running (or walking) to catch-up

i'm needing to catch -up on some previous happenings. . .

Caitlin and Ben moved to Maryland 2 weeks ago.

every time i say caitlin or ben's name jill says,
"k-k, ben gone."

we miss you two.

before she left though, caitlin wanted to join the expensive paper club.

very cool. glad to have you part of the club.

cam is now 8 months

and trying to keep up with jill.


more walking from Alisha on Vimeo.

(we try not to get dressed for the day if we can help it.)

when we do get dressed we like to head out to the park and enjoy the beautiful arizona winter weather and our fun neighbor kids.
jill isn't too concerned with catching up with them though...

to race or to smile from Alisha on Vimeo.

here we go

it was a good speech.

this day will be in my children's history books.

best of luck President Obama.

the forever optimist in me hopes you will do

good for my family and nation.

finally...i'm back

blue-eyed babe

(actually her eyes aren't really blue.

they aren't really any one color.

kinda grey-blue-green.

people always ask me what color her eyes are and i say

"i don't know. you tell me. what do they look like today?")
brown-eyed babe

(actually really brown.

nobody has ever asked me what color her eyes are.

probably because they can tell by themself

that they are brown.

i do always get asked if i've cut her hair though.

for the record no.

i have never cut camilles' hair.

nor have i ever cut jills hair for that matter.

and yes, that is a cute little pony in camilles' hair.)

i thought i'd try something with jill about a week ago.

it worked.

now what?

am i suppose to make flashcards for every single word?

she's not reading, she's memorizing.

but i still think it's pretty cool.

smartie pants from Alisha on Vimeo.

camille started to pull herself up and walk a few weeks ago.

i guess she's trying to keep up with someone...



miller crusing couches from Alisha on Vimeo.

i am a nurse.

well, it's back to the grind. it is currently 1:04 am on sunday morning and i am sitting at a computer at the hospital awaiting orders from the doctor for a couple of my patients. it's been a pleasant night despite the bad omen and my nervousness of coming back to work after a nearly 10 month leave.
the emergency room can get pretty rowdy sometimes.
as i was driving to work i noted the full moon as if it was pointing the way back to the hospital, all the while laughing because full moon nights are when all the crazies come out.
i was never really superstitious until i started working in the er. no joke... full moons and when a storm is rolling in summon the weirdos and the difficult patients to come out and visit.
oh the stories i can tell.
but, tonight.
not bad at all.
if the other nurses read this now they would hate me.
that's another thing about the er. if things are going well, you can't talk about it or else it will change. change fast and change bad it does.
i'm not going to worry about it now though because lucky me gets to go home early tonight. when they called and needed help i said okay if i can do an eight hour instead of a twelve. (four hours might not sound like a lot but if you've been up all day, and then worked through the night...getting off at 3 am is much better than getting off at 7 am). i just wasn't quite ready to commit to the whole shift my first night back (especially on a full moon).
anyway, if by me mentioning it and the power of the moon brings chaos to the er i will be gone in 1.5 hours. (unless they ask me to stay. i can't say no very easily).
so, tonight.
a good night in the er.
saved one life for sure by the immediate action of me and few other talented hands.
good for us.
better for him.
hopefully, treated other lives for the improvement of their health.
i am a wife first, mother above else, sister, daughter, and friend always.
but tonight...
tonight, i am a nurse.

sundays just aren't the same...

warning: random thoughts from today
a few weeks ago i was released from my church calling in the primary. i was in my third year with the children. the first week i was released i was asked to sub in nursery. the second week my parents were here and jill didn't make it; she was wet to her socks and needed a nap. today it really hit me. camille is more disruptive than i thought. i guess i just never noticed it in primary. sunday school and rs are really drab compared to primary. in primary we sing for everything. if you're new or visiting, let's sing "hello". if it's your birthday, lets sing (any slue of bday songs). if you just got baptized, sing the rainbow song. etc.etc. you get the point. in primary we stand we sit, we get cute little honest, raw questions and answers. for example today over the pulpit a primary child said, "i know the bible is full of good stuff". you can't beat that. i look forward to serve in other areas but i will miss those kiddos. it's true what they say, "you love those you serve".

cabin for christmas

a good dose of the cabin, snow, family, and a really good

suprise (my mom and dad) made for a wonderful christmas.

jeff's hat and coat are his grandfathers' who past while jeff was on his mission.

grandpa dayton built the cabin and he is always remembered while we are there.

the taylor clan.

5 days cooped up in a cabin couldn't be better.

christmas eve nativity reading/singing.

the christmas story, jillian style.

more to come as i steal more pictures from others.

my camera hasn't been replaced yet...

my camera is broken.

so, let's catch up on past pictures.

this is jeff's biggest fish ever. caught in mexico last month.

we had a great time at jeff's office holiday party. we had a bbq, bounce thing, sheep, and horse rides.
enjoy the random other pics.

I like to win

but i sure had fun losing with you guys.

minus the jelly

jillian loved the pre-thanksgiving baking on wed.

then the fridge went out.

no milk, no cheese, no joy.

we got our fill this past weekend of

peanut butter minus the jelly (remember, no fridge) sandwiches.

monday afternoon brought the repairman.

i never knew how thankful i was for a refrigerator

until Thanksgiving weekend 2008.

the holiday continued with or without cold food.

jeff got muddy at the turkey bowl as JR stomped DH.

i am also grateful this year for extended family that live in AZ.

i was feeling rather homesick after talking to

mom and dad and hearing my brothers, and their wives

and children in the background.

dinner one was spent with my cousins and grandparents pete.

dinner two with the taylors.

family is truly what's important.

(this is ethan and abby schank.
jill's first cousins once removed. . . i think.
can you believe how tall she is!? she's only 8.)

little sis

is 6 months old (last friday)

she is such a tender, sweet heart

she can sit up by herself (for a handful of seconds)

she loves to watch jillian and laugh at dad

oh, she's finally sleeping through the night!! (much later than jill did)

she's even on the move already. (much sooner than jill was)


joining the army for the crawl from Alisha on Vimeo.

this is what i heard during nap time.

i couldn't make them go back to bed after this!


crack up from Alisha on Vimeo.

here's monkey's stats:

weight: 16.3 lbs (58%)

height: 27 inches (90%)

head: 17 inches (72%)

while you were gone

dear husband,

i know you were excited to go fishing in mexico this week.

truthfully, i was a little bit excited too.

i didn't have to make one 'real' dinner.

i didn't do (or need to do) one load of dishes.

i got to hang-out with some girlfriends from fallon without being razzed about it.

i got to hold the remote.

i didn't watch one second of ESPN or sports center.

i can't remember how many showers i took...

maybe one.

oh wait, i also do that (or don't do that) when you're here.

i didn't feel bad about not showering. (HA! that's sick i know.)

i ate a bowl of ice cream everyday without being teased.

the days seemed pretty normal for the most part.

the nights were different.

i appreciate your help feeding and bathing the girls.

i slept with the bathroom light on.

sometimes i can freak my self out.

i slept with long pants and a long shirt on.

i missed your warm body next to me.

i didn't eat healthy or much for that matter because i didn't have to cook.

i miss you.

but mostly, our babies missed you.

this one:

started eating rice cereal. she's pushing up onto all fours. it won't be too long before she crawling. she laughed a lot at big sis and mom. sometimes i would get frustrated because she burps so much and they aren't always easy to get out without a lot of fuss, especially at 4 in the morning every single night. i think she could have used a break from me sometimes. daddy's have patience when mommy's is all gone. she needs some daddy lovin'.

this one:

ran to the door yelling "dada" every time a car drove up. kissed the air and said "daddy?" with that look (you know that look. the one with her hands up by her shoulders like she carrying a plate, and her head tilted to the side)after the prayer each night. started a 'mommy and me' dance class and loves it. btw, she's the best in there and she's the youngest. she talks more and more everyday. she still hasn't figured out her trike but hopefully soon. she helped mommy changing diapers. but only camilles' diapers because monster is...POTTY TRAINED. that's right daddy. jillian learned to use the potty this week and can't wait to show you. she sleeps through her naps, went to dance class, and the mall with no accidents. i am so proud of her.

we miss you. we love you. get home fast.

love, wife

the girls

that sweet face in front has REFLUX.

what is up with that anyway?

she's always been the "happy spitter-upper" (all day long)

but now it's not so happy.

arching back while eating, non-stop hiccups,

screaming at night, coughing, and then throwing up.

the dr gave me the option to run all the tests etc.

i opted out choosing in-stead to try other techniques.

camille is back to her belly for nighttime and she's inclined.

one night down without any up-chucking.

wish us luck.

that sweet face in back has some good 2y stats:

head: 19 inches (85%)

height: 35 inches (86%)

weight: 30 lbs (88%)

the dr said "she's very well proportioned"

that's right she is.

Halloween Week

Monday: Crane family party.

i was out catching bugs (more specifically ladybugs)

millers could only stand that costume for so long

jill got a new bff (the pumpkin has a cute little panted face).

she is still (yes, even today) carrying it around and treating it like a baby.

tues: carving party and pizza with the fryer fam

wed: roasting fresh seeds

jills new fav snack

thurs: ward trunk-or-treat

jeff and a few of his best buds

todd: paul bunion

jeff: nasty mexian wrestler

jordan: joker (the best of the night)

jill could be caught all week with a sucker in her mouth.
i caught a snarl toward the greasy man trying to get a picture with her



Halloween: Schnepfs Farm
Gma netty meet us for fun at this country gem by my house.



my little Tabby cat

jill had a blast on the carousal,

at the pig races,

at the petting zoo,

and on the pony rides.

on a side note:

Halloween day is also Nevada Day

here's to my home state, home of my alma mater,

and having Halloween day off of school growing up.

note to self:

don't make this face ever, i mean NEVER EVER, again.

(especially in-front of people.)

oh, and don't do drugs.

birthday love

dearest sweet jill,

today you are two years old.

i can't remember life without. i do however remember the day your father

and i knew it was time to start a family. we were sitting at stake

conference and the regional representative was speaking of

temporal possessions vs spiritual desires. jeff and i were both impressed

that our possessions could wait. a new and excited life as parents

was about to begin. i am so happy that we heeded the prompting

of the spirit and received you. i love you my sweet jillian. love, momma

p.s.

i especially love:

the way you come to wake me up every morning.

the way you fold your arms, close your eyes, and bow your head.

when you pet camille's head and help me change her diaper.

when you copy everything (i mean everything) i do.

when you put your arms up and say "mommy"

a few jillian words:

jillian= dede

one= non

um= yes

controller= con

run=go

balloon= loons

please= mommy pepe

water= tata

i love you= lala

leaf= aleafs

tree= atrees

the moon= tamoo

we started two new family birthday traditions today:

1. balloon launch

a balloon for each year with one-word wishes (obedience, happiness, etc.) written on them by those celebrating with you. (thanks nienie for the idea and hayley for refinement) the kiddos enjoyed watching the balloons float away.

2. a family picture

camille is pulling jill's hair but it's the best one we got. (stole this tradition from nettie)

SYTYCD

my bff hayley got us tickets to SYTYCD.

jeff sold ol' blackie. since SYTYCD was 2 hours away (with traffic)

i thought i could use one last outing with her (the car).

this was the first car i bought with my own money.

it's a stick and i LOVE driving it.

it got me through college and my newly wed years.

we've had some good times together.

my bro jon gets a lot of credit for keeping her running while in nv.

it's been broken into twice. note the missing lock on door.

the other side has at LEAST one dent on each panel.

the a/c hasn't worked for...who knows.

last year we changed the battery once a week. az heat.

jeff said the other day: " when we were dating, i thought

am i really dating a girl that drives this piece?"

well jeff, you married her! lol.

so long ol' blackie.

hayley and i felt a little silly walking around with all the tweens

getting ready for the show. the more we looked around though

we realized that the place was swarming with "girls night"ers.

here's the group after the first number:

the only dance they didn't do that i was hoping for

was the one with chelsie in the white dress.

otherwise, SYTYCD was awesome...

besides all the in-between numbers dialogue.

hayley and i let them know what we thought about that.

we stayed after the show and ran though the bleachers

for a sneak peek behind the stage.

lucky for us we saw chelsie (my fav), screamed her name

and asked to meet her.

she was so nice and i offered one of my brothers after she

said she didn't have a boyfriend.

then i realized that all my brothers are married now.

weird.

i guess i got caught-up in the moment.

no kids, no hubby. just me and my bff acting crazy.

i forgot how old we really are.

anyway, hales and i then tried to get into the intimate after-show

by taking some back-stage passes from a chick that was leaving.

too bad we got caught by going in through the exit door.

oops. that's what you get for being dishonest and not so sneaky.

so, we waiting outside until we got to see the whole group and get more pics.

quick confidence booster: kerrington is a normal human.

don't get me wrong. she is dang pretty, but the camera loves her.

oh, and they are all soooo short. especially will. weird.

even more weird that i care.