YouTube Videos -

Today was an exceptionally fun day with Noah. While he kept Cullen up for a couple hours in the middle of the night, he woke up happy and wanted to play all day! Here are a few clips from today:

• Noah, What does an elephant say?
• Justin Noah Beiber!
• Dancing #1- Bobbing and Weaving. This kid has groove!
• Dancing #2 - Dancing meets The Karate Kid!

I hope you enjoy these videos as much as we enjoyed creating them with Noah. My goodness, this kid has A) Energy, B) some moves, and C) has stolen my heart for life.

Thankful For... my double oven

Today, as superficial as it is, I am thankful for my double oven. I have been baking for the last 24 hours, and I have LOVED every minute of it. Having a double oven sure does help! I love this time of year for so many reasons - one of the big ones...I get to bake things. I get to bake as much as I want and no one can stop me!

I Dare You!

Three days ago, Cullen and I started 'The Love Dare'. It is a component from Fireproof; It is a 40 day, Christian based, scripture based, marriage challenge.

So far, we are only on day three. But, I already feel wonderful. It gives us food for thought, while doing TINY things each day for each other.

Try it... I dare you.

Thankful For...

There are quite a few days of catching up... Let's begin.

Tuesday - I am thankful for prayer. Tuesday night, Noah and I prayed before bedtime. For the first time ever, he prayed for someone by name... unprompted. I love the spiritual innocence in which he prayed, interjecting names as he saw fit amongst my prayer. Yes, he is only 18 months old, but the Lord has filled him with love and he shows it daily.

Wednesday - I am thankful for Thanksgiving. It is just around the corner - which means family, fellowship and all new memories to add to the book. It is filled with mashing potatoes, not having to decide between broccoli rice casserole and mac and cheese; and cherishing indoor/outdoor fun and games. It is watching my mom gleam in her element, and it is pondering if anyone will announce something big. Thanksgiving is more than just a mean on a day - it is what life is all about!

Thursday, today, I am thankful for Noah's incredible awareness of others. Tonight, it was just him and I. When I took my shoes off, he immediately noticed that I had a band-aid on my foot (a blister from my new shoes). He squatted down, said, "uh-oh" and made a kissy noise at my foot. Sweet boy. Big emotions. I hope he stays that way forever.

Thankful for... two days worth

Two superficial thankfuls -

1. I am thankful for new haircuts. On Friday, I met my sister at her salon to get my hair cut and colored. I left feeling refreshed, rejuvenated and ready to take on the world. I am thankful for my sister, her masterful skills and ability to make me feel like a million bucks!

2. I am thankful for Mondays; for the ability to always start over. NO matter what. I am thankful knowing that no matter what happened last week, last month, even yesterday doesn't matter...on Monday, you get to start all over.

Thankful for my Mother -

Today I am thankful for my mom. I know I mentioned her in my first "thankful" post, but - she deserves one all of her own. My mom is my rock. She is the epitome "I can do it all" - and she does it all so gracefully.

Five years ago, she was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. From the moment she was diagnosed to the moment she was declared cancer-free, she never showed a struggle, never asked for anything, and fought that horrible monster with a smile on her face. She won. She won the battle.

Tomorrow, we are walking in the Susan Komen Race For The Cure - in HONOR of our mother. She is one INCREDIBLE woman. If you have met her, count your blessings. If you haven't find a reason to. She is amazing, and will change your life forever.

Today, I am thankful for my mother, my saving-grace, my operator at Grand Central Station, my hero.

Race For The Cure - 2010

Thankful for my puppies -

I have two Boston Terrier puppies. Man, I love these dogs. They are complete opposites in every way possible. One is white with black and is Black with white. One is big; One is small. One is super smart and independent; one is very dumb and always by your side. BUT, both are loyal, kind, caring and always making us laugh. When I don't feel good, they sit by my side. They love to cuddle. They TOLERATE Noah. They are wonderful, perfect, dogs.

I am thankful for having the world's best doggies!

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Cullen and I just returned from a fabulous, restful, wonderfully overdue vacation to the DR. For those of you who have been there, my words below will come as no surprise. For those of you who have NOT been there - Put the Dominican Republic on YOUR bucket list. 

So, The Durbin and The Mills packed their bags for a long, overdue vacation. We chose our destination in June or July, booked it, and have been counting down the days! 

We arrived on Wednesday mid-day after a nice (easy) flight and we decided it would be best to throw on our suits immediately and get into the beach!

This doesn't come close to accurately portraying what the beach looked like.

We snuba dived, snorkeled and we took speed boats in the ocean.

 

We dined on food that was great. We drank as often as we wanted...the boys for sure won that contest. We {the girls} were more concerned about catching up on sleep.

 

We saw cocoa plantations, and played in 10-15 foot ocean waves that were postcard perfect.

 

We went 4-wheeling through the country-side, along the beach and to a cave, where we were able to get off and play in a fresh water spring...

The company was fantastic. We had a tremendous amount of laughs.

We watched the MLB World Series...we all know how that ended. Cullen was depressed.

But, by about Saturday night, we were starting to really miss our kiddos.

So, we had one last great dinner...

...and kissed Paradise goodbye. 

Sunday night - LATE, we came home to our children, woke up Monday morning and started our lives over. Rested. Rejuvenated. Happy.

Thankful for Music -

Noah has this horribly annoying CD I bought him about 4 months ago. We listen to it every time we are in the car. EVERY TIME we are in the car. NO MATTER WHAT. He points to the radio and flips out until you put on his music. THEN, he is happy as a clam.

Well, I finally changed the CD; He didn't notice, {thank the Good Lord). This new CD is FULL of songs my momma sang to us growing up. Each one brings a smile to my face and memory to mind.

Today I am thankful for the music my momma sang to us growing up. Today, I am thankful that if I have to listen to this every day, at least I can tolerate this particular CD!

{Yesterday} Thankful for Ponytails

We are allowed to wear jeans on certain days at school. Often, when I wear jeans, I wear a pony tail. Why not? It is easy, out of the way and functional.

Yesterday, was one of those days. I admit, my hair was doing something funky even before I got to school, but -

When I got to school and started our day in the classroom, one of my boy students said, "Mrs. Mills, I don't mean this mean, but, you look a lot prettier with your hair down and curly." I smiled and said the proper southern response, "Well, that's nice. Thank you."

I got owned my a 2nd grader.

Today, my hair is down and curly...

Bucking Noah...

My child turned me into a horse last night...

Buckin Noah

Thankful For My Planner -

I recently lost my oxygen tank day planner. I couldn't find her anywhere. I was fearing the worst... forgetting dates, important events, even birthdays. I can NOT imagine life without my day planner.

I sent a note out to my school asking where my planner was, and if anyone had seen her.  If she was lost, I would pay handsomely for her safe return...

... She was recovered today. She safe, at home, back in my arms. I feel whole again. I have already double-checked that I have indeed, NOT forgotten anything.

Today, I am thankful for my day planner.


What I am not thankful for...is my memory.

Thankful For My Job -

Today, I am thankful for my job. I am thankful I have a job. I am thankful for the role The Lord put me in. I am a teacher. As of recent, a 2nd grade teacher. Prior to November 1, 2011, I was a SPED teacher. I love kids. I love their minds, how the work and what little things the can come up with.

I am thankful I get to work with my students everyday. It is a fact - I wake up everyday thankful for my job, but more, thankful to be a teacher.

I have said it once, and I will say it again, I wake up happy to go to work every day. I am a pretty lucky girl. Not too many people can say that.

Thankful..

Yes, I am jumping on the "November-Thanksgiving-Thankful-For" bandwagon. Each day, between now and Thanksgiving, I will list one thing I am thankful for. Let's catch up....

1. I am thankful for my wonderful husband. He has changed my world, given me the very best, treats me like a queen and makes me smile very day. He blessed me with my most prized possession... which brings me to:

2. My dear baby. My little sugar lights up my life, brings me joy and happiness every day! He makes me cherish life's big and small moments. He makes every day a challenge and a pleasure.

3. I am thankful for my immediate family. My parents made me who I am. My mother is my rock; she exudes what it means to be able to do it all. She faces challenges head on, and never breaks a sweat. She lives life fully and is determined to make the most of life, always! What an inspiration. My Daddy can do it all, with an incredible amount of ease. He sees life through optimistic lenses and makes me laugh every time we talk. More than anything, he has shown me HOW to love. He loves my mother and loves our family more than any one person could. He walks on water, and is my hero! My sister and her family, and my little brother are so very unique and hold a very central part of my heart. I have the lucky spot to be the middle child, to have an older sister to follow and a younger brother to lead!

4. I am so very blessed with an incredible in-law family. I dreamed growing up that I would have an in-law family that I could see as my very own. That is exactly what I have. My mother and father in law have taken me as their own - treating me as a part of their family from the very beginning. I know that regardless of situation, I could call on either one and they would be there for me. They have blessed Cullen and I with a faithful and successful marriage to follow. My brother in law and sister in law are wonderful. They are kind, and considerate. How much better do I get to have them both!

5. I am thankful for my situation. I am a young, married, woman with a successful job, a home I own, and a life I created with my husband that I am very proud of.

6. I am thankful for my best friend. She has been my other half since 1991. We were on the phone last night, talking about how we have been together for 20 years. 20 YEARS! That is longer than most marriages. She and I have been through it all. She knows everything about me. She is smart, kind, caring, loving, HYSTERICALLY SARCASTIC, and determined. She knows what she wants and goes for it. She lives life to the fullest and has a certain charisma about her that makes you WANT to be her friend. You should count your blessings if you are her friend. I count myself among the luckiest - she is my best friend. Double Burger...

I am alive...

Contrary to the lapse in time during blogging, I AM still alive. :) Long Blog coming soon! :)

But, because everything is better with a picture... Here is the Mills Family on Halloween!