to make some new words. These are usually words that she has misheard and incorporated into her language. Some are below with translations:

Bizzert: Dessert
Bonk Bed: Two beds on top of each other that you sometimes bonk your head on
Showtell: A hotel
Quick cut: Shorter than a short cut
Little Bother: Little brother (I think she picked this one up from a television show)

New Year Eve Party and Happy New Rear!

2010-01-02T06:31:00.001-08:00

I had a great New Years Eve in Winston-Salem. Courtney made a delicious dinner and we had hats and noise makers and made a 2010 banner. After dinner we lit sparklers on the deck. We topped it off with ice cream. After the kids went to bed, Courtney and I headed over to Tanglewood to run in the Running of the Lights 5K. The race started at midnight and you ran through all of the Christmas lights and under the fireworks display. I was a bit worried about running in the cold, but Courtney assured me that with the right gear it wouldn't be a problem. So I made sure to have plenty of holiday flair, right down to the "Happy New Rear" hot pants. And you know what? I felt just fine!

Christmas morning

2010-01-02T04:11:00.001-08:00

Here are some videos of the kids on Christmas morning. Enjoy!

The Yankee Clipper

2009-12-23T03:43:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful Christmas here in Winston-Salem. When we arrived on Dec. 23 there was still snow on the ground! It wasn't long before Baikal was interested in her first solo sledding ride. My parents have a sled, but not just any sled. Legend goes that this sled was left by the previous owners of the house they purchased back in 1976. It's name: The Yankee Clipper. One thing is for certain, this sled was made during a time when there were no child safty laws. Made of wooden slats and metal rails, the Yankee Clipper claims to have "power steering" by way of pulling on a flimsy rope, but I believe this to be an advertising gimic only. What it does have it the ability to put any first time parent into a nervous state when they see their first born go flying down an icy hill on nothing more than mere wooden slats and metal rails. And what if they head towards a tree? Will the power steering prevent a head-on collision? Not likely. It was with both fear and excitement that I watched Baikal go on her first solo sled ride down the steep hill in my parents back yard. Her first words after... "Can I do it again?"

Baikal turns 4

2009-12-18T18:17:00.000-08:00

We went to see the musical Cinderella for Baikal's birthday. After the show, she got to meet Cinderella and was given her own Cinderella dress. What a great time!

Nativity during quiet time

2009-12-18T12:57:00.001-08:00

We have been reading a lot about Jesus' birth story around here. This Sunday is the annual no rehearsal Christmas pagent at the church. I asked the kids what they wanted to be this year. Baikal said she wanted to be a sheep and Rybolt agreed. When we arrived at the craft store, their minds had changed to angels. After quiet time, I went to get Baikal out from her room. She had created her own version of the nativity and wanted me to take her picture. I did move the moose a bit closer to get it in the shot, but she had set up all the rest. Notice how serious she is in the pictures!

Birthday celebration at preschool

2009-12-17T13:04:00.000-08:00

Baikal and Rybolt both had birthday celebrations at their preschool recently. The celebrations are so sweet that I thought I would share. During the usual storytime, the teacher tells the story of how the child was in the heavens and wanted to visit earth so they were sent to a kind mother and father. Before leaving the heavens the child was given special gifts. Then, they have the child walk around a candle (representing the sun) for every year they are old. During this time, the parents list out the fun things that happened during these years. At the end we all sing happy birthday and the child blows out the candle. It is such a wonderful reminder of the journey that we are all taking together as a family. We all are sick today, so I used the time to make the kids little posters of their birthday celebrations to put in their rooms.

Around the house

2009-12-16T18:29:00.001-08:00

Meeting Santa

2009-12-15T12:39:00.000-08:00

Baikal and Rybolt told Santa what they wanted for Christmas this year. Baikal wants pink and purple princess rollerskates (her secret desire ever since eyeing Esther Burlington's pair from a 4 year old birthday party back in March). Rybolt wants a train, or what he calls a "choo choo." Matt and I would like Santa to give us one morning where our children sleep until 10am. Cheers!

Happy Birthday Rybolt!

2009-12-05T12:55:00.000-08:00

Today is Rybolt's 2nd birthday. We celebrated by inviting a few friends to the nearby tennis courts for some ball games. Then it was back home for hot chocolate and cupcakes.

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to Rybolt!
Happy Birthday to you!

Laptop is back

2009-12-03T09:03:00.001-08:00

Our home computer went to sleep and did not wake up. After driving it around to various repair shops, we sent it off to HP. It is now back! It will take me a few days to upload pics and set up email, but I plan to be back to posting before the new year! Yeah!

Time for Brown to take over

2009-10-27T11:39:00.000-07:00

I picked out a book by Joyce Sidman called Red Sings from Treetops this week from the library for our story time. It is about the different colors with each season. It has some great lines in it. I love this quote:

"In Fall, Green is tired, dusty, crisp around the edges. Green sighs with relief: I've ruled for so long. Time for Brown to take over."

I love fall. We have been spending so much time playing outside. How can you resist it? It is so beautiful!