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!