100 Things About Janet (according to Marilee and Julie who wrote them unbeknownst to Janet)

Marilee and I have had so much fun reading and writing 100 things about everyone that we decided to hack into Mom's blog and write 100 things about her. ps to mom--mix up your passwords a bit! Hacking this was way too easy!

1. She is Nana to her grandkids
2. She has 22 grandkids
3. She has gone under the knife for a little nip and tuck a few times (with quite fabulous results)
4. She has new boobs (smaller, not bigger)
5. When she was 16 she was in a serious car accident
6. She broke her leg and had to be in a body cast for 6 months (we think)
7. Her boyfriend's name in high school was Bill
8. Strangely enough, her father's name is also Bill
9. Her husband's name is Donald
10. She's lived in California, Utah, Milwaukee, Calgary, Haiti and back to Calgary
11. She had a house in Arizona
12. She sold her house in Arizona to buy one in California
13. She likes it there a lot
14. She is super talented
15. She did everyone's hair for Julie's high school musical every night for 5 nights.
16. She did Julie Fraser Miller, Julie Brinkerhoff and Heather Empey's hair for their weddings
17. She made Julie Fraser Miller's wedding dress
18. She made Julie Brinkerhoff's grad dress
19. She makes THE BEST stuffing at Thanksgiving and Christmas
20. Thanksgiving before last she entered a contest against her sister to see who makes the best stuffing. Janet won!
21. Her passion is travel
22. She's been to China
23. Australia
24. New Zealand
25. England
26. Scotland
27. Ireland
28. Italy
29. Greece
30. She goes to Hawaii twice a year
31. She sucks (just kidding)
32. She is the best post pardum helper around
33. She was an AWESOME teenager mom
34. When she was an early morning seminary teacher she slipped and fell walking across the gym and landed on her butt with her skirt up around her waist.
35. Julie wanted her to go away when she was in labor with Brady cause she was 2 inches across from Julie's face trying to get her to breathe "properly." Janet would say this is an exaggeration on Julie's part and that she was about 2 feet away from Julie's face but Julie knows this is a lie. PS--Marilee, who was there, will vouch for Julie on this one.
36. She went to BYU
37. She didn't finish the first time she was there but later went back to finish her degree.
38. Her best friend from BYU is Marjane Ellison Christofferson
39. Ryan and Marilee married 2 of Marjane's kids, Nicole and Adam
40. She met Don at BYU
41. He told her that even if she was the last woman alive he wouldn't marry her
42. Those were famous last words.
43. Even though she's lived in Canada for over 30 years she still HATES the cold.
44. She used to consider our friends when grocery shopping. She would buy our friends the food they liked.
45. She has had acrylic nails for 30 years.
46. She's had variations of the same hairstyle for over 30 years.
47. In the last few years she has successfully kept off about 90 pounds that crept up on her slowly, would go away for a while and then would come back again. Good job Mom!!!!
48. She tries really hard to not be like her mother but sometimes it doesn't work. Good thing we love her mother
49. Her motto for hotels is "if its not as nice as my house why would I want to stay there."
50. Janet's idea of camping accomodations starts with an 'Mar' and ends with an 'iott'
51. She's a GREAT interior decorator
52. Sometimes she overdoes the plants though
53. She signed up for an interior decorating class but was diagnosed with Breast Cancer so she couldn't do it.
54. She is 6 years cancer free!!!! WOO HOO!!!
55. We learned during her chemo that she has a perfectly round head
56. She also has white white hair.
57. She thought she looked like a q-tip when her hair was growing in after her cancer treatments.
58. We talked her into finally dying her hair after it grew back in so she did and then felt like a dirty q-tip.
59. Her hair grew in curly and she said in addition to looking like a q-tip she felt like Nana and Una after a fresh perm.
60. She has neither confirmed nor denied that Heather is her favorite child.
61. When Dad's in a foul mood she knows just what to say.
62. Every vacation we've ever gone on there has been an argument about what direction we are travelling between her and dad. Mom is usually right. Perhaps Julie gets her poor sense of direction from her father???
63. Her favorite desserts are Key Lime Pie and anything Chocolate.
64. She has 2 sisters and 1 brother
65. Growing up her family had a foster boy named Jamerson. He was Native American (gotta keep it p.c.)
66. When she's with her girls she likes to shop (and we do too)
67. When she's alone she likes to shop
68. Nothing beats a good day at the spa as far as she's concerned
69. Wait, that's wrong...nothing beats a good morning at the spa, followed by a day by the pool with a good book and a lava flow. To make the day complete, just throw in a trip to the outlets and dinner at Roy's. (please refer to #30)
70. She is taking her daughters to Hawaii for a girls week in November!!!!!!! We can't wait!
71. She is the most generous person we know!
72. She LOVES the Town and Country she drives when at her house in California (please refer to #48)
73. She does not love animals, except for Ruffles
74. When Ryan was on his mission, his mission president called home and talked to the housekeeper Gemma. Gemma told him to call back in 15 minutes and called mom to tell her to get her booty home. While she was scurrying out of the bank, she fell down the stairs and broke her ankle but didn't know it until hours later.
75. She blew out her knee skiing in vail
76. She LOVES her some BYU football
77. Actually she loves all football
78. When Marilee was the coach of a Junior High basketball team, Janet and Ryan came to a game where Janet yelled so loud she almost got herself booted out. Ryan actually DID get himself booted out!
79. She loves basketball
80. She cried her fool head off for hours when her and Dad got their mission call to Haiti.
81. She thought she was going to be called to France.
82. She was actually hoping for Tahiti
83. She planned, with the help of Jenny, 7 weddings in 6 years.
84. The day she got her driver's license she crashed the family station wagon right in front of her high school cause she was driving by and waving at everyone.
85. She loves her family more then anything in the world!
86. She always wanted a big family and got her wish when the Fraser kids joined our family.
87. 9 out of 10 times she will order buffalo wings and a ceasar salad when she goes out to dinner.
88. She was engaged, long distance, for 8 months.
89. Her and Don are going on 37 years this August
90. She shares her wedding anniversary with Ryan and Nicole.
91. She turns 60 this August
92. As teenagers we would pile on her bed every Thursday to watch Beverly Hills 90210
93. When we were growing up and would be out she wouldn't go to bed until we were all home and tucked safely in bed.
94. After she got home from her mission her and Julie took a trip to visit Marilee in California. We decided to go to the mall (of course we did) but had to go in seperate cars. When we got to the mall Marilee drove one way in the parking lot and Janet and Julie went the other. While Janet and Julie were at a stop sign in the parking lot, Marilee drove by and was vigorously waving at Janet and Julie while telling Spencer to wave at Nana and Julie! Janet, not realizing it was Mar and Spencer who were driving by and waving said in a very snotty voice, "hmmm, seems THAT girl thinks she knows us!" To which Julie replied, "Mom, that's Marilee." Needless to say we've laughed very hard over that one!
95. She's got 2 grandkids named after her. Marin Janae and Reece Annelynn.
96. She's got beautiful penmanship
97. Julie's friends Brooke and Alaina call her Janae Millae
98. When she farts she waits forever before admitting it was her.
99. When we call her for advice about our own kids she usually laughs at us and then when she figures out we're seriously frustrated she will give us good advice.
100. She's the best mom in the whole world and we're lucky to have her as our mom. LOVE YOU MOMMA!!!!!!!!


A few honorable mentions that Julie and I have been giggling about tonight are:
1. When mom starts to laugh really hard she sounds like she has Emphysema. Refer to #94 for an example of a time when she got her emphysema laugh on!
2. Mom is, hands down, or up, if you will, the best person to sit next to or in front of on a roller coaster because she laughs like a hyena throughout the whole ride!

I'M BACK -DENVER, CHICAGO, UTAH AND CALIFORNIA

Hello everyone! I'm back! It's been four months since my last post, so I've got a bit of catching up to do. As usual, it has been a time full of travels, grandchildren and of course a little plastic surgery. Oh, where to start. I guess January 2008 is where I left off, so that's where I'll begin.

DENVER AND CHICAGO- JANUARY '08

After returning from California over Christmas, I was home only a few days when I jetted off to Denver to spend 5 days with the Christoffersons and then off to Chicago for 5 days with the Brinkerhoffs. Mmmm! Denver and Chicago in January. I must be nuts. Oh ya, I wanted to see my grandchildren. I've posted some pics of the kids. I was able to see Spencer and Annie both play basketball and they were both awesome. G-man and Logan are the handsomest little guys and so much fun!

Spencer looking so handsome in his glasses!

What a pretty, happy girl you are Annie!

Garett and Logan-could they be any cuter?

Jackson, Natalie, Brady and Reecey all dressed up for Church.

Look at those huge eyes!

HAWAII-JAN & FEB '08

The end of January and first of February Don and I were off to Hawaii. The first week was spent in Maui so Don could attend a dental seminar and then week two we met Jim and Sherri in KoOlina at our timeshare. It was delightful, but not as warm as usual. We still managed to get in alot of work-outs, spa time and pool time and the guys golfed, and golfed and golfed some more. It was so fun and with a cold snap in Calgary and more snow in Utah while we were gone we managed to enjoy ourselves. Sorry, no pics of Hawaii.

CALIFORNIA, HERE I COME

On the way home I went to SoCal for a couple of days to see the Irvine kids and to check on our house (good excuse don't you think). Heather came to visit with Brookie and Josh so I got to see everyone but Tyler. I took a few pictures of the kids, and of course, Gracie. She had grown so much since Christmas and is the smiliest, happiest, chubbiest little baby. She's beautiful!! What else can I say?

She is so darn cute with that smiley little twinkle.

Joshie just loves Gracie!

The happy Nana!!

Amber is such a good BIG SISTER.

SURGERY-FEB '08

After California, it was home to have some plastic surgery. You thought I was kidding, right? Well, maybe those of you who know me didn't think I was. Anyway, ever since my breast cancer six years ago I have wanted "the girls" to be even. I also had alot of scar tissue, so after a consult with a plastic that works with the cancer center, I was finally able to get it done, with a little reduction thrown in foe good measure. Just so you know, the pictures were taken about 10 days post-op so there is still lots of swelling, which is now gone. "The girls" look fabulous and I'm very pleased. It did mean I had to stay home for six weeks, but it was worth it.

"The Girls" are looking good.

A lot swollen under the arms, but definitely an improvement

UTAH, BLESSING AND PALM SPRINGS-MARCH AND APRIL '08

The end of March I was off again to Utah to visit Julie, TJ and the kids. We are so excited to have them back out West. They are renting a home in Lehi, but will take possession of their new home in Highland next week. I've thrown in some pictures of the kids. They are so cute and Reecey knew her Nana and just grinned and grinned. She is so beautiful, with the most incredible blue eyes. Like Grace, she is so happy and just an angel. How fun to have these two little girls so close in age.

Brady gets the best "bedhead"

All dressed up in his "Pirate" scarf.

Gongy and Reecey!

I met Don at the SLC airport and we flew to SoCal to attend Gracie's baby blessing. Marilee and Annie came in for the weekend, as well, and stayed with us. It was so much fun. Annie was able to meet up with her friend Sloan, who had just moved from Denver to California. The girl's loved shopping together and Marilee and Veronica (Sloan's mom) had a great visit as well. From there we were off to Palm Springs with Jim and Sherri for a week of fun in the sun (again).

Marilee and Annie on their "girls weekend"

How fun to have Annie-girl come for the weekend

I love having daughters!

Annie and Sloan in their matching outfits from Justice.

What a cute family and there are so many of them.

Blessing Day!
What a beauty!!!

She looks just like Marin. It's unbelievable!

Uncle Kevin and the kids put on a "Play" after the blessing

FRESNO-APRIL '08

I stayed in SoCal after Don went home and made a quick trip to Fresno to see the Emplesteins. I've posted some pics of the kids. We went to Tyler's baseball game and nearly fried in the heat. It was so fun to see him play. Brooklynn is so enthusiastic about life and Josh is just so darn cute. He followed me everywhere (even the bathroom) He is starting to talk a bit more and is certainly two.

Brookie in front of Heather's roses. Both are so beautiful!

Josh just loves baseball-what a clown!

He also enjoys a good popcicle.

Tyler all decked out in his uniform-PLAY BALL!!

UTAH AGAIN-MAY '08

Don came back for a weekend, I stayed a few more days, then home to the snow and cold (in April). This past week Don and I went to Utah again, as he hadn't seen Julie, TJ and kids since their move to Utah. We had a fun time and have I mentioned how excited we are to have them back out West? Oh ya, I think I did.

Well, that's a brief outline of the trips, travels and adventures of the Miller's. Poor Don stays home so much while I travel the world to see our children and grandchildren and I'm so grateful he is so patient and understanding. I think, however, he has had enough alone time, since he has made the decision to retire in 2010. We are planning and preparing for the big event and are so looking forward to this time together. Perhaps another mission is in our future. We'll see!

BAPTISMS, BLESSING, BABY GRACE, FOOTBALL AND CHRISTMAS!WHEW, I'M EXHAUSTED!!!

O.K., so every three or four months for an update is a bit much, but with my schedulte, it seems it takes that long to get a chance to update this blog. I guess what is important is that it actually gets done. So here we go.

DENVER- BAPTISM'S AND BLESSING

The end of October I was able to fly to Denver to spend about ten days with Mar and Ad and kids. While there, Don, Greg and MarJane and the TJ Brinks came and we had a wonderful family weekend baptizing Annie and Jackson and blessing little Reecey. We feel so blessed to have these wonderful grandchildren and we are grateful that they are being raised correctly. I'm including some pics that show this special event.

Here's our beautiful little Annie-girl in her pretty white dress.

And this is our handsome Jackson in a new suit.

Last, but certainly not least is Reecey-Roo. Such a pretty baby girl!!!!

BABY GRACE ARRIVES!

On December 1st, Grace Rylynn arrived and she was such a welcome addition to Ryan and Nicole's family. The children adore her and she is not only beautiful, but such a GOOD baby. She has chubby cheeks and is so very snuggly. The kids love to hold her and they are all so willing to help Nicole. On December 3rd, I flew down to SoCal to spend the entire month. Such a sacrifice!!

Here's our little chubby cheeks!. She's actually so tiny, but just hasthe most kissable cheeks. She is just a few days old in this picture.

And this was taken the day before I left on January 2nd. The cheeks are still chubby, but she looks a bit older.

FRESNO

Don and I were going to spend Christmas with Heather and Steve in Fresno, but Steve's 99 year old grandpa took a turn for the worse after some surgery, so they felt they should go to Idaho to see him just in case he didn't recuperate. (He's doing great now) So, I drove up to Fresno to spend a few days before the Holidays to deliver their gifts and see the kids. On Sunday I brought Josh home after church so Heather and Steve and the kids could go to tithing settlement. Josh was so tired that when I put him in his high chair to eat, this is what happened. He is so adorable and we have become good friends (finally).

GOING!!!

GOING!!!

GONE!!!

BYU WINS ANOTHER CLOSE ONE-YEAH!!!

On Saturday December 22nd, my husband finally arrived (after delayed and nearly cancelled flights), and off Ryan, Justin, Ben, Don and I went to Las Vegas for the Las Vegas Bowl. Adam flew in from Denver with Spencer, Annie and Jackson. My brother Jim and his wife Sherri, with friends Scott and Carla met us there as well. We all arrived a bit late, but at the same time. It was well worth the hassle and freezing cold weather to see the nail-biting ending. Don and I were so impressed with the way the children behave and interact with each other. They love to be together and they LOVE BYU sports. I guess we've done something right. We had a ball!!

Jackson, Justin and Spencer all happy to be together.

Jackson and Granddad- a bonding moment!

Annie with her Dad snuggling to get warm. This little girl really knows her football- What a fan!!

Ryan and Ben with big smiles. We start them young in the Miller family. Ben's only four, but loved the whole experience and cheered loud and long. The lady in front of him thought he was so cute. She even gave him a hand warmer to help with the cold even though he never complained.

CHRISTMAS EVE AND DAY

We had Ryan, Nicole, kids, Greg and MarJane over for Christmas Eve and had a yummy dinner (if I do say so myself). We opened the traditional Christmas PJ's and then played some games. Christmas morning we got up early to be at Ryan's for the Santa gifts and gift opening. We drug it out as long as possible, ate scotch stew and the swedish round pancakes (can't spell the name) that is traditional for the Christoffersons. Both were just so good.

Cute kids in their Christmas jammies waiting for Santa!

All tucked onto Ryan and Nicole's bed waiting to go down to see if Santa had come. No one was disappointed.

The guys showing off their BYU fleece blankets made by Marilee. The perfect gift for these three BYU avid fans.

As instructed, Don wearing his "Christmas Story" shirt given to him by Julie, to open gifts on Christmas morning.

AFTER CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES

Since Amber and Marin both received gift certificates to the American Girl store, we trecked off for a fun day with all the "girls". They were abit overwhelmed by the choices, but ended up with some fun things for their dolls. We even had lunch in our own private room. A fun time!!

Amber and Marin with their dolls.

Lunch was fun as well, with special high chairs for the dolls.

CALIFORNIA HOME!

Since so many have asked for pictures of our California home, I took some with the Christmas decoarations still up. Maybe you can get a feel for why we like it their so much.

Entry- the front door is behind me

Living Room- looking back towards the front door

Living Room- view from the entry

Dining Room and Staircase- Living room is to the right

Family Room- the kitchen is behind me

As you can see it is a very nice little place and we love it. Well that's the end of this epic entry. I really should do this more often, but it probably won't happen. Thanks for bearing with me.