Wow - has it been 9 months?

Like I said on the the last post, I didn't realize how bad I would be at keeping this blog updated. So it's been 9 months, and well we all know what happens in 9 months....that's right we added a few more members to our family - we have 8 fish and two frogs! What, did you think I was going to say we had a baby? That's been fixed, or rather, I have been fixed!

So, the real question is what has happened in the past year of our lives. So, I'll do my best to sum it up for you, and make it interesting by inserting pictures of the fun times we've had.

Summer 2007, this was really our first summer in Colorado, because we moved here in August 2006 and it seem liked that it rained for 2 months, once we arrived - but we did have some awesome lightning storms. So this past summer we figured that we would do some camping and hiking in the local mountains and it was a blast. We camped with some friends in June in Ouray, gorgeous scenery, waterfalls, and hot springs (that's Mel's favorite part)!

In July, we actually took a break and went back to California and vistited with many of you! We went camping at McGrath for a week with the family and we got to play in the ocean, one of our favorite places in the world. It was a nice time visiting our friends, family, church and the seagulls.

In August, we did more camping, and I tried to take the kids separately on some trips. I left mel at home and took just the kids and the dogs camping at a place only about 1 1/2 hours from home. This was an amazing trip because each day took a hike, went fishing, tubed dow,000 n the river and just hung out. The best thing we did was take a hike up to 9,000 feet - yes, Caiya, Kamden, JT and Annie (the dog). We had a lot of stops, and trials along the way, but for us it was like reaching the top of Mt. Everest. It was so beautiful, but the best part was that JT found a little mason jar hidden by some rocks on top of the mountain. In it was a small spiral notebook, a pencil and various small items. In the notebook was a journal of every person who had climbed to the top of this mountain, and who had found the jar. the first entry in the journal was in 2002 - ithad been there fo 5 years. We added our names (and ages) to the journal - I was so proud of the kids for making it to the top (and back down). It was a great experience!

JT and I did a guys weekend away camping with Brad and his two boys. We went to the same place as above, and hiked, fished and had smores by the campfire. I took the girls away to a Father / Daughter retreat which was a great bonding experience for all of us. It was a good reminder about the value of being an involved dad in your kids life, and the importance of being a godly influence in their lives as well. Something I am not currently good at it, but always need to be striving to be better.

Then summer is over, and kids are headed to school again, oh wait and JT started Kindergarten! He loves it! All of the kids have great teachers that match their personalities and seem to know how to encourage our kids in the right way. Every year that goes by there is some kind of new challenge with learning, reading, math, friendships, etc. But that's the fun we get to experience, watching our kids grow and learn. I have no idea how my parents survived with me!

During the fall, I coached my second season of soccer for JT's team, and it was amazing to watch him get better. He scored his first goal and it was the one weekend that I was travelling for work - but he was psyched! We dominated the soccer league and went 6-2 (second season in a row)!

It's snowing again!!!

Okay, so I have begun to realize that I am not so good at updating our blog, and informing you about what's been happening in our lives - sorry, life is so busy. I will try and summarize quickly the last couple of months, but yes - it's May 23rd and it's been snowing for the last 2 hours with no signs of stopping. Yes, this is the Colorado life.

In March, we decided to meet up with our Valencia church family at Lake Havasu, for a quick 4 day vacation - our good friends Peter and Dara were up in California for some needed rest (they are missionaries in El Salvador) and this was an opportunity to see them, some of our family, and our friends from Copperhill Church. We had a great time, although our car broke down, and we ended up having to stay an additional 5 days, and a quick trip turned into an 8-day adventure. But we made the most of the AZ sun, 100 degree days of sunshine and sun tan lotion. Kamden also turned 7 years old in March and has been skating all around town in her new "heely's" - she loves them!

In April, I started coaching JT's soccer team and having a lot of fun with the kids. We had a total of 9 kids, including our friends from last year's team, and Brad & Myrian's kids, Preston and Zachary - the season just finishes and we had a winning record of 4-2. Not bad for a first time coach.... Mel also had a birthday, and although we didn't do too much, she was Queen for the day and got a massage, and a plane ticket to Haiti in May (more details below). It seemed like April just flew by and I actually got out taxes done on time (first time in years that's happened)

This month we just realized that either Mel or I have spent every weekend on a plane. I went to Milwaukee for an insurance conference, and I got to visit the home of the Miller Brewing company - I got to see my roots and even have a beer (okay, I'm not related - but I can always celebrate the champagne of beers because it's Miller Time). Then, Mel went out for a weekend to California to visit her two sisters and mom, to celebrate Mother's Day and her sister Jen's birthday. It was a good time for them to get together and just hang out WITH NO KIDS! Although I am sure it was a little bit more work for all of us husbands at home with the kids - but we survived. Then there was Haiti!

Mel came back on Mother's Day, and 4 days later she took off for Haiti to visit the 3 Angels Children's Relief. Many of you have heard about this ministry in Haiti and we have some good friends who are involved in supporting the orphanage, school and medical care that they give to the children of Haiti. We introduced the orphanage to our kids in December, when our kids "adopted" 3 children to pray for and support financially each month this year. Since that time, Mel has spent time talking with Shannon, Jamie and others about how we can continue to minister and support the orphanage. As a result, Shannon and Dail planned a trip to go to Haiti and we decided to send Mel down to go with them. What an experience, I am going to have Mel update the blog with her own experience and version, she can describe it much better. Additionally through all of these people, contacts and Mel's visit to Haiti we are praying about whether we should adopt a child ourselves. We're in the very beginning stages so please pray with us as we consider what God may be calling us to. She just got back this past Monday, so she's excited to share with you all her experience and has lots of pictures to share. (Call her!)

Lastly, I will be on plane this weekend back to Cali for a few days with my mom. She has sold her house and is moving into a great "board and care" facility. The house is not far from her existing home in Simi Valley so she'll still be close to her friends. But as a result, we have to go through her belongings and I will be helping to organize the items she's keeping and what needs to be sold. It's tough to leave a house you have lived in for over 30 years - this was the home that I was raised in, so it's filled with memories for me too. But if you're around Valencia this weekend, maybe we'll bump into each other - I'll be at Copperhill on Sunday and then working from my Valencia office on Tuesday.

Summer has arrived and our kids are out of school! I can't believe that a whole school year has past and next year we'll have Chalce in 10th, Caiya in 3rd, Kamden in 2nd and JT in Kindergarten - crazy! We'll be out visiting California as a family for about 2 weeks (just after 4th of July) so hopefully we'll see you then. If not, please call or email us, because we love keeping in touch. Or come on out to Colorado and we'll put you up in this beautiful but crazy weather kind of country. (it's snowing in May - I just can't believe it!)

Love you all - the Millers

More fun pics!

The kids are decked out and ready for th slopes - or something like that.....


We're not really sure what this is - but we passed it on the road and thought it looked really cool - Devil goes down to Georgia?


We woke our girls up to a Valentine candy feast.


Sunset at the Hot Springs, in Pagosa Springs - 98 degrees to 113 degress, ooh la la, felt great after a hard day snowboarding and skiing.



Our backyard -isn't it amazing - Mel's photography too!
Taking a ski break - Caiya, always having fun.



This is a frozen waterfall in Pagosa Springs, on the way to Wolf Creek ski area.

It's about time, I know, I know, I know!

It's March - I can't even believe that we are 2 months down into 2007, and worse than that - my last posting was on Christmas Eve - where has the time gone? And as of today, we have been in Colorado for 7 months!!!! I do have to admit that we are enjoying so many aspects of Colorado right now. I never thought I would say this, but we have a week of 50 degree weather, and it feels warm - Melanie was in her shorts and flip-flops all day long (this includes her shoveling snow off our driveway so that the rest of it would melt). But can you believe it - we feel like it's 75 and it's gorgeous. I am going to try and show you some of the most recent activities, scenery and places we've been in the last 2 months. We did go back to California for almost 2 weeks and I could post a lot of family, but ya'll don't want to be just looking at yourselves, right? So let's skip the holidays and we'll take a look at the recent past.

Our kids' soccer friends, and now our friends, invited us over for sledding and Superbowl - they live on a 200 acre farm and so there was lots of place to play and a big hill to go down - gotta love the kids with no fear!

Then last month - we decided to take a mini-vacation to Pagosa Springs, Colorado- which is really close to Durango in the Southwest corner of the state. This is a really popular spot for skiing, snow mobiling and sleigh riders in the winter and then in the Spring and Summer it's a really popular place for fly fishing, horse back riding, mountain biking and just plain camping out in nature. We plan to go back in the Summer - but we decided to take the family skiing. It was was the first time we have taken the family out skiing since we moved, but they love it. JT is really becoming a master at the "pizza", and by now Caiya and Kamden are going down the slopes almost as fast as me (but they don't fall!). We had a blast and here are a few of the action shots.

Now we're back at home, recovering from my old age and aches and pains, and watching the snow melt to reveal all of the trees and shrubs we cut down just before the big snows last year - yes - we haven't seen our yard (grass not really, pine trees and dirt actually) since last year. So as I take a breath, I realize that soon I will get the chain saw out and start cutting down more trees, splitting wood, and bagging the sticks and twigs. I think I am becoming a "mountain man" - but I still can't find the brawn. Someday.....

Speaking of someday, I wish that someday you will all come out and visit this incredible place that we live. So far Brad and Myrian have moved out and here and very soon - Jim and Lisa (from Copperhill fame) will be moving out - so who's next? Okay seriously, we love to see some of you and I know that we will be seeing the Hoffman's, Jamieson's and Agrons in the next few months. Listen, this place we got is so big - that we could probably host the next Copperhill Jr. High retreat - (give me a call Pete).

Well, for all of you who were telling me you wanted an update and the new pictures - here they are - enjoy. Lots of love to all of you - The Miller Family!

Do you believe in Santa?

Who knew? Who knew that the North Pole was in Colorado - well it is! We went to visit Santa, his elves, reindeer and the whole little village at the North Pole. And on top of that, they had roller coasters, spinning tea cups, Scrambler (that one makes me sick in the head), and tons of other stuff. So we took the kids for a day of fun at Santa's village, and they know that the reason for Christmas is truly the celebration of Christ's birth but we also can celebrate the fun of the season. We took a picture with Santa, but it always seems odd because our kids know he's just some man - dressed up in a suit - so they don't have the "warm and fuzzy excitement" of sitting on his lap and asking for a present. In addition to that, we ran into our next door neighbors(as next door they can be in our area) there - very fun! We got some pictures of the day so....enjoy! For the whole day - click on this link http://picasaweb.google.com/Millerfamilyco/SantaSVillage

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!!!!

Well, I know that I said that I wasn't going to talk much about the snow...but we got 3 feet of snow, not 12" and it was so much that we were a national story and both the Colorado Springs airport and Denver were closed for two days. So we ended up having to shovel our way out of the house, and after 3 days being holed up here - we made it out to Tobaggan hill and had fun with the kids sledding and playing in the snow. So, I am adding a few pictues of our big snow - I know you all wish you were here. And if any of you got any free moments, I have an extra snow shovel ready and waiting for you! Hope to see you all soon!

It's a Wonderful Life!!!!

Okay, so I know it's been a long time since the last update and all of our friends and family keep emailing me for updates and pictures (okay, just my mom), but here it is.

A lot has gone on since Halloween - Albert & Mandy and kids visited, Chalce visited, Thanksgiving, Christmas tree hunting, 4 parties (Soccer party, Tastefully Simple, Caiya's birthday, Christmas party), 2 poker nights and now Christmas is a week away. We have been receiving a ton of Christmas cards with great pictures of so many of our friends and let me tell you - you all look great. We took some pictures too, but we brought our 4 kids and dogs and by the time we were finished, I was ready for bed (we got home at 11pm). That must be the reason that most of you just put your kids or pets on the cards and not the whole family. I get it now!

We've met some friends and have really great neighbors - we can't believe how God took care of us by putting us in this house, neighboorhood and surroundings. One set of neigbors are Christians and they invited us to a Christmas Wonderland program with them as their guests at New Life and it was incredible - ice skating, drama, huge live orchestra, huge choir and a great message of Jesus' birth and the meaning of Christmas wrapped up in a "Broadway type of performance". Our kids loved it (and so did we!).

It hasn't been snowing that much, although we're expecting about 6" -12" of snow by morning. It's pretty funny but we all check the weather report on a regular basis. We kinda laughed at people out here when they were talking about what weather was coming in 4-5 days. Now we do it and know why.....if you get stuck in the house with no 4-wheel drive and no food or firewood - you're in trouble! So now, we cut down a few pine trees and go stock up at the local Safeway and get ready to hibernate for a few days. Okay, it's not really that bad - but kinda true all at the same time. I'm excited because it means I can go to Toboggan Hill with the kids and go sledding about a block from my house, and the kids like it because they miss school.

Well - life has been pretty good and many of you may know we're headed to California in a week. We're looking forward to seeing many of you and our family. We'll be there for 10 days, staying most of the time with Albert and Mandy and family! Give us a call!

Lastly, we're also excited about the arrival of Brad, Myrian, Preston and Zachary. Brad and I planned to both move our families here to Colorado together but our house sold in July and Brad's finally sold in December! So they're coming to join us, as we expand Term101 here in Colorado and continue to have an operation in Valencia too. They came out last week and it was definitely good to see them and hang out together as families and all of our kids are looking forward to it as well. Pray for them as the move approaches and all of the emotions that they'll be going through - we know how feels!

Keep scrolling down, and you'll find lots of pictures of the events I just described. We miss you all and wish you a very Merry Christmas! The Miller Family

Our Colorado Christmas Party