A Fun Family Photo Frenzy

This Christmas all the Milburns got together (a miracle in itself) and what better way to capture the fun than a family photo!  It seems to be a necessary activity when every single Milburn is together since it doesn't happen as much as we'd all like.  We were all so thrilled that Deborah and Charles made their way out to Colorado from Seattle for Christmas.  It had been way too long since Thomas, the girls and I have seen them since our recent hiatus to California (which by the way we've been missing!  Although, sidetracking a bit, we DID have a white Christmas here.  So fun!)  Here are a couple previous family photos that we've taken.

November 2010

January 2012

And these are a few highlights from this year.  Stephen was the mastermind behind the whole thing.  He's good!

December 2012

There really is nothing better than being with family.  We are so thankful for the family we have and get to spend time with.  Katin and Aubrey have the best aunts and uncles in the whole world!  Not to mention all their amazing grandparents.  We are so blessed to have a family who desires to spend quality time together laughing, playing and joyfully dancing!

I hope you had a chance to capture some great family moments this Christmas.  Can't wait for January when we can do round two of a fun family photo frenzy with the Williams!

Baby's First Hair Cut

Hello Blog World!  Hope your Holiday Season has been wonderful!  Merry Christmas to all!  Enjoy time with family, friends and....for me lately....FUDGE!  (I think I just ate my fifth piece of the day)

I wanted to share a few pictures of Katin's very first haircut!  I know it's hard to believe that we would ever cut off that gorgeous mullet she had going.  I think when it was wet her rat tail hit her little behind.  What kind of parents are we getting that awesome thing hacked off?!?!  Katin was really nervous for her haircut.  She asked, "They use scissors for my haircut mom, will it hurt?"  So funny..but such a great question!  After a little explaining she was so excited for this adventure.

After leaving she immediately said she wanted to go back and get another haircut soon.  Soon enough child, soon enough.

Before...the shag

During

More During...still a bit skeptical

Aubrey of course wanted in on the action

After...she didn't crack a smile till the lady handed her a sucker for being such a good beauty parlor "patient"

It's all even!  And looks thicker I promise :) 

 And why not add these adorable photos to my hair cutting blog???

Ready for Christmas!

Life Lately

Did you fill a box this year?  If so, I'm sure you had a great time placing all those cute little trinkets and candies carefully into the red and green shoebox.  Not only did Thomas, the girls and I fill up a couple boxes (complete with an oversized plastic dinosaur that Katin insisted go in there) for Operation Christmas Child, but I also had the wonderful opportunity to serve at the packaging and shipping center in Denver.  A bunch of us moms (and a few lucky hubbys) went down together to work until the wee hours of the night about 11 pm sorting, taping, scanning, and packing thousands of shoeboxes.  A few things about it really warmed my heart.  One....There were thousands upon thousands of boxes to be sorted and scanned!  I couldn't believe how many boxes they send out to be shipped.  I never knew that our box was one of 100 MILLION!!!  Two....as the night went on I was thinking about all the little boys and girls playing in Tecate, Mexico, a place where Thomas and I visited a few times to build homes.  I was imagining how happy they would be to receive a box full of goodies!  And guess what!?!?!  About halfway through the night one of the head volunteers started explaining where the boxes go specifically and how we could get more involved throughout the year.  And do you know what...the exact boxes I was sorting were heading off to Mexico the next day!!!  And three....each box was completely different.  As much as I was thinking to myself in that dollar store how every kid must get a toothbrush or a candy cane or a pack of markers, I was wrong!  Every box was organized and packed and filled with very different stuff.  It was so neat to see what people thought of to send.  A few ideas I saw that I will try to remember were little lego sets, hair ties, flip flops, a small blanket, underwear, and a toothbrush holder!  Needless to say I was blessed by being at the OCC packaging site this year.  I will definitely sign up again for the years to come and hopefully my girls will want to come along when they are 13 :)

And in other news....

Thomas is a great dad (not new news)

We have a new favorite: homemade french fries

We love our advent calendar complete with an activity/idea for each day

Day one was make a Christmas Craft- from pinterest of course

The girls are probably looking bigger (and cuter) since the last time you saw them

And finally...we see quite the variety of animals on our way to church including horses, cows, sheep, pigs, chickens, an unknown animal and dogs.  But today was extra special...we saw this guy!

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving 2012

I couldn't pass up the opportunity to blab a little bit about Thanksgiving...it is my hubby's favorite holiday, ya know!?  For the past two years we have spent Turkey day with my family in California.  Which of course was so wonderful!  It's always wonderful watching football, playing games and eating the most "aunt donna" mashed potatoes my stomach can handle....and doing it all while gazing into the sunset over the pacific ocean.  Really, I'm not sure those moments with my wonderful family can be beat.  Even Thomas loved his time with the "other side" on his favorite holiday.  I mean, the Milburns do not play the dice game or guess how many m and m's are in the jar, or the clothespin game or even bingo while sitting around the table.  So of course he would have a blast!  But...I know...I totally understand...it's not the same when it's not your own family.  I've re-learned that this year.  I was blessed beyond belief to have spent two whole years living, yes, WITH, my parents.  Seeing my own mommy every single day did not get old.  EVER!  So when the holidays began to roll around this year I had to just take a deep breath and close my eyes and picture my California family.  They're never really far.  Despite the distance.  Now don't get me wrong, Thanksgiving at the Milburns is amazing!  Or should I say "pie-mazing!"  (9 this year)  Even my own parents can attest to Thanksgiving at the Milburns being something joyful.  Something heavenly.  They've been here before on Turkey day!  And if I'm not mistaken they even had a year full of Scattergories and La Familia!  (Lucky guys)  So the moral of this story is not simply that I am thankful.  Yes, I am thankful.  But it goes a little deeper.  I'm sitting in my chair that's way too low for this desk probably keeping my husband awake with the annoying little sounds each finger makes on the keyboard tearing up because of how full of thanks and joy and love my heart is for my families.  My Colorado family AND my California family.  Because no matter where we celebrate Thomas's favorite holiday we know we are loved and appreciated and thought of.  And for that I'm thankful.  And I don't know if many people can say that.  We truly have a special bond with each family member.  Even Chad (my cousin's husband)  I know...it's crazy stuff people.  Chad even thought of us and loves us and appreciates us.  And as much as he did that about us....we did it a thousand times about him because this year we were too far away to give him a hug.  Soon though.  Very soon.  So until we can hug Chad, and Steve and GGMA..... we will give thanks to God for the family we have.  For the LOVING family we have.  Both near and far.  

"Rejoice in the Lord.  Again I say rejoice!" Philippians 4:4 

Still Making Memories

...

"A hug is like a boomerang.  
You get it right back." 

-Brian Keane

I'm thankful that I got to hug each of you today.  Thanks for a great time of laughter, food and friendship.  Let's do it again soon!  Love you all!

To Di:  Can I say that you actually are the best hugger?!

To Shaina: You look more complete with that little Joshua :)

To Kim: Once a roommate....your ability to clean a kitchen is still impecable.  To Ali: It wouldn't have been the same without a political rant enlightenment

To Heather: Did you know that sisters make great friends?? And vice-versa?!?! 

To Laura: I'm with you on the whole marijuana thing! (and your apron is ordered!)

To Kassie: Sorry, but my knew BFF is Dr. Stork! ha

Fight CU Down the Field

If you're singing the rest of the glorious fight song in your head you know there is a little phrase in there that says "CU knows no defeat".  Well...let's just say we're waiting for basketball season!  

But despite the horrific loss we experienced, there's always something special about marching down Pearl Street with the band, roaring with the crowd when Ralphie runs and cheering on your favorite team even when you think you could do a better job at quarterback...no seriously...I think I could've.  

And what better way to fill a weekend than with family!?!?!?!?!?!  We are so thankful that Harrison is here for school because it gives mom and Doug another reason to come visit....probably a more convincing reason too :)

Love you guys!!!

Katin's 3rd Birthday

I know!  I can't believe it either!  She's three!!!  I wasn't sure if it was even possible, but I love this girl three times as much as I did the day she was born.  And obviously being her mother I could go on and on and on and on about how wonderful she is and how she's the best thing in the whole world (tied with Aubrey of course) and how she's just the most adorable littler person around.  But I will save you many many words and simply state three perfect words that describe my darling daughter, Katin.  Three words for three years.

Determined

Helpful

Spunky

It's been a fabulous three years, full of fun and not-gonna-lie....craziness!  I can't wait to see how Jesus works in her heart the next year.  And like my mom was to me, I will always be her biggest fan.

We love you Katin!  Happy Birthday!

(on October 24)

Visit: Short but Sweet

This weekend we got to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa Anthony.  They flew to Atlanta to see the latest addition to the family, Avery Elaine, and stopped by to play on the way home.  The girls absolutely loved it!  From reading books with grandpa to playing at the park with grandma.  It was a short visit, but definitely a sweet one.  Family is so important to Thomas and I and we are very thankful that we can spend time with all of them as often as we do.

One outing we had was to Anderson Farms- a large working farm that has a fall festival each year with little rides and games and food.  It was a beautiful fall day and we enjoyed being outside very much.

Thanks for stopping in guys!!!