Nathan's birthday extravaganza

I'm a couple weeks behind...

Nathan's birthday was the 16th, and we had QUITE the day! Well, night... he worked most of the day. But we harrassed him with texts, voicemails, and birthday recordings texted to him :)

That night, we started our evening with our Christmas dinner for Revolution volunteers! It was SO fun, what an awesome group of people!





I mean... really, who wouldn't want to go to church with us?!



Nathan was sharing a birthday with our friend, Justin, who is part of our worship team so we surprised them both with brownie sundaes (although I think I ate more of it than anyone else :)



When our dinner was over, Brandon and Sasha were waiting downstairs for us and the four of us (after a little dancing!) walked downtown for the Garth Brooks concert (I had surprised Nath with tickets)! It was so, so, so much fun. If you haven't heard by now... Garth was AH-MAZING.



After that, just Nathan and I stopped for an appetizer at Margaritaville before heading home. We didn't get home until after 2am and Nathan had to be up at 4:30a for work the next day! Ha. But... you know... life's short! And he can still do this now while he's in his 20's (but not for loooong!) ;)

Must be doing something right!

Friday was "Polar Express Day" at school for Layla Paige. She was SO excited. She got to wear her PJs and take a blanket. They laid in the floor to watch the movie, had a hot chocolate bar, and wrote letters to Santa.



Her first paper said, "If you choose the first gift of Christmas, what would it be?"
Layla wrote:
If I could choose the first gift of Christmas I would ask Santa for (a friend in her class) to feel better.

Ah! What a sweet heart she has.

In her letter to Santa, where she was supposed to write her Christmas list, she wrote:



It says,
"Dear Santa,
I have been very good this year. There's one gift I would like more than any other gift for Christmas. I want to have a good life and love God.
Thank you,
Layla Paig(e) West



Tear :)
I just about burst with joy and pride when I saw it! What a precious little lady she is.

p.s. She's still waiting on Jesus to tell her what kind of birthday cake "He" wants this year ;)

Santa success!

Yes, it's a picture of a picture. I was not about to spring on another million dollars for the disk.

They were excited, but I really wasn't sure how they would do. Cale, obviously, gets very anxious when he's anywhere NEAR unfamiliar people (remember last year?)and you never know how his anxiety will show itself. And we were bordering on Brynnie's naptime, which can get U.G.L.Y.

They did so good. Cale was hesitant and at first didn't want to look at Santa or speak, etc. but he did smile for the picture and when SC asked him what he would like for Christmas, he recited his list very quietly (although I'm not sure Santa had a clue what he said! Spiderman truck, Spiderman toothbrush, and Optimus Prime :) When Santa turned to talk to the girls, Cale got to really checking out his belt and the back of his hat. Santa just let him investigate, he was so sweet. Brynn and Layla did GREAT too! Brynn momentarily forgot what she was asking for, but finally spit out a purple pillow pet, Dora toothbrush, and Tiana baby. Layla told him that she would like a unicorn pillow pet, Holiday Barbie, and iCarly Ipod.

We finished with a ride on the train (Best $6 I've ever spent...), then carried on with a crazy Saturday! Christmas is officially here now!