January coming to a close

Well, not a ton has changed since Last week. We are still busy with school and work. Marques hasn't said much change for school, just the same homework and reading. As for work, it is also the same. I am worried this week though, as I am losing an employee with no replacement for him, so that means I get to be the teacher which usually is fine, but with my little friend that is going to be a problem. But we'll see how it goes, wish me luck! This weekend was boring. We didn't do much except yard work and errands. We fed the missionaries Sunday and watched "God's Army" with them. I don't think I had seen it all the way through, not to bad. Rio also got the shock of his life yesterday. Our plug outlets are loose, so when something is plugged in, it hangs out a little. The vaccumm was plugged in in the hallway and Rio decided to push it with his nose and we think licked it. All we know is the cord was hanging and he was yelping and crouching from it. Luckily he doesn't have damage to his mouth or fur!! He knew all along that vaccumm was a death machine! The weather has gone back to rain, but it comes and goes the past few days. Oh and I encountered a cockroach at work. Those little things creep me out so bad!!! Anywho that is all for now. Enjoy your week!!!

Back to Routine

A few Pictures from Christmas and Spending time with Family.
Poolside

Polar Express- Christmas Eve

Bernard's Christmas

BalBoa Bars!!!

Rio's Christmas!! It lasted about three to five Minutes this year.

Our Lake

Hockey!! The Aero's

We caught Rio slepping in the sun and utilizing the pillows from the bed. Yes he did it all by himself!

Well again I have slacked at getting on this blog and updating things. I do apologize. We have seemed to always have something going on this past few weeks. Marques is back in school and has his schedule worked out now. The books are coming in regularly again, to add to our library lol. He really likes his classes so far. It is crazy that we are into the second half of the year already. I am back at work full-time for the regular program. It has seemed to be a little crazy though. I have little one who has seemed to become my partner all the time or seems to be taking his anger out on another child. Yes, I have been the victim a few times as well. Luckily nothing to serious, a few scratches and punches to the face or stomach, but no bruises. I know it sounds serious, but really that is good for us!! I also was placed on a Technology team for our curriculum. At first I was worried, but now that I have done it and seen the curriculum, I love it. We trained our first set of staff this week and it went so well. So that has taken up many of my mornings and evenings. I think Marques is starting to wonder if he still has a wife. That's about all besides the weather here. It rained for 5 days straight, litereally all day and night, which left a lake and river in our yard of about a foot of water. We, of course, have feed the missionaries each week a few times, and I had last semesters staff from work come over Monday for dinner and games. Most importantly, I got my birthday present- Gong to an AHL Hockey game: The Houston Aero's. It was so fun. We both miss our Grizzles so much!! Least to say we are staying busy with everything, and sorry again that I haven't kept  up as well as I should!! I will post more pictures next week too, Last time I tried and the system wasn't working so cross your fingers and hope it works. Love you all-

A Year Over and a New One Just Beginning

  Where to Begin to past month of our lives...We got to go to California twice in December. The first time it was really sudden. One of our grandmother's pasted on, and we felt it best to attend the funeral. Thanks to my sister, Christine, we had a chauffeur and place to eat and stay right by the funeral home.Upon return, we were here for four days, re-packing, cleaning the messy house we left, feeding the missionaries, and finishing up Christmas shopping! Then aboard a plane again. While in Cali the second time, we were able to attend Marques' dad's side Christmas party. It was so fun. We all prepared a skit or game for everyone to watch or be involved in. We did a "Minute to Win It" game, what a blast watching everyone young and old play together. We also got to spend time with my two siblings (and their families) and my parents who flew down. Christmas was wonderful. Spent as my sister Lindsey's and loving the family dinner that night. We went to Balboa Island to enjoy a Balboa ice cream bar one afternoon!! What a treat. Lindsey also was gracious to open her home so we had Marques dad and girlfriend come over a few times and enjoy dinner with us all. Weather was not so great on the way home so all flights were delayed which meant I got another day with the husband there before he left for home a few day before me. My parent's were also delayed so we got extra time with them!! We spent a lot of time playing games, building Lego's and forts, playing/walking Bernard, eating, looking for the pickle, and just loving the time together once again, which is rare now. Least to say we had a full two weeks. I flew into Austin New Year's Eve. Marques took me to a fun restaurant for dinner and we spent til wee hours of the night dancing and loving the parties in downtown Austin!! Watching fireworks over the river and hearing the ricochet off the sky scrappers was one of my favorite parts of the night. We slept in til two the next day as we drove back from Austin after the parties ended. The next week was spent cleaning Christmas up, and getting back into the groove of normality. Work has started back for me and Marques is still off, but starting to prepare to go back to school soon. By the way he got outstanding grades last semester, I am so proud of him. Anyways, sorry to make this so long, but thought that you all might be wondering we had gone. Hope  you enjoy the pictures!! Talk to you soon.

Busy and Fun

Puppy Store!!

Feeding the Turtles..

Nap Time on my Favorite uncle. She laid on him every chance she could.

Playing the piano, mom and dad does this bring back memories of your little ones??

Rudolph at the Park with Beckie and Arianna

This week has some very mixed feelings about it. Early on in the week, it was so great to enjoy the spirit from the decorations up, and the tree we bought Monday made the house smell so great!! I must say we have never had such a hard time getting a tree to stand in it's tree stand. It took us about two hours just to get it to kind of standing up, lol. But none the less it is up and decorated, and I think it is beautiful. (Love the smell of the fresh pine!!) And we must not forget the wonderful tree skirt that lies at it's base! Thanks to our Aunt Madonna... The next few days were boring. Back to the regular life stuff. Marques is finishing up and getting his last projects in, this semester went fast. One down! Three to go. Thursday my sister came down with her two little ones. We spent the weekend wtih them. Thursday was at the ward Christmas Party, Friday was going to the puppy store, visiting me at work, and watching a movie, Saturday was feeding turtles, going to Christmas in the Park (a park here that puts on a movie, singing, crafts, lights, petting zoo, nativity scene, etc..), and eating dinner with the missionaries. She left earlier today to miss the three hour lighting, thunder, and pouring rain storm we got here tonight. I can't express how much fun it was to have them here, and what memories we will always treasure, but that leads me into Sunday, today, of again a sad day of good-bye-ness. She is moving in a week to Minnisota and thus it'll be a long while before we see them again. I cried on my poor husband for about an hour once she left with my sweet little ones, Brendon and Arianna. We thought that I was doing better and moving forward, but tonight I have been crying for about three hours with the rain. I am struggling today with living so far from at least one family member. I don't miss the chaos sometimes, but it is always nice to have some family around to love and cherish. Today has been a reminder of how much I am indeed grateful for the church so that even when I am sad and crying of missing my family, I know I will always have them forever!!! What a blessing. Again my poor husband has been so cute to hold me and let me cry. He patiently waited for dinner that didn't get served til nine, but hey, I managed to cook it and not cut my fingers through the tears. Anywho, I hope this week was well for all of you and we will talk soon.

The Christmas Season

What a week, it flew by.. Nothing really different. Marques is finishing up some of his class work, and of course staying busy with it. I am staying busy with work, and cleaning. We ate out, trying a few new places in town. Pretty Good. Towards the end of the week Marques and I started a little war..He said I was mouthing off to him with some jokes and he decided to bring the kitty's squirt bottle in to the kitchen and squirt me. He says I am not trainable so continued to spray me as he saw fit. Later that night, he knew that I couldn't let that go, so thinking before hand, closed off the bottle, lol. I tried to squirt him before bed, but that ended sadly in a wrestling match with him winning both battles that day. The next day we were playing with Rio in the room, and in distraction I grabbed the bottle and got him pretty good!! Still deciding if that was a good idea, however. It then led him to trying to give me a swirly, but I fought back and won that battle, and after a 5 minute or so fight of laughing and wrestling he managed to get me in the shower p.j.'s and all in cold water.. Oh the honey. As my mom always said, you may have won this battle, but you have just begun the war. It was really funny though, and we will see how the pranks keep playing out. Now that we are all dried off, I spent Saturday morning cleaning our truck, and the afternoon putting up Christmas. It was so fun to decorate the house. Outside it feels nothing like December here so inside we'll hope to feel the spirit a little. The missionaries called and asked to join us for dinner, and of course we said yes. And ending our evening in watching Elf. It was a boring week for the most part, but a good start to the holiday cheer as we started December. Have a good week.

Thanksgiving

Golfing- Anthony, Marques, and Dad

Arianna, my niece. She loves the shower and joined many whether invited or not, at least she's clean right!!

Tired Boys. "Just need to cuddle with Daddy a bit." -Rio



(Sorry it is sideways, still figuring this out) My nephew, Brendon. In his new christmas snow outfit preparing with his family  who moves to Minnasota in a few weeks!! Love the new cars slippers!

Well, Can anyone Believe the Holidays are here.. Wow. Two weeks ago was pretty normal for us. We helped out at the Service project and fed the missionaries, and Marques finished up his simulation class. Which he really enjoyed. He got registered for his next term, luckily getting all the ones he wanted. Last week was a bit more full. Monday was his last day of school. That night was spent cleaning the house, and packing for our trip. Tuesday was my lst day of work. Upon my return, we packed the car, Dusty and Rio too, and off we went for my Sister's home in Oklahoma City. Getting there late we headed to bed pretty quick. The animals relieved to be out of the car. Wednesday was full of crafts with my nephew and niece, and time with the family. The boys got to go golfing! Thursday was so fun, a great dinner, and a little Christmas after, considering none of us will be together for Christmas. Friday we celebrated my sister's birthday, and she did my nails!! Then we packed the truck and got in. My mom, I, and Rio in the back, with Marques driving, and Dad and Dusty in Shotgun. We made great time, so the animals weren't to bad. I think Rio lost a few pounds in slobber, but he is fine now, lol. That night we turned my parents into College kids again taking them to Midnight Yell at the Staduim for our football team. The next day was spent touring the local fun sites to see and ended in Marques and Dad at the A&M Game. With mom and I grocery shopping, aren't parents filling your pantry great?? Sunday was wonderfully spent. I taught Relief Society, and we made brownies for the missionaries delivery they had, then off to the turtles. Of course the turtles were hiding so we only saw two!! Maybe next trip out they won't be so shy. Then we had the missionaries join us for dad's enchiladas and games!! So Fun. That leads us to this sad morning of Marques returning to school and I dropped of my parents at the airport. Yes, I cried. It was so wonderful to have family around and liven this place up a bit!! Well, that's all for now and I hope you all had a great start to this wonderful season!!

Starting November

This week was pretty full. It started really slow, but ended very quick. Monday we had a couple over from our ward for dinner and FHE. I must say I was impressed with myself. I made Manocotti  with battered Zucchini, and it was really good!! Then we did our Mills family tradition, The Thanksgiving Thankful Turkey. Tuesday, we got brealkfast together and voted. That night we fed the missionaries, watched to polls, and played Monopoly with them.Wednesday and Thursday were pretty regular. Friday I went and took my fake nails off and had Shellac put on. It is so weird considering I have had acrylics since junior high. I think I will go back to them, it is to weird for me. Then off to work. It was a good Friday. That night we made HoBo Dinners in the oven and they turned out great. Which takes us to Sauturday. We rose early to go help with the ward service project to find out that it had been cancelled. Oh Well.. Marques decided to go play flag football with the ward and then head to the gym. After my morning nap, I started cleaning the house. I went kind of crazy. I had marques take off the doors to the laundry closet  and I scrubbed them down!! They needed it so bad. The previous renters had never cleaned them and it looked like splashed several brown questionable liquids on them. I also did the walls which had this same splash on them. After that I cleaned the rest of the house. Our night consisted of making dinner, shopping at the mall, and going to a carnival. It was a fun filled day.. Oh yes and I must not forget our exciting neighbors, while I was outside were arguing about the boyfriend abusing the girlfriend. It was not so happy, so I finished in the house. Sunday was relaxing, nothing really different. Talked to family in Facetime, and watched a movie with eachother, while I painted crafts. That sums our week. Marques is doing well in school, by the way. He is really enjoying the simulation class he is in and gets to play a lot being a boy while at it!! Have a good week.- Love you all.