Pre-Holiday Update!

Sorry it has been a while since I have posted to the blog.  The Miller Family has been busy!

Last Saturday we went to the movies to see "Wreck It Ralph!".  What a great show!  It was not just a kids' cartoon.  There was much to entertain the adults- with lots of throwbacks to old video games with which we grew up.  The plot was very well thought out with good writing.  We all very much enjoyed it! 

We also enjoyed playing the newest Angry Birds installment, Angry Birds Star Wars!  The birds all have different personalities and "powers" based on the Star Wars cast.  There is a Princess Leia bird, a Han Solo bird that fires blasters, a Luke Skywalker bird that wields a light saber, and a Jedi bird that can move blocks with The Force.  Of course the pigs are Imperial forces and all other bad guy-types that can be found in the movies.  The game is very addicting and fun.  I may not be able to wrestle my iPad away from the boys ever again!

Sunday we spent the day playing games and baking.  Zachary has a 4th grader friend who is teaching him to play chess.  Derek is also helping.  (Grandpa Cliff- hope you are up for a match when we visit next week- even if it is a short game!!!!)

 

Derek decided to try out his creativity making a spumoni cake.  Our inspiration was a recipe for a pistachio cake which used pistachio pudding for flavoring.  Derek took this one step further, making a layer cake including a pistachio cake layer and a cherry cake layer, all covered with dark chocolate frosting.  Totally delicious!!!  All of the boys got into the action!  the cake is very festive and has the colors of Christmas.  After making it once, we know how to perfect it and plan on making it when Grandpa Randy, Grandma Peggy, Uncle Greg, Aunt Jenny, and Cousin Wynter visit over the Christmas holiday! 

This weekend we are attempting to wind down from a very busy and stressful week, especially for me.  As we are really looking forward to the new movie, "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" which comes out mid-December, we all watched the first half of "The Fellowship of the Ring" last night and followed up with the conclusion this evening.  Both boys LOVED the movie!!!  they can wait to start "The Two Towers".  I was a bit concerned that the movie would be too scary for Ash, but he did not have any issue.  He loved all of the sword fighting!  Really early his morning, I went down to Tulsa with The Hammons and ran the Route 66 5K.  It was a nice, chilly morning for a 3 mile run.  The route was very hilly- but I still came in at a respectable 30 minutes, 40 seconds.  Tracy came in just at 30 minutes.  Go Tracy!!!!  Their son, Reese who was celebrating his 13th birthday today, ran the 5K in just over 21 minutes and came in 3rd in his age group.  Way to go Reese!!!!!  Tracy took a bunch of pictures, so I will "steal" them from her and post on the blog as soon as I can. 

Ok- time to finish some other online tasks (sign up for a Thanksgiving Day race in Indiana, do a little Christmas shopping, pay bills, etc) before hitting the hay.  Snickers is all ready curled up for the evening!