I'm Kara Miller and I Approve This Message

I've decided that someday I am going to run for public office and my entire platform will be this: STOP DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME NOW!!!! I don't know anyone who really loves it, but when you have small children it is even worse. Cameron has been up at 3:30am two mornings in a row now, and Steven has been up at 4:30. Yep, I'm tired.

The Big Three

I can't believe it, but Steven had a birthday and turned three. Where has the time gone? Steven is great to have around because he always keeps things interesting. He has a lot of energy and we have fun trying to keep up with him. He loves to play outside, LOVES riding his scooter, and also loves picking flowers and watering the plants. He also is starting to take and interest in drawing and coloring, and he is very proud of his "art work." He is very affectionate, and has a definite "A list" of people to whom he is very loyal. He thinks the sun rises and sets over his big sister Elise.

Steven is also good at causing mischief and getting into trouble. We are hoping this is part of his terrible twos phase that he will be outgrowing soon. His talking and communication is constantly getting better, and he is learning that being able to communicate makes life much easier. He loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Dora the Explorer and Special Agent Oso, and he takes extreme personal offense to the whole concept of commercials. How dare they interrupt his programs! When Steven is happy he is very very happy, but when he is sad he is also very very sad. Happy Birthday Steven. We love you!

Initiative

It is kind of interesting to me how each of my kids are so very different. For example, if Elise wants something like crackers she asks for it. If I say yes she can have crackers but I don't get them for her she will sit there and wait until I do or ask me to get it for her. If I tell her she can get a cracker herself she'll tell me she's not sure where there are, she isn't sure if she can open the box, etc., etc., etc. If Steven wants a cracker he takes initiative and just gets one. He doesn't ask. He just pushes the chair over to the cupboard, climbs up on the counter, gets the box down, opens it and starts eating crackers. Funny how they are so different.

Yesterday Steven put a piece of cheese in his mouth and decided he didn't want it so he spit it on the floor. I told him in my most stern voice, "No! That is yucky! Pick it up and put it in the trash." He looked at me and walked around the corner. I was ready to chase him down and bring him back when he came back with the broom and dust pan in tow, ready to sweep up his cheese and put it in the trash. He had gotten into the cleaning closet and gotten both out by himself. Now that is initiative. He is one funny kid.

Halloween

We had sort of an animal theme for the kids costumes this year. And it cracked me up because when I was looking at the pictures today it struck me that each of our kids had an animal costume that sort of fit their personality.

Elise, the beautiful, colorful, vibrant and creative butterfly. In true puppy dog style, I couldn't get Steven to sit still long enough to snap a photo. He is full of energy and constantly on the go, but is also very loyal and affectionate to the ones he loves.

Besides the obvious "milk" reference, he is HUGE and solid like a cow. And have you ever seen the milk commercials that say "happy cows come from California"? Well, he is definitely a happy California cow.

Three Little Pumpkins

Cute Little Kindergartner

Isn't Elise a cute little Kindergartner? She had her very first school photos a couple of weeks back, and they happened to occur while I was at the hospital with Steven. I didn't have very high hopes for the pictures since Dad would be getting her ready. Chris is actually good at quite a lot of things, but I am pretty sure that fixing hair is not one of them. However, I was pleasantly surprised. Apparently Grandma stepped up and got her ready for picture day and the pictures turned out very cute. Thanks Grandma!

AWESOME

Last night Elise and Cameron were asleep by 6:15 and Steven was asleep by 6:30. "Awesome," I thought. And awesome it was. That is until 5:05 this morning. Definitely not awesome anymore.

4 Months

Cameron had his 4 month check up last week, and the doctor told me he is the average height and weight of a 7 month old. He weighs 17 pounds14 oz. and is 26 1/2 inches long which puts him in the 90% for both height and weight. I think he is going to be a big boy!

At four months Cameron is generally a very happy baby and either sleeps through the night or wakes up one time to eat. He is really close to being able to sit up and balance on his own without tipping over. He is grabbing things and very interested in toys. He also loves it when Elise and Steven talk to him, and he has the hugest smile. He is such a fun baby to have around!

Yes I Did

I just had a piece of lemon pie for lunch. I hid from Steven while I ate it, in part because I wanted him to eat his healthy lunch, and in part because I didn't want to share. Yes I did, and it was so worth it!

Cutest Cow

Isn't this little guy the cutest cow around? His big brother and sister are definitely convinced of that fact. I must hear them say "Awww.... he's so cute" at least three or four times each day.

Making Mischief, Breaking Stuff and More by Steven

A couple of weeks ago we had quite a hard week. Most people who read my blog probably already know the whole story so I will spare you the details, but for anyone who doesn't know we'll just say it included a trip the emergency room, an ambulance ride to transfer to a different hospital in L.A., a minor surgery, a 3 night stay in the hospital in a shared room with a screaming two week old who had just had surgery..... what more can I say? Well, there actually is much more to the story. Lots of little details that made the whole week one I do not wish to remember. But like I said, I will spare you the details. We survived the week... barely. And Steven is fine and has recovered well. However, I have definitely decided he is my little trouble maker. He has these two shirts that I think sum him up perfectly, and I think that I have decided when he outgrows them I need to frame them and put them above his bed or something of the sort.

Shirt #1: Mischief is My Business and Business is Good

Shirt #2: Whoops! Sometimes Stuff Just Breaks.So there you have it. Steven in a nutshell!

Summer Catch Up: Elise's Birthday Celebration

Elise was asking for a birthday party this year that included more than the people who lived with her, which we have never really done. I had a brilliant idea and talked her into an early birthday party at Nana and Papa's house with Nana and Papa, Uncle Adam, Hannah and Aunt Kathryn as guests. She couldn't have been happier. She picked out a butterfly cake from a book that she wanted and my mom and I did our best to recreate it. She had a pinata, and she kept saying, "Mom, will everyone jump out and say surprise?" So even though it wasn't really a surprise we did it and she was thrilled. It was funny that she acted totally surprised anyway... funny girl!

A family picture from our excursion to Shasta Dam that morning.

Summer Catch Up: A Day at the Redwoods sans Kiddos

While on a trip up to Redding, my parents offered to watch the kids for a couple of days if Chris and I wanted to get away without them for a bit. That is definitely not an offer anyone needs to make twice. We took them up on it and went to the Redwoods on the coast for a day and a half. It was a lot of fun and a much needed break. Thanks Mom and Dad!

Summer Catch Up: Cameron's Blessing Day

On the day Steven was blessed I didn't take hardly any pictures. We had to be at church at 9am so there wasn't much time before, and then he puked all over himself at church so that was that. I only have two or three not so great pictures of him in his blessing outfit. I was a little bit wiser this time around and took some pictures of Cameron the Saturday night before he was blessed. That ended up being a very good thing because the morning was crazy trying to get everyone ready to go, and my Grandpa choked and ended up in the hospital before church was even over so things were a little chaotic after church. I didn't even take one picture of him that day so I am very glad I at least have the ones from the night before. Here are a few pictures of him in his blessing outfit.

Summer Catch Up: A Big Huge Cousin Post

One of the kids' favorite parts about this past summer was being able to spend some time with their many cousins from both sides of the family.

At the beach to see the tide pools with a few of their Miller cousins:

Cameron, meeting his older and wiser cousins, James and Matthew:

Swimming fun with a few of their Strong cousins:Elise and Ashley, cousins and buddies:

Steven, playing with his partner in crime, Hannah. I'm pretty sure he taught her everything he knows about being naughty. Sorry, Kathryn!