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!