Family Christmas Letter

This year we decided to do our "Christmas Card" via email. If any did not receive it I thought I ought to put it on the blog and apologize that it did not get to you for some reason.

This year has been a rather crazy year. Here are some of the highlights.Rob worked hard through the spring juggling both work and school but finally graduated BYU with a JD/MBA and continued working for vSpring capital. After graduation we were very fortunate and were able to take a cruise to the Caribbean, just Rob and I as a 5th anniversary/graduation present. We moved from Provo and lived in the condos by the Gateway in Salt Lake City where we house sat and took care of some cats. It was fun to live in downtown and experience a little taste of the city life. Eliza loved living right next to the Gateway Children's Museum which we visited regularly.

At the end of the summer Rob and I took a trip down to Monterrey, Mexico and considered moving down there but soon after felt that it was not the time to make such a move and found a home in Millcreek. Mexico is always on our mind and we'll see what the future holds.

While living in our quaint home in Millcreek Liberty has decided she wants to be independent. She wants to do everything herself. Going potty in the toilet is one of them (Yeah!) and pouring her own milk is another (boo). She is a lover and a hater. She has pulled out many a child's hair, loves to ride on babies like they are horses, and will bring out the teeth if she must. (Fortunately I think she is starting to catch on that these things are not OK. At least this is what I tell myself to keep sane.) But she is also the most loving little girl. She loves to snuggle and give hugs. She always is saying hi to everyone at the grocery store and her smile can light up anyone's face. Just a couple of days ago we went and visited a rest home and she went around and shook every person's hand and said "hi" and "merry christmas". They all loved it.

Eliza started going to a preschool this year and when we moved to Millcreek started attending a preschool called "Grandma's Garden". It is the best school I could have ever asked for. Her teacher is great and she has just taken off on learning her letters. She thinks it is the coolest thing that she can write letters and everyday she surprises me with the things she has learned. But she also loves the television. Brady Bunches is her favorite show and when she misses it she's pretty disapointed. We are happy to report though that while delivering Christmas gifts to our neighbors this year she yelled out with delight, "This is better than watching T.V.!" She is an amazing little girl, an awesome big sister, and a great example to me.

Soon after the move to Millcreek we were happy to find out that our third child is on its way and due to arrive the end of May. Eliza and Rob are sure its a boy! We'll find out in January.

We feel so unbelievably grateful for the blessings that God has given us this year and we are most grateful for Heavenly Father's most precious blessing, his son. For without him there would be no atonement. We are grateful for this Christmas season where we are able to focus even more on this gift. Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Love,

Rob, Abby, Eliza, and Liberty McMillen

Hunting

Rob went hunting this year for a week up in Idaho with his Dad and Miller.


We joined them for the first couple of days. We didn't last too long because it rained most of the time we were there. But the time we spent there was pretty adventurous!

We found a snake down by the river and tried to catch it!

We had delicious fire roasted corn on the cob! (Libby's favorite)
Kaiden even hunted himself a squirrel! We feel strongly about eating what you kill. So Rob seasoned it up real nice with cayenne pepper and garlic salt. We all took a nibble. It actually was pretty good. Eliza really liked it. (Yes we may be considered W.T. now, but that's OK.) Rob also cooked some of the grouse that they brought back from the hunt (yes they were hunting elk but hadn't had any luck yet) and it was delicious!

Eliza got to get a little ride on the horse! And best of all we got to hang out up in the mountains. There is just something so peaceful about being up there. I love it!

Happy Birthday Rob!!!

It was Rob's 29th birthday yesterday! He is getting old. :)I feel so lucky to have such a great guy for a husband. When I introduced myself in Relief Society yesterday, a lady raised her hand and commented, "I just had to tell you all that I was sitting behind Abby and her husband in Sunday School and the nursery leader came in because there was some kind of problem with their daughter like a dirty diaper, and Abby went to stand up and her husband had her sit back down and went out instead. I just thought that was so impressive." All of the ladies were like, "oh wow." I said, "Yeah, he's a pretty good guy!" He really is.

He was a little tired for his birthday since he had been up really late the last 4 nights one night until 4:00 am, so the girls and I let him sleep in and didn't do anything exciting in the morning. During the day I sent him an email with some tickets to the BYU vs. TCU game. (I am always nervous to make these kind of purchases because while in DC I bought some NBA tickets that were really good seats but he didn't really think they were the greatest gift because of the price. Plus I'm not really an avid football fan so I wasn't really sure what the best game was, but I think it worked out this time!) Then when he got off work we went to eat at Market Street Grill and the girl gave him their gifts. When we got home we had some Cherry Pie. Rob kept asking if I had made it and I just moved on with out answering. Then a little later he asked again and Eliza gave me away and said, "Mommy didn't make this, we bought it at the store." How could she throw me under the bus like that! ;) We all laughed! Pies are just not my thing. But I did buy it with love and care.

Happy birthday Rob!

Eliza's crazy day!

So the other day, Eliza fell off the ladder going to our attic and hit her head (I think on a book case at the bottom). She knew she wasn't suppose to be up there so when I came running down she said, "I'm OK mom," but then started bawling. It was so sad. She had a dent in her head that I was worried about. She didn't have any signs of neorological damage though so I kept watching her. I kept just worrying about that dent though so finally in the afternoon I talked with Dave and decided to take her up to Primary Children's Hospital. We were so lucky because Uncle Adam was there to help us through the whole thing. I feel so lucky to have pediatrician brothers. Luckily everything turned out OK. All the x-rays turned out good. She was supposed to go on a football game date with her daddy that night so she was very happy that everything was OK.

So we rushed home, she put on her pink cougar shirt that her Maya friend gave her and some warm clothes and she was ready to go. Then her and Rob rushed to the BYU football game in Provo. She thinks this is so cool to do with her dad. And I think it is so cool that her dad is willing to do this and makes it so much fun for her.

While at the game she got some hot chocolate (her favorite) and was overly excited that she got to keep the mug...

... and then at the end of the game was able to get a photo with BYU player Harvey Unga!!!

Eliza is 4 years old!

There were lots of celebrations for this birthday. First we had a joint party with Kennedy up in Twin Falls the Saturday before her birthday.

Then we had a birthday party with the Stevenson family on Sunday.

Then on the actual day, we celebrated her birthday at Chuck E. Cheese in Orem. We thought this would be a good idea since with all the moving most of her friends were still in Provo. It was a lot of fun! Chuck E. even sang to Eliza. She seemed very happy and was glad to see some of her friends from Provo.





After Chuck E. Cheese's we went to Build a Bear where you were able to pick out a stuffed animal and some clothes. You picked a pink unicorn and a Tinker Bell costume for her. After that we dropped daddy off at a conference and drove up to Grandma Stevenson house. Eliza was so happy because she got to play with her other friends Emma and Alex Thomas. Then we had "breakfast" for dinner. It was a fun filled day. I love you Eliza. You are a such a loving and excited girl. I love that about you!

We moved! Yes again.

Yes we have moved again. I was counting the other day with some friends how many times it has been and I think it is at 13 times since Rob and I got married (5 years). Way too many.
We are really missing having Grandma and Grandpa Stevenson around to always help out and play with us, but it has also been nice to be in our own place and get back into a routine. We love our new little house here in Millcreek (still UT). It is very close to Rob's work which I love because it makes it seem like he doesn't work so long and the best part of the whole house is the yard. It is huge and gated and the girls love it.
There were a few surprises about this place though. When I was finding a place to live I was sure to ask my top 5 questions: "Does the place have a gated yard, disposal, dishwasher, washer/dryer hookups, and air conditioning?" I made sure I narrowed down my search really good. Well I found this house while driving to check out another place I had seen on Craig's List. I fell in love with it when I found out it was in our renting price range. I soon found out that someone else was interested in the place so I frantically bargained to get the house. I succeeded and the house was mine. On the first day while moving in, the place was getting pretty hot. I went to turn on the a/c and found out that there was a just a swamp cooler. Not a big deal, I could handle that especially since it was cooler months up ahead. Then later that day when I went to load the dirty dishes into the dishwasher, I couldn't find it! I swear I had seen one when I looked at the place before. But to my dismay there was NO DISHWASHER! Ahhhh! What had I done to myself. (If you know me at all you will find this pretty comical, I am that person that puts everything in the dishwasher--pots, pans, knives, wood items. For me it is worth the risk that it might get ruined because I hate hand washing so bad.) I called and told Rob and he just laughed and said, "You think you rented the house a little too quick." We both laughed. He has been quite a trooper since and has really helped me out with dishes and I have to admit it really hasn't been that bad handwashing.
I hope to add a picture on soon.

Liberty's fishy face

I am very far behind and hope to get caught up soon. But real quick just wanted to post this picture of Liberty and remember this moment. She loves to do this fishy face. She often does it when we ask for kisses and it is pretty hilarious!