Mason's crazy hair

Just loves being naked....go figure.

Mason has such fine hair that it doesn't take much to make it stand on end!

Nothing better than a little power nap after a good meal. Mason's favorite foods include: avacado, "red" fruits, mom's spaghetti sauce, pasta, and french fries. Yes, to all you critics out there, my 9 month old son has already been tainted by deep fried foods (but few and far between).

Payne grand-baby #7

No, I am not pregnant, my sister-in-law Peggy is!!! Congratulations to Brian and Peggy, this will be their fifth bundle of joy. We have been told it will be a little boy...finally, Easton will have a little brother to play with. We are anticipating the arrival of this baby just in time to celebrate Christmas (EDC: 12/21/2011).

Our "new" home

We have moved!!! We packed our two kids, two dogs, and 1914 square foot house and moved ~6 miles east, putting me back into the exact neighborhood I grew up in! Thanks to everyone for all your help with painting, child-watching, and moving. We couldn't have done it without you all!
It has been a crazy 3 weeks...but we are finally settled (okay, getting settled) and finding our routine in our "new" 40 year old house. We just got the internet back today, so pictures will follow soon.
We will miss the memories of the old house (and the vaulted ceilings), especially bringing our children home from the hospital to that house, but we (especially Brandon) love the huge backyard and extra space in the house (2300 sq ft and close to an acre of land). Luckily, I did not have to sacrifice my walk-in closet in the process!
The kids have adjusted pretty well, just a few nights of asking to "go home". Brandon loves to run around the house and is obsessed with being outside (or anywhere that Kevin is! He is still in his "Daddy" phase).

We are so excited for the monsoon season at this house. I can't think of anything better than sitting on the back porch and taking in the smell of the desert after it rains.

Anybody know of anyone who is looking to rent?

Mason's 2nd tooth

Mason is finally getting some teeth in...good-bye my little gummy grin. I can't even imagine how many trips to the grocery store I will have to make on a weekly basis when Mason can drink milk and eat more "real food".

I have been told lately to not rush this stage of my child's life, that sometime soon I will look back and miss these times of infancy.
Here are some things I know I will miss:
-Holding my babies on my hip and having them hang on like little monkeys
-the baby fine hair my children had before their first haircut
-having them cuddle on my chest as a newborn...love, love, love this.
-back of the knee fat, neck rolls, and the softness of their skin
-nursing my babies, is there anything better than the self sacrifice of nourishing your baby?(I will not miss the breast pump!)
-making them giggle (it's just pure happiness)
-the look on their face when they first see you after nap time (Mason just seems so excited to see one of us)

Backyard swing

It's tiring chasing after kids all day!
Chloe, Ally, and Brandon enjoying the tire swing.


Brandon loves the tire swing, thanks to the previous owners for leaving it behind!

Mason waves bye-bye

caught in the act of playing together! Who me?
Mason loves to wave good-bye, point, and clap.

Mason's 9 mo check up

I grow large children! Mason weighed in at 22 lbs (80th%) and 30 inches (90th%) tall. He is right on track to be a big boy like Brandon! All is well, he is healthy and not due back until his 1 year check-up.

Sunset views

The view from my back porch. There is nothing better than an Arizona sunset.

Brandon is excited to spend his first night at our new house!

4th of July weekend

This hoilday weekend was spent painting our new house intead of going to see the Payne family in New Mexico (as previously planned). It took about five to six days (with the help of Diane, Jim, and Luis) to re-paint the ENTIRE house. I absolutely love the classic taupe color from Home Depot, it's very warm and comforting.
The previous owners definitely had interesting color choices. Keep posted for the before and after pictures!