SEVEN MILLERS

Phoebe is so excited...

2012-05-30T16:09:00.001-05:00

A couple of months ago, Phoebe brought home a styrofoam cup with soil in it. She has watched and watered the soil as it grew with excitement and anticipation. Today we replanted it into a bigger pot...

My Sweet P was screaming with excitement when she saw the flower today!

Sunday Snapshot - {My Pets}

2012-05-29T18:03:00.000-05:00

I'm a bit late with my Sunday Snapshot because of the holiday.

This weekend my kids were all over the place, but my animals were not :)

Jasper - I can almost hear him saying to me "Please don't take another picture of me"

Hampton - He's a mess and old, but we love him.

Gracie - I honestly think she poses.

George - I took this picture a few weeks ago, but he was out and about this past weekend and I didn't want to leave him out.

I think they're a pretty photogenic crew.

Head on over to Ni Hao Ya'll to check out more great Sunday Snapshots!

Look out high school...here he comes!

2012-05-28T16:02:00.002-05:00

Zach also had a graduation this past week. He is leaving middle school behind.

It was a smaller graduation and definitely shorter.

But I was every bit as proud of my Zach watching him shake his principal's hand.

I asked Zach wheat his teacher, Mr. Hanson, said to him...He said, "I thanked him and told him I owed him for helping me to pass algebra, and he said 'just remember that you CAN do it'." I wish I had been down there to thank Mr. Hanson!

I didn't ask him why this teacher was pointing at him...Do I really want to know?

This is the look of a boy who is ready for the next step!

I sure hope I am :)

Sweet P's Last Day of Kindergarten

2012-05-28T15:53:00.002-05:00

We made it through Kindergarten :) It's hard to believe that the school year is over.

This was P on her first day of school

And here she is before climbing onto the bus for her last day.

Could she get any cuter?

Jake's High School Commencement - May 20, 2012

2012-05-28T15:23:00.002-05:00

The day I've been dreading for the past year finally came... GRADUATION.

He didn't have to look soooo happy about it.

The class made their way to their seats.

We were sitting miles away (thank goodness for my zoom lens!), but he managed to spot us. Of course it was made easier because we were all jumping up and down waving our arms!

The Senior choir members went to the stage to sing.

I filled with tears seeing him up there with his friends singing for the last time.

The National Anthem.

After, they joined the entire choir to sing.

I couldn't see Jake because we were behind him, but I did snap pictures whenever he was on the "Jumbo-tron".

After they sang, Jake made his way back to his seat with his classmates.

It was finally time for him to walk up and receive his diploma. I like to think he was looking at me, but Ali had come to sit with us after singing... :)

I love this shot as they threw their caps in the air because of Alex. Can you guess which one is him? So cute!

He made his way over to us afterwards.

P got to him first.

Then Zach raced in...so sweet!

Kodi got her hugs in.

And then a kiss...

I'm so thankful to my Mom for being here to celebrate. Thanks MOM!!!!

With Ali.

Mom, Sam, Kodi, Jake, Zach, Phoebe, Ali and Bryan (They were all laughing because just as I was taking the first picture someone walked in front of the camera...this is the second)

Me and my boy *tears*

When did he get so tall and become such a man.

My Graduate. (Being photo-bombed by his Dad)

The diploma.

It's rare these days for me to get a picture of all my kids.

So how about two :)

And Mom finally got Kodi to pose for a picture with her!

Proud parents.

And now on to his next adventure...The University of Arkansas!

I really want to thank my Jake for an amazing "high-school Mom" experience! It's been incredibly fun and rewarding. I look forward to the "college Mom" experience with him. I know he'll make it memorable.

Oh my how I love my boy!

Senior Class Day and Sweet P getting the "Key" to the school

2012-05-28T11:09:00.000-05:00

At BVHS they have a "Senior Class Day" which is wonderful because it's like a mini-Graduation. Much more intimate than the actual graduation at Kemper Arena! It was really nice and made even more special because P had been chosen months prior to receive the "key" to BVHS. They actually chose two kindergartners from each filter elementary for this honor, the class of 2024. YIKES! That is almost hard to type :)

Nana pressed everything so Jake wouldn't look like a wrinkled mess.

P was super excited to be a part of the festivities.

She walked across the stage with a fellow kindergartener and was given a plaque by the graduating President of the Senior Class.

I quickly snapped a photo of her walking from the stage.

She raced up to sit with her Nana.

Then Jake hit the stage with the rest of the graduating Choir members to sing.

I was really proud of Jake's friend, Zack, as he was mentioned for enlisting in the Marines.

I quickly snapped a shot of Alex as he approached the stage to receive a rose.

Jake as he left the stage.

Next up...Graduation...

Graduation Week

2012-05-28T10:01:00.000-05:00

Last week was a blur! My Mom came into town on Tuesday, we attended Jake's Spring Show on Thursday and Saturday, Friday was Class Day for the seniors and Sweet P was chosen to be a representative of her school to receive the "Key" to Blue Valley High School and Jake's graduation was on Sunday. In addition to that, Kodi came home for the weekend, the kids had finals and Zach was preparing for his 8th grade graduation. Whew! Then...I got sick and Bryan went out of town.

Anyway, I'm happy to FINALLY begin posting some pics...

Let's start with the Spring Show. This is a choir event and Jake was a performer and one of the Masters of Ceremony.

Performing the Guys and Dolls medley

My boy

Jake and Alex

With fellow MC, Grayson Yockey - just before performing Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy

With Grayson again, as MC's, just before performing Outta Your Mind

Ali, during her duet, singing Hear My Song

Jake and Ali dancing and singing Time Warp

Short video of Jake and Ali dancing and singing - with Jake's short solo

At one point in the show, Jake and Grayson pretend to take their clothes off...but they have clothes underneath.

Someone has been working out :)

Seniors singing their last song, Seasons of Love from Rent

Taking their final bow - Jake, Erin and Alex

It was a beautiful show, but sad too. Very bittersweet.

Next photos to come... Jake's Senior Class Day and P receiving the "Key" to the school...

Wordless Wednesday - {So proud}

2012-05-16T16:55:00.000-05:00

The awards keep on coming for Jake... we attended his Thespian Awards on Monday night.

Being presented with Best Actor for A Lie of the Mind

With the entire cast of A Lie of the Mind making acceptance speech for Best Show

As his teacher spoke about him...

And then presented him with...

The award for Senior Thespian of the Year.

He made a beautiful, touching speech.

The graduating thespians.

I can't believe it's really happening. He's graduating.

Sometimes there truly are no words.

Sunday Snapshot - {My Mother's Day}

2012-05-14T15:12:00.001-05:00

I had a really nice Mother's Day.

It started with a gift from my Sweet P.

I also got this rose from Zach.

My choice for lunch, so we did Five Guys because I was craving a burger :)

We got there before they opened so I got the kids to pose for some photos.

They were thrilled.

After we ordered, I pulled out the camera again.

Luckily they were all being agreeable.

Then came more presents!

I was thrilled to get this beautiful Pandora leather bracelet.

And this amazing charm from their Spring/Summer Collection.

I can't tell you how much I love it!

Me and my girls.

We all headed to the mall and P was really happy to take a picture with "Justin Bieber".

I got my hair done and had a little shopping spree at Sephora!

We ended the day with the movie, Dark Shadows.

Definitely my kind of Mother's Day :)

I love her toes!

2012-05-11T16:53:00.003-05:00

As most of you know, Sweet P is a girly girl!

She LOVES to have her fingers and her toes painted.

And after I finished painting them, she wanted to put the clear top coat on herself.

She did a great job, I think...(you can't see it 'cause it's clear).

Oh my...I just love those little toes!

Head on over the The Long Road to China and check out more beautiful Favorite Photos!

Video

2012-05-11T15:41:00.003-05:00

I made this video for Jake and Alex's Graduation party tomorrow.

So proud of them both.

Senior Awards Night

2012-05-10T16:08:00.004-05:00

It's been an amazing week to be Jacob Miller's Mom...

On Tuesday I attended the attended the Senior Awards Night and were thrilled and surprised when Jake was awarded the Senior Thespian of the Year award and also State Honor Thespian award.

He was so happy!

He was then awarded the President's Education Award for Academic Excellence.

We also got official notification that Jake has been accepted into the University of Arkansas Honors College!

Dear Jacob Miller,

Congratulations! You have been admitted to the University of Arkansas Honors College! It is my pleasure to welcome you. I think you will find the Honors College experience here a very rewarding one.

I like to think of the Honors College as a community of students and faculty who have a passion for discovery and for learning from each other. Our students partner with faculty mentors on research that ranges from developing therapeutic agents to combat Alzheimer’s disease to writing a play or novel. Honors courses are taught by some of our best professors, typically in small sections. Recent topics include furniture design, the development of biofuels and hands-on management of a $5 million bond fund.

Thanks to almost $1 million awarded each year in competitive study abroad and research grants, our students can write poetry in Ireland, arrange microfinance loans in Belize or present a paper at a national conference. And upon successful completion of the honors requirements in your major, your diploma will carry an honors Latin designation of cum laude, magna cum laude or summa cum laude – a lifelong plus for your résumé.

I would like to invite you to attend either Orientation Session 1 (June 4-5) or 2 (June 5-6) if at all possible. These are sessions specifically designed for honors students. However, if you cannot come to one of these sessions, the other Orientation sessions also provide information on the Honors College. We also encourage you to look into housing in Pomfret Honors Quarters, where you can connect with other honors students and take advantage of events that we offer, from dinner discussions with Honors College faculty to the hotly contested annual Gingerbread House contest that takes place each December on Dead Day. You can find more information on Pomfret at the University Housing site (http://housing.uark.edu) and on the Pomfret Honors Quarters Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/groups/254549157896658).

Finally, if you have not already done so, be sure to check out our website (http://honorscollege.uark.edu/), blog (http://honorsblog.uark.edu/) and the University of Arkansas Honors College Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/UofArkHonorsCollege) to learn more about our students and faculty and the resources we offer.

Again, congratulations, and don’t hesitate to contact us by phone at (479) 575-7678 or by e-mail at honors@uark.edu. Our faculty and staff are here to help you achieve your academic and professional goals, and we look forward to welcoming you to campus in the fall.

Sincerely,

Bob McMath
Dean of the Honors College and
Professor of History

I am one proud Momma!

Wordless Wednesday - The Day We Met

2012-05-09T12:45:00.001-05:00

Yesterday marked the 5-Year Anniversary of one of the most anticipated, scary, wonderful days of my life.

Then...

And now...

Sunday Snapshot - {It's just that kinda day}

2012-05-06T20:18:00.002-05:00

I was sitting in my lauffice (laundry room/office) today when I noticed something...it was way too quiet in my house! So I ventured out and found...

Phoebe curled up on the couch watching a Disney show.

So cute that I had to take another photo.

Zach in his bed with my laptop.

Jake and Ali cuddled up on another couch watching Iron Man.

And Sam in her bathroom trying out different hairstyles.

It's rainy and dark out, perfect weather to relax. I decided to snuggle up next to my Sweet P...

It's just that kinda day.

Favorite Photo Friday - {New Dress}

2012-05-04T17:06:00.002-05:00

You gotta love how excited my Sweet P gets over a new dress from Walmart :)

And it's not just ANY dress...it's a SPINNING dress!

Oh how I love this kid with her beautiful smile and simple tastes :)

I just wish they were all this easy!

Sunday Snapshot - {Hanging with Sweet P}

2012-05-01T08:50:00.000-05:00

I'm a little late with my Sunday Snapshot and almost didn't do it, but my girl gave me something to photograph.

I walked into the family room and found her watching TV...

Yup, this is how she was watching! How is that comfortable?

Such a cutie! And after she flipped back over she was happy to pose for me.

During a commercial.

Want to see more great Sunday Snapshots? Head over to Ni Hao Y'all.

Jake's Opening Scene from A Lie of the Mind

2012-04-30T09:25:00.003-05:00

I'm sorry the quality isn't great...but this is Jake's opening scene...

He's so good.

Jake's Last Main Stage Show

2012-04-27T20:15:00.000-05:00

As usual, I was beyond proud last night as Jake took on the lead character in his last Main Stage play at BVHS, A Lie of the Mind. This off-Broadway show was written in 1985 by Sam Shephard and won several awards. What did I think? Well, I thought that Jake and the rest of the cast did a great job. As for the play...it's really depressing. Most of the characters are a little (or a lot) crazy, but this made it even more fun and interesting for the kids to play.

The play starts with a phone call between the character, Jake (played by my Jake) and his brother, Frankie, in which Jake admits to just beating his wife so bad that he thinks she's dead.

His Mom comes and takes him back to his childhood home. She takes his pants and locks him in his room.

His sister helps him to escape so he can go to Montana to find his wife, who his brother found to be alive but with a brain injury. (That's a whole other part of the play that takes place in the wife's house with HER crazy family)

And he escapes in his cape with no pants.

In Montana he has to face his wife's brother, played by Alex.

They took their final bow with very angry/serious faces. Like I said, not very lighthearted.

I can't believe my boy is graduating and the next big play I see him in will probably be at The University of Arkansas! Wow!

It's bittersweet. I'm sad that he's graduating and leaving home, but I'm excited for the next chapter in his life.

Taking pics...

2012-04-18T22:54:00.000-05:00

It's my favorite thing to do!

So when Sam asks me to take pics of her so she can have a new twitter profile pic...

I'm a happy girl!

I also love that Ali came along while I took pics of Jake and Alex for their invitations.

She didn't want her picture taken...why???

It was also great to capture a photo of Jake.

This is my idea of a great day!

Sunday Snapshot - {friends}

2012-04-16T18:39:00.000-05:00

Took some pics yesterday of Jake and Alex. They're having a joint Graduation Party so we wanted to get photos of them together to put on the invitation.

You never know what you're going to get when these two get together.

They're both performers and enjoy being silly.

One thing I do know...with them heading in different directions after school...

I feel like it's the end of an era, and I'm a little bit sad about it.

Simple Things - {Jasper}

2012-04-09T10:35:00.000-05:00

Sweetest. Dog. Ever.

Sunday Snapshot - {Easter}

2012-04-08T18:05:00.002-05:00

Happy Easter! This year Easter crept up on me. It's been a crazy week with B home due to a gallbladder attack, but my Sam came through! She made sure Sweet P had a wonderful day!

From dying the eggs without "store-bought" egg dye, just food coloring, glue and other craft supplies.

To getting the Easter Bunny's snack ready (no carrots available so she put out green beans and dark chocolate morsels). She even made sure there was "rabbit hair" on the platter!

To hiding the eggs.

Even organizing the Easter baskets.

P was beyond happy.

She also got a new Easter dress...let the twirling begin...

Happy Easter everyone!

The Many Expressions of Sweet P

2012-04-01T23:12:00.001-05:00

I could take pictures of my girl all day!

But I've got to be quick and just keep snapping.

Because she's got more expressions then anyone I know.

And each one is better then the last one.

Her smile makes me smile!

Linking up with:

Sunday Snapshot - {Prom 2012}

2012-03-31T22:44:00.001-05:00

Tonight is Jake's Senior Prom. I am again floored that my children continue to grow up, I wish they would stop doing that!

I'm sad to know my boy is one step closer to leaving me, but gosh, I so enjoyed taking these photos of him with Ali.

Zach was looking at the pics and thought this one was the best one. To quote him, "It looks like it could be on a movie poster!" That's high praise coming from a 13-year-old!

Personally, I would've chosen this one because Jake just adores Ali and, to me, you can almost feel it when you look at this.

They are simply adorable together.

She didn't want to kiss him because she was worried about getting lipstick on him. So he kissed her!

This is where we tried to get a little artsy :)

Ok...honestly, my second favorite!

I take pictures with a Canon 60D.
The lens I used is the Tamron 28-75mm F/2.8.
ISO 100
Shutter Speed: 1/125
Aperature: f/2.8
I edited the photos in PSE 9 and used lots of different actions, but mostly Florabella.

Check out more Sunday Snapshots at Ni Hao Ya'll, or maybe even post your own for a chance to WIN!

St. Louis

2012-03-30T17:16:00.001-05:00

Last weekend B and I traveled to St. Louis to attend Oprah's LifeClass. I took my camera but didn't get a lot of pics. However, I had fun editing the few photos I did take.

I've been playing with textures and love what it did for this one.

This building was beautiful.

Actually, many of the building were just gorgeous.

We had to stop and have a beer at this "joint".

Head on over to thelongroadtochina.com for more Favorite Photos!