Birthday Pictures

We celebrated late and had to actually wake Darcy up for the party. As usual she was a trooper and smiled the whole time. After we sang "Happy Birthday" she clapped for us.

We tried to help her but she wouldn't eat her small cake unless we fed her bites with a fork.She was a happy girl with all the attention and when the celebration was over she went right back to bed without a whimper... such a sweet good girl.

Darcy Lynn Jane

Darcy,

Today is your day, you turn one year old. We had you weighed yesterday and you're only 15lbs. You're just a small girl. You only have one bottom tooth with the other bottom tooth just barely breaking the gums but you have the best one tooth smile I've ever seen. It is so cute!
You love to eat. You always want to eat food and can find it everywhere. We laugh at how much you eat and then how small you are, how do you do it? Over the past two weeks you've learned how to clap and the throw your hands in the air when we say hooray. You like to shake your head at people and get them to shake back.
Jayden is your hero, he walks into the room and you light up. Everything he does is so funny to you. You've also learned how to tattle on him, if he even so much as blocks you or touches the toy you are playing with you start to cry and look around to make sure I know you're crying. Someone needs to keep him in check!

You love: Food, baths, food, books, foods, dolls, a drink before bed each night and your blanket.

You hate: milk and being alone.

I couldn't think of a long list for things you hate. You honestly are so sweet and easy going. You are just loveable and nice to everyone and don't hate many things. We couldn't of asked for a sweeter kinder daughter we love and cherish you. We give thanks daily for you and the joy that you are. I think you're great, Happy Birthday!

Love you,
Mommy

Missing Tim

This has been our favorite CD lately every time we get in the car we put it on. Both of us enjoy the message it shares and the fresh perspective it gives it has become our go to CD. There are some songs that make my heart skip a beat every time and make me really think. You should find a copy if you get a chance. It can be found here. We're in Tacoma with my family this weekend, Tim had to stay home and we miss him tons. But we'll be home soon and we love you Daddy!

Eight Questions... and a new friend

So for today's post Ashlee graciously agreed to let me "interview" her, I probably should of let Heather handle this one since she's the journalist and writer in the family. I can already tell Ashlee is one of those girls I'm always jealous of. She's got the smarts, the looks, the personality, the decorating sense, and you just wait until she has children I know they won't be cuter than mine but I'm sure she'll handle them better than I do mine. So lets hear from someone else other than me for once...

#1 First of all introduce yourself (what is your middle name? How did your parents choose your name?) and give us a quick introduction to who you are and where you're from.

Ashlee: Ok so here this goes. I am Ashlee Nicole Miller, and to tell you the truth I don't know why Ashlee, I guess they liked it. Nicole is after my Grandma Miller, her name is Nicola. I am from Glendora Ca, in Los Angeles county. I grew up loving the water, house boating on Lake Powell with all of my cousins. We still do that every summer.

#2 As you get ready to be married are you thinking of the kind of marriage you want to have? Do you have any happy-marriage role models? What have you learned from them?

Ashlee: Trying not to sound too cliche, I want to have a marriage like my parents. Actually, like a lot of my aunts and uncles too. They have fun together, and you can tell that they truly do love each other.Ive learned that you always have to take the bad with the good, nobody is perfect. Also to just laugh at things that could become problems depending on how you react to them.

Amanda: I have to say it sounds like you've had some great role models and it is a great idea to learn how to laugh, especially around Eric. Tim and I are endlessly teasing each other because it helps with tension that comes from disagreeing but more importantly it keeps our relationship fresh and fun.

#3 Are you excited to have a home to call your own? What are some things that you can’t live without that will become a part of your new home?

Ashlee: I cant wait to have my own home! Eric always makes fun of me because my apartment now is completely decorated. I love painting walls, and having an adorably decorated home. Eric has told me that the Scott family isn't a huge chocolate family, but I cant live without it. At Christmas, on my moms side, we get 15 pounds of sees, and its usually gone within 10 days. So chocolate will definitely be apart of my new home :) Also, FHE and dinner on the table every night.

Amanda: I'm jealous already, the cute home is something I want and I can help other people with I just can't do it in my home. I'm going to need some help, give me a few years to get a budget but then will you come over and help a sister out? Also, Tim wants to say that it is about time we get someone who likes chocolate. There is a lot of extended family who enjoy chocolate so you won't be alone.

#4 Have you ever made a horrible mistake with some one's cut or color? What did you do to correct it?

Ashlee: I actually have never made any horrible mistakes, knock on wood

Amanda: I was hoping for a great story. I have to say this would make me so nervous that I wouldn't even be able to cut hair. You'll have to ask Tim how his last hair cut from me went. He finally stopped wearing a hat everywhere and I cut his hair 3 weeks ago.

#5 Do you consider yourself a good cook? Do you enjoy cooking? What is your favorite food to eat or cook? Are you prepared to take on the role of Eric's chef?

Ashlee: I definitely like to cook, Eric hasn't seen a lot of it yet, just because it isn't fun to cook for just one person. I love to bake, desserts are one of my favorite things. And I am definitely ready to be Eric's chef. I'm kinda tired of hearing at the end of the day "I don't think I have eaten today" or "I had breakfast, but that's about it"

#6 What makes you happiest in life? What or who can always cheer you up?

Ashlee: My family definitely makes me the happiest. I grew up knowing and seeing every cousin at least once a week. We had Sunday dinners, and would rotate if we went to grandma greens or grandma millers. My sister Courtnee can always cheer me up, she is such a goof ball

#7 What embarrasses you? Is there something that always makes you cringe or blush and get nervous?

Ashlee: I really don't get embarrassed to easily. I'm sure there are things that make me blush, but I cant think of them off the top of my head. I get nervous right before a date, even when its Eric. If I know we are actually going out, on an official date, I get butterflies right before.

#8 What would you say some of your hidden talents are?

Ashlee: I have no talents. Haha, just kidding. I have no idea. I think the things I am good at are not generally thought of when you think "talent". I love kids, and have a pretty good knack with them. I can also read people really really well. Eric doesn't like it too much because I can tell when he is thinking something and then he cant get out of telling me.

Amanda: I can already see several talents that I think you have and I'm excited that I got to know you more. Thank you so much for agreeing to do this for me.

Recent reads...

I recently read two great books that I really enjoyed. I haven't had too many books that I've really gotten into lately but these were both great.

The first one I read was The Pearl Diver written by Jeff Talarigo tells a tender story of a girl who lives in Japan and discovers she has leprosy. She is banished to a leprosarium and spends the rest of her life there. It is a tale that was eye opening to me and I can't even begin to imagine how you would deal with being banished from your family and adjusting to a new life. The main character has such strength that I don't know if I had at her age.

The second book is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. This was my favorite out of the two and is the book our ward book club is reading. In 1946 an author is in London and looking for inspiration for her next book and ends up befriending members of this society who live on Guernsey island and have amazing stories to tell about the German invasion during the war. The book tells of their lives during and after the war and the bonds that hold them together.

Eric is engaged!

My brother, Eric got engaged last week and I thought I should post some pictures they sent. Readers, meet Ashlee (told you she was a doll) look how happy she is with that ring on her finger.They're flying to Washington this weekend to spend time with the family and we're going to have a great time. I'm excited!

Winter soup

This past winter has been especially cold with more snow than I ever could have imagined. There is nothing like hot soup on a cold winter's day so all winter long we've consumed soup by the gallon. This has been one of our favorites this winter. It's a tasty that I thought was worth sharing.

Baked Potato Soup
6-8 servings

2 med. potatoes
3 Tbsp butter
2 c. half and half
1 c. onion
1/2 c. pre-cooked & crumbled bacon
1 container mushrooms, quartered
2 Tbsp flour
4 c. chicken stock
2 c. water
2 Tbsp cornstarch
1 1/2 c. instant mashed potatoes
1 tsp salt
3/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp basil
pinch thyme

Opt. Garnish:
1/2 c. cheddar cheese, shredded
green onions, chopped

Preheat oven to 400 and bake the potatoes for 1 hour or until done. When the potatoes have cooked, remove them from the oven to cool.

As potatoes cook, prepare soup by melting butter in a large saucepan and saute onion and mushroom until light brown. Add the flour to the onions and mushrooms and stir to make a roux. (Sometimes I have to add more butter.)

Add stock, water, cornstarch, mashed potatoes, and spices to the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 5 min.

Cut potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop out contents with a large spoon. Discard skin. Chop baked potatoes to make chunks 1/2'' in size. Add chopped potato, half and half, and bacon to the saucepan. Simmer 15 minutes or until thickened.

Happy Valentine's Day

Enjoy your weekend!

Sunday Recap

This past week was busy. I've really gotten busy with my church calling and several days in a row I had to call Jenny and one night after I just gotten home I said, "Oh, I've got to email Jenny." And Tim said, "Could you just stop thinking about Jenny for one minute and think about me?" I had to laugh, we both did I guess he was feeling a bit ignored.

Jayden started gymnastics with his friend Jacob. They're the youngest in the class and have the shortest attention span. It's funny to watch them get so distracted and hear the teacher say, "Jayden ... come back!" They get distracted by the big long trampoline.

Darcy is starting to get back to her old self again. She hasn't been feeling good for a while, it's nice to see our busy Darcy again. She finally started using walking toys to get around. I've been trying for a few weeks now and she would promptly sit down and crawl. She's also starting to need entertainment. She can't sit on my lap during R.S. anymore, only 6 more months until she can go to nursery!

Tim is starting the night shift this week. UGH! I hate the night shift, I have a hard time doing the night time routine alone and then I can't sleep without him and he'll want to sleep in... yada yada yada. I need to have a better attitude about it because it is what will work for his school schedule and will be best for him.

Draper Open House

On our last visit to Utah about two weeks ago we went to dinner with Tim's parents and had a good time. And they're coming up at the end of the month for birthday week at our house, Darcy and Jayden's birthdays are exactly one week apart. We also got to visit the Draper Temple during the open house. They bussed you from different church buildings up to the temple for the tour. I love showing and teaching my children the gospel.

Afterward they had refreshments and I'd have to say that was Darcys favorite part - she is such a little eater! That girl can pack it, you wouldn't tell by looking at her but she's a foodie.

We stayed with our friends Coby and DaNette. Thanks again guys! They took us to the temple with them and we went to a bounce house withthem for their son's birthday. Jayden had a blast and it was great to see them and to get to know them better. The real reason for our visit was to meet Ashlee who is my brother's serious girlfriend! We went to dinner and shopping at Deseret Books. Ashlee is a DOLL! Very sweet and nice and I hope she joins our family soon. Eric and Ashlee - you said you would email me those wedding colors!! You gotta get on that.

Sept 08

So I'm trying to catch up and I'm posting a ton of pictures that I wanted to post about but never did. Scroll down, there's a lot more. This is a picture of Darcy in my favorite church outfit that she wore last fall. (Sept 08) The following pictures are from the Puyallup Fair. We decided one Friday that we wanted to join my family and hopped on a plane (I LOVE flight benefits) and spent that night at the fair.

I was glad we went because Jayden was brave enough to ride the rides and loved them! In the past he would scream and we'd have to stop the ride and get him off.

In the beginning of Sept we visited family and Utah and stayed with Tim's brother and family. Their son, Loren is Jayden's age and they had a blast together. We always have such a great time with them and they never disappoint.

They were so cute running around together in their batman pajamas at the Alsop family reunion. It just happened to be the same week we visited and so we got to spend some time at Tim's uncle's house - Steve and GeAnna Alsop in American Fork, UT.

Sept 08

September was a busy month for us. Tim started school the last Wednesday of the month and so we tried to cram in things we had been hoping to do. We drove to Idaho and rode the Route of the Hiawatha trail. It was a great bike ride, they had huge trestles that you could bike over. They were so tall that you were above most of the tree tops and to look down over the sides was a bit unnerving.

These are some more pictures from our Utah trip. We went to the Utah fair with Chris and Laurie and had a great time. We went to the rodeo and walked through the displays. We let the boys go down the giant slide and Loren was a pro! He held his hands in the air just like his dad and loved it. Jayden on the other hand, not so much. He screamed and cried he went twice and then refused (gotta give him credit for going twice.)

Natalie got to ride a horse she was excited to ride then when she got on she was so still took in every moment.

This is my favorite picture from that trip - Darcy spent most of her time in that pack.

Here are those cousins together again. They played endlessly and Jayden still talks about Loren.

This is Darcy 2nd or 3rd time eating food. It's her favorite, peas. This little girl loves her vegetables!

Bath Time

Darcy loves baths. She has the best time splashing and kicking and it always as happy as can be in the water. She even cries when we take her out. Now that she's crawling and cruising like a pro I find that she's dropped all the bath toys in the tub and is leaning over and whinning until I run water and put her in. She knows what she likes and I can't blame her. I love a good book and a hot bath.

This is after the bath see her red face from crying because we took her out. Sheech ... what kid does that?

A girl's pigtails

Our little girl is getting so big, she wore her first pigtails. We just had to take pictures, they may be small but they're there. And look how happy she is about them! See that scab on her nose? She fell down stairs the other day and got scratched. The few seconds between me hearing the sound and realizing what happened were agonizing. I was happy to see it was just a small scratch.

Dec 2008

I just had to share these pictures of our winter. See all that snow? That ALL came in less that 48 hours and it was still snowing when we took them. It was crazy! I mean just insane and I have to say that Spokane city has been the absolute worst at removing the snow. That is Tim's truck, it didn't move for weeks.

Tim was trying to find the driveway so he could shovel it before it froze and turned into ice.

You couldn't see out the basement windows because the snow was so high. I have to say we had a lot of fun the first day or two and after that Jayden wouldn't go out in it. Fresh clean snow is fun but black dirty ice isn't.

We had to post this picture. This is the day after Christmas and was our last and final day of potty training. And let me say we were all exhausted. We did it in 8 days and I call it an ambush, Jayden didn't know what had hit him. He fought it every step of the way for the first 4-5 but by day 8 he was going by himself and that night he went in and never came out. This is how we found him. I feel for you little dude I really do.

P.S. See the pipe coming out of the wall and the linolium that has been pulled up? The sink was being worked on and was unattached and Jayden pulled it down and it shattered to pieces. I felt so bad and still do but on the bright side Grandma got to redesign her bathroom!