Richard Turns 44!!!

We Celebrated Richards Birthday the other day!! He came home to some killer ribs that I cooked then Jacob cooked up the rest of the dinner, Rice, mashed potates, brussel sprouts, corn, and garlic bread!! He was a busy guy!! I have to say he did a great job!! When Richard got home Kelsi had the place all decorated. We topped the night off with Richard favorite pie!! The Missionaries joined us so it felt like it was a little party!!!

Richard is the kind of person who always wants nothing!! So I decided I don't care if he doesn't want anything I am going out to get him a present like it or not!! So I did my shopping got him his favorite Valentines candies then a movie!! Such my luck he loved the candies but he already had the movie so much for getting him something!! Now I have to go back to the store and get him something else!! At least He got a good laugh out of it!!

The Snow!!!

I had to take these pictures. This is looking out our front door. I am a little late on posting this but life has to go on!! Anyway this is from the big storm that happened right after New Years. It was freezing. We didn't get much in our front yard but I loved the view I got all morning. I think our veiw anyday is pretty!! I just wish it was green!!

Jessica's Reno Trip

Jessica went to the snow!!

Jessica took off and went to the snow on a week long vacation!! She was able to stay with her grandparents. She took her first flight home ( No Pictures too bad!!) After a day of worrying she made it home safe and sound. While in Reno she got to see the first time snow falling ( well the first time she can remember), She was able to go ice skating and to play in the snow. I guess most of all she got a vacation from being the big sister!! At least she told us she missed us!! She always know the right things to say!! I can't believe she is turning 18 in 4 weeks!! Talk about feeling old!!

They Got WII

We had a nice Christmas. Actually the kids got to enjoy 2 Christmas mornings. My parents were able to come up and visit for a couple of days. So we decided to make it more fun that we would wake up to 2 different Christmas mornings. I think it helped me more then ever because I would so much rather spend Christmas with family and due to work and how far we are away it is just not possible. So maybe the 1st. Christmas morning was for me!! Anyway It was fun to see the kids open the WII they had no ideas Grandma was coming thru with it and they have been playing it ever since. On Dec 25th we woke up to a wonderful Christmas morning. It was quiet but nice. The kids opened up presents then we had the Elders over for Christmas breakfast. We also went out to the movies ( my first time ever on Christmas day!!) and before you knew it the day was over. But shopping was great the next day!! Sorry to my mom for not posting a pic I think she was able to dodge all my pictures!! Or Maybe she got to my camera and deleted them all.

Christmas Eve with the Missionaries

We had a nice fun quiet Christmas Eve. The Missionaries came and had a evening of appetizers and prime rib with us. The Ben had to give everyone a challenge that kept the Elders and all 3 Miles boys at the table for at least an hour. No one could figure Ben's challenge out so everyone ended up giving up. By the end we had papers everywhere and 5 guys frustrated as could be. Ben the one that said it could be done forgot of course how to do the challenge. Huh maybe he was playing us all along.

So what was the challenge?? I know you are wondering. OK if you have 3 houses. you have to get water, power , and gas to them but you can't cross any lines. see how you do??

O O O

W P G

I ope you all enjoyed your Christmas!!

One Of Those Christmas Questions Things

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends. Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE ! ! !

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I like mostly wrapping. I think it takes longer to unwrap and I love to see the kids face as they start to unwrap but don't know exactly what it is yet!!

2. Real tree or artificial? I do an artificial. It is not so messy but I miss the smell we had when I was a kid. We always used to go cut it down every year with a group of family members. Then We always went out for a big breakfast!!

3. When do you put up the tree? I put up the tree on Thanksgiving weekend. This year it was Thanksgiving day!! I love to see the decorations as long as I can. Plus less stress when you get closer to Christmas.

4. When do you take the tree down? The day after Christmas. By that time I am glad Christmas is over and It always makes me feel like my house is so cleaned up after the mess we just made.

5. Do you like eggnog? No way but my kids love it!! YUK!! I think it is the only really fatening thing I don't like.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Wow this is a hard one I come from a Mother who bought us everything every Christmas. I would have to say not a gift but all the memories Of Christmas when I was a child.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? No

8. Hardest person to buy for? My Father and he doesn't even try to make it easy!!

9. Easiest person to buy for? Kelsi she is still young enough to want eveything.

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I remember this sweater Richard got me I am not sure what he was thinking but I have to hand it to him for tring. He let me return it and I got a different sweater. But HAY!! he bought the right size!!

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? I mail them But I was late this year!! first time in a long time. It always has to be mailed out the week before Thanksgiving. depending on where you live depends on what day I mail them out. I love to be everyones first card. It drives Richard crazy!!

12. Favorite Christmas movie? A Christmas story

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? December 26th. I love shopping the day after Christmas and the day after Thanksgiving. Yiks we were up a 3 a.m. standing in line out freezing. But we got what we were out to get so I guess it was worth it.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No I can't remeber ever doing that??

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear for sure!

17. Favorite Christmas song(s): I love all the music but I have a very special memory when I was a teenager of my dad going with me to church on Christmas Eve and we sang Silent night together, now I always seem to bring a few tears when I sing that song in a church!!

18. Travel for Christmas or stay home? We stay home but we used to always travel. It is nice to start having our own traditions but I still miss being close to family!!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? no are you crazy I can't get my own kids names right.

20. Angel on the treetop or a star? I have an angel I just think they are beautiful

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? How mad people get. This is why I finish shopping, wrapping, Christmas cards out and decorating by Thanksgiving weekend.

23. What I love most about Christmas? I love the music, Of course the FOOD, I love giving people gifts specially when I know they really wanted it. Oh I can go on forever.

LEAVE IT TO JACOB!!!

I tell you it is hard to let this child out fo the house. We went to the eye doctor today for the boys. Jacob had to have some drops in his eyes to take the pressure test. The dr. after tells Jacob try to get all the yellow stuff out of your eyes before you put in your contacts, your eyes are already watering so it shouldn't be to hard. Then Jacob asks for another tissue because his nose is running now, so he blows it and notices the yellow stuff is comignout of his nose. So the Dr. explains that your eyes drain down your nose and into you throat. [So here we go] Jacob says so If I spit right now I will start spitting the yellow stuff out of my mouth too?? Can I just crawl under the chair at this point!! You just have to love this child!!!

The Dr. told him to go to spencers and go under the black light so he can see his eyes glow!! We went to eat instead!! I could just hear what he would had saud if we let him really do it!!

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!! We had a nice quiet one. I think I am getting more used to being away from family!! It is still hard but we are making our own traditions. So we went around the table and said what we were thankful for. Although we know we are thankful for our family so that couldn't be on that was said!! ( Gee I hope they are thankful for the family I do have 3 teenagers!!)

Jacob started us off 1. Good grades ( because his 2 older siblings are in trouble for bad grades) He says I am thankful to not be in trouble. 2. He was thankful for technology.

Benjamin says. 1. I am thankful for living. 2. He loves that he has his licence ( and that he got it back , since he had it taken away for about 1 month!! No more riding the bus!!! YEE HAA) 3. Oh and for a dad that helped him fix his car after his little adventure and saved him $2400. (I guess no thanks for mom on this one huh???)

Kelsi this one cracked me up, first I must tell you that when she was little going to Payless shoes was like going to Toys R Us for any other child. She could spend hours there. so #1. I am thankful for shoes!!!! 2. She was thankful for all of her friends. 3. For my sister and all her help. ( I was feeling love in my family!!!)

Jessica as she had a cold. Her #1.I am thankful for medication!! 2. water. She loves to drink water. 3. Her talent in cooking ( I think I am more thankful for that than she is )

Richard well we all know Richard has to be funny so his #1 I am thankful for teenagers the next step is adulthood and out of my house!! ( I cry , he parties) 2. for the opportunities that have come to my life such as my wonderful wife living across the street from me all her life. ( I am not sure where he was going with this one )

Debbie 1. I am thankful for the day after Thanksgiving shopping. I love to shop the day after specially when it is raining out side. I love the smell of the street with rain on it. ( oh it didn't rain) 2. I was thankful for a husband that was letting me go shopping the next day ( you all know where I was going with that one. I was working on a higher budget. I think it worked) 3. I am thankful to be skinnier. ( I was saying that as I was stuffing my face with Thanksgiving dinner!!! and it was good)

I hope you all enjoyed your day of Thanksgiving!! Oh and yes all my cards are out!! Yee Haaa!!

Back From Our Cruise!!

We are back from the cruise and we had a blast. Most of all We really enjoyed the rest. We have never sat around as much as we did on this trip. We layed out by the pool, Went down the waterslides, we shopped Alot ( A little to much Richard was having a blast at all the stores!!) Oh did I tell you I ate and ATE!! All of you know that makes me one happy camper. I have never tried bread pudding until my trip then I was hooked. Everyday at lunch!! After 17 Years I talked Richard into getting back into a Tux for formal night. I was able to slip into a dress that was in the single digits!! Yiks what a treat that was. I think after our 8 day cruise we were ready to go home and see the kids!! I think they were ready for us to come home!! Although Jessica made a comment that "Hey we did it on our own we can do this forever". Jacob had to remind her that the bills were paid, the shelves were stocked by mom and dad. It is nice to still be needed a little!!! Over all they did very well. Kelsi gave them a thumbs up. The only bad thing tht happened was Jessica's car broke down once but a church memeber was able to help her out. Not to bad huh!!

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