Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree...

Earlier this year I told Rob I didn't want to do a Christmas tree this year because we are remodeling our basement and everything from down there is upstairs.  I already feel like it's too crowded upstairs.  However, once I saw all the other Christmas trees going up and started to get into the Christmas spirit I decided we should do a "small" tree.

We have been getting a live tree for the past three or so years and I love the tradition.  Once we got to the tree place, we ended up with a bigger tree then I had imagined.  However, it fits ok in our front room.  So I guess it all worked out.  I wanted to share our tree with you for those who will not have a chance to see it in person.

The girls camp theme for this past summer was Christmas so I made stockings for all the girls with their names on them.  As well as making stockings for the leaders who came to camp.  I had a couple of extras so I decided to make Rob one for Christmas.  They don't really match each other, and they aren't the ones I would pick, but I think they turned out good.

I also thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite ornaments with you this year!  Rob and I buy each other an ornament every year and I think it's a fun tradition.  Some of the ornaments are a bit crazy but I think it just shows our personality and what we think the other person would like.

My grandmother gave me the grandma making cookies years ago.  She passed away and when I pulled this ornament out it made me miss her.  She was the best!

Merry Christmas Everyone!  Enjoy the holidays!

Richard & Rosann's Wedding

It was a happy fall day when I found out my oldest brother was getting married!  Rosann fits right into the craziness of the Miller family.  I think they are a great couple.

Now I have to begin by saying I love my husband!  However, sometimes we don't communicate very well.  Which I think is the case in most marriages.  I wish Richard and Rosann all the luck in the world.  Anyway, Rob had to work the morning of the wedding so he missed the wedding ceremony.  We previously decided he would just meet us down at the temple after the ceremony for pictures.  We got out of the ceremony and I was texting Rob asking him where he is.  After about 20 minutes of going back and forth asking each other where the other one was I had a crazy thought that maybe Rob went to the wrong temple.  And sure enough, he traveled to the Bountiful temple via the Salt Lake temple from Layton.  For those of you who do not live in Utah, you pass Bountiful on your way to Salt Lake from Layton.  I didn't realize until it was too late that I had not communicated where the ceremony was going to be well enough.  Or the fact that the invitation was on the front of the fridge.  Rob didn't make it for family pictures but he was there the rest of the day.  He got some great pictures though!

I thought this would be a fun picture to include.  The photographer always make you do crazy things on your wedding day.  But it's fun to see the pictures later!

My mom wanted me to take pictures of all the families at the wedding.  I think the pictures turned out pretty well for being amateur! 

Steve's Family

Randy's Family

David's Family

Aaron's Family

AND

Rob and I (and David).  We didn't realize he had jumped in the picture until after it was taken.  I seriously love digital cameras.  I love how you can look at the pictures instantly and take another one if you have unexpected people in the background of your pictures.  While my brother Steve was taking this picture his oldest son Miles said to me, "Aunt Richelle, I just have one question for you." I said, "OK. What is it?"  Miles said "When are you going to have kids?"  It seems we get asked this question a lot at family get togethers.  And it isn't usually the adults.  It's more the kids.  A week after we were married my sister's oldest son Jennings asked us when we were going to have kids because he wanted to babysit.  I wish I had a better answer for everyone, but we really don't know.  Hopefully soon!!

All in all I thought it was a successful day.  The wedding luncheon was the best I have ever had!  I was glad they didn't serve chicken cordon bleu for once!  And then they had the best soups for the refreshment at the reception.  If I had another reception, I would totally serve soup.  Who says you have to stick with the cookies or cakes.  I thought the soup idea was awesome!

We said farewell to Richard and Rosann.  And yes, that is a corn husk on the antenna.  I guess it's against the law to put anything behind the vehicle now.  Something about a danger hazard.  Whatever!

Uncle Richard

I think my favorite uncle has always been my dad's brother Richard.  My mom's brothers and brother-in-laws tried to play with me, but they ended up scaring me most of the time.  So I never really liked them.  They are less scary now but I think Richard is still my favorite.  Maybe it is because my uncle Richard has a daughter close to me age.  Or maybe it's because he always seems to truly care about what is going on in my life.  Who knows.  Anytime we get together I take pictures of the brother's.  I think they look a lot alike and have the same great big smile!  They sure do have a lot of fun stories to re-tell every time we get together.  It's a lot of fun.  

Waiting For Daddy

Maggie often waits for Rob to get home by waiting by the front door.  I think it's super cute!  She loves Rob.  I can't imagine our house without her.

Homemade Donuts!

One of the benefits of being married to Rob is he can make almost anything my heart desires.  The bad thing is Rob makes it so good I want to eat the whole batch.  Last Sunday he made homemade donuts.  They don't look like the store bought donuts, but they tasted awesome!  My mouth is watering just looking back and these pictures.  I bet you're getting hungry from Rob's homemade donuts.  Aren't ya?!

Canning

I was really bummed about having to throw out most of our food storage after it was exposed to high volumes of mold.  So I promised myself I would immediately start to replenish our supply.  In August Rob's buddy from high school had connections to get 40 lb boxes of apples for $10!  We jumped at the chance.  We then canned for the next two weeks or so.  I am just now starting to even look at apples again.  Haha!  This was a major blessing.  Last year Rob's mom helped us make apple pie filling that was awesome.  We wanted to do that again this year.  However, we added cranberries to the recipe.  You have to understand that Rob is an amazing cook and often likes to add things to an existing recipe.  Which usually works out more amazing than the original!  This was no exception.  The pie filling is amazing!  We haven't actually made pie yet but it is super yummy on oatmeal waffles!  Mmmm I need to make some oatmeal waffles now.  Anyway, I can't remember how many cans we filled but our food storage supply is slowing building back up.  It feels good to be prepared!

Disappointed Candy Cane Lover

Today I saw a little girl go up to a plastic candy cane decoration and lick her hand then touch the plastic candy cane then lick her hand again. Her face said she didn't get the flavor she was expecting. After looking around to make sure her mom wasn't looking she licked the candy cane directly. Her face was priceless. I could hear her thinking, "Icky! That doesn't taste like a candy cane!" It was hard not to laugh out loud!

Miller Family Reunion 2010

My (Richelle's) family has a tradition of going on a reunion every other year. Each time a different sibling is in charge. It was our turn this year. We think it turned out well. Usually our family reunions are jam packed with things to do and places to see. This year Rob requested that we not plan a whole lot to let it be more relaxing. I think we will the same every time it is our turn to plan. It was a relaxing trip as I think camping should be. We went to Rockport State Park, which is just outside of Park City, UT. Rob and I go up there at least once a year to camp. It is beautiful up there! The past few times I have scheduled a weekend trip is has rained! The week before the reunion I was stressed that it would rain the whole time we were up there. The forecast predicted rain. What do we do? Luckily we didn't get rained on at all! When it was over and we were driving home it began to pour!

I am impressed with how great all the cousins get along. 

They will not see each other for 6 months but when they get together they will play until dinner. You also have to know all the original Miller siblings love to act crazy and their kids love to act crazy too!

To prove the original Miller kids like to act crazy, I dressed up in my hoola skirt for the luau!
Now if you are wondering where we get out craziness from, you should check out this picture Rob took of my mother! I think my mom is hilarious! And it isn't that she is trying to be either. They things she does just make me laugh! I know she will kill me for posting this but I think the grand kids need to see how crazy grandma can act! They already know grandpa can act crazy! Love you mom! Love you dad!

The family decided to go hiking. It wasn't a very big hike. I think it was just right for all the little ones that came along. We saw a lizard on our hike. I remember catching lizards as a kid all the time but I'm not sure I'd like to hold one now!


And no... this is not an invitation for any of my brother's or nephews to bring me a lizard at the next reunion!

We also went swimming in the lake a few times. Charly, Scott and Cydni found this huge log that they carried all the way from the camp site to the beach! You wouldn't believe how hard it was to stay on that thing. It really couldn't hold more than 5 people at a time. Once the 6th person tried to get on, it would tip everyone over. It was a work out! I am so glad they found that log. It was tons of fun!

Rob and I bought each other a Camp Chief for our anniversary! We bought it a month earlier. We decided it would be fun to cook dinner for the family. I thought the dinner was awesome and there wasn't much left so I get the feeling my family thought dinner was awesome too. It was easier than expected to cook for everyone! I love the Camp Chief. We have since canned on it and it sure saves time. It also doesn't get the house hot in the summer so that is a bonus!


Rob and Richelle cooking dinner, acting crazy.

We got a change to sit around the camp fire and roast marshmallows. We usually like to roast Startburst too (something I picked up at girls camp as a leader) but I totally forgot I had them so there was no Starburst roasting this year! Total bummer! Rob and I found the coolest marshmallows ever this year! I couldn't believe how big they were. Charly is putting one on her roasting stick now. It was HUGE! They were too big for the roasting sticks a couple of times. We lost a few to the fire. Luckily we had enough to go around.


Our youngest camper award goes to Laina! She is so cute! She was a really good camper. There have been camping trips that the babies of the family just were not happy but Laina was great!

All in all I think it was a fun and relaxing reunion! I love my family! It's so fun to see all the out-of-towners as well as those who may not live far from you but that you haven't seen in awhile. There are so many different personalities but when we get together we can have a lot of fun! Thanks for a successful reunion everyone!