Merry Christmas 2007

As you can see from the pictures we must have all been pretty good boys and girls this year LOL...
There is nothing like setting around the fire on Christmas morning with your family and knowing the whole reason for the season... Sure we all like the gifts but none of that means anything if you do not have the greatest gift of all "Jesus".

Santa is Big Daddy Clause to Me!!!

When all was said and done, Santa got ready to leave and he stopped to say "Oh I think I have one more gift and it is for Tina. Completely shocked I just looked at Mike anyone who knows him - knows very well he loves to surprise me at any given chance. He told me the only way I could get my gift was if I sat on Santa's lap (Poor Santa) he didn't know what he was in for. Santa gave me an envelope it said To: Hot Momma - From: Big Daddy Clause.. I thought what could this be, much to my surprise I pulled out 2 Broadway tickets to see "Grease" in New York City!!! I about passed out, never in a million years would I have ever guessed. I have always wanted to go to NY and Mike has always said one day I will take you, but to top it off I LOVE the movie Grease - he and I had watched the Reality TV Show this summer for the new cast members for Sandy and Danny for the new Broadway show and that is the one we get to go see... I am so excited I can't wait. Once again the love of my life never ceases to amaze me.... I love you Mike you are my gift from God above...

Here Comes Santa Clause

WOW!!! Is that really Santa... Lexi was in complete shocked when she went to answer the knock at the door. She opened the door and the first thing she said was "Oh Santa you scared me" then she just stood there not knowing what to do. I told her to let Santa come in, she opened the door and said to him "Santa I have been waiting to see you, did you bring me some toys"... She acted so grown up for a few minutes and then that all changed, she and her friends started jumping around they were so excited!!!

The boys of course know the real deal, however I told them you have to "Believe in order to Receive". Well that is a no brainer, of course they want something for themselves so they played it up really good for Lexi and her friends. All the kids got a gift that they asked Santa for that night - it magically appeared in his BIG RED BAG - amazing uhh - I thought so to :)...

Santa brought Lexi some Tinkerbell earrings, Tyler a basketball, and Peyton a PINK scooter you should have seen the look on his face when he opened his box, it was PRICELESS - not just for him but me as well. Now how in the world I ended up with pink instead of blue I will never know I swear I thought it was marked blue - I never even opened the box to check. We had a really good laugh over that one - however I made sure the first thing on my list for the next morning was to make sure Peyton had a BLUE scooter by the end of the day... I will problably never live that one down.

Stell's 5 Alive

First Family Photo with all 5 family members - I now remember why I did not have a family picture before now - STRESSED OUT!!!!

"Enjoy Life God has Given You"

Future Pointer in Progress

Tyler "HotRod" Stell #21

Past - Present - Future

WOW!! It has been 14 years today that we said "I DO"... On September 18, 1993 I married the man of my dreams. I look back now and think, we were so young and did not really know what love was all about compared to what we have today. God blessed me with everything I needed, wanted and more. I am more in love with Mike today than I was 14 years ago, they say love grows stronger with each passing day I can't imagine what I will feel like in another 14 years...

Happy 9th Birthday Peyton Sept. 17th

I can't believe Peyton is 9 years old it seems just like yesterday I was holding him in my arms. The one thing he ask for was an IPOD for his birthday and to have a couple of friends spend the night so got just that. As you can see from the pictures below we had a blast!! We went to eat pizza then to the Jones Center for some swimming and ice skating, then we headed out for some ice cream after all that hard work tring to stay up right on those skates. The pictures below are two of Peyton's best friends at school Keesler & Calab. We had a great time watching them, lots of laughs for us that night...

Tyler - 1st Day of 6th Grade

Ty was more excited to start school because of his social life. He is his daddy made over - it is scary!!! He wanted to make sure he looked good today, he put his clothes on last night to make sure he had everything just right - like I said he is just like his dad. Anyone that knows Mike knows how he is with his wardrobe - those of you who know him are probably laughing about right now. Tyler had a great day @ school he is the TOP DOG in Middle School - the most exciting part about being in 6th grade is they finally get a LOCKER!!! Wow, it doesn't take much to excite them @ that age. He has become my Little Man rather than my little boy. God has blessed us with 3 wonderful children!!!

Peyton - 1st Day of 3rd Grade

Okay, does this look like a guy who is ready for school or not. Peyton has been excited about starting school too. Hey laid his clothes out last night after we came home from church - he said he needed to look cool!!! He is excited about his new teacher, Mrs. Little we have heard nothing but good things about her. He told us today that she ranks up there with Mrs. Blaylock (his teacher in 1st/2nd grade) that is saying a lot being that this is his 1st day @ school. He said his favorite part of the day was technology and recess, playing with one of his good friends Kessler.

Lexi - 1st Day of 4K

Lexi has been so excited to start 4K. She came home today telling about her new teacher Mrs. Nicole and her friends. It makes me laugh because she has been going to "Elite Kids" since she was 18 mos old, but you would think she started a brand new school today. We had an exciting weekend as well, she got her ears pierced and that is all she could talk about. She is just growing up so fast, I no longer have a baby, I have a little girl. I will keep you updated on her progress...

High School Musical 2 Party

Tonight Lexi went to her first High School Musical Party, and boy is she excited!!! This was a big deal for her, we went and got some HSM PJ's today, she wanted me to take a picture of her in her new PJ's, I painted her fingernails/toenails and off she went with SR. She met a new friend, Tara tonight - they had a great time together. When I picked her up she was exhausted - she came home finished her brownie and went straight to bed. Steph, I know you will be reading this so thank you so much for making a memory that will last a life time. You can tell I am just as excited as she is, this whole "girl" thing is new for me too, after having to older boys - I don't know what to do with myself.

Golfing with Dad

Wow!!! It is already the end of Summer '07. The boys went with Mike this week to play golf for the very 1st time. Mike & Peyton went on Wednesday and Tyler got to spend time with dad today. They both talked about how much fun they had, but most of all the boys really liked having one on one time with their dad.

Story of Jaxon

Jaxon became a part of our family the week of Christmas 2006. I have always wanted a yorkie but never had one. Mike surprised me - and when I say surprised - he had me open two gifts early, now if you know me I like to wait until Christmas Day, I love surprises. When I opened the gifts it was a Coach dog collar and leash - I started crying because I then knew we were getting a dog, but had no clue it was a yorkie. When we picked him up, we all fell in love with him instantly - we can't imagine life without him. Mike is the greatest husband & dad he always knows the right things to say and do for his family. We are now complete!!!

Family Picture - Topsail Island NC

We went to the beach this year for our family vacation and had a wonderful time. Mike and I were talking on our way home about how much fun we had with our kids this year because they were all 3 old enough to enjoy and remember everything we did. One of the most peaceful places to be is sitting on the beach watching the waves roll in with not a care in the world. This family picture actually turned out - I was so excited. We have tried taking a family picture every year we come but never can get everyone smiling and looking @ the camera at the same time. God smiled down on us this day, you can't see it but there was a rainbow off to the left of where we were standing. Thank you God for the little things - they mean so much!!! Vacation -- August 2007

Tyler -- Lexi -- Peyton