CHRISTmas 2011

It was a very Merry Christmas!

We spent Christmas this year with Max's family. We had a wonderful time. The last time we were together for Christmas was in Connecticut 12 years ago! Too long.

                                                                   My candy canes....

 My Shnookums always loving on Charlie.

 I will try and figure out how to post her gift to me. She knows how I love pictures, so she put together a montage of our past Christmas's. It is adorable!

Speaking of gifts, Daddy reading about God's perfect gift to us - Jesus, our Redeemer and Savior.

This is one of the many shaped "bills" Landon gave me for buying goats and chickens from World Vision. He knows feeding the poverty stricken is one of my passions, so this is the forth year he has blessed me, by blessing others. There were as many tears as dollar bills!

I hate posting pictures of me, but I have to show off one of my favorite (store bought) gifts from my hubby. This young man is such a Godly role model for the young (and old alike!) - because of him I've watched a football game for the first time in my life. I cheered like a real fan! I pray God's protection over him because of his blatant love for Christ - he has been, and will continue to be attacked!

Instead of making gifts for each other (which we try to do every year), I decided "a gift of service" would put Christ into Christ-mas. The services include: doing laundry (my gift to the kids), The 12 Months of Cookies (from me to my hubby the cookie monster), Max gave me one to do the grocery shopping, and three - 20 minute foot massages (woo-hoo!), Payton gave daddy one for making his lunch, Landon's helping Max with a construction project (he does it anyway, so he must of figured he'll turn it into a gift!)...and Payton is going to wash Landon's car for him. The list goes on....

 These were some of our favorite gifts this Christmas and will definitely be utilized! 

Payton's 13!

How did this happen so quickly? I feel like I just gave birth, and now, both my babies are teenagers!

We did have quite the celebration! For Landon's 13th birthday, I came up with the idea of solving a riddle for a city wide scavenger hunt.  I really wanted to make sure they would always remember their 13th birthday. I ended up having so many ideas (and fun!) planning it, it turned into a two day affair.

To say Payton couldn't wait for her 13th birthday, is an understatement! ;) She's been biting at the bit waiting for her two days of fun!!  Payton is all about family, food and fun! It's always so easy to plan for her. All she wants is to be together with her family, be active outside and have lots of sweet treats!  

 Here are a few photos of the big 13 celebration. 

Happy 13th Birthday, my Shnookums! (I will forever remember making this number "13" decoration - it is etched into my kitchen table for life. Oops! Next time, I'll be more careful with the utility knife!)

Morning of day 1 

Day 2:  We rode our bikes to get bagels - one of Payton's favorite things to do. (Oh, how I miss the bike trails in Germany!...riding so close to traffic stresses me, and in return - I stress my family.)  Sorry, all!

 We played a round of miniature golf and then hit the batting cage (no pun intended!).  As you can see, God blessed Payton with a beautiful day! Oh, how I love the winters in Tucson.

 Even though we had just returned from NM for Thanksgiving, and she got her fill of horse riding - she still got her traditional birthday horse ride.

 I made all her favorite appetizers, and we watch Tim Hawkins latest DVD.  The perfect end, to a perfect day. ;)

 This year I didn't "try" and create a theme cake. Instead, she requested a chocolate-chip pound cake with homemade hot fudge. If it sounds like a billion calories....it's because, it is! Keep in mind, her birthday is after Thanksgiving and before Christmas!  Yikes!!!

 I had fun making her special decorations. :)

 Daddy buys her roses every year for her birthday, and I made a montage with words that describe her.

This was one of her favorite gifts. I bought 13 (small!) bags of Hot Cheetos. She literally squealed with delight. 

She also got her ears pieced! (I really didnt think she'd go through with it. Payton doesn't like unnecessary pain.) 

We all presented her with a letter we wrote to her (some of us had a hard time getting though it, right Max?).  It was real special. Especially her brother's letter.  (I will pull it out as a reminder next time they fight!) ;)

  Our sweet Payton, you are a precious gift from God, and we love you sooooo very much!        

       Happy 13th birthday, Shnookums!!!