Miller Family of Four

December 2011

2012-01-17T15:54:00.000-08:00

We started December with my sister Catie and her husband Jamie here for a visit. We were so excited to be told in person that they are expecting in July. They enjoyed coming up to the mountains to help us cut down our Christmas tree and decorating it when we got home. They also came to our lighted Christmas parade and enjoyed it as much as we do. For the first time ever we were able to be home for Christmas and it was amazing. I am 35 and have never had a Christmas at my home, it was due time! We loved being home and being relaxed and being able to go to our Christmas Eve service for the first time. The girls were able to sing at the service and I cried tears of joy. It was amazing to watch my two girls praise Jesus at such a special service. It was the stuff mama's dream of, at least this mama. Matthew's mom, my parents and our good friend Heather all joined us to celebrate Jesus and we were honored to have them in our home for our first Christmas here. We decided to go a different route and had a fiesta for dinner and it was super yummy. Fajitas, home made salsa and quacamole and lots of stuffings topped off with pina coladas for all (virgin of course). I took pictures of the girls in their Christmas dresses again this year. We just went down the street in front of an old building. It was really cold outside but the girls were troopers. It has become a tradition of ours and we find a different place every year. At the end of December we were so excited to have our best friends for a visit. We got to go to the park one sunny day and enjoy watching all the kids play. They miss each other as much as us adults do. We were blessed this Christmas and hope you were too!

In the mountains getting our Christmas tree

A Disney float in the parade

Mattie at the Christmas parade with Uncle Jamie and Auntie Catie

Special dolls from GrandmaChristmas morning breakfast with Grandma

Knitting with Ches

He was so happy to bbq for Christmas dinner

Christmas fiesta dinner

Decorated gingerbread house with Gma

New outfits and shoes from Gma and Papa

The girls annual Christmas dress pictures

Ches was so proud of the Indian headband she made for daddy for Christmas

The girls gift from Santa

Mattie and I knitting together

Christmas Eve and the girls singing at our church

At the park with our best friends

Miller Christmas Letter 2011

2012-01-02T21:19:00.000-08:00

Here it is January 2nd and I’m just sitting down to write our Christmas letter. So since Christmas is over this will be our New Years letter. Yah, Christmas snuck up on us.

Mattie Bella is 7 and losing teeth and enjoying visits from the tooth fairy. She has found the joy of reading and will wake up in the morning and read to her sister. She loves to take walks or long scooter rides. She is our little planner and organizer. She is in second grade and the last one in her art class as she is very particular and detailed and her work is amazing. Mattie tried her foot at soccer this year and made four goals.

Chesnie is 5 and continues to be the girl that keeps up laughing. She doesn’t care if she matches, the more colors the better. She loves to be fancy and says how hard it is to be the only fancy one in the family. She wants to have hair as long as Rapunzel and is doing a good job of it as it goes past her little bottom now. She is our Kindergartener and is thoroughly enjoying taking classes at school with her big sister. They both take Spanish, American Sign Language and Art. Chesnie can always be heard saying I love you as she is our affectionate one. She also has learned to read! Chesnie broke the first bone in the family, well two of them. She broke both bones in her left wrist, got a purple cast and hung from the monkey bars three days after getting it off.

The biggest news of all is that after 7 years of asking, God answered and Matthew has a teaching job! He is teaching at The Academy of Personalized Learning (APL) which is the charter school the girls attend. It has been so fun having daddy at school and being able to eat lunch with him on Wednesday’s. He will be teaching three classes and will have students under him that he meets with once a month. This is a new adventure for him, with a lot of computer work but we are all looking forward to him officially being a teacher and doing the job that God called him to. Matthew’s 2011 Fishing Highlight was fishing with his brother Rick and sister in law Tanya on the Carville Dredge pond and catching a limit of trout from his float tube. His also enjoys barbequing on his Texas style smoker.

I continue to hold down the fort here in this Miller house. I am now homeschooling both girls which is fun and challenging. Both girls learn so differently but it helps that they like to learn about the same things. I read whenever I get a chance and continue to blog about the books that I read at booknerd.blogspot.com. When I’m not homeschooling, cooking, cleaning house or reading I am kick boxing, blogging, photo taking, drinking tea or walking. My greatest joy is being with my family and making memories to treasure for a lifetime.

We are thankful for our many blessings and looking forward to another year of making memories together.

Matt, Corrie, Mattie and Chesnie Miller

November 2011

2011-12-14T16:03:00.001-08:00

O November, Matthew's favorite time of the year. College football, his birthday, warm cozy fires, turkey & pumpkin pie might be the reasons it is his favorite. We had a visit from our favorite people the Brownies and enjoyed some special time with them. We went on a field trip to the Wild Horse Sanctuary in Shingletown. Chesnie is in love with horses right now and keeps telling us she is ready to move so that we can get land so she can have a horse. There were 1,000 horses and she picked out the one she wanted. Family came up to celebrate Matthew's birthday. They also allowed Matthew and I to get away for a night. We spent the night in Dunsmuir at the Railroad Park Resort, visited Mt. Shasta and then saw a college football game in Weed. It was a great time together honoring Matthew. We went to Whiskeytown to see the spawning Kokanee Salmon. We saw them, saw eggs, found treasures and fished. It was a great science field trip and this is what we love about home schooling. My sister, brother in law and daughter were in town for Thanksgiving and we all went to San Francisco. We enjoyed a go kart tour of the city and saw parts of the city we had never seen. The best part of November was that Matthew interviewed for a teaching job on his birthday and found out a few weeks later that he got the job! We have waited 6 long years for an answer to our prayer and God couldn't have answered it in a better way. He is teaching at the girls school (we home school through a charter school). We get to see him on Wednesdays when the girls take classes and have lunch with him. We couldn't be more pleased.

Picnic lunch with Caleb and Samaria

Best friends

Best buddies (maybe future spouses?)

Saying prayer before dinner

The girls with their friends watching all the horses

Over 1,000 horses

The horse that Ches wants

All the girls in a hay fort

Matthew's birthday

Castle Crags in Dunsmuir

Our train

Half time

What an exciting game it was with triple overtime

Ches fishing

Father and daughter watching for fish

She can even fish with one arm

Roasting marshmellows with Auntie Catie

Swirly kite in SF

Auntie Catie and Ches in the go kart

Auncle Jamie and Mariah ready to roll

The beautiful golden gate bridge

Under the bridge

Peek a boo Ches, I see you

Matthew and I sportin some cool helmets in our go kart

Ches posing with the nutcracker

She got this hat in SF and wanted to sleep with, pooped out

Chesnie's hat is there but off of her head but her trusty cat that has been with her since she broke her arm is right in her face

October 2011

2011-11-22T20:28:00.000-08:00

October brought more warm weather and my birthday. I had a wonderful celebration with my parents. Matthew and my mom made a yummy dinner. The girls enjoyed the pumpkin patch and carving pumpkins. They got lots of candy but traded it in for money to a local dentist who gives the candy to our troops. We also had our first trip to the ER as Chesnie broke both the bones in her left wrist. Thankfully it wasn't too bad of a break and she is healing just fine.

She choose purple!

Picking out the color for her new cast

Finally home from the ER

A popsicle for the good patient

In the ER getting her splint put on.

The girls at a field trip to the fish hatchery

My wonderful birthday dinner

Mattie made me lots of bracelets and necklaces for my birthday

Daddy and Ches on the hunt

Searching for the perfect pumpkin

Ches found her big pumpkin

Mattie feeding a goat some straw

Ches riding a goat

Chesnie and her limp chicken

The petting zoo at the pumpkin patch

Mattie climbing the walls just like daddy used to when he was a kid

Ches climbing the walls

Look at that form

Don't need two arms for soccer

And she's off

Daddy eating the guts of the pumpkin

Mattie carving her own pumpkin

Yes, Ches picked a big enough pumpkin that she fit in

Daddy helping Ches carve since she had a broken arm

The girls carved kitties this year

The girls ready for trick or treating

My cute Snow White Mattie

My little Rapunzel Ches

Mattie sorting her candy

Chesnie and her loot

September 2011

2011-11-22T19:49:00.000-08:00

We enjoyed our annual trip to visit our best friends in Oregon. We also had one last trip up to the cabin for the season. We planted our winter garden and enjoyed the beauty right here in Redding.

Picnic with friends in Oregon

Helping Tutu make home made ice cream

Our other two kids Caleb and Samaria

We picked lots of strawberries

First day of classes for the girls

We enjoyed another great trip to the cabin. It is such a great place to relax and unwind. Matthew has many childhood memories here and it is so neat to create more memories with the girls.

Playing games with Grandma and cousin Pat

They are leaning to play badmitton

Twirly girls

Ches climbed to the top

Mattie made it to the top

Smore's at the cabin

Chesnie found a salt lick

Matthew and his friend Kenny and a day of fishing in Hat Creek

We planted our winter garden on a sunny September day. The girls are great helpers and love to eat the fruits of their labor.

My Mattie girl

Mattie digging holes for the winter garden

Ches and daddy planting kale

Helping plant our lettuce

The girls and our winter garden

We had a dinner picnic at Whiskeytown

You can't tell but she is really hanging by her hair

Lifeguard girls

Hanging out on the lifeguard chair

Beautiful Whiskeytown

August 2011

2011-11-22T17:22:00.000-08:00

August brought us friends and time with family at the cabin. We enjoyed lots of pool time and sunshine in our backyard.

She loves the pool

Swimmer Ches

The girls floating

Ches on the hunt for a butterfly

Mattie catching butterflies

We had a fun time at the cabin with Matthew's family. We fished, played games, floated down the Trinity River and ate and ate and ate.

Boating down the Trinity River

Matthew's catch from the dredge pond

Jackson keeping Chesnie warm outside at the cabin

Levi keeping Mattie's feet warm at the cabin

Auntie Tanya and the girls ready for breakfast

Ches loves Peewee

The girls and Peewee

A leaf hat

Matthew, Danny, Rick and Daniel playing badmitton

Smore's at the cabin

Daddy and Ches on the hunt for blackberries

Wading through the water to find the blackberries

Bucket full of blackberries

Matthew's new tatoo

Ches riding around the pool

Home made black berry pie from all the berries that we picked

Beautiful full moon

Back yard lunch on the bench that daddy made

Our good friends the Davis' came up for a visit and we went up to Mt. Shasta for some fishing at the hatchery.

Ches and her catch

Keely's first fish

The girls catch

Papa Jeff tossing Keely into the falls

Chesnie and daddy at the falls

August brought lots of swimming and time at home

My little swimmer

Mattie learned how to dive

Our beautiful Mattie B

Chesnie wrapped up as a mummy one night when mommy was gone

Chesnie anxiously waiting in the garage for daddy to come home

July 2011

2011-11-22T14:44:00.000-08:00

July started off with Mattie's 7th birthday. It was celebrated with Gma & Papa, Grandma and our good friend Heather.

Me, my mom, Heather and the girls

The girls with painted toes and fingers

Chesnie, Julianne and Mattie

Birthday girl

Small apple pies for Mattie's Snow White birthday

We went to kid's fishing day in Mt. Shasta with Matthew's cousins daughter. All the girls caught big fish and enjoyed a day in the mountains.

Alicia caught a good one on kids fishing day at the hatchery

Mattie's catch

Chesnie's catch at the hatchery

Enjoying the refreshing falls

Family photo in Mt. Shasta

Yummy shakes

A quick stop for ice cream

The girls with their cousin Alicia feeding the fish at the hatchery

We took our annual trip to Salem, OR to visit our best friends and for some blueberry picking

Bath time for all

Showing their muscles

Mattie riding a cow

Ches 'milking' a cow

Roasting smores with Kara

Picking strawberries too

Best friends, Mattie and Samaria

Best buddies, Caleb and Chesnie

Blueberry picking, out favorite thing to do in Salem, OR

We got a visit from the girls cousins, James and Kylie and had so much fun with them

Gma reading bedtime stories

Cousins

Gma & Papa with the grandkids

Gma being the head train pulling all the grandkids in the pool

We had a family reunion at Bass Lake with the Maclennan Clan. It was great to be together with all the family and enjoy some fun at the lake.
A group of cousins
My mom with all of her siblings

The girls enjoying the lake

Fun in the mud with cousin Gianna

June 2011

2011-07-08T21:21:00.000-07:00

June took us up to the cabin for a rainy weekend. Matthew said he had never been at the cabin that long and not been down to the creek. It was a different experience for us being in the cabin most of the weekend staying cuddled together to keep warm. Our friends came up for the day and enjoyed games and a movie inside with us. The sun did clear for our last day and we were able to visit the creek, take a walk and the girls learned how to play horseshoes for the first time. We always have such fond memories at our cabin. I know Matthew missed his dad the most there as the place just permeates Ron. Matthew made many memories with his dad there and that will always be a special place for him. We also went to Hat Creek, for Father's day, which is another of our families favorite places. We stayed at a cabin right on the river. The girls out fished daddy once again. Chesnie just laughs and laughs when she hooks a fish. Matthew loves that his girls like to fish and gets just as excited when they catch one. We enjoyed picnics by the river, fishing, a cozy cabin and our favorite ice cream spot. We also attended a wedding, a friend of Matthew's from work. The girls always enjoy weddings and this was just a small one at a ranch in the country. Mattie even got to dance with the bride whom she thought was just beautiful. The first day of summer was celebrated by going down to a new yogurt place in town. They had so many different flavors it was hard to choose and in the end Ches got a tummy ache due to eating too much. We also got a visit from the girls friends Caleb and Samaria. They stayed with us while their parents were on the lake house boating. We had such fun swimming with them and just being able to play together. June also brought time in our pool which we love! July is packed full of fun with a birthday, family and trips along with more pool time so check back in soon!

I think she likes it

Enjoying a smore

Cookin' smores in the ole' stove

Matthew cooking breakfast at the cabin just like his dad used to do

Rain boots and creek water go together like pb and jelly

A walk in the woods

Ches in my rain boots with no pants

Pretty Mattie B

The girls on a bridge over Hat Creek

Her catch

Look how excited they both are!

Dad trying to net the fish over the cliff

She laughs when she catches a fish and loves it!

Chesnie caught one

Mattie caught one

Fishing with Daddy

The girls and I at Old Station

Family meal at Hat Creek

Rainy day Ches

A fun meal with the Brumits at the cabin

Driving around in the jeep at the cabin

A fallen tree at the cabin

Daddy's photography

Happy Ches

Playing horseshoes at the cabin

Our two happy girls

Coffee, bbq with some fish on it and he's happy

BBQing some chicken

She loves to fish

Fishing away

My little poser

Father, Daughter and aren't they sweet?

Pretty clouds-pic by Ches

Ches taking a picture of her rainbow toes

Ches took this picture and I love it

Ches asking dad to pretend sleep

Pretend sleeping in the grass

The mug is bigger than her face, she is trying to be like daddy and drink coffee (don't worry the mug is empty)

My fisherman

Picnic in front of the cabin

Stunning blue bellied lizard

Picnic by the creek

My sweet Mattie girl

Mattie kissing a frog hoping for a prince?

Our favorite stop in Hat Creek for ice cream by the river

The girls waiting to catch the boquet, they didn't stand a chance

Mattie dancing with the bride, Hillary

Father's Day BBQ

First day of summer celebrated by going to the new yogurt shop, Spoon Me

The girls trying to wake up Caleb

Mattie picks a whole handful of carrots

Mattie and Samaria with princess dolls

Doing what they all love to do, read

May 2011

2011-06-02T11:55:00.000-07:00

May started out with our little Ches turning 5! She could not wait for her birthday to get here and milked it for all it was worth. She is so excited to be 5 and can't wait to start school, she wants to learn to read so badly. She is still our little one, always on the go and so very inquisitive. She also says the darnedest things. (Check out the bottom of the blog for some of her funny sayings.) She had a Rapunzel birthday party with 10 of her friends. Gma and Papa, Grandma and an old friend of the family, Heather, came up for the celebration. As always I couldn't have done it without them, they were such a help, especially my mom! The party was a success with Rapunzel crowns and necklaces being made, a game of chase the princess, the Rapunzel tower (built by my mom), chocolate cupcakes and lots of presents. I don't think Ches could have been any happier.

We had a few visits from friends with leisure time to enjoy them. The girls and I got to watch our friends baby, Mattie was smitten and she got him to laugh and smile a lot. There were some warm days so the girls were of course in the pool and slip sliding away. We went to Clear Creek and enjoyed the water, the bugs and a little fishing. Matthew woke the girls up at 5:30 for the Asphalt Cowboy Pancake Breakfast. They enjoyed that special time with daddy. We also got to go to a little bit of the rodeo. The girls loved it and can't wait for next time. I took the girls to a Memorial Day Tribute. I believe it is so important to be thankful for all the freedoms we get to have here in America due to the sacrifice of others. I was brought to tears and the girls had lots of questions. It is a new tradition I am going to keep up. May also brought the end of school! We are all excited for a break, although the weather isn't cooperating. I can't believe we have a Kindergartner and a 2nd grader! Lots more planned for our summer, see you back in June.

The birthday girl with french toast covered with 'snow' (powdered sugar)

Ches birthday dinner, homemade pizza

Mattie's gift to Ches, bought with her own money

Rapunzel nightgown...

...Rapunzel shirt, all things Rapunzel

The amazing tower my mom built

Flynn Rider and Maxamus

Rapunzel and Pascal in the tower

My mom helping with the crafts, couldn't have done the party without her

Ches and her Rapunzel crown

Mattie B and her princess crown

Our resident King of the group

Mattie and some of her friends

She has been wanting this wind chime for months, she was so excited to finally get it

Blowing out her 5 candles

Ches and baby Rapunzel

Princess crown making

The whole party gang

Samaria and Mattie tending to their babies

Baseball with bowling pins and bowling balls-bowlball or baseing anyone?

Waiting in line for backyard bowling

Caleb and his girls

Chesie and Elliot

Mattie B and Elliot

This is how my girls eat lunch, totally chill

A gaggle of girls

Mattie and her friends Faith, Jordan and Rae

The beautiful place we call home

Ches caught a dragonfly

My fly fishing man

My creek walking girl

Asphalt Cowboy Pancake breakfast

The littlest and biggest of the Clydesdale horses with the littlest of girls

Ches hydrating with Big Bubba

Up close and personal

Enjoying the rodeo

A wreath for our fallen heroes

I was there too, see my nose?

They told what all the folds in the flag represent and the empty table is for the POW's

Brought me to tears

April 2011

2011-05-17T20:48:00.000-07:00

April brought lots of activities for this household. The girls continue in gymnastics and are doing really well. Chesnie got moved up to Mattie's class, she is the youngest and smallest. She has to do 20 cartwheels to get across the floor when everyone else does 10. Mattie no longer walks, she cartwheels every where. We have to watch out for flying feet. We decided to move our garden and built raised beds this year. Hopefully we will finally have a prolific garden, please Lord! The girls helped shovel soil, always wanting to help Matthew with outside jobs. We celebrated Easter in the Bay with both of our families. We enjoyed decorating about 4 dozen eggs at my parents and then Easter brunch at Matthew's parents along with a big egg hunt. The girls baskets were overflowing with eggs! During spring break the girls went to a soccer camp. Chesnie has been interested in soccer and we thought a one week camp would get their feet wet. My girls are always so unpredictable, Chesnie rather just sit on the ball where as Mattie scored 3 goals! Just when you think you know 'em. Matthew and I enjoyed a weekend away in Mt. Shasta for our 10 year anniversary. The Mt. Shasta Ranch is also where he took me for our 1st year anniversary. We went snow shoeing and enjoyed many local eateries. We played ping pong and read and talked a lot. It is always good to have this time together. Lastly, we took the girls fishing at Grace Lake. After a while Mattie and I got cold and headed to the van with no fish. Ches stayed with Matthew and after about 20 min they both came back with smiles on their faces. Their persistence paid off, they caught two fish. May is already underway with lots more pictures to come.

I used to wear my hair like this

Working hard to help daddy shovel dirt

Who says girls in skirts can't shovel dirt?

Mattie and her daddy

The girls helping out in our new garden beds

Mattie Bella washing off her toesies

Our kitty Jersie, hiding in the grass

She can hold a handstand like nobodies business

This is how Mattie gets around, she never walks anymore, just cartwheels

Ches doing her cartwheels

Cartwheel Mattie

She sure can jump high for how little she is

Reach the sky

The coach using Mattie to show how it is done

Mattie doing a flip

Chesnie doing a flip with the help of her coaches

Monkey Mattie

How long can she hold this pose?

Uncle Rick giving hints

Mattie and her loot

Uncle Dan and and Grandma looking on

The Easter bunny leaves presents too

Auntie Tanya lending a helping hand

Personality coming through

Easter dresses

Reading to her little sis

My little reader girl

Outside the soccer park on a giant soccer ball

Ches taking it away from her sister

The coach helping Ches make a throw in

Mattie making a break for the goal

Love this shot

Mattie making a goal

Going after the ball

They know how to stop the ball

I love this mountain and never want to live where I can't see it, Mt. Shasta in all its glory

Our 1 and 10 year anniversary get-a-way, Mt. Shasta Ranch

I love this man

Matthew holding up a tree

Beautiful mountain range

Made it to the top

Matthew 'skiing' down the mountain (in snow shoes)

We do enjoy our time together

Matthew pondering life

Bridge over Lake Siskiyou

Laid back fishing at its best

This is how my girls fish

Ches watching her daddy bait the line

Matthew having a cast

Beautiful wood duck

Mattie hooking a worm just like daddy taught her

Ches with her catch of the day

March 2011

2011-04-13T08:46:00.001-07:00

March brought some crazy weather our way. We had hail more times than I can recall. The girls liked to go and collect it in bowls and eat it. We had so much hail it looked like an inch of snow! Mattie lost her second tooth, exactly one week from the first one. But this time she didn't want to swallow it so before she went to bed she decided to pull it out. She panicked when she saw the blood but I reassured her she was fine. She already had the adult tooth coming in behind it so there are no holes in her mouth. One Saturday morning we had some feathered visitors. Two ducks decided to use our pool for a little swim. The girls thought this was great and are hoping they come back to stay. The girls and I got a chance to visit our friends in OR. We had such fun. All the kids had a pillow fight but Chesnie and Caleb really got into it and Ches gave him a run for his money. She would knock him down with the pillow and then get on his back and wrap her legs around him so he couldn't get up. He loves her and was very patient while she pinned him. Many memories were made! Matthew and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary but you will have to wait till the April update for that info as we waited to celebrate.

Our inch of hail not snow

Matthew's loving words in the hail

2nd tooth out

Feathered friends come for a swim

Girls story time

Caleb getting it from both sides

Push him over with the pillow....

...then climb on his back, wrap your legs around him and pin him

Funny faced kids

My girl from another mother

Love the joy in my Mattie B

Mattie with Snow White, Ches with Aurora, Samaria with Ariel and Caleb with Prince Phillip

February 2011

2011-03-03T15:59:00.000-08:00

February brought running through the sprinkler days and playin' in the snow days, yes, all in one month! When the sun is out our girls think it is time for the pool. So the sun came out and bathing suits were on. They ran through the sprinklers and then a jump in the pool. Mattie was the only brave one and she jumped out faster than she jumped in and could barely catch her breath. Spring sprung with lots of trees and flowers in bloom and then the snow came. Quite a site to see daffodils, iris' and apricot blossoms covered in snow. We built a snowman and sledded in our own backyard. Mattie said, "It looks like we live in the mountains." We also had snow smoothies. Our friends blessed us with a bicycle and the girls have been enjoying learning to ride it with training wheels. Grandma was here to see and help them along too. The most exciting news of the month is that Mattie lost her first tooth! Her two bottom teeth have been loose for a while with her adult teeth growing up behind them. One morning she woke up and said her tongue felt funny. I just thought it was because she could feel under her tooth since it was so loose. A few minutes later Matthew says, "You lost your tooth!" So she either ate it with her morning oatmeal or swallowed it in her sleep. Her only worry was that the tooth fairy wouldn't come. We assured her that the tooth fairy new these kinds of things and would still come even if there was no tooth. She was very excited the next morning to find some money and a princess book with a note from the tooth fairy under her pillow. I am keeping my eye on Ches as she so desperately wants a tooth to fall out I am afraid she might just yank one!

Ches enjoying the sprinkles, as she calls them.

Oh to be a child enjoying the sun and some sprinklers!

Bathing beauties in February!

My favorite tree, tulip tree

Valentine's morning with heart shaped pancakes

Some cauliflower snow

Jammies, rain boots and snow

A little spring a little winter

Apple blossoms

A little snow smoothie

Winter wonderland, what is it about snow that makes everything so beautiful?

Miller family boots

Happy snow man builders

Sledding with daddy

The missing tooth and big girl Mattie!

January 2011

2011-02-01T15:10:00.001-08:00

I am thankful to report that we didn't have to travel in January, we did nothing but enjoy our home and our family. We travel so often to visit friends and loved ones that we don't often get a whole month of being able to stay here in Redding. January brought us that. We were able to go to our church 4 Sundays in a row, we haven't been able to do that since we started attending a year ago. We actually felt like we belonged. So there aren't really any photos, just a few of the girls outside as we have enjoyed some unusually warm and dry weather here. We have taken numerous walks and scooter rides or just been able to enjoy our backyard. The girls continue to push right along in school, Mattie reading more and more. Chesnie has decided that coloring is not something she likes to do in school, she wants to do more writing or reading. I think she might be getting a little ahead of herself. Mattie announced that when she is an adult she will be moving closer to Disneyland. I told her she would have to take a long trip to see us but she said that at least she wouldn't have to take a long trip to get to Disneyland. Ches said that we were going to move out of our house and she would move in. I informed her that when she got old enough she is the one who moves out. She thought about that for a minute then said that Gma and Papa would move out and she would move into their house. Matthew has only 13 more days (as I type this) of his long term sub job. It has been a challenge for him but has grown him too. He is looking forward to a little time in pool land with no one talking back to him. Looking forward to February which will bring some travels and some company too.

December 2010

2011-01-13T12:32:00.000-08:00

December was filled with lots of family and fun. We were able to really get into the Christmas spirit this year and did a lot to celebrate with the girls. We cut down our tree in Mt. Shasta, well Matthew did. Every year we anticipate it being so much fun and every year the girls complain about being too cold (they truly are Redding girls) and hungry. So Matthew forges through the forest and finds the tree and cuts it and hauls it, alone, back to the truck where the girls and I are warm and feeding our faces with snacks. What a good man he is! We enjoyed our lighted Christmas parade despite the rain. We decorated the house with lights, snowflake garland, nativities, mitten garlands, bell wreaths, pine cone wreaths, greenery and candles. The girls and Matthew made gingerbread men for the first time and really enjoyed the decorating process. We had a few sunny days in the beginning of December and took advantage of them with a beautiful walk. We baked at least 20 loaves of bread to give to neighbors, friends and family. We celebrated Christmas Eve with Matthew's family and Christmas day with mine. My sister and brother in law were there from Nashville and my brother with his kids. Mom was so happy to have us all together. The girls enjoyed time with cousins on the play set, making gingerbread houses and opening and playing with new presents. We got to visit with our cousins who just adopted a little boy from Uganda. We have been praying for them through the long process and were so happy to be able to hold Finley. The girls loved being able to feed him and hold him and play with him. We were blessed to hold this little miracle and see what great things God has for him and his mama and daddy. Finally come the second of January we were able to celebrate our little Christmas. The girls were thrilled to have 3 times the fun of opening presents. Matthew got a new smoker bbq for Christmas and was able to cook on it for the first time. He was so happy to be smokin' dinner. Good family times and lots of things to be thankful for. Now if we can just make it through this cold January !

Mt. Shasta covered in fresh snow

Beautiful Mt. Shasta

He literally crawled on his hands and knees to get the tree!

Matthew finally getting the tree out of the snow

Our towns Christmas tree

Ches, hair and umbrella

A fire truck decked out in lights

A lighted tractor

Staying dry at the parade

Cutting out the gingerbread cookies

All the little gingerbread men

A beautiful Oak tree

Can you find Mattie?

Hiding in the grass

Can you see me in this picture?

Ches wanted so badly to go higher

Tree climbers

God's beautiful creation on our fall walk

Mattie tuckered out in daddy's arms

The cousins in their Christmas Eve best

She waited a long time for this and was so excited to get it from Grandma

All the princesses for Ches and all the Fairies for Mattie

The girls got dress up and the dolls to match from Grandma

Matthew reading to James and Ches

My brother Chris and his son James

Mattie B snuggles with Papa

Sleepy Rapunzel

Reading the Christmas story with Papa

Rapunzel sitting pretty

Chesnie happy to get Ariel

Snow White sitting pretty

Kylie and Gma Christmas morning

So cute!

The all got dress up for Christmas. Kylie and Ches are Rapunzel and Mattie is Snow White

The girls, Kylie, Mattie and Chesnie

Having fun in Gma's backyard

The finished gingerbread house

Cousins

She couldn't wait to hold him and I think he is bigger than her!

The girls and their new cousin Finley

Ches giving him a drink

Mattie taking a try at feeding Fin

Ches and Fin playing together

Mattie loving being with Finley

Can you tell I am happy to be holding this little miracle?

Mattie made the can for Matthew in art class, she was so proud

Mattie got a new bath towel, little princess

Chesnie's framed picture of her first fish

Matching girls in their new bathrobes, slippers and pj pants

Look at him, so happy and so very handsome!

Miller Christmas Letter 2010

2010-12-06T13:39:00.000-08:00

Christmas Greetings from up North!

As we head back down the mountain with another beautiful Mt. Shasta Christmas tree in the back of our pick up we thank God for such a beautiful area to live and reflect upon the blessings He has given us. This Miller family is happy to say we made it through another year. There have been some difficulties but we are able to thank God for being with us.

Mattie Bella is 6 years old and in first grade. She has really blossomed in home school this year and has become a great reader and amazing artist. She has really grasped the joy in learning which is fun for me to see. She is still an avid Tinker Bell fan and loves to be a 2nd mommy to Ches. She also became a great swimmer this summer, swimming the whole length of the pool. She is taking gymnastics and despite being the smallest she is excelling.

Chesnie Grace is 4 years old. She so badly wants to be in school so I have started working with her too. She is a smart little thing and has already learned all the sounds of the alphabet and how to write all her letters. She also has an amazing memory, memorizing whole books word for word and a very inquisitive mind, always asking questions. She is still a ball of energy never in one place too long. She also became a great swimmer this summer, even jumping off the diving board. Chesnie is taking a gymnastic class too and doing very well. She has taken quite an interest in singing, sometimes doing more of it than talking.

On to our blessings:

-We were able to take the girls to Disneyland with my parents in October. It was so fun for all of us to see the wonder through their eyes. We had been there 5 minutes and Ches said, "This is the best place in the world!"

-Matthew and I were so blessed to be able to take a trip, just the two of us, to Jamaica. My parents kept the girls for the week and spoiled them like crazy. Matthew and I had a very peaceful, relaxing time in one of the most beautiful places I have ever been.

-We were blessed with a new pickup truck from Matthew's dad. Ron lost his battle with cancer and went home on April 30th. It has been hard without him, but we are so thankful he is healed and celebrate that he is with Jesus. We have also seen God lift his mom, Carol, up and sustain her through this hard year.

-Matthew is starting a 2 month teaching job that we pray will help him get a foot back in the door of teaching. It is still his desire to teach and we continue to wait on the Lord for this.

Fishing Highlights

-Watching Chesnie catch her 1st fish at the cabin

-Watching Mattie catch a 21" rainbow trout at the kids fishing day in Mt. Shasta (bigger than any trout Matthew has ever caught)

-It is so much fun for Matthew to pass on to the girls the things he learned from his dad

-Matthew catching a fat 16" wild rainbow trout on Father's Day

I am enjoying home schooling the girls. I have enjoyed taking a kick boxing class now for about a year and a half. I also started running and ran the 6 mile Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. I continue to enjoy reading and keep a blog (http://www.booknerd-corrie.blogspot.com/) with all the books I've read. I had some health problems this summer, my body was just plain worn out and couldn't go anymore. I had quite a scary experience at church but many people were praying for me. I rested and took it really easy over the summer and had friends pray for my healing and God was so gracious and brought me back to full health, not a problem since.

Another year watching our girls grow. Another year of watching God's hand in our lives. Another year full of His beauty. Another year thanking God for being Lord of our lives.

Merry Christmas and many of His blessings,

Matt, Corrie, Mattie and Chesnie Miller

November 2010

2010-12-06T12:40:00.000-08:00

Most memorable from November is our trip to Jamaica. It was a wonderful time being with Matthew and enjoying rest on the beach. A trip I will never forget and a trip I would like to repeat! November also brought jumping in leaves in the backyard. Ches read how the Berenstain Bears got to jump in the leaves in the fall and has been asking every day since. So one Saturday Matthew and the girls raked leaves off of the patio and scooped them up and dumped them onto the lawn. Chesnie and Mattie had such fun running and jumping in them. It was our fall version of the slip-n-slide. I have fond memories of doing the same thing when I was a kid. We enjoyed our Thanksgiving here in Redding with my parents and Matthew's mom, Carol. The girls really enjoyed having all of them here to be doted on. I ran a 6 mile Turkey Trot and was so proud of myself for finishing and running the whole race in 1hr 7min. Me and my dad did Black Friday shopping and just about started and finished all of our Christmas shopping. I had such fun with him! We all got to go to the movies to watch Tangled which the girls and adults really enjoyed. I also got a short visit from my Best Curly Haired friend who gave me and the girls our Christmas presents early, hand sewn aprons. We love them and are looking forward to wearing them for our Christmas baking. We were so blessed to have our healthy, happy family with us and are looking forward to Christmas with everyone!

Just a cute, random pic of Ches in the rain

Up to her neck in leaves!

Mattie enjoying the pile of leaves

Both girls at once!

Dumping leaves on Ches

Love the hair flying behind her

Poser Ches in a ray of sunlight

Raking the leaves for the big pile

Kara made all the aprons-Tink for Mattie, Ariel for Ches and hearts of love for me!

The Thanksgiving crew

Matthew getting ready to carve

The girls made me a sign for running the Trot

Me after the race

Jamaica 2010

2010-12-04T09:20:00.000-08:00

Matthew and I were so blessed to be able to take a 5 night trip to Jamaica in November. Now this is a place that I have always wanted to go. I had hoped we would go for our honeymoon but we ended up in Maui instead, not that I am complaining. So I said that maybe we would go for our 10 year anniversary, Matthew said our 25th. We had been saving change for 10 years and said that we would use it for Jamaica some day. Well that some day came! We have had a trying year and especially over the last 6 months or so with Matthew's dad passing away and me having health problems over the summer. We were both in need of some rest and recuperation with one another to regroup. So we did it, which is really something we never do! We have never left our girls for more than 2 days and never, ever been this far from them. The girls stayed with my parents and were spoiled like crazy going mini golfing, Chuck E. Cheese (2x), shopping sprees, movies and eating pizza 5x in one week. They didn't even miss us but that is ok because we enjoyed ourselves so much we didn't really miss them too much either! We went to an all inclusive resort in Montego Bay and everything was just beautiful. I highly recommend an all inclusive place. It was so nice to not have to worry about money and to get whatever you wanted on the menu or even order room service. I have never been to a more beautiful place. The weather was just perfect and the beach was amazing with warm aqua blue water and white sand. We mostly just spent time at the beach but we also went kayaking, snorkeling and sailing. Mostly we just relaxed and enjoyed being with one another with no children to interrupt. What a blessing it was and we are so thankful we had the opportunity to go!

Matthew enjoying the warm water

A coconut and a little lounging

Check out those muscles folks, rowing out to sea on the kayak

My handsome hubby and me ready for a dinner date

Out at sea looking back towards our resort from the kayak

Out on a point looking at our resort

The view

Enjoying a yummy mango drink, the beach and a book-it didn't get any better than this!

A musical called Reggae Love put on by some of the workers at the resort

Another delicious dessert

A frosty beer for Matthew

The resort pool that changed colors-view from our balcony

Yumminess in a glass

Sand shoes as Matthew calls them

A little pina coladas and some sand

Loving the beach, just beautiful!

Matthew's favorite part about Jamaica-the jerk chicken. Here he is with his favorite buddy.

Matthew enjoying a fishing book and a Jamaican beer

Guava cheescake, yummy!

The happy couple at dinner

A swing at the bar

Our bedroom

A glorious sunset at Montego Bay

The cool towers at the resort that change colors

The happy couple at sunset

Poolside dining

The happy couple

I love this place!

October 2010

2010-11-05T17:21:00.000-07:00

Well last month I didn't have many pictures and this month, overload! We got some unusually warm weather in October and so we spent some time at the Sundial Bridge where the girls love to hang on the cables and be chased by dad in the grass. I was able to capture a most glorious sunset but of course pictures just don't do it justice. The girls enjoying hanging from anything they can. They have found a tree in our front yard that they can climb and hang from. We also got our first apples from our apple tree. Mattie's says it is her tree because daddy planted it for her. She loves apples. Matthew also got a picture of the girls doing dishes, they love to help our around the house!

My best curly haired friend came for a birthday visit with Caleb and Samaria. We had another unusually warm day and Caleb just wanted to swim oh so badly. The weather might have been nice but the pool was very chilly but he enjoyed himself. I couldn't resist his little bum in his Elmo undies, too cute. They kids played lawn bowling and picked grapes till their tummies were content. And Matthew gets to have a little time pretending he has a son. He and Caleb watched some college football together. The time together was perfect, simply perfect. I love living life with her and watching our kids together, they truly are all kindred spirits.

We visited the pumpkin patch when very hot October day. I honestly can't remember going to the pumpkin patch over the last 10 years in Redding and it ever being cool. We are always dressed in our shorts and tank tops with flip flops while we are thinking about Fall and wishing it were really upon us. This day at the patch was unbearably warm so we went out picked the first good pumpkins we saw, paid and got back into the air conditioned car. Something is really wrong with this picture I know but what can I say, we live in Redding where 115 is normal.

And for the big event of October: Disneyland! We were so blessed to be able to take the girls to Disneyland for two days with my parents. It was an awesome experience to see the wonder through our girls eyes. I hadn't been since being a Sr. in High School and Matthew hadn't been since Jr. High. And let me tell you, being a girl is a great thing when you go to Disneyland, there are princesses everywhere! This trip was all about Mattie B and Chesnie. We entered Fantasy Land and really never left as the girls were filled with awe. I think within 5 minutes Chesnie was saying it was the best place ever! They got to have their pictures with princesses and Tinker Bell. Chesnie saw a roller coaster and just had to go on it. Mattie was a little unsure and at the last moments decided it was too scary for her. But Ches had the time of her life on it. She was laughing and screaming. I have never seen her so excited. I turned around the whole time and was taking her picture. Dumbo and the teacups were a hit of course. I was also thrilled to be able to take them on It's a Small World. It was my favorite and we have a book about it that I have read to the girls so I was so glad to be able to share this part of my childhood with them.

While we were in So. Cal. we stayed with some friends of mine, Lita and Steve. I used to babysit their 3 girls when they were my girls ages. We got back in touch through FB and they were very generous to let us stay with them. It was great fun to see all of them after 10 years. I am so proud of Kylie, Marlee and Casey and all that they have become. My girls loved them and had such fun being spoiled by them. We want to go back just so we can spend more time with them!

And lastly Halloween. Matthew's mom was up for a visit and the girls enjoyed having her around to play all sorts of things with. She enjoyed being here to see them all dressed up. We went to our church's carnival first then came home and did some trick or treating in the neighborhood. Mattie was Tinker Bell and Chesnie was Belle. Since they are just about the only kids in the neighborhood they get tons of candy. Their buckets were overflowing! And they carved the cutest pumpkins ever, such happy pumpkins.

September 2010

2010-10-01T15:02:00.000-07:00

We really did a lot in September we just don't have many photos to show for it. For Labor day we went to Salem to visit the Brownies and had such a good time relaxing and just hanging out together. The only photo I have from that trip is bath time and it isn't G-rated so no posting here. My sister and brother in law with their band, Seventh Day Slumber, were in Fulton and we couldn't resist them being so close and not seeing them. We had a great time hanging out for a couple days. We helped unload the band equipment and assisted Catie in setting up the stage and Jamie's drums. We got to see all the smoke and lights they have for their concerts and we enjoyed some yummy food. Seventh Day lead worship and it was awesome. Joseph, the lead singer, has three boys whom the girls loved to play with. All weekend you could find the 5 of them hanging out together. Jamie even let the girls have a try on his drums. Hopefully neither of them want to play! We also made a trip to Morgan Hill to visit our friends the Davis'. We had a great time of food, family and football but alas, no pictures. That is September in a nut shell, sorry for the lack of pictures. Till October!

Backyard sisters

A beautiful rainbow on our way home from somewhere

Ches loving the drum lesson

Cadeon, Ches, Mattie, Sage and Blaise-7th Day Slumber groupies

All of us

Mattie B loving playing the drums

August 2010

2010-09-08T21:07:00.000-07:00

August started off with my cousins wedding in the Bay Area. Our girls love a good wedding with lots of dancing. It was a beautiful wedding at a vineyard and I have never seen a bride so happy, she just beamed. The girls enjoyed being with their cousins and of course dancing!

Matthew took the girls fishing on Clear Creek but I think mostly they just caught frogs, lizards and grasshoppers, a favorite pastime. In the picture they are holding "sleeping" blue bellied lizards. Ches of course wanted to cross the creek but ever careful Mattie didn't think it was a good idea so Ches came back and coaxed her big sister and held her hand so they could cross together. They are good for each other, balancing each other out.

We took a weekend and went camping in Mt. Shasta at Gumboot Lake. It was lots of fun and oh so peaceful. The girls went fishing at kids fishing day at the hatchery. They both caught two fish. Chesnie was so excited so just kept laughing. Mattie caught the biggest, a 21" 6lber, bigger than anything Matthew has caught. People gathered around to watch her bring it in and the man that helped us said it was the biggest one of the day. We couldn't believe it! She seems to be the best fisherman in our family. The girls enjoyed fishing, collecting things, climbing trees, wading in the lake and searching for frogs and other insects. I enjoyed breakfast by the lake and just watching the girls enjoy God's creation. They really do have a love for all things outdoors.

New life vests from Cabela's

My Mattie B, she is a beauty!

Taking a walk on the River Trail to pick blackberries

Yes, she dressed herself

Backyard grapes and smores on the bbq

Mattie got to go to Old Navy and pick out an outfit for her first day of classes. Here she is with the dress she picked out and her Fancy Nancy backpack from Auntie Catie. She is our big 6 year old and in 1st grade. Chesnie couldn't be left out, she wanted her picture taken too.

Tinker Bell dress up time. Chesnie really thought that once she put on the wings she could fly. She was sorely disappointed but hopes that Gma can find her pixie dust and then she can fly!

The girls started gymnastic lessons and really enjoyed it. Mattie is learning to do a hand stand and a kart wheel. She is wearing one of my leotards that I wore when I was her age and taking gymnastics. Ches is enjoying being with her friend Jordan and tumbling with lots of other kids.

Chesnie loves to play in the rain and since you are only young once I let her. She went outside in her nightgown, cowgirl boots and snow jacket. She was outside for 30 minutes singing away, happy as could be. I couldn't stop taking pictures. I am so glad that God decided I needed another child, she brings such laughter to my soul!

July 2010

2010-08-03T10:32:00.000-07:00

July was a busy month. We sold Matthew's beloved truck. I used to tell Matthew that the reason I married him was for the truck. It was an emotional time, I mean, we have wedding pictures with the truck! So we did one last photo shoot with the truck.
Mattie turned 6 and we celebrated with a Strawberry Shortcake party. The girls have become amazing swimmers this summer. They can both swim underwater and jump in without any flotation devices. I am amazed at how much they learned in such a short time. They love their pool, we are in it every day and they continue to learn new things. They are working on learning how to dive right now. I love the suits and goggles!
Matthew's best friend and family came up for a weekend and they had a great fishing trip at Hat Creek. We had a trip to the cabin with Matthew's family. It was great to be with all of them enjoying 4 days of rest and fun. We also spread Ron's ashes which was hard for everyone but a time of closure.
We had a evening at Whiskeytown lake. It was beautiful and we went for a family swim all the way out to the buyous!
And last but not least the girls and I went to visit my best friend in Salem, OR. We had so much fun playing, going to the zoo and of course blueberry picking!

This is the picture we have blown up and hanging in our house from our wedding day so we thought we should pose again, 10 years later before we sold the truck

The dad who bought the truck came over on his Harley and the girls were in awe so he let them sit on it, now Ches has been asking for one

Mattie B and her new birthday skirt

Mattie got this skirt for her birthday, Matthew wanted me to pose with it

Mattie's 6th birthday party

Matthew's catch

Swim time with daddy

Our family

My sweet Chesnie Grace

Mattie B out to chinese food for her birthday

Isn't she cute?

They love each other and they love to swim

Love, love, love this picture

My swim suit and goggle girls

Jeff, Matthew's best friend with his catch

In the middle of the creek, finally enough patience to fish

Ches fishing with daddy

Walking with grandma

Mattie got a butterfly to land on her finger

Check out how long her hair is

Uncle Dan and Ches riding the rapids

Mattie and Uncle Dan relaxing in the shade

Floating with Auntie Tanya

Swimming in the creek

Chesnie finally caught her first fish

Chesnie loved Auntie Tanya's dog, PeeWee

Mattie caught her first fish at the cabin

Mattie put him to sleep

Chesnie with her friend, blue belly lizard

The girls making ice cream with Uncle Dan at the Cabin

My love

Fun in the sand

Jump Mattie B, jump

Sandy beach feet

Sitting on a log in the middle of the lake

This is what 20lbs of blueberries looks like

Tuckered out from all the picking, or should I say full from all the eating

Mattie and Samaria

Ches running through the blueberries

Me and Mattie B

Samaria never got any in her bowl just her tummy

Ches loves to go blueberry picking

Mattie was a good picker

Movie time

Mattie and Caleb with the penguins

They all got to feed the birds some nectar

Love these girls

Kara and Chesnie Grace

All the kiddos

Mattie B and Kara

Picnic lunch at the zoo

The climbers

Samaria and the oragatang up close and personal

Looking for the monkeys

June

2010-06-23T17:06:00.000-07:00

June brought on my sister Catie's wedding. I have been planning this wedding with Catie since she got engaged in December. It was a beautiful wedding in the backyard of some friends who live in Alamo. There were only a few hiccups but all in all I think it was everything that she wanted. I know that Jamie was thrilled to see it all come together. I was in the wedding and so were the girls. I could not have done all that I did without my wonderful husband who used his muscles and truck to pick up a bazillion things whenever I asked him to. We made a great team! Cousins James and Kylie were also in the wedding so we got to spend the week with them at Gma and Papa's. They all had a great time playing together and we continue to wish that we lived closer. After the wedding we went up to our cabin in the Trinity mountains with our best friends the Brownies. It was a wonderfully relaxing time with the best of friends. All the kids enjoyed the great outdoors and driving the jeep around and around. The adults enjoyed talking and laughing together. This was our first time at the cabin since Ron's death which was hard as we all missed him but we were all able to remember fond memories of him. I think we will always feel closest to him while at the cabin, his favorite place.

My Matthew and cousin Matthew loading tables

All the girls in the family doing flowers on Friday

The best of cousins: Mattie, Chesnie, Kylie and James

Gma with all her grandkids

This girl loves to dance!

Kylie, Mattie and Chesnie tuckered out after the wedding.

CABIN FUN

Story time!

Mattie trying out daddy's fly rod for the first time.

They loved the water shooters from the Brownies!

Miller family at the Cabin June 2010

Smore time, yum yum

Mattie and her future hubby, Caleb

Mattie and her favorite little one, Samaria Rae

The greatest, fuzziest catapillar ever!

March-May

2010-05-24T20:47:00.000-07:00

Here are just a few things this Miller family has been up to in the last couple of months:

Chesnie got a slip-n-slide for her birthday from Uncle Dan. Matthew had to show the girls how to slide. He was the best at it by far. Mattie got good at sliding on her knees and Ches would just flop on her belly. But never the less, fun was had by all, including me the picture taker.

The girls picked our elephant garlic and it was huge, well at least the stem was!

Little Mermaid, oh I mean Chesnie Grace!

Chesnie celebrated her 4th birthday in the Bay with Aunts, Uncles, Grandma, Gma and Papa. She had angel food cake with yogurt and berries. She got a package of seaweed from Uncle Rick and Auntie Tanya that she asked for and was so excited to get. She also got a little mermaid nightgown that she won't take off and dress up Fancy Nancy clothes. We went to Red Robin for her actual birthday where she enjoyed cheese pizza and an ice cream sunday. The wait staff sang to her and she just beamed! She enjoyed all of her birthday celebrations and she said that she can't believe she isn't 3 anymore.

Our Walla Walla onion that grew taller than Mattie B!

This is the girls getting bored at Grandma's house and deciding to "decorate" Brian while he was napping in the back yard. They were hilarious and thought of it all by themselves. I looked out the window and there was Brian looking like a blooming bush!

Sisters, all tuckered out at Gma and Papa's.

We went strawberry pickin' in Brentwood with cousins. Mattie had a great time and picked the most strawberries. We froze some, dehydrated some, made strawberry lemonade and ate lots!

Matthew's cousin got married and the girls danced the night away. They were the first ones on the floor and the last ones to leave. They danced together, with the bride and with Aunt Barbara.

The girls love to read and will find any spot they can.

A quick visit from Kara and that always means dress up time! Here the girls are in my high school cheerleading uniforms.

Our last Easter with Matthew's dad. Here Matthew and his brother Rick and Mattie are with Ron, sharing a special moment. Since it was raining the girls had an egg hunt indoors. They also had a (blury) picture taken with some of their cousins at church.

The girls thought it would be fun to dress up in moms nighties and slippers!

Pictures of the girls at Turtle Bay museum in Redding.

March 2010

2010-03-29T15:47:00.000-07:00

We took a walk this last weekend by Lake Shasta. It was only going to be a little walk but it turned into a three mile walk. The girls did so good, we were so proud of them. Of course Matthew carried Ches for quite a bit and I did my share of hauling both of them too but all in all we saw beautiful scenery and they trucked along with us enjoying it too.

Matthew has taught the girls all sorts of fly fishing flys through the game Go Fly Fish. He found this stone fly on his pool route and brought it home for the girls. Aren't they brave?!

Matthew and I enjoyed our 9th wedding anniversary in Mt. Shasta. It was two whole days of pure bliss. We enjoyed sleeping in at the bed and breakfast, reading by the fire and playing games, coffee at a coffee shop, lunch at a pub, antique shopping, dinner at our favorite place Lily's, wonderful organic chocolate bark with honeycomb from the health food store, talking without interruption, snowshoeing and just being together.

Short visit from best friend Kara and kids Caleb and Samaria which included story time in a fort, dress up and lots of love.

Fun With Cousins

2010-02-24T19:35:00.000-08:00

My brother Chris came up to the Bay to visit with his kids James and Kylie. The girls love to see their cousins! There was fun on the swingset, a lot of movies, playdough, puzzles, coloring, hide-n-seek, sing alongs, and lots of giggles. What fun! We miss them all and wish we lived closer.

A Little Snow

2010-02-24T19:17:00.000-08:00

We took a little trip to the snow. Just a little jaunt up north for a few hours of playing in the white stuff. The girls enojoyed some sledding and making a snowman. Ches wanted to take him home as always. We didn't take the snow man home but we did pack some snow in an ice chest to have snow cones at home. It was a beautiful day with fun for the whole family.

Miller Christmas Letter 2009

2009-12-10T17:55:00.000-08:00

The air is brisk and light snow is falling as we head home from Mt. Shasta with the best Christmas tree this Miller household has ever seen. As we look back on 2009 we will share with you a few of our blessings as we hope to forget our complaints.

Mattie Bella turned 5 at the cabin this year. We now have a kindergartner and I have a new heavy hat to wear, her teacher. Since we home school we have enjoyed the freedom that gives us to still be able to travel to see family and friends. I really enjoy the program that we are going through which offers classes and extra curricula activities. Mattie has been taking a science and a geography class once a week (Do you know all the continents because my 5 year old does?). She has excellent penmanship and loves to write. Mattie loves being a little mom to her dolls and to her little sister. She has a wonderful imagination and says that she wants to be a chef. She loves everything Tinkerbell and will play a game with anyone willing. Mattie loves to fish with her daddy; she caught both a brook and brown trout this year.

Chesnie Grace is our fiery 3 year old who also enjoys mothering her babies and playing with her sister. Ches is our little entertainer, always making us laugh. She loves to dance to Johnny Cash music and she often will be heard saying, “Dance me.” Chesnie’s senses seem to be highly sensitive as we hear her say, “I hear, smell or see something.” Chesnie wishes that Mattie didn’t have to do school as she looses her playmate for a few hours every day but she does very well playing on her own or listening in on what is being taught. I am afraid that she is going to have to start school in third grade since she seems to pick up a lot of what Mattie is learning. Then they would be in the same class and people would really think they are twins (I get asked that all the time!). As Mattie learns new things during school Ches soaks it right up, even from the other room. We might have to start her in second grade! Both of the girls love to be outdoors. One of their favorite things to do is gather acorns to smash and pine cones to eat the pine nuts.

Matthew is a teacher continuing to wear pool man clothes. Although a teaching job has yet to come we are thankful he has a good job with a great pool company. Matthew enjoys his family time best of all. He enjoys gardening, nature walks, fishing and exploring new places with our family. His fishing highlight of the year was a very special trip to Kennedy Meadows with his dad and brothers where he out fished them all. His dad, Ron, has had a difficult year

with his cancer and we continue to ask for your prayers.

Home schooling has presented its challenges for both Mattie and I but I am amazed at her growth and how much she has learned. I continue to plow through and enjoy every book I get my hands on as I have now started a book review blog,
www.booknerd-corrie.blogspot.com. I enjoy connecting with family and friends through Facebook. I love being with my family and enjoying God’s creation with them.

As we celebrate the birth of our Savior may your fires be warm, family be near

and your coco hot…Oh, Let it be Christmas!

Matthew, Corrie, Mattie Bella and Chesnie Grace Miller
2009

Miller Boy's Fishing Trip

2009-09-16T16:16:00.000-07:00

For Father's Day, albeit a little late since it was in September, Matthew went on a fishing trip with his dad and his brother's, Rick and Dan. They woke up early Saturday morning to head to Kennedy Meadows, an hour out of Sonora. According to Matthew it was just beautiful. They had great luck fishing with Matthew catching the most, 8 fish! They enjoyed dinner together and then passed out in a little cabin. They woke up the next morning and had a cowboy breakfast and a little more fishing then headed home. It was a special time for Matthew to be together with his brothers and his dad. They had lots of fun and took lots of pictures. Matthew said he wishes they had not waited so long to take a trip like this together.

August Happenings's

2009-09-16T15:20:00.000-07:00

We spent Labor Day with our best friends, the Brownie's, up in Salem. We had such a great time all being together. Mattie loved on Sam and Ches bossed around Caleb. The kids had lots of fun outside in the backyard swinging away. They also got to go to the Gilbert House, a children's museum, with the daddy's. Kara and I enjoyed some girlfriend time, chocolate cake and shopping. The boys enjoyed some boy time with football. The picture of the guys on the couch is all of them watching a game. It was such a blessing to be with our best friends for another fun filled Labor Day!

This is Caleb at church leaning on Matthew and holding his hand, just precious!

Mattie my little hippie girl! I love this picture!

Matthew took the girls to Old Shasta. They got to go to a bakery, a courthouse and a museum. They got to pan for gold, Chesnie's favorite. Then they found a beach at Whiskeytown lake. They swam and built castles and found treasures. Mattie was so brave, she swam just like she was in our pool. She has gotten to be a good swimmer this summer. They had so much fun they took me the next day. The picture of just bubbles in the water is Mattie and Matthew going under at the same time. We live in a beautiful place and it was nice to get out and enjoy His beauty.
Matthew is such a good daddy and at the end of the day her carried both girls up all those stairs. The girls loved the special day with their daddy and I love that I have such a loving to husband that treasures his girls.

The last of Summer

2009-08-18T15:40:00.000-07:00

August started off with a trip to the Bay Area to see my sister Catie who had moved to TN in January. She was bringing along her new boyfriend, Jaime, for all of us to meet for the first time. My brother, Chris, his wife Jen and their kids James and Kylie were there too. It was great to see Catie after so long, meet Jaime (whom we all like by the way), have the cousins play and just be all together.

All the grandkids helping Gma cook

The new pool at Gma and Papa's

Auntie Catie keeping the girls warm

Chesnie, Kylie and James

Catie got the girls shirts that say "My mom's the bomb" My shirt says "the bomb mom"

Me reading bedtime stories to all the girls

Chesnie singing Jesus Loves Me with Papa at church

Mom and her granddaughters

My dad bought the girls all matching dresses and an matching outfit for James

Matthew trying out the slip and slide

Papa keeping Ches warm

Papa playing tic tac toe with the girls

Gma loving having her grandkids with her

Auntie snuggling with Mattie

Auntie Catie with Mattie and Kylie

Then we traveled to Oregon for my cousin Joel's wedding. It was like a mini family reunion and it was great fun! The girls enjoyed playing with their cousins and we enjoyed being with family we hadn't seen in too long. The wedding was beautiful! It was outside in the bride's parents backyard full of greenery and white twinkling lights. It really couldn't have been more perfect. God was honored and two amazing people where joined together. Love you Joel and Emily! The girls couldn't wait to get on the dance floor. From the moment the first dance was over Mattie and Chesnie were on the floor dancing till 11:30pm! Chesnie literally danced till she dropped. She asked Matthew to hold her as the band was singing their last song and then he passed her off to me and she was instantly asleep. Thanks for all the fun Quisenberry's!

This is how Ches travels, watching a movie and stuffing her face

Tryin' out the zip line at the park

Matthew trying out the zip line at the park

Mattie on top of the slide

The girls with Papa on the sea saw at the park

Ches trying on Gma's shoes

Matthew two handin' it with Ches and little Richy

Ches stylin' in mommy's glasses

Ches sitting on the grass at the wedding

Family prayer and blessing

The happy couple, Joel and Emily

The girls smothering Matthew with love

Chesnie and little Richy

Mommy and Ches with my beautiful mom in the background

Ches and Ruthie

Mattie and Jordan

My handsome hubby

The girls having so much fun on the dance floor

Ches doing a new move

Mattie dancing with Catie and Jaime

The girls dancing with Drew

Chesnie twirling with daddy

Mattie is having a lot of fun

Mattie dancing with Papa

Chesnie twirling

The girls with their cousins

Mattie all tuckered out at 11:30pm

Then we went up to our cabin for one last hurrah with Matthew's parents. It was very peaceful and relaxing. The girls enjoyed one on one attention with grandpa and grandma. They enjoyed riding their jeep and finding lots of "treasures" in the outdoors. They also enjoyed "driving" on the dirt road to the cabin

Mattie "driving" to the cabin

Chesnie out the window

Just hanging out with grandpa

Mattie's wooden head band

Roasting marshmellows on the bbq

Our summer officially ended today as it was Mattie's first day of school. She is our big Kindergartner now! We are home schooling so be in prayer! She enjoyed helping me make blueberry pancakes for her first school breakfast. And in the picture you see her doing her first writing in her book.