Saturday, October 30, 2010

Trade or Treat

I had been looking forward to our ward's Fall Festival for weeks... for several reasons... to visit with people and eat yummy chili, but mostly to see how Rachel would like the whole "Halloween experience".  Plus, I couldn't wait to see how her costume, that I MADE! (well, the tutu and bows) turned out.  As you can see, I'm pretty proud of myself- I don't normally make those sort of things- but it was so easy, and hardly any sewing!  Thanks Meredith for showing me how it's done! (and for letting me copy your daughters costume! hehe)

I was so excited to see her reaction to the whole thing... Would she freak out? Would she try and start a fire? Would she want to stop and eat every piece of candy she was given?  Well... she didn't do any of that... instead she'd walk up to a trunk, say "tik teak", and then offer one of her candies for one of their's.  She was insistent.  She just had to bargain for the good stuff.  I tried to explain that it was all free, but she just kept trying to trade.  Well, it was either trade or grab and run, like she was getting away with something... (she does that a lot)...

our cute pumpkins



Photobucket

my little zebra!
Photobucket
She loved the jack-o-lanterns. Completely fascinated.  Even kissable.
Photobucket

She loves getting attention from the older girls at church.  You can just see it in her eyes... already her role-models
Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

 
Photobucket



Halloween is exhausting!  Thank goodness for Nana's who come to the rescue and chase down crazy little zebras. ;)

Friday, October 29, 2010

It FINALLY happened!

I have been dieing for this to happen, and it finally did!  It was like 65 degrees this morning, and boy was it heavenly. Rachel and I had a great time playing at the park. Even though she totally stole my apple! haha. Notice she's wearing PANTS in these pictures. yes, pants! So exciting. I love fall. :)

Photobucket


Photobucket



Monday, October 25, 2010

zapped

I've been tagged.  I usually just ignore these things, but since I was called out by name I figure there's no way out of it.  And I wouldn't want to blow off my good friend Rebecca! Only 5 questions- shouldn't be too painful.
Here we go...

1. What is your dream car? why?
My current dream car is far too embarrassing and has only been revealed to Tyler...
But I will share my future dream car.  It's something like this...




Photobucket


Not necessarily this make, model, or color... I'm just a simple Texas girl.  I want a four door pick-up truck in some crazy obnoxious color like yellow or fire-engine red towing a beautiful big speed boat.  You know for our dream home out by the lake... with all my kids and grand-babies being whiplashed around on tubes by Tyler... ooo yeah... thats the dream. Can you see it?  I sure can.

2. If you could trade lives for a day with one person who would it be and why?
I've thought long and hard about this and it might sound lame, but I would trade lives with my little Rachel.  I want to remember what it feels like to be so carefree, innocent, and happy.  Plus, I'd like to know what the heck is going through her mind!




Photobucket



3. If you were a chocolate dessert which one would you be?
Easy.  I like chocolate-chip cookies.




Photobucket



4. What is your favorite holiday? (birthdays don't count)
I just love Easter. Definitely my favorite. Spring-time. Happy colors. Sunshine. Candy. New church clothes. Texas wildflowers. deviled eggs. carrot cake. family pictures. and of course.... HE IS RISEN!




Photobucket



5. Is there any hope for the Cowboys football season? A&M football season?  What needs to happen to make these teams successful?
Well, I don't follow the Dallas Cowboys... I'm a Houston Texan girl.  And... my Aggies, oh my Aggies... I just don't know. We need a spark, a leader, a good quarterback wouldn't hurt either, and we need the our tough as nails wrecking crew back!




Photobucket




Okay, my turn to pick on someone... okay these 5 questions are for Holly Larson and Caitlin Barnes...
1. If you were an animal, what would you be? why?
2. If you could only eat two things for the rest of your life what would you eat?
3. What's your dream profession?
4. If you could pick where you and your hubby would serve a mission, where would you want to go?
5. What Disney character suits you best?

Saturday, October 23, 2010

E-I-E-I-O

We went to the Old MacDonald Farm last week with a group of mommies and babies from church.  It was a ton of fun.  They had train rides, a pumpkin patch, lots of different playgrounds, pony rides, and tons of animals.  I did my best waddling after Rachel with the camera, and these are what I ended up with...

Rachel loved running after the random roaming deer




Photobucket

Photobucket

She's got a thing with looking people in the eye (or animals)... I must say, I like that about her.
Photobucket

I swear those dadgum goats kept trying to eat my baby's pigtails! No-sir-ee, not those pigtails, I've waited too long!
Photobucket

Rachel hasn't quite figured out the big kid swing yet.  I tried to help her, but this stubborn child wouldn't have it.
Photobucket

Needless to say, she ended up doing a lot of this...
Photobucket

what a fun doodad!

The smallest things make me happy. 



Photobucket

When I'm having "one of those days" with Rachel and look down at my purse and see this little guy hanging from it- I think... "I can't be doing that bad at this Mommy thing- I at least have hand-sanitizer!" And, it doesn't hurt that it's super cute! 
whatever it takes man. 

p.s.- I never thought I'd get so many comments! Thanks for sharing guys- I was waaaayyyy happier than a bird with a french fry! 

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Ranger School Targets






Photobucket

I've been thinking about whether or not I should share these with the world (aka- whoever reads this!) seeing as my goals are normally personal to me.  But, after doing some research on goal setting in the "Preach my Gospel" manual and random searched talks on the LDS.org website, I finally decided that I would share them.  Because in my own experience, I've found that when I chose to rely solely on my own strength I normally don't get very far.  So, with the help my my Savior and all of you, I hope to accomplish a few goals!
Setting goals has always been an awesome way for me to stay happy and focused on good things. When I set good goals and master them, I feel like I'm getting closer to the person Heavenly Father wants me to be.  And since Tyler is gone working on accomplishing the GINORMOUS goal of Ranger School, I thought now would be a good time to set some goals for myself. That being said- I don't know about any of you but I tend to set goals a little too high and then get discouraged when I don't do as well as I would have liked- so I've thought long and hard about setting "reachable" goals for myself.  And I think I finally know what I'm aiming at.

Targets are:
1. Spiritual Goal- Walk by faith
    - Other than Scripture Power time with Rachel- have personal Scripture Power time every day
    - Pray more frequently to myself and thank Heavenly Father every chance I get
    - Give myself compliments.  Don't allow myself to get depressed over my pregnant/postpartum body.
2. Physical Goal- Feel confident about my health and environment
   - Continue to exercise every day
   - Keep preparing home for new baby!
   - start a Daddy book and/or work on Rachel's scrapbook
3. Fun Goal- Simplify Life: Choose the better part
   - One fun planned activity each week. Something besides the usual hangout spots.
   - Learn one new photography skill each week
   - Make a new friend!
   - Be a good friend
4. Mommy Goal- Make sure my girls always know their Mommy loves them
   - No Yelling! (I know it's horrible, but I do struggle with my temper) And if I lose it- apologize!
   - Read books to Rachel every day- continue to work on animals, colors, and letters
   - Do Rachel's hair every day
   - make yummy dinners every now and then
   - take the time to enjoy bedtime
Lastly- Score myself on how I did each week before Sacrament meeting. Which probably means Saturday night, seeing as Sundays are such a blur with a toddler!
Targets identified! Now it's time for a bullseye! :)

Alright now people--- Yes YOU! Leave a comment! I don't know what it is about comments but they make me so happy- happier than a bird with a french fry! And well I could certainly use a dose of happy. Or maybe just a french fry! haha!  So go ahead, don't be shy.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Crocs and Cankles

I live in a constant state of cankles!  For all you freak of nature women out there who experience zero swelling and fit into your skinny jeans before you leave the hospital you may not know what I'm talking about.  So, let me tell you- it's when your feet swell up so bad that you can no longer have ankles. Just leg- then foot.  It's not very attractive or comfortable.
Because of this condition that I've been blessed with- HA!, none of my shoes fit anymore.  Thats right zero. So, I wear flip-flips 24/7.  But then I found these. I never thought I'd own a pair crocs. No offense to you croc lovers out there but they are obnoxious and ugly.  I don't care how comfortable they are- they are ugly. But then, while Tyler and I were strolling through the mall we passed the croc cart, and they had lots of different- slightly less obnoxious shoes.  And I found these...




Photobucket


Not too bad, eh?  And when my feet go from cankle mode to elephantiases mode, they don't give me blisters.  YAY! So, if you happen to have this condition, give crocs a try!

Thursday, October 14, 2010

And it begins: Ranger school Day 1

You know that "looming" feeling?  The feeling that seems to float in the air all around you until it finally hits you in the face? You know...


It's like when you're franticly looking through your notes for something you forgot when your professor announces, "Notes Away, Pencils Out"
It's like running out to the mat to shake hands before the ref blows his whistle 
It's like when you're just moments away from giving a talk in church
It's stepping up to the plate and staring straight into the eyes of the pitcher
It's like dropping your husband and best friend off at the airport knowing that you're not going to see or talk to him for a long time. 

Well, that feeling has been floating around in the air for the past couple of days, and it finally smacked me in the face today. And I gotta say it wasn't fun.  But I'll tell you what is fun...


Making an A on a crazy hard exam
Wrestling your heart out and defeating your opponent after the 6 longest minutes of your life
Feeling the spirit so strong and winking at your hubby from the pulpit after giving a talk thinking... "I could totally do that again!"
Hitting a line drive to right-center and sliding hard into 3rd base
Embracing your husband as you hand him his newborn baby girl. 


Yeah... nothing gets better than that. :) 







Photobucket


After finishing all the packing and getting all the paperwork together, Tyler went to the backyard to play with Rachel.  I got out of the shower and found them playing with a turtle they found.  I thought it was pretty cute.  It was like they were in there own little world not even thinking about what was going to happen in the next couple of hours.  While I, of course, felt like life was ending! haha.  So dramatic.  Seriously, I wasn't planning on it, but the emotions overcame me.  I'll just blame it on being pregnant... although I'm pretty sure that I'd be gushing pregnant or not pregnant.  
I am so proud of my amazing husband... no matter what happens in the next couple months, he'll always be my Moroni-like warrior.  

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Spicy

While chopping onions for supper tonight, Rachel came up to me fussing a bit.  This is pretty normal, I don't know why but ever since she was just a little thing dinner cooking time was her fussy time. But this time she kept pointing to the onion like she wanted it.  I thought, What the heck, she can play with the onion if she wants. So, I handed it to her.  Immediately she took a huge bite out of the raw onion.  Did she think it was apple?  Nope.  She took another bite, and then another.  This can't be normal. Do any of your children do this?
Tyler went outside to get the camera out of the car, while I tried to take to onion away- I still needed it for dinner!



Come back with my onion!!!!
Photobucket

Photobucket



Seriously, since Rachel was born shes liked anything spicy.  She loves chili, red beans and rice, jambalaya, fajitas, jalapeƱo chips, and gumbo.  She girl eats salsa with Ritz crackers. I suppose that her spicy taste buds match her feisty personality. I love this little girl so much. She makes life... well SPICY!  I love it! :)




Photobucket

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

It's always the free stuff

We went to the Houston Zoo today.  And the thing Rachel loved the most was the flock of pigeons by the front gate.  Sometimes I wonder why we go anywhere.  

Photobucket
A lady gave Rachel a cracker to feed the ducks-- little did she know she was really feeding my baby. I love the big bite mark in the cracker. 
Photobucket
Goat- look me in the eye when I'm talking to you! haha
Photobucket

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Country livin

We always enjoy going up to Weatherford to visit Grandma and Papa Payne.  Rachel especially enjoys it when cousins are there too!  Josh and his family, as well as Brain and his family where there also- that means 7 cousins to play with!  YAY!  We love being Pains!  oops, I mean Paynes! :)




Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Texas State Fair

We went to the state fair up in Dallas last week, and it was a blast.  Thank goodness it wasn't too hot though!  Out of all the attractions, shows, rides, and livestock, the free fountain was the highlight of the trip. As soon as the kids saw it, clothes quickly got stripped off and we had us some wet babies!  It was a fun day.




Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket