what do you think?

We spent a long time this weekend redecorating our house. I told Scott I wanted it to look like model home and my goal was by Christmas...actually I told him this before we moved here. So here it is...almost November...and we got the idea to paint. This idea turned into Friday night, all day Saturday and a few more hours today with two to three of us working. But it is so awesome. What do you think? We are debating between two curtains...then we need to buy them in the correct length. And of course...we need more finishing help. You'll be happy to know that Scott mounted the mirror so he doesn't have to stand there all the time. What do we put in the big vase? And what do we do with the giant unfinished E?

Photos of Paytons' birthday

The celebrating went on from last Friday, when she got her first gift from my grandma Davis, whom she shares a birthday with (she knitted a complete outfit for a baby doll), to Saturday when we went to Build a Bear (minus Luke who was at my house throwing up from an ear infection) to her afternoon birthday party/gifts from us, Jill and Nana, to Monday after her bath when she got a UPS gift package from Aunt Amy and Grandma. Thanks for all of the gifts...she loves them all!

Happy Birthday Payton!

Today Payton turned 3...hard to believe that she is officially a preschool aged child and not a baby anymore. Words can't express how we all feel about her. Everyone that knows her is blessed...she is just special. She is unique, exuberant and just a joy to be around. She keeps us all on our toes. Here are a few examples:
1. We went to build a bear for her birthday. She didn't want a bear...she wanted a longhorn, and she wanted to dress her in a batman costume...unfortunately longhorns can't wear batman's hood so she settled for a cheerleading costume and named her "Orange."

2. She got a mermaid barbie for her birthday...and a batman barbie...and loves them both equally.

3. I asked her what she wanted for her birthday dinner...she's three...she wanted steak, mashed potatoes and green beans...can we say daddy's girl?

4. She got to pick out cupcakes for school...she wanted cupcakes with spiders.

5. She said this on the way to school today" Mommy....do you know camel guy?" (she meant to say the goatman, an old Mexican legend) "Camel guy sucks out your blood and eats you like steak."

6. She also sings God Bless America almost daily...mostly in lieu of a traditional dinner time prayer...she learned this at school..

7. She retells the story of Moses.... except in her version, Moses is a girl who was chased away by bad guys and rescued by a princess.

So hopefully this helps you all understand our love for this precious little miracle...we are blessed to have her. Enjoy the photos!!!

Tourists...Our big day out.

Last Sunday we had a big day out in the city. Since we have moved here, we have been busy settling in. Thanks to Pippi (Jill's class project) we decided to take the kids to the stockyards to explore their new town. We had lunch at Risky's barbecue. We also walked around and checked out the longhorn, the Indian with his painted horse, and a crazy balloon clown who made longhorn balloon hats. After lunch we wandered into some tacky souvenir shops and then Marcus rode the mechanical bull.

After that we drove downtown and ran into the watergardens. The kids, and Pippi of course, took a walk all the way down to the bottom.

Here are some photos...don't worry, JIll, we won't send your students all of the Pippi photos...she got a little wild and crazy in the stockyards and we had to cut her off!

Who needs a Pool?

We thought we'd really miss our pool when we moved, but discovered this wonderful mud puddle instead...who needs a pool? This is much cheaper than installing a pool and rain gutters...and it's cool, fun, and lessens your chances of drowning!