Traditions

I cannot believe Christmas is in a week!!! But I am lovin' the season, even if it is shorter this year.

My favorite thing about Christmas are the traditions--traditions that are based around our Savior, Jesus Christ. He is the reason we have so much to celebrate! It has truly been enjoyable for me to ponder the birth and life of my Savior this season. My little family will be having Christmas on our own for the very first time this year. At first I was sad, then anxious about what traditions I "needed" to start doing with my children, but then finally, it hit me that most of the year, we are already doing our Christmas traditions: making bread & goodies for our friends, reading the scriptures, inviting people to church, learning the stories of Jesus, having FHE, trying to be thoughtful towards eachother, etc., etc. Christmas time just includes a tree & pretty lights, as well as a big meal to plan for, which I seem to have been doing a lot lately, anyway. And then everyone else helps add to the season: Mom Woodbury's 12 Days of Christmas, The Payne tradion of doing acts of service to make a soft bed for baby Jesus, Christmas cards & updates from loved-ones (and even for the "thoughts" of writing a family update :). I feel truly blessed to know my Savior! He is the reason for this and every other good season. He is the reason we have hope and joy in this life--because He made it possible to have that true joy in the next life, as well.

...This is one of the Payne Traditions we are carrying on: B made this manger 2 days ago (I love it!). For every act of service we do this month, we get to put a cotton-ball in the manger. Our goal is to make a very soft bed for Jesus on Christmas morning, when we will sing "Silent Night" and lay Him in his manger (using Lizzy's doll).

A Rare Moment...

Do you ever wonder what is going on inside your kid's head? ...or ask yourself, "What is she thinking right now?" Well, I had one of those moments last night, with Daisy, and she actually continued her behavior so I could catch it on film (she never has been one to shy away from an audience :). I hope you get a good laugh...

She originally started crying, becuase I accidently dropped her (like 3 inches). She didn't get hurt but was offended, even after I cuddled with her for a few minutes. I personally think she is just loving the sound of her own voice--the way it resonates through that spacious mouth of hers--but then again, who knows???

Snowman Poop

Grandma Woodbury does the 12 days of Christmas for all 23? grandkids. It is something I'm sure every one of them looks forward to. I know my kids do. Yesterday was the 1st day of Christmas, and to start off, Grandma made candy-cane reindeer. Today is the 2nd day of Christams, and my girls got a ziplock baggie of "Snowman Poop." In the photo, my girlies are still in their pj's. It's only the second day, and already opening the bag becomes priority #1 (or maybe a close #2, depending on how full their bladders are :).

Thank you, Grandma Woodbury!!

I almost didn't get the camera out fast enough. In fact, Faye is sharing her poop with Liz, for photography purposes ONLY...

Some of Faye's marshmallows were hard, and she asked me why. I told her it's probably because Grandma likes them hard--when Grandma buys a bag of marshmallows, she brings them home, opens the bag up and puts them on the shelf. I explained it was like eating hard candy. Daisy could relate at this point and said, "Yeah, one day I was climbing in the car and found a marshmallow, and it was hard when I ate it!" I just laughed, but wondered when the last time I let my kids eat in the car was. How old WAS that marshmallow???... :)

I Spy...

Where is Daisy, where is Daisy...?

It was one of those nights where you stay out late, get home late, have grouchy, wired children who don't know how to calm themselves down, and then you become a grouch yourself (and of course B was on-call all night). Well, somewhere along the way, I lost count of my children (normally, I can count to 3) :). When, they were all supposedly in bed, Faye asked me where Daisy was. I told her in bed. She said "huh-uhh," (with attitude, cuz she was still grouchy) so then I became a little worried and started looking around the house. Thirty seconds later, when I couldn't find her, I became very worried, unil I heard the couch breathing heavily. Grouch number 2 had tried to hide, and accidentily fallen asleep in the couch...

Leaf Pile

My girls have only heard stories, read books, and used their own imagination on the definition of "leaf pile" and what a leaf pile may be used for...until now. Finally, we were able to make a leaf pile the girls could play in, and here it is...


They spent a lot of time playing in their leaf pile. Once I walked by and they were playing Hide-n-Seek. I wondered how long that would last--afterall, there's only so many places you can hide in a pile this size...

They, of course, did a lot of running & jumping into the pile, with some added tricks...

Then, after I had cleaned the rest of the yard and was inside, Faye (the Mini-mom) came in to let me know that she layed two eggs and she was waiting for them to hatch in her nest. I asked her what kind of bird she was, and she said "a chickadee-dee-dee-dee."

A few minutes later, I went outside to see the nest, and this is what I saw (Faye informed me that her eggs had hatched and they were now, her sweeties)...

Jumping Stream

I don't know where my life is flying off to, but I can't believe it's Thanksgiving week!! We have been busy, busy, and I find myslef "purposly forgetting" my camera, so I have the excuse not to have to worry about saving the pictures, blogging, etc. Pretty bad, I know.

Well, my girls have also been busy, busy. Yesturday they had the Primary Program, and they both remembered their lines perfectly, and even remembered not to mumble their lines! I had many people tell me Daisy is a good singer, and no, she did not sing any solos... :):).

Last week they built a "Jumping Stream." When living in Weatherford, Grandma Payne took my girls to "Jump X-Streme" (a big bounce-house). I realized that my girls misunderstood the wording. Kind of like the song, "Jesus Wants me for a Sunbeam." My kids always say, "Jesus wants me for a Sun-BEEP. Yeah, it's cute, and I SHOULD correct them, but I figure it can wait a little while...

Here's their Jumping Stream (blankets, pillows, cushions, stuffed animals, etc.--all piled up):

I hope you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving, and, as my girls Thanksgiving cups say, "Gobble 'till you Wobble!!"

Soccer Ends

Soccer is over...it went by very quickly, I must say. Here are my two soccer girlies, with their trophies...

Daisy will be Daisy...

And Faye will be Faye...

It was a lot of fun watching them play their first season of soccer!!

Grahm Cracker Houses

Appearantly we didn't get enough sugar from Halloween. This last week, Daisy was talking and drawing pictures about going on a Daddy-daughter date and making gingerbread houses. Daddy asked them what they wanted to do for their Daddy-daughter dates after their soccer games. Of course Daisy's reply was gingerbread houses, which the other two wanted as well. And Daddy delivers (close enough)...

Faye's grahm-cracker house...

Daisy's grahm-cracker house...

And Lizzy's grahm-cracker pile...uh, I mean, house...

Confesion: Brian and Tawnya are very competitive. They each took a daughter's house and tried to make it the "tallest." I will not tell you who did who's house, and I will not tell you who won (Brian might get offended and use the excuse that he only has one hand). :):)

Halloween

This year's Halloween was pretty low-key. I did not spend any money on costumes, and I really didn't want very much candy in our home, so we gave away candy that we'd gotten at the Trunk-or-Treat (on Thursday night). Should I admit to that?? Anyway, here's our traditional dinner of pumpkin casserole, and graveyard pudding. I usually do cool-aid with dry-ice, but the store was out (and sadly, I was grateful :)...


...and I forgot to get pictures before we went out, but here we are at home. Faye had already taken her belt off, so I told her to just hold her buckle. Hmm, d'ya think they're on their Sugar-drop?...

...maybe this one's still on her sugar-high...

A First for Faye

She did it!! Faye read her first "real" book this week!! It took her a few days, but she read the whole "Green Eggs and Ham" by herself. I even remember reading this book as a kid, but I don't think I was 5--I was probably 10. :):) She wanted me to makes sure and write on my blog that she read the last 16 pages in ONE day (she counted them herself). That's my readin' girly...



...and yes, those are blue lips, because in her other hand is a blue rasberry dum, dum. :)

Pumpkin Trail

For playgroup on Friday, we went to the Lubbock Annual Pumpkin Trail; however, it had rained (and hailed) Thursday night, so the pumpkins were turned upside-down so the rain could drain out of them. It was still fun looking at the bottoms of the TONS of pumpkins, but when we talked Daddy into coming with us that night, the girls were SOOOO excited. While we were waiting for Daddy, I asked the girls to clean the front room...they cleaned the front room, their bedroom, made their beds, cleaned most of the library, got their shoes on, and asked for help to get their sweaters on--all in about 20 minutes, and without me asking (we need another Pumpkin Trail)!!

When Daddy did finally get home, he changed his clothes and was putting his shoes on when Faye came in. She very seriously declared: "You can't wear THOSE!! We're all wearing boots!!" Daddy obediently put his boots on.


I think there was close to 2,000 pumpkins there (or more). Here's Daisy by her favorite pumpkin-the Texas Longhorn (at least she didn't try to swing on it's horn, this time :)...

...and then there was the Daisy pumpkin...

...and one of Faye's favorite (a butterfly)...

...and one for my Valentine Baby...

...and this one's for Mom Payne, the Trekky (there is Lubbock Star Trek Association, just FYI--at least that's what the sign said for the group that donated these pumpkins)...

...and a few Payne-ful Monsters (watch out-they're gunna scare ya'll)...

It was an exciting family night. I think it was much better seeing the pumpkins right-side up, and at night, when they were all lit-up with candles. Fun, fun.

I like to look for Rainbows...

...whenever there is rain,
And ponder on the beauty of an Earth made clean again.
I want my life to be as clean, as Earth right after rain.
I want to be the best I can, to live with God again!!

Well, I think I got over-confident in my blogging; or at least over-busy. I have not posted for a while, so here are a few posts (kinda like I use to do :). We have been very busy with church assignments, as well as homeschooling, work, and life. Brian is just as busy with work stuff as before he took Step 3 of the Boards (and we thought it would be easier!). Life is good, though, and I absoluetly LOVE being only 10 minutes from the Temple!! I wouldn't mind staying in Lubbock, permenately, for that reason, alone, but we will see what the Lord thinks about that later on (being closer to family would be nice, too).

Apple Orchard...with Daddy!!

In all the outings we've been enjoying, it seems like it's just been "the girls" going out-to the corn maze, the Ranching Heritage, the TT Museum, playgroups, the ASL class, and even to most soccer games/practices. However, last week Daddy got to come!! He actually had 2 days off...in a row!! It was a very fun experience, and so after Faye's soccer game (Daisy's was earlier in the morning), we went to the apple orchard in Idalou ("I-duh-loo"). We all ate too many apples, got a little sunburned, and just enjoyed having Daddy around...
Faye (of course) took it upon herself to be in charge of the bucket of apples...

We got a ghost pumpkin, to Daisy & Lizzy's delight. Liz did not want anyone to carry it, except herself...

...and she was sure proud of herself (and "her" pumpkin)...

Daddy thought he'd be funny and put his "pumpkins" up for sale (only for me to buy)...

Ranching Heritage

One of our favorite places to visit in Lubbock, is the Ranching Heritage Museum. They have ranch houses, that have been refurnished/restored/relocated to this one area. I love homeschooling and being on my own schedule. Both times we've been to the RH, we were just about the only ones there. The girls love looking at the homes, and Faye is our little "map" girl. At the beginning, they hand out a map, telling information about each of the houses. Faye always is making sure we are at the right house and on track with the map...
There are Jack-rabbits all over the place, and it's pretty cool to see them hopping around. Here are the girls, stopping to look at one...

And here are two monkeys on a longhorn (I took this picture quickly, so I could tell them to stop swinging on it. Daisy looked concerned and asked if it was because it would break it's horn off?)...

Daddy's Wisdom

Brian actually got off early from work today (a VERY nice surprise)!! Having finished STEP 3 of the Board Exam (this week), he enjoyed his spare time: He did some wood-work and spent time with his daughters. While playing with his girls, I listened and laughed to the council he decided to give to Faye:

"Listen, Faye, this is really important:

You can pick your friends.
And you can pick your nose,
But you can't pick your friend's nose.

AND

I can pick my nose,
But I can't pick my daughters,
But I can pick my daughter's nose[s]."

Either way, that's way too much nose-picking, in my opinion! Whatever happened to a nice roll of TP (I mean "Toilet Paper", not my initials:):)???

Rain

Yesterday afternoon I wen't grocery shopping with the girls. When we were finished, we walked out the doors, and much to my children's delight, there was a very heavy down-pour of rain!! They were so excited, and I figured it would be a good time for me to try to be like my children, so instead of waiting at the doors, we plunged into the rain. Within about 5 seconds, we were all soaked (and so were the groceries). After swimming home, I told the girls they could go to the backyard to play while I put the groceries away. Liz was so upset, because I wouldn't let her play in the front (I don't think she made the connection that there would also be rain in the back :):). I picked her up kicking and crying and carried her to the back. As soon as she saw the rain, her cries changed to laughter, and off she ran. This is just about what all my girls looked like when I was done puting the groceries away...

Game Day #1

Faye and Daisy had their first soccer game...ever! (on Saturday)

Faye did not have her uniform by the first game (the company who said they would have them ready, didn't). So, here's little Faye-lette in her first game. Coach told her to wear a pink shirt and black socks. Faye's team is the Heartbreakers...

And Daisy is on the Bumblebees team. She has a little stuffed animal bee that she named "Honey" and brings to her practices and games. I guess he's the mascot...

While watching these short videos, you must realize, each of them has only had 2 soccer practices, and they are only 5 and 4...

On this video, the other team had just scored a goal, so they were lining back up at the center. Daisy knew her spot (a little too well), but I do have to brag that I did get on video, the one time Daisy kicked the ball...in the whole game. I hope you laugh like I do every time I watch this...

Faye was a little shy, and she is mostly just trying to figure out what she's suppose to be doing. But she had fun, and is looking forward to practices and game #2...

After watching my girls play, I have my own predictions of how the season will end this year: Daisy will always be Daisy. Faye is very competitive, but also shy. If she gets over her shyness, just maybe...

I sure have a ton of fun watching them and all the other little critters running all over the field. They are all so cute!! There are some pretty competitive parents out there, though... :):)

An a-MAZE-ing Day

Today the Lubbock Corn Maze had a Homeschool Day, so we decided to take advantage of it. Here are my aMAZEing girls in an aMAZEing cornfield :):)...

Here is an ariel view of the maze...

Not only did they have the maze, but there were lots of other things to do...

The "Cow Train" was probably 2nd favorite of the day...

This was the 1st favorite (he he)...

Ok, so this was really the 1st favorite (it wasn't the maze, cuz that took too long, and Daisy kept wanting to know "Mom, how do we get out of here?!!"). We went on a hay-ride, where they took us out to a huge pumpkin patch, and they let you pick pumpkins for really cheap. I guess I have some mighty cute girls, cuz the man driving the tractor only charged me half the price of our really cheap pumpkin, and then he made a special stop later to get "baby pumpkins" for my girls...

Daisy really liked the "ghost pumpkin" and wanted to make sure I got a picture of it...

Daisy and Lizzy playing in the corn teepee...

Don't I have such a cute Pumpkin Patch that I'm growing!?!...

Faye wanted to be the horse (of course), Liz wanted to be pink (I think), and Daisy sure had a hard time deciding between the goat and cow (somehow)...

By the time we got through maze-ing, cow-training, lunching, hay-riding, outhouseing, pumpkin-patching, and farm-animal petting (which I forgot to get pictures of), my girls were plum-tuckered out...