October, Really?

How is it possible that it is already October?  Wow!  The month of September was a blur for us, so I get it...but fall already? Impossible.

We started off our crazy September at a soccer tournament in San Diego over Labor Day weekend.  Unfortunately, Landon could not go with us.  :(

Payton is so happy with TSA (Tucson Soccer Academy).  She played with them when we first moved here five years ago and is glad to be back.  TSA is MUCH more competitive.  And like everything in life, there is good and bad that comes along with playing for the top club in Tucson.  She's thrilled. But as her mom, homeschool teacher and debate coach.... :) I have to try and keep her balanced since there is...much more travel, more commitment, more expenses, more stress, etc., etc., etc.

Soccer girls are aggressive.  I could not be on that field for more than 10 minutes without crying.  :)

We snuck in some beach time....

The following weekend was a three day celebration/reunion for the 305th Rescue Squadron.
We got to see friends that we hadn't seen in over 15 years!  Some of them were our very first married friends when we moved here over 24 years ago.  It was such a blessing! (And still working on getting some picture of the weekend!)

 Max had his yearly Family Day at the 943rd Group the same weekend.  It is his last before he retires in January, so he left with a bang. #Bestfamilydayever :)
It was fun for all!
Here I am on my very last military helicopter ride.  

We got to fly with the helicopter doors off, so makes for a great view...(yes, I know it is hard to believe the desert is so green.  People aren't aware that it rains all summer here - monsoons, baby!) 

Meet Pele!

 This little cutie enter our home and hearts.  I did NOT want another dog, but my really bad husband "surprised" us and brought him home.  The rest is history.  No not him, we are still married. (I do remind him that a lot of wives would have hurt him.)  

Payton is so in love.  Pele is her dog.  She named him (hence the soccer name).  She spends way too much time loving on him.  She does 80% of the work.  She now knows how hard a puppy is.  She gets angry at him.  She complains as she cleans up his messes.  She hugs and kisses him all day.
  And the routine continues! :) 

 They are taking a break from her trying to teach him to play soccer.  

This is what I see on a regular basis.  That is why I couldn't send him back. I didn't have the heart. 

Charlie does NOT like him, but Charlie is my bud, so I give him the same attention and protect him for this adorable nuisance. :)

 The following weekend, Tony, came from LV to spend the weekend with us.  It's always good to see  him.  We had a fun weekend of games: Payton had a soccer game.  We went to the UA football game. Played a volleyball game....and of course, there is always board games at the Maxwells. 

Last pool day of the season.

He is pretty good with the selfies. :)

 And the last weekend of September was my nephew's wedding.  

We all love our Josh!  He was my ring barrier for my wedding.  I purposely chose not to have a flower girl because I wanted Josh to have all the attention.  :)  He is as wonderful as he is handsome.  And his new bride, Chelsi, is also as beautiful inside as she is outside.  And that says a lot...as you can see! :)  

We wish God's perfect blessing on this very special couple!  

Here's the proud dad and I. Mike is my oldest brother.  

September was a blessed blur....now onto beautiful Oct.  Fall.  My very favorite season. :)

Happy 4th of July!

We spent the 4th of July in NM.  It had been many years that we'd gone for the 4th.  It's one holiday we usually stay home.  Believe it or not, I like being in Tucson in July. Yes, I know I need my head examined, but afternoon monsoons are delightful, and our pool is finally warm enough to use (for me, anyway!).  

 We had a wonderful time as usual.  Honestly, I can't believe how blessed I am to love mine and Max's family so much.  We have such a great time together. 

They are truly my favorite people! 

I set up a photo both and my parents were sweet enough to play along. :)

 The three generations of gals! 

 My loves.  (I had to pull the mom card on Landon, but it worked.)

The youngest grandkids

I love taking my dad's picture.  Most people run when you pull out a camera, but not my dad...he stops to pose! :)  It's hard to believe he had a quadruple bypass in March.  He looks and feels great.
 I am so grateful to my Lord for answering our prayers! 

 Landon experimenting with his Polaroid.

He's gotten some very cool pics!...I can't believe they still make film for it.

 My pretty cowgirl 

(Posing picture, no helmet) 

  Rusty = anxious to get home.  Payton =  having a blast.  Me = a little nervous.  

 (Trotting picture, with helmet!) 

First thing Rusty does after a ride.  I know he is saying, ah....that feels good!  Love it.  :)

Home With The Lord

My father-in-law passed away on June 9, 2015.  He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in February, and choose to do the Whipple surgery to try and eradicate it. He never recovered. We know he would have had more time on earth if he hadn't gone that route....but he was a fighting man and wanted to give it everything he had! And he fought hard. Heartbreaking.
The battle did beat him, but he is with the Lord....so, ultimately, he won the war!!

I have always said that I have the best in-laws ever! We always got along, they never stuck their nose in our business (leaving Catholicism is not very popular, but they never said anything....even with Max's uncle a priest! They also accepted our choice to homeschool...another unpopular move we made.)
Les was extremely generous and kind to me, and I'm really going to miss him! 

During the eight years we lived in Germany and Florida, we didn't get to see them often, but I am very grateful for the the five years we have been back in the southwest and got to spend a lot of time with my father-in-law. He had a great sense of humor and was "always" willing to help anyone. It is a sad time, but we are very grateful his suffering was limited to six weeks. He was extremely healthy for 81 years. (He rode a stationary bike everyday for 10 miles up until a few weeks before his surgery!) 

 Here is one of the last pictures Max took with his dad.

And now his dad's in uniform.  He served 20 years in the Army (two years in Vietnam!) and climbed to the highest enlisted rank, Sergeant Major.

He had Psalm 23 memorized, and said it several times while I was with him in the hospital after his surgery.

For you, grandpa, one last time....

 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Happy 20th Birthday!

It is hard to believe my son has left the teen years behind!
The teen years can be difficult. But they weren't with Landon. He wasn't perfect, but he was a joy to raise.

Now as a young adult, he and I can bump heads. Which is very foreign to me because we have always gotten along. But while homeschooling him, I trained him in critical thinking, logic, debate....and now he uses all those traits.  :)

We started off the day with Payton and I taking him to breakfast.  Max was flying back from Fl., so we continued the celebrate when he arrived at 2:00.

 He only drinks cold coffee.  (Or as I call it, "a sugar and cream drink.")  

My mom shipped him a carrot cake. You are officially an adult when you receive a cake 

in the mail. :) Very sweet.

Love this boy  young man! 

I am blessed.

 You will never escape a celebration, etc. without Landon having fun/joking. 

So Max and I weren't quick enough to get our kisses in.  When the kids were little, we would say, "Let's make a Landon/Payton sandwich." And kiss their cheeks to sandwich them in.  Those days are gone. Only because they say so!  Max and I live in denial that our kids have grown up. Maybe one day we will?!?  :)

We are SO very proud of you, son, and love you forever!!

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. 

I Cor. 16:13

End of My Sophomore (s) School Year

School year 2013-2014 is over. (Actually, Payton does math year round...and this year she will also do geography. Shhhh...she doesn't know that yet.) :)
It dawned on me a few months ago that I have two sophomores! Yikes, that will be two graduation in one week.

It was a good year for them both. Their grades were awesome and their experiences the same. God willing they both grew in their faith and character. 

Here are a few hi-lights of the school year:

 A successful year of speech and debate.  We started a new club on the east side of Tucson; Kairos. We also hosted a tournament in Oct. It was lots of work, but very successful. So well worth it.

Payton and her partner, Matthew, had a very successful year. They qualified for Nationals, but since they were held in SC, we didn't go.  We've had too much going on to travel across the country for six rounds of debate. 

Landon was one of their debate coaches. It was fun to see him on the other side of debate. I was very proud of how he handled the job. He is professional, yet the kids liked him because he made them laugh. He used his knowledge in debate and logical thinking to give some helpful advice.

Payton launching a rocket during a Physics co-op.

Landon's science class this year was the "Science of Cooking," so here he is with his lab partner, Shannon, as they use my kitchen for one of many labs. We got to consume the projects, and I have to say, they are good cooks.
(Yes, I stuck my two cents in a few times. They are colleges students with not a lot of experience in cooking.) :)

Can't have education without life skills. They have become quite good at laying hard wood floors.

Landon was a cashier at Target for over a year. (Max had better pictures, but lost them when he had to reset his phone.) :(
He recently had a job change, so he is much happier not working weekends. And for more money.

He also taught a guitar class, but unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of him with his students. It's not easy to get pictures anymore of my son's life. Sad.

This, led to.....

.....this!  No words needed here. :)

 High School soccer

Payton had a very successful soccer season. This picture was featured on Azprep because of a hat trick (three goals) during the state championship.
She also had a few write-ups and pictures. What fun.

The whole season was such a huge blessing from God!

We lined the streets to wish them luck for their last home State Championship game.
Payton had a great game on this afternoon.
Payton's best friend, Shelby, is holding the sign with me. Her other friends met us at the game. Along with neighbors.
Again, she was blessed!

We ended the school year with tickets to see Tim Hawkins. Oh, my....he is too funny.  I laughed till I cried.
The kids met up with some friends from church.

My prayer for my children every year....

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,      Colossians 3:23

My Birthday

I am NOT the person who dreads or despises birthdays...quite the contrary - I wake up each birthday and thank the Lord for another year. Yes, age changes things...some things for the worse, but some for the better. 

Unfortunately, I know too many adults who didn't get to see 51, so I am very grateful I got to. 

 Payton had a game that night, so we went out to lunch instead of dinner. Max met us at Peiwei. 

Oh, soooo yummy! 

My thoughtful daughter decorated so cute. They spoiled me with gifts, love and my mom mailed her traditional German Chocolate cake. So sweet. (Pun intended.)  :)

Well, my birthday was in January and we are already mid May. I will catch up blogging. One day.  :)

Super Bowl Party 2015

Well, if you can't (won't) pay for Super Bowl tickets when the game is so close to home...the next best thing is to have a party. 

Nacho Bar

Some of the appetizers

 Treats - it's hard to read the signs, but they said, "Timeout treats, Super Bowl rings, and Coin toss." :)

Football brownie bites ( This was only a fraction of the desserts...oh, so many sweets and so few picutres!)

 Friends (I guess I hung out at the dessert table too long and forgot to get pictures of everyone. Oops!) 

The kids in the game room streaming the game, but they eventually made their way into the family room for the commercials. One of the best aspects of the game.

It was a good time with great food, great friends & a great game!