My Books!!

So, finally both of my books are here!! Yippee!! I'm so excited!! (notice the exclamation marks)

They both turned out great, though the next blog book will be much better. The vacation book is huge, almost 200 pages. The blog book ended up being about 170 pages.

As I was reading through each of them it just made me so grateful for the technology that we have now. I'm so grateful that I have the ability to make these books that will hopefully be handed down from generation to generation. It took so much time to make them but they're worth EVERY second of it!

If any of you want to come see them, you're more than welcomed to! :)

Tae Kwon Do

I have always been interested in the martial arts, not the movies by any means, but the actual act of doing them. While in Texas, I got to go to my friend's kid's Tae Kwon Do classes and I just sat there thinking, "I need to do this!" So, once I was home, I thought about it and finally decided that I was serious and that I wanted to take classes (running wasn't "enjoyable" and I needed to find some form of exercise that I'd "want" to do).

Well, last night was my first class. It went really well except for me almost passing out because I was locking my knees..."Keep my knees bent!! Keep my knees bent!!" I kept reminding myself. The instructor was very very positive about my coordination and ability to do the moves on the first day. That made me feel so good!! I have to say that I'm a bit sore today but nothing that I can't handle. In fact, I love this kind of sore...it means I got in some good exercise!! YIPPEE!!!

Here I am in my nice new uniform...I ate a choc. dipped ice cream on the way home from class (I gave myself a reward for getting positive feedback) and if you look really close, you can see it ALL OVER my uniform!!! Not my smartest choice. But I'm glad to say that it came out with a little elbow grease and a cycle in the washing machine. And, for those of you who are knowledgeable in Tae Kwon Do, I know that my fist is in the wrong place in the photo but I was in a hurry to get my chocolate-covered uniform off and into the washer. I was like, "Hurry and take a picture Greg! Hurry!!" I didn't stop to think about where my fist was suppose to be! The next photos I post will be better and maybe I'll be wearing a different belt, as well! :)

"Lego" Fun

When Greg and the kids start playing with Legos, I think Greg gets transported back to his childhood. He absolutley loved Legos as a child and I think it makes him happy to see that his kids love them too. And as usual, I love to see Gregor and the kids bonding as "Father and son/daughter" that means more to me than most anything!

Here are their creations...


Buddy's "helicocker"


Buddy and his fun new flying toys. If you look closely, you can see his little mouth is making the engine noise...too cute!!


Not much gets better than a "helicocker" and a couple of "airpwanes" with wheels!


Hannah and her creation. She made a ship (like the Titanic) and this bus for Buddy to play with. She's such an amazing big sister!

So Excited!!

I just checked and my "vacation book" is going to be delivered tomorrow!! I can't wait!! I hope it turns out as good as I'm envisioning it. Good thing I don't have much longer to wait to find out :)

YIPPEE!!

Surprised?

Ok, so I'm sitting here, in the desert, in the middle of August with rain falling all around me. Am I surprised?!? No, no I'm not! Because today across the complete state of Utah, all LDS church classes have been canceled so that the entire state could watch the Oquirrh Hills Temple dedication in every Stake Center in Utah. It's kind-of like General Conference...almost everyone is accompanied by rain. I love the rain! I love how calming it is and how it makes everything so beautiful and fresh and new! I think it's a loving gift from our Heavenly Father or maybe even the angels crying for joy at the new temple being dedicated! (That's what I would have thought when I was a kid and it still makes me happy inside to think of it that way!)

Greg and Hannah went to the 9am dedication session and I get to go with my mom to the 3pm session. I can't wait! It's so amazing how a simple Stake Center can have the feel of you walking into a temple, when a temple dedication is going on in it! The Spirit is just so strong and so wonderful!!

Have I said lately just how much I love this gospel? And how grateful I am for having it in my life? And how amazing it is that my children are being raised with a righteous father who holds and honors the priesthood? I'm not sure how Greg and I managed to make it to where we are, coming from where we came from, but words can't express how thankful I am!! What a miracle!

Our Mommy-Daughter Date

This month I had the specail opportunity to go on a "Mommy-Daughter Date" with Hannah. It was an activity for her Achievement Days. Hannah was very excited about it because she was going to get to do my hair and my make-up. It was a kind-of pampering activity, focused mainly on the inner beauty but also on having fun with our outer beauty.

I think Hannah did a wonderful job on my make-over, starting with my glitter mascara and ending with my fancy twists in my hair! She was thrilled that I did her make-up and put a braid, with beads on the end of it, in her hair. We also did each other's nails and gave each other foot massages. It was a VERY GIRLY evening, spent with my favorite "girly".

It was a fun bonding activity that I think we may do more often just in our own home.




The "before" picture


Hannah's "after" picture...(I really didn't put tons of make-up on her but she felt so grown up. It was cute to see how confident and beautiful she felt....funny how mak-up and outer beauty stuff can do that to us!)


Hannah applying the "sparkle" mascara! HOT stuff...gotta get me some of that! :)

My fun hair with twists in it! I had a few in the back as well and also my bangs were up in a twist. I was very impressed! I think she did a wonderful job!!

The finished product!

Interesting Day

Ok, so today something happened that never happens! I got Hannah off to school, did the laundry, read Gabe a couple of books, took a shower, laid Gabe down for a nap, and then I found myself....bored!! Literally bored!! I was like..."What do I do now?!?" I thought about taking a nap but I wasn't really tired so that option was out. So instead, I decided, for the first time in I don't know how long, to turn on the TV in the middle of the day! I watched the finals for "So You Think You Can Dance" (had it taped from when I was on vacation). Yes, so I sat on my couch, drinking my Diet Coke (drug-free) and eating whatever thing I felt like and watched my show. Complete couch potato!!

Now, I would like to say that it felt good and that I deserved it but I'm not sure how I feel about it. Actually, I feel like I wasted 2 hrs of precious time but I'm not sure what I "should have" done instead! I mean there's always something, right?!? I had debated on going to my craft room and scrapbooking but our upstairs is too hot for that (I don't have a ceiling fan in my craft room) and I thought about doing some genealogy but opted out of that too because I already have so much to organize. I suppose I could've organized my genealogy but I didn't think of that until just now. I also realized, after the fact, that I could've read more of an interesting book I'm reading but didn't cross my mind.

I think what's happened is for the past 3 weeks I've been working on the "vacation book" and "blog book" and now that they're both done, I feel like I don't have a "project" to focus on, I feel bored. It's a very strange feeling...to feel like you have nothing to do!

Tomorrow better be more interesting because I WILL NOT become a couch potato in the middle of the day again, I'll save that until after the kids are in bed. It's totally a-okay to turn into a couch potato after 8:30pm at night...right?!?

A Baptism Photoshoot

Today I was asked to take some pictures of my friend's daughter in her baptismal dress. I was so excited!! I was bummed though because it was really bright outside and we had to find semi-shaded spots to get a decent shot. The lighting on most of them were really bad but some of them turned out really cute. Here are a few...

First Day of 3rd Grade

Today, Hannah had her first day in 3rd grade. She was worried because she didn't have any friends in her class but I knew she'd do fine. Hannah has a wonderful personality and makes friends very easily. She had a new friend by the end of the day. When I went to go pick her up she seemed so happy. She likes her teacher (because she thinks Mrs. Andes is not a screamer...I think she's still tramatized by her 1st grade teacher, poor thing!). So the day went well and Hannah seems really happy, which of course, makes me happy! Here's to another school year!


Beautiful Hannah before school. We have a tradition to take a pic of her on our porch.


Hannah sitting at her desk. I can't believe how big she's beginning to look!


Hannah and Mrs. Andes, the non-screamer (should've taken two pics because her eyes are closed).


Hannah waiting outside to go into her classroom. The little girl in the pink dress is Madeline. That's Hannah's new friend.


After school. Hannah's giving me that "enough already" look because she thought I was taking too many photos of her. I informed her that she'll love them when she's older but it didn't seem to help much. Again, she's growing up and becoming more and more aware of the world around her.

Congratulations on your 1st day of 3rd grade, Hannah. I love you so much and I am so proud of you!!

Mission Accomplished!

So, after lots of deleting links & videos, my florida vacation section (which will not be reposted...too much time involved), along with everyone's blog links (yes, I need you to email them to me) and resetting my blog format, I figured out the real problem as to why I couldn't download my blog. I was so bummed that I did all the other things before figuring it out BUT at least I did! That makes me happy :)

So, I ordered my first "blog book" today, which I'm excited about...YIPPEE!!!

Now, while I was putting it together I realized A LOT!! The way the program uploaded the blog entries separated the words from the photos, which makes a complete mess in the book. I would go into more details but they're rather boring. Anyway, I have decided that, due to the book making program, I am only going to blog certain things. A complete account of our lives will be put directly into the book program so that I don't have to transfer it over. I know that will make some of you very, very, very sad ;) but it's going to save me a lot of time and sanity (try making your blog into a book and you'll see what I mean...unless you don't insert lots of pictures, which is the type of blog that the program is set up for)!!

That's it for now, until Hannah get's home from school. Then I'll be posting her 1st day of school right here! :)

Bummed

So, I tried to upload my blog into the book program and it has an error. Something is wrong with my Html stuff (like I really know what that is). So, I spoke with my computer guru and we've decided that since I had to mess with my "Florida" section of my vacation (I actually went into the Html stuff and messed around...not my brightest choice) that maybe I messed it up and it won't let me upload due to that. So, anyway, I'm going to delete my Florida section and see if I can upload it then. If I can, then GREAT!! If not, I'm doing all of this for nothing!!

Wish me luck!!

A First

Oh yes...my first "blog book" is on it's way, well once I get it downloaded and stuff. But still, it's on it's way!! YIPPEE!! :)

Hanging out in Houston, well...Tomball

I spent a total of 16 days in Tomball, with our really good friends. Each year we go on a "Milnik" vacation together. This year, since Ken was still tired from our Church History Trip, our family just came to visit them. We had tons of fun times and a few overwhelming times due to my precious little (stubborn) Gabers. But all in all, it was a terrific get-away for me and the kids.



Shortly after arriving in Houston, Ken got really sick and had to be put into the hospital. Here he is with the rest of the Milnik family just before being released from the hospital.


Gregor wasn't able to come to Houston either...not too big of a vacation for him. But we don't like to leave anyone out so we make a couple of stick-figures of him. One of just regular "daddy", for when it was just me & Karie and the kids. And then a "Milnik Daddy" for when he was the only one missing so he could participate in our Milnik family outings. The kids got a kick out of this...who am I trying to kid, so did Karie and I!


Here's buddy giving his "daddy' a hug. He really missed Greg so this was a way that Gabe could feel closer to his daddy.



When I saw this bumper sticker I just had to take a picture of it. All I have to say is, "Amen!" It reads...I'll keep my guns, freedom, and money...YOU CAN KEEP THE "CHANGE!" Love it!!

We took the kids to the childrens museum in The Woodlands Mall. After a few minutes of being there, our new motto was.."who says a children's museum is just for children?" The next several pics will explain why.




Yes, that is Karie running in a stylish pair of flippers and a childs life vest! GO KARIE!!



Then it was my turn and I have to say, running in flipper is MUCH harder than it looks! But it sure was fun!! A little too fun!! I hadn't laughed so hard in my life!!

Karie posing in the sexy swimming gear on our even sexier canoe-thing.

Yes, I thougt the yellow flippers added a little color to the picture, though the black ones were funner to run in.

This was the saddest part of my whole vacation. We were all standing around the paint table while the kids painted, when I got paint on my pants. I looked over and Hannah was covered in paint as well. I then proceeded to say that I was taking Hannah to go wash her hands and for me to go wash off my pants. After about 5 minutes in the bathroom trying to rinse out supposed "washable" paint, we headed back. When I came out of the bathroom, Karie and Dustin were sitting on a bench right outside, waiting for us. I instantly knew the answer but I asked it anyway..."where's Gabe?" Karie's face said it all as we instantly ran back to go find him. As we rounded the corner, I could see poor little Gabe, still sitting on the little chair at the paint table, with the saddest look I've ever seen on his face. It instantly broke my heart. I rushed over to him and picked him up. I praised him for staying there and not leaving and apologized over and over and over again. I felt SOOOOO bad!!

That evening, and many more following, Gabe told Greg on the phone, over and over, about the scary ordeal. It went something like this..."I scared. Mommy go bathroom and I scared. Mommy come back and I scared!!" Talk about feeling like a loser mom, it was horrifying! But I'm happy to say that I have a forgiving child and a wonderful Father in Heaven who looked after Gabe while I was away.

Typical Texas church advertisment. I was actually tempted to look this one up to see how they twisted this back around but never did. It reads.."JESUS-knowing Him could be dangerous"

And here's a sign that was a few doors down from the house we used to live in. It's just so different from our culture. Could you imagine me with a sign in my yard that read..."I Love My Church! Eagle Mountain 9th ward LDS Church."

Karie and I took the girls to see Cirque Du Soleil. It was amazing what people can do with their bodies! Hannah had her first "Dippin Dots" there and LOVED them, of course.

Our old community had a nice pool area with an adult pool and a kiddie pool. The kids liked to cool off when we had the chance to take them. (Hannah and Daria)

All Gabe needed was a cup to play with in the pool. Such simple entertainment!

Water Babies! Daria, Hannah, and Dustin

We took Gabe to the Lonestar Flight Museum. We were bummed, when we arrived, to hear that most of the museum was closed due to damage from Hurricane Ike. It's located in Galveston, TX, which was almost flattened by a hurricane in 2008.

Me and my handsome husband. Looks like he's decided to follow his buddy Steve's example and become a pilot.

Galveston, TX beach. We stopped here for a few minutes to allow the kids to wade in the water (Ken was waiting in the van). When it was time to go Gabe threw a MAJOR fit!! He was kicking, hitting, and screaming the whole way to the car. I, in turn, threw a fit because I was so sick of his actions (I'm sure Ken and Karie enjoyed that...sorry!). I bet most of the people on the beach thought I was kidnapping him. It was REALLY bad!!!

Greg chillin' on the beach, catching a few rays!

Jenny, me, Shannon, and Karie. I really miss these ladies so much. We decided to do a "girls day" and go shopping. We had tons of fun and lots of laughs. It was so good to be around them again. I really appreciate their friendship.

I did a GOOD job shopping...I love you Greg!! You're the BEST husband EVER!!! I love how well you take care of our family!!! Did I mention that I REALLY REALLY love you?!?

The Damage! Never underestimate the power of influence that four friends getting together has, especially if they're going shopping!

We were just so tuckered out after the long day of shopping. I forgot to mention that Jenny was a bit miffed that she didn't get the "wear while capris" memo but I'm sure she'll get over it. :)

My newest feddish.....White chocolate covered cranberries!!! YUMMY!! I think we made 4 or 5 batches of these things while I was there. They are SOOOOO good and SOOOOO addictive!!

Doing crafts with the girls.

Karie's house was covered in TONS and TONS of ARMY stuff. She has visited each of the recruiting offices to get random stuff to decorate Dustin's room, he loves military stuff! Anyway, when she made it to the ARMY office, the recruiter there loaded her up with two bags stuffed full of random items with the ARMY logo on it. It was so funny because everywhere I looked, I saw the words..."ARMY" and "ARMY STRONG".

What's a vacation without a little Settlers? We decided to let Greg play and Surprise...Surprise...Greg won! He's so good! And as you can see, Ken was being a poor loser...giving Gregor bunny ears! But one fun thing we did differently this vacation was we learned how to play Settlers online! It's really fun and now we can play with each other from different states! Very cool!!

It was a wonderful trip and I wish I could've shared every story here but like I said, anyone's more then welcome to come see my family vacation book (with all the details in it) once I get it in!!

I'm so excited because now that I'm done blogging about my vacation, I can get my "Blog Book" started!! YIPPEE!!!