Hi Milo!

First things first. You will be shocked. Not shocked if you know me, but shocked if you know Tyler. But we got a dog!! His name is Milo. His family was moving to Japan for several years, and they were looking for a good home for him. He's 1.5 yrs old, a miniature schnauzer, and is already house trained and came with everything too. He also is supposedly hypoallergenic. It's weird because he's not a puppy, but it's a good thing. Although puppies are cute, they're a lot of work. Milo just hangs out with all our craziness all day. Here he is on our couch with Jayne, his former owner when she dropped him off last night. :) There are more pics soon. I can see I'll have to photoshop those eyes every time. It still doesn't seem real..


This was the day we got Milo. He didn't arrive until night time, so the girls as usual, stripped naked, got the markers out and were screaming in a box. I think they made up some sort of game. Sometimes I feel like I live in the garden of Eden.

Smile like a princess!

Another one I liked in our stairway. You can tell how narrow it is :)
Showing off

Our beautiful girl. When did she get so big? (sniffle sniffle)

"lips"

Thanks Am for taking them!

Christmas Photos

More coming, but I couldn't resist. Oh, and if you're getting a cmas card, this is the picture you're getting. I spoiled the surprise, I know.

The Family: A Proclomation to the World

In 1995 our church issued a statement that was a declaration, and reaffirmation, of the doctrines and principles that are vital to the happiness and well-being of every family. As members, we are encouraged to study it and live by its precepts.

With all the Prop 8 stuff going on and a lot of personal things that are going on, I thought I should post it. It is VERY helpful for me to rely on this as a standard for what I believe and how I will raise my family. I have italicized key points for me. This is not for anyone I know personally, just something I feel very strongly about posting. Please please, consider what it says. There are good families out there who would give anything to have a child in their home. http://www.providentliving.org/ses/birthmother/searchprofiles/0,12268,2133-1,00.html (Click on link to search for families who want to adopt kids :)

This is a religious statement. If you are not religious, or are strictly a "constitutionalist," this probably will hold no bearings on what you believe. I am not posting this to argue or to make anyone upset. I simply want to state what I believe, besides, it's my blog, I can do what I want. :) ha. I do not post this in judgement of anyone, if you know me you know that I am a very tolerant person (probably to a fault). Like I've said before, this is for me personally and our family.

“We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

“All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.

“In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

“The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.

“We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.

“Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. ‘Children are an heritage of the Lord’ (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

“The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

“We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

“We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society” (Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102).

For more information go to www.mormon.org

:)

I don't want a Hippopotamus for Christmas

This is what I really want. Mary's Heart.

Maybe if my freelancing and Shade stuff picks up I'll be able to get it...

There's also one on eBay for $6,000 (buy it now price), signed and numbered. You can also bid on it. You think they'd be offended if I offered $500?

I just think it's so beautiful and inspiring.
:)

Christmas Coupons

I'm finally getting around to completing (and I guess, starting) our Christmas shopping. When money is tight, I suggest googling the store's name with "coupon codes" after it. (example: babiesrus coupon codes) Very rarely will nothing show up. I probably saved $100 this way on various items today! I always do this before I purchase something online.

It's Christmas Time in the City

This Sunday was the annual Rochester Christmas Parade. Thankfully we avoided the entire thing by leaving for Church at 11:55 a.m. and returning at 4:30 p.m. I don't have anything against parades, it's just that typically we don't do anything that would require people to "work" on Sundays. Most all parades are on Sundays. Restaurants, shopping and movies are done on Saturday so we have a day to gear up and relax before the new week starts. Also the location of our house is on one of the closed streets so to get anywhere we have to take a huge detour. If you know me at all you know I would rather do anything than stand outside in the freezing cold.



The City of Rochester also does a great job with the Christmas lights. Every year each building downtown is covered entirely with lights. This also means every night there is a ton of traffic from visitors. It's really a genius idea, and has done wonders for the downtown area in a time when businesses are surely struggling.

Other adventures from the Paxton's:
-Tyler had his U of M interview last week. It went well, but once again, we have no idea of anything until Jan.
-Tyler got an interview with BYU, which is going to be next week via telephone.
-I broke an entire bottle of hot sauce as it rolled out of the fridge and onto the floor. Messy. Who put it in the wrong spot, anyway?
-Ava has been talking a ton. Mostly about princesses and Cinderella (still). We had to discuss the fact that it wasn't going to be Halloween anymore, it's going to be Christmas. And there's no trick or treating, rather, Santa.
-Tyler, Violet and I have all been battling colds
-We ate at Inspired Dining tonight. It was alright, but if you're really into eating organic, it's probably heaven-sent that you have a place to eat out. www.mindbodyspirits.com
-Thankfully there have been no more paint or crayon incidents, although our carpet in the basement now sports a collection of black, blue, yellow and green paint. I think Tyler and I have strategically thrown away or put away all writing and painting supplies.

Whew!!

Two Tags

I got tagged a while ago by someone, but don't remember who. If you tagged me and I didn't do it .. let me know :)

RULES:
1. Post rules on your Blog.
2. Answer the six "8" items.
3. Tag 8 other people.

8 FAVORITE SHOWS: *The Biggest Loser* The Office * Project Runway *American Idol *24* Top Design *Bounty Hunter (I can't think of any more)


8 THINGS I DID YESTERDAY * Laundry *Babysat *Ate frozen pizza *Changed Diapers *Turned the heat up to 70 *Turned the heater on in the basement *Talked to my mom on the phone *Made the bed


8 THINGS I LOOK FORWARD TO *Having another baby *Tyler getting into school *Violet being potty trained *Sleeping *Moving out of Michigan *Getting more organized *Ava going to preschool *Christmas morning


8 FAVORITE RESTAURANTS *George's Coney Island *CPK *Kruse & Muir *Inspired Dining (an organic place) *Take Sushi *Macaroni Grill *Bravo *Mr. B's (for their pizza)


8 THINGS ON MY WISH LIST (I haven't started my cmas list, so this will be a stretch .. so I'll just put my dream list) *Twin white pottery barn beds for the girls *An ikea closet *A new bedroom set for us *Some nice sweaters *Dark jeans *Nonfiction books *A trip to Paris (yes, I want to go back!) *An iPod docking station for the kitchen

1- What is your favorite Christmas song? Anything Celine Dion
2- When was your most memorable Christmas? It's a toss up between last year - when we were in PA for our first cmas with two - and the year before when we were in UT with Ava and expecting Violet

3- What is your favorite Christmas treat? Pie
4- What do you dislike most about the Christmas season? Impending January

5- What do you like best about the Christmas season? Church

6- Who is the hardest person to shop for on your Christmas list? My dad.
7- If you could receive one gift without money being an issue, what would it be? I think I covered this prior, but maybe a nice vacation
8- What is your idea of a perfect Christmas Eve. Snow, food, good friends and family

9- Which do you like best, eggnog, or hot chocolate? Eggnog

10- Do you prefer a fancy Christmas tree, or one decorated by the kids? Fancy

11- What is your favorite family Christmas tradition? We don't really have anything specific yet, but we usually do one family on cmas eve, another family on cmas day, and then catch up after. The girls will wake up with one or two presents unwrapped from santa

12- Do you like fruitcake? I don't like nuts in baked goods, so no
13- Do you prefer skiing or snowboarding? Snowboarding

14- Are you dreaming of a White Christmas, or do you say “Bah Humbug” to snow? White Christmas.

15- What was your favorite gift from Santa when you were a child? American Girl Doll
16- What is your favorite Christmas movie? Home Alone

17- Have you ever eaten snow? Yes.

18- Who do you wish could be with you this Christmas? Tyler's family

19- When do you put up your Christmas lights and decorations? Thanksgiving weekend

20- Real or artificial Christmas tree? Ideally, real, but in reality we have 2 fakes. One for the porch and one for inside.

Tagging anyone and everyone!

The sun was shining

The sun was shining so I thought I would take a couple pictures of the girls playing on the table. Which they're not supposed to do.



I actually straightened Ava's hair. It's always soo all over, and she said she wanted me to after I had mine done. It was a bonding moment.
My sad attempt at trying to get a picture with both them smiling.

:)