what a day.

You know, if kent has to be gone all of the time (okay, not all of the time, but LOTS of the time) studying and doing schoolwork, I sure am glad that I am in such a rad place like (holy) Toledo. The people here are astounding.

This morning we started off cleaning the church building. After the cleaning we had an enrichment craft activity. Later in the day we had the wonderful opportunity to go to George's baptism! I love George. Sure, he's odd, but he is such a sweet and kind man. Zeb loves him. It has been such a great thing to get to know him over the last six months. This picture doesn't do justice to his key obsession. I think he didn't wear them all because it was his baptism!

After the baptism we had the sister missionaries over for dinner. The sisters in our ward are absolutely wonderful! I can't explain just how much I love being able to live here in Ohio and be a part of the work.

maybe that's why....

The rugrat has lost his voice. I hope that it isn't accompanied by a sore throat because it's pretty cute actually. This video snippet shows just how bright out little Einstein is. I think that he understands a lot of what we say. He is quite the obedient child.

I have been wondering what caused his loss of voice and then I remembered what had happened early yesterday morning. As you all know, Zeb is mobile. Mobile children seem to find the nastiest and weirdest of carpet detritus. Yesterday morning was no exception. I looked over to see zeb chomping away with this nasty little gray straggler hanging out of his mouth. Upon closer examination and IMMEDIATE extraction, I found THIS!!!! AHHHHHHHHHH. He had the whole freaking thing in his mouth. As I pulled it out of his mouth, and it kept coming and coming, I actually dry heaved. I didn't even dry heave when I was pregnant! I have no earthly idea as to what it is or where it came from. It looks like a dirty mop string, but we don't have a mop!!! what does it look like? any ideas on what it could be? click on the image to get a better look. nast-o.

In spite of the voice and nasty wormy thing, Z has been healthy, happy, and cheerful! Last night I asked him to go to bed early and he went to sleep at 6:45 (obedient, huh?). At six Kent got home from his meijer scavenger hunt (which included many a perilous search. you'll have to ask him about it as some of his adventures at the store are not blog appropriate) and picking up Chili's takeout--oh so delicious and free (we finally spent the gift card he gave me Christmas 2006). Zeb ate dinner with us and then promptly zonked. Such a good little rugrat!!

Kent, will you "peas" be my Valentine?

thanks for tricking me into that valentine's date four years ago! The Valentine's days have just gotten better and better since then :) I love you Ralph.

a day of LOVES (1 and 2)

I LOVE LOVE LOVE (#1)teaching. Is that weird? I think that teaching is my hobby. Some people like to scrapbook, some paint, some do crafts, some dance. I teach. Even at six AM I can't believe how much I enjoy teaching the Old Testament to teenagers :)

Luckily for them I decided to make strawberries and whip cream with buttermilk syrup (#2. my second love. I love this stuff) on French Toast for Kent for Valentine's day. They greatly benefited. Here are two of the five students. They are the only ones that showed up today. It was five degrees and felt like -3 when they showed up. I can't believe that they are so dedicated. I don't know if I could have done it everyday in high school.

happy early valentimes

Yes, it's pink, but it's a large bug so I decided to let him play with it. He loves to shake it and listen to the eyeballs rattle around. Thank you nannie annie, gpa, and daysa for Zeb's valentine (apparently you forgot about your real family member, ME! zeb is only 50% Oswald you know!!). To Kent's chagrin, it leaves little Zeb covered in festive glitter. I think it's kinda cute. I can't wait till tomorrow! I absolutely love Valentine's Day. Yet another reason to do something special and exciting. Let's hope and pray that there isn't another minor snow flurry that shuts down Toledo. Yesterday everybody went crazy. No cooking group even! I was devastated and reveled in my fair share of sulking before Kent finally snapped me out of it. It was the first time I have been angry at the snow! I quickly shifted my blame to the city of Toledo and it's atrocious snow removal methods. It's all Carty Finkbeiner's fault. Dang liberals.

Happy International Pancake Day!!!

Yum! It goes on all day today! you aren't too late! Everybody head to IHOP (till 10 tonight) for free pancakes :)

We decided to head over after walking group to make sure the calories that we burned off were quickly returned! Six adults, nine kids, and 39 free pancakes. It was wonderfully fun. We all ordered waters as well. I was a little embarrassed at first but then realized...hey, what the heck, they are the ones offering free pancakes, right? and we did leave a nice tip.

The pancakes were giant and delicious! and all of the little girls loved the pink and purple syrup (strawberry and blueberry). I have decided that wherever something free is offered, there you will also find Mormons! Why is it that we flock to these events (remember how we showed up early in the pouring rain to get free mall t-shirts back in September)? I get excited about being a part of them! Maybe I'm crazy, definitely I'm thrifty (aka cheap) :)

Don't mind the fact that we all look so beautiful in our pictures. Not yet showered, no make-up, and great walking outfits. It was a blast to sit and chat. Zeb slept through most of the event, but did manage to get in a pancake at the end.

fabulous day :)

The day started off with seminary and I loved it. The six am thing wasn't nearly as bad as I thought (we'll see how tomorrow goes) and 2nd kings is full of great stories (the kids especially loved when I showed them real pictures of people with leprosy that had skin falling off and bones visible). Zeb woke up earlier than usual (6:45) and was in HEAVEN when he realized we had visitors. They loved him as well.

Later in the morning we had story time at the library for the little rugrat! I kinda cheated to get him in, but he LOVES it. The kids are supposed to be twelve months and older to participate. When they asked me how old he was, I replied "almost one". It's true, right? He's closer to one than zero. Plus, he was FAR better behaved than many of the nasty little toddlers there! they were baaaad. I'll get a picture next week to post.

This evening we had our friend George over for dinner. The man is HILARIOUS. I must get a picture for you all to meet him! He carries at least 100 (I am NOT exaggerating a bit) keys and other jangly things around on his belt. He is such a kind old man and, of course, Zeb loves him! For the occasion I decided to go all out and make some pretty fun recipes for dinner, both of which I will post for your enjoyment and use.
I cannot claim ownership of either recipe. Our "Bruschetta Stuffed Chicken" is from the Kraftfoods magazine and the "S'mores Brownies" recipe is from the Dockters who stole it from another ward member (please make yourself known if it was you!). Kent gave the stuffed chicken a TEN! it was so dang easy to make and was quite gourmet looking/tasting. George loved it as well :) He likes stuffed chickens a lot. The S'mores brownies are a fabulous and ridiculously easy way to spice up a simple treat.

BRUSCHETTA STUFFED CHICKEN

1 can (14-1/2 oz.) Italian-style diced tomatoes, undrained

1-1/4 cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese,

basil, to taste

1 pkg. Chicken Stuffing

Chicken breasts (1-2 lbs)

1/3 cup italian dressing (or any that you have)

pound the chicken flat with a meat tenderizer (in a freezer bag). Mix all the other ingredients except for 1/2 the cheese and dressing. Spread the stuffing mix evenly over the chicken breasts and roll them up tight (we used toothpicks to help them stay wrapped). Pour dressing over the breasts. Add remainder of the cheese with 2-3 minutes left.
cook 40 minutes at 350.

S'mores Brownies
prepare brownie mix as usual. With five minutes left pour choco chips, mini marshmallows, and crumbled graham crackers over the top. Put back in the oven! voila.

tomorrow!!!!

Tomorrow at six am I will be up and busy! This week I am teaching early morning seminary. Really, I think that it would be my dream calling minus the early morning part. The real teacher is on vacation for a week and I eagerly volunteered to take over while she was gone. I really miss teaching and I really miss talking to the crazies in that terrible teenage stage ! How great to be able to teach about something that I love this much!!! The topic is the Old Testament (2Kings)-which makes me a little worried- but I figured that the kids probably don't know any more than me so it can't be that hard. Embarrassingly enough I can say that I haven't read the Old Testament in it's entirety since my mission! Wish me luck. Mostly wish me that I'll wake up on time this whole week.

don't watch this if you get motion sickness!!!

Today we had our Valentine's Primary Activity! We went to a local retirement center and sang to people.We also made valentines with/for them. I really do love my little primary kids :) I had the grand privilege of riding in the "big gray beast". There are four rows of seats (it's capacity is 15). One of the kids we rode with is actually hiding behind one of the many rows! Our Bishop bought this ginormous thing to transport ward members for all sorts of activities. We got to use it today for the primary.
Serving in the primary has been fabulous because I learn/remember all sorts of songs to sing to Zeb. It still calms him down when he gets crabby or starts crying. When he was sick and at the hospital I'm sure that the nurses were getting pretty sick of hearing me sing the song "Tomorrow" from Annie. Right now his favorite song is "Do as I'm doing". Really he just likes watching me make a fool out of myself by shaking my body all around. Enjoy.

We got zeb's pictures taken before Christmas and I never posted any of them. I was looking through them today and I can't believe how different he is now. I feel like he has changed immensely. He's gotten a lot more hair for sure. Just over the past few days he has become so much more of a person. I cannot wait for him to walk and talk!! He is such a daddy's boy (thank heavens). Kent can't get any sort of studying or schoolwork done at home because Zeb will not leave him alone! This week has been rough on the Toledo Miller's home. Kent has been at school pretty late every night studying for the test he had today, but it is finally over and we have a weekend of no stress or studying!! I was getting pretty dang ornery (and by ornery I mean the Utah definition, not the Ohio one).

our bathing beauty

Everytime I take a video of Zeb I try and remind myself to not say anything stupid and not make myself sound like an idiot because eventually people are going to watch it. I fail miserably each time. Sorry about my obnoxious voice yelling at Zeb. Just ignore it. Here is our little creature saying "dad" and clapping. He will actually clap when we ask him to. What a smart little rugrat, huh?

I need Ideas!!!

For cooking group this month, the theme is "Romantic foods". I need help deciding what to make!?! I tried out a recipe for BTS cake and it was okay, but I just don't love cake, plus it's kind of anti romantic. I have looked up Aphrodisiac foods and have a list :) Now, I need some good recipes. I also have heart shaped baking dishes, so that could make anything a little more romantic I guess! If you have any ideas, I would love the help. I am open for anything, the recipe doesn't have to include anything from this list! Is there some recipe that you always make on Valentine's day? what do you consider to be romantic food??

Asparagus, Avocado, Bananas, Basil, Chocolate, Carrots, Fennel, Figs, Ginger, Oysters, Pineapple, Strawberries, Truffles, and Vanilla.