A Bunch of Random Pictures

Avery mimics his siblings' behavior: here he is on the Wii Fit board, doing what he sees his brother and sister do.

Ashlie helps take care of Baby Max (my sister Aubrey's baby).  She is a natural with babies!

Olivia wanted to make lunch for everyone, Subway-style.  She called it "Subway-ish".

Alex lost his first two teeth in March.  Here he is after his first tooth came out.  His two new teeth were already poking through behind the two that came out!

Ashlie invented this Trashboard for her Invent America school project.  It is a piece of flexible plastic that attatches to one corner of the trash can.  The Trashboard the acts like a backboard and helps trash to make it into the wastebasket rather than fall onto the floor.  She did an amazing job and refused any offers for help with her display board.  I'm still using the prototype that she made for me to try out because it works so well.

My mom is always willing to cut hair when asked.  She is self-taught and does a great job.  This time Alex refused to get his hair cut unless Grandma Miller did it.

Avery just being cute!

People keep telling me that Avery is looking more and more like Alex.  What do you think?  This is Avery's first experience in a shopping cart car.  Now he points at them at the store and grunts, making it known that it's his preference.  Thanks, Jenn, for introducing him to those awful carts! 

I wait for Alex and Olivia to come out of school on the days I don't drive Ashlie's carpool.  Here Alex is, walking to the car after school one day.  The grumpy look on his face is there because he saw me pointing the camera at him.  He doesn't like to have his picture taken without prior permission being granted.

Ashlie's 5th grade class did a program called 'Across America'.  There was a wonderful sampling of songs and it was very well choreographed.  The performers did a wonderful job; it was one of the very best school programs I've seen.  Ashlie is pictured in the picture below, second to the right on the front row.

MORE Strep

The strep is spreading throughout the family, but all too slowly.  I wish we could just get it over with already.  Olivia's strep spread to Avery.  Then I contracted it, and now I'm certain Ashlie has it.  I hope Alex, Rob and my dad are able to avoid it, but if they're going to get it I wish they'd all get it at once and be done with it! 

I am so grateful for antibiotics, as I've seen the dramatic and quick turn-around in our health this week once antibiotics were taken.  Unfortunately, they've been hard to get.  I've always heard that once one person in a household got strep, the others should be able to get antibiotics without having to be seen by a doctor.  In addition to several doctor visit copays and prescription costs, Avery and I both had to be seen at InstaCare, so health costs will hit our pocketbook hard this month. 

On a positive note: There's nothing like being sick to make one grateful for one's health!

Added April 22: Rob did end up getting strep, in fact he also got a mild case of tonselitis!  He was in bed for several days, which is really unusual for him!

Strep Spreads...

My sweet baby Avery starting throwing up Friday afternoon.  He threw up about 10 times that day, but then acted almost completely normal Saturday.  I was hopeful that he had just eaten something or had a stomach bug since he seemed so much better Saturday.  I even took him to the family Easter dinner because he was doing so much better.  However, he threw up at the end of the party Saturday night and then again twice when we got home.  

 

This morning (Sunday) he had a fever and sat with me through the morning general conference session, in and out of sleep.  He climbed down off my lap each time he saw something interesting he wanted to do, but as soon as he got off my lap he realized he wanted to get back up.  So, I just held him.  He fell asleep for a while, so I asked Rob to take a couple of pictures. 

Rob took him to the doctor (Yeah! He was home for once when a kid had to go to the doctor!) and, alas, baby Avery contracted strep from his big sis.  I should have taken him to the Kidscare Friday night!  My poor little baby is miserable and I could have gotten him help two days earlier.  Anyway, he got a shot and should be on his way to recovery now. 

Miller Easter Celebration

It took Avery a few minutes to figure out what the egg hunt was all about, but it didn't take long for him to start snatching eggs up, including some that little Madi was on her way to get!

Olivia was Avery's little helper.

Ashlie was quick to point out that she only had all these eggs because she and Olivia were sharing a bucket.

Alex LOVES candy!

Avery (18 months) and Madi (26 months) were the first kids let loose to hunt for eggs.  Needless to say, they didn't have to search very far before locating many.

Look how cute these two are (Avery, above, and Madi, below).  They are at such adorable ages!

Madi's naturally curly, strawberry-blonde hair is so beautiful!  She also has striking blue eyes.  We have missed her and her sister, Liz, while they've been in South Carolina (almost a year now).

Adam always welcomes Avery with excited tones and open arms!  Avery gets excited to see his buddy, Adam.

Emma helped Madi get her shoes on before the Easter egg hunt.

 Noah was engrossed in a book and apparently had an itch...or something.

Avery loves his Ashlie! (And she loves him too!)