Kay and Kris Family: December 2007

So today is the last day of 2007. I am reflecting back and it has been quite a year. It has been a good year in so many ways but it has also been probably one of the most difficult years of my life. I have grown a lot. I have shed many tears both of joy and sorrow. So I thought I would do a quick recap.
January 21st was the first day that I shed both tears of joy and tears of sorrow. My second grandchild was born, Brooklyn, and my grandmother died. I was able to spend the morning with my grandmother, just the two of us. I bathed her, dressed her, and just talked to her. She didn't respond but that was okay. We were able to go to the hospital to see Brooklyn and while we were there it started snowing. Not a normal thing for Arizona. Our house actually got a fine layer of snow. Quite an eventful day. Tara and I flew up to Utah for the funeral. A few hours after we arrived there Nicholas called me and asked me if I knew that my husband was on his way to the hospital. Apparently he was thrown off a horse. He broke his sternam, some ribs, and 7 processes off his spinal cord. It was very difficult for me to stay in Utah while my husband was in the hospital in Arizoana. He has never quite recovered from the accident and I am guessing he never will. Needless to say as soon as I got home we sold the horse. We have bought two other since but they are great.
I spent many hours at work this year. I am very blessed to have a job that pays well and lets me work as many hours as I want. Kay was finishing up his last year of his masters degree so I was supporting the family. I know now after this experience why the Lord wants the moms to stay home. I wasn't a very good working mom. I'm sorry to say that I became a not very nice person.
In March Nicholas and Jackie blessed Brooklyn. Jeremy and Ashley came down and Emily and Preston came down. In one day we found out that we were going to have another grandchild and a new son-in-law. Emily was pregnant and Tara engaged. Wow what a day. We are definitely growing.
So the wedding plans were on full steam ahead. Tara had definite ideas about what she wanted. We were able to find a wedding dress that weekend so Emily was able to be there. Tara always likes to be different so the dress was ivory with a dark red sash. She looked beautiful.
Nicholas graduated from University of Phoenix with Bachelors in Business management and has started his MBA.
The next couple of months mainly consisted of work and wedding plans. On my birthday Tyler and I went on a trail ride with the horses. I was looking so forward to it. Tylers horse was being very uncooperative that day which is very abnormal because she is usually great. He just couldn't get her to settle down. He finally had lost all patience and so I told him to switch me horses. Well that wasn't such a good idea. After about five minutes the horse started rearing and about that time the saddle broke so off the horse went the saddle and of course since I was in the saddle I went off also. I landed in gravel and cactus. I thought I broke my hip. Fortunately I didn't. We figured out the saddle was digging into the horse and that is why she was being so bad. She has not given us any grief yet. I was sore for a couple of days but no big deal. Tyler and I have gone on many rides since and they are always enjoyable.
So it was time for the wedding. It was a lot of work but Tara and Brandon were both happy so it was all worth it. I made dinner for 120 people. We had Chicken Cordon Bleu, Garlic mashed potatoes, green beans, salad and rolls. It was perfect and since I made it myself, very reasonable. The day went off without a hitch and I was thrilled to have it over with. Threee weeks later on June 30th our first grandson was born to Jeremy and Ashley. Kay and I drove up a couple of days later and spent some time with them. Being a grandparent is the greatest.
The rest of the summer was spent mostly working. Tyler was busy preparing for football. He had football camp and practise daily.
Jeremy and Ashley blessed Daxon in September. The Saturday before we had a baby shower for Emily. The day after the blessing we headed for Ohio. Jeremy, Boyd, (Ashley's father), Kay and I, two vehicles, and one moving van left first thing Monday morning. It was acturally quite a nice trip except the first stop we made my purse was stolen. All our money, credit cards, my glasses, camera charger, temple recommend, etc. It was all gone. Kay and I searched and searched and then spent a long time on the phone canceling everything. That definitely takes the wind out of your sails. Besides that we had a great trip. We arrived in Ohio Wednesday night. Jeremy had some fine strapping guys there to unload the truck which they did very quickly. I can't even tell you how great that was. I was pretty tired. The next day we worked real hard unpacking all we could. I got both kids rooms set up so they would be ready. Ashley, her mom, and both kids arrived that night. I think Ashley was grateful beds were set up. We stayed for a couple of more days. On Friday we went up to Kirtland to do some sight seeing. My cousins daughter was there on a mission and she was able to give us a tour. It was very spiritual and a delight to hear and feel Amanda's testimony. Kay and I flew home on Saturday. A week later I flew up to Idaho for a surprise baby shower for Emily. It seems the only suprise was me coming. Prestons mom was there also so it was a great weekend.
Fall brought school and football. If I wasn't at work I was at football games. Tyler started High School at Red Mountain H.S. Kay finished all his classes for his masters. He found out he couldn't start work until he passed his national boards. He studied very diligently and in October he took them. He came home from the test very discouraged and sure that he had failed it. The worst part is it would be six weeks before he found out.
Emily gave birth to Lorelai Madison on Halloween day. She was determined not to but Lorelai got her way. I flew up a couple of days later and was able to be there for a week. I went up to help but Emily was determined that it be a vacation for me. I think I finally convinced her to at least let me make the meals. It was a treat for me to be there. Kay and Janet have a rivalry going about who is the favorite grandparent. I let them fight it out because I know that it is really me.
Football came and went and now it is time for wrestling. This is Tylers real love and strength. He is undefeated as of this writing.
On November 11th Kay and I celebrated our 3oth wedding aniversary. We went up to Sedona just to hang out. We went on a jeep tour and walked among all the shops. That night we had a steak dinner at Kay's favorite restaurant. Tara brought us a great present. I blogged earlier with all the details. Thanksgiving was a nice quiet day. We had all the intown kids for dinner. I got a lot of christmas shopping done that weekend.
the first week of December Kay and I flew up to Idaho for Lorelais blessing. I made her dress which was a treat for me. While up there we found out that Kay passed his test. Such a burden lifted. We had a great weekend.
December brought the normal christmas festivities. I worked as much as possible. Kay started a new job working for a Methadone clinic. His hours are 4:30 in the morning to 12:30 in the afternoon. He is ready for bed when I get home for work. He really likes the job and it will leave the afternoons for him to build up his private practise. Tyler and Kay both got real sick. Tyler wrestled one of his meets with a 101 temperature. Jeremy and Ashley and kids came on the 14th. That was so nice having them there. Cambri is getting so big and Daxon is such a joy. I really miss having them close by.
We did our annual Police toy drive breakfast. Emily, Preston, and Lorelai, came home. We had family pictures done. On Christmas morning all of my children and grandchildren were in one place. Kay and I have been blessed so much. By Christmas night they were all gone.
So that pretty much sums up the year. I am sure I forgot some things but for those of you who hung in and read all this you are probably grateful. I am looking forward to 2008 being a great year. I hope it is for all.

Each year the Miller extended family has a Christmas Party. Most of the time it is at our house but after last year we figured out the we had outgrown everyone's house. So we me kicking and screaming we had it at a church. It was actually not to bad. There was not the hominess that I like but there was plenty of room and a lot less stress for me. I think there was more for Kathleen because she had to set up the church. I had all Kay's siblings and mom bring soup. Tara and I brought rolls and then we had all the grown grandkids bring a special christmas treat. This worked out really well, we had quite a nice assortment of goodies. Greg even brought homemade eggnog. I was a little nervous about that because I had only had homemade eggnog once before and it was nasty, but I was pleasantly surprised when I tasted Gregs. It was delicious. After dinner we had a talent show. It was interesting and diverse. Kathleens family did the nativity, we sang Silent Night, Martha's family played a couple of games, Nyles family did an undescribable show of their knowledge of Spanish and Laura read a beautiful Christmas story. After the talent show Santa arrived with presents for all the grandchildren. They all got to sit on Santas lap from newborn to 18 years old. Buddy took pictures which will be posted later. Santa got a little enthusiastic with Morgan who had just had hernia surgery which caused Morgan to spend the rest of the party in severe pain on the couch. Santa is very sorry. The night was a huge success and I was glad when it was all over. A sad note to the night. On the way home from the party I received news that my step brother Scott had died that day very unexpectedly. He is my age which means he still had lots of life to go. We know he is in a better place but has left a hole in the hearts of those who loved him.