yikes. so many pictures.

I'm going to try and get all of my Christmas pictures done in two more posts. Which means there will be a slight picture overload.

We hadn't been 'home' to Utah for two years so we had a lot of catching up to do!!

Baby Metta had yet to meet many of her extended family members- but our trip for Christmas got her all caught up with cousins and aunts and uncles.

Here she is with my sister Metta's baby Charlotte.  They were pretty good pals- except when my Metta would try to climb on top of Charlotte or rip her bows off!  Baby Charlotte is six months.

Metta LOVED trying to find the elusive black cat- Spooky. And play with her mouse toys.  Gross.  She loves to carry things around in her mouth.

and Zeb got to play with his cousin Henry.  They were pretty good to each other most of the time :)

they look so grown up!!

We were there this year to take part in the big 'Howell Family Party'.  I grew up with a ton of cousins on both sides of my family- and they are all still great friends today.  we missed half of the families- but still got together with those who could make it!  I really do love living in Ohio so so much- but I will admit that being around all of these great people makes me realize just how much I'm missing!

Here's the immediate family.  We didn't get a single decent 'normal' picture- so this is our best family shot :)  But- we're weird like that so it works.  And I was told the party was 'ugly christmas sweater' style- thus the gingerbread sweater.  Apparently everybody else missed the memo. Besides baby Charlotte.  Her tutu and hairbow are pretty bad :)

The Mills.  My pseudo siblings. Janna just got home from her mission in London!!

and the Jayneses (minus several siblings and spouses).  They make the white elephant party the best.

here's the traditional ladies breakfast at mimis.  Tanner was our chauffeur so we let him come along.  Have I mentioned that I have THE best cousins and aunts?!

we did a lot of cousin time and eating out while we were there!  eating out is one of my favorite things in the entire world!!  thanks, mom and dad, for sponsoring our dining while we were there :)  My little sis Metta works at Harvest- a fancy restaurant at Thanksgiving Point- so we went there quite a few times and used her discount :)  And giggled a lot.  I'm sure we were so bothersome to the other fancy diners.

Here Daysa (my youngest sister) and I were trying to get out tongues stuck to ice sculptures at the restaurant.

We also were lucky enough to see Grandma and Grandpa Oswald while we were there!  My dad drove all the way up to Idaho to pick them up and bring them back so we could spend a morning with them.  It was lovely.  And I'm so blessed that my kiddos get to meet their great grandparents!

Plus- grandpa Oswald gave out old fancy real silver dollars while he was there!!  Grandma Oswald's sister is named Marietta- and that's where the original 'metta' started.  So there are three in our family right now- and to make matters more confusing- my great aunt metta is married to a Kent!

For Christmas Eve and Day we bounced back and forth between the Miller and Oswald houses.  It's nice to be able to see both families when we come home!  I can't imagine if our parents lived states away!

Christmas Eve was spent doing our traditional take out dinner. We had sushi, cafe rio, chinese, olive garden, fried pickles, texas roadhouse rolls, ribs, and more.  I LOVE it.  So does Kent.

We also did our much anticipated homemade Pixie Pal gift exchange.  Kent drew Laney's name this year (it's always top secret until that night) and was bound and determined to redeem himself  from his first pixie pal gift exchange ever.  He made the sad scary armless sock monkey from 2003 a new sock kitty friend.  With some new found skills taught by his mom- I'd say Kent has improved tenfold. Must be all the suturing at work and the project runway he's been watching with me :)

The gifts were pretty spectacular this year!  My bro-in-law Taylor had me and made me the COOLEST church 'quiet book/activity set' EVER.  I am so impressed!  It's going to get it's own blog post. and then I'll pin it. and I'll be the most popular pinterest pin for a week at least :)

Christmas morning was lovely.  Kent surprised me with a terribly expensive gift.  I returned everything else he got me (like ridiculous 9 dollar nail polish and hideous eyeshadow that he know I'd hate)- and then put all of our christmas money straight into our accounts (meaning it isn't for 'fun' stuff).  I love Kent.  He knows me perfectly.

Zeb got all he wanted.  A Power Rangers Samurai Megazord. It's hideous and I loathe power rangers.  But he is so happy.

Metta got one gift from Santa (Nannie Annie).  A stuffed cow. She LOVES it.





And she loved scavenging everybody's oranges from the bottom of their stockings.  She loves orange peels. Gross.


































Ikey got some awesome star wars speeders and racers that zoom on the hard floors and a gazillion hot wheels.  Zeb picked out two awesome hot wheels cars for him at his 'Secret Santa Shop' at school and was so so excited to give them to Ike.   It was adorable.


I feel like this was sort of my last Christmas with a sister at home. Technically she lives away at college but was home for Christmas.  But by the next time we make it 'home' for Christmas who knows where she'll be.  Everybody is grown up! and it makes me feel like an adult.

Just some random shot of kiddos.

Milly is the cutest munchkin and I can't wait until metta can get pigtails like hers!!

Milly and her mommo.

Sister Metta and her family.

the BYU dinosaur museum.

And finally- I took some family pictures of Metta and her hubby Clair- and their baby Charlotte.  This one is my favorite because I LOVE baby Charlotte's crooked face smirk. It's her trademark for sure :)

Just one more long Christmas post and I'll move on :)

The parents take us all on a Christmas Cruise...down Provo River :)

I've got a TON of Christmas posts to get up.  We had the most wonderful Christmas!!  it was definitely adventurous and full of all sorts of memories.  And I'll try to get them all posted in the next few days!!

First up-our travels.  Second- the cruise :)

I posted this very picture four Christmases ago.  When I flew 8 months pregnant and we got stuck on the TARMAC for four hours.  And at three AM when we finally took off- Kent spilled a full class of crananpple juice all over a sleeping Zeb. And they lost all of our luggage.  Yeah.  This year was worse.

I was flying solo with the 3 rugrats because Kent's Christmas break was short- and I wanted to make my trip worth the money it was costing!!  We started with a delay flying into the Denver Blizzard- and it all went downhill from there. I almost took a few pictures of the chaos- but I was a little too stressed and exhausted to get out my camera.  And it would have been too pitiful anyway.

I must begin saying that we were the recipients of many Christmas miracles and acts of kindness by countless strangers.  And I am ever so grateful for ALL of it. And my kids were amazing. So well behaved.

We got to Denver only to realize the flight we were told was waiting- had actually left on time 90 minutes earlier.  When I dragged my three kids off the flight with all of our carry on bags ( I'm too cheap to check anything)- we were greeted with the news that my double stroller had been lost.  Strike ONE.  How was I supposed to carry three OVERSTUFFED bags, one large diaper bag, a nine month old, and keep track of two young kiddos?!

STRIKE 2.  We had to make the journey to the other end of a LONG terminal to get to the customer service kiosk to get help on a new flight.  And when I FINALLY got there- there were LITERALLY 100 people in line ahead of me.

I parked us at the back of the line and tried to figure out what to do.  I decided I really needed to find my stroller and randomly asked the people in line in front of me to watch my bags and kids.  ?!!?  I can't believe I walked away from my bags and kids!!  I had Metta with me and returned to our flight gate to ask about my stroller.  Wesley told me the stroller was still missing and that I needed to go back to customer service. I realized I HAD to take action myself and told him I needed his help.  I couldn't wait in the line- and I HAD to get home.  He told me he could check his computer and make reservations if there were any available.

Strike THREE.  No flights available to provo OR salt lake city until SUNDAY!  it was WEDNESDAY. Are you kidding?!?!  I went back to customer service defeated.  What was I going to do?!  I talked to my new friends in line and discovered they too had missed a Provo flight.  And that they were from Dayton!  and in the stake adjacent to ours.  I knew they looked like friendly and trustworthy people :)

I felt like I should go back to wesley rather than wait an hour to talk to another agent,  When I got there I did my very best to get him to understand my situation!  three kids. alone.  we HAD to get home!  I asked him if it would help if I cried- and got my three kids to cry at the same time with me.  He told me it WOULD help :)  in weather related delays an airline isn't obligated to put you on other airlines or get you hotels- but they would more likely help in extenuating circumstances.  And so I begged!  and Zeb said we needed to say a prayer. And we did.  And after fifteen  minutes- Wesley put us on the TOP of the standby list for the next flight to Salt Lake.  We were bumped ahead of 200 people to the top.  Spots 1, 2, and 3.  And while he figured it all out-a FULL flight of people were waiting to board. And their flight left 17 minutes late because of him helping us from his gate computer.  I sent an e-mail to the airlines thanking him.

The next flight to slc was to leave in two hours- and he told me there were 8 people who would be landing late from other places and wouldn't make the salt lake flight so we were going to get three of those spots!  two hours later a new gate agent told us we were boarding in moments. And then she changed her mind.  There was no flight crew?!  and one wouldn't be available for two MORE hours.  by this time all three of my kids were dead asleep on the floor.  My dayton friends had gone and bought us DINNER and the kids had zonked after eating.  But now those 8 people on different flights were going to make their connections and we were flightless again.

I was pretty hopeless.  By this time another lady and another family of five had shown up who were also trying to get to provo/slc.  Still no flights until Sunday.  We tried to rent a big van to drive from Denver.  Really.  but there was not a single rental car available. We tried the train and greyhound. NOTHING.

Zeb woke up and started crying and I almost lost it. I HAD no idea what we were going to do.  Then Zeb said we needed to say another prayer and he got down on his hands and knees in the denver airport and said  his own little prayer.  It was adorable and so faithful.  And I felt like we needed to stay where we were and wait it out.  Even though the gate lady told us to get a taxi and get a hotel and call back in the morning.

Three hours later the flight started to board.  My kids were all zonked again and I was just standing and waiting.  And then the flight had almost completely boarded and a ticket agent walked up to me and handed me three tickets and told me we'd made it on.  I have NO idea how it happened.  People around me literally cheered.  I cried.  And then three strangers picked up my three sleeping kids. and others grabbed bags and we walked onto the flight.   At five AM dayton time we landed. And my dad was there to pick us up. and our stroller was there waiting?!  how did it even get to slc? it was marked for provo!!

It was such a long long day. But we made it and prayers were answered. and I made new friends.

And we got to start our Christmas fun!!!

The Cruise.

 It really is one of the best Christmas traditions!  FREEZING cold- a little overpriced- and quite short in length. But AWESOME nonetheless.

The Provo River Christmas Cruise!!

it's a pretty ghetto cruise (a big raft with thirty or so people crammed on)- but there are beavers swimming in the water- Santa shows up on a canoe- and you're kept warm by the people around you :)

Cousin (sister) Janna was home off her mission and we got to see her for the first time!!  The Mills cousins are more like immediate family. We grew up just a few blocks apart our entire lives- and I love them all to bits.

This year a breaker blew and half the river wasn't lit up :) We enjoyed it all the same!

 When Santa showed up Zeb informed us he wasn't real.  He was "too young".  He didn't have a "santa voice" and Santa doesn't "float around on a canoe".  Valid points, Zeb.

 Ike zonked at the end.  We were still trying to catch up from the previous night's travelling shenanigans. Cousin Tanner was a champ to carry him since Kent was still in Ohio!

we finished with fabulous hot chocolate from McDonalds.  I  love their hot chocolate.  And I love all of these girls.

Best past few days ever. Kent is HOME.  

He loved running around with a bulletproof vest and rubber rifle while avoiding fake land mines and pretending he was a GI Joe Medic- but I'm just happy to have some holiday time with him! because we ship out this week and leave him to continue working.  I'm so blessed to have a husband with a great job and a great work ethic- even if it means I don't spend as much time with him as I'd like! Thanks, Kent- for doing it all.

The past few days with Kent have been FULL of festivities!  I love christmas parties!  I love ALL parties really.  

Friday night was Kent's work party. I didn't get any pictures- but it was great.  Kids were invited but I threatened to not go if Kent wanted to take the kids. It was a fancy dress up party and I had no desire to dress up and then wrangle kiddos while eating fancy hors d'oeuvres that they wouldn't touch.  It was lovely to have a night with just Kent.

Saturday night we had our Christmas Extravaganza.  Wear your most festive outfits- and bring your tackiest gift.  It was so fun.  My cheeks hurt from laughing so much!

I got my sweater on a black friday special at Meijer. Kent's is from the Goodwill. The mistletoe and antlers are from Target.

I didn't get nearly enough pictures.  I missed most of the couples who came.

I need to get myself a singing tie and candy cane turtle neck.

The white elephant gift exchange is my FAVORITE part of any party.

Check out the Unicorn picture.  I found that beauty at the goodwill. The Darth Vader Mug (and another wookie mug) were the hot items of the night.

We won Kent's hat and an assortment of canned fish from Russia. Just what I wanted.

Two of the best gifts that night-  wwf talking figurines.

And best sweaters of the night. Amber's santa was a toilet seat cover?!? and Travis' sweater lit up.  Very nice, Barlows.

The rugrats are so excited for Christmas.  We haven't seen some of our family for TWO YEARS!!  that it waaaaay too long and I can't wait for the parties.  Plus- everybody needs to meet our Miss Metta.  Her Auntie Metta has never even seen her in real life!!

She looks more and more like an elf every day with her red scrappy hairdos and her pointy ears. The striped leggings help, too.  She is the funniest little girl.  

And I had to include this picture.  She constantly has her mouth wide open.  It must be genetic- because I have the exact same problem. Always talking or eating or laughing.  She'll even pose like this!  really.

And finally- I HAD to include this.   It's classic.  Yesterday our home teacher called and asked if he could drop something off for the Holidays. Guess what he brought?!  A real live made from scratch ginormous and heavy as a brick classic FRUITCAKE.  He says it's his grandma's recipe.  He also said his wife told him not to deliver them to his families!  that it would be tacky.  

I had to take pictures.  I think if we wrapped it up- it could last for years :)  this thing was a BEAST.

if by chance our home teacher reads this- we ate the whole thing. It was delicious.

Merry Christmas!!

staying busy without Kent!!

I'm a busybody. And with Kent gone- my busybody goes into full force.  I like to be out and about distracting myself from lonlieness :)

We've had Christmas parties and all sorts of other fun nearly every day!  Just a few days left.

And qunicy has been having all sorts of her own fun :)  here are a few of her antics from the past week!

this one was Zeb's favorite!  She decided to go for a flight on the plane he made at Lowes.

This little trick made Zeb FURIOUS!  He folded his arms and told me he was 'disappointed' in qunicy.  I had been hesitant about having the elf do anything 'naughty' (aren't we trying to get our kids to be nice?!?) but I thought toilet papering the tree would be fun.  Boy- was I wrong.  he got on the bus grumpy because of it.  "What if I need to Poo, mom? and Qunicy used all of our toilet paper??".

here we go....

Trying out the real deal photoshop for the first time.  With Kent gone- I gave myself a goal of jumping into my photoshop elements program and figuring out the basics.  I've never used it before (I've only used  small contrasting/brightening tools already in our windows picture viewer). 

 Here's to hoping it makes a big difference with my picture taking.

And here's to Miss Metta in her Holiday dress.  I bought it at the Gap in 2004 when I worked there right after I got home from my mission.  I paid three dollars! and now- 8 years later- I'm finally using it :) 

Every morning I wake up to find her hair a little wilder and her personality a little crazier.  I'm pretty sure all babies this age are wiggly and extremely vocal (?)- but the other 17 babies at church are a little younger- a lot quieter- and 100% less mobile.  So I feel like she's UNRULY. 

just spreading a little christmas cheer.

  We've succumbed.  The Elf on the Shelf made it into our house.  I remember elves on shelves at my Grandma Oswald's house every Christmas growing up- so this little elf brings back fond memories.  I wasn't going to cave into the insanely overpriced elf until Zeb couldn't stop talking about it.  ALL of his friends have elves on shelves.  Why didn't Santa send us one!?  and then I found the whole book and doll shebang online for 13 bucks.  Still a stretch- but better than the 29.95 Target was asking!!

And so we present- Quincy.  Our elf on the shelf.  Named after Zeb's good pal.

And here are some pics of the rugrats sending Christmas cheer to Kent. He's gone. For waaaay too long (which really isn't all that long) at field combat/casualty training.  I guess it's supposed to be really fun (minus the fact that he has to eat MREs for days on end- which apparently leads to constipation! ha! ).  He's training to be a doctor out in the 'field'- so that way if/when deployment occurs- he's ready :)  

Best picture of the day.  I love her angry face.  

And Zeb- my Christmas tree head.  This Elf thing is getting him so excited.  I love seeing his little eyes light up- and his head churning-while he tried to figure out how it works.

Ike's christmas list is impossible. It grows exponentially each day.  Every commerical he sees- he shouts: "I want that on my Christmas list".  Every store we go to- he adds items to it.  He's even creating Metta's list when things are "too girly" for him.

 I haven't blogged very well the last week.  I've been crazy busy- which I love.  working, playing, chasing kids.

This little ragamuffin has suddenly become not a baby anymore.  She's climbing stairs.  She's going through a crazy growth spurt and is obsessed with solid foods.  Bottles just don't cut it these days.  She loves broccoli, beans, blueberries, carrots, zucchini, and even tomatoes.  I am going to force her to be my good eater.  So far so good.

and look at her hair!!! so crazy red.  people comment on it everywhere we go.

Oh- and before I forget- I need to write this down.  Last week after church Zeb was upset about Kent having to go to work.  He turned to me and said word-for-word: "mom, I hate to tell you this- but you talk to me too much." and then he turned to Kent and asked: "can mom go to work instead of you, dad?".  Zeb is usually my buddy.  The one who loves his mom the most.  We're 'best friends' he tells me.  I guess I've got to stop talking to him so much, though.

I've also been doing a lot of picture taking lately.  I've been trying to practice with friends in the area.  I've realized I don't really like taking pictures of babies.  I prefer families or toddlers.  I really do like just taking pictures, though.  and I definitely like to learn new stuff.  

Check out my practicing here.  Don't judge- I'm definitely in the thick of the learning curve, still.  Photography is pretty stinking complicated.  Really I want to be able to make a few bucks so I can buy my dream camera (the nikkon d7000!!) and some new lenses.