Aspen Photos

First of all, I know everyone wants to see pictures of Paige but Ben still hasn't sent them to me so cool your jets! I will get those up as soon as possible. Amber, however, did send pictures from Aspen so here they are! It looks like everyone had as much fun as they claimed they did.

More Aspen Photos

Shower Photos

Lots of posts today - sorry to inundate the blog in one day, particularly when we have such important news like Paige joining the family! Just posting some of the pictures from my baby shower on Saturday before I head back to the hospital to get my hands back on that baby! Isn't it just ridiculous how fat I am getting? Yeah, I thought so too.

Margaret's Blessing

Little Miss Margaret is going to be blessed on March 11th in Vegas. Sacrament meeting starts at 10:30 and Amber and Matt would love to have everyone come and any priesthood holders in our family join the circle. There is going to be a get together/lunch after church at about 2 pm. Depending on how many people come it may be at Bruce and Carole's. I'll post any updates as they come!

Paige is HERE!!!

Paige was born this morning at 5:15 am! She weighed 7 pounds, 14 ounces and was 19.5 inches long. Bridget went to the hospital at 10:45 last night and was sent home at 12:45, only to return at 2 am with contractions only a minute apart. She dilated quickly and she reports that labor was pretty easy, at least once she got the epidural anyway.

The little munchkin is just beautiful despite looking not a thing like her mother. She has a mop of black hair and reminds me a little bit of Ben, but not much. I told Bridget that if you lined up all the babies in the nursery Paige is probably the last one I would choose as Bridget's child. I know it's early and she will change significantly in the coming weeks but I thought for sure she'd look like her parents right away.

I will post pictures as soon as Ben sends them to me. Both Ben and Bridget are madly in love with her already and both Bridget and Paige seem to take naturally to breastfeeding so all is well in room 427 at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center!!!

I can't wait to get out of work to go hold her again!

It was Too Much

Marissa and Tiffany threw me a baby shower in California this weekend that would have put Martha Stewart to shame. From the individual ramekins of homemade macaroni and cheese, to the cheese tray with the cheese individually labeled, to the takehome gift of lipbalms and lotions, to the tulips and roses, to the mint lemonade, to my favorite coconut cake and individual cupcakes with diaper pins on them, it was almost too much to bear. I got to see a lot of people I haven't seen in a while which was so great. Jenny Sidebotham brought her new baby girl and teared up numerous times during the shower - I kept having to tell her to stop being so emotional. I totally forgot that there were presents until they brought them all in for me to open, and wow, Anna got some really great stuff. She and Paige will be the best dressed baby girls in Utah County!

I will say that the one thing about the shower that makes me cry when I think about it was just being at Grandma and Grandpa's house. We spent the night there and I haven't been in their house forever so walking into it hit me pretty hard. I think all the grandkids would agree that is the best house in the world. I love the way it smells. I love the gardens and the art and the backyard and the playroom. I just love everything about it. And there's something about the bedrooms downstairs that make them bonafide sleep chambers. When we got there, I just looked around for a while and it was all I could do to not start bawling thinking about how much that place is a part of my life and how many hundreds of good family memories live there. For me, there is no safer, cozier, happier place in the entire world. So thanks Grandma and Grandpa for letting me have my shower there and being really truly the best grandparents on the planet and always making your homes the place we most want to be.

I don't have the pictures yet but will post some as soon as I get them.

Report from the East Coast

Emily sent these pictures of the kids today and reports that they are both finally getting better - just a little coughing. I can't believe how fast Oliver is growing!!!

Birthdays, Babies and Bad Blood

We celebrated Ann and Steve's birthdays on Sunday with dinner and dessert at the Heber House. Ann turned 53 on Monday and Steve will turn 44 tomorrow!

In other news, I found out today that I am anemic. They are now insistent that I take prenatal vitamins which I have avoided like the plague. Maybe having to basically crawl through Target yesterday was a sign that low blood pressure or not, there was something else amiss. I was actually glad to find out I was anemic because the dcotor's office called me yesterday about 10 minutes before they closed and said, "We got your gestational diabetes screen back and need to talk to you about some medication we need to put you on." By the time I got the message it was too late to call so I got to worry all night long. I was relieved this morning to find out it's just anemia and not diabetes or worse. My fantastic husband is going down to the doctor's office this morning to get a wide selection of prenatals for me to sample so I can find one that I can tolerate.

Bridget still hasn't gone into labor which is really starting to annoy me. I can't wait for Paige to be born. We all thought it would happen last week but apparently she is just not ready yet. My theory is that Anna and Paige are having such a good time playing that they forgot one of them needs to be born. Mom made her the cutest baby announcements and told me she is now working on mine which I am so excited about!

First Photos and Report from Aspen

Marci returned home last night and sent me these pictures and a ski report that almost made me cry. Here is an excerpt from her email..."I think that yesterday had to be the BEST ski day I've ever had in Snowmass, and possibly in my life. We had about 10-15 inches (about 10 in some places- and up to about 15 in others) of soft, fresh snow all over the mountain. It was like skiing in the clouds- it was absolutely INCREDIBLE!! Some of the older set will tell you a slightly different story since cruising was NOT an option in those conditions, but even they had a good time."

The pictures of the family eating were taken at the Wienerstube in Aspen. Going to the Wienerstube on Sunday after church is a family tradition but I don't ever remember anyone taking pictures there so this might be a first.

Yesterday I talked to Amber and Honey who were with Grandma watching the Westminster Dog Show and watching baby Margaret, Jack and Seth. Honey had to stay home because she forgot her boots and had to rent but they made her so sore she couldn't ski.

Steve left last night just before 7 pm to head out to Snowmass and got there at about 1 am this morning. I told him it was only about five hours, he found out once he was halfway there that it was over six. I don't think he was too happy with me but I'm sure he's just fine now that he's swishing the day away up on Elk Camp or High Alpine or the Big Burn or some other glorious hill!

Video of Andrew

Chelsea sent me the cutest video of Andrew that I tried to post to the blog but couldn't. In it, he tries to eat his feet and roll over. He is still a little chub and just as adorable as ever. If you want me to send you the video I will try - it's a huge file so I don't know if it will work but I will do my best.

Little Miss Chicken Legs Skis Her Heart Out

Got word from Ruben today that everyone is having a great time in Aspen. Kate has taken to the slopes in true Miller fashion - after one day she says, "It's great to ski," and after two days Matt took her after ski school on the new gondola. Papa says she skis like a champ, "a little out of control, more like a wild woman. She came straight down as fast as her skinny legs could go. Matt was trying to talk to her and keep her under control all the way to the condo."

I knew she would do great!

Jason & Heidi on the Riviera

Jason and Heidi just returned from what looked to be a great cruise to the Mexican riviera, and I am going to bet they were the best looking couple on the entire ship. Jason reports that the ship lost an engine so they ended up getting an extra day at sea and that they didn't mind that or the 80 degree weather.
If you're wondering who that random dude is with Heidi, look a little closer - it's John Tesh.

And Please Bless This Lotto Ticket...

Papa was ordained an Elder last Sunday (is that a sentence you ever thought you'd hear or what?). This is great news for all of us about to have babies who want Ruben to help bless them legally. As for Ruben's take on the matter, the ordination has apparently brought him great joy in that he can now also bless his lotto tickets, although Honey contends that winning millions will ruin their lives. I don't know about that, all I know is that we do need a bigger trailer at the Water Wheel sooooo...

Also, I'm to clarify that the "Great White Hunter from England" was the one who massacred the racoon, and of note as well is that fact that the "pestering varmit" now rests in peace in the St. George landfill as it refused to cooperate and be tanned for Sparky's hat. I can hear Amber's sigh of relief all the way from Vegas.

Happy Birthday to ME!!!!

Marci came through and sent these pictures from Porter's birthday party a few weeks ago. Him singing Happy Birthday to himself was hysterical, especially because he pronounces his own name as if he is French. He would pretty much do it on cue all night - definitely worth the drive to Heber. (Oh, and if you're wondering why I never post more than five pictures, it's because that's the limit to each post.)

Greetings from the Little Brit

Chelsea sent these yesterday - the last picture is Andrew with his uncle Angus. I really miss this little pumpkin.

I Hate You All

So everyone is giddy with excitement about leaving for the family ski trip this weekend, while I get to look forward to thinking and being depressed about everyone swishing around Big Burn, eating at Gwen's, going into Aspen at night and every other perfect thing about Snowmass. Stupid, retarded knees. What makes it worse is that Steve and I were supposed to be on a cruise this week in the Caribbean but I wasn't allowed to get on the boat because I'm in my third trimester, so it's a double whammy of vacation disappointment. I am hoping Paige comes while you're all there and I get to hold her first! Ha!

Steve is going to go up to Snowmass mid next week and I know there is a variable schedule for some of the other grandkids. I actually do hope you all have a great time and Grandma doesn't spend the week in Aspen Valley Hospital taking care of someone.

It's going to be Kate's first year and I can't wait to hear about it, and I know Cami has a beautiful new coat to proudly display.

Ski safe everyone - you don't want to end up like me!!!

The Official Logo

I took your comments and suggestions and finalized on this logo today! I hope you guys like it. Now I just have to figure out how to incorporate it into the design of the site somehow - too bad Grandpa or Honey isn't around to impart their technical know-how and help me out. Those two constantly amaze me with their Internet wizardry.

Pistachio Chicken Salad

A few people have called about the recipe for the salad we had at Bridget's shower...I also made this for Chelsea's bridal shower. It's really easy (or else I wouldn't make it)! I'm serving it again this weekend for another baby shower I'm throwing - it's great for feeding large groups.

1 premade roasted whole chicken (you can find these in the deli section of most markets, as well as Costco)
2-3 heads of red leaf lettuce, depending on their size
1 1/2 cups of pistachios, shelled
3 cups of seedless red grapes
1/2 container of blue cheese crumbles
1 packet of Good Seasons Italian dressing
Red Wine Vinegar (for dressing)
Canola Oil (for dressing)

Wash the lettuce, tear, and dry
Cut out breast of chicken and meat off legs and slice into bite size pieces
Chop pistachios
Cut grapes in half
Combine above into a large bowl
Follow directions on dressing packet
Add bleu cheese crumbles and dressing as needed, toss
Serves 10 - 12