Peyton's Big Surprise

A few of you have been very curious as to what Peyton's big surprise was...

For the past several years Peyton has been wanting to go to the Peel Mansion (a historic home and museum here in town). Since it's located right next to Walmart, we've heard about her wanting to go A LOT! So for Peyton's birthday Jason made reservations for us to go on a Ghost Walk and tour of the Peel Mansion. Here are the girls at the cemetery:
We met up at the cemetery where our "Grieving Widow" took us on a tour and gave us a history lesson on some of the deceased. After that we went over to the Peel Mansion for our tour and dinner. Here is a picture of the girls with our widow:

Widow Sarah at the Peel family plot:

Costume Carnival

Peyton's Costume Carnival was last night. Since we had her birthday surprise and only got to stay for 30 minutes, she didn't get dressed up. This was a little sad for me because it was the only time she hasn't dressed up since she was 2 (we've been going to this since Mackenzie was in Kindergarten) and it's probably the last time she'll go since we'll be at a different school next year. Each class has a booth and Peyton's was the basketball shoot - so here she is with her basketball head jack-o-lantern:
With Ms. Lange:

With Woody and Jessie, I mean Drew and Kendall:

With Emmalee, Morgan and Kendall:

I don't think she was ready to leave but we had to get to get to the surprise by 6pm, I'll post about that next (but unless you are a 30 year old in an 8 year old's body, you may be disappointed).

Coloring Contest

Peyton won her age division in a coloring contest at our bank. We got the call on Friday but it was so crazy that we just picked up her prize yesterday (it included fun Candy Corn Kisses). She was so excited!

Notes & E-Mails

I went to Bunko last night and came home to this sweet note outside of Mackenzie's door as I went in to tuck her in:
Then, I went to check my e-mail and received this sweet one from Peyton:

"I need help! I am writting a book about a parrot that has no color. There is a race and all the parrots in the jungle are in it except one litte parrot named Peyton so she goes to the wise old turtle for help (oh and I forgot to tell that the prize is 1 wish)she knocks on the door and no one ansers so she walk in and sees a coffee table and 2 chairs then thats where I stoped so if you have any idias or if any friends have any ansers please e-mail back (Heart), Peyton"

I love you girls!

Mackenzie's Awards Assembly

Mackenzie's first awards assembly of 6th grade. (The tie is for Red Ribbon Week)

Happy 2nd Birthday, Lexa!

Saturday night the girls and I went to help celebrate their cousin Lexa's 2nd birthday (which is today!).

Today is also Traci's birthday. Traci - don't eat too much cake, you have to save room for your Turtles from Peyton that will be coming soon. Happy birthday!

Peyton's Party

We partied, partied, partied yesterday...I have no energy left to write much so these pictures will have to say a thousand words...

Peyton is 8!

We had a great time today celebrating Peyton's 8th birthday. It was so nice to have her home on a break from school. My heart melted a lot when she said it was a great day because she was spending it with me! Peyton wanted to go to the library (party animal!), then we did a little shopping and had lunch at the Crumpet Tea Room where she had her very first Orange Roll and loved it. After we picked Mackenzie up we did a little more running around and then had dinner... and the birthday girl chose - The Dixie Cafe (?!) where she opened presents and Tara and Cadence joined us. I snapped this picture at the Promenade where we did a little window shopping before coming home and getting some rest before the big party day tomorrow. High School Musical 3, here we come.

Jason is out of town but has a surprise planned for Peyton so I'll post about it afterwards since Peyton reads this.

Halloween Past

Traci wanted me to post this picture and I'm finally getting around to it! This was taken for the Wal-Mart sale paper in 2004(?). Oh, if they were only still that small. I've loved every age but it's just gone by too fast...Mackenzie is now telling me she doesn't want to even trick-or-treat this year!

Beautiful Sunday

Lots of pictures from a beautiful Sunday (I love fall!).
Yesterday started the kick-off of Peyton's birthweek (it seems like we don't just have birthdays around here, our celebrations always seem to fill a whole week). First, we went to Southwest City to go to the corn maze and stopped by Bob & Joyce's (Mom & Ernie's friends) house for lunch, since we had to be back in town by 4 to go out to Jason's parent's house we didn't make it to the corn maze!! I'm going to try to take the girls out next weekend. This picture was coming back from Southwest City, Peyton with her Uncle Matt (my brother) - Who knew a Senior in college and a 2nd grader would have something in common?:
On to dinner at Jason's parent's house. Here are the girls with their cousin, Lexa.
Peyton and Lexa playing with bubbles:

Peyton with Kate (the stray puppy that showed up at our house once upon a time that turned into a big dog and went to live at the farm with Jason's parents).
Mackenzie reading a book to Lexa:
Mackenzie holding Logan for her very first time!
Happy "birthweek" Peyton - It's going to be a great one and I can't believe you are turning 8 years old!

Soccer Showdown

Yesterday was Peyton's last soccer game for the fall (she'll start again in the Spring with the same team) and it was a game we've been waiting for all season. The coach of the dark blue team, Bob, works with Jason - their offices are right next door to each other - so we've been joking that this was going to be the big showdown. Thank goodness it ended in a 3-3 tie! Here is a picture of Peyton with Bob's daughter Emmalee after the game.

Petsitters Extraordinaire

It was petsitting--palooza at the Jobe house this weekend. The Watkins asked if we could keep Ayden while they went to KC and the Freehlings needed us to let Harley out a few times while they were in Springfield. I wanted to keep little Ayden! He was so cute and he and Eddie played great together. It was tough to get a picture of the four of them...this was as good as it gets!

Scooby Dooby Doo, Where Are You?

Tonight was 70s themed costume night at Cotillion. When we were trying to figure out what Mackenzie was going to be, we were thinking of a character from the 70s instead of just normal 70s attire. My first thought was Cher (circa "The Sonny and Cher Show", NOT "If I Could Turn Back Time" crazy outfit on the ship Cher) but Mackenzie didn't have any idea who she was and didn't want to do that. So, after searching for something else that had roots in the 70s we decided to go the Scooby Doo route. Luckily for us, Emily and Mason were on board. I think individually they were a little hesitant to leave the house today but once they got a glimpse of each other and realized they weren't the only one in a crazy wig and cartoon looking clothes they started to relax.

UPDATE! They collectively got 2nd place tonight!

Daphne, Velma and Shaggy:

Parent Observation

Jason and I got to go watch the girls during dance on Monday. Here are a couple of pictures from each of their ballet classes.

Week 3

Tonight is the third week for Mackenzie to go to Junior Cotillion. The next two times she goes it will be a little different - 7os costume themed and then a backwards casual night (so you'll have a break from the girls posing in dresses pictures). Tonight is "Dance around the World", I'll have to update the post later with what dances and manners they learned.

Welcome Baby Logan!

The girls were so excited to go see their new cousin Logan today. Peyton would have held him forever if we let her!
Logan was born at 8:06 this morning, he weighed 7lbs. 13oz. and was 19 and 3/4 " long.
Proud Mommy and Daddy (Jason's brother Lance and his wife Andrea) with their new addition.

Mackenzie's Check Up

Mackenzie had an appointment with Dr. Warren and we didn't have to go to LR!! It was so nice to finally be able to go to the new clinic in Lowell!! Dr. Warren asked how long it took us to get there and we said about 15 minutes. He said he likes to ask the families he sees here that question to see the smiles he gets. Mackenzie had a good check up...we still have to get some more weight on her - our goal is to get to 75 lbs. as soon as possible (so about a 4.5 lb. gain)! Dr. Warren told us about several drugs in the pipeline that are very promising, not a cure but something to stop the progression of the disease. So the plan is to be aggressive with Mackenzie's care to keep her lungs in as good of shape as we can until one of these new drugs is available.

Here is Mackenzie and Dr. Warren, we could not ask for a better doctor! He is the best.
Hooray! It's so much closer:
Here is Mackenzie with other members of her CF Team, Christina and Trudy. It was funny because they introduced themselves as their counterparts to who we see in LR...Christina is the same as Mary Jo (Social Worker) and Trudy is the same as Heather (Nutritionist). Everyone and everything was so nice.Her next appointment will be in January.

Dr. Warren was very proud of Mackenzie's fundraising too. Thanks to everyone's support there is a light at the end of the tunnel! I just went to her CFF site and there was more than the last time I checked - unbeliveable!