The best season of the year!

I love Halloween! Costumes, scary movies, candy, and pumpkins! The leaves in Danville have changed colors, and are falling perfectly to the ground. The sun is bright, and there is a crispness in the air, and everything smells like campfire. People are excited about the change and looking forward to the holidays, (too early for the stressed out bankrupt look people start to get closer to Christmas). This is the time of year when I seem to appreciate my family more, and have a renewed sense of optimism. I hope your fall is filled with all your favorite memories and smells. And hopefully the optimism will be contagious as we race towards the new year.
Happy Fall!

Cyrus loved this jumpsuit, he thought it was so funny that he was a convict. He does look cute in orange.

Talen wasn't too worried about what he was for Halloween as long as it involved having some sort of weapon. The Ninja costume fit and it had two cool knives, so he was happy.

Vista Grande parade

Talen loves to help pull out the guts, and always reminds me to roast the seeds.

Pumpkin success!

The end of a long fun day...

Old Dog New Tricks

It is nice to know that even at age 35 it is not too late to try new things. And most importantly trying new things with the support of people you love,
It started with an encouraging friend and a half marathon which turned into a triathlon, and then another 1/2 marathon. It then moved to a long overdue sisters trip that included swimming with sharks (okay small leopard sharks, but if you know me then you know this is very unlike me). And later ended with some important self discoveries about tolerance and unconditional love (thanks Dana).
I love being a wife and mother, but while I am helping them to learn, and grow, and succeed, it is nice to know that there is room for me to do the same.

Sisters Trip San Diego, Ca

We need to do this more often!

Even the boys had some fun prior to the race making some really yummy smoothies using boy power!

10/17/2010 Nike 1/2 marathon

I am so glad that I had these beautiful woman to help pull me up all those crazy hills in San Francisco!

See Jane Tri 9/25/10

My first triathlon! I was so happy to do it with my friend and my sister!

7/25/2010 SF 1/2 marathon

My very first 1/2 marathon!

Miller Utah trip 9/10

Family picture on top of the Joe Smith building.
We all made it for the newest Miller's blessing, it was fun for the boys to see their new cousin.

Vacation success

If there is a friendship test than I think it would be driving in a car together for 17 hours and then spending your only summer vacation by joining your families together and hoping that everyone gets along and has fun. Well I think that if this were the test than we passed! We joined the Miners on this week long trip to Washington and then Cannon Beach, Oregon and we are all still friends.
Thanks for all the great mind opening discussions, hikes, runs, and one up hill bike ride! I could never feel good about eating ice cream everyday (sometimes twice in one day) with anyone but you.

Bainbridge Island, Wa 8/2010

Brodie and I in front of the Boundy barn.
We were so lucky to have been invited to this beautiful farm, a little piece of heaven on earth.

Pike Place Market

This has always been a destination on my bucket list,and I was not disappointed! If I had to use one word to describe this must see destination it would be Bounty! Fresh flowers in all varieties, fruits and vegetables so beautiful and yummy I can almost imagine becoming a vegetarian. And then every yummy treat wafting their aromas down the street like a sirens song for the olfactory senses. I am so glad I got to share this delicious day with the Miner girls.

A thing of beauty is a joy forever.

Buckets and buckets of flowers, and sooo cheap!

Produce like this motivates me to try a little harder in my garden!

The loves of my life!

The swim team season is nearing an end for us, and we have had a great year! The boys have spent many long mornings in the pool and even longer evenings at the meets, but I feel like we are all better for it. I was even inspired by their hard work and have started swimming in preparation for a triathlon in September! Even Brodie was able to participate in a freestyle race this week. I am sad to see it come to an end, and looking forward to another year of sunscreen, goggles, swim caps, and arriving 2 hours early to every home meet to ensure a good spot to throw down the chairs and camp out for the evening. (Okay so not that last part).
Go Sycamore Stingrays!

Cy on the blocks

Love that face!

Cyrus looking so cool with his mohawk.

Talen mentally prepares for the freestyle race.

Talen on the blocks

Talen popped his time and was rewarded with a snow cone. I love that he is still so motivated by simple pleasures.

Waiting on the blocks

Brodie 's first swim medal.

All of the Little Stingers received a medal for their participation, but Brodie was sure it was because he was the fastest!

Brodie jumps for joy!

Brotherly love

"It is said that an ungrateful man is like a hog under a tree eating acorns, but never looking up to see where they come from."
-Timothy Dexter
I cannot believe that it has almost been a year since we made our journey from Russia to the Bay Area. We have all made adjustments, missed old friends, and made new, and have even been reunited with some favorite ones. New house, new school, new co-workers. We have tried new hobbies ie; family bike rides, swim team, and training for a half marathon. We have been so blessed and I would be as guilty as the hog eating acorns if I didn't express my gratitude in words. My greatest joy this year has been watching my boys grow and keep their relationships with each other strong. That has been the good side effect from our travels, we have all become better friends. Hopefully this will help us survive the approaching tween years!

8th birthday!

Talen's BMX bike party was rained out and so at the last minute we had a wii winter olympics party with gold medals and red white and blue cupcakes! It was fun to have all the boys together.
Talen is my peace maker, he loves Brodie and plays with him every chance he gets. He created waffle Wednesday last year, and still enforces this once a month tradition for which we are all glad. We are so blessed to have this sweet boy in our family.

Baptism

We were so blessed to have grandparents come into town for Talen's baptism. He has really taken the whole thing very seriously, we are very proud of the choice he has made.

Norm's

JD's favorite restaurant in Danville had a wing eating contest and so he and Cyrus signed up as a team and ate between the two of them 28 wings in 5 minutes, they did not win but they beat several other teams with big guys. Next year Talen is going to take a turn next year.

Cheers!

Space derby

Talen's first year of scouts has been fun, I am the assistant den leader (not fun). This year they did a space derby, and Talen was so proud of his space rocket!

Science alliance

In January Cyrus joined a 5th grade science club that is mentored by high school students. In April there was a science fair in which he took second in his category!

3/14/99

Cyrus turned 11 in March and chose to have a night out with his mom and dad instead of a birthday party, so we were happy to oblige since it is only a matter of time before he is humiliated by everything we say, and makes us park a block away when we drop him off at his friends house.
Cyrus has matured allot this year both socially and academically and we are so proud of his growth. He continues to be a big help around the house, and his perpetually good mood is contagious! We love you Cyrus!

5/4/10

Brodie turned 3 in May and was so proud to finally be able to hold up 3 fingers! He has grown into a sweet and fearless little boy who adores his big big brothers, loves to swim and ride his bike, and never misses an opportunity to be read to. He is officially potty trained as well which makes 3 both exciting and sad... my baby is growing up.

6/14/10

The Cox family came into town for a Stanford graduation and we were so happy to visit with them, hopefully it is the first of many reunions as the head off to London.

6/14/10

The miller boys and the Cox boys.

Our Thespian! 2/06/10

Talen's school held tryouts for the school play The Princess and the Pea last week. Over 100 children tried out, and only 50 made it! Talen was a dust bunny, and had two really cute dances that involved some tail wagging. We are so proud of him!

Brodie wants his few minutes in the spot light as well.

Before