good news minute!

1- megan has survived her first week of work! she is working in the human resources department at sierra health services from 10 - 1 each day. her first week consisted of making A LOT of badges for the people who work there, and hanging out with her cousin melanie :). sadly, melanie's last day of work was thursday. megan has to do it all by herself now...pressure! she and her dad love meeting at the cantina for lunch, or maybe that's just a joke:). interestingly, megan already has ideas of how she is going to spend her first few paychecks. i can see i am going to be saving a lot of money! YES!!!

2- hailey brought home her first progress report from the 8th grade. straight A's!!! she has been complaining that she isn't understanding her work, i'm thinking she must have figured it out! way to go!

3- susan is making progress on her blog book! i am having fun...i hope it turns out! who would have thought this would be my way of doing some personal family history?

4- hailey's rash is FINALLY looking better! she has had some nasty bumps on her stomach, chest, back, shoulders, and a little on her face off and on, for 3 weeks now. when you are 13 going on 21, bumps on your skin are not cool! we saw dr. tuggle right after our last trip to the beach and she said it was caused from the cold sore virus. i am a little nervous to see if it is a yearly occurrence or if stress or too much sun can also bring it on. no one in the family has ever had a reaction from that virus. sadie finally has a sibling that also gets strange things, maybe you aren't adopted!!!


5- THIS IS A BIG ONE! megan and susan found a homecoming dress that we both could agree upon! after looking EVERYWHERE, and megan already having an idea in her head of what she wanted this dress to look like, i probably would have let her wear anything, just to be done. but we had a fun time shopping, we liked everything she tried on, and it didn't cost an arm and a leg. YES! now we need to find a pair of shoes...and...what else?


this picture is old, i know, i like it:).

6- i almost forgot! jon and i enjoyed two movies this past weekend. i'm not sure we have ever done that before...two in one weekend. they really weren't anything great, but i laughed so hard in one scene of ghost town, that i'm sure jon was wondering if he would have to carry me out. when i was trying to tell megan about it, i could hardly talk because i was laughing again! laughter is a good medicine!

two years

yesterday while i was sitting at lunch eating a yummy great harvest bread sandwich, one of my friends asked, "who would you say had the greatest impact on you growing up?" immediately, one of my other friends said, "oh, my cousin! no question!" my mind immediately thought of matthew, and though i know i can't speak for my children, i know that he, matthew, has had a huge impact and influence for good upon my children, and myself for that matter!


it has been two years since we received the news of his passing. and though that might seem like a long time now, he is still constantly in our thoughts and memories. just last week sadie told me, "there isn't a day that goes by that i don't miss him! but i am fine, and i know he is great."

he is noticeably missing from our lives. his huge spirit, his beautiful smile, his kindness and friendship, his curly hair:), and his lovable-huggable self!

i know my people visit his grave. especially after a particularly difficult experience. i'm not completely sure why, but i believe it is helpful and comforting for them.


when all of the stewart men gathered in st. george this past june, they took a group picture after doing a session at the temple.


i loved what tod wrote about the experience, but i want to quote especially what he said about this picture from his blog,
"I had mentioned to my Dad that it looked like Justin didn't like me because of how far away he was standing from me in the picture, he laughed then tearfully noted that that was where Matt was standing. In every respect, felt but not seen. It is in those times that the spirit testifies to me that families are forever."

i know we all look forward to the day when we will be reunited! until then, i'm hoping that i can acquire some of the traits i loved so much about matt! hopefully the impact and influence he had on me won't be wasted!

my love to my miller family...

it's that time of year again...

miss megan got asked to homecoming! her soon-to-be date, mr. matt, was very nervous about getting everything just right! as seems to always happen to me, we had a plan (me and matt), i left the house with megan, told him to come over, and then found i had to go back to the house unexpectedly! bummer!! if any of you have seen me texting on my iphone, it isn't pretty, and i really had no way of being sly. she ended up knowing he was on his way over, but i wouldn't give her any details. i hope he never knows what a bad job i did of keeping it all a secret! i really did try! and he had done a good job of making megan think he wasn't going to ask her. anyway, he came over and put all of this glow in the dark stuff in her room, with a sign, asking, and a black light so it all glowed! it looked pretty cool, but when i was trying to take pictures, the flash would make it look bright as day. this was the best i could get!




p.s. i need to thank him for the big black light! it could be useful on our scorpion hunts! i actually haven't seen one for a couple of weeks (knock on wood)!

roundup, 2008

since i don't attend this yearly event in my boy's lives, i don't have a whole lot to say about it. from the sounds of things though, they work hard, they laugh harder, and this year they KILLED a lot of muskrats! it sounds like it was a mini-massacre:).

anyway, tod took some fabulous photos that i want to share! i really NEED a trip to the ranch in the fall...the colors look beautiful! maybe next year :).

ps-i have been waiting for a comment from anyone about the broke-back picture! what's up tod?

happy, happy birthday KRISTEN dear!

The 21st of September. The day Kristen was born! I'm not sure if everyone realizes that one of our favorite groups, EW&F wrote Kristen a song for her birthday. Hopefully it is playing for you now.

Anyway, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our beautiful, sweet, kind, caring, dependable, silly, creative, helpful, responsible, loving, first born daughter! We have put you through it over the years. Thank you for still loving us, even though we were crazy (over-achieving) parents, trying our hardest to help you become perfect! We were so excited to have you...we tried right away, and you were born nine months and three days after we were married :).!

You have been a little slice of heaven in our family, bringing your own unique gifts and talents and personality to our home! I realize our family relationships aren't always perfect, but I also believe we love and respect each other completely. You have been a wonderful big sister, a right arm for your mother, and a shining light to all the world!

WE LOVE YOU KRISTEN! Hope you have a special day!

my little buddy

With Kristen being monitored two days a week at the perinatologist and then another appointment each week with her regular OB, Lauren and I have been spending a little more time together than usual. I know Kristen is feeling like a huge burden, and she's always trying to figure out a way to be able to take Lauren with her, but for me, I am looking at this time together as a HUGE blessing! Actually, Sadie, Megan and Hailey have all helped out when I have had other previous appointments, so it hasn't been a burden in any way!


As I sat thinking about this precious little girl last night, while I watched her sleeping, I just had a rush of gratitude completely feel me up, for the blessing of her life in mine! She has the kindest little heart. She is very aware of everyone around her, and if anything doesn't feel quite right she will quickly ask, "you ok?" If I accidentally smack her in the head with my elbow while we're sitting together watching one of "Lauren's shows" and I say, "OH, I'm sorry!", she always replies, "it's ok. I ok!" Whenever she is going home, after I have been tending her she always gives me a hug and a kiss, and says, "thank you so much grama!"


She is always happy and excited about everything! The other day she was playing crazy and asked me to watch her as she ran as fast as she could around the kitchen maze and back to the couch and then jump on the pillows. I got all excited about her skills, and said something like "how fun!", and she said, "you want to try?" She is always saying something that makes me smile!


She most definitely has me wrapped around her little finger, and when she looks at me and says, "hmmm. I need some-ping!" we stop everything and head to the treat drawer to find some-ping! As the weeks quickly pass before her baby brother is born, I feel so lucky to have this extra time with her! She can have my full attention and love for a little while longer!


She is as pure as they come. I am excited to watch her grow and develop her sweet, fun personality. I am quite confidant she will always fill me with more joy than I can contain! What a sweet blessing!

12th Street

newport was very peaceful and lovely this past weekend. as we pulled up to our beloved 12th street around noon on friday, we snagged a front row parking spot! probably because we were the only ones there:). i must say, there is definitely a different energy at the beach this time of year vs. summer time. at first i thought it was because the sun wasn't out, but on saturday i realized, more people = more energy! whatever time of year, sun or no sun, people or no people, the beach is a wonderful place to be. as long as there is lots of sand, crashing waves, salty seeds, and a good book to read...i am in heaven!!!


i believe all sadie needed was to breathe the air!
megan needed her ipod and some naps!
hailey needed the sun and the water!


the birds were our best friends! this one had albino legs!


saturday morning, first thing, they ran for the water! everyone around us had on wet suits. what a bunch of babies:)! the girls told me the water wasn't THAT COLD! i took their word for it. their father would have been proud!


there were even some regatta races going on most of the day!

all in all, a very fun get away! we made great time going and coming. not much traffic. i think we will have to try that again:).

the boys...

I LOVE this picture!
It reminds me of my son.
It reminds me of my husband.
And more recently, it reminds me of my daughter too.
It makes me SMILE!

WINNERS!!!

i have to say, i am probably not the biggest fan of football (since Larry and their sons quit playing), but i am very HAPPY and EXCITED for two teams that are close to our family. bonanza high school and unlv both had amazing wins this past weekend:). as i listened to unlv's coach talk about the win, and see and hear his emotion, i was so happy for both of these teams, the players and their coaches! it must be SO very hard to lose game after game, season after season. i know they practice, i know they work hard, i'm very glad they finally got wins, both of them, and wins they were NEVER EVER expected to get!!! CONGRATULATIONS BOYS!

ps- maybe when little leon gardineer starts playing, grandma might be the craziest fan out there:).

happy news from the week! happy photos from the past!

1- megan came home today exploding with the news that she had a 96 in trigonometry, and the highest grade in her english class. then she strutted around the kitchen, the way only megan can, and challenged every one within ear shot to beat that! i'm thinking sibling rivalry and school grades is a very healthy thing! especially if it inspires miss megan.


2- last night at hailey's open house, her teacher's kept raving about how smart the kids were in her classes, and "on and on" with great reports. I really liked all of her teachers, and felt like she was really in good hands for the year! that makes me very happy:).



3- sadie is happy!!! things are good, in provo and las vegas!!! yes.


4- dr. tuggle has moved back to our side of town! she is now practicing at the north tenaya office. as i thought about it, i realized i have followed her from west flamingo, to rancho, to eastern and now 8 minutes away; north tenaya. she is my favorite pediatrician EVER! and hailey learned at her visit monday, that she is officially taller than her mother :(. i will forever be the shortest bunker!


5- my hormones must be in a really good place because the constant ribbing i have been getting this week, has pretty much been rolling right off my back! i made the mistake of telling jon on saturday that i had been having a hard time finding the right time of day for getting to the gym. i shared that i thought it might be a good idea to go as soon as hailey got off to school, around 7:30. monday, after hailey left, i went back to bed. whoops! and since then, the daily chuckles at my expense, have not been inspiring :). tonight, the first time i've cooked dinner this week, he told the girls not to complain and just eat the vomit that was on their plate :). i'm actually laughing typing about it. i'm sure you all would have enjoyed a big chuckle if you were present, but someone else whose hormones weren't doing as good as mine, could have been offended!


6- sadie, megan, hailey and i are headed for one last lay on the beach, dive in the waves, and weekend in california! just because we CAN! this is something people can do, spur of the moment, when they are not dancing on saturdays! i am excited to experience this again, it has been MANY years since the girls were free on saturdays. it would only be fun though, if everyone can pack their own bag, lug their own beach stuff, and be happy in the car on the way to and from. we're there!!!


hope you all have a happy weekend!!!

BEING JOYFUL

I very much enjoyed Sunday School yesterday. Our lesson was on "being JOYFUL people", or at least that is what I got from it. One of the quotes that was read was by Heber C. Kimball. I want to share a part of it!

"I am perfectly satisfied that my Father and my God is a cheerful, pleasant, lively, and good-natured Being. Why? Because I am cheerful, pleasant, lively, and good-natured when I have His Spirit. That is one reason why I know; and another is - the Lord said, through Joseph Smith, "I delight in a glad heart and a cheerful countenance." That arises from the perfection of His attributes; He is a jovial, lively person, and a beautiful man." (Journal of Discourses, 26 vols., 4:, p.222-223)

Do you LOVE that description of Father in Heaven?

Joseph Smith also said, "Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God." (TPJS, pp. 255-56)

Sometimes I guess I need to be reminded that I SHOULD be happy. When I sit down and think about it, I really have nothing to be UNHAPPY about! Even when stuff happens, and it does happen to ALL of us, the key is in finding peace and joy in troubled times and learning how to do the hard things in a cheerful manner! At the end of class, he had us all look at our index at the back of The Pearl of Great Price, and look up "joy". As we read through the scriptures listed, he asked us to share the one that stuck out to us, or was meaningful to us in some way. The one I chose was, Ether 6:12. Since I didn't share it in class, I want to share it here!

"And they did land upon the shore of the promised land. And when they had set their feet upon the shores of the promised land they bowed themselves down upon the face of the land, and did humble themselves before the Lord, and did shed tears of joy before the Lord, because of the multitude of his tender mercies over them."

It really is possible to shed tears of joy, and I can only imagine the gratitude they must have felt when they arrived at the promised land and were able to get out of their barges (I get claustrophobic just thinking about their trip across and under the many waters!) and recognize ALL of God's tender mercies along the way!

Then to top the day off, Elder Holland gave a CES fireside last night, and as always, he was powerful! His topic was taken from sections 121, 122, and 123 of the D&C. I pray the next time I face a serious trial, that I can remember his words and return to those sections for a remembrance of the teachings he extracted from them. He made me feel like I could actually get through the very hardest of life's experiences, and become a much better, stronger, more "in tune" soul because of it. "Therefore,...let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with utmost assurance,...and wait for his arm to be revealed." (D&C 123:17)

I'm going to try to REMEMBER to be CHEERFUL each and every day of my life! This picture of Tod and Kristen many Easter's ago, makes me happy:).

slacker!

where have i been?
here!
nothing interesting been going on?
actually, quite a few things worth writing about.
really!

i have been trying to write for many days, things just kept interrupting me before I even got started. here goes.

school started for megan and hailey last week.
megan is a SENIOR at bonanza high school. i know. unbelievable!
she is out of school at 9:55 am. each day. i know. unbelievable!!!
she has four classes this year; government, trig/stats, english and student aide.
bonanza is doing a block schedule this year, so she has two classes each day, an hour and a half each class.
what's a mother to do?
her report? i think she is liking it. she knows everyone in her classes:). they don't seem too hard. (yea!) and, she has re-kindled an old friendship with taylor strat...can't remember what caused all the bad feelings..i am very happy for them:). no picture of the first day of school, but here is one taken from the first week!

hailey is in eight grade at johnson middle school. holy cow, where do the years go?
she has eight classes and i'm not even sure what they all are. i know she keeps asking me if her math is right and i have NO CLUE! how sad is that? :(.
her report? she doesn't have friends in all of her classes. something about no one being on her team! she is sick of hearing me say, "it's a great reason to make NEW friends!" she is trying to be positive though. she enjoyed being home after school last week, because dance classes hadn't started yet. here is her first day of school picture.

sadie moved into a new apartment in provo last week. yes, i was there to help her:). we are getting very good at carrying things up and down stairs, and packing the car very tight so we only have to make one trip. hopefully she will be very content in the lanai apartments for the coming year. she is living with three other girls, yes, actual room mates, and they ALL seem very nice. we're crossing our fingers :).

our dear friend and neighbor, travis slade arrived home last thursday, safe and sound, after serving very faithfully in the georgia, macon mission. yes, this is journal worthy, because he is like one of our family. it was great to SEE him and HEAR him again! i tried to take a picture of him, without being too obnoxious, but it isn't very good. sorry! i'll share it anyway!



tod has been up to something! i'll just say i'm glad i didn't know ahead of time so i didn't have to stress! he will teach me to just relax one day i know, whether i like it or not!

labor day was really fun! sadie and i finally got to see the second batman movie, "the dark knight". we liked it! then a small bar-b-que and swimming, followed by a great visit from uncle clive, aunt michele and our cousin melanie. that was really a treat!

tuesday, jon took off for some "BUSINESS" at pebble beach! i hope he has a GREAT time! at least the weather seems to be cooperating!

kristen and i spent the day making a baby blanket (heaven forbid!) and some burp cloths for lauren's new baby brother! personally, i am getting pretty excited to meet this little man!

life is good. we are still living it here on shenley court. here's to making another post before the week is up:)!