Around 2:30 Saturday afternoon, my aunt and I decided we wanted to see the 2:45 showing of The Secret Life of Bees. We got a sitter quickly for Millie and her son, Nate (Dax had the boys shootin') and headed off. Sometimes those are the most fun times when you don't plan, you just do. Anyway, it was an AWESOME movie. I really just like inspirational shows and I think this was one. Wear water-proof mascara though... not sad, but dramatic! Whenever I watch a movie about such hateful times, I wonder what I would've been like then. I'm proud of my grandma. She had told me once that she was probably around 12 years old when she was riding the bus one day and there were plenty of seats in the "white" section, but none in the "black" section, so she pointed to a black girl standing in the isle to sit by her. She had to talk her into it and let her know it was all right. My grandma said she got very mean looks, but she didn't care. She knew it was the right thing. She was fortunate. Her parents taught her to love everyone. My grandma grew up on a tobacco farm (go figure!). My great-grandparents treated the black people that worked for them with kindness and so my grandma did the same and I'd like to think the habit has made its way down the line. Back then, my grandma said that a lot of the farmers fed their workers leftovers from their lunch (lunch was a huge feast of fried chicken, potatoes, veggies, pies, rolls, etc. all done in a log burning stove... and I complain about cooking now :)). But, my great-grandma, Kris, cooked the workers their own meals identical to whatever they were having. I'm grateful for that. Even though it was so long ago and I'm sure I've had relatives do things I wouldn't be so proud of, I'm grateful that they were people filled with love and decency. I know because of them, my grandma was made to be one of the most loving and decent people I know. If you've never met her, you're missing out. If you've met her, you'll never forget her or her huge heart (or macaroni 'n cheese or brownies!:)). Because of my ancestors and their examples, I'd like to think I know what I would've been like if I lived in such hateful times.

Birthday Cake

I was looking at pics and forgot to post the birthday cake incident. As always, I made the cake and wish I'd bought it. I tried to do a sun which turned out to look more like the flowers I tried to make that didn't turn out either. Oh well. Like I said before, it's because my kids like the homemade ones. Anyway, the sequence went something like this...
Millie was curious at first. She tried to play with her 1 year smash cake flower. Fun enough. The candle seemed to itrigue her until...
it lit up. Freaked her out! She wanted nothing more than for Grammie to save her.
Eventually, we got her to taste it and she seemed to realized that it wasn't so scary afterall. Well, at least the inside was a chocolate cake from scratch (recipe on Hershey cocoa box... the best). So, how bad could it be?

Not bad at all, not bad at all! :)

Goin' Private!

I'm going private as soon as possible. I've just had this feeling for a while that I need to do so. My friend, for all you "open book bloggers" out there, has a brother-in-law who's a police officer. He got her social security number, bank account, birthdays, etc. all off her blog within 24 hrs to prove to her how scary they are. I decided... I have cute kids and who knows what kind of psycho's out there waiting to make one of them his/hers since I'm sure my identity's not worth stealing. Please send me your email addresses if you're interested... mrsgurr@mail.com. I'll send you an invite. "See" ya then!

Diabetes Walk

Saturday, Sept. 27th, we participated in the diabetes walk for the American Diabetes Association. My kids love it and I feel good doing it. My aunt (the one in the wreck who is, by the way, still in the ICU... prayers welcome) and my sister, Emily have type I and my dad and uncle have type II. So, this is the 4th year we've done it. It starts at the This is the Place Monument and ends up at the Hogle Zoo.

This year the walk took us up around the monument which was way cool! This was the kids (Kaleb, cousin Nate, Ethan, Millie, and Emmett) at the top of the hill overlooking SLC. Very beautiful!

We stopped along the way to take advantage of the cute little school house that was part of the monument set up of old cabins, churches, school, etc. Check out how cute Emmett is! He was loving being in school on a Saturday! Not so sure the other kids were as thrilled. But, Kaleb at least got to appreciate modern day discipline... nothing like holding books behind your back while leaning with your nose against the wall. Although, I thought I might be able to find a corner and an extra book or so at home... wonder what child services would think of that! :)

Dax and Millie at lunch in the zoo.

The kids of course love that it ends in the zoo. Even Millie initiated herself on her 1st walk while bravely petting some very odd looking turtle. All in all, it was a great day until the end when brotherly love wasn't so lovely. But, even with that, I had a good time and I look forward to doing it next year. Anyone interested, keep it in mind! My aunt only hoped to live to be 50 when she was younger, but research has brought diabetes treatment such a long way. She's 59 and even though she had that accident, she's doing relatively well and we're hopeful she'll see 60+! I'm happy we get to help aid in further research even if just a little so that maybe this disease will be completely curable one day!

Happy 1st Birthday, Millie!!!

Millie turned 1 September 26th! I can hardly believe it. I have no excuses for my pant size!!! Actually, I guess I haven't for a few months now. Oh well. We love having Millie in our family. She's sweet, but can get attitude... typical girl. :) She's definitely Dax's little princess and I'll admit I'm having fun with a girl around, too. The boys haven't gotten sick of her yet. They're always helpful with her and Emmett especially takes very good care of her while the other boys are at school. She's got a slew of protectors... I feel for the first boy she dates for sure! She can say mama, dada, ca-ca (cracker), and of course, NO. She just shakes her head for that, but she uses it at the right times. I can tell she has a good sense of humor, too. She laughs at things she shouldn't even understand. She loves peek-a-boo and pat-a-cakin! She loves to make messes, play with her brothers, chocolate (my daughter), and to sing. Whenever music comes on, she "la, la, las." It's awesome and makes my mother very proud. :) Anyway, I'm just grateful to be her mom!

This was a picture taken through the nursery glass of Dax looking at Millie right after she was born. I just love it. He knew before Emmett was even born that we had a little girl waiting to come join our family. When I called to tell him the dr. said "girl", he just said, "I told you I already knew that." She lights up when he comes into the room and probably always will... his "pretty princess!"

This is my first picture taken with Millie outside of the hospital. It was a candid my sister-in-law, Shalon snapped. I kind of like it. Look how little Mills is! Makes me kind of sad.

I waited 10 years for my mother-in-law to be able to make Millie's
blessing dress from my wedding dress. Yeah!!! It turned out beautifully!









Pics for fun... must take time to learn to do slide show. :)

We love you, Millie!!!