Happy 2nd Birthday Payton!!!

We celebrated Paytons birthday on Saturday the 23rd with family and friends. Payton had a great time playing with her friend Griffen. She also loved opening all of her presents, she got a lot of great toy,clothes and books! Then we had cupcakes - chocolate with funfetti vanilla frosting ( she picked it out) - they were delicious. She loved the frosting and top of the cupcake best. After everyone left she had a good nap then had fun playing with her new toys. We also went out to Outback Steak house to celebrate Grandma Tuckers birthday, Uncle Chris ( my brother) and Payton birthday - yeah for January Birthdays ( we also have a few other birthdays on Kevin's side - Granpa Verver and her other uncle Chris). We are so thankful for all our great friends and family who love us and help us celebrate these special events.

Happy Birthday Payton!! You're now 2!

Yummy - Cupcake!

Goodbye 2009, Hello 2010

2009 was a different kind of year for us it was filled with challenges and milestones. Payton turned one the end of January and was toddling around like a pro. She loves music and can often be heard singing when she wakes up from a nap or when she is playing. She also loves dancing, chasing the cats, cheering daddy as he plays the Wii and helping mommy. She is a sweet girl and we are so blessed to have such a wonderful daughter. She is getting bigger everyday and is less and less my little baby and more a little girl. She love to give hugs and kisses - she even get some unexpected in return. She is working on potty training - some days she is more interested then others -even though she has done it!

Kevin started having pain in his hip and after many doctor visits it was finally decided that he had a labral tear and needed surgery. In October he had arthroscopic hip surgery and the road to recovery is long. He has good days and bad days but seems to be making some progress as he is using his recumbent exercise bike.

As for me, I enjoy being wife and mother and in September started working on my master's in elementary reading and literacy so I can either be a better teacher of reading or be a reading specialist. I will finish in May 2011. So far it has been crazy but I have done well. I started working for a wonderful new family since the family I worked for no longer needed me. They were a great family and Payton and I keep in touch with them.It has been a challenging time taking care of Kevin, Payton , working and going to school.

We were also all part of Kevin's sisters wedding, it was fun and Payton was an adorable flower girl who did her job perfectly at the rehearsal but was to tired to do it at the wedding. It was still a great day and we all had fun.

We made a few visits to Oregon to visit my family and they came to visit many times. She sure does love her uncle Chris - especially when he does silly things like jump!

We feel so blessed for all that we have , all that God has given us. We can't wait to see what He has in store for us this year!

Baking up some fun!

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Payton and I made Sugar cookies about a week and a half ago. I brought the coffee table that she uses for puzzles and coloring over so she could help me cut out the cookies. She helped me roll out the dough and press the cookie cutters in the dough- she even did a few herself. Most of the time she tried to scrape the cookie cutters instead of press and she ended up just sticking blobs of dough on the cookie sheets. The second half I let her put sprinkles on them. She had fun shaking the sprinkles and smooshing them one to one cookie. She did a great job and it was fun to carry on the tradition of baking cookies like I did with my mom.

Yesterday we baked Chocolate pixies one of my favorites. We cleaned off her table again and brought it in the kitchen. I put the cookie dough, cookie sheet and powdered sugar and we were set. I rolled the dough into balls and Payton rolled or shook the dough in the powdered sugar and Grandma Tucker put the cookies in the oven. It was fun baking with Payton and my mom - Payton does a great job helping and even putting the dough on the cookie sheets. She loves to look in the oven to see if the are ready. She had a great time making cookies and even eating a little cookie dough!

Christmas Fun

This Christmas was a lot of fun - Payton had fun opening her presents but everyone elses as well. She is now a pro at opening presents. Our fun began on Christmas Eve morning going to get Top Pot doughnuts. Payton loved looking in the case at all the donuts! Later we got ready for the Christmas Eve Service. It was fun and Payton danced to the music with another girl. Afterward we went up to see the model trains - Payton and grandpa were in heaven. After we got home we changed into some more comfortable, warmer clothes and went to Snowflake Lane. Payton loved the snowman, the drumming - everything! She had a lot of fun - I love seeing Christmas through her eyes -so new and exciting!

Christmas morning we open presents together before Grandma and Grandpa Tucker came over to open more presents. She had fun playing with some of her new toys. Then in the afternoon we all headed over to Grandma and Grandpa Ververs for some yummy ham dinner and more presents. Before we left we went to Candy cane lane and took our annual picture _ Payton loved the lights.



The day after we went to down town Seattle to ride the Wonderland carousel - it was a big hit. Payton squealed with joy and had huge smile the whole ride. She didn’t want to leave her purple horse. Then we walked down to the Fairmont Hotel to see the Teddy Bear suite- it was fun and Payton loved climbing on the big teddy bears. The hotel was beautiful all decorated with lights and Christmas trees. We had a great Christmas and nice visit with Grandma and Grandpa Tucker. We hope everyone had a great Christmas too!

And the gift goes on

The holiday season is here , a time to think of others and to remember the birth of Our Savior. I have been thinking a lot about gifts what to get people, sometimes I feel that the best gift is the gift of giving back. I feel like I have been so blessed even when it feel like things are getting tight, God always provides for us. I always have a hard time thinking of what I really need - yes there are things I want but I don't necessarily need them. There are so many kids who won't get any Christmas presents. There are kids that live in other countries who's parents cannot take care of them and it breaks my heart. So why not give to an organization to help these kids, buy presents for kids that would otherwise not have any. Adopt a family and help them out. Giving back doesn't have to cost money you can volunteer at a shelter or somewhere else. You can sponsor a child or give to Samaratians purse to give Bibles or food.

I want show Payton that it is not just about getting but about giving - Jesus gave us his son - he did not say I will give you my son if you give me this and that. Giving should be what it is about , caring for other, loving those who need it and bring joy to their lives. So this holiday season think about a way to give to those who need it most and show them there is someone who cares.

Pumpkin Farm and a visit from Grandma and Grandpa Tucker

The beginning of October brought a visit from Grandma and Grandpa Tucker. Payton had fun playing blocks, showing off her pumpkin and taking walks. The pumpkin farm was fun since we grew a pumpkin here and Payton was excited to see other pumpkins.We walked through the fields of pumpkins - Grandpa helped Payton not to trip on the vines. We finally picked a few pumpkins and paid from them. Then Grandpa put them in the car before we walked around the farm and went to the petting zoo. Payton loved all the animals - ducks, rabbits,kittens, cows, sheep,pigs and more. Later we went for a nice little walk around our neighborhood and we took pictures out front with our pumpkins.Payton enjoyed her time with Grandma and Grandpa Tucker ,She can't wait to see them again.

Fall

I love fall and the beautiful leaves that change. It is fun to see Payton love to walk through the fallen leaves and crunch them or to see her pick up leaves , like they are her treasure. It is a time for change when we spend more time inside and less time outside. The long pants, sweaters and boots come out and the tank tops,shorts and sandals go away until the spring.For us this fall meant Kevin having arthroscopic hip surgery, his 30th birthday, me starting my masters and the first Halloween Payton could go out.We also cut Paytons pumpkin off the vine - it is finally orange. I have included some pictures of what we have been doing this fall.