Jake Has Another Blog....

Well, I am supposed to be writing on it as well, but I haven't had time. Either way...I looked and he only had two visitors today...I was one of them. He has been writing over there pretty frequently so check it out! He is writing about random things we see out of our window. It is pretty funny. Enjoy it while you can he probably won't have time to write after next month....he is going to be going back to work!

Porthole Observations

A Balloon Filled Week-end!

We had another crazy - how much can you cram into two days - kind of weekend. On Saturday we went to a Hot Air Balloon festival. It was so cool. They launched about twenty balloons. It was beautiful. We had great seats for up close action. And it was really cheap! You gotta love that. I think it is going to be a yearly event for us! On Sunday we had church at a park. We had the service right there and then a picnic afterwords. It was a lot of fun. The church rented a helium tank and gave away balloons. It was fun. We also had a water balloon toss. Jake and I filled about 125 water balloons. It did turn into a water balloon fight. Bill ended up being the target! Here are the pics....

A Funny Obituary!

This was in Akron Beacon Journal. I thought I would share it because it is funny. I especially like the part about how she worked with the youth!!! I heard she wrote this herself not long before she died. I had to write an obituary for myself a long time ago for a class. Just if we could all write our own....what would it say....hmmmmm. Something to think about! Ruth E. (Sechrist) Rencevicz
Ruth E. Rencevicz (Sechrist) Ruth E. Rencevicz, born Ruth Elizabeth Sechrist on August 28, 1927, passed away on September 7, 2008 due to complications resulting from her children making her old before her time. (Ruth had a playful and irreverent outlook towards life, an attitude that she was fortunate enough to retain right up until the time of her death. This obituary is being written with that philosophy in mind. If you find this particular viewpoint offensive, then read no further. Instead, please take comfort in knowing that Ruth fought her leukemia courageously right up until the very end, and that she died peacefully in her sleep.) Ruth passed away amongst the rich and famous in Greenwich, Conn. She is survived by brother, Clyde; sons, Wade, Bernard, Phil and Jon; daughters, Lisa and Sonya; grandchildren, Trevor, Grace, Casey and Sammy; an illegitimate child conceived when the circus was in town named Greg "The Donkey" King; her favorite dog, Lucy; and her favorite cat, Derrick. Over the years, in addition to her regular jobs as a full-time mom and a switchboard operator at both Sears and BFG Federal Credit Union, Ruth also served her country as a covert spy for the Central Intelligence Agency, where during the Cold War she was largely responsible for the breakup of the Soviet Union near the end of the 20th century. At least, that's the way she told it. Ruth was also very active as a volunteer with youth in her community in Tallmadge, Ohio, where she was known to selflessly give of her time by standing on her balcony yelling at kids for "playing that rap music" at all hours of the day and night. She also served as a mentor to young people by throwing rocks at teenagers dressed in loose baggy pants with their underwear exposed. She winged a couple of 'em pretty good, from what we understand. Although born in Hammondsville, Ohio, Ruth enjoyed summering in Greenwich, Conn., where she loved drinking Fresca with Absolut Ruby Red vodka, and stalking Peter Jennings and Jack Black. Ruth reported being abducted by aliens several times during her life, and we don't mean the good kind of aliens who come from outer space. We're talking about illegal immigrant aliens from Mexico and West Virginia. Oddly, Ruth never really complained much about these kidnappings. Ruth was adamant that people use the occasion of her passing to remember and celebrate her life. In lieu of formal funeral proceedings or viewing hours, she requested that those who remember and cared about her share both a special memory and a drink in her honor. Preferably Bud Light Lime, or if that's not available, gasoline or floor wax.

It is WIN-DY!!!

I am starting this post hoping the electricity does not go out....it might because Ike is paying a visit to Ohio and man is it windy! I haven't seen it quite this windy for some time. We went to the Looman's for a birthday party and I walked home with the kids. By time I got home I was actually starting to get a little scared. There are a lot of branches down and the wind was whipping around. I heard a train sound...which I have heard it what a tornado sounds like....I thought, what the heck was I thinking? Then I realized it really was a train. LOL. But we all had dust in our eyes by time we got in the house. I guess there are a lot of power lines down.

Today we (well Jude and I) had an exciting day....a least I thought it was exciting....I don't think Jude was so excited. We went to see Hillary Clinton speak. I thought it was so cool. She didn't say anything I hadn't heard before but I just think it was so cool. We were actually fairly close to her but the pictures aren't the greatest because my camera does not take good "distance" pictures in a well lit room....I don't understand. I guess I should know my settings better. Anyhoo....at this point in the campaign I doubt I will get to see McCain or Barack. So I will take Hillary. I will go see Joe or Sarah if they come around. I signed up to get a text message from the Obama people if anyone is going to be in the area. The number to text them was 62262 or something like that....add the 2's and it is 666..............................................LOL. I am making a little fun.

So, on another note....Elise decided she want to get her hair cut. Here is a video - I will let her tell you what she wants to do......

I can only say we are in big trouble when she is a teenager. I told my Mom and she said...well she is your daughter - I am not suprised!

Here are my kids dancing after we got home today. You can see how she ended up getting it cut...of course in the video it is all in her face. But isn't it so cute? She wouldn't let me take a picture to really show you!



This is a quick one to show you exactly how windy it is here!

Here are some pics from the Hillary thing.

This is one for the scrapbook.....

This was taken at last week's Spider Fest! Ahhh...just if Toby was in there. LOL.

This was also at the Spider Fest and no it was not in a tank or anything...just out in the open! Yikes!!!

Avery is having a bad hair day!

Jude took this of Elise...it is blurry but you can kinda see her hair!

Avery always smiles when she sees a camera. Just like her Aunt Heather!

Look how sweet, Jude is feeding Avery her cereal!

My family was holding a tree up!

Avery has only one tooth. It is in a very odd place....You can see it in this picture. It is on the right side on the top....see it???? Isn't that just crazy?

Okay, I expect some comments. I am sick of no comments. So, please leave me a few. Thanks. Everyone complains that I don't blog but if you don't comment I don't feel like blogging!

I Have So Much To Say....

I have another post "brewing" - I just haven't had time to sit down and organize my thoughts with it. We are still running full speed ahead over here at the Miller household. We had a fun weekend. We took the kids to see WALL-E on Friday. We went to The Linda, which is an old, second run movie theater. It is a nice place to take kids. The kids were so excited. Especially Jude. He could hardly contain himself. He loves the movies. Elise was happy to go but not elated the way Jude was.... Avery, well this was her first movie and she, of course, wasn't that interested in the whole thing but at first she was delighted with the big screen and sat there staring. It was cute.

Saturday we went to a spider festival and then on hike #2 for the hiking spree. In the morning our landlord, Tom, came over to fix a few things around the place. He is really nice. We were talking to him about the big window in the kitchen and all of the stuff we see. He told us he wrote a book of short stories based on the things he saw at that kitchen window. I can only imagine what those stories are like. I guess because we live on a cut through street and because of the double corner design we just happen to catch a lot. He told us he used to have bird feeders just like we do. His wife was very sick with cancer and she had a care giver that would come and stay with her during the day. He said often times the care giver would wheel her wheel chair in front of the window and let her sit and watch the birds. One day he came home and in her very weak voice she told him to get rid of the bird feeders. When he went out he saw bird parts laying all around - Apparently there had been a hawk attack that day and she was stuck sitting there to watch it. Funny thing - I was just saying I have not seen one squirrel by our bird feeders at this house. At the other house it was a huge problem. Now, I guess I know why. He did tell us another really funny one that some of you will know the character - it is the guy across the street. We don't know his name but he is very tall and skinny and bald and he takes immaculate care of his lawn. It is all edged perfectly and he mows it twice a week. Incidentally, he never wears a shirt when he is mowing. Well, Tom said he was sitting at the table with a couple of buddies and they were watching this man mow his lawn and probably having a conversation very similar to ones we have had with our friends. The guy must have gotten into a hornets nest and he gets stung on top of is head three times. They witness this happen. So the guy goes in the house. After a few minutes the guy comes back out with a bag of ice tied to his head and keeps on mowing. He is serious about his lawn care! Too funny.

Sunday we went to church and I ran a few errands. Jude did his homework - yes he has homework in kindergarten. Then in the evening we went to the Looman's to be disappointed by the Browns again.

My week is going to be insane. Today I have to be in court (soon) - so I gotta go!!!!

NanaClause

This is why Delilah's kids love to go to Nana's house so much (besides the good food, spoiling, pampering...etc)!

Weekend pics...

We started the Fall Hiking Spree AGAIN...maybe we will finish it this year!

Avery got an easy ride!

This was a frog Jude spotted in the water while we were hiking. It was nice of him to pose for the picture!

Avery ate her first ice cream cone.

I took this of a humming bird outside our house. It sits on our flowers sometimes. Sorry about the quality - it was through a window.

Nice Melons....

These are the watermelons we grew in our garden! Aren't they beauties???

Wordless Wednesday