Christmas Eve 2010

 Christmas Eve at Grandma's house...after church...wanting to eat dinner...

 A picture with my 'little' brother...

 After dinner, the dance party which commenced with Christmas carols 

and baby E needing to be in on the action...cell phone and all.

Twistin' the night away with Uncle J!

 Dancin' freestyle!

The anticipation of Santa - cookies, milk, and pictures for his wall at home (scotch tape included) 

- a little  bit of excitement if you can't tell...

Must be Santa...

I like to call this "No fear."  For the first time in 2 years, both kids sat on Santa's lap without screaming at the top of their lungs.  Hannah isn't feeling so great, and Eli has a new trick where he sees a camera and says "Cheese" - thus the gigantor smile!

Grandma and Papa joined us this year - good thing - waiting for 45 min gets a bit long!

 Breakfast after church on Sunday...hammin' it up - as always- 

keeps him from getting in trouble - the cute part that is...

 Pancakes and syrup - still apparently in her mouth - a favorite breakfast food!

The aftermath...church, breakfast and Santa...Santa threw him over the edge of exhaustion...

Window looker...

Nurse Practitioner in the House!

Raggedy Ann was very sick this day.  She needed Hannah the Nurse Practitioner to help her out.  I think that Cookie Monster told her that her "heart beat is very healthy and strong!"

Not sure what the deal was with the headband except that we see the ENT more often than our PCP.  You may also notice the pink blanket tied around her waist...

Listening intently...

Cookie Taster!

Tryin' out the snickerdoodles...he may be doing a little snickering too 

- thinking about his cinnamon project.

 Yum!  So proud to be sitting in daddy and Hannah's chair!

Bein' a little naughty in the big chair!

Cookie Helpers...

 Since we have most of our Christmas shopping done, mommy and Hannah 

and a little helper extra have been making lots of cookies...

 Hannah is having a great time and Eli is working on touching EVERYTHING possible...

Here is one of the EVERYTHINGS...yep an entire bottle of cinnamon!  EVERYWHERE!

 What??

 Dippin' cookies in sugar...

 Day 2...no more cinnamon...still dipping!

Nice and Naughty? Naughty and Nice?

Soccer?

It began...November 6th at 845am...a 25 min drive away...

Happy Feet Soccer for toddlers ages 3-5.  

30 minutes of just running after each other and a ball...

What a great way to let this little pink "Happy Feeter" spend her Saturday morning energy, right?

Team Name - The Cubs - hence the blue (yeah that's an extra small) shirt!

 Team huddle, learning the rules of the game...

And the Cubs being coached where to kick the ball....  Folks that is the last time Hannah stepped foot on that tiny field.  When Coach put the ball, down - the tear faucet turned on and Hannah started screaming for her mother.  I sat in the corner with her encouraging her to go and kick the ball.  

We even took a water break.  No good.  This "Cub" is stubborn.  

Will do anything in her power to NOT set foot on that field again.  

We went back on November 13th at 800am and on the 20th at 945am.  Still no chance.  I remember mom's words saying, "once you start something, you have to finish."  Well, what happens when your child screams her brains out in order to avoid the soccer field?  So to prevent my humiliation, we left on Saturday after 10 minutes.  More refusal...more anguish from her mother....  Lessons learned - 1) even if you think your daughter is soo intelligent and amazing, she is still just 3 - she just loves to dance and hand-eye coordination will come with time.  2)  even if you think your daughter is soo advanced for her age VERBALLY, it doesn't mean she is socially 4 or 5.  Yes she has huge sentences and a great sense of humor, but when it comes to big groups and aggressive behavior - nope she is not there...she is 3....  And finally lesson 3) even if you think your daughter is just like you because she looks relatively similar, this doesn't mean her interests are remotely the same...I believe we have a dancer and cheerleader on our hands.  Not a bad thing, just something her mother never aspired to be....  

Live and learn - and I am truly grateful everyday for all that this little girl has taught and continues to teach me.  Lesson learned Hannah...no more soccer for a while...

Winter!

It is finally cold enough for winter clothes.  Here's Hannah showing off in PINK!

Eli in BLUE!

Yep mom - I can still manage to eat and have the coat on.  I'm good.

Hannah in full armor - not wanting her face in the pictures.

3 and 33

That's right folks - on Nov 5th Hannah and I reached a milestone - Hannah being 3 and I being 33.  

For one year we can hold up the same number if fingers (I just get to use both hands!).  

Can't believe how her short time has flown!!

Somebody around here is silly...

 Luckily, instead of another white cake, the kids and Derek got a Oreo cookie cheesecake.  I would definitely recommend it.  Eli was definitely enjoying it!

Like I said...somebody around here is silly!  Cheesecake and all!!

More cuties...

Stroller rides at the zoo at the beginning of October...

So BIG!

His new favorite spot...

Another favorite spot...

Cheesy haircut smile...

Sweet Halloween boy...

More b-day Picts!

Eli got pretty tired at the pumpkin patch...

A princess cake...

Hannah cradle for her babies...

or her BABY brother??

4 Generations of Miller - even a grumpy one...

Then Oct 25th...lots of cupcake helpers...

Hannah's cupcake work...

Cupcake Helper #3

October 26th - yes she turned 3 - happy to have a baby brother still after a year...