Milligan Almanac

Swallows returned on 5/21 in 2012. 
Swallows returned on 5/20 in 2013

Ice on the lake in front of our house was gone on 5/27, and on 5/28 the rest of the ice from the upper lake drifted by and melted out. 

Karis wasn't sure what was going on when she looked out the window to see the lake unfrozen-"it's so shiny!"

Jacob & Slivers

I was attempting to pull yet another sliver from Jacob's hand tonight.
He has had many of them this year, and is working on valiant bravery in the face of probing tweezers!

As he had his head turned away from my work on his hand, he queeried in all seriousness,
"Any success yet?" 

Logic

Karis:  Mommy, I don't like my smoothie.
Me:  Sorry, drink it anyway.

3 minute interlude.

Karis:  Jacob, do you want my smoothie?  It's good.
Jacob:  If it's good, why don't you drink it?
Karis:  It's not good.
Jacob:  Then why did you just tell me to drink it because it's good?
Karis:  It's good for YOU, not for me!

Mother's Day, 2013

 I am a very blessed wife and mom, to be sure!  Because Mark thought the birthday celebration for my mom's birthday last weekend was also encompassing Mother's Day, he made grand plans with the kids for Mother's Day at home.  They were so excited to play their part in preparing dinner! 

They spoiled me all day, and after dinner, gift-giving (exactly what I hoped for...a whirly-type popcorn popper!), and a nap, we headed out for a hike. 

                                                                                                                                                               My husband knows me well...there's nothing else I'd rather do than take a hike as a family!

Karis turns 3!!!

She loves this little bear from Nana and Papa!

 This girl...be still my heart.  We are still full of wonder that she's "this old."  She is as full of life as one can be...she's exuberant about most everything!





















Her excitement over her new cowboy boots was unrivaled...she's been saying for days that she "needs cowboy boots, too!"  She couldn't get her socks and new boots on fast enough-and she was too quick to capture well her expression!
































 Her siblings were so generous and loving in their gift-giving.  Anna had sweetly planned for weeks to give her one of her own stuffed pink puppy dogs that she knew Karis loved.  Jacob planned well-ahead to get her something when we were shopping, and decided on a Dora coloring book from him and Andrew.  And Andrew worked so very hard making this beaded necklace for her. 


Happy Birthday, little one.

Homer Trip

 In science this year, we've been studying "Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day."  We just happened to be on the chapter on mollusks when Mark was headed to Homer for work...so we tagged along and went to the beach while he was working! 

It was cold and blustery, but the kids had a blast...and we were rewarded with finding three live whelks, a small live clam, and a moon snail shell among the numerous other empty shells.  
Boring ole' science lessons! ;)