2014 Millar Christmas Card

You may think that I only blog now when I am announcing a pregnancy... sure does feel that way. However I have made a goal to blog more in 2015, we'll see how I do. 

You see, being a mom of two soon to be three little girls I don't hold very high expectations for myself on the daily. 

I like myself better for it. 

However, I figured a great way to jump start my 2015 blogging year off was to post our 2014 Christmas card. It has become a tradition to do an Untraditional Christmas card.... to keep people on their toes. Make it fun for them to open our card and not see our Facebook profile picture on our Christmas card.

See previous Christmas cards here and here

I will be honest with you, this is a controversial card. I may have even had concerns from well meaning family members to not post this on the internet for fear that it will go viral, end up on the today show, and I get plagued with a whole bunch of hate mail. I think it would be very telling and sad of our society if that happened. This Christmas card was made in good fun with no intention to offend anyone. ever. 

So without further ado:

Merry Christmas 2014

Merry Christmas!

Lets start off by saying we mean no ill will, offense, or insult by our Christmas card. We wanted to hear you laugh. Or at least gasp in confusion and shock.

Trevor & April: We have had a fairly busy year. We welcomed our second child, Donna Ruthie Millar, just in the nick of time last year, December 30th. We didn’t realize how grateful we were that she came the day she did until about March when we filed our taxes. We have since become pregnant with our third child, another little girl, due mid-April 2015. We are beyond excited. Seeing as our family is growing rapidly we invested in a minivan, to the delight of April and the outward chagrin (but inward pleasure) of Trevor.

Besides multiplying and replenishing the earth this year:

Trevor has enjoyed his work with Progress Mfg. and is always pointing out “his” products on vehicles as we drive down the freeway. Trevor also completely renovated our bathroom, gutting the whole thing and starting from scratch (with the help of great family and friends). It was his first home-improvement project and he did a beautiful job! But now April thinks he can do anything so his honey do list has gotten really long.

April has very much loved the work she’s done as a doula and HypnoBirthing instructor. Although she promised Trevor she was going to take 2014 off from doulary she still ended up attending 7 births this year, each such an amazing miracle. But now she really does have to take 2015 off from being a doula… it’s harder to get a babysitter for 3 very little children. (However, she will continue to teach HypnoBirthing classes).

Bridget: Is three and full of sass and sweetness. She is a complete social butterfly and loves nursery and her pre-school class. Everyday we watch for the kids walking home from school so she can say hi to all her “friends.” She is an excellent big sister always making sure Ru is taken care of. She talks non-stop and always wants to hear stories about: Bridget and her friends Belle, Cinderella, Aurora, and Rapunzel, and the Bad Fairy. If we get details wrong she makes sure to whisper corrections.

Ruthie: Is such a wonderful addition to our family. We have loved watching her grow up this year and can’t believe she’s almost a year old. She is incredibly affectionate giving lots of head-on-the-shoulder hugs, pats on the back, and all-tongue-no-lip-kisses. She donated all her hair to locks of love when she was born, plus interest, that’s why she still doesn’t have any. She’s just really kind and generous like that.

We have been blessed beyond measure and give Glory to our God. We have such strong testimonies of the love our Savior Jesus Christ has for us. We pray constantly for our friends and family to find comfort and peace in the path The Lord has set before them. We send all our love to you and wish you a very Merry Christmas.

Love,

Trevor, April, Bridget, Ruthie, and baby Millar

Untraditional Tradition

So last year 2012 was the first year we participated in the sending out of Christmas cards. Mostly because we had this phenomenal picture that may have been mocking, slightly, the tradition of Christmas cards. 

And lets face it, I do most things:

a. To say I did it / the story.

b. To get a reaction out of people.

c. Because I have to.

And Last Years Christmas card fit snuggly into option "b." (Blame it on my middle child status, I obviously needed more attention growing up.)

After a couple of friends calling us up and telling us how much they loved our card, or asking us if we were serious, or telling us they were a little concerned (concealed carry permits). I knew that a tradition was born:

The Untraditional Christmas Card Tradition

I literally started thinking about this years Christmas card in about January. I had some ok ideas, but luckily I am married to a man who loves puns and has the sense of humor of a 65-year-old man. (The tackier the phrasing = the better untraditional Christmas card.)

Then we got pregnant.... and my brain wheels started turning.

It honestly took me a while to convince Trevor this was going to be a good idea. 

He believed it to be on the sacrilegious side. You tell me what you think. 

Unfortunately for him when I get something in my head I get a little persistent. Fortunately for me, he is a good sport and loves me despite it all. In fact he came up with our greeting, (if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.)

So without further ado, the Millar 2013 Christmas Card:

THE MILLARS 2013

We are loving our home and especially living in Spanish Fork, Utah. Although we quickly learned that to fix things around the house you need tools… Trevor has not complained once and perhaps fabricates his “honey do” list. (Do you really need a skill saw to change a light bulb?)

Bridget would rather dance over sing, blue over green, and Cinderella over any other princess. She is very tactile and loves to pinch the knuckle skin on anyone.

Every morning this is the first thing out of her mouth and the EXACT conversation:

“Wunch?”

“You hungry? You want some lunch?”

“Brefast?”

“You want breakfast and lunch?”

“Yeah, an dinner.”

Needless to say our house revolves around meals. She is also convinced that going potty on the toilet is for the babies and much prefers her diaper, makes much better use of her very precious time. But anytime the toilet is flushed she runs over and says: “Bye, bye potty! See you soon!!!”

Expecting baby girl #2 in a few weeks at the beginning of January. She is doing well and is already well aware of her sister, making sure to give Bridget a good wallop if she squishes her too long. We are eagerly anticipating her arrival especially because we have planned a home birth.

April has enjoyed growing a human inside her for the majority of this year and spending everyday with Bridget! She has also loved the work she does as a doula and HypnoBirthing instructor, feeling so blessed and bonded to those families who have shared that sacred event with her. It’s been fun to watch her business grow (aprilinwaiting.com) bringing her total of attended births to 11! She also is proud to say she completed her first half marathon this summer at 14 weeks pregnant, and is grateful her time can only be improved upon.

Trevor very much enjoys his job as a traveling hitch salesman. He has been able to do more business development this year, which has been fun for him to learn new skills. He loves owning his own home and is very active in all decorating / home improvement decisions. He is an avid “pinterest-er” but don’t worry he pins tough stuff like fireplaces and finished carpentry.

We hope this season finds you happy and healthy. You are in our thoughts and prayers.

Much love,

Trevor, April, Bridget, & Ruthie Millar

Christmas Time is Here Again

I sent out Christmas cards this year. It was a first. 

I have a hard time paying for stamps, I probably need to join a support group or something.

But I sucked it up and sent them, mostly because our Christmas cards are so Incredible I needed to share it with the world.

Here you go, in case you didn't get one mailed to you personally.

Millar 2012 Highlights:

*We became debt free and called into the Dave Ramsey show for our debt free scream, paying off over $50,000 in three years.

*Bridget hit all the great milestones of the first year. She is now walking around on shaky legs, she is officially a toddler.

*Trevor hit his work goals and is continually progressing at Progress Mfg.

*April became a doula and HypnoBirthing instructor.

*We are currently under contract and closing on a home in Spanish Fork in a few weeks!

*Between Trevor and April we have had 9 callings in our ward in one year. I guess we aren't getting it right.

*We sold our 8th beater car and purchased our 9th since getting married. I guess we aren't getting it right.

*Trevor and April are now concealed firearm permit holders.

*We have been able to spend lots of time with family and friends this year; that has been our favorite part. There are so many wonderful people in our lives and we are grateful for every single one of you.

You Are Invited

We have a joke in the Steed family. 

It started a few years ago, my siblings and I put some apple juice in my mom's nice crystal goblets (who hasn't right?) 

Of course we were sipping on our beverages with our pinky's in the air toasting each other, laughing and having a good time.

My sweet mother came into the room to survey our activity and with a disapproving look she said "You guys, that is fake smoking and we don't do that."

What??

In utter confusion we asked:

"Fake smoking, mom?"

"Yes. That's not good, we don't do that."

At this point she still hadn't pick up on her mistake and we all thought it was pretty funny so what did we do? 

We made fun of her through sarcasm.

Raising our fingers to our mouths, in our best impression of someone with emphysema we start "fake smoking" and toasting to things like "good health." Or "Here's to two lungs."

Through a bashful grin she realized her slip up and we all had a good laugh.

Since then any time a wine glass is used it's known as fake smoking.

So this past week with the majority of my family home for Christmas and some bottled grape juice from my mom's home grown concord grapes, we knew we needed to have a formal dinner party with some inevitable "fake smoking" to really class it up.

Please enjoy the spontaneous photo shoot that ensued:

Trevor & April

Geoff & Aleena

Bryce & Sarah

Craig & Ruthie

Douglas Steed

You better believe that 3 months after having a baby I can fit in my wedding dress!!!

Well maybe not completely....

We loved the guys outfits, they seemed to all reflect their personalities.

Before even seeing Geoff I heard Aleena say "You look like a gay bartender"

...can't argue with that.

We did eventually get around to having dinner. 

The casserole was delish.

**There is no intention to offend anyone that is gay, drinks, or smokes: real or fake.

Movie Buff

Bridget went to her first movie the other night.

We picked the late show thinking she would sleep through it. 

She did eventually fall asleep but not before she enjoyed about 2/3rds of the action packed flick.

Judging by the fact that it captured the attention of infants and adults alike, we give Sherlock Homes two thumbs up.

Bridget's First Christmas

Images from the most wonderful time of the year:

Continuing the Tradition

When Trevor and I got married we started a tradition of making our Christmas stockings, you can see how ours turned out here.

With the addition of Bridget to our family is was time to pull out the fabric and get sewing.

I am so grateful I had my little busy bee, she was soooo helpful and wanted to be apart of the whole process. 

 It was actually really fun to have her in the thick of it, I love how fascinating she finds everything.

It turned out stinkin cute! 

I am so proud of it. 

Bridgey loves it too, she can't wait for Santa to fill it with goodies.