Happy 12th Anniversary to my love!

How do I love thee?? Let me count the ways! 12 years ago...I said, "I do". I married my very best friend on a cold, sleet-filled day. I had no idea that I would love my sweet husband even more now than I did then. I proudly became a Milligan. For 12 years, Nick has made me feel loved and appreciated and has treated me with the utmost respect. 9 years ago we built and moved into a beautiful home.  8 1/2 years ago, we welcomed the first of our 3 precious children. 4 years ago, we joined a sweet church family. 3 years ago, we began homeschooling. 2 1/2 years ago, he rallied under extremely stressful job times and ALWAYS took care of us. Nick has worked extra hard so I could stay home with our children... which has always been my heart's desire. He has sacrificed many things so that his family has all their needs taken care of. I am so blessed to be the wife of Nicholas Brad Milligan and I love him soooooooooooo much!! I hope I get to have at least 80 more years as his wife!

Happy Anniversary to my sweet and sexy hunk!!

I love you babe!!!

Our big boy is 6!!

Shaving and brushing teeth! Pretty good multi-tasking for a 5 year old!

Swimming with sharks in 2011

cute little 4 year old: 2010

precious little 3 year old

Asleep at the table (a RARE sight) 2008

2 year old cutie

1 1/2 year old big boy at the park

2007

sweet little baby- October 2006



2006



2012- Almost 6!

Our sweet boy is 6 and we couldn't be more proud of this precious child. Bradley is a very sweet, sensitive, loving, kind, silly little boy! He loves swimming, being silly, saying bowel-related words, playing video games, playing with Star Wars figurines or other super heroes and almost everything else little boys like to do. He's not crazy about being outside if it's hot and buggy-he prefers the a/c! Bradley is very caring and kind to his little brother, even though Trent can be quite a stinker! Sometimes Bradley has to 'gently' remind Trent that he can't aggravate his older brother unless he wants to be injured or tackled in some way. Bradley still really looks up to his sweet older sister and seeks her approval above anyone else's. Right now, he's very interested in Lego Star Wars, so he's having a Lego Star Wars birthday party at Gege and Papa's pool. We are so thankful for this precious child and for the 6 years that he has blessed our lives!

 Happy Birthday Bradley-boo!!! We love you so much!!

Happy Birthday Daddy and Gege!

May was a crazy month in 2012! Between ball season, work trips and all the birthdays that make up May, we kinda had to celebrate 2 very important people's birthdays a little late. Gege turned 58 on the 2nd but we didn't celebrate until later because of Rachel's birthday and other crazy things. Nick turned 34 on the 15th and was in Tulsa, OK for a work trip, so we had to semi-celebrate them both on the weekend before he left. I admit, it wasn't the same having him away on his birthday. We weren't able to do all the special birthDAY things we would have liked. We missed him terribly while he was gone and are thankful that he returned home safe and sound! We ate steaks, salad and potatoes for their combined birthday dinner and then had their dessert of choice. Gege made Nick his favorite: lemon pie (which is one of my faves too!) and Deb requested warm brownies with ice cream. It was a little anti-climatic, but we hope they realize just how much we love and appreciate them both!!
Happy Birthday to my wonderful mother-in-law!

AND, Happy Birthday to my kind-hearted, awesome, extremely handsome, loving husband, Nick! LOVE YOU!!

Celebrating Rachel's 8th...

yummy icing-filled cupcakes from Publix



Happy Birthday to Rachel!!



Rach got  a new sparkly Bible

Ready to go meet daddy for lunch

Rach showing off her new (tiny) DS game that Brad gave her

Rach's new friend: Kate Rose Milligan (but she goes by Lovie)

Ella, Rach and Juj with their new friends

Birthday muffins...but still a little sleepy :)

For the first time in 8 years, we did NOT have a birthday party for Rachel. However, we did celebrate her in many ways and with special things. She woke up on her birthday and got to open her presents from her sweet brothers. She was thrilled with the presents they gave her! Then, we had birthday muffins (chocolate chip for Rach) and got ready to meet daddy at work for a special lunch. For the past year, all Rachel wanted to do for her birthday was go to Build A Bear with Juj and her friend, Ella, from Learning Grove. She also wanted Juj to spend the night. So, just the girls (plus mom and dad; the boys stayed with Gege and Papa) went to Build A Bear to create an awesome new stuffed animal. We all had a really good time! Then, Juj got to spend the night for the first time and the girls had a BLAST! Finally, on the Sunday after Rachel's birthday, her precious grandparents came over to give her presents and Gege made a special-requested pound cake with cherries. Rach got lots of great things and had a great time celebrating even without a party full of friends! We love our sweet girl! Happy 8th Birthday!

Happy 8th Birthday sweet girl!

 4 years

 2 years

                                                                                1 year

7 years

8 years have flown by and our baby girl is growing up! From a sweet, easy going baby to a happy, kind, thoughtful, beautiful little girl. Rachel lights up a room and brings joy to everyone she's around. We are so proud of her and so thankful that God gave her to us! Rachel Jane Milligan is an absolute blessing and we love her sooo much! 

Happy Birthday precious daughter!!

My baby is 3!

sweet, happy, precious baby- 3 months

already mothering her baby brother- Rach- almost 5

hangin' in tha crib- 2 months; almost 3 years

1!

2!

3!!

Our sweet baby boy turned 3 years old yesterday! In some ways it seems like just yesterday that he was born! We sure have enjoyed watching our precious 3rd child grow bigger and smarter and even funnier! Trent is a ball of energy who loves to move and explore and run and jump and climb and drive and be outside all the time! And, he still loves to snuggle and watch tv and drink juice. Trent doesn't seem to be lacking in any confidence right now and loves to strut around like he's the boss of everything. He also thinks Bradley is the coolest boy he knows (and he's right!). He loves to copy what Bradley does and says. He has a very natural athletic ability and can pick up a bat and swing it like he's been playing for years. He still loves being behind the wheel...of whatever he manages to find. And, he's quite a good driver! He's very smart and exceptionally good at following directions, as well as making his point if we can't understand his words. And, his talking has gotten much clearer over the last few months. Looks like he'll follow his siblings and the communication won't be totally clear till about 3 1/2-4 years old. He loves to say: "mimi girls" (meanie girls), if he sees a girl on tv, at the store, etc... He's already shown that his loyalty will lie with the boys when it comes to what's cool and tough. He also likes to say, "I hate..." when we have to do something that he doesn't want to do. Ex: it's time for him to take a nap. He'll say, "I hate naps!" or it's time to wash his hands; "I hate wash my hans". etc... He is definitely a funny, clever, spunky little boy. And, his love for his family is precious and sweet!

We love our adorable little 3 year old, Trenty!

Happy Birthday sweet boy!! We love you!

11 Years!

Our "mature" couple picture from church directory pics.

Actually, Nick and I have been together for 16 years! We dated for 5 and have been married, today, for 11 years! Those years have been filled with lots of happiness, lots of love, lots of new and exciting things and a whole lot of maturing! I love my sweet husband more today then I did when we first got married. We have been blessed so much with a beautiful family, a beautiful home, precious extended family, good health, precious friends, a loving church family, sweet pets and so many fun times!! If our next 11 years are as awesome as our first 11, then we have everything to look forward to.

I love you Nick Milligan, you sweet, handsome man!!

Happy 11th Anniversary!

Thank you for asking me to be your wife...it is truly an honor and a privilege!