Ranger School Targets

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.

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...







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!

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. :) 

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.  

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!!!!

Seriously, since Rachel was born shes liked anything spicy.  She loves chili, red beans and rice, jambalaya, fajitas, jalapeño 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! :)

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.  

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. 

Goat- look me in the eye when I'm talking to you! haha

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! :)

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.