It's gonna be a long week

 Brian left last night for a week long training in PDX. This is the longest he's been away since Robin has been born, and the second longest time he's been gone since Erin was born.

But.... he's thoughtfully set me up with so many playdates and outings at grandparents/cousins houses that we will be reeeeaaaaally busy.

Also he left this:

a present for each girl, for each day.  That's 12 presents people!

Brian is an awesome Dad.

And he also got a present for Mommy each day: 

I love this man. 

This week might go faster than I think. 

Chalk

When using a new set of sidewalk chalk, why stop at coloring the sidewalk?

And just like that. . .

. . . it's Christmas season!

Brian and Erin put up the outside lights:

And I and the girls trimmed the tree

We may have to rearrange some ornaments later after the kids are asleep ... there is a high density of decorations on the lower 2' of branches. 

Thanks and Gratitude

So many reasons to be thankful.














Happy Thanksgiving!

Robin Update

After the scary incident a few weeks ago, Robin is totally fine.



We learned a lot about febrile seizures, lost a lot of sleep for about a week watching over her at night, got through a round of colds in the whole house, and she is fine. Robin did not do any extra tests, as the pediatrician determined it was a classic case of febrile seizure. I'm kind of relieved about that, knowing the tests would be pretty difficult for a little girl, and also really believing in my heart it was due to a fever rather than something else.

At any rate, the girl is a total ham.

Erin Loves Power Tools

I fondly remember doing projects with my dad when I was a little girl. I felt, even then, that he chose me, the one girl over the two boys, to join him on the handyman projects. He taught me how to change a p-trap, use a socket wrench, and mix cement.



I love that now, Brian is doing the same with Erin. He and she have a special interaction as they work on tasks.  All he has to say is, "Erin, we have a project to do." and she immediately heads for the tape measure and goggles.



Love it.

Just some more silly

A Very Crafty Sunday

It's raining and chilly over at the Orinda branch of Casa de McMiller.  We decided to take a lazy Sunday and just relax a bit.

Relaxing here means doing projects, of course!  And thanks to my newest obsession, we had lots of half-finished projects on the docket.

A few things we did:

Autumn leaves from coffee filters and washable pens,

A height ruler from a 1"x8"x6' board, some stain and a sharpie,

An earring holder, and repurposed Balinese-sculpture-as-ring-holder, 

And with this morning's leftover oatmeal, a delicious oatmeal snack cake with broiled frosting.  It smells soooooo good, it's difficult to wait until it's cool enough to eat. 

Sigh.  What a relaxing day. 

Welcome, new Cousins!

There have been several additions to the extended McMiller family tree, and we will present them in inverse order.

Introducing:

Kai

and Graham and Evan

Cuties all of them!!

Erin is 4 part II

In between crazy trips to the doctor and ER, we did have a girl who turned 4.

4!

We celebrated with a bouncy-house, a trip to Disney on Ice (thanks Grandpa and Grandma), presents, cake, book exchange, and a new big-girl booster seat.



A 5-point-harness-up-to-80-lbs "booster" seat, just to be on the safe side.

Erin's 4th year was a busy one. Her sense of self really emerged, as did dancing, singing, language (lots of language), dexterity, fears, friendship, inquisitiveness, independence, fashion, empathy, courage, and love.



Happy (1 month late) 4th birthday, sweet one. Your sparkles make the whole world brighter.

Rough start to November

This morning, at about 6:30, I awoke to find Robin having a seizure next to me.  She had spent the night in our bed because she seemed to have a tummy-ache, or something, and was crying on and off all night.  

She was hot, hot, hot, and it only lasted maybe 1 or 2 minutes (though it seemed a LOT longer).  We tested out the Moraga-Orinda Fire District and they were here just a few minutes later.

She probably had a febrile seizure (see here or here), caused by fever.  Common in early childhood, and not linked to anything more serious, yet since no one actually verified that her temperature was high we will be doing a battery of neurological tests later this week.

Robin is running a low-grade fever today, and is napping, with me checking on her about every 5 minutes.

Poor kid.

The way this month is going, we'll have a LOT to be thankful for at the end.