Happy Birthday JENI!

My sister-in-law Jeni is a ...
Creative
Beautiful
Kind
Understanding
Easy to talk to
Friendly

Person. (plus a zillion other awesome attributes I'm sure..)

And not only that but she writes a blog about every person in the family on their birthday. I have to admit, on my birthday morning it was the first thing I looked at, and sometimes I go back and look at it... (just to make myself feel good). haha. She is the best sister I could ever ask for! Happy Birthday Jeni! Enjoy your very own birthday blog.

Everybody else... I'm must likely not going to remember ya'lls birthday... so don't expect a birthday blog.

Puppy Love

Rachel on a mission

Rachel walking Athena! Or Athena walking Rachel...

"Come Back!"

Attempt at a family picture... not so much...

Rachel LOVES dogs. Nicely enough... we have a dog park within walking distance from our apartment. It is so great to have a park close to our house. And, it's a really cool park, they have a playground area and a fenced off area for both small dogs and big dogs. The big dog park even has a lake! It is always hoppin with people, especially in the evening hours just before dark. Rachel just follows those dosg everywhere!!! I can't wait until we can get a dog of our own!

Farewell Weekend

Pictures at the Temple

Thank You Mark and Maggie for watching lil' Rachel! This is how I look after watching her too!

This weekend we went down to Houston for Mikes Temple trip and Farewell talk on sunday. It was a great weekend... esp. the Temple! Oh how I love the temple! We got to spend a lot of time with family. My aunt Tricia even came all the way to Houston from San Diego for a grand total of 24 hours to see Mike off. It was so much fun.

I am so proud of my little brother! I know that he'll be a terrific missionary! Good luck and we'll see you in 2 years!!!! LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!

Chucks

My everyday wardrobe in High School consisted of jeans, a t-shirt, and my orange converse. Yes I know, my fashion sense was needless to say... lacking. I figured that as long as you have a cool pair of kicks, nothing else really matters. haha

So, I have passed this down to my baby girl. We now have matching pink high-top chucks. Pretty sweet!!!! I think we look awesome. Yes, I'm going to be one of those annoying mom's who try to match their babies all the time. I'm sure they are just going to loooooooooove that when they get older... but they'll just have to get over it. :)

9 months!!!!!

Rachel had her 9 month check up yesterday... here are the stats (brace yourself)

she is around 20 lbs (she was squirming the whole time they were trying to get her weight)

and 31 inches tall!!!!!!!!

She is off the charts for her height, and around the 65 percentile for weight! I have to put her in 18 to 24 months clothes because shes so long ( I can still fit her in 6-12 months onesies cuz they stretch pretty good)!!!! And she's still walking really good, and even gets up without having to pull herself up on something. Everytime we go to the dog park she follows the dogs everywhere.

She has grown 14 inches since she was born, and gained about 11 pounds... whooah! I can't believe how fast she is growing up!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TYLER!

This morning we went to Shipleys for Tyler's birthday breakfast, and I think it's safe to say that rachel thoroughly enjoyed herself. She stuffed every doughnut hole we gave her straight into her mouth and then giggled.

I am so grateful for such a studly, righteous, wicked sweet, kind, gentlemanly, best daddy ever, lover, BEST FRIEND, hooah, strong, smart... and every other cool adjective I can think of HUSBAND! I love you William Tyler Payne! And I'm so glad that you were BORN!!!!

Cold Day in January

We got home from traveling to a FREEZING house!!! So Rachel helped me pick out her layers of clothing for the day until the heater in the house kicked in. I thought it was pretty cute. :)

My First White Christmas!

All the Payne grandchildren! 11 total, one more on the way!

Family Picture

I love this picture! Rachel Update: She took her first steps over Thanksgiving and became a pro a little after Christmas.

Her favorite christmas present was the wrapping paper of course! :)

Christmas Eve Nativity Skit- Mary (jessie), Joseph (Joseph), and Josh (the ASS)

Snow!!!!!!! I was sooo excited! Tyler and Josh attached a big tarp to the truck... it made for some fun rides!

THis is one of my favorite pics of the reunion... I think these two are so funny together

The Payne reunion was awesome!!!! There was a big dance, wrestling, football, volleyball, playing in snow, playing at Maverick, Christmas Eve dinner, talent show, and so much more. It was so fun to see everyone and PLAY PLAY PLAY!