top 10 reasons to go to disneyland... (instead of disneyworld)

10. disneyland is in california, not hurricane prone florida....

9. disneyland is closer, not MILES away like 3000+ to go to disneyworld...( so you might run into someone you know)
8. disneyland, both parks are nice and close in proximity, where as the disneyworld parks are spread over MILES and MILES... 7. disneyland, especially in may is not very busy, where as disneyworld lines always are MILES long...
6. disneyland is the original, disneyworld is, well, not...(look at our sMILES)5. disneyland has better member service, the princesses are friendlier, and the characters are nicer...
4. disneyland has the original rides, disneyworld, at best, has copies of these originals...
3. disneyland is like book 1 in a 4 book series... you cant jump to book 2 without reading book 1... 2. disneyland has kids fly free, disneyworld, doesnt...
1. go to disneyland... because i said so....
leave us comments on any observations you might have about the happiest place on earth... we would love to read them....

and then there were two...

our season has come to an end... well almost... only the awards banquet is left... we had a great season... we learned a lot... we cant wait till next season...

you ask we? yes both noah(player) and i (coach) had a great season... it was so much fun coaching my son in his first season of football... and noah had a great time...(if you dont believe me... just ask him... : ) we both learned a lot... noah learned the hows and more importantly the whys of football... me... i learned patience... and worked on the basics of coaching 101... and both of us cant wait till next year...

back to the title.... then there were 2... we won... the last game of the season... and that made two... 2 wins... a 2 game winning streak... 2 extremely happy millers (3 counting mom)... and 2 thankful parents for a safe 1st season of football... oh yea... 2 millers will be playing next year... ethan has said he is "for sure" playing next year...

the last game of the year...

you really should come to the game... saturday, 2:30 at tumwater middle school... i promise you wont be disappointed... coming off the win last week i feel that we are primed and ready for this last game of the season... ive practiced hard all week... im ready to improve on my stellar performance last game...

...if you need them, my folks can give you directions ... leave a comment and they will respond... e-mail us... or call...

...cant wait to see you all there...

It's a Duck Day!

Hooray, It's a Duck Day is one of Abby's favorite books. I don't know if it would be one of her favorite books if we lived anywhere other than the Pacific Northwest, but it is a perfect book for those rainy days that we enjoy (?) so many days of the year here!

Abby and Cole enjoyed a "duck day" last week with hugs, puddle splashing, and games of follow the leader.

hawks win in the second round of the playoffs...

thats right...thats not a typo... the lacey hawks won... win... i mean, they won their game... after a long season of learning plays, working on their fundamentals, growing as friends and learning the true meaning of teamwork... the hawks won a game... we led 6-0 late in the game when the Tenino lightning ran a trick play draw for about 54 yards... bringing them to the 6 yard line... on the next play... we the defense were offsides.... making it a first and goal at the 3... but because of the great defensive scheme by defensive coordinator MARK MILLER... the hawks were able to hold the lightning to a fourth and goal on the 2 inch line... but a big play by our big defense we held them and took over the ball right there... they did hit us for a loss and we gave up 2 points on a safety but our defense held and we won... 6-2 ( side note... noah had two fumble recoveries... one on offense... one on defense)we won the toss...deferred to the second half...

pictured here... noah, #9, as captain of the hawks for the big playoff game...

mom was so proud...
i was so proud...

chopsticks, noodles and pride

the other day we went to one of our favorite places to eat... wok on fire.... in lacey... right next to costco... there are a-lot of things we love about this little restaurant...we love the taste of the food and we love the amount of food you can get into that little bowl... another thing i love is my 4 kids passion to use the sticks... they want to be like their dad who loves to pretend he can use chopsticks... as well... if not better... than a fork...

gwen doesnt even attempt to use them so this gives me a skill or talent that i can pass on to my kids... i was brought to tears by the way my almost-4-year old controlled his chopsticks and i do believe that ethan is actually better than i... already....

we had a blast... loved the food... enjoyed the show....

While You're Sleeping . . .

this is what's going on at Costco. What an amazing show of strength and stamina, don't you think? And all with a smile at 4:00 in the morning. I love this guy!

Crazy Hats

This week was crazy hat night at Awana, and the kids were more than happy to do their part to make it a super fun night. These hats were courtesy of Auntie Holly . . . . thanks Holly!! As a Cubbies leader, I wore an enormous sombrero hat. Seemed like a good idea until it kept hitting the door frame every time I tried to go through a door :-) Noah and Mark haven't been able to join us for Awana yet this year because of football practice. A difficult decision to make. But they will both be joining us in a few weeks, Noah as a second-year TNTer and Mark as a TNT leader. We can't wait to have them join us for the fun!

The Crossing Guard

Today was a big day for Ethan. He was just chosen to be a part of "Team Chloe," a group of students that help out around Chloe Clark Elementary School in various ways. Ethan is the new crossing guard, making sure that kids can safely cross the road in front of school without getting run over by all of the crazy moms in their huge SUVs. I can say this because I am the proud, perfectly sane driver of a Dodge Grand Caravan minivan. :-) Ethan was so proud to be chosen for this job, and he did great! The only drawback . . . we all have to be at school 25 minutes early every day . . . but it's a small price to pay to see the smile on his face!

sad day in seattle...

on sunday, mack strong, fullback for the seattle seahawks, ran and hit for the seahawks for the last time... his 15 year career here in seattle came to an end when in the first quarter against the pittsburgh steelers he ran and blocked as he has so many times before... only this time he knew it was different... he knew it was over... he incurred a spinal injury... the doctors told him that if he stops playing the game he loves, his neck would heal and have no further complications.... the choice was simple... mack retired... right then... for him the choice was simple... mack will be remembered for many things here in seattle... his unselfish football... he blocked for 3 different 1000 yard rushers in his career... his commitment to his family... his commitment to his church... his commitment to his community... i watched a interview with him today and instead of being discouraged and upset, he just views this as the next step... he was thankful and grateful...

real beauty...

not to be outdone by our friends in the desert...

God made this for us today...

and about 320 other times this year...

lev.26:4 ... then I shall give you rains in their season...

Pure Joy

Doesn't this picture just make you smile?

Mark's dad (a.k.a. Papa) took this photo of Cole. He has such a talent for capturing the kids in their most natural, most joyous moments.

Hope this brightens your day a bit . . .