Our Little Cupcake Has Turned One...

Mackey had a great birthday filled with beautiful cupcakes, friends, and family. She got lots of fun pink girl toys. She got her first Cabbage Patch doll and some awesome pink poodle shoes.

Though the party was great our little cupcake began running a 101 temp that evening and was not quite herself for the birthday festivities. She really did not eat her cupcake, which is not normal for her to pass up any food....she gobbled the cupcakes up a few days later on her real birthday. We are so blessed by Mac's smile and her easy nature. We pray that she grows to be a strong woman both inside and out. She is growing and learning new things each day. You have decided not to do anything that Big Brother Paxton does not do. You weaned yourself from bottles at about 9 months...deciding that sippee cups were better. You have taken steps but for some reason have decided that walking on your knees is more fun...so much for all the cute pants you own. We have told you that it seems like that is harder but you insist on doing it your way. We love you and your zeal for life... We cannot wait to see the things that God does in your life through friends, church, and activities. You are a blessing.

SueSue and Mackey's matching shirt for the evening.
The last scene where the tomb stone has been rolled away and Jesus has risen!!
Sorry for the fuzzy pic...these are actual men hanging on the cross and portraying the Calvary scene. Aren't we lucky we serve a Jesus who would do this for us.

Our Roman Solider...Paxton did not even notice it was Rusty and kept saying "Look at that Bad Guy"
Paxton's highlight was seeing the live camels and sticking his head out the moon roof. Notice Man #4's grown beard.

Christmas Journey 2007

Our church every year for about 7 years has put on a live Christmas journey. You enter the gates and travel back in time to Bethlehem. As you see the story of Jesus from birth till death. There are over 700 people who are involved from church. The preparation begins months in advance and many people offer up 4 nights to participate in the freezing cold weather. Rusty was a Roman solider at the Tax collector scene and mom was woman #5 and dad was man #4. They did a great job. It is so neat...if you live in the area it is definitely something to see. As each family enters the drive through narration their car is prayed upon...What a blessing. We are honored to belong to such a great and Godly church and blessed by the Godly people that surround us throughout the week

Thanksgiving 07

Our 11Foot Christmas Tree. We went all out. When in Liberty City we had planned on taking the kids out and enjoying picking out a tree but due to 30 degree weather and heavy rain just Rusty and I (aka morons) went and got wet, freezing, and muddy. It was totally worth it.
Rusty and I have not intended on being in the pic. Paxton freaked out and so did Mackey. Santa rudely informed me that it was not going to work with Mackey b/c Paxton was so upset. I bit my tongue but I wanted to say to Santa "just sit there and look jolly".
He was right but I wanted to at least try and he wanted to move on to the next kid.

The Cousins...it is impossible to get a good pic.
Grandma and Her Girl...I made them matching shirts.
Since the cold weather we have watched "CARS" only about 3 times a day. He is obsessed. He said that it was his favorite and that he wants Rusty to get a truck like the "TowMater" truck.

The Piggs on the couch
Mackey's Turkey shirt
Paxton on the way to Liberty City...on his own doing.


Almost Our Birthday Girl
Showing his Muscles
Seriously....Grandma Pigg(GG) Can this pic be any funnier...good thing she doesn't have a computer, she would kill me. Don't worry it is a Root Beer!

Thanksgiving was a whirlwind of turkey with PatPat's speciality sauce, family, and football. Analeise: Rusty is still waiting for a returned phone call about the TU/A&M game!! All the Piggs (mom's maiden name, not a joke) came up to our house on Wednesday and then Friday we headed to Liberty City. We have been enjoying the cold weather this week and have been hanging out at bounce houses, cleaning the house, decorating for Christmas and walking the mall...we even attempted to visit Santa-see pic above. We are gearing up for the BIG ONE birthday party. Rusty and I are going to be going on an all day date to Christmas shop , we are really excited about getting to shop without kids/strollers. Paxton is set his heart on a motorcycle sooo...Where is Santa going to find one of these??

Asheville or Bust

The last day, standing outside on the porch off the Billy Graham dining area. It was freezing but the views were awesome. It was so nice the retreat center. There were huge fireplaces and hot cocoa at every stop.
Loading up and heading home. I wish you could have heard GG say, "If I don't get this coat off, I am going to pass."

Did I mention that the view was Beautiful!
Posing It Up...which is well deserved.
Erica and I at the top. We defeated the mountain.

Erica bending over and of course me behind her like I was the whole way up and down. I did it so I could document, right????
At the top
Erica calling "Bill" to see if maybe they need to come get us because we won't make it down before dark or supper. He states, "Keep coming girls". Not the answer we had hoped to hear.

Before the hike: Looking cute, SueSue with Coke in hand, and in proper shoes on feet. By the time we had walked 0.5 miles the jackets were off and we meant business. 3.5 miles seems easy unless you are a novice hiker and don't realize that 1,600 feet straight up makes 3.5 miles way more intense.
Looks pretty at the base of the hike, not too steep.
The only break we took and the point where SueSue quit the hike. She said she sang and collected leaves on the way home. That was not quit the experience that Erica and I had on the way home. Tired and trying to beat the impeding darkness in the woods.

The front lawn of the largest home in the U.S. Can you imagine everyday waking up to the North Carolina views??
One of the windows in the chapel that Billy Graham designed. Only the foursome would set Billy Graham's chapel alarm off on Sunday. How were we to know that it was not opened on Sunday.
At the most fabulous breakfast place ever. It is in downtown Asheville and it called The Corner Kitchen, everyone should have these waffles.

Me, GG, and SueSue outside the front door of the Biltmore. It was freezing and I am not dressed properly.

All excited, about to board for Asheville or Bust. It is 05:00am, we look like some annoying excited travels.
Can you believe of all people GG was the one who got the random search. She looks nervous about the frisking:)
Erica and I eating at the Biltmore, put us in the Christmas spirit














GG, SueSue, Myself, and Erica headed to one of the most beautiful places in the US. We went to hear Paul Walker of Atlanta at the Billy Graham Retreat Center. If you have never been there it is a place to experience. We enjoyed bible studies, praise and worship, hiking, shopping, and sight seeing at the Biltmore Estate. Though Erica and I were probably 35 years younger than the person closet to us in age excluding SueSue, we had a blast. It was really interesting to hear others prospectives from all domination's, places in the world, and ages. Everyone about fell out when they learned we were married...they thought we were 19 years old. The Biltmore was all done up for Christmas...it was beautiful. I cannot for the life of me understand why Mr. Vanderbilt needed a house that big for he, his wife, and one daughter but to each his own.






We ate some of the best food three times a day the entire vacation. I think I would have gained 10lbs if not for the hike. Now about the hike (Tab I want you to know that it was my mom who didn't make it and YOUR wife who tried to convince me to turn around.) It really bothered me that we at 27 years old would not be able to hike this mountain in a reasonable amount of time. Let's just say that had we read more about this hike we probably would never had done it. They said if took the average skilled hiker 4 hours. But because we are idiots we had 2 hours before dark, no fluids, and New Balance shoes on instead of professional hiking shoes. It was the hike from Hell. I seriously wished on the way down that I would fall and break something not too severe, but severe enough that "Bill" would have to come and get us. We should have known when you have to call someone before you leave with your name and departure time that this was not for two girls looking for a Sunday afternoon stroll. You guys know my stubbornness and that I had to complete it no matter how bad it got. They asked us when we got back, "Did you see a bear."...that would have ruined my stubbornness had I known that we a possibility, two girls in the middle of no where in bear territory is not smart. Here is the description: The hike to the overlook deck is very strenuous. It is about 3.5 miles with a constant steep uphill grade of up to 20%, climbing over 1,600 feet vertically. A minimum round trip of hiking time is 4 hours for a novice hiker. Persons other than those in excellent health should not attempt this hike. Hikers please bring plently of fluid to drink and be aware of remaining daylight.






What were Erica and I thinking. Let's just say that after this crazy hike, which I was thinking positive thoughts that at least on the way down it is downhill. At one point I was going down and it was so steep that it made me pick up speed to the point where I wondered if I could stop....ever. (Erica almost has a busted shoe where her toe was poking though)I was shocked that Erica and I did not have to be in wheelchairs the next two days. We had so much fun. Lots of good girl talk, no kids, shopping, and lots of sight seeing. It was such a great get-away...one that I cannot wait to take again...(I really want Tab and Rusty to experience "the hike", or description does not quite describe this "the hike")

Trick-a-Trickin

Rusty and Paxton making the rounds
The only picture of a cowboy and his chicken...this chicken has flown the coop.

We ate with the neighbors before the festivities began, here is the crew. The scary Heston on the far right is usually dressed up and running through the woods everyday...it is a highlight to see what he is each day.
The Marbolo Man...
Notice the pumpkin is empty and he is eating...house #3.

Our Little Chicken shaking her egg
Chicken at her very First Halloween Party.
Before the fun began...trying to persuade him to wear the outfit


This year was so much fun watching Paxton "Trick-a-Trickin"(his version of trick or treat, he eventually got it right). We fought the fight and won the battle with the costume. I am not sure how it happened but Paxton is ADDICTED to candy-all kinds, doesn't matter:) Tuesday at his school party he went as a crying lion and gladly went to Mrs. Shari so he could persuade her to take the lion off. It was off before I even left the school. However, Rusty put on his cowboy hat and talked Paxton into being a "cowboy". The ONLY reason he left the cowboy outfit on was that we told him no one would give him any candy without a costume. That did the trick. Our neighborhood had this really cool hayride and most everyone was sitting at their drive-ways with their drinks, bonfires, and candy. We got out a couple of times but mostly people came to us. Paxton was really good at saying "Thanks". I wish I had a tape recorder of the way he said thanks'. It was the happiest thanks ever. The older kids were laughing at how well he was able to open the candy, I think half the pumpkin was gone before we made it to the third house. I think Paxton thinks he died and went to Heaven last night:) Mackey gladly put on her chicken outfit (no, I did not make it). Our chicken loved her lollipop but got worn out quickly. She stayed with SueSue and PatPat while the rest of us trick or treated. We had so much fun, especially since Paxton scored us tons of candy.

My precious Paxton-2 years old
BFF
MacaDoodle
Our Sweetpea
Mackey Elizabeth Cox-9 months