Ashley's 13th birthday party!!

We had a wonderful time celebrating Ashley's birthday this year.  We wanted to do something extra special, since 13 is a big deal!!  So we decided to have a murder mystery luau themed party.  All of the characters (guests) had to come dressed up as their character.  They had to converse with each other and find out whodunit!  It was SO much fun, everyone had a blast, and best of all, Ashley had a very memorable birthday!!  Happy birthday sweetheart :-)

Looks like an ordinary book, doesn't it . . .

but it's actually a cell phone in disguise!! Happy birthday :-)

This cake was perfect for the party!

Marissa helping me decorate.

Appetizers

Can't have a luau party without chocolate seashells :-)

You can't really tell but the small buckets have goldfish crackers in them.

My adorable nephew!!

He looks innocent, but HE is the murderer!!

Ironically enough, SHE was also a muderer. That is how she made all her money. . .

Our police officer that arrested the murderer.

Nathan-waiter, my dad-an under cover federal agent, posing as a donut artist. Also, Phil in the background-the smug con artist pretending to be a deep sea fisherman (that likes to talk like a pirate)!

Looks nice doesn't he, but it was just an act!

Lots of people having lots of fun :-)

Gotta have food!!

Pretty girls having fun :-)

The con artist got it in the end! Notice his "victim" sign LOL! (Also the coconut that hit him on the head and killed him)

CJ AKA Robbie Pattenson AKA Harry Spotter confessing to the murder. We also have a marine biologist, lifeguard , photographer, mean/rude hula dancer and a hula dancer that has narcolepsy :-)

Thank you to all my sisters for her gift!!

Remember the "book" earlier in the pictures hehehehe. . . she was so sweet thanking me so nicely for this old used book!!

Surprise!! She was soooo much happier to get the phone!! What a great trick :-)

Marissa (7) made this sign for the bathroom door LOL!! I love it

Disney Vacation 2012

We had a wonderful time on our family vacation this year.  We stayed at the Pop Century Resort at Walt Disney World, and we went to all the Disney parks for 5 days.  It was amazing!!  It was also, of course, the coldest weekend of the whole year, temps getting down to 38 degrees :-(  But regardless, we had a wonderful time, ate delicious food, and got to ride on everything we wanted.  We had a wonderful time together and the kids had their own money to buy whatever they wanted.  Which was great because they didn't beg us for anything!!  Here are a bunch of pictures (photo bomb warning!!), and we are already planning our vacation for next year!!

 

February

Next month is Ashley's 13th birthday, and we wanted to do something really fun and memorable for her.  So we are going to have a murder mystery party!  I am so excited, and praying that it turns out well and everyone has a good time and that it will be something they all remember :-)  I finally got another camera too, so hopefully this one will work much better than the one I got (and returned) at Thanksgiving.  We are also going on our family vacation in 2 1/2 weeks, so that is really exciting.  Then when we come home, I get to see my brand new niece :-) and Rebecca, and then Rachel and her family are coming here from S. Korea!!  I am so excited to see all of my family.  I have never met their baby boy, he will be 1 right before they come here.  So I get to be surrounded by sweet little babies I can cuddle, and then send home :-)  It'll be great!!  Now I'm off to plan how to turn my house into a Hawaiian Luau setting in under a month . . .

31 and still learning

I haven't been blogging lately, I'm sorry to those that still read this :-(

I have learned a lot this year.  yes, I know it just started!  I have been learning contentment, self-sacrifice, the importance of family, and God's faithfulness and love-even when I feel so unworthy.   So much has happened in such a short time, and I just feel so. . . free.  My eyes have been opened so much to things I have never experienced before in my life, and I just realize what things are important (God, family/friends, my testimony) and what is not important (everything else!!)  I have been shown what my life could be like (bitter, hateful, never content) and I never want to be like that.  I want to cherish my family, let Christ shine through my actions, and to be loving and kind no matter how anyone treats me.  I have seen that God really does take care of His children, that we will always have food, shelter and clothing.  Even if it is not what we want, or what we expected, He will provide for us.  He truly does love us and wants us to serve Him, and share the message of salvation with others.  I am truly blessed this year already!!  I know what kind of person I want to be, and I will try to never become the person I am capable of becoming if I let sin rule my life.  When I die, I want people to say "wow, there is someone that truly loved the Lord and was faithful to Him no matter the circumstances."   It seems like a tall order, but all I have to worry about is serving God now.  The rest will fall into place.

2012. . . please be kind

Well, I can't say 2011 was the best year of my life.  There were a few good things that happened, but a lot of bad.  I am praying 2012 is much better.  We have a lot of hopefuls happening this year.  I pray that our house will close soon, that Nate will get on FT at the airport, that I can survive the teen years without my hair turning grey.  Oh, lets face it.  If it ever did turn grey, noone would know, because I would just dye it :-)

Seriously, I can't believe I only have one more month until I join the ranks of "parents of teenagers".  I am SO excited for Ashley to turn 13.  I love my kids so much, and the older they get, the closer I feel to them.  They are finally old enough to stay up without being crabby the next day.  They can play "grown up" board games, and watch "grown up" (but clean) movies.  They are able to communicate so much better, and share their feelings more.  I don't know why people cringe when they hear the word TEENAGER.  I am so excited to see what God has planned for Ashley in the next few years. 

I also hope and pray that we can get a house this year.  It seems like a simple request, however, with how slow the bank is moving, I feel like our house will never close.  That alone has been a nightmare of 2011, which I thought would have scarred me from ever wanting to own a home again.  However, the fact that I can paint and change out fixtures makes owning a home appealing to me again.  So we'll see what happens.  I may chicken out and rent for awhile more, but only God knows what is in store.

We have a fantastic family vacation planned for next month as well.  A well deserved vacation, since my hubby works 55 hrs a week 7 days a week.  It will be nice for him to not have to work for a whole week.  I am sure he is thrilled and can't wait for Feb :-) 

I don't know what 2012 will bring, but I know God won't give me too much to bear.  Even if it turns out to be worse than 2011, I know that God has a plan and His will is better than my own. 

Christmas

Well, I am REALLY disappointed.  My  new camera is a joke, and almost ALL of the pictures came out blurry :-(  The worst part is, I probably threw away the box, so I can't return it!!  <Sigh>  Anyway, I was able to get a few pictures, but I wish I was able to show more clear ones.  I didn't have a good one of the cake for Jesus, and I didn't get any of our time with our family, but here are a few of the kids with their presents.  They had to wait until 10 AM to open them (when Nate got home) so they were VERY excited!!  We had a great time celebrating Christ's birth!!  I hope you all had a very Merry CHRISTmas!!!

Ashley with her Star Wars Kit

Dylan with his sword from Korea

Marissa with the fan Ashley got her

Penny turned 8 months old today

Here's the tree my parents let us borrow since our stuff is in NC

Scotty

For those that knew my cousin, here is his obituary.  I still can't believe he's gone.  He had so much life to live.  We don't know why God allows things, but we trust in the fact that He knows what is best.  We miss you and love you Scott!!  http://www.thelabsfh.com/obituaries/detail.aspx?obituaryid=20