The gift that keeps on giving!

Makenzie has wanted her cartilage pierced for a while now, so we decided it would be a fun Christmas surprise for her. Troy couldn't watch, and she didn't flinch!

Christmas Morning

We are having a wonderful day celebrating!

(and hope you are, too.)

Hafford Family Christmas DVD 2009

Feel free to view our Christmas DVD by clicking the link below.

REMEMBER TO PAUSE MUSIC ON THE MIXPOD PLAYER BEFORE VIEWING.

Untitled from Kendra Hafford on Vimeo.

Christmas Card 
&Letter 

Honestly, Christmas Cards almost did not happen this year. Not because we have stopped loving you or did not want to share what God has been doing in our life, but because Christmas Cards take time! (especially if you have attention issues and obsessive compulsive tendencies!) This year we have really tried to put a high priority on how we spend our time at home.   Little time at home is hard for this family of five who just loves being at home.  Troy and I love being at home which is no surprise based on our constant “projects”. So do each of our children, almost always choosing to have their friends in our home rather than going elsewhere, which is absolutely answered prayer. This has always been our heart’s desire and motivation in making our home!

Of course, we love to do a lot of things that we really just can’t do at home. Mitchell (8) would have a hard time playing basketball and soccer at home. Georgia lawns are definitely not made for playing level field/court sports! Makenzie (14) cannot cheer and tumble at home – our ceilings aren’t high enough, not to mention she would so miss the competition she thrives on.  Marshall (16) absolutely cannot participate in Marching Band Shows and Competitions or even Concert Band at home. He might be able to have Academic Bowl meets at home, but sadly, I am not sure anyone else would ever answer a question.  Troy can’t hike at home, unless he was to wear his backpack to take out the trash!  I can do a lot at home, but eventually I would need more supplies! Of course, Troy and I couldn’t watch our children doing what they love if we stayed home. All of the time spent away from home just makes things like eating together, hanging out with friends, and staying in touch with those we love a top priority when we are home!

Much of our time spent away from home this year was fabulous. We were blessed with a trip to Ft. Myers Beach (thanks Uncle Mike!), a trip to Panama City Beach (thanks Uncle Jim & Aunt Tammy!), two trips to Illinois, a gold panning trip for Troy (and no, he didn’t get to quit his day job!) and a weekend in Savannah. Yet, every trip, regardless of how awesome it was, always ended the same –all of us ready to be home.

Exactly as I know Heaven will be, as incredible as the journey is here on earth—

there is nothing like Home.

Praising Jesus for leaving His home in Heaven for us,

Troy Kendra Marshall Makenzie & Mitchell

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

It 's a Jungle In Here!

Awesome Weekend!

We celebrated Christmas with my family this weekend.
We so loved getting to spend time with each one of them, and are already missing everyone!

This just in ...

The nerdbowlers are going to Regions! Isn't that great?!

CrAZy BusY ...

& loving every minute!

So, this past weekend was insane and I would do it again next weekend if I could! Friday night I hosted our neighborhood Christmas Bunco & Ornament Exchange. I love my Bunco ladies. We laugh, we eat, we laugh, we eat, we laugh ... oh, and we play Bunco! Then, Saturday night same time, same place, same game, different crazy ladies.

Sunday afternoon was the annual Holiday Tour of Homes. I love this day. I love seeing old friends and meeting new friends. I love sharing my home and some Christmas treats with others. I love exchanging decorating ideas. I love sharing my faith and what Christmas means to our family.

And, then, to finish the weekend ... look who showed up in our yard! Silly, I know! I love it, though!

He's Baaacckk!

Buddy, our elf, showed up tonight just as we were getting ready to eat dinner. Buddy is a mischievous little guy, but he always seems to start out on a good note. Tonight he brought us all Christmas pjs -mine are super comfy! Of course, we all know that a good start can only mean lots of trouble in the coming days. And, for some very odd reason, Marshall and Makenzie were not willing to pose in theirs!

(and, we get to start eating the candy

out of our Advent Calendar today!)

Thankful ...

Today I am so thankful to have spent a week with friends and family,

thankful for yummy food and thankful to be home.

Don't think for one minute that we do not know how blessed we are!

We pray that you have a day filled with giving thanks.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalms 100:4

One of Those Things ...

I really can't remember when this started, and it is something I usually forget about, but Makenzie will. not. eat. with a metal utensil. Isn't that the strangest thing you have ever heard?

A child with strange habits and fears ... where did she come from?

Um, yea, but don't judge me! 

I am one of "those" moms. Makenzie, Jenna, Marshall, Meggie & I intended to take a nap last night ... but, we were too excited to sleep! Why were we excited you ask? Because we had tickets for the 12:01 am showing of NEW MOON, of course! Yes, it was a school night and yes, we had to be at the theater at 10:30 and yes, Troy gasped when he looked at our online banking transactions and yes, we only got three hours of sleep ... but it was SO WORTH IT! The movie was great and hanging out with awesome teenagers is incredible!

(photo taken before we picked up Meggie)

It's My Birthday!

Seriously, with an awesome family and great friends, what is not to love about getting old?

Little Miss Addie & I LOVED

 the cookie cake her momma made me!

A Golden Opportunity

I recently had the opportunity to join some close friends, and make a new one, in a gold panning trip to the North Georgia Mountains. We had an amazing time with beautiful weather. We hope to make trips like this a yearly event. We set out not knowing anything about panning for gold, but enjoyed learning the art of panning together while having a great time. Even now, I look forward to next year. With the four of us together, there is bound to be more silliness than seriousness. I had a great time, Jamie, Flechs, and Reavis. Thanks for experiencing this adventure with me!

You should see the other guy!

Mitchell loves to sleep in Makenzie's room on the weekends, and even though Makenzie has two beds, he normally sleeps in her twin bed with her. Well, those days may be over. This weekend, according to him, she pushed him out of bed onto her trunk. We have been thinking of really tough sounding stories that he can share with his friends! :o)

The sweetest part of this story is that in the middle of the night when he came into our room to tell us, he told Troy that he hit his face on Makenzie's "treasure chest". Isn't that the cutest?

Cheerleading Banquet 09

"Competition Cheerleading

Makes Stars!"

Makenzie's middle school cheerleading career official wrapped up tonight with a Red Carpet Affair! I have to say that this year has not always been easy. In fact, Makenzie has faced a lot of challenges this year, and we could not be any prouder of how she has handled her self. She has worked hard, did things she did not like to do, was a team leader and a team player. Makenzie is amazingly disciplined (definitely not a trait she received from me!) and it "shines" in everything she does.