Birthday Dinner

In our family, the birthday person gets to choose their birthday dinner, so Sunday evening we were off to Cheesecake Factory, one of my favorites. We even got the waitress to take our picture. All the pics of all four of us came out pretty dark, this one was the best.

I loved having my Chicken Picatta and chocolate mouse cheesecake for dessert, even had enough left over for a take home lunch! It sure made turning older a lot more yummy.

Christmas Bag

When I took Peyton Christmas shopping for his mom this year, he was bound and determined that a Santa outfit would be the perfect gift for her. Since they didn't sell the whole costume at Target (oh darn!), he had to settle on giving her the largest Santa hat we could find and have it placed in the largest Christmas gift bag available. Once he gave her this wonderful gift, he found out that this was indeed the coolest gift one could ever give or receive and had more fun playing with the bag, than any other gift he got!

He was so delighted he could fit in the bag. I'm sure it won't be the most sentimental gift he ever gives his mother, but it sure made our Christmas eve, and his fun!

Our own little Santa!

Merry Christmas 2010!

I'm usually one of those down to the wire, last minute shopping on Christmas Eve, wrapping after everyone went to bed so it will all be there Christmas morning, kind of people. BUT, this year it is 1:30, every gift is wrapped and under the tree, the stockings are all full and ready to place out, and I even have time to blog about it. Sara and Peyton will be here after his nap, and Santa has already made an early stop here with all of Peyton's gifts and his stocking! so when they arrive we will have presents, play with toys, and have dinner. Christmas should always have children, it's so much better that way. Tomorrow we will be with all our extended family here in Phoenix and lots more fun and children. Peace, Love and Joy to all of us this Christmas. I'm humbled and awed by the ultimate gift we were given more than 2000 years ago of the perfect baby born in a manger. May your day be Merry and Bright!

Missing My Mom

This is my favorite picture of my mother and her twin sister, my "auntie". Mom died 3 years ago today, here at home, just the way she wanted, with her family around her, surrounded by love. Even though I still miss her, she left such a strong legacy of love for her Savior and her family. The words "Sing Choirs of angels, sing in exhultation, Oh Sing all ye citizens of heaven of above. Glory to God all Glory in the Highest" were playing as she left us. It brings me such joy to think of her singing her heart out in heaven! I was blessed to be loved by this woman, and miss her!

They Say It's Your Birthday!!

Yesterday was Tyler's 27th birthday, hard to believe my "baby" is all grown up. I took this picture two weeks ago when I met he, Tu, and his good friend Derek in San Francisco. When we got to the Golden Gate Bridge it was raining "cats n dogs", so all 3 of them bought the famous $2.99 ponchos to stay dry. They loved the look. Sorry it's a bad picture of Derek, though, for some reason he was looking at his shoes. We had a great time out on the bridge in the pouring rain with the kids in their styling ponchos.

Love you, Tyler, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Ironman Goes Trunk or Treating

"Ironman" and his mom asked us to go the the Town of Queen Creek's annual Trunk or Treat with them last night. It was a perfect night, and there were tons of activities for all the kids. When we first got there, Peyton wanted to be held so he could check it all out. But.....

after getting his first peice of candy,

he realized just how fun it was, and was off and running!

He got to do the bean bag toss, petting zoo, ball toss, and best of all, learn how to rope a cow. This cowboy was a great teacher, and Peyton loved getting the rope around the cow head and then the "fun part" of running and pulling the rope.

After that, he gave pin the tail on the donkey a try. This was a great festival, no matter how well you did, you got prizes or a piece of candy! Unfortunately, the line for the trunks of candy was over an hour long, but there was so much else to do, our little guy never knew he was missing anything.

We followed up all this fun with a trip to Chik-Fil-A and time in the playland. On the way home, our little "Ironman" was completely tuckered out!

Goin' to the Punkin Patch

For the 4th year in a row we took Peyton to the Pumpkin Patch on the "J Curve" (a landmark when you live in Queen Creek, AZ). Being 3 years old now, he was a pro at the pumpkin picking process.

Step One: Run up and down the pumpkin aisles so you have an opportunity to view each and every pumpkin at high speed.
Step Two: Test out the pumpkins. The perfect pumpkin is one you can pick up by yourself, and most importantly, one you can lift all the way over your head without assistance.

Step Three: take it over to the scarecrow and make sure he approves of it as well.

And finally, show it off to your Mom and Grandma, they will appreciate that you have the very best pumpkin ever!

All that's left now if waiting for Trick-or-Treat!

They're Engaged!!!

I've always known how blessed I was to have a son who I not only love, but admire as well, and now he's engaged!! While he and Tu were in Thailand on vacation, he surprised her with a proposal at a beautiful waterfall, and best of all, she said YES! She's a beautiful, smart and charming young woman and she loves my son! These are pictures from their engagement and trip.

Right after the proposal, ahhhhhh.......


The engaged couple at a temple site.

I pray they will be blessed, happy and have an amazing, adventurous future. I love you both!

Wave The Wheat!

If you are a University of Kansas Fan, you'll already know that after each Jayhawk touchdown and at the end of each home game, everyone "waves the wheat". Today was the first win of the season and the first win for our new football coach, Turner Gill! so it seems appropriate to post this picture of the KU cheerleaders in an actual field of wheat. Hope we are waving that wheat a lot this season!! Go Jayhawks!

Today is the first day of Football season for my KU Jayhawks today, let's go Hawks, beat NDSU!!

A Visit To The Family Up North

We just got back from a visit to Minnesota/Wisconsin to visit Bruce's family. We had a great time visiting his two sisters, his brother, and his 93 year old mother. The cooler weather was a great perk of the whole trip. We got some fun family pictures of all 4 of the children with their mother, ate LOTS of great food (all of you who know the Horken's will know what that means), and played lots of competitive games. If there is one thing this family knows it's how to have fun competing with each other.

On our way home from a lunch in the Fargo/Detroit Lakes countryside we stopped to see a 150 year old family church. Unfortunately, as we got back to the cars, a flat tire was spotted. It was a tough way to find out that the new car we were in did not have the right parts to the jack! We did find, though, that in small town America, tow trucks make service calls out to the country, and ended up having an afternoon we hadn't planned on. The weather was 70 degrees, it was breezy, cow were mooing and it gave us all "bonding" time.

Ah, sure, you betcha, we were on our way only 3 hours later, and back to another fine homecooked meal!

He's Three, YeeHaww!!

Peyton is officially 3 years old today! Hard to believe how fast time goes. Since he's so smitten with Toy Story, his birthday weekend revolved around everything "Woody and Buzz"! After seeing the movie on Friday night, he was ready the next day to put out the balloon so everyone would know which house was having the party.


Then a quick photo of the official party shirt....

Activities included a Toy Story bouncy house and a toy story slip and slide, here's the party boy showing his moves...

Party food included pizza, Capri Suns and fruit (to make all the adults feel better)...

followed by everyone's favorite thing, opening the toys!! Appropriately enough, all presents seemed to follow the Toy Story theme (wish I owned stock in Woody and Buzz!).

And then, the big moment the candle and the cake!!

Even though the average age of the attendees was 3, it was one of the best parties I've ever been to! However, I'm not sure who was more tired at the end of the day, the kids or the parents. Happy Birthday, Peyton!

Swimming Season is Here

Bruce and I took Peyton to his swimming lessons again this year. "Miss Kristi" is an ISR certified teacher, helping these little ones learn how to survive in the pool. The difference from last year to this was amazing. He does a great job of swimming, rolling over to his back for his breath and repeating the process.

He is very proud of his accomplishment!

He is getting so big, he thought "Papa's" old hiking hat would fit. Not quite, but he'se getting close.

My Son

Tyler lives in LA, has a career and a life, so we only see him a few times each year. I found this recent picture of him and had to share it. He is the one in the black shirt. He's a strong man with a kind heart. Love you, T!

I love my hutch

This is the hutch Bruce got me for Mother's Day. I may have mentioned in my last post, but I LOVE THIS HUTCH! Since Bruce is a wordworker, it's really hard for him to understand my passion for old pieces where the drawers don't exactly fit and the wood in the center of something has a bow in it. But, he does try to appreciate that those are the very reasons I'm drawn to the piece. That's why he lugged this 7 footer all the way up to the back bedroom. I've just started putting in my quilts. I have 5 more to go to my longarm girl soon, so it will look even better as I get more color in it. Don't you just love how the doors don't quite close evenly and the drawers look a little crooked? (OK, if you don't, join my husband in discussion). But, I love it, and him!!

Mother's Day 2010

We had a great Mother's Day this year. Bruce bought me a cool piece of furniture to store my quilts in. He and my cousin, John, drove to North Phoenix, hauled it back home and lugged the 7 foot tall, incredibly heavy piece up to the second story for me - how luck am I? (I have been informed they are never moving it again, and it will be sold with the house!). I'll post pics once it's all filled up. Can't wait.

Sara and Peyton spent Mother's Day evening with us and we had a yummy meal cooked by Bruce, and lots of fun presents. Peyton (with a little help from his "Papa") picked a little stuffed mouse for his mom that tells her how much he likes her! You have to be a mom to appreciate that a stuffed little mouse from a two year old makes you tear up. It was really sweet. He was so proud of himself. She even got a Woody and Buzz themed Mother's Day card!

And I was the proud recipient of a bracelet with charms proclaiming I am a Mother and Grandmother, I love it!!

Peyton loves his swing on the back porch and can spend hours in it.

His mommy loved her mouse and her "Woody and Buzz" card.

He helped me showoff my new "Grandma" and "Mother" charms...

and we all had a Happy Mother's Day!

Hope you all did, too!

Hard at work

I work with a really fun group of people. The other day we found these headscarves and couldn't help ourselves. From left to right are Lisa M-B, Lisa N, Lonna and me. We all look like wanna-be nuns or housekeepers on a break!

Holy Buckets, Peyton gets baptized!

Today was baptism Sunday at our church. Since Bruce was baptized on a Palm Sunday, and both of our children were baptized on a Palm Sunday, it was great that Peyton could be baptized on that same day. We had him all prepared for the water on the head part. He was ready for it. Unfortunately, we forgot to mention to him that part of the deal is you stand up in front of the whole congregation, wait patiently (REALLY should have explained that part), and then get your turn. After much squirming (that's the part where you twist and move so much your whole tummy is showing to the church), whining, a little yelling (LET ME DOWN!), it was finally his turn. In a truly gracious, amazing act of God he held perfectly still while the pastor poured the water 3 times on his head! A huge sigh of relief was heard from the entire congregation. He did it!! He was baptized!! TADA!! After Pastor Augie's blessing it was off to Sunday school, and a huge sigh from his Mama.


Here is the only picture where he decided to give it a grin.
He looks like an angel doesn't he? Who would guess by the looks of him, what he had been like only 30 minutes earlier.

Fortunately, I have the sports setting on the camera, and I got him looking at the camera for a millisecond. Thanks Pastor Augie, for loving children!

We tried to get a family shot, outside of the church. The good news is Sara, Bruce and I were looking at the camera and smiling.

The blessing in all of this is that Jesus loves the little children and says "let them come unto me", not just when you are happy, rested, and perfect. Peyton, you are a blessing in our lives, a gift from God. I pray that you will grow to be a man after God's own heart.

Aged to Perfection

It's hard to believe, but today is my husband's 60th birthday. You know how when you are 20, someone who is 60 seems ancient? Well, now that we are hitting that stage, I've decided that 60 is a lot younger than it used to be. In fact, if Bruce is any indication, 60 is just hitting your stride. He still hikes the Grand Canyon every year, runs 5 miles several times a week and does many hours of volunteer work a week. Love this picture of him from our trip to Africa. He likes to be outside, and this is just so HIM. He and his pals had planned a hike in the Superstitions today, but got rained out. He didn't want any fuss made (soooo typical), so tonight he is getting treated to a fabulous (hopefully) meal. I'll be fixing him a dinner of Filet Mignon (well, he'll have to do the grilling.....), with fixings, and for desert, his favorite, german chocoloate cake (ok, so I bought the cake at AJ's). Since the theme for the day is "Aged to Perfection" he'll have a special Cabernet Sauvignon with his meal, and an aged cognac with a fine cigar for after the meal. Here's hoping he enjoy it!

Not the best picture, but he's never happier than when he's outside with a backpack on!!

Happy 60th to my darling...

February in the Park

Peyton and I had a great morning. After deciding we thought his shoes were too small, we took a trip to WalMart. Found new shoes (with puppy prints), that fit well and he loves. He spotted this cap that has Buzz Lightyear on it. What Grandma in her right mind would refuse to buy it? And then, of course, the sunglasses were in order, silver, like Buzz would wear. Only two words could describe how he looked, "Smoking Hot"!! Once Davina and Johanna got to the house to clean, we loaded up the baseball and bat, put on the hat and glasses and took a trip to the local park. Only in Arizona is it 72 degrees, sunny and beautiful on February 16 at 10:30 am.



Here's Peyton "driving" on the play equipment.

And, when you look this cool, you want to push your trike, not ride on it!

Handsome Man

I've been bad about taking pictures lately, but spotted this one today on Facebook. My baby boy!! Tyler's friend just took this one of him and posted it, so I had to take liberties and put it on the blog. I never grow tired of seeing my kids! I know I'm biased but what a handsome fella (he must have gorgeous parents...)

Where Did the Time Go

I realized today I haven't posted in 2 and 1/2 months, oh my. Since I am not a jounaller, I think blogging is a much better way of keeping track of life. It has been a busy few months, Christmas celebrated, another birthday (sigh), a new year and new decade (2010!), a daughter turning 29 (for the FIRST time), and best of all a five day visit from my best friend, Sallie. I'll get some photos on in a few days, but this post is my promise to myself to stop and enjoy all that is happening this year!