Ring in 2011 with Family!

About 3 years ago, I was making a similar post about our weekend in Trout Lake. But that was with 3 less nieces and nephews! Basically, the Millers INVADED the Rummel Lodge to enjoy some white stuff! I love it! Now that we've done it twice...it's a new tradition!!!

Tobin & I even experienced an entire night with a preview to parenthood. We stopped by sister's house in Salem, and took their son Porter with us up to Trout Lake. Porter was such a trooper for us. He knew his parents weren't there, but he didn't cry, he kept on his regular schedule, and slept through the night! I'd like to take credit, but I know I owe it to his great parents and Porter's easy-going personality.

Anyways, we had lots of fun over the weekend. I took some photos. Ironically, almost entirely of the kiddos. We laughed together, got all bundled up, went outside and played in the snow (using various forms of cross country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, and snowmobiling), ate together, laughed together some more, and repeated!

Cousin love.

My VERY pregnant sister admiring the feat. These were some of Tobin's old toys. This was quite a fun thing for the kids to try and stack/balance.

Bundle up it's 10 degrees outside!

Packed and ready to go. A kid's got to go prepared!

Tobin started hauling Kate in the sled. But when she saw Mommy she kept crying until Mom climbed into the sled with her. So Tobin towed them both! He was like an amazing Alaskan Husky Mushing.

Zoey was our little trooper. She kept going, despite her tiny little strides. My kind of girl!

Grace and Benjamin on the hard snow in 8 degree weather!

Gracie's turn hauling Zoey and Porter!

I kept thinking of the song, "I get knocked down, but I get up again. You're never gonna get me down."

I wish I captured Zoey's face when Grace had nearly pulled her up the sledding hill and let go of the rope. Zoey almost when down backwards. It was a classic "fear of death." Kind of look. But then she laughed, as if to say, "I loved that feeling...do it again!" Dare devil!

I think this was Porter's first taste of snow. He loved it!

Next year it will be all 4 of them going down together!

Ready to go for a ride!

I wish I had some of the photos my brother took of the kids driving the snowmobiles, etc. So much fun. I love getting to do fun, new things with the kids. We even laid on the living room floor one night and did the "Ho, Ho, Ho" game. It's where you lay your head on each others stomachs and try to say Ho, Ho in a sequence and do it without laughing. Your head bobs up and down and it's nearly impossible not to laugh. Makes you feel alive!

Catching UP

I must apologize to my frequent fan and blog readers...I know you've missed me. ;) My absence has been due to business, life, work, etc, etc. I was told by one of my faithful subscribers that I need to "post a blog STAT." So this is for you!

No really, I have been meaning to put updates up, but I must admit that I've given into the ease of just uploading photos to Facebook and not taking the time to formulate thoughts and sentences...laziness, I KNOW! Maybe, it'll be a New Year's resolution to keep this blog going!

So where did I leave you off in our story, on this road of life. November 19th was my last entry.

Just a few short days later the Rummel Clan came to visit! It was a blessing to have fun with Darrol, Marty, Shannon, and Josh (in-laws, sister-in-law, and brother-in-law). We had quite an amazing few days. We went from kayaking and swimming in warm beaches on Thanksgiving day (La Jolla):

Friday we stayed home and celebrated with cooking Turkey in our convectional oven (for which I had my trepidations that it might not turn out...many a day I've undercooked or overcooked stuff in that oven), but the Turkey was great! So was all the company and family time.

Our thanksgiving spread. It was amazing and even more amazing and fun to put it together with everyone's help.

Friday Night...didn't you know Christmas already happened? Well it did for the Rummels. After having Turkey Dinner we sat around and opened gifts. It became more like a Christmas exchange when something for Josh didn't fit and something for Darrol didn't either. It was quite hilarious. We all got some good laughs.

Then since Christmas had already happened, we left early Saturday morning, on New Years Day, for Joshua Tree. And appropriately, while we were rock climbing it started snowing! Yes snowing!!!

Josh showing his amazing climbing skills!

I think you can answer the question...Self explanatory!

The snow added to our exciting trip! We camped out in Joshua Tree. Strangely the two who slept out under a tarp (and not in a tent-Tobin and I) were the warmest of the bunch. We all had fun though.

Sunday morning, instead of enjoying warm instant oatmeal at the campsite, we quickly loaded up all our stuff in the rain, and drove to a nice warm restaurant to have yummy breakfast!

Then we headed up to San Jacinto Mountain, for a tram ride up the mountain. It was great! It didn't feel like we were in So Cal! It was beautiful!

In the tram on the way up the mountain. What a view!

Looking back down on the valley.

Then at the top we hiked in the snow and evergreens!

Here Tobin is smelling the tree...apparently it smelled like vanilla.

He wanted to eat it!

Our next Christmas card.

So basically our trip went sun, beach, sand, rock, wind, rain, snow, mountains, snow, and so cal freeways. Quite the mix!

So after Thanksgiving...Tobin has flown to Maine for an interview. I ran in the Muddy Buddy...crazy fun! I did it with my friend Boom, what better partner? We were about the same size...fit in with our PJ's...didn't quite win the costume contest (I have to say the Hog and Pig duo out did us!).

The Mud Crawl at the end

Then this past weekend we went on a short mountain biking ride.

It was right after a "big" rainstorm in So Cal so it was muddy fun again!

In between the photos you can picture me writing notes, dictating History and Physicals, running between floors to see patients, answering the phone, driving, eating, and sleeping...yup that's about it. For Tobin he's gotten the past two weeks off (in between traveling and interviewing for residency programs): he's been working at home, cleaning, doing laundry!, having fun, and relaxing. Quite an end to 2009! In the next two weeks, I will be likely absent again as I'm working, working, working. I'm even charge nurse on Christmas Day (yup, me in charge...scary!).

For those of you who might be awaiting our Christmas letter or card...don't wait any longer. I'm not planning on sending any out...since we already celebrated Christmas and New Years. ;) But really, I haven't been able to send something out...so I'm planning on awaiting till "Match Day"(which is February) when we learn where our lives will be headed for the next 3-4 years. If you want an update...look back in our blog history. =) Love you all (my faithful readers) and hope for many blessings, fun, and excitement for the 10s...that is 2010!!

The Rest of the Miller Parents' Visit

So this actually happened the weekend before we went to La Jolla, but I'm a bit behind in my blogging.

We took Mom and Dad to Huntington Beach. When we got there we had to make a critical stop, or Mom would have been burnt to a crisp, you know what we got????......

Ta Dah!! Of Course, can't go without in So Cal!

Cute photo together

And here they are lathering on that "Anti-Aging" Suncreeen

On the Huntington Pier

It's was a little breezy...as you can see by my hair

Then we went to Medieval Times Dinner. It was so much fun.
The King and Queen enjoying the Feist!

Cream of Dragon Soup...Yummmm!!

And Chicken off the bone...eaten with your bare hands!!! Grrrr...

The horse being shown off to the King.

And the Knights! Our Knight was the Red/Yellow Knight.

Fun was had by all at Medieval Times! I'd recommend it if you want to go. We got to see Jousting, Sword Fighting, Horsemanship, and just overall edge of your seat entertainment. =)

A small taste of our last week...Miller Parents Visit

Here's what we were up to today with Mom and Dad. We went down to La Jolla! Lots of seals, water, sand, and sun...

First the seals...looks relaxing!!

The Happy Fam!

Enjoying the cliffs!

Then this! This was definitely the most entertaining!
Dad on a boogey board...going back to his So Cal roots!
Dad was a bit tired.

but they conquered those waves!

And Here's Proof!

Love seeing Family

It was wonderful to get to see family while I was up in Portland. Maryanne and I got to go shopping together (which we both love to do), I got to spend quality time with Porter (even babysitting him and taking him on trips in the car alone...of which I really felt like a Mom as I was late for most occassions Porter and I needed to be at, and I arrived with spit up on my shirt). Tobin and I took dinner over to Andy & Ruth's place, got to see our new niece Kate, and had fun playing a little bit with Gracie, Benjamin, and Zoey. Gracie HAD to show us how she can ride her bike without training wheels now! Then Saturday, I met up with Andy, his first 3 kids, and Mom and Dad at the Oregon Zoo. That was a lot of fun going with them. I told Andy I don't need my own kids, all I have to do is hang around with his kids and everyone assumes they are mine...you'll see why in the photos below!

Here's Zoey, she LOVED the animals!

The leopard we almost missed seeing but it came out from hiding behind a rock for a drink!

Hmmm..do you think we are related? Poor Benjamin I kept cutting his head off in the photos...

Grandpa and Zoey! We took this train ride through the park. It was beautiful

Mom & Dad, so nice to see them!

Curious Zoey

Three cute redheads...soon to be four running around!

Mom sewed beanbags for Mexican Horseshoes (you throw bean bags towards these holes)

On each set of beanbags, Mom specialized them, by embroidering each kids name on their own set. The kids loved it!

Andy and Tobin officiating the game =)

Zoey swinging with Grandpa!

Kate Joy Miller....I think I might call her KJ =)

Porter, the happy happy man! He had cute converse tennies on, but his expressions were better than the shoes he was wearing!