Better Late......

After all his hard work, planning his brothers party, it was finally reciprocated.  Tristan planned an X-Box birthday party for Gavin.  They were synced up and gaming together on three different TVs.  Gone are the days where kids just show up to your house and hang out.  Now, they come to your house with additional TVs and extra game systems.  Pretty funny.

On his real birthday, he requested a red velvet cake.  We all enjoyed it very much!!

Pretty crazy what a few long and unruly curls will do for you not to mention the feed back he gets if we "trim" him up a bit.

If you know this guy at all, then you know he has a heart for God and for people.  He is always thinking of the other person and how he can bless them.  He has a glint in his eyes that makes you wonder what he is thinking, and don't even get me started about the amazing blue color.  He has an incredible sense of humor.   He is always coming up with the most hilarious things.  Having him in our family is a joy and a breath of fresh air.  He can bring contemplation and levity at the same time. He is yet another gift of Almighty God.

SURPRISE

Mission: To Surprise Tristan

Accomplices: Bridget, Matt, Justin, Gavin, Terin and Payton

Tristan's birthday falls during spring break which makes it very hard to try and plan something with your friends cause if your like Christian you have a sweet cabin calling your name, or Shane and Alex, it's just one more concert in the line up. So, I made a few phone calls, found a night where it was going to work for surprisingly more than the 30 people we invited, and it was a go.

Justin did some strategic re-arranging of the guys Friday afternoon bible study and moved it to Thursday. Matt jumped at the opportunity to play the sneaky guy. He invited Tristan over to hang out Thursday night and took him shooting Friday for a superb distraction. This left Friday wide open for the home team, plus one super creative, and very helpful instigator, AKA Bridget, to get things done. How Bridget still had energy after staying up late making that cool poster for Tristan, complete with his name in air soft pellets, I don't know. What a cool gift. She and I managed to pull together a scavenger hunt with literally moments to spare. We were still placing the clues as people were arriving.

We worked frantically on the new patio out back, hoping to have a bonfire at the party. With the incredible help of Payton and Terin, this was accomplished. But I think the most excited and definitely the most helpful participant in the grand scheme, who's picture you will not see because he was taking the pictures, was Gavin. He blessed my socks off with his genuine enthusiasm to work hard to bless his brother. You have never seen a gift more sweetly given. He could hardly contain his anxious anticipation for Friday to finally get here. This was by far the best birthday gift I received this year.

Luc's team mangaged to win the scavenger hunt even though they had extra back packs to carry along.

Thanks everyone for helping out and making this such a great suprise for Tristan.

Into the Double Digits She Goes!

Terin

Leigh

Mikkelson

AKA

Miss T

T Leigh

Hollywood

Our girl turns 10!!! What a crazy bundle of girliness this one. From fashion and friends to family she is full speed ahead. We are blessed with the opportunity to have her in our home. She inspires thought with her insight into life. She thinks and loves deeply. Her compassion for those around her knows no bounds. She loves to be silly and crazy and yet she can be very bashful at times. She is sheer poetry in motion when she picks up her violin. God has put a passion in her heart for hurting people both those she knows and more recently those she doesn't. We give thanks at this time of year for blessings in our life and be sure we thank God for our children and today we thank Him for our precious Terin.