Pumpkin Carving

The girls had been asking to carve a pumpkin, so last week we were able to pull Mike away from his studies, for a little while, and were finally able to do it. 

I drew the picture.  Raquel cleaned it out.  Mike carved it.  Elena was persistent in trying to get the knife so she could show off her carving skills.  And the baby managed to get a bunch of pumpkin guts on the carpet.  In all, we had a good time.  Unfortunately the pumpkin didn't make it to Halloween.  In fact, it didn't make it even a week.  It has been in the 90s here---I know!  Hard to believe that it is almost November and it still feels like the middle of summer.  The pumpkin didn't stand a chance--within a few days it was growing all sorts of stuff.  Good thing I'm taking more pictures now...right?

Speaking of taking pictures.  It is virtually impossible to take a picture of three kids where they are all looking at the camera and don't have some weird (i.e. dorky) expression on their face.  So instead of trying to put a picture where the majority were looking at the camera, I picked one where no one was.  Because frankly--it's just much easier.

This other one was the best runner up.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!!!

Living in L.A.

Why is it that a kid's favorite toy is a big, cardboard box?  Since having kids we have gone through our share of cardboard boxes.  They LOVE them.  I have yet to see my kids spend as much time playing with a toy we spent real money on than the time they can spend playing with a cardboard box.  They will use them until they are literally shrivels of paper.  And any parent that can get their hands on a refrigerator box and a pair of scissors will become a hero in three minutes flat.

Well our neighbors got a new washer and dryer and Mike was quick on taking the boxes before they threw them away.  The girls, within minutes, had turned them into their dream homes.  That night they begged us to let them sleep in their "houses", so we let them.

After putting them to bed I thought about the irony of my kids begging to sleep in a cardboard box.  They really are trying to experience life in L.A. to the fullest. ;) 

I guess they have a little bit more Miller in them than I thought...already preparing for the worst.  It's a good thing they have some of me in them too, or they would probably be out front digging fox holes and filling them full of food storage. ;)

She's on to us

From the time our kids are old enough to understand the concept of ownership, we start telling them that NOTHING is theirs.  EVERYTHING is Mom and Dad's.  This is to try and prevent the dreaded "Mine!!" quarrels that every parent is all too familiar with.  So far, it has worked ok.  It hasn't necessarily stopped the quarrels from occuring, but when they do, they are over pretty quick.  All I have to do is look up at them when I hear the word "mine" and it is usually followed by a quick "I mean, this is Mom and Dad's, can I play with it?"  It can however backfire into, "Let me have it!! It's not yours!"  To which I usually respond by just taking--whatever said object may be--away.  And the fight ends because after all--it's MINE! 

Well, this year for Raquel's Language Arts Class we have been reading Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle.  Growing up, I somehow missed out on who this lady is, but she knows everything there is to know about children and has a cure for almost every child ailment out there.  So far we have read about the Won't-Pick-Up-Toys Cure and the Answer-Backer Cure.

And we just finished reading the Selfishness Cure.  I won't go into the details, but at the end of the chapter this was the conversation that followed:

Raquel: "I'm not selfish, I share my stuff."
To which I looked at her and raised an eyebrow.
Raquel: "I mean...I share your stuff...because everything is yours and Dad's."
There was a small pause and then a look of amazement, bewilderment, and then triumph spread across her face as she said, "Wait a minute---that is YOUR cure!"

White Coat Ceremony

First, I apologize in advance for the quality of these pictures.  Our camera is well...crap.  But regardless, I did a horrible job documenting my PA school experience and now that I'm going through it again, by proxy through Mike, WE WILL take pictures.  Second, these pictures are about 2 1/2 months old.  But since it took me a while to get this blog going, I am just now getting around to posting them.

These pictures are from Western University's White Coat Ceremony.

It is a ceremony that they have at the start of the program where they are officially given their white coat.  My PA program did not have a white coat ceremony, so hence my first reaction to this whole frilliness was to make fun of it, but it actually was very nice.  The AAPA president was there, and they were all individually 'cloaked' with their white coat.  Emphasis was made on the role that they will be taking as medical providers and the great responsability that comes with that role.

Looking back, I think they probably do this so that students have something they can hold on to and look forward to before the real torture--of seemingly endless days of having a book in your face, staying up all night studying, and having several tests a week--begins.  Here is Mike getting his white coat.

He still has a long hard road ahead of him, but despite his doubts, I know he'll do just fine.  He's told me several times since school started that he doesn't have the "brain" he used to and that he seems to struggle with retaining SO much information, but ask anybody who's gone through a PA program and they will tell you they felt the same way.  We are so proud of you Mike!!

Leaps and Bounds

The "baby", who is still mostly called that due to the ongoing debate of what she will go by, has progressed dramatically over the last couple of months.  When we got here she could barely sit without support, and that was wobbly at best.  She is now not only crawling at full speed, but she is pulling up to standing, cruising, dancing, clapping, waving, wrestling with the girls, and talking trash.

We moved her bed into our room about a month after moving here so that the girls could still play in their room during the day while she took her naps.  The problem with that is that now in the morning she stands up, looks over my direction, and yells "MA-MA...BA-BA!!", which translated means "Woman!! Get your lazy butt up and FEED ME."  Since most of you are missing out on her evolution of so much personality here are a few of her latest pictures.

With all the movement and exploration have come the war wounds.

(Trying to get her to point to the bruise on her other cheek.)

But even with her very effective way of communicating, she is still irresistible.  Look at those cheeks, how can you refrain from squeezing and kissing her.

Raquel Turns 6

It is hard to believe that I have a 6 year old. Given that most of my patients think I am shy of 14, I've been lulled into a false sense of aging. I don't feel like I'm getting older, but all you have to do is take a look at your kids to remind you otherwise. Since we are only a half hour away from Disneyland, this year for Raquel's Birthday we gave her the option of going to Disneyland, or having cake and presents. (Not that we weren't planning on giving her cake and presents, but this way, if we do... she feels like it is an added bonus and if we don't...there are no expectations. There you have a little bit of our warped sense of parenting.)

It only took her a split second before she chose option #1. We went on the Thursday of the week of her birthday and had a great time. The park was virtually empty and were able to get on every ride with little or no waiting.

The only thing we did not do...was wait in line to meet the princesses. One look at the length of the line was enough to know we were going to be waiting half of the day...so we opted out. Luckily we ran in to Jasmine and Aladdin, and meeting just one of the princesses was just as good. The girls were in such awe. Tarzan's House Good old Dumbo

By the end of the day, Elena can best describe just how beat we all were. She feel asleep while we were waiting for the tram.

In all, it was a great day and Raquel had a great time. We feel so blessed to have her in our family. She has an awesome personality. She is a very cheerful, obedient, friendly, helpful, and caring person. I am amazed by how much I learn from her. And by how much fun she is. I always knew I would love my kids but I am surprised by just how much I actually enjoy them as people.

Well, come Sunday, she was completely surprised when the missionaries were over for dinner and we pulled out the birthday cake.

Happy Birthday Miss Raquel!!!

Here We Go!!

I've had this blog address for over a year, but despite my best intentions, there always seemed to be other things to do. One of my goals in moving to southern California was to be better about documenting our family. I enjoy reading blogs of family and friends and I figured, now that we are away from most of our loved ones, what better time to start it. But as you can see, we have been here almost 3 months and I am just now getting it going, but hey better late than never...right? So...here we go...and I hope you enjoy staying up to date with the Miller Mishaps.