Mills Musings

One Amazing Weekend

2011-06-05T22:08:00.000-07:00

This was one of those amazing, rare weekends in Seattle. The temperature reached 74 degrees, and it hadn't been that warm since October. So, we spent pretty much the entire weekend outside.

Redmond Saturday market.

Listening to story hour at the Market.

Clowning around at Grasslawn Park before Emi's birthday party.

The goods from the pinata.

Marilynn with the birthday girl.

Sandra and I went to the U2 Concert on Saturday night.

My little princesses after church services.

BBQ at Rob and Celise's house.

Memorial Day "Glamping" Trip

2011-06-01T01:09:00.000-07:00

We headed out with 18 of our closest friends, children and dogs for a family camping adventure in Hot Rock, Oregon. I can say that we didn't rough it too much. I jetted in on a plane, we enjoyed a swimming pool, public wi-fi, electricity and running water. And, we had some of the most amazing meals ever - complete with desserts like freshly baked apple pie, pineapple upside-down cake and molten lava cake. Yum!

And, the girls had a blast hanging out with the boys!

Dr. Seuss Birthday Party

2011-01-29T22:06:00.001-08:00

Marilynn decided on a Dr. Seuss themed birthday party to celebrate her turning 5. Thanks to Mawmaw, we had plenty of Dr. Seuss books for inspiration!

Marilynn and the Cat in the Hat greeted all of the guests.

Marilynn and Nathan - peas and carrots.

Getting crazy.

Blowing out the candles!

Opening her presents.

Happy Birthday Marilynn!

2011-01-27T21:49:00.000-08:00

Marilynn decided to start her birthday with donuts - yum!

Then, we went to the mall to the Build a Bear workshop where she made her very own bear, who is now called "Ballerina."

Taking Ballerina home with us.

That evening Nathan and Dianna came over for a pizza party.

Marilynn insisted on being blindfolded when her cupcakes came out. Problem was that Erika was the one who blew out the candles first.

But, we lit them again and all was well. Marilynn was a happy birthday girl.

Zoo Lights

2011-01-02T15:58:00.000-08:00

We finally made it over to the Point Definance Zoo's Zoolights celebration. Yes, it was a week after Christmas, but it was still festive to see all of the lights and walk around the zoo at night time. It was FREEZING cold, but we still had a great time.

Happy 2011!

2011-01-01T15:52:00.000-08:00

We rang in the New Year with no electricity! The power went out just as we were sitting down for dinner (we had tator tots to celebrate my resolution to not eat any fried potatoes in 2011), and then we just played in the dark for a few hours. The girls and I stayed up until 9 p.m. and then the power came back on around 11 p.m, so I totally missed watching the ball drop and kissing my husband at midnight (first time since we've been married).

This is the pre-dinner celebration when we still had power.

Although you can't tell (because our flash is so bright), this was our candlelight New Year's Eve. dinner.

The girls decided to sleep in their tent in Marilynn's room together.

Happy New Year to all of you!!

Christmas Day

2010-12-26T16:57:00.000-08:00

Nothing more special than seeing the wonder and excitement of Christmas morning! Santa was very good to all of us!

Erika checking out her stocking.

Marilynn tearing into her presents.

Erika was so cute - she was so careful in opening each one of her presents and playing with it fully before moving onto the next one. She opened about 8 presents over the course of 8 hours.

Test driving the Marilynn's new scooter and Erika's new bike on Christmas morning. Erika sped past Marilynn in no time on her bike. She even fell off of it, but then got right back on. Thanks, Maw-Maw!

Twas The Day Before Christmas . . .

2010-12-24T23:12:00.000-08:00

I started out Christmas Eve. with a nice walk with my dad, brother and sister-in-law along the Dungeness River while Ken and the kids stayed back at the house with my mom.

We started the Christmas Eve. evening festivities with some cocktails and juice and the girls felt very grown up in their pretty dresses!

Caitlin's first Christmas with the Nilsen clan!

Cheers to all!

Reading the Christmas Story before opening presents.

After presents, we had a yummy dinner and did the traditional chocolate pudding. The person who finds a nut in their pudding wins the marzipan pig! And, Caitlin was the winner!

Merry Christmas to all!

La Conner

2010-12-18T22:04:00.000-08:00

On our way back home from Birch Bay we stopped in a little sleepy town called La Conner for a little lunch by the water and a little window shopping.

Marilynn dancing with Santa.

Erika realizing that a tree trunk is far bigger than she is.

Birch Bay

2010-12-15T22:20:00.000-08:00

We took a little weekend trip to Birch Bay - known as the bird watching capital of the Northwest. We didn't see any birds, but we certainly threw lots of rocks into the water!

Extra! Extra! Read All About Us!

2010-12-15T15:43:00.000-08:00

Thanks to this lovely blog, the Mills Family has officially hit big time. Check out this article in the local newspaper about our recent Christmas tree hunt: www.issaquahpress.com/2010/12/14/christmas-tree-hunt-offers-old-time-cheer/

Gingerbread party

2010-12-11T16:16:00.000-08:00

We hosted our first gingerbread party today! We started off with a kid-friendly lunch (PB&J sandwiches in the shape of gingerbread men (and women), star-shaped pizzas, fruit, veggies and cheese and crackers). From there, we went into the straight into the sugar rush with dozens of kinds of candies (okay, I went overboard on the candy) and everyone getting their own gingerbread house to decorate and take home with them.

Marilynn invited two of her friends from school and the Collins kids to the party. She was the perfect hostess!

Marilynn got just about every kind of candy on the roof of her house.

Rocking Around The Christmas Tree

2010-12-08T22:44:00.000-08:00

The girls had so much fun putting up the Christmas tree.

Marilynn got the honor of putting the star on top of the tree.

The girls put a second, smaller tree up in Marilynn's room.

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

2010-12-06T13:44:00.000-08:00

Cornerstones Christmas Party

2010-12-05T22:08:00.001-08:00

We hosted a Christmas Party with our church group and had a great time with 17 kiddos - all under the age of 7! Oh my.

Marilynn awaiting Santa's arrival to the party.

Here comes Santa Claus! He passed out presents to all of the good little boys and girls.

And, we made Christmas cookies for Santa.

More Christmas Tree Farm Pictures

2010-12-05T22:02:00.000-08:00

A bag of Kettle Corn to share - yummy.

Bouncing around in the Bounce House.

Trains!

Christmas Tree Search Adventure

2010-12-04T22:31:00.000-08:00

We got so inspired to chop down our own tree while we were in Sequim, that we decided to check out and see if there were any Christmas tree farms in our area. And, oh boy are there! Today we headed out to Trinity Tree Farm in Issaquah in search of the perfect tree for our house. This was no ordinary Christmas Tree lot - they had train rides, a bounce house, hot chocolate/cider, a fire pit, Santa visits, and just about everything else you could imagine. It was a great day to be outside!

First, Marilynn and Erika take a ride on the train all around the farm to find the best tree.

We found one!

Whoops. Changed our minds (that's what happens with 3 girls in a family). This one is better.

Daddy cut it down with the most non-sharp saw ever.

Me and my girls (in front of another tree).

Marilynn guarding our tree with great gusto.

Finally, tree is bought, put on the car, and now we can enjoy some kettle corn and hot chocolate by the fire. Such a great day! Tomorrow, we will decorate it!

Searching For the Perfect Tree

2010-11-28T21:16:00.000-08:00

While we were out in Sequim, we helped my parents find their Christmas tree. They tag it a month before Christmas and then chop it down closer to Christmas and bring it home. Marilynn got a bit cold, and Erika was going crazy chosing trees - "This one, Da-Da, No, this one!" HA HA

"Over here - choose this one!"

Turkey Day

2010-11-25T21:10:00.000-08:00

From our house to yours, we hope you had a wonderful and very happy Thanksgiving!

Love birds!

And, the other bird.

Snowpocalypse 2010

2010-11-24T17:38:00.000-08:00

We had an interesting start to my birthday celebration and Thanksgiving bread. There were crazy rumors of a snow storm, so my mom headed to our place a day early so that she wouldn't be snowed out of coming to babysit for my birthday. Well, sure enough, I got a cold on Sunday morning and we subsequently had to cancel my birthday outing plans. Then, it really started snowing on Monday morning, so Ken and the girls drove my mom back to Sequim before it got too much worse (the photo above is from that drive). Then, I stayed at home and attempted to get better - having a nice quiet birthday evening to myself on Monday. Then, Tuesday afternoon hit and the roads were so bad that I couldn't get out of our place. So, my knight in shining armour booked me on the next flight out of Seattle direct to Sequim. So, now we are enjoying the snow safely from Sequim and about to enjoy a Thanksgiving feast tomorrow. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

The pond at my parents' house froze over!

Making snow angels

Eating the snow

Visiting Santa and His Reindeer

2010-11-21T17:21:00.000-08:00

We ventured out to Swanson's for the Reindeer Festival and the girls got their first visit to see Santa. They teamed together and asked for dog from Santa, and he said he's "see what he could do."

A ride in the sleigh with the reindeer (I think this one is Donner).

Hiking in the Rain - Twin Falls

2010-11-07T20:36:00.000-08:00

We headed out to Twin Falls on Saturday with some good friends. We were the early birds, so we headed up the trail early thinking that everyone would just catch up to us. But, Marilynn and Erika were total Norwegian mountain goats! Just hopped up the trail (in the pouring rain) in no time. Thankfully, they all eventually caught up to us and we had a nice lunch together at the top.

River was raging after a few downpours!

We kept yelling after Erika "whatever you do, don't jump into the water!"

This is Marilynn saying "how many more miles do we have to walk? Can you just carry me?"

Well earned resting spot - snack time.

My mountain goat guide!

Made it to the top and had anice picnic lunch.

View of Twin Falls

First Fire of Fall

2010-11-05T20:27:00.000-07:00

The weather has gotten a wee bit chilly lately, so we had a fire on Friday night and warmed up a bit - followed by some obligatory roasted marshmellows and S'Mores.

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-31T22:42:00.000-07:00

Marilynn (Belle), Nathan (the Wizard) and Erika (the lion beast) out trick or treating tonight and had so much fun going door to door gathering candy!

Fun with Granny and Grandad

2010-10-31T22:25:00.000-07:00

My parents came to visit us this weekend to watch the girls while Ken and I went to a costume party. We headed out to Kelsey Creek park to play on the playground and check out the farm animals - we had such gorgeous weather today!

Erika and Da-da hanging out together. I think they were reading up on their stocks.

Carving pumpkins - well, Erika just colored the pumpkins and Dad carved them.

Marilynn was quite pleased with the final result!

Trick or Treating at Mommy's Office

2010-10-29T22:05:00.000-07:00

A little Beauty and the Beast came by my office on Friday for some early Trick or Treating. They got quite a bit of candy going from desk to desk and had a blast doing it. Marilynn would say "Trick or Treat?" and Erika would just roar.

Cute little lioness - her roar is bigger than her bite.

Playing with the toys on Mommy's desk.

Little princess - so proud that Kenny did such a great job with her hair - and even put make-up on her!

Shaggy, Scooby and the lion.

Pumpkin Patch Fun

2010-10-25T21:26:00.001-07:00

Erika was sick at home, but Marilynn and I went to Jubilee Farms to check out the pumpkins, hay rides and corn mazes. I love fall!

A Spot of Tea

2010-10-25T20:54:00.000-07:00

My mom, Marilynn, Erika and I were invited to High Tea at the Rose house, and the girls got all dolled up with their own homemade bonnets.

Erika being dainty.

Yummy treats to end the tea!

Check out the bonnets!

I'm Back!

2010-10-25T20:43:00.001-07:00

Okay, I have to admit, I haven't blogged in quite some time - I'm not sure if it was a lack of time or if it's because I've been just sharing more photos on Facebook, but I'm happy to say that I have a new found love of blogging now! I found a way to publish my blog in a book - and now I see a deeper purpose for my blog now. I hope to keep chronicling our lives through the blog and then have a hard copy book made every year or so as a memento. If you want to check out the book, go here: http://http//www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1672858?ce=blurb_ew&utm_source=widget

Just Like That. . .

2010-09-23T21:40:00.000-07:00

My sabbatical went by in a blink of an eye! I honestly have never had 7 weeks go by so quickly in my life, but I am happy to report that I did everything that I wanted to do during my time off from work. Now, I didn't get everything done that I NEEDED to do, but everything that I wanted to do.

I fell in love with my girls all over again. I was able to reconnect with friends that I haven't seen in years - Angel in Hawaii, Lisha and Ann in San Diego, and Angela in LA. I got to be a daughter all over again through a trip with my mom to Portland. I got to be my husband's girlfriend and dated him. And, I got to reconnect with my extended family - getting to visit Christian and Caitlin and their new puppy and had Ken's aunt and uncle visit us. I took my girls through my childhood by showing them the house where I grew up in California, the park where I played and the town where I spent many happy memories growing up. And, I was a part of my girls' childhood memories by taking them to Disneyland, Legoland, and the open ocean. I read books, I took long baths, I fell asleep in the sun, I cooked, I watched movies - all things that have been luxeries in terms of time before.

I never re-bricked my backyard, I didn't complete my photo albums or baby books, I didn't lose 15 pounds (I actually gained 3), I didn't deep clean my house, and I didn't blog nearly as often as I would have liked. But, none of that mattered. All that mattered was that I could be a mom, a friend, a neice, a daughter and a wife. It's seven weeks that I'll never forget and will always cherish the precious memories.

For a complete photographic recap, check out my photos on Facebook.

Day at Greelake Wading Pool

2010-08-22T21:56:00.000-07:00

Ken had jury duty so I took the girls to Greenlake wading pool for the day. It was a perfect day - just splashing around and enjoying the sun. And, apparently, there are moms and dads that get to do this every day! I love sabbatical life.

The French Rivieria or Bellevue? You Decide.

2010-08-16T08:49:00.000-07:00

We headed over to Meyedenbauer Beach Park on Saturday to celebrate Dianna's birthday and wow! What an amazing place! A gorgeous beach surrounded by multi-million dollar homes and huge yachts. We felt like we were on the French Riviera!

Marilynn giving Dianna her present.

Marilynn and Erika playing in the sand.

Erika ran up and down the hill and loved it.

Pam and Jerry's Visit to Seattle

2010-08-12T21:15:00.000-07:00

Ken's Aunt and Uncle came for a visit this week and we enjoyed every moment with them. We started off on Sunday by celebrating our wedding anniversaries together at the Chateau St. Michelle winery for the Jazz Festival, then we headed out to Pike Place Market and the Locks in Ballard on Monday. Tuesday, we took Pam to Deception Pass and Whidbey Island. Wednesday, the boys went deep sea salmon fishing and the girls went to the aquarium and a nice lunch on the water front. Great visit all around!

Pam, Ken and the girls at Whidbey Island just before our hike.

Heading up the hill getting to the beach!

Lookout point about halfway through the hike to the waterfront - this was before Marilynn got tired and Ken had to carry her.

Pam treated Erika to her first face painting! She sat so still the whole time - she loved it.

Jerry was the only person on Alki Beach wearing a cowboy hat that day.

Playing in the low tides.

Jerry, Pam and Erika.

Jerry, Pam, Marilynn, Ken and Erika overlooking the Seattle skyline.

Marilynn wearing Jerry's hat.

2010-07-21T10:19:00.000-07:00

We headed over to Luther Burbank park on Mercer Island with our 4 kids and the Collins' 3 kids and Doug's dog. It was a great cook-out and sandcastle making tournament. Loving the summer sun!

Ryan would build them and Erika would stomp on them.

Marilynn loves Doug's dog Bailey - yes, I did say that she loves a dog. But, only this dog.

Taking a break from the waves.

My little bathing beauty!

Granny's House

2010-07-13T12:50:00.000-07:00

We took the kids to my mom and dad's house this past weekend and they got a chance to see what it would be like to have 4 grandkids - ha! It was a great weekend of picking veggies and strawberries, going out in the boat, having a hot dog roast on the beach (no pictures of that unfortunately). Ken took the boys out camping on Friday and Saturday, and the girls got to take a boat ride out to the Lighthouse. Fun weekend. When it was all over, Ryan said "can I stay at Granny's house?"

Erika and her Granny hanging out by the pond. My mom is doing everything to stop her from jumping in.

Look - pea pods fresh from the garden!

Jake and Ryan loved hiking on the spit.

My parents took the girls and me on a boat ride out to the Lighthouse at the end of the Spit.

After touring the Lighthouse, we had a little picnic lunch right on the beach.

Me and my dad.

All of the kiddos splashing around in the "warm" tub.

Fourth of July

2010-07-12T22:05:00.000-07:00

So, I'm a little late with this post (what else is new?), but here's some pictures from July 4th at Skye and Eric's house. Despite the typical Seattle rainy weather, it was a great party with tons of yummy food.

Skye's festival spread.

Erika and Selah swinging in the rain.

Marilynn and Ken waving for the camera.

Jake was quite the pusher!

No girl should have to wear rain boots on the 4th of July!

Jake and Ryan Take Over Seattle: Week 1

2010-07-05T09:59:00.001-07:00

Both my mom and my mother-in-law have pointed out that I've been a lazy blogger lately. So, I'm getting back in the blogging action. And, I will have lots of interesting things to blog about this month since Ken and I have inherited two more kids for the month of July!

Jake and Ryan (our nephews) arrived from Texas last Sunday, and they've spent the week hiking, eating, slug hunting, eating, zoo going, swimming, and eating. Oh, and did I mention eating? It's been very cute watching the boys take care of their younger girl cousins. Erika insists that Ryan read her stories at night and Marilynn won't go anywhere without Jake. Adorable.

Here's some pictures from the past week:

Family picnic in the park!

Jake and Ryan just love to climb trees - there isn't a tree around that they won't attempt to climb.

Like peas and carrots!

Ryan reading Erika a bedtime story.

And, yes, they LOVE to pose for photographs - the exact opposite of Marilynn and Erika.

Snoqualmie Falls

Now I know where Erika gets her finger sucking habit from.

Daddy/Daughter Hike

2010-06-10T22:10:00.001-07:00

Ken took Marilynn on a little hike in the woods today and Marilynn loved her time with her daddy all to herself!

It must be a dad/daughter thing, because I remember skipping rocks with my dad as a kid.

Ewwww - said Marilynn - a huge SLUG!

Being silly on the bridge.

Made it!

And earned a nice little snack time at the end!

Bike Riding in the Park

2010-05-22T21:46:00.001-07:00

Nathan took Marilynn on a little bike riding adventure a few weeks ago, and his mom sent me these pictures. A long afternoon of biking the trails and then a nice cup of hot chocolate in his camper. Sounds like a good date to me.

BBQ Pizza Making in the Great Outdoors

2010-05-20T22:10:00.000-07:00

It seems like Ken is on an outdoor cooking kick lately. He and Doug staged a Pizza Making BBQ last Sunday and made pizzas right on the fire at a community fire pit in Redmond. Check out the amazing rainbow! Marilynn and Nathan had a blast running around the woods and playing in a little fort that was there - and, of course, enjoyed the yummy pizzas!

Some More S'Mores

2010-05-18T21:47:00.000-07:00

The girls loved making S'Mores so much when we went camping, that we decided to try it out in the backyard. Even better!

Messy, messy chocolate!

Even baby Daniel liked the S'More action!

It's Feels (Almost) Like Summer

2010-05-16T09:38:00.000-07:00

The weather in Seattle has been great this past few days, so the girls have been hitting the beach! I'm sure rain and 50 degrees with be coming back any second now.

More Birthday Pics

2010-05-15T09:29:00.000-07:00

Here are the pictures from Erika's second 2nd birthday!

Cake time!

Erika loved her new outfit so much that she decided to try it on right then and there.

Presents from Nathan!

Terrific 2!

2010-05-11T07:49:00.000-07:00

Today is Erika's second birthday!! To celebrate, we had TWO birthday parties - one at my parents' house and the other at our house yesterday with our neighbors. Happy birthday, Erika! Thanks for coming into the world and changing our lives (for the better) forever.

Piggy Cupcakes

Granny and Da-da got Erika some bath toys!

Yummy cupcakes!

Presents!

A Day for a Parade

2010-05-09T21:32:00.000-07:00

We went to Sequim this weekend for Mother's Day and to celebrate Erika's birthday. Unfortunately, Ken hurt his back and was unable to join us. But, we still made the most of it and even checked out the Irrigation Festival Parade. It was Marilynn's first parade and she loved it! We told Erika that the parade was in honor of her Birthday, and somehow I didn't get a single picture of her.

Happy Campers!

2010-05-03T21:45:00.000-07:00

We took a little camping trip this weekend just outside of Leavenworth, WA with some good friends of ours. Ken went with the girls on Thursday and then I joined them all on Friday and then went home with Erika Saturday night. It was a record 23-hour camping trip for me! I couldn't get Marilynn to leave - she was having such a great time with her friends. So, she went back with Ken on Sunday.

We cooked (and ate) tons of yummy food, went into the town of Leavenworth, and skipped rocks into the river. Fun times and Marilynn has turned into quite the camping girl!!

Rolling

2010-04-19T21:26:00.000-07:00

We went bowling with friends on Saturday night, and Marilynn and Erika also decided to try it out for the first time. And, yes, it is true - Marilynn scored higher than I did. Marilynn calls it "rolling" instead of "bowling," and I'm thinking her term makes more much sense anyways.

Playdate at the Zoo

2010-04-17T21:14:00.000-07:00

Scandoulous - Ken and another stay at home dad have been doing playdates with two stay-at-home moms on Fridays lately. Someone asked me if I was worried about Ken having all of this time with women during the day, and I was like "surely, you've never had to watch 8 kids all at once." This past Friday, they all headed out to the zoo and had a blast - 4 adults and 8 kids!

Marilynn's Swim Lessons

2010-04-11T20:27:00.000-07:00

Marilynn started swim lessons at the YMCA last week and she is like a fish to water!

Easter!

2010-04-05T21:29:00.000-07:00

I'm still recovering from Easter weekend! Ate way too much food, had way too much fun with the girls and wish I could do it all over again. We had our good friends Charles and Angela up from California and had a yummy brunch with them (no pictures to show for that, unfortunately). Then, we dyed Easter Eggs and made cupcakes on Saturday afternoon. Then, on Sunday, we went to church - the girls LOVED their new dresses from Maw-Maw and twirled around in them all morning long in church. Erika kept saying "princess" "princess." Then, we ended the special day will a big dinner with a few of our good friends. Hope everyone had a very happy Easter!

Erika really got into painting the eggs this year. Last year she couldn't even walk! She's growing up so fast.

Here's our carrot cake cupcake creations. Marilynn LOVES cupcakes and candy, so this was her perfect dessert.

The girls were adorable in their dresses. It looks like Erika is reaching up for a hug, but she really just wanted the camera.

In front of church - trying not to freeze. I miss California and Texas Easter weather.

Our dinner party - notice how most of the guys have their mouths full!

And, Marilynn enjoyed hostessing her own end of the table.

Note: tons more photos on Facebook

Tulip Festival

2010-03-27T22:25:00.001-07:00

Spring has sprung, so we headed out to the Tulip Festival to check it out.

I was amazed at the rows and rows and rows of flowers - it was quite the sight.

Erika wasn't so big on the flowers - she just wanted to play in the mud.

But, she eventually got into it.

A quick break for a little snack. They rode around the fields in style!

Marilynn loved the tulips and loved having her face painted.

The tulips were almost as tall as Erika.

There's a better shot of her face painted as a butterfly.

We stopped in the town of La Conner and had an ice cream cone at a shoppe right next to this giant tree log.

On our way home, we stopped by our good friends' house - Kim and Jeremy. Marilynn asked if she could spend the night. . .

March Madness

2010-03-20T21:17:00.000-07:00

Wow - how can it be March 20th already and I haven't posted a single blog post during the whole month of March? Crazy, crazy. We've been to Sequim twice, saw my brother, celebrated my dad's 77th birthday, and so much more, and I have NO photos or blog posts to show for it. Ugh. Anyways, we went to Lincoln Park in West Seattle today and had a great time. Here's a few pictures from our day today:

Future Lone Ranger?

2010-02-23T19:17:00.000-08:00

Mt. Pilchuck

2010-02-20T21:04:00.000-08:00

The weather in Seattle has been gorgeous lately! We have cherry blossoms on bloom, tulip bulbs popping up and the sun is shining! So, we headed out to Mt. Pilchuck for the day to catch all of the great Vitamin D! We had a great hike and amazing views for a picnic lunch.

Erika wasn't scared at all going over all of the streams and rocks on Dad's back.

The views were gorgeous! But, Erika was not going to pose for a picture - no matter how hard we tried.

Still not looking at the camera. I think she gets that from me. . . it's payback time I guess.

A little snack while taking in the view.

Both Daddy and Erika were pretty popped at the end. Erika slept most of the way down.

Love Birds

2010-02-18T22:02:00.001-08:00

Nathan came over late on Valentine's Day and brought Marilynn some special gifts - including a warm fleece heart blanket - and even made her a card! So adorable.

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T18:51:00.000-08:00

We're stuck with strep throat and an ear infection in our house, but wishing you a wonderful Valentine's Day filled with love. Hopefully, we'll be out of this sick funkiness soon! Marilynn made these cookies just for YOU.

Ken's Birthday

2010-02-10T20:59:00.000-08:00

We celebrated Ken's birthday yesterday - complete with cold medicine and plenty of cake! Marilynn had a great time decorating his heart cake and heart cupcakes, and Erika loved eating them.

Marilynn's Pre-School Progress Report

2010-02-04T16:08:00.000-08:00

Marilynn got her progress report yesterday! And, I am proud to say that I'm one happy mommy. She is even a superstar in puzzles (I flunked puzzles in kindergarten). I'm so glad my mom didn't have the Internet when I was in pre-school! Sorry, Marilynn, I just have to brag on you a bit. That's what moms do.

Marilynn's Fourth Birthday - in Candyland!

2010-01-31T22:17:00.000-08:00

We're still recovering from the sugar high of Marilynn's 4th Birthday party on Saturday. It was a Candyland theme and everything was decked out in sugar - from gingerbread men decorating to candy necklace eating to the cake! We had a total of 15 kids there and a few more kids at heart, and we are so blessed to have so many people in our lives to help celebrate Marilynn's special day!

A Whale of a Time!

2010-01-16T21:35:00.000-08:00

Christian and Caitlin gave us a membership to the Seattle Aquarium for Christmas, so we headed over there today and had a whale of a time (hee, hee). Thanks, Christian and Caitlin - we had a great time and can't wait to go back.

Marilynn the Mermaid got her cheek painted with a crab.

Erika always seems to manage to find places to climb.

Just fascinating.

Horsies and Doggies

2010-01-04T00:10:00.000-08:00

One of the girls' favorite things about Texas was the animals - 4 horses, 3 big dogs and 2 little dogs. They would go visit them every morning and every afternoon - feeding them, brushing them and playing with them. Erika had absolutely no fear of any of the animals - they just licked her hand and squealed with delight every time they saw her.

Christmas Morning

2010-01-02T20:52:00.000-08:00

Marilynn and Maw-Maw set out fudge and iced tea for Santa and carrots for the reindeer on Christmas Eve.

It snowed the night before Christmas, so we had a White Christmas!

Erika carefully unopened her presents one by one.

Marilynn was thrilled with her stocking - everything pink!

Marilynn with all of her toys the night of Christmas

Marilynn with Ryan.

Merry Christmas From Our Family To Yours

2009-12-25T17:51:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas from the Mills/Walker/Herndon family! This is four generations together in one spot for Christmas Eve at Grandma Walker's house.

Sharing Holiday Traditions

2009-12-22T10:47:00.000-08:00

Marilynn invited Nathan over to help her eat her gingerbread house (always a tradition in my family :-)), and since it was the 6th Night of Hanukkah, Nathan and his mom brought over their Menorah and some yummy latkes (potato pancakes) with apple sauce. And, we had some yummy red wine (call it a Catholic tradition from the Mills side of the family). It was a great evening to celebrate different traditions and meanings. Happy holidays to everyone!

So excited to dig into their gingerbread, but I think Marilynn liked the Latkes even better.
Ken has to get involved with anything having to do with home demolition work.

Dianna and Nathan - just after the lighting of the Menorah.

I love how you can see the reflection of the Christmas tree in the glass.

We had a gift exchange and Erika walked away with some great bath toys - I think she would live in the bathtub if she could.

Gingerbread Houses Galore

2009-12-19T19:54:00.000-08:00

While my mom was visiting, we went to tour the gingerbread houses at the Sheraton in Seattle and a little chocolate shop in Fremont. Marilynn had a much greater appreciation for all the work that goes into gingerbread houses after making her own the week before.

The Muppetts are made with hundreds of jelly beans.

Granny and granddaughter

The scene from "Christmas Story" made in candy and fondant.

A Polar Express Gingerbread display - four times taller than Marilynn!

Gingerbread house depicting "It's a Wonderful Life"

Early Christmas with Granny and Da Da

2009-12-17T22:03:00.000-08:00

Since we're spending Christmas in Texas this year, my parents came over for an early Christmas at our place. Marilynn got the present of a lifetime with a new doll house complete with furtniture (yes, this was something that I always wanted). The girls and I are having so much fun playing with it!

Christmas Party

2009-12-16T22:13:00.001-08:00

We had a Christmas party with our friends from church on Saturday night and it was a fun time of getting ready for the season! The girls loved hanging out with their friends and so did we!

Tis the Season

2009-12-07T08:29:00.000-08:00

We have the tree up! It's a small tree and a borrowed tree (thank you Mike and Sandra!), but we're not really home much in December (we only have 2 weekends in December here), so up it went. We also invited Nathan over for a gingerbread house making party - I think more candy ended up in their bellies than on theirs houses, but that's half the fun! I love Christmas time with the kids.

Nathan and Marilynn doing the "tushie" dance to warm their tushies in from the fire.

Yum! Gingerbread men!

The architects at work!

The finished product!

Yes, Marilynn is without pants. It's just her style these days. But, the tree didn't mind.

Swimming in December

2009-12-05T20:25:00.000-08:00

We just joined the YMCA and the girls LOVE being able to swim in the middle of winter. Not a bad way to spend an icy sub-freezing afternoon.

Port Townsend Outing

2009-12-01T21:44:00.000-08:00

While we were at my parents' for Thanksgiving, we took a little family side-trip to Port Townsend for the day. It's a fun little town right on the water and we checked out the local shops and eats. We found this cute little 50's Diner and Marilynn was amazed that we could drop a coin into the jukebox and it would play any song we wanted. So high tech.

Thanksgiving Weekend

2009-11-28T21:48:00.001-08:00

Our Thanksgiving week started out like a lion and came out like a lamb! Little Erika caught a nasty flu bug and had a super high fever, so we were taking care of her around the clock and postponed our trip out to my parent's house. But, Marilynn was devastated, so she went out early and Ken and I came out once Erika was feeling better. We ended up having an amazing time out in Sequim - celebrating my birthday and Thanksgiving with our family!

Christian and his wife Caitlin came up from California - their first Thanksgiving of married life!

We headed out to the Dungeoness Spit for a little hike to the waterfront. Marilynn's first time walking the whole way by herself!

Marilynn loves to swing with her Da-Da!

Marilynn and my Mom made me the best birthday cake, and we celebrated the day after my birthday with a yummy dinner!

Baby Daniel Has Arrived!

2009-11-17T07:43:00.000-08:00

Marilynn's Godmother Sandra (Marilynn calls her Silly Sandra) finally had her baby on Sunday! Baby Daniel decided to arrive in his mom's style - a little late, but well worth it!

Erika thought Sandra needed a little cuddle before her 27 hours of labor really kicked in.

Yes, Marilynn and Erika playing with the "birthing ball"

Marilynn anxiously awaiting the birth of little Daniel. Sandra - is the baby coming out of your tummy yet???

Ah, the next day, little Daniel arrives into the world! A whopping 9 pounds, 3 ounces. Go Sandra! You are a super woman!!

Congratulations Mike and Sandra! I think we owe you a babysitting or two (or 200).

Disney on Ice

2009-11-11T21:09:00.000-08:00

Part two of Nathan's birthday was a trip to Disney on Ice, and Marilynn was in awe the entire time. She loved all of the ice skating, the tricks and the POPCORN. My favorite part was watching her face light up.

Nathan's 4th Birthday

2009-11-09T20:57:00.000-08:00

Marilynn has now been to 75 percent of Nathan's birthday parties, and the 4th was amazing. It was a Disney themed birthday and Marilynn made sure that she was right by Nathan's side the whole time (well, most of the time).

More Halloween Pictures

2009-11-04T20:15:00.000-08:00

Here's a few more photos from Halloween last weekend:

Marilynn was quite serious about her pumpkin carving.

And, Erika wouldn't let go of Granny.

Erika met a larger (much larger) version of herself while trick-or-treating at the mall.

Marilynn the Princess with her Peter Pan date.

Erika is ready to go trick-or-treating!

Trick or Treating at Mommy's Office

2009-10-30T21:44:00.000-07:00

The girls came by my office today for a trick or treating extravaganza. Marilynn's trick or treat bag was so full that she could barely carry it by the time it was said and done. And I had fun showing off my two favorite girls! Erika went as Winnie the Pooh and Marilynn was Belle from Beauty and the Beast.

Cupcakes

2009-10-29T21:37:00.000-07:00

Marilynn is getting so excited for Halloween - we made a few cupcakes for her class.

Girls Day at the Pumpkin Patch

2009-10-24T21:53:00.000-07:00

Erika was napping and Ken was absorbed with this thing called "football," so Marilynn and I trekked out to Jubilee Farms on our own and had a grand time. We took a hay ride out to the pumpkin patch, Marilynn rode a pony, we checked out the farm animals and brought 7 pumpkins home with us. Fun day with my favorite 3-year-old.

And Now for Erika's Latest Trick . . .

2009-10-15T21:09:00.001-07:00

She's just so darn cute!

Is It Spring Yet?

2009-10-13T23:23:00.000-07:00

The girls and I had fun planting tulip and daffodil bulbs the other day. Marilynn was very meticulous in digging the perfect hole and placing the bulb tip-up just right. Erika helped out by eating the dirt and then digging up the bulbs that we had planted. But, it made for a fun afternoon. Every morning since then, Marilynn has rushed out of bed and bolted downstairs to check the flower beds asking "Is it Spring yet? Have they grown?." No, my dear, we still have a looooooooong time to go. But, can't wait for them to make an appearance :-).

Day at the Park

2009-10-11T14:06:00.001-07:00

We've been spoiled with a great fall so far! Just when I think it's time to grab the rain boots and umbrellas and put away the patio furniture, the sun pops up and reminds my why I'm glad to live in Seattle (at least for now - ask me again in February).

Exploring San Francisco

2009-09-25T06:43:00.000-07:00

We had a little bit of time to explore San Francisco while we were in town for Christian and Caitlin's wedding. We crossed the Bay Bridge, then the Golden Gate and then ended up in Sausalito. Great time to just hang out with the four of us!

At the waterfront in Sausalito.

Marilynn being a ham with downtown San Fran in the background. I was so worried she was going to fall back off the wall and into the Bay!

Nice family shot with the Golden Gate bridge in the background.

And, this is the full family with my mom, Marilynn, my aunt Inger (who flew in from Norway for the occasion), Ken, Erika and my dad. We stayed at a hotel right on the Berkeley Marina

Uncle Chicken's Wedding in Broccoli

2009-09-23T21:06:00.000-07:00

The day finally arrived for my brother Christian's wedding in Berkeley (also known as Uncle Chicken's wedding in Broccoli, according to Marilynn). Marilynn was quite the adorable Flower Girl and everything went very smoothly. Congrats Christian! Welcome to the family, Caitlin!

Marilynn loved dressing up and being a flower girl and almost loved the cake just as much.

The full wedding party in all their glory.

Erika hit the bottle a bit early, and this one didn't have milk in it. I doubly love this picture because you can see Marilynn dancing with my mom in the background.

Marilynn was looking a bit worried before the ceremony, but she at least was able to make it down the aisle (and then promptly went running to daddy about 5 minutes into the ceremony).

The girls chowed down at the wedding!

Erika with her namesake, Erik Nilsen (her Da-Da).

And one blurry photo of Ken, because I couldn't find any other shots of him from the wedding. Sorry, babe.

Life on the Farm

2009-09-18T08:59:00.000-07:00

During our trip to Lake Chelan, we found this cute little family-run farm with a u-pick veggie garden, a petting zoo and pumpkin patch. Marilynn was a little scared of the farm animals, but loved the veggies. Erika (of course) walked right up to the horses, cows, chickens, etc. We came back with tomatoes, beans, squash and a few pumpkins. All set for Halloween!

So, this is where beans come from . . .

Tomatoes galore!

Beautiful farm, and we were the only ones there (next to the farmers, of course)

This was the closest Marilynn would get to a horse.

Postcards From Lake Chelan

2009-09-16T20:44:00.001-07:00

We just got back from an amazing four days in sunny Lake Chelan for one last summer hurrah. We went with our good friends Mike and Sandra (Marilynn's godparents), Jim and Cheryl and Matt. We rented a boat on Saturday and had a ton of fun tubing and splashing around in the water. It took all I had to keep Erika from jumping into the lake - she's quite the dare devil!

View from our balcony - Ken picked one amazing place for us to stay - complete with a spa and swimming pool and within walking distance of the town and the lake.

Friends for Life

2009-09-08T21:53:00.000-07:00

Abby and Marilynn - January 2006

Abby and Marilynn - September 2009

Ever since Marilynn was born, she and Abby have always had a special attachment to each other. Abby can do no wrong in Marilynn's eyes, and it's just so adorable to watch them. They can go months without seeing each other, and they just pick up right where they left off. I think Marilynn's favorite part of the Fair yesterday was Abby.

Evergreen State Fair

2009-09-07T21:19:00.000-07:00

On this very lovely rainy Labor Day, we headed out to the Evergreen State Fair with the Marvelous Meseroll clan. The girls had a blast checking out the animals, riding the rides, eating their weight in sugar and getting to play with their friends Levi and Abby. And yes, Ken searched long and far and found got some pretty good Texas BBQ and I even nibbled on a snow cone (and a funnel cake). Shhhhh. Love the fair.

My little farmer girl. She couldn't reach the pedals, but she loved sitting on it and steering the wheel around.

You can take the girls out of Texas, but you can't take Texas out of the girls (for you, Maw-Maw).

Erika got a worried look on her face when we told her where chicken nuggets come from.

Look at that "fowl" look on our faces. ha, ha, ha!

Blued Eyed Girl

2009-09-06T22:15:00.000-07:00

Can I just say that I have the cutest kid ever??

Biker Babe

2009-09-04T21:22:00.000-07:00

Marilynn reached a major milestone this week and I am slowly but surely realizing that my kids won't stay babies forever. Marilynn got her first big-girl bike, and I'm just in shock that she can ride all the way to McDonald's with no help at all. So proud of her and so fearful that it's going to be no time before she's driving off in a car.

Look What I Found In the Dryer

2009-08-31T21:06:00.000-07:00

New Favorite Playground

2009-08-22T22:19:00.000-07:00

We headed out to our usual playground today, and it was just packed. Seattleites have to flock to the water the second it hits over 70 degrees. So, we went up the road a bit and found a park right on the water that we had virtually to ourselves until about dinnertime! No, I'm not telling you the name of it - it's my secret.

No, it's not Hawaii or Mexico, it's Renton!

Take Me Out to the Ball Game - And Then Take Me Home!

2009-08-16T21:33:00.000-07:00

Marilynn went to the Mariner's Game with her boyfriend the other night (chaperoned, of course), and while she loved the cotton candy, the popcorn, the music and the crowd dancing, she wasn't so big on the actual watching baseball part. Ten minutes into it, she asked "when do I get to play?" When I explained the point of going to a baseball game, she just shrugged her shoulders and said "I don't get it." So, proof that women are hardwired to not like watching baseball. Nathan, of course, was fascinated with every single second of it, and was quite annoyed that we had to head home once it went into overtime.

Marilynn and Nathan trying to figure out who's tongue was more blue from the cotton candy. Yes, Ken, I swear that's what they were doing!

This was the look on Marilynn's face once she realized that we would have to sit for 3 hours and watch men run around bases and try to hit balls.

Marilynn and Nathan got a special pennant and certificate marking their first Mariner's Game.

More tongue action in this shot - she couldn't get enough of the cotton candy!

Marilynn's Vacation - Take 2

2009-08-14T23:02:00.000-07:00

Sweet relief! Dear Uncle Rick came through for me and was able to capture a few photos of Ken and Marilynn on their camping trip - thank you, Rick! And for those of you who know Rick, this is really no surprise.

Zoo With Granny and Da-Da

2009-08-13T21:29:00.000-07:00

Yes, the Mills family likes to go to the zoo (mainly because my dear brother got us a season pass this year). So, we went with my mom and dad this past weekend - they don't get to see things like this in the country very often. . .

My dear dad - what a handsome guy!

Marilynn reading up on the animals.

Erika's first carousel ride!

Erika's Vacation

2009-08-11T21:04:00.000-07:00

While Marilynn and Ken were off camping, Erika got a vacation of her own out with my parents in lovely Sequim. She tended to the garden, picked strawberries and fed the ducks - a true country girl! Thanks, Mom and Dad, for taking such good care of Erika!

Marilynn's Vacation

2009-08-10T21:51:00.000-07:00

Marilynn and Ken went went camping with one of Ken's buddies and his two daughters last week. Unfortunately, these are the only photos to show for three days of boating, swimming, walking, sight seeing, fire making, and camping. Debbie - you'll have to talk to your son about this one!

Blackberry Picking

2009-08-09T21:41:00.000-07:00

The blackberry bushes are in full season right now, so we went on a blackberry picking excursion with Nathan and his mom on Mercer Island. Marilynn loved picking them and Erika loved eating them.

Photography by Marilynn

2009-07-30T20:37:00.000-07:00

Marilynn has turned into quite the budding photographer. Every time I turn around, she's snatching another picture. Here's a few of her recent works:

Swingin' Away

2009-07-28T20:18:00.000-07:00

Marilynn and Erika got to join their friend Aiden for his 2nd birthday party and enjoyed checking out his new swing in his backyard. Thank you, Aiden, for letting the girls pretty much play all afternoon on your toy! And, the cake was yummy too!

Marilynn's First Camp

2009-07-27T20:06:00.000-07:00

Marilynn went off to Vacation Bible Camp last week and enjoyed pretty much every minute of it. It was in the mornings for four days and she had a blast playing with kids her age, singing songs, learning Bible stories and eating lots of snacks (of course). The final day ended with a huge carnival with tons of games, rides and prizes (and more snacks). Ken also volunteered as a Kindergarten helper during the week, so needless to say, they were both wiped by the end of the week (Ken probably more so than Marilynn).