Getting ready for Christmas...

Watching Rudolph in our best antlers

Wearing our best Christmas shirts

Putting up the tree

Counting the days 'til Christmas!!!

A-panes!

Jack got a really cool airplane set for Miller Christmas

with stickers to decorate the planes.

I was NOT to be left out!

I grabbed my own plane 

and tripled its weight with stickers!

We love "a-panes!"

The Return of Miller Christmas

Ever since Mom and Dad started dating 

(now about 17 years ago),

they made a trip up north to see Grandma Phyllis's extended family for Christmas.

But, as everyone got busier and the family got larger

(over 60 people now!),

Miller Christmas faded away.

Well, this year,

with the passing of Uncle Ron,

everyone realized how important family is,

and Miller Christmas made a triumphant return.

It was a chaotic and fun day!

There was eating and drinking 

and lots of talking

(3 of our aunts)

And lots of pool playing

I even played with the BIG boys for a while

We wanted to send holiday greetings to Uncle Ron in heaven,

so we blew up over 60 balloons...

(it was a little crazy)

 And sent him our love!

Hold on Leslie!

Uncle Ron's closest family

(Karen, Todd, and BAM)

let them go...

 Whoa

Soaring to heaven

 We love you, Ron!

Makes you really appreciate your family!

After all the emotion called down a bit,

we explored the outside

Dad and I headed down the ENORMOUS hill!

Then we raced back up...

Whew!

Then it was finally time to open presents

I got Hungry Hippos

(or "Hippos of Fun" as I like to call it)

 Weston tried on Kayla's new braclets...

Lovely!

Then there was a bit more time for just hanging out with the family...

Ann, Jan, and Grandma

Lindsey and Baby Barrett

Jeremy, Jo, Grandpa, and PJ

Brandon, Sarah, and Todd

Karen and Jim

Lee and Dylan

And Santa

Oops.  That's Uncle Raymond.

Merry Christmas, Millers!

And let the Christmas Season begin!

Master creators

Today we were busy.

Jack and I built this tower all by ourselves.

I picked out the block, Jack held it steady 

and I put it on top

(well, maybe Mom helped with the very top ones).

The cooperation was incredible.

Then it was on to the cupcakes.

Jack and I did all the sprinkles.

They turned out pretty well

if I do say so myself!

King of the throne

Tonight, Weston,
our 20 month old brilliant, precocious little man, 

went pee-pee on the potty!!!!

He'd been talking about it for several weeks, grabbing at his diaper and

 saying "pee-pee" or "poop" and running to the bathroom.  

We'd set him up there and get nothing but a big grin.

But tonight, there was a big grin and PEE-PEE!!!

Will it happen again?  

Could it be this easy?  

Could it happen this early?

We'll keep you posted...  

LIGHTS!!!

To top off the festivities of the day,

we caught dinner and McD's

and headed to Christmas in the Park

to see all the lights.

We were pretty psyched!

OOOOOOO!

(sorry it's shaky)

 AHHHHH!

Always the highlight...

TRAIN!

There was no line

(for the first time ever),

so we drove through twice.

A nice end to a bummer of a day

The Reed Boys SING!

Today was the annual

Union Hill Day School Christmas Program.

We were all really excited to see Weston's first performance.

But,

fate had other plans.

As Mom and Dad drove back to UHDS

to catch Wes's program,

2 blocks from school,

they were in an accident.

Don't panic.

Everyone is fine.

Except Sally, our van.

A truck ran a red light and hit the driver's side over the third seat and trunk.

Lots of airbags went off.

EVERYONE IS FINE!!!!

We'll see how Sally comes out.

Mom and Dad were most upset about missing Weston's song and dance.

Rumor has it that other parents taped it and got some pictures.

We'll hopefully post soon.

BUT!

The day was not a total loss!

(although Mom and Dad missed a whole day of productivity)

They came back to UHDS again

to see me!

However,

as I told them repeatedly.

"I don't want to sing with 'the band'"

(that's what I called my class and the program)

"I don't want everyone to look at me."

So this is how it went:

Rubbing my eye through all of Silent Night

(the spotlight hurt my eyes) 

My whole class, looking festive

Note I'm still not singing.

Still rubbing the eye. 

And rubbing my eye through all of

We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

We have video too,
but rubbing my eye is all that you see.

Well, at least I didn't cry.

(about 1/2 my class did)

Santa Disaster: the pictures

Well, maybe a little less disastrous than we remembered...

Wonder what he's telling Jack

Priceless

Santa...in Paradise?

There was ANOTHER party at Paradise Park tonight.

It wasn't in my honor this time...

it was for SANTA!

I told Mom I really wanted to talk to him.

How else would he know what I wanted?

(although I have spoken with Farley our elf and written Santa a letter).

But, as soon as The Man In Red appeared,

I got really nervous again.

And Weston started to cry again.

Mom said it was deja vu.

But, after we hung out with Santa for a few minutes,

we found out he was a pretty cool guy.

Still not going to sit on his lap,

but high-fives were flying everywhere from me and Wes.

Much better this time!

How can you not like a guy who likes Paradise Park??!?!!

Deck the Halls

Christmas is getting closer and closer!!!

Time to get out the decorations!!!

Dad and I strung up the lights

Wes and I made some ornaments

What a good looking artist.

His work HAS to be good...

BEA-U-TI-FUL!

Then we trimmed the tree.

This was the only picture Mom took of the tree decorating

because in the chaos of 2 boys perched on a 2 foot stool,

priceless (old and handmade) ornaments flying out of the box,

and clumping of ornaments all in one spot making the tree start to tip

(you get the picture),

she forgot to take any more.

Trust me--

fun was had by all

and the tree looks great.

Party in Paradise

 For my party,

I HAD to chose Paradise Park again this year.

It is my FAVORITE place to play!!!

Everyone started gathering...

 Aunt Mandy

All the Grandmas and Papas

Mom (and Dad) of course

and all my friends from the neighborhood.

 We had a little pizza...

Opened some presents...

And ate some cake...

(how awesome is that???  Dad decorated it!)

I was NOT a fan of all the attention

But with a little help from Mom and my friends,

we blew the candles out

 Wes, Brody, and Owen enjoyed some ice cream

What?!?!

You want us to eat with what?

Then it was time to hit the Edutainment Center!!!

We started with some cooking

Then made a birthday sign

It had everyone's handprints on it!

Then we went to the foam factory

And the arcade

It was a great party.

Thanks everyone for coming!!!