This week we celebrated one of my favorite holidays – cinco de mayo.  Here’s a little known fact: Do you know that this is actually not a real holiday in Mexico?  They do not celebrate this day.  However, any excuse to eat mexican food and host a fiesta is a wonderful holiday in my book.  So, Ole!

I am a long time celebrator of small holidays – they are my favorite.  I could do without the big ones (actually now that I have kids, I kinda like those ones too) but sign me up for St. Patricks, Cinco De Mayo, and the 24th of July (which is only celebrated in Utah).

I busted my serious booty hauling my three children to Costco to prepare for the fiesta.  Heaven bless my dear mother who met me there and witnessed the fiasco.  Let me tell you what happens when we go to Costco – We fight over who sits in the “front seat” of the cart, I get my ab work out pushing all three of them to the back of the store, we get 5 or so very cold and very heavy items in our cart, we get to the farthest back corner of Costco… someone has to pee.  Repeat that every single time we’ve ever been there.  Thank goodness my mom was there to cart-sit and keep my other two screaming banshees alive and well while I took the oldest Miller sister to the bathroom. Blah! Moving on…

We got home and we all quickly got to work.  Stella helped me hang the fiesta decor, Harlo took care of the chalkboards and welcome duty for our guests:

Grae tried to climb my legs and screamed the whole time.

Good times!

On the menu was: Grilled Chicken Fajitas, sanpelegrino (obvs!) and virgin margaritas for dessert.  Delicious!

We enjoyed our meal and our fiesta and our mexican dresses.  –While we’re on the subject of Mexican dresses… Let me tell you about the time I bought all my girls a mexican dress for Christmas and I was so thrilled and went to find one in my size to which my loving husband and sister told me I would look ridiculous and “where in the world would I wear that?” So, my head hanging low I walked away from the adult mexican dress.  Then I stewed over that for about 8 weeks and discovered multiple occasions that I wish I had that danged dress in my closet.  So, when we went back to California, I made a special trip to Old Town and you bet your sweet bottom I got it this time.  I am happy to say that my relationship with my mexican housedress is a blissful one.  You might think I only wear her once a year on Cinco de Mayo, but think again, sister!  This lady makes a weekly appearance around these parts.

 Also to my loving surprise: Nie wears one.  If it’s good enough for Nie, it’s good enough for me, that’s what I always say!

 Our famous virgin margaritas:
1 can frozen lemonade (we like minute made best)
1 can frozen limeade
1 can water
ice (until desired consistency)
Toss in a blender, and enjoy!

We will be treating ourselves to this delicious lemony-limey slush all summer long!

 

Mr. Miller had to bail out of our fiesta a little bit early to go on a hike with the young men, which he was rather excited about.  They hiked the Temple Quarry which he helped build as part of his Eagle Scout project.  Pretty cool stuff!  Just before bedtime, he sent us this picture of a little friend he found on the trail:

The girls begged to keep him, but I would rather not have a husband in prison, so we have adored the picture ever since.

It was a great Cinco De Mayo! I hope to raise my family in deep rooted traditions, even in the smallest ways.  I think it will help them have a magical childhood and want to pass these traditions down to their own children.

I love being a mother!