Introducing.....MY NEW BLOG!!!

Well for those of you who haven't noticed....what started out as a family blog last summer has turned into a photography business.  A few months ago I realized that I was going to have to switch from my blogspot blog to something that is more geared for professional photography.  So here is the deal....I will no longer be updating my http://www.millerpartyofive.blogspot.com/ address.  I will be using my new blog for family updates AND photography sneak peaks.  So....change my address on your blogroll so you can keep up with me.  Oh, and leave me a comment on the new blog and let me know what you think!!!  Here it is:

www.ccmillerphotography.com/blog

***Coming Soon***
http://www.ccmillerphotography.com/
(my photography website and portfolio)

Miller Party of Five: Quotes of the Week

So I have started a new addition to my blog: "Miller Party of Five: Quotes of the Week."  Throughout the week as my kids do something or say something that I want to remember, I am writing myself a note on a notepad.  Then, on Sundays, I am going to type them up and post them.  I want to be able to remember some of these stories because some of them are just so stinkin' funny....or at least I think so.  Hope you get an occasional laugh out of them too.

1.  Easton's "mommy gender confusion."
Me:  "Easton, I am SO glad we got to have a special day together.  Thanks for hanging out with me."
Easton:  "It's cool, mom.  That's what BROTHERS do."
 Me: (Thinking to myself) Does he really think I am his brother?!?!  More importantly, do I look like a boy?  *Note to self: STOP wearing baseball hats everyday and START wearing makeup every once in awhile.

2. Easton and his bff fighting over who was going to marry Emmy. They are literally both grabbing onto an arm and yanking her back and forth in each direction.
Easton: "NO! I am going to marry Emmy. She is MY sister."
Logan: "No, Easton. Brothers and sisters do not marry one another so I will marry Emmy and you can marry MY sister (side note: his mom is pregnant right now but they have not found out what they are having. However, Logan insists it is a girl and has already named her "Sydney" apparently).
Easton: "NOOOOO! I want to marry Emmy. Giver her to me!" (Almost yanking Emmy's arm out of socket)
Logan: (very calm and logical) "Now Easton. You are going to marry Sydney and I will marry Emmy and we will always be bestfriends."
Easton: (looking at me with the biggest crocodile tears welling up in his eyes EVER) "But mom, I HAVE to marry Emmy....BECAUSE SHE IS JUST....SO....BEAUTIFUL!!!!" OK seriously?!?! How sweet is that?

3.  Emmy's question about the gym: "Why do we have to go to the gym mommy?"
Easton: (slightly annoyed and exasperated in a "know it all" tone) Loud sigh...."BECAUSE Emmy.  Mommy's have to go the gym because they had babies in their tummys."
(Can I get an AMEN to that!)

4.  Mommy Kisses.
Me: "OK guys!  I have a special treat for you guys if you get your pj's on by yourself and super fast!"
Easton and Emmy: "WHAT IS IT?!?!  WHAT IS IT?!?!:
Me: "It's a surprise."
Easton: "OK mom!  I got my pajama's on super fast.  Where's my surprise?"
Me: (Improvising at this point because I realized I am all the way upstairs, I forgot to grab the "special treat," and I am too lazy to carry my almost 30 pound 11 month old back down the stairs again unless I absolutely have to.)  "YAY Easton!  You get a.....(slight pause for anticipation to try to make the surprise sound really cool) KISS FROM MOMMY!
Easton: (total "disappointed face") "Ahhh Man!  I thought it was going to be a COOL surprise or something."
*Note to self:  Mommy kisses no longer qualify as "COOL" anymore.

5.  Emmy at the doctor's office.
Emmy: (talking to the doctor while he was trying to listen to little brother's breathing who ended up having RSV by the way) "Dr. Baker. Look at my eyes." (smooshing her glasses to the side and sticking her finger in her eye whilte getting all up in the doctor's personal space.)"Dr. Baker....LOOK AT MY EYES."
Me: "Emmy, Dr. Baker is trying to help Cohen because he is sick.  You need to leave him alone."
Emmy: "But I just want to show him that I have brown eyes....because that's what color God gave me."

What funny things did your kids say or do this week?!?!

The Schwerdtfeger Family {Sneak Peek}

Over five years ago we met the Schwerdtfeger family at church.  I thank God for that day.  They are some of our dearest friends and we feel so blessed to have them as a part of our lives.  Their son, Owen, is going to marry Emmy Grace.  It has already been arranged! :)  I had so much fun getting to go out and take pictures of not only Tyson, Kenna, and their two precious kiddos, but also Tyson's parents and gorgeous sister, Kami.  We love you guys and hope you like the pictures!  See you tomorrow at the birthday party...you know we wouldn't let a little snow keep us from celebrating that princess turning ONE!

Girl = DRAMA!

I am beginning to notice some major differences between boys and girls the older that Emmy gets.  At least my boy and girl that is.  For instance, the other day big brother and little momma BOTH got in trouble for a bad report while we were eating at a restaurant with friends.  The result: both kids had to put their favorite toy in time out for the rest of the day when we got home.  We are very big on choices in our house.  For example, good choices = good consequences (i.e. act good at a restaurant = you get to watch a movie in the car on the way home) but bad choices = bad consequences (i.e. spill two drinks because you are standing up in the benches, knocking over baskets of tortilla chips onto the ground, fighting with each other, and getting out of your seats to run around the restaurant like little crazies = you get your favorite toy put in time out when you get home.)

Easton had to put one of his Star Wars characters in Time Out (you can barely see it sitting next to Emmy's doll).  His response: "OK mom.  Here you go.  When I get a good report can I get it out of time out?"

Little momma had to put her precious "Baby Nana" in timeout.  Her response: DRAMA.(30 minutes of it to be exact.)

Drama queen: take one.

Try persuasive tactics and maneuvers.

***Stand and stare at the doll for 15 minutes with your head slightly cocked to the left while crying uncotrollably and fogging up your glasses (see picture below) and using choice phrases such as:

1.”But she’s my Baby NaNa....my FAVORITE baby.”
2. “But I NEED her. I love her so much.”
3. “I love her so very, very, very much.”
4. “But I love her more than any other baby.”
5. “But Santa brought her to me and she’s my baby.” (Hmmmm...that’s an interesting angle I had never thought of.”
6. But she doesn’t like the time out chair. Baby Nana neds her mommy.”

Drama queen: take two.

Hit mom where it hurts by moving into "manipulation mode."

Move to the ground, continue crying, and begin to manipulate her “mother’s heart" by saying choice phrases such as:

1. “But she needs her mommy so bad.”

2. “But she can’t go to sleep unless her mommy puts her to bed.” and my personal favorite....

3. “But I need to put Baby Nana in her crib and put her night-night.  She is so tired.  She is SO TIRED!!”

I will have everyone know that I was struggling at this point and almost gave in.  Seriously?!?!  Look at her! 

Drama queen: take three.
Full on freak-out mode.
For this portion of the demonstration, the camera had to be put down.  Let's just say that this part involves now laying on the floor while making gagging noises and dry heaving.  This would be the portion where mom picks the daughter up and carries her upstairs to put her to bed because it is obviously way past nap-time.

So all you moms out there....I want to know two things:

1.  Are your girls more dramatic than your boys (if you have both)?
2.  Do you use the "Toy in Time-Out" method or not?

"Because a way to the man's heart....is through his stomach"

Sausage Rice Casserole:

This is one of my man's all-time favorites.  And you gotta love that has only SIX ingredients.  That's right girls....this is an EASY recipe.  And for all those haters out there who say that I do not give good directions when I give people my recipes (are you reading this Wendi and Kenna?  You know I love you girls!) I am giving a step-by-step pictorial of how to make it.  If you make it, leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

Ingredients:

1 lb. hot sausage

1 bell pepper

1 onion

1 can water chestnuts (I don't use these but if you give it a try, leave me a comment and let me know...)

Sliced almonds or celery (I use celery)

1 (14 1/2 oz) can Sawnson's chicken broth

1 1/4 cu. regular, uncooked rice (I use Jasmati or Texmati rice...more on that later)

1/4 cu. water

Step One: Brown the sausage

Step Two: While browning sausage, cut up bell pepper and onion.

Step Three: Drain sausage on a paper towel, then put bell pepper, onion, and chestnuts (optional) in the pan with the remaining sausage grease and sautee. 

Step Four: Layer ingredients in a 9x13 pan in this order: sausage, then sauteed bell pepper and onion on top of that, then rice, then celery. Pour chicken broth and water all over the top.  Cover with foil.  Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes then stir.  Leave uncovered and cook for 45 minutes more (stir every 15 minutes or so.)

(Side Note: I use Jasmati or Texmati rice.  It is just SO much better.  It really is worth it, I promise.  It is $8 for this jar of rice versus the cheap rice that you can buy in a bag.  Do whatever you want, but believe me that the casserole will be 10 times better if you get the expensive rice.)   At Wal-Mart, the Jasmati and Texmati rice are up on the top shelf on the rice aisle.

Also, after you take the foil off if you are stirring it and it seems like it is getting too dry, add more water if necessary.

If you make it, leave me a comment and let me know if your man likes it as much as mine does!

Baby Liv {Sneak Peek}

Are you sersious?  Gorgeous is all that comes to mind and I don't even think that word can begin to describe how beautiful this little girl is....AND sassy (obviously!)  K & M - thank you for letting me capture your little sweetheart for the second time.  I look forward to many more in the future!  Hope you like what we got.

Oh yeah girlfriend...you lick every last bite of that icing off your fingers and enjoy it!  That's my kind of girl...everybody knows that the icing is THE BEST part of the cake! :)

A Shout out to Sheila

Over a year ago my friend Trina introduced me to Sheila.  So began my addiction to embroidery.  Now I had embroidered a few items before, but I rarely did it because it was so expensive.  Then I met Sheila, and realized that embroidery could be inexpensive after all!!!  She has amazing prices!  I am talking a few dollars to get a onesie or a shirt embroidered.  So now Sheila is my go-to-gal for birthday presents, baby showers, etc.....  Here are some pictures of her handiwork.  I have to say....I think they make the cutest gifts!  Here is a tip: Target and Wal-Mart have adorable solid and strip patterned shirts that you can get for $3 to $5.  They also have a package of 5 solid colored onesies in the baby section (a package of boy colors and a package of girl colors). Buy some shirts and/or onesies, take them to Sheila, and have a monogram or a large initial put on it.....SO CUTE!  One quick note:  this is usually a good gift for kids age one and under.  Let's be honest....no 4-year-old little boy is going to get excited about opening a birthday present to find a monogrammed shirt.  Are you serious? I can just see the look of disgust on Easton's face right now followed by some awesome comment like, "What the HECK is that!?!!  I asked for a STAR WARS toy!!!"...resulting in sheer humiliation for his mother.  So let's keep the monogrammed gifts for the babies, girls.  Oh, and Sheila does adorable burp cloths, blankets, and pretty much anything else you can think of!

So next time you need a cute baby gift...give Sheila a call (91) 445-9235.  And make sure to tell her that Carissa sent you!

And one more picture of Sheila's handiwork....Cohen's newborn picture taken by the amazing Ashley Ann (http://www.ashleyannphotography.com/).  Probably one of my favorite pictures of him ever.  Just look at how cute that little monogrammed hat looks on him!