Wordless Wednesday: Jungle Gym or Grandpa?

(sept. 2005)

Story of Ryland's Life

I came across this little gem I saved from the end of school this last year and just had to share it. Like I always say, this boy is full of joyful energy.

Birth
Where were you born? The new McKay Dee Hospital in Ogden, Ut.
What are your parents' names? Nathaniel and Ronda Mills.
What are some interesting facts about your birth? He weighed the exact same as his older brother - 5 pounds 13 ounces

Family
Who is in your family? Dad, Mom, Ethan 11, Ally 9, Ryland 7, Evelyn 3 1/2
What makes your family special? We are energetic and like to play with each other!
What is your favorite tradition your family has? Summer family walks around the neighborhood.

Treasured Keepsake
Does your family have an item that is important to you? The Wii

My Career and Family
What will you do in the future? Be a Jedi Master.
What career will you have? I will work for the "Republic" to get Republic Credits.
Will you have a family? Yes, a blue-eyed family.

New Tradition
What new tradition would you like to pass on to future generations? I will make them do 100 push ups.

Greatest Accomplishment
What will be your greatest achievement in life and how will you accomplish it? Go to Florida, I will fly a lego plane all by myself, with my family. Every hour a piece will fall off!

Making a Difference
How will you make a difference in the future? I will take out the Siths and their entire team!

Dance Recital May 2011

This was Ally's second year of dance. She loved it and did awesome at her reciatal.

It was back in May and her third year starts in about ten days so I figured I better get it posted.

I missed her first picture on picture day or else I would've insisted on her keeping her glasses on. It is so strange to see her without them on, they are such a part of her. Either way she is beautiful, no doubt.

Pre-Recital....getting some butterflies!

Ballet Dance ~ Silent Language



Tap Dance ~ Westward Hoedown

This year both of my parents were able to attend.

Grandma & Grandpa Hale

and
Grandma & Grandpa Burke

and of course Nate and I were there.

And of course after we went out to eat at Chili's.

Can't wait til next year!

Flashback Friday: Ally's 6th Birthday August 2007

This was Ally's first friend party. Our previous neighborhood was more of a "Meals-on-Wheels" type of neighborhood. It was great to move here and have so many little girls around. It was a Princess/Fairy theme. We just invited the girls to come all glammed up. It was a great party and I am sure you can tell by the photos that Ally had a riot.





MaKayla N., Ashtyn K., Ally, Emma W., Ireland H., Taylor S., Mira S.,
Mariah S. holding Evelyn, Gracie S., Lindsay W., and Jaycee M. and Hailey A.

Photo Shoot Sunday: The Many Faces Of Evelyn

(may 2011)

Evie The Graduate

Way back in May Evelyn had her Preschool Graduation for her first year of Preschool.

Her awesome teach Miss Jill put on an amazing program.

It was too fun and so so cute to see all of the kids do their part.

I especially loved seeing the kids come in during their march.

Evie got super embarrassed and it was so fun to watch.

I loved the part when each of the kids got to tell us what they want to be when they grow up.

Of course Evie said Princess.

We had a great year with Miss Jill and are looking forward to another one.

Riding Lawn Mowers

**I have no idea why my post is spaced like this. I have tried to fix it about 6 times. I give. Sorry**

We live on a half acre and we are an anomaly in the neighborhood.

We are the only family without a riding lawn mower.

Why? You ask. Because I refuse to get one.

Here are my reasons:

#1 I like the exercise it provides.

Here's where I let out a little dark secret about myself.

It always makes me snicker a little inside when I see one of my neighbors, who also happens to give us the most grief over not owning a riding lawn mower. And who is also used to zipping along on his mower, beverage in hand,

with his yearly expanding ponch,

and is usually done with his half acre in 20 minutes,

be reduced to pushing his mower while his riding variety is in the shop.

I feel a little ripple of pleasure watching him struggle up and down the lawn,

(taking almost two hours, like the crazy Mills family)

while I cruise along like it's nothing. hee hee.

It makes me feel good inside.

I know, I know, I'm terrible. Normal. Human. Terrible. Yep, that's me.

Here's where I will try to redeem myself.

#2 I grew up on around two acres.

With a huge garden, and lots of variety of little animals to take care of, etc.

There were plenty of opportunities for learning work ethic.

Come hell or high water, I WILL teach my kids work ethic.

Since we live in a slightly different environment than I grew up in
I have to take every opportunity I can to teach my kids this wonderful trait.

Which is why I put my foot down every single time the riding lawn mower issue gets brought up.

Every. Single. Time.

We can get one when the kids are grown and I don't feel equal to the task.

This year two more of our kids are joining the family ranks of hand pushed lawn mowers.

Ally:

And Ryland:
Because our kids are born with sticks for arms, we have found that we generally have to wait til around the age of 8 before we turn em loose with the mower.
The year the kids turn 8 they get to mow the lower, flatter part of the back yard.

Which Ryland is doing this year.

They eventually graduate to including the other, more hilly part of the back yard.

Which Ally at almost 10 is doing this year.

Ethan has graduated to doing the ENTIRE front lawn this year.

At age 12 we felt he was finally ready. It's almost all hilly and slanted which

makes it a bit more of a beast to do.

I will admit.

I enjoy watching it get done while I work in the flower beds or the vegetable garden.

However, I do LOVE to mow the lawn and this year is bittersweet for me.

While I have had opportunities to mow, thank you scout camp, I have had to turn most of

it over to the kids this year.

Bittersweet for sure.

But it is worth it in the end if it brings me to the ultimate goal of teaching

my kids how to work hard and contribute.