October 2012

All 4 girls (including Addy--she's the black by Faye) asleep in the top bunk.

 I went and picked my watermelons from my garden.  A vine wound it's way through a rose bush and I found this watermelon all deformed growing under there:

Halloween is a fun time in Lubbock.  An event that we always look forward to is (of course) our favorite place to go: The Heritage Halloween (at the Ranching Heritage Center).  Volunteers dress up in the correct time-era as a ranch house, where they pass out candy that was created in the same time period as the ranch (ie, the Barton House built in 1905 had volunteers passing out chocolate kisses, which were also created in 1905).  We also went there with our good friends, Keating (7), Emaline(1), and Tina (mom).

 The Pumpkin Trail is another much-anticipated Halloween event.  They had over 2,000 pumpkins carved.  B was working, but we took a friend with us (Keating).  The girls really wanted a photo of the UMC display of pumpkins:

 On one of our trips to Weatherford (dropping Daddy off so he could fly to interviews out of the Ft.Worth/Dallas Airport), Krystal saddled up Glory for my girlies.  They always amaze me with their abilities on a horse.  They got skills their momma don't have :)...

 Josh & Jill and clan came for part of one trip.  It's so fun to have cousins...

And we were lucky (or blessed) to be there when Aunt Krystal got her mission call: Everett, Washington!

 Another event taking place was the Texas State Fair.  We went on the "cheap" day, and rode the 210 foot ferris wheel.  Faye's scared of heights, too.  :)  It was a lot of fun, but we were tired at the end of the day!!:

Titan Soccer: I signed up my girlies for soccer this year through the homeschool league.  Faye and Daisy got to be on the same team, The Green Team.  Here they are warming up (or trying to get warm on this morning) for a game...

 And Lizzy lu-who was on the Blue Team (younger league):

 The end of season award ceremony and lunch.  This is Coach Lap bragging about his team.  He was a very good coach, and I think we just might be doing Spring Soccer...

 And here's Coach Michael bragging about this really cute team.  I love watching 4-year olds play soccer! :)

Faye, and her really good buddy, Makaela, just two houses down.  She is a fun girls with great parents.  Moving next summer will be really hard for this reason right here.  We have been very blessed to have such wonderful neighbors.

Halloween 2012

Astronaut Daisy

 Dr. Liz & Dr. Payne

 The Masked Rider (aka: Faye)

"Guns Up"

 Happy Halloween 2012

randomness in lubbock

Here's a close-up of Addy (just woken up from her nap).  I am now a believer in pet-therapy.  If y'all have kids with anxiety, a cute little Addy dog could be just the cure...  :)

 I have a funny quirk with grapes.  I want a bag of grapes where I can eat every single grape.  I don't like throwing grapes away (I even ate a grape once that wasn't so good so I could say--to myself--every grape is edible).  Not too long ago, I got two bags of grapes in a row, where I did not throw one single grape away (or eat a bad one).  All good.  They popped perfectly, too.  Quirky.  I know.  It was a simple thing.  Didn't tell anyone (until now).  But it impressed me enough to take a picture...

 A momentous day: Daisy caught wearing pink!  Liz talked her older sister to be "matching" (these are Lizzy's two tutu's).  Once observed, I got the camera out quick.  Daisy does not like pink.  She's a green girl.  Who knows if it will happen again...

 Daisy likes chia seed.  She calls them "sprinkles" and loves to pile them on her jam and bread (also loves to make a mess)...

work, homeschooling, etc...

I can't believe I'm actually blogging.  It seems like my last post wasn't that long ago, but I guess time is once again playing tricks on me.  :)  I'm just going to start with now, and if I can do older posts, so be it.  If I can't, oh well...

Life has been very good to us Paynes right along with being busy.  B has been extremely busy with work and interviews!!  Interview season is now over, and I am grateful to have my husband back in my life.  He is planning to do a fellowship in Pediatric Emergency Medicin (PEM).  It is a 3-year fellowship and we will find out if and where we match on November 28th.  So excited!! (but dreading the move--I don't enjoy that so much).  We would be moving in June 2013. 

I have really been enjoying the privilage of homeschooling the girls--they are so silly, creative, diligent, and fun as we do school each day.  There are so many moments of gratitude as I observe and instruct them, but there are those moments of feeling overwhelmed and inadequate.  I got this shot of Faye last Wednesday--she woke up, made her bed, said her prayers, got dressed, fixed her own breakfast, fed her doll, took her doll for a stroll, then began school all by herself, before I had made my bed. :)  I found her doing math with Jayne Payne (doll) and Addy (dog).  Now that's one diligent girly!  These are the moments I love homeschooling:

Liz needed help with her math on the computer a couple weeks ago.  I kneeled down to help her, and Addy walked over and curled up on my legs for a quick nap.  She's such a cuddly dog, we've really enjoyed her.  And B just installed a doggy-door (in our window :), so now she is completely potty-trained...ok, ok, I mean house-trained (with no thought on my part!).  Also, notice a portion of bright orange on Daisy (in front of me)?  Thanks to Grandma Payne, she is now Astronaut Daisy, and is determined to go to Mars when she grows up.  She is quickly becoming a space expert/astonomer and has already put a hole in her suit in her pursuit of her journey to space.  Funny kid...

Happy Birthday, B

We miss you, Daddy, and hope you have a very fun birthday!!

Daddy Time

Brian has spent hours and hours studying in his medical career.  Here are a few shots I've caught over the years of him studying/reading/etc. while spending quality time with his girlies...

Thank you, B, for all your efforts to spend time with your family.  I appreciate that you turn to your children when you want to take a break, because then it gives me a break, and we can have one together.  :)  You are an amazing Daddy, excellent hubby, and great example!  Your girls love you!!

Super-Dad

The father of our home
leads our family
With wisdom's light in all that's right;
My father's good to me.

Fathers are so special
with a very special love.
They watch us and protect us.
They guide us and direct us
Back to our home above.

~Children's Songbook, "Fathers" (p.209)~

9th Anniversary

August 2nd, at 9:30am, marked our 9 years of wonderful bliss (ok, maybe not every second... :), but I am very grateful to my amazing hubby who works so hard so I can stay home and have time to do what I love: Be a wife, mommy, teacher, cuddler, cook, organizer, host, athlete, coach, friend, scout leader, babysitter, dog-owner (just recent), and so many, many other things. It's been an incredible 9 years with my Doctor Payne!!

Potty Mouths

My children have annalyzed it, discussed it, held a meeting, and come up with the following declaration:

#1 = Going pee
#2 = Going poop
#3 = Going pee & poop
#4 = Diarhea
#5 = Pee & Diahrea

In their realm, it is very important to know these key codes (I guess). Do all kids think potty things are important? Did I? I just don't remember it being such a big deal. I wouldn't be surprised if they made a sign, too (I may take veto rights if it gets to that point, however).

Puppy Love

Yep. We did it. We got a dog. And, oh is she cute!!

Addy Jinny Payne (AJ)

It took more than a day for the girls to decide on her name, but Addy, or AJ, suits her well. She is a very sweet puppy, and I've been learning lots about training dogs. July 13th is when we got her--she was given to us (a friend found her). The vet thinks she is a doxen-chiauha mix, about 8-10 weeks old. I've already had 2 naps with her (I'm getting desparate for a baby, I guess). :)

Liz has to touch the puppy nearly all day. I seem to be saying these phrases a lot: "leave the dog alone" or "don't wake up the puppy" or "let AJ play for a minute" or "put her down, Liz" or "you can't do that to the puppy!" However, Lizzy's hands have a mind of their own. She is NOT physically able to leave the puppy alone. And the great thing about AJ, is that she will yelp when it hurts, but then come right back for loves and giving that sweet puppy love...

We are all thrilled to have Addy in our family, although 2 of us were very skeptical. All I can say is there must have been some very faithful little girls praying hard for a puppy... :)

Faye's Tri

On July 14th, Faye ran her 1st Triathlon!! It was the Texas Tech "Fit 4 Fun." Here we are, before the race...
Faye, lined up to start the swim...

100 meter swim...

Transition #1 (the big one)...

2.4 mile bike...

1 mile run...

Here is Faye with her buddy, Callan, who also ran the tri...

Every Girl Should CELEBRATE Her Successes!

We Are Beautiful!!

Faye's Time: 38:23

"If the mothers are thrifty, so are their daughters. If the mothers are modest, so are the girls. If the mothers wear flip-flops and other casual clothing to sacrament meeting, so do their daughters. [If the mother does a triathlon, so does her daughter.] Mothers, your example is extremely important to your daughters--even if they don't acknowledge it."

~M. Russell Ballard (G.C. Apr 2010)