Happy Anniversary (a little late)

Jonathan and I celebrated 7 years of marriage yesterday (Jan 12th)! Seven years ago I became his wife. I remember when the pastor announced us as Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Ryan Gadd I smiled bigger than I ever had before. I was so ready to be his wife, and I still feel the same way. We have been talking to Payton about marriage and anniversary over the last couple of days and it has been great to reflect on what marriage means to us. It is a covenant that we made to each other and God. I read over my vows that I made to Jonathan frequently (they are framed outside our bedroom) and realize how they are for a lifetime. Our love is a commitment and I am so privileged to get to share my life with this man. I treasure and appreciate our marriage more this year than ever before. God has been so sweet to us.

New Years

I missed a holiday. We spent New Years Eve at some friends house. Watching all the children play together was our New Years entertainment and it was definitely entertaining. We are blessed to all have kids very close in age. We seem to go in cycles of being pregnant together. It is fun and I enjoy tapping into their wisdom and learning from their experiences. We are blessed to be surrounded with others that are going through the same stage of life.




Sweet Haidyn


Claire and her boyfriend Dylan

Reading with Ms. Amy













The next day we went to Steph's for New Years lunch! This is my favorite meal of the year and it is a shame we do not get it more often. Our tradition is Daddy's grilled pork chops, Nani's homemade mac and cheese (the best in the world, really!), Mom's turnip greens and black eyed peas, and cornbread. Oh, it was sooo good and one holiday I love being home for. The cousins played all day. Sarah Grace and Payton even took a nap together in the same bed, which is a huge surprise that they actually slept. I went home after lunch and took a nap before going to work that night. It was a great meal to sleep on.

Weekend with The Goforths

This past weekend we went to Asheville to visit our best friends. We had a wonderful weekend in their mountain retreat. Their house is like a vacation home that they get to live in everyday. It was fun to watch the girls play and interact. They played dress up all weekend. Payton liked the way the fancy shoes went clippty clop on their floors. Abby and Caroline are such sweet girls. We loved spending time with them and feel so blessed to have them in our lives. We love you guys and enjoyed our time with you.


sweet hugs

the Gadds

the Goforths

reading together

Payton loves her friends

Happy Birthday Payton

Payton turned 3 years old on December 28th. Wow, what a big girl! We had a princess birthday party for her, at her request. It was everything she had hoped for. All her little friends arrived in their princess dresses and were ready to celebrate. Payton really enjoyed herself and all her friends. It has been three years since our hearts were forever changed by this sweet girl. Being a mom is better than I had ever dreamed, and Payton is everything I could have wished for in a daughter. She is witty, creative, imaginative, smart, independent, friendly, funny, talkative, sweet, compassionate, loving, opinionated, but most of all she is FUN! She loves to do crafts, read books, play dress up, make believe, sing, tell stories, go to the park, take naps with mommy, spend lazy weekends with daddy, and be with "all my family." Payton thank you for filling everyday with laughter and joy, it just keeps getting better. We love you!




Face painting by Aunt Stephie



Prince Benjamin and Prince Ryan





All the pretty princesses





Ring around the rosie






Girls royal table






Cake time





Opening presents

Christmas 2008

Chirstmas

Christmas was wonderful this year. Just seeing the excitement of the season trough Payton and Claire's eyes made every tradition new. Like most families our December is very busy with one party after another. We started the month off with Pawpaw Jimmy's bday, then Kiki's cookie swap that Payton attended with me this year, Payton's first spend the night party at Mimi's, Jonathan's birthday weekend, Charlotte's birthday party, going to see Santa, walk through Bethlehem, Payton's preschool Christmas program, preschool party, Decatur bonfire with Kiki and Matt, going to visit Cameron and Jill and the rest of the Gadd family in Charlotte, Pink Pig with our friend Alex, family Christmas parties, children's Christmas Eve service, and then Christmas day. Amidst all of the festivities of the season my favorite things that made this the best Christmas were moments where Payton would talk and sing about baby Jesus, Mary and Gofish (Joseph). She loved learning about Jesus' birth and the nativity. I love that she loves learning and that she soaks in all that we tell her. Claire enjoyed her Christmas too. I enjoy seeing her eyes light up at the lights and Santa. What I secretly enjoyed the most was her always wanting me. She tends to cling to me when there is a crowd and lately there has been a lot of crowds. I love that she needs me. She is our little gift. It was a very sweet Christmas.