Hay Happens and Hay's Happen

There’s a whole story in these pictures… little snapshots of us through the years. We have lived through a lot of good and bad times, but (especially the hard ones), our love keeps deepening.

This year, Doug turned 65, and we celebrated! Tatum made the sweetest homemade card.

I made your apple birthday treat with whipped cream because you always deserve something homemade.

And you opened all your gifts..hacksaw and all (since you love to fix all of our problems and you DO!) Some polisher for your car, a calendar, a new fancy water bottle, a NEW WATCH!!

Oh, and COOPY watching:

But the real celebration for me wasn’t the gifts or the cake.
It was YOU.

It was looking at you that day:  I love this man so much. I love the life we’ve built. And I am so grateful for him.

You have been:

• My steadFAST ground through every unpredictable twist of my health journey
My protector, and the one who looks at me with love even on the days I don’t look or feel like myself (OFTEN!)
The most tender, patient father to Tatum
Our breadwinner and our rock (Truly a KINGDOM MAN)
The fixer of sinks, broken doors etc, and the one who turns the outside of our home into something spectacular lights, trees, flowers, fountain and all
Still the HHH I fell in love with
The encourager who reminds me I’m stronger than I think
The loving, loyal, hardworking man I prayed for before I ever met you
You are truly getter younger and stronger.

We have weathered a lot.
Storms that tried to knock us down.
Doctors, symptoms, fear, grief, exhaustion.

Through all of it, you’ve held my hand; literally and figuratively in every season.

Maybe that’s why that little crocheted penguin feels so perfect:

“Just like penguins, we are soulmates forever.”

Because that’s what we are.
That’s what we’ve chosen to be: again and again, year after year.

And I just want you to know this:

I see you.
I appreciate you.
I admire you.
And I love you so much.

Thank you for loving me so much
Thank you for loving Tatum so unconditionally.
Thank you for showing up every day; for this family, for our home, for our future, for me.

You’re 65, and honestly… you’re still the HHH I fell in love with.
Happy, happy birthday, my love.
Here’s to more years, more memories, and more of this crazy life with you.

A perfect day with my favorite aunt and cousin. (well, Kas and Kell are my favs!)

I miss seeing them so much, but Tatum is getting to enjoy seeing them. They picked her up bright and early at 7:45am. Off they went to Desert Botanical and OH did they have fun!

Coffee in hand, they are ready to see some flowers and birdies!! It was such a gorgeous Phoenix weather day too. Check out this hybrid odd cacti!

and OOOOOOH the beautiful birds!!

A cactus WREN!!!

and of course a butterfly!

So grateful for them taking Tatum. She really had the best time and came home with remnants of leaves the she collected and a beautiful amethyst. I LOVE YOU ALL!

Thanksgiving this year came with a different kind of weight. I woke up in that state: the one where my body says, “Not today… bed only.”
But the holiday didn’t care, and neither did the people I love. They were coming. I wanted so badly to be the hostess with the mostess… yet all I could really offer was: I’ll show up. (oh and make some butternut squash in my WONDROUS oven)

And maybe that was enough.

Thank God for Doug.
Truly.

He took over the turkey like an absolute champ: carving, basting, making gravy.. He never made it feel like a burden.

He also bought me the most gorgeous sunflowers, bright and golden in the center of the table, almost like they were cheering me on: You’ve got this. One moment at a time.

Tatum helped me with the table; together we set the table with autumn plates, plaid napkins, and our gratitude jar filled with the questions she helped cut, fold, and tuck inside.

She wished there were more kids around, but she smiled anyway. Coopy was ready for guests by waiting by the door, and Ollie was ready to see our family.

Austin arrived before I was ready, but honestly?
It was fine. More than fine.
He got time with Doug, and I got a moment to breathe, gather myself, and shake off the pressure to be “on.”

Then my mom came. Sweet as always. She brought whipped cream… but forgot the pie.
Austin, once again to the rescue, ran to Fry’s (thankfully open) and saved dessert. We laughed about it, because what else can you do?

So it was time to take PICS by the tree! My mom is so pretty. She loves Tot so much. It’s so easy to ADORE OUR KIDS! Here I get to be with both.

And then my honey. He looks so good! He’s been losing a few pounds and he really is feeling better I believe!

TIME TO EAT!!

Taties wanted Ollie to join. Coopy, you don’t get to, SAWY!

By the time we all sat down, Mom smiling across the table, Tatum standing on her toes behind us, and Austin ready to dig in…I realized:

It didn’t matter that I wasn’t at 100%.
It didn’t matter that the sides were “easy” and that Doug did most of the heavy lifting.
It didn’t matter that I couldn’t be the hostess I envisioned.

What mattered was that we were there.

Together.
Grateful for each other.
Grateful for the day, even if it wasn’t perfect.
Grateful for God’s grace in the middle of weakness.

We enjoyed our question strips which prompted some nice convos.

With help, love, and laughter it turned into a really beautiful Thanksgiving.

A quiet one.
A simple one.
But a good one.

Thank you, Jesus for my family.

Doug’s mom passed away about five years ago, but her love somehow still weaves itself into our everyday life in the most unexpected ways. She used to sew these little corn bags soft, simple, homemade heating pads filled with dried corn and stitched with fabrics she chose.

At the time, I don’t think any of us realized what a gift they really were. But this one… this one has become a lifeline for me.

On the hardest days, when my stomach hurts or I can barely stand from the pain, I heat it up and press it against my belly. The relief is physical, yes but it’s also something deeper. It’s comfort. Warmth. Care. The kind of tenderness only a mother’s hands can pass down.

She made this years ago, not knowing how much I’d need it, not knowing the way her kindness would keep showing up long after she was gone.

Who knew that something so small could hold so much love?

And I’m grateful. So, so grateful

The night before: THE EVE! We had to give her BLIZZARD (the cute BIG snowman) to warn her of exciting things to com.

I got that last pic before bed: Goodbye 12! (sad face/happy anticipation)

NOW: Today my girl stepped into teenagehood, and oh my goodness… what a day.
From the moment she woke up, Tatum was glowing : and somehow still my same sweet, beautiful girl.

Before the party, Oreo, the cutest little black-and-white puppy stuffy! She was so happy but said NO PICS! Oreo was by her side the rest of the day.

Then some PINK SUGAR so she’d smell sweet.

Before the party, of course I needed PICS!!

Oreo and DAD!

proud parents…we couldn’t decide on the best…so alas.

Party at Mavrix! Let the Fun Begin

‘

At 10:30 AM we headed to Mavrix (a bowling alley/arcade) for her birthday party.
Her crew for the day: Jos, Hayden, Liam, and Vivian… her people. (Hayden wasn’t there yet)

They bowled, laughed, cheered each other on, and of course:

Tatum won the bowling game!

After bowling came hours of arcade fun, tokens, tickets, glowing lights, and a whole lot of running around together just being kids. Then the CAKE arrived! She had no problem blowing out all 13 candles with one mighty blow.

Everyone sang, she beamed, the candles all lit up her face…
It was one of those moments I’ll remember forever .. the joy of watching her step right into this new stage of life surrounded by friends who absolutely adore her.

The bowling alley gave her the coolest pin which they all signed. HOW COOL!

When we got home, she opened her presents from us:

• New hair + body things
• More Littlest Pet Shop treasures (the nostalgia!) (We gave her an advent calendar which lasted ….TODAY only HA!
• A vanilla sugar scrub
• Pens, cute accessories, and a Barnes & Noble gift card
• Soft cozy pajamas
• And of course, more time cuddling Oreo

And then? She did exactly what a newly minted 13-year-old should do:
She sat on the couch, comfy clothes on, and played with her LPS toys like it was the happiest place on earth.

Chik Fil A for dinner since..well, she can!

This birthday was everything I hoped for her:

Simple.
Sweet.
Surrounded by friends.
Filled with laughter, bowling, arcade chaos, sugar, surprises, and so many little joys.

Tatum HAY what a treasure you are.
Thirteen looks beautiful on you.

Every year I think my heart can’t possibly hold more love for this girl, and every year it stretches a little further. I see the little girl who used to SING AT THE TOP HER lungs with the plastic mic and line up stuffies on her bed… and I see this radiant almost-teen standing in bowling shoes with a sweet grin, cheering on her friends and still clutching a stuffed dog.

I’m so proud of who she is becoming; kind, funny, creative, loyal, tender-hearted, a little wild, and wonderfully herself.

If this is what 13 looks like, I can’t wait to see 14, 15, and all the years ahead.

Tatum, if you ever read this someday:
We love you more and more every day. You are one of God’s sweetest gifts to us, and it is the greatest joy of my life to be your mom.

From the moment she was born

to this very day,

my heart grows deeper and deeper more crazy about this girl. Watching who she’s becoming so creative, bright, sharp, and genuinely funny might be the greatest privilege of my life.

I ADORE her as a person not just love her as my kid. My biggest prayer for her is to love Jesus with all of her heart soul mind and strength. I LOVE YOU, Tot.

Apparently, “The phrase “six seven” comes from the song Doot Doot (6 7) by Skrilla (released early 2025) in which the lyrics repeatedly include “6-7”” (from a reputable source)

Then TikTok, Instagram and other social media, especially in edits of basketball players (one being LaMelo Ball, who is 6′7″ tall). (another source!)

But it’s basically a nonsensical expression, with no fixed meaning,

So, for Tatum….

All I know is that:

It’s not a secret code

It’s not a “meh” response

It’s just an in between of this or that and really just nothing

Trends! They really just exist to keep adults clueless and in the dark so our kids can make fun of us since we are “out of the loop.” For me? I’ll think it’s something like this!