Merry Almost Christmas

Here are some highlights from the past few weeks.

Violet's ballet class had an open house where parents could watch them do their moves.

This picture is pretty funny because each of the girls are doing different moves.

Ava's class had a party. Here she is playing bingo.

A "Gingerbread" play house.

A snowball fight made with mismatched socks.

They also made ornaments, decorated cupcakes and had snacks.

Visiting Santa was the best this year. We took the girls ice skating at Campus Martius park and inside the Compuware building was Santa! No line, excellent Santa. It was wonderful. We will probably have to go back there every year.

Ava quote, "I can't wait until Santa comes because then we're going to be rich!"

Merry Christmas!

Getting Crafty

Usually we don't get super crafty until January, but it's started. Am I crazy for letting my 17 month old paint? probably. But the giant smock worked like a dream.







We also started making gingerbread cookies. You can fit 3 kids on one small stool!



There is a sound that goes with this that's pretty funny.


Violet is really allergic to raw eggs. So she can't help as much as she would like. She gets these odd itchy bumps. So she just enjoyed watching.

Reflections 2011

Ava won second place in the 2011 Reflections Art contest at school! It was the most entered category. We are so proud of her. From the time she was little she has loved drawing and getting messy. I think that is pretty much how she is.













She was so proud of herself. Just beaming. Seeing your kid so happy is just priceless.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow

It's not the first snow, but it's the first really fluffy flakes that have come down.

A Gift for Scott Norton

As many of you know our dear friend Scott Norton was diagnosed with stage 2 brain cancer. Scott has many friends, family, and acquaintances that would like to offer him words of support, but live across the country and perhaps around the world.

We are organizing the making of a "Fighters' Quilt" to uplift him when he is down, cradle his family when they need strength, and give them something to memorialize this time in his life after he beats this disease! We are all fighting with him.

Who: Anyone who knows Scott or his family

What: Write a message of inspiration to Scott on a 6 in by 6 in piece of fabric

Why: To show support for one of the most amazing people we know

How: Write with a sharpie or other permanent ink on a 6 x 6 piece of fabric.

If you do not have one, simply e-mail me at thepaxtons@gmail.com and I will mail you one with a return envelope.

*Make sure to leave at least a 1/2 inch around the edge of the square blank*

When: All squares need to be in by Jan. 31.

Where: Mail the squares to me, Sarah Paxton, at 520 Parkdale, Rochester, Mi 48307. If you need additional information, or have questions, please e-mail me at thepaxtons@gmail.com

Spread the word! Please share this post in any way you can. We want TONS of squares!!

Day 25

Today I am thankful for hope. We had an excellent talk last Sunday about hope, and it really made me think. Especially about the differences between hope, belief, faith and expectations. There is a lot of deep thinking in exploring the differences between each of those words. Hope just makes my heart feel good. Having hope is what motivates us to do pretty much everything. Hope is why I try my best each day. Although I am far from perfect, I really do try. What an inspired emotion. I am truly thankful for it.

Happy Thanksgiving

Today I have been incredibly blessed to see a lot of my family. My grandma, aunt, uncle, aunt, mom, dad, step-dad, and add another grandma for good measure. In an increasingly connected world, isn't it ironic that while we can call, Skype and text, actually seeing family is becoming a rarity? Maybe this is a realization as my immediate family grows older. But I am blessed with probably too much family close by. Along with a host of living relatives, even my great grandma, grandpa, uncle, and numerous other relatives are buried in the local cemeteries. Yikes! It is so nice to build more memories together.

In the end, all we have is family. Through thick and thin. Hard times and good. I love them. They made me who I am. Even though I think I am different from them, which I am, I look in the mirror and I see my Dad's eye color, my mom's hands, and a multitude of other characteristics that come from them. And I am proud of it. Thanks for sharing this month with me. It is really fun blogging every day! I wish I had more than 5 min. to complete my thoughts. Until tomorrow. Give thanks!

Day 23

I am thankful for a baby who naps. It is so nice. I hope he keeps napping until he goes to school all day. Yesterday he slept for 3 hours (yessss!) And although it doesn't happen often I get that much rest, I love it. And I love him. The girls only napped until they were 2. I recently read a book about scheduling, and it said even if they fight it, still make them nap! As it is, the girls wake up at 7:30 and party until 9. I guess I should put them to work! :)

Day 22

I am incredibly thankful for hmm... let's see. Just for what we have. Every year around Christmas I say, "I wish I had ...." fill in the blank. Sometimes its money, sometimes its a job, sometimes its a baby. Perhaps this is just how I am, always waiting until the next milestone, thinking life is going to be so much better than how it is now. But honestly, life is great. I have healthy kids, a fabulous husband, and just enough money to pay for what we need.

Day 21

I am thankful for Thanksgiving! I went grocery shopping and it was so fun to see people actually talking to each other, all buying turkeys, desserts, etc. Us Michiganders aren't the most friendly of people at first glance. The store shelves were even bare in places! Can you imagine if people made dinners like this each day how different the world would be? Maybe a little friendlier, a little fatter, and a little more goodwill (due to all the leftovers being shared with neighbors :) It was also odd to see husbands at the store pushing their kids around, their wives giving directions, and them looking a little overwhelmed.

Day 20

Today I am thankful for our backyard. We had a little bonfire and had family home evening. It was chilly, but so nice. I love our little family :)

Days 16-19

It's scary how fast this month is flying by. That must be indicative that Santas workshop has many orders!

- Day16 I am thankful for my dad. He is great, and there is always something special about daddies and daughters. We don't get to see each other very often, but I know that he is always there for me. Love you!

- Day 17 I am thankful Tyler can take our girls to work with him. Ava asked him a month or so ago if he was the principal of his work. So funny. The answer is yes, and that feels good. He just moved into his new office and it is seriously awesome.

- Day 18 I am thankful for date night. I am totally burnt out by the end of the week and it is so nice to have something to look forward to. It was even nicer this week because Grandpa and Grandma took all 3 kids for the night. I actually got some sleep it was so nice.

- Day 19 I am thankful I won at Settlers of Catan. Horrible numbers but good luck! I never win, and this is major in my book.

Day 15

I am thankful I can stay home with our kids, especially when they are not feeling well.

Day 14

I am thankful we live in a place where our children are learning from a young age what it means to be different. Some lessons are hard, but by making small choices now, the big choices will be easy when it counts. Today was a hard, but I'm proud of Ava for making a good choice. She has set a good precedent for her brother and sister.

Day 13

I am thankful for my sunbeams. These are the 4 year olds i teach at church. There are 8 of them, each one incredibly different from the next. Chattiness, speech delays, wiggles, inactive, shoes on, off, lost or under the table. Lost, found, always hungry, looking up down or who knows where. As soon as they start to get it together off they go to the next class. I love you kiddies!

Day12

Today I am thankful for mothers. My mom, and all the other wonderful mothers who have touched my life in different ways. Here are some of the things I have learned:
- unconditional love even during the most trying of times
- teenagers don't care what your house looks like, they only care if they are welcome
- mothers work hard and run the whole show
- it never too late to learn and change
- you can never have too much food in the house
- be sensitive to promptings and act

Day 11

As it is Veterans Day, I am thankful for all those who have served to protect the freedoms we enjoy. I often get asked what ethnicity I am. To which I reply, "American." My family has been here a long time, and has served in the Revolutionary War, Civil War, WW1, and WW2. I am thankful also for the sacrifices of their wives. Living with someone who has been traumatized and exposed to the worst of what humanity can do is an adjustment to say the least. The stories my grandmas tell of the night terrors, photos of concentration camps, burying weapons in the back yard sound like a movie, but it was their reality. My step-great grandpa survived mustard gas in WW1, and had episodes from it for the rest of his life. We are fighters in this family, and I am proud of them!

Day 10

I am thankful for prayer. The opportunity to commune with our Father in heaven, and thank him for what he has blessed us with. Also to seek his guidance on whatever we are worried or concerned about. It is a true joy.

Day 11

Today I am thankful for sun in the morning, and the promise of a new day. We are able to look out and soak in the possibilities of a chance to make a differrence and try our best.

Day 8

Today I am thankful I found my phone. It has been lost for a couple days. Not that I wanted to call anyone when I didn't have access to a phone, but if someone needs to contact me I would feel bad that I didn't have it. I looked high and low. Behind things, in pockets, under couches, in drawers, laundry, cars. It was in Ava's backpack.

Day 7

Today I am thankful for each of my children. For the first time in a very long time I put Violet to bed without Ava. Ava was still coming home from work with Tyler. It was so sad to just have one little girl all alone. She was scared (of course), so I had to lay down with her. We only had Ava alone for 16 months before Violet came along. We are so thankful for them. I appreciate their noise and messes a little more each day. Duble trouble can be fun. Sometimes :)

Day 6

Today I am thankful for my mommy. Moms are the best, and I am so happy she is here. Tomorrow we are adventuring down to Detroit to see Tylers work and eat some yummy food.

Day 5

I am grateful for our health. So easily our lives could be so different. The past years through school and even now I feel like we have been protected. I know that this has strengthened my faith. May I always be one who returns and says thank you, when a blessing or gift is realized. To my Heavenly Father I say thank you, to my family I say thank you.

Day 4

I am thankful for the promise of a new day in a few hours. I am also thankful for my best friends, no matter where they are or how often I get to see them.

Day 3

Thankful my mom is coming so I have to really clean my house. Thankful for Avas amazing kindergarten teacher.

Day 2

Today I am thankful for one of the last warm days before it gets cold. Put on a coat of stain on the deck. It's pretty much black, so I'm sorta freaking out, but it will look good once it's dome with the accessories and everything. Change is good, but sorta scary!

Thankful Challenge

I am going to blog every day in November about something I am thankful for. Won't you join me? Today I am thankful for the best of friends, an old car that is still working, and brothers in law that can help with projects around the house. And, of course, a sunny and rather mild start to November!

Pioneer Family

We have been reading the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, and have been LOVING them!

Ava and Violet at Ava's school party:

Carving Pumpkins

We bought a giant pumpkin. It was really pretty easy to move with the aid of a sheet and another person. The seeds from it were huge, and it wasn't that bad to carve at all.

A Weekend Up North

Went Up North last weekend. It's nice to have friends with connections!!

Violet, Bella and Ava


Riding KC the pony






Four Wheeling


Chillin' in a Sweet Pad

Charlevoix


A Chilly Michigan Morning

For more pictures, just click on any picture and it will take you to our album. There are many!