Thanksgiving.

We had a nice, relaxing Thanksgiving. Bill and Grandma came. It was a small group, but we had a nice meal. Good food.

Dad was assigned to the kids table - Ellie was the one that made the place cards and put them out on the tables, so that was no surprise.

After dinner, Mom had 80 invitations to make for her ward Christmas Breakfast. So Sarah decided to make everyone help. I could not believe that they all did. Even Cody and Don were part of the crew. We whipped those invites out rather quickly. I got laughing so hard about the fact that Cody was cutting out the paper and the best part was that Grandma got laughing really hard with me. She didn't even know what we were laughing at. I have not seen her laugh like that for a long time. It felt really good to know that she was having a good time.

This pic is blurry, but it was funny cuz Dad got stuck with the little kid scissors that were hurting his hand and he was trying to get the most done. It can't be anything, but a competition in the Couch fam.

I love this picture of grandma. She was very with it all day, for the most part, and it was good to see her have a nice time. She is so pulling the Grandma Elva face in this one!!!

CONGRATS TATEN!!!

Tate has spent more than half of his little life in Speech Therapy. Today we were let out of the speech program (for now anyway, we might have to go back in a year). I say WE because it was almost as much work for the Mom as it was for Tater! Hooray - no more speech homework!!! Tate has worked REALLY HARD to deserve this. I am very proud of him! He informed me on the way home from school that he is pretty sure that he has earned a KING SIZE Hersheys bar. "It will say KING SIZE on the front Mom" is what he told me. I guess I am headed for the store when Cody gets home!!!

***The pic is of Tate and Teacher Michelle (Michelle Skaggs). We love Teacher Michelle and owe her a big Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you.

Gratitude.

I have had a rough couple of weeks and have decided that I have officially hit rock bottom. I am sick of taking meds, my credit card number got stolen - fun, my eye doesn't work, and the medical bills just keep arriving. But the good news is that the only way to go from the bottom is up, and I would like to think that I am headed in that direction.

In TaiChi I learn and teach all the time about gratitude journals. Do I have one - NO - should I - YES! It is important to remember what we are blessed with. It is good for our energy to be full of gratitude. So tis the season, here is my gratitude journal for today...

I am grateful for:
My Kids - they have put up with more than any child should have to these last few months, they are troopers.
My Husband - Now if he would just get a job!!!;)
My Home - I love my little house with Christmas lights on it. It is so cute!
My Parents - They have done above and beyond what they should have lately. I am blessed with AWESOME parents whom I will never be able to repay.(Just ask my Dad!:))
My Health - It could be so much worse. I'm lucky.
My Friends & Family- I know that I have good friends and fam, but recently I have realized how nice it is to have people that are so supportive and truly care about me. I will never get all the Thank-you's written that I need to write. Thank-you!

So this is a little mushy of a post, but it is fitting for the season. I am getting excited for this whole Christmas Season. I am usually just stressed out about it, but I have learned recently that there is no reason to stress about the little things that we can't change. We need to enjoy every day because we never know what we will have to deal with tomorrow. ENJOY YOUR DAY!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

DID YOU KNOW?

Ellie did this. Did you know I am in the HONORS READING and MATH? It is a challenge for me though because I am only a 4 th grader, so I am not so good at it. I can't wait for Christmas too because I haven't had a present holiday in a whole year which to me seems like forever! Maybe you don't want Christmas to come around, but I sure can't wait because I have a 11 thing wish list. You probably thoght I am kidding but I am not.

Mom's Mandatory Assignment

Hi Family,

I know I have resisted this blogging thing as long as I could. But I have to give in because I have an assignment for the family.
As you are all aware, we now have a professional photographer in our midst. So I have a MANDATORY assignment for everyone in the family. This will be the first Christmas in years that we will all be together. Actually the first time ever. So I guess you know what I am getting at. Please come with a black shirt and jeans for everyone in your family (pets included). There will be a penalty for not attending. No Christmas for you!

Miller Halloween

Well I don't have as many pictures as you guys, but here is what I do have...

Here is my charm school witch, my knight, and my little golfer!!!

Church

This Sunday the kids went to church with Grandma and Grandpa. They were so excited. I think that it is funny that they find it so much fun to go to someone else's church. I don't see that much enthusiasm every Sunday for our church. I think that they were forgetting what church was, so it was probably a good thing. I am sure we have been put on the inactive list by now. Being on the inactive list however does not stop them from giving me a new calling. I am now officially the 3rd ward home, family, and personal enrichment leader. HAHA! Any calling that takes that long to say is too much for me. Cody and I did get a good laugh out of it though. My responsibility is to help all the women in the ward improve their homes, families, and theirself. Is anyone else laughing yet. I am not sure who received the inspiration for that one. They must not have been to my home recently. I am going to miss the Primary very much. I liked being able to keep an eye on Tate. I very often would have to stand up from behind the piano to give him THE look. I guess what I don't know, I can pretend doesn't happen. I am taking all suggestions I can get for the new job. So no one hold back on me.

Mom got Emma and Ellie new church clothes in Utah. Look at Emma's cute shoes!

Ellie's eyes really freak me out in this pic.

By the way, my CT Scan came back clear. It is always reassuring to know that my brain is functioning properly. I did however have to get lesion #3 drained on Friday. It is amazing how sick I am and then they open it up and by then end of the day I was feeling pretty good considering I had a drain in the side of my face. This too shall pass!

Halloween Cont.

Mom emailed me this pic of her and Chris Funk. I think that it is pretty good.

Halloween!

I was a dud this year for Halloween, but the kids still had a good time. I have to give Julie and Aunt Cheryl credit for that. I was not up for much, but they got to do all the regular trick or treating spots. I layed on the couch. I will not get the Mother of the Year Award for 2008, we will have to shoot for it in 2009.

We had a pretty small group this year, but they didn't mind.

Here is Dad cleaning up after everyone left. I don't really care for Halloween, but my favorite part is that we always end up at Mom's for soup after the trick or treating. Mom can make some dang good soup. I always have to have a little of both because I can't choose just one.
Mom decided to be June Cleever this year. I'm not sure if she pulled it off. I think that Julie was the only one that figured it out. She sure was cute though.

I think that Emma loved mom's wig more than she loved her own costume. Maybe next year Emma can be June!!!