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)

simple home happenins

Who needs a pool, anyway!?! Ha, ha...
My orchid is soooo beautiful. Ok, so I can't take any credit for it, but I still love it when it blooms...

Faye is getting re-organized (every week :), and Liz is helping her. I had fun just listening to them talk together (I am always "listening in" on my kids' conversations). I never knew socks could be such a big deal...

Make-up makeover. Hmmm... not so sure about that red lipstick. Actually, the only reason I have red lipstick is so I can put bear scratch marks on the faces of my Cub Scouts when the earn their "Bear" award...

And when there is a quiet moment, I will see if the girls will let me practice cute hair styles (thanks for showing me, Camille)...

4th of July

Daddy had to work, so it was just us Payne girls (B has had to work almost every 4th of July for the past 6 years). When we got to the parade, we found some friends to sit with. Here's Faye and Callan watching the police escort the start of the parade (I love Callan's binoculars)!
Faye has a dream to one day be the "masked rider" at Texas Tech. Guns up...

And we can't forget UMC, where Daddy works...

After the parade, we went to the park for a picnic, home for a break, then to Wolfforth to watch the fireworks. Here we are waiting for it to get dark (silly girlies)...

I had to post this: We had to leave our spot to do a potty run. While leaving, Daisy stepped on a goat-head. This picture captured the moment pretty well: Daisy, with her sob story, and Liz, with her nurturing sympathy towards the sad tale...

Ok, and here's my confession. I haven't taken my girls to see fireworks since I last saw the Malaluka show in Idaho Falls (which were amazing, like always). That was in 2006!! And this year, we were front row. Faye had a terror scream for the first 5 or 6 fireworks. Liz just wanted to curl up and not look. But Daisy enjoyed them--she wanted to watch them from the swing set.

All in all, it was a great 4th of July. The only thing that could of made it better was having Daddy with us!!

Mothers

I missed Mother's day, and I know this is weeks late, but I wanted to post something about my mothers, especially since I posted about fathers. :)

I am so grateful for the mothers in my life. My childhood was one of complete happiness, our home was a place the spirit dwelled, and I remember mom was always right there waiting for me to come share my adventures with her (if she could ever get me to talk). :) I am grateful for the sacrifices she made on a daily basis, for the love she so willingly gave, and for the example she was and is of living the Gospel. Now I have two wonderful mothers who I can talk with as my friends, who I can go to for advice, and who can empathize with me when life gets rough. To the mothers in my life, I love you and wish you a Happy Mothers Day every day, because being a mother never ends!


"A mother-daughter relationship is where a daughter learns how to nurture by being nurtured. She is loved. She is taught and experiences firsthand what it feels like to have someone care about her enough to correct her while continuing to encourage and believe in her at the same time."

~M. Russell Ballard

"I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life."

~Abraham Lincoln
"God could not be everywhere, so he created mothers."
~Jewish Proverb

"Being a mother is learning about strengths you didn't know you had, and dealing with fears you didn't know existed.

~Linda Wooten

"A mom's hug lasts long after she lets go."
~Author Unknown

Fathers

I am truly blessed to have the fathers I do. I cherish the lessons they've taught me through work ethic, through the sacrifices they make on a daily basis, and through the service they render to all around them. Truly I can say my fathers and husband are worthy Priesthood holders!!

"He didn't tell me how to live; he lived,

and let me watch him do it."

~Clarence Budington Kelland

"A truly rich man is one whose children run into his

arms when his hands are empty."

~Author Unknown

"A father is always making his baby into a woman. And when she is a women he turns her back again."
~Enid Bagnold

Sisters

"Sisters are different flowers from the same garden."

~Author Unknown

"More than Santa Clause, your sister knows

when you've been bad and good."

~Linda Sunshine

"When mom and dad don't understand,

a sister always will."
~Author Unknown