Dream Stroller

Yep, I got one. A Bob duallie revolution stroller. Craigslist finally came through for me. And I love love love it! Unfortunately real life for me begins in about 48 hours. {sigh} 

So until then it's time to PARTY!!!  

Happy New Year!

 

Sugar Cookies

Christmas cookies have always been a big tradition in my family.  Every year we'd make tons and tons of cookies and deliver them to all our friends and family.  It is a lot of work, but we always enjoyed it.  With all the rush of getting home from our family reunion, I was grateful for the scale down.  Two batches was just right. The girls enjoyed "decorating" the cookies... 

  She knew this was going to be a good time before it even began...

for me? Why thank you Maggie! 

They made a good team...

The whole decorating crew... 

She knew just what to do! See the evidence for yourself...

I love traditions that involve cookies.  We'll definitely be keeping this one around.

Where I Come From- Tyler's Claim to Fame

This story made national news. Despite Mom and Dad Payne's attempt to erase it from their memory, the story still lives within the Payne household and is always remembered around this time of year. Let the laughing commence! I think the journalist did a fine job telling the story... 

hahaha! What a reunion! Can you imagine that? I can just hear the little Tyler screams coming from the bathroom, and I can see all the kids climbing in that big brown family station wagon with their Wendy's hamburgers going back to Nashville to pick up Tyler. Boy oh boy that must have been a long day.

Tyler claims that he was misquoted in the last statement- he actually said, "I'm never using THAT bathroom again!".  But I agree with the journalist, "I'm never using the bathroom again!" is OH SO MUCH better!   

Happy Christmas!

 

Consider yourself Christmas carded! We are so blessed to have such amazing friends and family. We love you all! Thank you for reading my blog, it means so much to me! Merry Christmas, or how little Rachel says it-

Happy Christmas!!!

Austin- "Home Sweet Home"

I never thought I'd say this but I LOVED living in Austin.  Yes, it was only 6 weeks, but it seemed like so much longer. And in a good way. 


I've become an expert at temporary living. When Tyler called me and told me that we'd be living in Austin the month before deployment started I said, "you've got to be kidding me!". I was so stressed out.  And yet it ended up being the absolute best thing that could happen.  Let me just say that the past year and half of moving around from training to training has been... hard. You just don't see things like this coming.  Even with all the preparation, schooling, and praying we found ourselves caught in the dreadful land of unemployment.  Let me tell you, it's not a fun place to be.  In fact, we found ourselves wishing and hoping that deployment would just come sooner.  Now that is just sad. 
That being said, I can tell you something that I doubted and I dare say didn't believe 6 months ago and it is this- Heavenly Father know's our situation.  And He has a plan.  Not only a plan, but a marvelous one at that! I can feel it in my bones. It's true. 
I daydream, fantasize, even squeal like a little piggy at the idea of having my own home one day.  I'm not talking about a dream house or a new house... just a space that's all mine to do with as this Mommy pleases. Oh to organize, to decorate, to build! Like I said- squeal. But I know that I have to be patient, my time will come.  All I can say is what I've already said- Heavenly Father has a plan. Look for the bare necessities. 
Austin for me was a dream come true.  I got my little space to do with how I please.  Every morning I went to CrossFit Camp Mabry, came home and took Tyler to work, played with my babies, picked him up from work, played with my hubby and babies some more, and then cuddled all night long. Now that is what I call, heaven. Oh and the amazing running trails in Austin! fabulous. It's were I really lengthened my stride and ran distances I've never ran before. It was home. It was an answered prayer. It was a dream come true.  I cried the entire way home! hahaha! What a big baby, right? I could so live in Austin again! Here are a few pictures... I'm afraid it's not much.  I was too busy being in Mommy heaven.    
     Inspired by pinterest. I may not have anything of my own in this apartment but I had to make it homey somehow!  I love my wreath!  

While on the topic of pinterest... it's amazing! I saw a picture of a little girl with her hair done like this and decided to give it a try on Miss Rachel... I like it! 

The Capital of Texas

And another one... neither one of them are all that great, oh well! 

Us out to dinner the night before going home...

trying to get family pictures with a tripod--- such a pain!! I so need to get a good family picture. Of all the shots I tried this was the most decent... and it still needs some serious help! Maggie look at the camera, Rachel please try to smile for the camera, why is there a big gap between us?, Tyler are you slouching or is the stone wall just uneven? Goodness Gracious. We need some serious help! Any takers? 

The girls weren't cooperating so we ditched them! HA! 

And just like that- goodbye Austin. I will miss you.  

Aggie Girls

My Mom always said that my Dad brainwashed us growing up.  And it's true.  My Dad brainwashed like nobody's business.  I loved LSU. And now, I'm doing it to my children. I know some of you might think this is wrong, but let's be clear- my kiddos can go to any school they want and I will support them.  Just as long as they know which school is the best. ;) hehe. 

My Aggie Girls... oh that last one is classic- "Get the heck off me!"  

I love this picture in black and white...

I love this crazy toddler... yep, I've decided she's a toddler now.  SHE'S INTO EVERYTHING. holy cow, it's no joke! 

This expression says it all- She's a MESS!

Oh, but such a sweet mess. :)

"Hi, Rachel. Thanks for smiling at me."- Mom

Hangin out in the trees...

haha! Follow the Leader! She likes to lead. 

I adore this one. Something about it, I love that sweet gaze on Rachel's face. 

My amazing friend Cheylee made these beautiful skirts for my girls!  Aren't they adorable? So flirty and fun. I would totally wear one.  Thanks Cheylee for the beautiful skirts!  Sorry it took me so long to get pictures of them! 

Haven't you heard?  Dirt is good for you.

Oh Rachel! You are too cute for your own good. Seriously, cut it out. It's killing me! 

So POOFY I'm gonna DIE! haha! 

There's nothing wrong with a good, healthy dose of school spirit.  At least that's what my Dad always said. ;)

Gig'em Aggies!

And this one's for you Dad- 

BTHO ALABAMA! GEAUX TIGERS!

(gotta be true to my roots.)

Runners Block

I have been suffering from a very serious condition. That is a very serious condition if you are a runner. Especially a runner who is due to run a marathon next month. The condition is called Runners Block.  I first reached this diagnosis the week after Thanksgiving.  I contributed it to all the turkey and bad eating habits, but after a week it just didn't seem to fade like I had hoped. 

I have been running like a crazy person the past few months!  Totaling 6 half marathons in the past 2 1/2 months and I don't know how many miles.  There have been moments where I've felt like I'm just gliding across the pavement! Five miles the week before felt like a breeze, a recovery day.  But now, five miles felt like fifteen.  Every step felt like drudgery and I couldn't keep my thoughts in a happy place.  You see, Tyler left last week.  I didn't think it would be a big deal since I'll be seeing him for Christmas, but I suppose the thought of only seeing him for ten days out of the next year has taken a toll on me, and I was letting ole' scratch get the best of me. All I could think was... one day at a time, one step at a time.  Eventually enough days will lead to a homecoming and enough steps will lead to that glorious 26.2 mile finish line. This had been my plan all along- something to motivate me and look forward to at the beginning of this deployment.   

So I continued to force myself to do everything that normally makes me happy!  Running, blogging, photography...  Until finally a breakthrough came!

It was 35 degrees outside today and rainy, but it had been two weeks since my last really long run and I could hear it calling my name.  I had the perfect opportunity to get out there while Grandma could stay home with the girls. I was determined! I just couldn't let the weather stop me!  So I grabbed my keys, a packet of gu, and a couple water bottles and parked my car at the top of the driveway and set out to run 18 miles. 

Let me tell you something.  It was cold.  Very very cold. I finally got around to my last lap when I decided to cut it short and go home, certainly 13 miles was far enough for a day like this.  But then I saw this on my dashboard...   

Bless that wonderful Mother-in-Law of mine.  She was an answer to my prayers this morning. That was all I needed. And I did it.  18 miles. 

While running that final lap I couldn't help but ponder the love of my Savior and the tender mercy he had shown me this morning.  Oftentimes I feel quite alone, but during that final lap I knew I wasn't.

The words of the hymn, "I Stand All Amazed" kept coming to my mind, particularly this verse....

"I marvel that he would descend from his throne divineTo rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine,That he should extend his great love unto such as I,Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify."

That is exactly what I've been lately. Rebellious and Proud. Too rebellious and proud to read my scriptures or say my prayers thinking, "It won't do me any good, I just don't want to, or he never answers my prayers!".         

But even with a rebellious and proud daughter like me, he answered one of my most desperate prayers this morning, "Please keep me going, please give me a breakthrough." 

"Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me Enough to die for me!

Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!"

Those beautiful words make me tremble every time. 

I wanna PARTY!

    The girls woke up the morning of Maggie's birthday celebration to this... I've gotta admit that I had way too much fun with this!  I left these decorations up for two weeks! I know it's hard to see that garland on the wall over there but it's tons of tiny little butterfly cut-outs held by some string. Like I said- I had fun. ;)

Thank you pinterest for the fun streamer idea! Nothing but a hula hoop and streamers... genius!!! These pictures make me miss our little austin home so badly, it was a good little home... 

The start of any good party and day... pancakes!  The traditional "how old you are" chocolate chip pancake... yummm

ONE! Already trying to pick out the chocolate, haha! 

 

We had a great day of celebrating as a family.  We did it a few weeks early so that Tyler could be there and I was so grateful that we did! We had such a good day. One of the best- just being a family. 

Later on Nana and Pop joined us for CAKE! Maggie wanted to grab hold of that flame the whole time. Rachel sure didn't have any problem assisting Maggie in blowing out the candle... haha, she finally figured out how to blow!  

Ahhhh! CAKE CAKE CAKE!!! Mags sure knew what to do...

Time for a couple close-ups! 

messy goodness

And the birthday girl finished out the night reading her new books with Daddy.  perfect. 

We love you Maggie!