March 2010

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

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

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

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

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

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.