Mason brought home his gingerbread house today (from school).

Cutie pie!

just trying different setting on the camera

Kweiser Christmas celebration

Siblings that remain (3 of 5)..Teddie, Lou, Jan

Remembering Gram

Ruth spreading some of Gram's ashes...

She will be watching over us.

Looking back onto Gram's final resting place...

We spread Gram's ashes today.
There I said it, but can I be honest, I have been kinda dreading this day for weeks.  
Those of us that were able, hiked up the Linda Vista trial head to this spot to lay Gram to rest.  It was a beautiful morning to hike and Gram had picked a perfect place to be laid to rest.  She wanted to be able to watch over us...you know to help keep us all in line as she did when she was with us.
I had yet to post any of this until today (5/31/17) and I have chosen to back date this post to when it occurred to have an accurate time line for my family.
Gram was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer on March 8, 2016.  She chose to forego treatment, instead opting for home hospice.  She passed away on October 30, 2016.  She was one of the most influential people in my life and she will be missed by all of us.

My favorite time of the year

We are heading out to Kevin's holiday party, but first let me take a pic of these handsome fella's!

More family get togethers

I hope Brandon stops squinting his eyes for the camera soon!!!

Our little family.  Yes, I made them take these pictures....how else would I end up in them???

Love this picture except the photo has a weird spot over Mason's mouth...

Brain & Easton

The Payne boys....just missing all the Payne girls to this family get together!

Thome holiday photos

Here are a few of my favorites from taking photos of the girls!

Holiday photos

So handsome...

Here are just a couple of my favorites from our photo shoot at the Linda Vista trail this am!  Kevin and I are getting better with my camera.

Happy Halloween

Mason, Charlotte, Wesley, Brandon, Austin, August

Mason-Michaelangelo; Brandon-Albert Einstein

Another Halloween was spent with the Steward family! We are fortunate to have such good friends to be with for all occasions.

Jack 'o' lantern

I still have a lot of learning to do when it comes to my camera, but I love being able to capture all our memories.

pumpkin carving with mom

We carved one pumpkin this year as we just couldn't part with our harvest from the pumpkin patch!

pumpkins and lizards, oh my!

Mason's pumpkins!  the white pumpkin is from our day at the patch and his orange pumpkin is from his class field trip to the patch!

my lizard whisperer!

Halloween parade at school

We are ready for the halloween parade at school!
Mason, Brandon, Dakota (bus stop buddies)  

puppy love

We love our dogs!

More celebrating for Mason

 The boys love to take pictures with my camera too!

A few more gifts after Daddy cam home....

goof balls

Happy anniversary to us!

Happy 10 years to us!  Unfortunately, Kevin was out of town for work on our special day but that didn't stop him from making me feel special!  Love all my boys to the moon and back!

Mason-6 year check up

Mason's 6 year old well check stats:
 65 lbs
 50 inches tall

Yep, you guessed it!  Mason is still trending in his growth curve, which would be the 97th percentile!
Mason has gained ~9 lbs and 3 inches over the past year.  At this rate, Kevin and I both may need second jobs to pay the grocery bill!

Mason loves all things Ninja Turtle, Hot Wheels Cars, and of course anything to do with guns (he is a Payne after all!).  He is following in the Payne footsteps and is gonna be a great hunter, he loves to go shooting with Daddy and can fashion just about anything into a weapon.  You can often find him outside on the porch carving a stick into a knife with his leatherman.

He is loving the start of Kindergarten and is making new friends!  He especially loves to ride the bus to and from school.  He has yet to lose his first tooth but has a couple loose teeth in the front.  He is sleeping so much better now that he started Kinder and is not taking naps at Preschool!  He is quickly learning his kinder sight words and still loves to be read to.

Favorite foods; pasta with Parmesan cheese, berries, chocolate, cottage cheese, chips/salsa, and Momma's taco burrito's!
Favorite movie: whatever we last saw at the movie theater together

Early birthday gifts...

Yes, a new bike!  Since Daddy was will be out of town on his birthday, Mason got to open his main gift ahead of time!!!

Gifts from Aunt Gail

birthday crown from school...

B

Brandon

picture day

love these handsome boys!