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:):)???