California McMillans

Where do the months go?? It feels like Kira has been a part of our family forever. I can't recall what it was like without her. We LOVE LOVE LOVE our Kira so much!! At 7 months you... Love being outside. If we are playing outside you will sit and watch happily for hours. Puts everything in your mouth. Today I fished out two big leaves. Paper is your favorite and often comes out the other side. You LOVE your thumb. My first child that wouldn't take a pacifier. Just like your mom. Love your brothers. Love watching them, love when they hold you and sing to you. Scott sings "Rockabye" when you cry and Tyler tells me to feed you when you cry. You really only cry when you are hungry, tired or need to be changed. You smile like Tyler. You look like your dad. You are beautiful. You are radiant!! Petite. You don't like a bottle much. You don't eat much. You have the smallest features and are just so petite. I don't think you will ever be big, but it

I went to Northgate High School growing up. The football team was awesome our Freshman year and went downhill after that. This year they have won all of their games. Danny and Scott decided to go to Homecoming to cheer Luke on. It was fun and they enjoyed it. Sadly, Northgate was losing 35-0 at the half. Meanwhile, back at home, I slipped on the stairs while holding Kira and almost killed myself and my child. All I can remember was holding onto Kira, crashing and watching Kira in slow motion roll down a stair or two. I can't remember much of the event. I did manage to hold Kira through the initial fall, but let go once I was down. I very rarely freak out about medical issues, but I seriously thought I had damaged Kira's head and that my leg would need surgery. Panicked, I called Danny to tell him to come home. I then went into shock sobbing on the couch while holding Kira. Danny arrived and said, "Her eyes aren't dilated, she's tracking well, and she

Tyler goes to a little Mom's Morning out type deal from 9:30-12:30 every Friday. There are twelve kids and thus I work with another mom every six weeks to watch the kids. It is low key and a great little program at a local church. You are either in charge of snack or craft on your day, the kids have lunch and get to play. The first time I did it was total chaos. All the kids were there including two kids that had MAJOR separation anxiety. It of course made two others that are normally fine kind of sad. It was really sad, I remember being there with Scott about 2 years ago, but I recognize the kids will survive and this is so good for them to transition away from their mom. The second time I did it went WAY better and it was so fun. I was unsure if I wanted to commit to another activity, since it seems we are starting to loose our freedom, however, Tyler seems to enjoy it and it has been so nice to have some time with Scott. I really enjoy the days that I get to teach to ge

I got the party supplies two months ago during Tylers actual birthday and am proud to announce I FINALLY had Tylers party. It was so fun!! Highlights in pictures...#1 Table...Kids photographed are either obedient or just plain hungry. #2 POP's Spiderman Masterpiece. #3 Tyler and Max eating cake. Tyler claims his favorite part of the party was eating Spidermans' eyes (a HUGE piece I might add). #4 Cousin Roman attempting to out-eat Tyler in the cake eating contest. #5-7 Friends. This sums up the party. These boys figured out how to get six kids on this car all by themselves. All 15 or so kids played so nicely the entire time. It was the BEST part for the kids and the parents. #8 My adorable niece Paisley drunk with milk. #9 My adorable nephew Roman on the trampoline. I think at one time all the kids were on the trampoline. #10 The presents. Best part of the party to watch. I put all the presents on the table and they were all open in about 1 minute. It was awesome

So I just read Scott what I wrote to him about being so proud of him for the primary program. He had a huge smile on his face and he said at the end, "what about the night?" Meaning what about writing how proud you are that I no longer wear diapers at night?" How cute is that?? We have been soo proud of Scott for waking up dry without diapers this week!!! And I am glad that he knows it and wants to shout it to the world. He told Cindy last night at dinner about his latest potty training accomplishments. Anyway, 3 years ago, when Scott was two he basically potty trained himself in a day with very little work on my part. It helped that we waited a couple of months after he was going to the bathroom on his own and ready. The timing of Tyler coming helped since he was probably ready when his brother was born and we waited about 2 more months. That was when he was about 2 and he is almost 5. Maybe I should have restricted water, but I didn't and just waited. We are

Heidi did a nice post about the primary program. I'll mention that Scott took his ball bearing to church (a failed one from a motor rebuilt project) and held it in his hand while he spoke his line. That's my boy! It reminds me of when I had to go to church with a little gray airplane propeller.

Scott had his very first primary program. Danny has been putting the boys to bed while I am at work. Danny's night time routine includes music time. In the past month Scott and Danny have been rehearsing his songs for the primary program. Scott learned his first little lesson that if you put in a little bit of time each night to work on something, the end is so rewarding. For the first time Scott was prepared and comfortable singing in Primary. While some of it is due to being older, I think most of it is because he worked on it. What a great lesson on work and diligence. As a coach and athlete, I recognize that while reaching a goal is rewarding, the journey of getting there is a far greater accomplishment. Scott and Danny were examples of that this past month. They worked at something each day, which made today so special. If Scott didn't work on any of his songs or what he was going to say, he would have done fine sitting there and being a part of the program, but

There was a great conference talk on Work. I can't wait to read it again. It has made me do a lot of thinking about how I use my time, how I have changed over the years and need to change. Work has been a topic of conversation lately probably because I have been thinking about it. I continually battle about staying home and going to work and came to the realization that both are work, both are good and both can be something that I excel at and make an impact with in very different, yet very real ways. My sister started a part time job. She loves working at a Jewish Temple and has found balance. I admire her for that. I read a friends blog about the reality of unemployment and the economy. There are thousands of people in her situation and my heart aches for them. While another friend lives to work all day, every day. Yet another friend told me about an amazing job that she hates. For the lucky work is fulfilling and rewarding. Others hate what they do. They probably wonder if

Our newest niece...Paisley Marilyn Maddox!! Heather and Jason had their second baby, a beautiful little girl. She looks identical to her brother as a baby which is so fun to see. They have the same big lips, squishy little nose and the same eyes. Some strong genes and of course look nothing like our kids. So far our kids have no cousins that look like them. Danny's brother and sister-in-law, David and Juliann , are hoping to adopt and I have a feeling their kids are going to look the most like ours. We couldn't be more excited to have another little girl cousin so close to Kira. We are blessed with 3 nephews and 4 nieces and look forward to many more to come!

My boys love taking baths together. Thy used to be scared of the jets, but now as you can see they love them. Mainly because the jets make some crazy bubbles. My dad has a friend Peter who has a beard. Scott says he looks like Peter in the bath. Fun Times! They want to do everything together. What a fun relationship to see! Perhaps nothing compares than seeing two boys grow in this amazing friendship and love for each other. Blessed! In other news Tyler looks tired. He is tired. He has a cough that he can't get over. He is exhausted after a couple of hours. Time to bring the little man to the Dr. Kira got the cough and the poor thing chokes on her mucus. Tis the season of sickness...soo sad to see the little ones not feeling well. My

Danny and I started a Saturday night co-op with 3 friends. Basically 1 family watches 9 kids all ages 4 & under once a month. What do we do the other three Saturdays of the month from 5-9?GO OUT AND HAVE A DATE WITH OUR SPOUSE!! What a foreign idea. It is Awesome! I am so excited and our first night of the co-op was sooo fun! We went out to the Counter, a hamburger joint in downtown Walnut Creek with two of Danny's dental school classmates. It was such a fun little double date. "The Fa" and Bernadette are such a fun, cool couple. When Danny proposed, he asked for ideas from his classmates on how to do it. For each idea submitted, he gave a bag of peanut M&M's. The winner of the contest got dinner for two at Pluto's, and Jesse's idea won. He took Bernadette to Pluto's and that was very early in their relationship. We are always excited to find fun couples to go out with. Danny has some great friends and it is fun getting to know them. Going ou

The week actually got a lot better with Tyler. We go out in the morning and I have been sooo good at saying no to being out all day or doing too much for our family. It has been really nice. Danny getting the kids to bed on time has been awesome. We had a great week until.... Sacrament Meeting. I would like to record for my posterity and anyone that needs a little pick me up about their sacrament meetings that I possibly had the WORST sacrament meeting ever in the history of my life yesterday! I take that back. There were meetings on the mission where my heart sank because someone you loved and expected didn't come, but that is different. Anyway, Sacrament is the first 1.15 minutes of church where the whole family learns to sit quietly and listen. They are usually OK (that is all relative). Scott draws, eats his snacks, sometimes listens, is working on being quieter and sitting on the bench little by little. Tyler is generally tired which can be good and bad. Good when h

Scott outgrew Little Bike. I am pleased that he thinks that when you want something new, you just hunt for it on craigslist and then go and pick it up, which is precisely what we did on Saturday. We picked up this Schwinn 20" bike in San Ramon, replaced the tubes, adjusted and repacked the bearings, oiled the chain, and polished the chrome. Scott thinks it's great. He asked if he could ride White Lightning, which is my bike, and I had considered getting it powder coated and then giving it to him, but it's too big. Yesterday, some kids were commenting about White Lightning. We told them how old it was. They were impressed.

I have an incredible dad who made gourmet breakfast before school, went to work all day and came home just in time to work on Chemistry and Math with me and my sister. He never raised his voice and had incredible patience with a household of woman. He is just an amazing man and dad. Somehow I got lucky to marry a man who couldn't be a more amazing dad. Danny loves going to work each day. He was born to be a dentist and teacher. Somehow he equally loves coming home and being a dad. He is such a natural parent. Danny is a little kid at heart in his innocence and hobbies. He loves toys and tinkering. The kids are so blessed to have a dad so involved in their lives and who loves them more than words can express. We have tried to get the kids down for bed earlier this week thanks to Laura's advice about the magic 7pm bedtime to see if it will help Tyler. Since I work until 7-7:30, I asked Danny to do the bedtime routine and HE HAS ROCKED!! He usually gets home between 5:3

President Monson, Charity Talked of taking food to over 80 widows in his ward each Christmas while he was Bishop. When President Monson speaks it is obvious how much he loves others, sees a need and fills it. He talked about how his wife always supported him in his various callings and service. I want to do better at seeing and fulfilling the needs of others. I want to do better at supporting Danny in his various callings and service. "Needed is the charity which refuses to find satisfaction in hearing or in repeating the reports of misfortunes that come to others, unless by so doing, the unfortunate one may be benefited. The American educator and politician Horace Mann once said, “To pity distress is but human; to relieve it is godlike.” 11 Julie B. Beck, History of Relief Society " We study our history because it helps us change. Ultimately, the value of history is not so much in its dates, times, and places. It is valuable because it teaches us the principles, purpos

Scott gets really cold in the water. He is just like me and I remember what it was like to get so cold. This summer he did a handful of swimming lessons with a girl from the ward. She is awesome, but it wasn't that much fun for Scott because it was too cold. It didn't help that we had one of the coldest summers I ever remember. Well, I started a little group lesson for swimmers that are comfortable in the water but not able to really swim yet and Scott is in it. He listens well and tries, but it is cold and he gets cold. He made it through the first three lessons and made it through 10 minutes of the one on Monday. We'll see if he wants to go today. I let him choose if he wants to go and he is choosing to go for the first time which shows he is growing up. Last year he didn't want to do anything and now he talks about his friends and wanting to go to swimming. He comes home and tells everyone about his swimming. The water is about 80 and it has been really wa

The Church makes it sooo easy to get rid of things. They park a truck trailer in the church parking lot, with a padlock that you can open up and throw all the clothes you don't wear, toys nobody plays with and things from the past in to give to someone else who will love them. They either sell them or give them to less fortunate people and places. Decluttering isn't the system, it is me. Sometimes it so hard for me to throw things away. My friend gives her kids a box each year and allows them to fill it with their favorites and give away the rest. I don't think I could ever do that. It gives me anxiety even thinking about it, but I wish I could. When I try to get rid of things these are the things going through my head, "maybe my next kid will use it." "maybe they will miss it once I get rid of it" "I'll fit into this at sometime during my next pregnancy." Sad, I know. Well, I am happy to announce that in the past couple of years I h

I am laughing right now as I read this post from my friend Laura who just ran a triathalon. She says..... " Spark: So in this June Heidi asked me to start running with her to get in shape." Laura of course followed through and did a tri this past weekend...AMAZING. Three or four years ago I talked a co-worker/friend into swimming at the Masters Nationals since it was close by at Stanford. She was the fourth relay swimmer that could potentially win or set some sort of record. I don't remember the details of the coaxing her into swimming. She still reminds me that she got in shape, signed up and swam. Knowing her she probably won the whole thing. I don't remember if there was a relay or not. All I know is that I was nowhere to be seen near the pool deck, except of course with a coaches badge. So if you need a motivational talk to get back into shape come talk to me. I have amazing friends who are smart enough to follow my advice and not my lead. They make me

I placed Kira on the carpet, went to brush my teeth, came back and couldn't find her. I thought my dad took her for some weird reason. I soon realized she scooted under the bed. Neither she nor the boys seemed to care which I thought was pretty funny and shows her calm personality. #1 Get onto that Tummy..Probably my first child that actually prefers her tummy to her back. #2 Push Up #3 Get those legs in position #4 Rock Away....I LOVE this step of crawling. I think it is hysterical how kids can go back and forth like a boat over and over again. It's a step that makes me laugh, never gets old to watch and something I totally forget about until I have a new child that starts it all over!! It inspired me to get out the camera so I wouldn't forget. yeah for me. Danny commented the other day how Kira goes at her own pace, when she pleases. With Scott everything was so new, we tried to push his little legs in and get him to prop himself up. With Tyler is was so excitin

Me: "Quieres montarme como caballo (Do you want a horsey ride)? Tyler: "No! I want Mommy!" Then, two seconds later, "Daddy, carry me! I don't like you!"