PROUD WIFE MOMENT

My sweet hubby has been competing the last few months in the best warrior competition at several levels. Because I don't really understand all the army lingo and the order of all the levels I will just say it in plain and simple ENGLISH terms. Nolan competed first in Ogden with his unit, than went to a higher level somewhere else, then this weekend flew to Washington as the only soldier from his unit and competed. The soldiers get tested in many different areas such as land navigation, rifle range, and then they go before a board and answer army knowledge questions. He did so well and he won a "soldier of the year" award/medal. Nolan I just have to brag about you because I am so proud of you and as hard as it is, and as much as I hate the army I LOVE YOU and am SO PROUD OF YOU and your strength and courage. Thanks for serving our country and doing your best! CONGRATS and I LOVE YOU!

Retreat 2009

Scrapbook Retreat 2009--aka "The best day ever!"
My mother in law is a DIE HARD scrapbooker, every year, twice a year, she gets us tickets to a scrapbook retreat in Salina. I have opted out for only once a year because I just can't handle the intensity of 2 a year :) It is so fun to spend time with my sister in-laws and mom in-law! We go from 9:00 a.m. (well Debbie has us go an hour early to get a good spot) till 6:00 p.m. This is a full 9 hour day! Literally you scrapbook the ENTIRE time and only stop for the lunch they bring in for you! You get SOO many pages done..and your body ACHES by the time your done..but WORTH it! Thanks DEBBIE for letting us have so much fun together!

Melissa had tshirts made for us this year SO CUTE! On the back they say "the best day ever!" That is what Debbie squeeled one year while getting super excited about some products she had purchased..and it has become a family saying (mocking is more like it)

Debbie on her scrapbook HIGH

Hard at work!

Melissa loving all 9 hours!

Jenny measuring her ribbon according to the directions!

Perks of having a photographer in the fam!

So my brother took these pictures for us and did an amazing job! We love them. I have posted them on facebook and a few on the blog already so I wasn't going to do a whole post about them, but my life is boring and there was nothing else to blog about! So here they are and if you want his website it's brandonpaynephotography.blogspot.com

Man I have the most gorgeous husband ever!

This is my favorite of Nolan he looks so handsome!

This is Nolan's favorite and I think mine too!

Thanks Bran!

Snow Bunny Revealed

Ok so I don't exactly blog to much, I leave that to Janica, but it's a special occasion. My "Big Bertha" (sorry Albert I had to say it) and his lovely wife invited us to go up to Alta Ski Resort for "Ski Free After Three". I of course being the snow addict that I am got so excited, Janica on the other was less enthused to put it politely. Well being the great wife she is agreed, to go just because she knew it would make me so happy to have her up there. The days leading up to the event were a bit nerve racking for her. Janica is not a big fan of skiing due to the lack of control that she has with such long skis. I had this problem, until 5 years when I discovered Snow Blades. I am pretty sure this is what the good man upstairs uses when he hits those powdered clouds in the sky. Well having the instinct that I have I convinced her eventually to give them a try. Snow Blades are much shorter than normal skis, allowing better control. I compare it to roller blading on snow. So the big day arrived and you could see the nervousness on Janica's face. She was hoping for an out. Well we got to the mountain, and We were off, you know Jan is unsure when she won't talk. Well it didn't start out with a bang more like with a splat, right off the lift. The good sport she is just put on a smile and we headed down. I am not joking when I say that she picked it up right away. She was snow-plowing for most of the first run, but by the end she was a natural. I was so proud of her as we made 2 more runs, and each time getting better and faster. At the end of our 3 runs I braved the question, " So honey how was it and A, and A+?" With a giggly smile replied, "A." Wow what relief I was so excited. There is no better feeling that when your wife enojoys an activity that you yourself love so much. Later on she mentioned that she would like to do it again and that she had a really fun time and wants to go again. Well needless to say Janica made my month. I am so proud of her for trying something she hated with a new twist. She's great! Here are some pics of the event. Thanks Albert and Jen for the great time.

SHE' GOT IT!!!!!!!!!

The Gang

Classic pole lickers

Getting ready for the slopes

HELLO Mr. SUN

It is 52 degrees outside and I am LOVING it. The sun is shining and I feel like winter is over. Is is just a little trick? Or is spring really around the corner? I hope it is a sign of things to come! I love the sun and I love Spring! It has been such a good day for a walk I have been on 2 already! Yea for Mr. Sun making me smile today! (of course my parents are enjoying Mr. Sun everyday for a week in the Bahamas..nope not jealous at all!)

A new member of the family!

Introducing Savvy Payne
Breed: Morkie (yorkie maltese mix)

No sorry it's not the first grandchild in the Payne family..but she is Almost as fun!After only a week of all of us begging for a dog, Mom and Dad finally agreed and put some stipulations into place that the kids agreed to. Many people ask...how many dogs is this for your family? Your trying again? YES, we are trying again and it doesn't matter how many previous dogs we had! We decided to switch the breed..ALL of our previous dogs have been Bechon Frise. They are the cutest things but not the SMARTEST! Savvy has already out smarted them by day 3 of her entering the Payne home :) She is so cute and has the cutest personality, she is a little ball of energy and LOVES to cuddle! It's so fun to have her isn't she the CUTEST??

Will really loved her and is so soft with her!