You can never have too many......

My most recent acquisition........'Nuff said.

A great first week

The first week of school is over and we all survived.  It was so hard to roll out of bed when the alarm went off at 5am, but I know I'll eventually get used to it.  Unfortunately, I'm not an early bird by design, just by necessity, so it takes time to get used to the routine.  That being said, it's nice to be in a profession where I feel called to work every day, and genuinely enjoy it.  I hold class meetings every Friday afternoon, and today I asked the kids how they thought the week went.  One child said good, and I asked why.  He said because he got to be in my awesome class.  How nice!  That's the best reward of all!  I'm glad they like my class.  I remember a few teachers growing up that truly sparked my attention, and helped me become a better person/student/friend/etc.  I hope I have that kind of positive influence on my students.

The girls had a great week also.  Kaity liked her teacher from the start, and has adjusted well to the second grade.  She's so proud of her agenda that she has to get signed every night, and it's so cute to watch her write down her reading minutes and ask for our signatures.  Elissa, not a big fan of change, was a bit nervous going in to fourth grade.  She liked her teacher just fine, but was worried that she didn't like her, and she doesn't have any close friends in the class.  However, today she said that she really likes her teacher and she thinks it's going to be a good year.  So, that's a great start.  Grace likes all of her teachers.  She's already beginning to think about Science Fair.  One of her favorite things about today was that they got to read the whole English period.  Supposedly this will be an every Friday sort of thing.  I'm thrilled to have a daughter who loves to read and actually looks forward to reading for a whole hour!  She's taking Spanish, and is trying to converse with me.  So far I can keep up, and have even taught her a word or two.  We'll see how long this lasts!  I may just bust into German or Latin, you never know!  I have no doubt she'll pass me up soon, in more ways that one!

First day of school...

Reading together

Grace and I are reading The Mockingjay together.  This is the third book in a series that we have read together.  Grace and I have read another series together as well, making this a total of eight books we have read together.  If you have not tried reading with your older child, I highly recommend it.  This is not read aloud, like you may have done with your young child.  We read the book independantly, but then discuss the book, sort of like a mini book club.  It's a wonderful way to start a conversation with your pre-teen or teen who really doesn't seem to want to have converstation with you.  Grace and I have taken this a step further, seeing movies based on the books we have read together.  I love to read, and I love to share this part of me with my daughter.  I think you will too!

A Great First Day

Thoughts from my kiddos on the first day of school today......

Kaitlin:  I have no homework!  I got an agenda.  Except that I have to read a lot!  My teacher's nice.  I didn't talk when she didn't want us to talk.  Anna Marie is in my class!  I knew Amanda.  Second grade is going to be great because second grade is awesome!

Elissa:  I have a TON of homework.  I'm angry because I have a ton of homework.  On the first day of school you shouldn't have homework.  I'm not sure if my teacher likes me.  Really.  Only one person from last year in my class is in my class this year.  Having a binder is cool.  As soon as I got there it felt very weird and I wanted to go home.  But it turned out to be okay.  Maybe tomorrow will be a better day.  I have a whole bunch of questions about if I feel fine in fourth grade.  Anyway, tomorrow will be a better day.  That will answer all my questions!

Grace had a nice day, saw friends, and liked her teachers. 

Me:  Today was a terrific day.  Every moment passed by so quickly, it seemed almost impossible to squeeze everything in!  I am so tired I can barely keep my eyes open!  So, I think I'll head to bed soon.  That alarm clock goes off really early!

So Long Summer

It may be triple digits here in Texas, but it's the end of summer for us.  I tucked the girls into bed at 8:00 in anticipation of an early rise tomorrow for the first day of school.  They had a hard time settling down tonight, since they are giddy with anticipation.  Kaity says she doesn't want to go, but I know that's just not true.  I'm sure she'd like to spend every day at home with me, but since I won't be here, school is the next best place!  Elissa has been ready to go back to school since about the middle of June, so she's very excited.  I believe the best way to explain how Grace feels is relieved.  The last month has been crazy busy for her, with two plays back to back.  Beauty and the Beast's final show was today, so I think she is looking at school as restful.  She knows of friends in all but two of her classes, and I'm sure she'll see some familiar faces when she gets there tomorrow.  It's going to be a wonderful year, full of new beginnings, new challenges, and new experiences.  I can't wait to see what it all brings!  So long summer, welcome school!

All in a day's work

How many times can you write one child's name on a popsicle stick, name plate, laminated shape, etc?  Five times today, folks.  And that was just today.  Setting up a classroom for the start of a new year is a lot of work, and I'm pretty sure most people do not realize how much time we spend doing this.  That's in addition to learning new curriculum, planning the next week's lessons, and having meetings.  It is certainly tiring, but well worth it in the end.  Teachers who are called to the profession may be tired this week, but we are also excited.  Just like students who are excited to meet their teachers, we too are excited to meet our students.  We share experiences with them, and love to watch them learn and grow.  I'm looking forward to a great year, how about you?

Super Day

Today was a super day, filled with excitement, learning, and even a few surprises.  However, since I got up at 5:00 am (yes, I mean in the morning) and it's now 11:30 pm (soooo very late), I think I'll just keep you wondering.  I'm pretty certain my head will hit the pillow and I will be asleep within five minutes!

A few things missing

Elissa has been a busy girl this summer.  It's amazing to me how much a girl can grow in two and a half months!  She grew taller - her size 8 shirts no longer fit and she needs a 10 most days.  (Size 8s are too short.)  I have trimmed her bangs twice!  The most amazing thing to me, though is that she has lost two molars in the last two days.  The first one she lost in a span of about fifteen minutes.  She noticed it was loose, wiggled it a bit, then just pulled it out.  Today, she noticed another tooth was loose, wiggled it, and pulled it out in five minutes flat!  Elissa doesn't like pain, so I'm pretty sure they were just ready to come out.  They are both on the bottom, so I'm starting to wonder how she might chew meat.  Oh, nevermind.  She doesn't like meat and mostly won't eat it anyway.  Watch for another update soon.  She may lose another tooth tomorrow!  Any predictions on how long it will take?

It's all over

Well, summer is officially over for me.  No more late nights (or late mornings), no more shorts, t-shirts, and flip flops (except on the weekends), no more bad hair days (I hope!).  But that's okay with me.  Summer ends and a new year begins.  I agree with my sis-in-law -- the new year should start now, not in January!  I am looking forward to learning new things, teaching new concepts, and having new and rewarding experiences.  The next week will be jammed with meetings, preparation, and information, but it will all be good, and it will all be for kids! 

Winding Down

Today was a wonderful way to wind down the summer.  My most wonderful mother arrived this morning from Denver.  She is a really busy Grandma, but always sets aside time for me and the girls.  She will be watching the girls for me this next week while I am back at work and they are not in school yet.  She arrived in time for us to head to Grace's 2pm show at The Courtyard Theater.  It was wonderul and we all thoroughly enjoyed it.  Later this evening we got together with our neighbors on our block for dinner.  The adults sat in lawn chairs and enjoyed bratwurst, hot dogs, and the trimmings, while the kids ran back and forth from toys to pool to food.  If you don't have great neighbors like we do, you really need to get some!  I'm not sharing mine unless you live on my street, though.  And if they ever move, we may follow them! 

The next week will most likely be a blur for me, and then my kiddos will be back in school, in a new grade and learning new things!  Gone will be the late night playdates with the neighbors, but I have to admit I will not miss these triple digit temps that will (hopefully) soon be gone!

Opening Night!

Tonight was opening night for Cinderella.  Grace plays the part of an aristocratic lady and a citizen.  I only caught the end of the show (we're attending tomorrow), but here's my beautiful girl in one of her costumes at the end of the show.  Isn't she terrific?  She didn't really want to have the photo taken (wanted to go greet her fans), but she did pause and let me have a Mommy moment!

You Can't Take Stuff With You

Boy did we have a busy day today!  I had a couple of meetings this morning, but this afternoon we ran around and sort of went non-stop.  Grace had schedule pick up this afternoon, so we went up to the school, turned in a few forms, then recieved her schedule, found her locker, and located all her classes.  She was pleased to find out that she has several friends in her classes, but not pleased to discover that she has PE first semester.  Oh well, you can't always get what you want.

After schedule pick up, we bopped over to a friend's house.  They used to live on our street, but moved very far away.  Well, it's not really very far away (just about 10 minutes), but it just seems very far away because we can't seem to ever get together.  Life just goes on by, and I often feel like I am the passenger in the car, just riding along!  We all get so busy in the details of life, that we sometimes forget to cultivate the important things like friendships.  I visited with friends this morning at work, then visited with long time friends at our play date, and visited with even more friends at church tonight.  By visiting with my friends, I am cultivating the friendships I need. 

The Bible tells us in Genesis 2:18 that we should have friends.  "It is not good for the man to be alone." 

And in John 13:34, that we should pursue friendship.  "A new command I give you:  Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another."   A good example of friendship is the relationship between David and Johnathan.  David and Jonathan developed a deep, meaningful friendship, based on loyalty and trust.  "...Jonathan was deeply impressed with David -- an immediate bond was forged between them.  He became totally commited to David.  From that point on he would be David's number-one advocate and friend."  1 Samuel 18:1 

So, friends, I want you to know that I am commited to cultivating our relationships.  Expect more phone calls, emails, and maybe even runs to Starbucks!  After all, we can't take the "stuff" that keeps us busy in life with us to heaven, just our relationships!

Kids in the Kitchen

Today the girls and I had some serious time in the kitchen cooking up lots of yummy things.  Sprouts had blueberries on sale for 99 cents a pint today, so of course I had to buy some and cook some tasty things with them!  We started making Spiced Blueberry Jam, then finished up with Blueberry Bread.  Elissa and Kaity did such a great job taking turns stirring, pouring ingredients, and operating the hand mixer.  It was nice to see them work so nicely together, since yesterday it was a completely different story!  For dinner, we enjoyed spaghetti (homemade sauce from two days ago), homemade rustic italian bread, and homemade pesto with basil from the garden. 

It truly was a homemade kind of day!  I love these days where I can enjoy being at home with the kiddos.  These days don't come very often, but when they do, I remind myself to enjoy the day.  It's certainly a great way to end the summer!  I still have two pints of blueberries left, so maybe I will have another homemade kind of day in the near future.  But not tomorrow, with meetings, schedule pick up, Cinderella dress rehearsal, and choir practice.  But that's okay, I think Friday's open!

Confessions of a Taxi Driver Mama

I absolutely love my children, and because I absolutely love my children, I am happy to drive them wherever they need to go, whenever they need to go there.  Even at 10 o'clock at night.  When I need to pick them up.  And I'm really tired from cleaning the house all day and doing laundry.  So, instead of complaining, I think about my blessings.  First, I am so blessed to have a wonderful husband and three beautiful, amazing daughters.  I am blessed to have a car to drive that does not break down, and provides me with cool air on an evening that is 98 degrees at 10pm (or at least that's what the car said) while I am being a taxi driver.  Earlier today, while I was mopping the kitchen floor, I didn't think about the hard work I was doing and how much I would like to have someone do this job for me, but rather I thought about how blessed I am to have a floor that needs mopping, instead of no floor at all.  And as for the laundry, hey, I have a washer, a dryer, and plenty of clothes for my family to wear.  Those are all blessings too.  So, I wouldn't trade the taxi driving or the chores, because they are a reminder of all my blessings!

Moving into the 21st Century!

Truly, I have no idea what I'm doing.  I have decided that The Miller Family needs to move into the 21st century and begin a blog.  Sure, updates on Facebook and Twitter are great, but not everyone follows us there.  So, here we are.  Hopefully you will see lots of changes as I figure this thing out!  Grace has promised to post also, and I think I'll be able to get Aaron on board eventually.  So, check back frequently and you may just be surprised!