Christmas Countdown

So, 11 days until Christmas! Are you ready? I am an early shopper so I am pretty much ready to go. I am really excited because Nic's finals will be over tomorrow and we can start having tons of fun!

Here is our calendar for the next two weeks..

Scones at Winder Dairy

Baking with family

Lights at Temple Square

Lunch with old co-workers

Dinner with family at Desert Star

Mills Family Party

Favorite Things Party with sisters

Marble Family Party

And that takes us to Christmas Eve!! I am so excited to do these fun traditions. What does your calendar look like? What fun things do you do as a family?

Tree is up!

I wanted to do a post to say how thankful I am to my Heavenly Father for the wonderful life that he has given to me. I am given so much more then I deserve. I am overwelmed with everything that I have!

5 years ago today I got engaged to the man of my dreams. I never thought that I would end up with someone so perfect. He is the most generous, kind, hardworking, intelligent, handsome man I know. I couldn't live without him and I am thankful for how he helps me to become a better person. I love you Nic!

My dearest Samantha, how I love being your mom. You bring so much happiness to me. You make me so happy to me a woman, a mother, and a wife. You help me see hapiness in everything around me. You make me smile and laugh everyday. I love watching you learn and grow. You have changed my life forever.

My wonderful, funny, peanut butter, Penn State loving family! I had such a happy childhood all because of my parents and siblings. My brothers are so awesome and I love them so much. My sisters are really my best friends. I love the time that we get to spend together!! I love and admire them all so much.

My in-laws...that's right! I love them. I know that's opposite of what most people feel about their in-laws, but mine are the exception to the rule! You have never met a more kind, inviting, friendly family then the Mills Family. I literally feel like I am a part of their family and I feel that their home is my second home. I feel so blessed that Nic came from such a wonderful family.

My wonderful friends! I just can't let go of people, so my friends are my friends for life! I love you all so much and I am thankful that you are a part of my life!

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday!!!

Our baby is 5 months old today, can you believe it?

Sam is sitting up!!

Nephew's 1st College Football Game

We had so much fun at the Utah vs. New Mexico game last Saturday. We had a fun group that we went with. It was especially fun to take our nephew to his first college football game, he had a blast! 

Meeting Swoop at the Ute Walk

Seeing the players get off the bus at the Ute Walk

Pregame...

Is it really November?

I can't believe that October has come and gone. I feel like it should be September!!

We finally moved Sam from the bassinette in our room to her crib. I miss her sleeping next to us, but she is doing really well in her crib now.

Sam and Daddy

Sam and Aunt Kimmy at school

HALLOWEEN! Sam dressed up as a bunny for her first Halloween. She looked SO cute. We went to the U of U Blackout game and it was so much fun!

Ute Walk Pics

Hope you all had a wonderful Halloween!

Catch Up

I have a bunch of pictures on my camera that I have been meaning to post and blog about....so here they are.

We went up to Logan to have a Halloween party with our good friends Jamie & Kevin. It was so much fun and Jamie decorated everything SO cute. We loved carving pumpkins, so much fun!

We got this fun new toy from my sister and Sam LOVES it. She is always standing, so this is perfect for her to stand on her own.

Sam had her 4 month check up and the doctor gave us the go ahead to start her on food....

Book club is back! We started in September and this month was my month to choose the book. We read the Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr. I loved learning more about this remarkable man. I would highly recommend reading it!

Snow College Homecoming! I met up with some of my old roommates and had so much fun catching up on things and reminissing about our fun college days.

Sam sucks her thumb now!

4 Months Old

Our little zooba turned 4 months on Sunday. How fast time has flown by! It seems like she has been in our lives forever. We went to the doctors today and she is growing and developing wonderfully. She weighs 15.6 lbs and is 25 inches long.

Some things that she is doing right now:

Rolling over both ways

Cooing and laughing out loud

Grasping and shaking toys

Drinking water from a sippy cup

And her happy personality is more evident everyday!

We love her so much. Her happiness wears off on me everyday. I feel so blessed to be able to be her mom and have this amazing opportunity to watch her learn and grow.

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever!

My sister has always made the best chocolate chip cookies. I finally decided to get the recipe from her and try them out. They are DELICIOUS and so soft. I had always just used the recipe on the back of the Nestle Chocolate Chip bag, but these are so much better.

Here is the recipe if you want it:

1 cup butter/shortening (I do 1/2 of each)

1 1/2 cups of sugar

3/4 cups of brown sugar

3 eggs

3 cups of flour

1 1/2 tsp os salt

1 1/2 tsp of baking soda

3 tsp of vanilla

Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes

Girls' Night

I love girls' night out with my mom and sisters! It's fun to have all of the girl babies added to our semi-annual tradition now. This year we went to Gardner Village. I had never been there before, it was so much fun! Of course they have all of the witches out now so that added to the fun and the crazy busyness. Here are some pictures of our fun night...

No, we did not coordinate our outfits! We coincidentally all wore jeans and dark shirts--we must be sisters!

Pennsylvania Goodness!!!

Most of you reading this have never had a Dunkin Donut, and if you have, you probably have not had a real Dunkin Donut....a peanut butter cream filled Dunkin Donut! My family is from PA and they really have the best food and the best treats! Any time that someone from our family is back home they are required to bring back all of the goods! PA is the only place (that we have found) that has peanut putter cream donuts and they are to die for. Here are some pics of the yummy stuff we love....

These are "gobs" from the best cooks in the world...the Amish. They sell these wonderful things at farmers markets and they are something that I remember from my childhood. They are like giant sandwich cookies that are vanilla and chocolate and then of course peanut butter and chocolate. I actually craved these all through my pregnancy and of course couldn't have them because you have to travel to State College for them!

Here are some great PA treats, tasty kakes and Boyers Mallo Cups. How is the whole state of Pennsylvania not obese with all of their wonderful food??

My dad and David also picked up some adorable Penn State clothing for Sam. I will take some pics of her when she wears them and post them!