Too Perfect

   The day before I was planning on taking Rachel somewhere to get her 3 year old pictures taken a friend called and asked if I wanted to go with her to what she called, "the best bluebonnet patch she had ever seen!". I said heck yes I do!!! PERFECT. So we loaded up all the kids and headed out to take pictures on a beautiful spring day. I had so much fun! And of course conditions were too perfect to just take pictures of Rachel! 

Miss Maggie

Time for some goldfish...

I love this one of her...

 Of course right when we were about to leave was the time when Maggie finally warmed up to the place and all the people around her. She started playing peek-a-boo for everyone...

Look Mom, no hands! haha!







The Payne Girls...  

Part Three- The PARTY!

Birthday girl picking at the food with each leg on a different stool... and she still wonders how she could ever fall! haha!

Digging in!!!

Oops! We forgot to pray first! "Pop will you please say the prayer?"It doesn't matter who is called on to say the prayer Rachel starts praying before anyone else gets a chance. And no one ever stops her. We just say two prayers instead! haha!She makes me want to be a better person. I love that girl.

The CAKE!!!

Adding the butterflies...

Happy Happy Birthday Rachel dear!!!

She was a expert candle blower this year! I was impressed.

No one try to help her with those presents. Trust me, she doesn't need any help. I tried.

She liked her new princess doll...
And sunglasses!!! We've already lost and found those things like 5 times! I'm considering attaching them to her somehow.  Maggie decided to help herself to the cake during the present opening. I'm pretty sure we were all thinking the same thing, however Maggie was the only one who could get away with it.

ooooo... a backpack! with lots of books! Yes!

And Miss Maggie finally got her piece of cake... It was seriously the best chocolate cake I've ever tasted!

Who's birthday is next? MINE! I'm thinking orange and yellow balloons... haha, just kidding. sort of. 

Part Two- The Zoo and a Pocket Full of Posies

We decided to go to the zoo on Rachel's birthday. Have I told you how much I love the Fort Worth Zoo? It's perfect- shady, the animals are usually out, and it's just the right size. The girls and I have season passes. Plus what Wildlife girl doesn't love the zoo? Rachel and Maggie can never get enough!   

Watching the Elephant drink with it's big ole' trunk! 

Feeding the birds...

"How old are you today Rachel?" 

"I'm three Mom."

It was a beautiful day for the Zoo. We went out to lunch and then headed home. But instead of taking naps- the girls played Ring Around the Rosie. Wow! It was hilarious! Maggie couldn't stop laughing! 

Just looking at these pictures gets me going again. It was so funny to watch!

As soon as they stood up and grabbed hands, Maggie would start to giggle. And giggle. And giggle!!!

I don't know if you can tell but she is still laughing in this picture. In fact, I don't think she's even breathing! haha!

Birthday Celebrations: Part One

   I had a good time decorating! Balloons, puff balls, butterfly garland, and streamers!!! Yes!!! I love birthdays! Here we go! Right before we opened the door to the girls room...

Nana and Pop surprised Rachel and were there the morning of her big birthday day! She was so happy to see them! Me too!

The streamers were a hit! And certainly didn't last long...

"No Maggie! Don't mess them up!" I think Maggie enjoyed them the most. hehe...
Balloons!!!
She was so excited that she started showing her grandparents all her "tricks"...

The CAKE. There is a story behind this cake- Pop told Rachel about a month ago that if she went poop in the potty he'd get her a big pink cake!!! As soon as Rachel pooped in the potty for the first time she immediately exclaimed, "Pop get me a big pink cake now!!!". I told her he sure would. It so happens that all of this week down about a week and half before her birthday. So this isn't only a birthday cake, it's a poop cake!!! hahaha! And I tell you what- it was beautiful and huge and sparkly!!! Here's Rachel getting her first gander at the cake...

Pursed lips translates to... very very very very pleased.

The big THREE!!!

Birthday girl in her special streamer chair! (which also didn't last long. Like I said, Maggie had a good time too! haha)

No messing around when it comes to pancakes! Like a tiger!

More to come!

Happy Birthday Rachel Lynn!

   I can't believe it! My Rachel is THREE!Really, 3? How in the world did that happen?"How do you do it again Mom?"... She's still working on getting that pinky down... hehe...   "You are the prettiest girl I've ever seen Mom."  She tells me that almost every day.

She wears those pearls every single day. She loves pink and pearls. I asked her today, "What's your favorite color?"Pink."What's your second favorite color?"Pink."What's your third favorite color?"Pink.Well, there you have it folks.    This is the winner. My FAVORITE picture of the shoot! It will be treasured forever. I told her, "Smile like a princess!" and immediately she cocked her head to the side and gave me this little smile... 

My springtime girl...

I love this one... This look has Rachel written all over it!

And the many faces of Rachel Lynn Payne and those sparkly root beer eyes! Or should I say fizzin root beer eyes? The girl loves root beer.

Rachel: "No more pictures Mom!"

Mom: "If you smile I'll give you ice cream!" Not exactly the smile I was going for and it lasted all of one second followed by, "Now can I have ice cream?"  Having a grand time on the big, red tractor and yelling out, "Gig'em Aggies!"That's my girl!I asked Rachel where Daddy went and she told me that he's in College Station fighting bad guys. I said no dear he's in Afghanistan fighting bad guys. She said, "Asafganastan? Oh." haha.   These get me all emotional... "Look, Mom- stars!"
Just beautiful.