Make that 13!!!

Sorry, I didn't realize Morgan wasn't really smiling in the last picture so I guess this really is 13 pictures combined onto one!!!

Family Pictures

Wow!!! I can't believe just how much work it is to get 40 people to look at the camera at the same time, little alone smile (let's get real I would settle for at least looking happy). Last night for Family Home Evening we met at the park and took these family pictures. I think they turned out pretty good. (Thanks Wendy for setting this up, and Jeanette and Jessica for snapping shots of my very cooperative Family HA HA!!!) the group shot is actually 12 different pictures combined to make this shot!!! (If any one has a complaint or looks like a demon child please try to let me know by Wed. and I'll try to fix it. Sorry Liz, Becky & Jenn this is the best one there was of Chloe, Kenna, and Desi) On a Brighter note our family shot is only 2 different pictures!!!

Fall Cleaning?

I am cleaning the carpet today, and as long as I'm doing the job, I might as well tear the whole house apart , Right? Last night in preparation for the big job I helped Jeff move all the furniture (except the beds) off the carpet or into the garage. Now I'm off to Don Asslett's Cleaning Center to pick up the carpet cleaner!!! If any of you are thinking about cleaning your carpets, I strongly recommend renting this carpet cleaner. I works wonders!!! Somehow the spring cleaning of our carpets didn't get done, so I guess this is our Fall Cleaning!!!

Poor Little Choppy

Madison has caught the bug. Yesterday she threw up at school (on her desk in her class room to be exact, now she's going to be the kid that threw up on her desk for the rest of her life) :( Poor Little lamb. Yesterday was pretty rough, but she hasn't puked since last night around 8:00, so we're keeping our fingers crossed. Poor Little Choppy. I hate being sick.

Catching Up

Like the rest of you I feel like life has been CRAZY lately. Here are some of what has been going on lately!!!

About two months ago I found a mass at the base of my skull. I waited for a week to see if it would change, and it got bigger and more painful, so i went to have it checked out, they referred me to a specialists and I had an appointment 4 weeks later, now i don't know about you, but I'm not the best non-worrier there is, but I tried not to panic until we knew the facts. I finally was able to see the Dr. on July 17n and it's just a cyst! (the size of an apricot) He wanted to schedule surgery to remove it, but with girls camp and youth conf. just around the corner I asked if we could wait. He was able to relieve the pressure I was feeling (like a hot poker above my right eye) by draining the cyst in his office, and I have a follow up apt. next week.

Bear Lake was next, and I already posted a little about that. Along with our traditional Family Picture We had a lot of fun. Madison rode the Knee-board and I had so much fun watching her!!! Kyle still LOVES being thrown in the the lake from off the boat, what can I saw he's crazy!! I wasn't sure I would be skiing this trip, but I had the opportunity the last day of our trip!!! I Love Water skiing, and each year I worry that I won't be able to get up, but Jeff keeps me in line by Lovingly reminding me that, "It's Mind Over Matter." Well, any way I can still tear it up on the slalom ski!!! There were a lot of fun things going on for the 4th. There was a sand castle building contets, side walk chalk art contest, and fireworks!!! We also went swimming @ the pool, played horse shoes, miniature golf, and played on the huge playground!!! I have Wonderful In-Laws who put up with us and let us tag along!!!! Thank You Randy & Paulette!!!! The trip was Awesome!!! I love you both so much!!

Jeanette & Brad invited us up to their house for the 24th of July, for golfing, playing, laughing, fun, fun, and more fun, and to break in their new motocross track in their very own back yard!!! Justin was very generous and taught Madi to ride his motorcycle, and Spencer took Kyle around till his heart was content!!! Kyle and Travis had a blast discovering that they love playing together, and when they weren't begging Spencer for a ride, they were catching grasshoppers, fighting bad guys, or playing games. Madi and Justin were hooked at the hip, and Justin took care of all of her riding needs, including putting his riding boots on her so she wouldn't burn her leg on the pipe!!! Later we had an awesome feast, and snow shack (my favorite) then headed to Tremonton day's For the fireworks!!! So much fun!!! Thanks Atkinson's for a great time!!! (P.S. Can you guess what Madi is saving up her money for?)

I have mentioned Girls Camp in a past post also, but only briefly. Can I just say that I Love Girls Camp!!! I think part of my love stems from when I was a young women myself. This is where I started to branch form the testimonies of my parents and really grow my own testimony roots. The friendships that developed and the spirit that was felt helped me become the person I am today. As a leader I have realized just how much work and prayer goes into not only girls camp, but all of the activities, and they don't just "happen" to be great. On that note, I work with some of the best leaders in the church (I'm not biased at all!) These Women are wonderful, and they make my life better for being able to serve with them. I do have to say what a privilege it is to serve the young women in our ward as well. They are amazing and I truly Love them each of my girls. Their testimonies amaze me and I have partaken in a spiritual feast. Did I mention that I Love Girls Camp!!! A huge thank you to Mom and Erin for watching the Kids!! I don't know what I would do without you!!!

Then The kiddo's went back to school. Madison started 4th grade, and Kyle started 1st Grade!! I remember driving Madi to Mrs. Sandra's Pre-School and thinking it was going to be forever until Kyle was in Pre-School, and now that part of my life is done and over with. I can't believe how fast time flies, and I am constantly reminded that I need to simplify my life and take time for the things that are most important to me. I know it's supposed to be "Mother's Day" when the kids go to school ALL Day, but I miss them, and I miss My little shopping buddie. I do have to note that I am getting used to not stopping everything @ 11:18 everyday to pick Kyle up from Kindergarten everyday, and I even went to WalMart @ 2:00 the other day with no kids and I ran in and out in 7 minutes. Like all things, I'm sure I get used to it, and they do go off track in 4 1/2 more weeks. Remind me to read this again, to see if my perspective has changed!!! HA! HA! I'm sure it will have!!!

Because of the kid's starting school, and Jeff taking off the next week for Youth Conf. we were only able to go the the Thomson Family Camp out from Friday to Saturday, but we had a blast!!! I love how crazy my Family is, and how much fun we have when we get together!!! Brad invited Kyle to go fishing with him and his boys. He had so much fun, and caught 4 fish!!! Thanks Brad for letting him tag along!!! I brought up stuff to make duct tape wallets, and I had so much fun teaching the Older kids how to make them!!! We played my favorite Camp out Traditional Game of Who's Song Is It? Where Tom gathers every one's Favorite songs and compiles them onto a CD. We get to try and guess who picked each song, and he gives each family a copy of the songs to enjoy the rest of the year!!! We had a visit from the Village People, and even went to the beach for a swim!!! Thanks Liz and Dan for another great Camp out!!!

The next week was our Stakes Book of Mormon Youth Conf. Jeff & I have been preparing for this since January, and like most things, nothing could have prepared me for the amazing experience I had. Jeff has been able to participate in youth conf. when he was in the Bishopric, and I have been able to go because I served in Young Women's, but we have never gone together. I LOVED being able to share this experience with him!!! It truly was Amazing, We Were Lehi & Sariah to a family of 10 young men & young women in our stake, and we didn't know any of them. 2 1/2 days later we are family!!! My testimony and Love for the Book of Mormon has Grown, as well as my Love and Knowledge of the Savior!!! Thank you to everyone who made this wonderful experience happen. Especially Erin & Kendall!!!! We wouldn't have had this opportunity if it weren't for you willingness to help us out!!! Thanks Again!!!

For my 31st Birthday We decided to go to Lagoon!!! While we were there Kyle asked me, "Are you having a fun Birthday?" My reply, "YES, I'm having so much fun." Then he says, "I think this might be my favorite Birthday of yours, Mom!!!" I'm glad the kiddo's had as much fun as I did celebrating my 31st Birthday!!!

On Monday evening I started to feel kind of crappy, with a sore throat, headache, fever, aches and pains, and this really horrible cough. By Tuesday Morning I barely able to get out of bed. So, after I counseled all of my appointments, (Sorry, and Thanks for being so understanding to those of you that have to wait to have your hair or nails done) I pretty much slept all day long.(one of the privileges of having kids at school I guess) I talked to my Mom later,(Thanks for dinner, Mom, It was delicious) and she was worried about the swine flu, so I went and was tested that night. The rapid test came back negative, but they said 1 in 3 cases do, and I was supposed to assume I did have Swine Flu and wait for another culture to be sure. The Lab just called, and thank goodness I DO NOT have it and I am starting to feel a little better (my Fever broke this morning!!!) I know I have sucked at this blogging thing, but I am trying to do better, but no promises. I HATE lying!!!

This One's For You, Sammy!!!

We recently tore out our old "Awful" patio and the McMillan Concrete crew (Jeff, Matt & Randy, With Kyle as an honorary Member for the day) put in a beautiful, level, not cracked, smooth, new one!!! Kyle was in heaven in the uni-loader doing the demolition of the stairs, and wanted me to take pictures and video for Sammy. So, This One's For You, Sammy!!!! I hope you enjoy!!!!

Girls Camp, Youth Conf.!!!

This was for our Sponge Bob Day!!!

I Think I'm starting to get back into a rhythm. I don't pretend it feels like "normal" yet, but what is normal anyway? I had a wonderful time at girls camp, and grew closer to each of my girls. Youth Conf. was amazing and worth all of the preparation that went into it, (we've been going to meetings since January). Thank You to all who helped with the kiddo's (Especially Erin and Kendall. We Owe you big time, Seriously!!!) Here are a few of my Favorite Pic's.

AHH! Beautiful Bear Lake!

We had a fabulous weekend at bear lake! We played on the beach and in the water, swam in the pool, played miniature golf, took our traditional family pictures, played horse shoes, played lots of games, slept very little, ate too much, and I am very soar. Sadly not because of all the Awesome skiing I got in, (Although I did finally get to ski on Monday, darn migraines, and it was on glass!!!) The bed we slept on, or in my case didn't steep on, was GREAT!!! HA, HA! Can you hear the sarcasm in my voice!! We did manage to truly have a blast, and I can hardly wait for our next skiing trip. Well maybe I can wait a few more days, so I can get our of bed without looking like an eighty year old woman!!!!

A little light in the darkness

I think it's funny that when my life seems too crazy, and I'm running 100 miles an hour I catch a glimpse of something bigger than myself, and it makes me take a step back and put things back into perspective. Here's what did it today!

Jack-O-Lanters smile, Here we come!!!

Kyle lost his third tooth today, and he has 5 more loose teeth! Jack-O-Lantern smile, Here we come!!!

Pretending to be a first grader!!!

Kyle gets to eat lunch at school today, and he has been so excited all week! This morning he woke up and was in such a hurry to get himself and Madi ready and out the door (usually this takes more than a little prodding from me). When I asked him why he was in such a hurry, He Said, "I get to pretend to be a first grader!!!"

I Know, I Know I Suck @ Blogging

You don't have to say it I already know that I suck @ this blogging thing. But I am trying to do better, and as Liz pointed out to me while we were scrapbooking @ her house, it really is a great journaling tool, and I even used a post pretty much word for word for the journaling of a scrap page. (Feachered below, It's the Oh So Pretty Page!) Madi and Kyle only have 8 days until they are out for the summer, and I am so excited!!! We , like everyone else have a pretty packed summer, and I can't wait to sit out on the back patio and have a picnic and soak up some sun!! (I desperately need some. Can you say glow in the dark, and sadly this is with self tanner already applied to my paistey white legs.) Last Friday night Laura, Erin, Madi, Kyle and I went to Becky's house for a scrap party, and although I only got 1 page done, and I pretty much copied it straight from one of Erin's darling pages, it has kind of lit the fire under me again and I am getting the creative juices flowing again. I am so lucky to be blessed with such amazing sisters who seem to know just when I need an escape, and help me find myself when I get a little lost. Thanks for ALL you do I Love Ya Lots!!!

What is wrong with me?

Lately I have been bitten by the project bug!!! The kids are off track so we have been collecting fun things to do while they are home. We made fun puppets to go with our cute puppet theater we bought at IKEA. I made Madi a very cute skirt (pictures later), I made me 2 very cute skirts, I taught Madi how to use my sewing machine and she made this darling bag (lined and everything) and today I made my own Laundry Detergent. YES I said my own LAUNDRY DETERGENT!!! It was actually pretty easy and very cheap. I used this recipe:

Homemade Laundry Soap

1 bar Fels Naptha
1/2 cup washing soda
1/2 cup borax powder
1/4 cup dish soap
1/2 cup distilled vinegar
5 gallon bucket

Grate the soap and put it in a 20 quart pan. Add 8 cups water and boil it until the soap melts. Add 8 more cups of water, washing soda, borax, dish soap and vinegar. Boil until it is dissolved (stir occasionally). Add 16 more cups of water, boil for 10 minutes (stir occasionally). Let the soap sit for about 24 hours and it will gel. Pour into
container. Use 1/2 cup per load.

Note: I made two batches and but it in a 5 gallon water container with a spigot.

A year supply of cake!!!

I just got back from Albertson's (I know, I know I'm addicted) and bought 50 Betty Crocker cake mixes for only $14.35!!! I guess were having cake for every Family Home Evening and Young Women's major Activity for the rest of the year!!!

A Years Supply of Cake!!!

THANK YOU LIZ!!!!!

I DID IT!!! I DID IT!!! I DID IT!!! I finally got my crap together and did the whole grocery smarts thing! I have to admit, I was very intimadated (after all, Jeff is the grocery shopper at our house, and that is something I am VERY THANKFUL for) but after a quick and painless trip to the web site (http://www.grocerysmarts.com/ code g84ckc) and a few (six I think, THANK YOU again Liz) phone calls to Liz to talk me out of my curled up rocking huddle in the corner, I DID IT!!! I went to Albertsons last night and bought:

8 boxes- Cinnimon Toast Crunch

4 boxes- Frosted Flakes

2 boxes- Trix

14 cans- Progresso soup

4 boxes- Pillsbury Toaster Strudel

4- Grands Biscuts

6 boxes- Chex mix bars

2 bags- Chex mix

3 bags- Cheerios snacks mix

3 boxes- Sunkist lemon bars

8- Betty Crocker warm delights

4 boxes- Betty Crocker brownies

8 boxes- Betty Crocker fruit snacks

2- Betty Crocker frostings

2- Betty Crocker cookie mixes

4- Mentos Gum

1 Gallon- Chocolate Milk

79 Items ALL FOR: $37.03

WOW I might be hooked!!! I do have to disclose that I followed Liz's advise and went later at night (9:00) and that was definatly a good idea because there wern't very many people there. After I got everything (it was very easy because most of it was in a display at the front of the store) I went to the check stand, the checker was SO nice and she started ringing me up. After 3 transactions (I did 7) a women got in line behind me, and I started to panic I was litterally shaking. But, when she heard what my total was she asked me how I was doing this (she was very nice too). I did calm down a little (after all from start to finish it did only take 7 Minutes), and I did the party dance all the way home (sound effects included!!!) So if anyone wants to get a butt load of groceries for CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP!!! (This means you Becky Hancock) get on this web site http://www.grocerysmarts.com/ and start clicking on the links to down load your coupons, call the support line 1-800 LIZ (Thanks again Liz!) if you get a little paniced, just do it!!! It might be my new drug of choice!!!

More Life Stuff!!!

This week has been a little more crazy than normal at the McMillan house! Tuesday night was our Young Women's in Excellence. It went pretty well if I do say so myself!! I did cry so hard that right in the middle of bearing my testimony, my contact flew out of my eye, I was very swift at retrieving it though and put it back in once the program was over. That night Kyle started coughing a little and I thought to myself, I hope he isn't getting sick, well that question was answered at 1:30 in the morning with him coughing so hard it made him puke, then he choked on the Flem and turned blue. He did finally get the rest of that junk out and got a little rest, but Jeff and I didn't get much sleep after that little party. We went to the Dr. on Wednesday and they did a nebulizer treatment and took a chest x-ray to be sure it wasn't pneumonia (thank goodness it's not) and gave him some uber strong cough syrup. He still is hacking like there's no tomorrow, and I woke up with a sore throat. Needless to say I'm not going the the kid less scrap booking party at Mom's house tomorrow night. I'm so glad all of this waited until after Tuesday!!!

Just a little update

Well as you all know it's been FOREVER since I have posted on this crazy thing. Well here's a little peek into what has been going on lately at our house. In November we were sitting in the office and Jeff asked me if I had spilled something on the wall, Nope it was MOLD from a leak caused by whatever genius planted a drywall screw right in the middle of our kitchen sink drain. It didn't start leaking until the screw corroded. My office is still all torn apart and it lookes like a scrap book store threw up down there. New brakes for the van, only after going through the drive through at the bank and discovering that my window won't go back up, and oh ya, it was raining!! New brakes and tires for the jeep. Some kind of wiring problem with the van (still not fixed yet, the back passenger brake light still doesn't work) and wile backing out of the driveway to go to church, yep you guessed it, flat tire on the van. Anyone want to buy a slightly problematic 1999 green Chevy venture? Ally our dog got a hematoma on her ear and had to have surgery on her ear, 12 stitches, had a reaction from the medicine and had to go back to the vet for more meds, only after having an accident all over Kyle's blanket. Young Women's in Excellence. I took off my acrylic nails after having them for 15 years and still feel like I have someone else's hands on. The furnace went out on the night of our Family Christmas party, along with my palm pilot and ALL of my appointments for the rest of the year...can't leave the house in case I have an appointment I can't remember (remind me to sync my palm pilot later) Well you get the picture. BUT as Jeff lovingly reminded me at my moment of melt down
(Literaly) we are all healthy, it's only money, and we have each other, so my new years resolution for 2009 is to look for the silver lining and count all of my many blessings, because my life is pretty darn great, and what doesn't kill us makes us stronger, Right?

Disneyland!!!

We had so much fun in DISNEYLAND!!! The weather was nice (It was wonderful to feel the sun!) Kyle loved the princesses a little too much (what a lady's man) and could finally ride California screamin!!! Madi loves loves loves all the roller coaster rides and she and kyle ride with their hands up the whole time. We always have a blast when we spend time with our family, and who wouldn't have fun at Disneyland? A Great way to ring in the new year, if I do say so myself!!!!