Taylor

Taylor...she is growing up too fast, and she is probably thinking she can't wait for the next few years to pass. I remember the very first time I meet her...I was nervous! There she was in ponytails, cute as could be!

I remember each time I felt I fell in love with my kids. With Taylor it was marked with this enormous disappointment that I missed something that was important to her. I had just had Macey and Taylor was in a guard performance in Indy. I got up at o'dark thirty, packed my kids up and headed to Indy. I dropped my kids off at my mom's and went to watch Taylor.

It was raining, and I got lost, and when I walked into the gym she and her group were just walking off the court. I had missed her by minutes. I had to bite on the insides of my cheek to keep myself from crying. I was so disappointed that I had missed her!!!

I still have the wrist band they gave me when I paid my $5.00 to go in. It sits by the kitchen sink, in a basket that I keep my wedding band in. What a small price to pay to know someone had snagged you by your heart strings, and you didn't even see it coming!

Our Apple Tree

Congrats on New Baby Devries

My friend Amanda called to tell me that she had her baby girl today! I am so very happy for her! It got me thinking about my babies...and even if my scanner does a terrible job I still thought I would post a few baby pics of my own. Here is Gavin getting to see his little sister for the first time.

This might be Gavin's first picture ever. Little did he know it was only the tip of the iceberg.

Here's to days wondering if you will get to shower and change your clothes...living out on the sofa nursing, changing, and soothing yourself as well as baby.

The reason we callled her blue eyes for so long!

Gavin's first trip to the pumpkin patch...I think the pumpkins are bigger than him!

Macey's baby annoucement pics...wearing my baby dress.

Amazing, how they grow!

My favorite blogs

Since I have started blogging I have found a few blogs I check in with almost everyday. I thought that I would share them with you, maybe you will enjoy them as much as I have.

Everyday I have to start it with A Cup of Jo. Friday's are my favorite days to visit her blog as she always post cool things she has found on the web. Thanks to her my wallet is also a little less full, as I am always finding something that I would love to buy!

Then there is my favorite wedding photographers. Maybe someday they can take my family's pics. Check them out...Mike and Bobbi.

Then there are two amazing mom's who have shared their stories via their blog/blobs. I admire their optimism in spite of the curves that life has dealt them, Nie Nie and Regan.

For those of you who would like a little entertainment there is my husband's favorite blog that is updated every Sunday. I find it a little disturbing, sometimes it is very funny, and sometimes very serious. Next thing you know you will start wondering if it is someone that you know who sent in a postcard...Posted Secrets, what would yours be?

I like this one too....That is Priceless, I can't help it...it just makes me laugh sometimes.

There are many more, but these top my list. Do you have a favorite blog, or a blog of your own? I would love to know!

A Hello to those who have moved to Heaven...

Most times that we leave Bridgeton we each leave a penny to Aunt Kay to let her know that we are thinking of her.

I would like to believe that she sees this same little girl waving a hello and telling her to send her more pennies back from Heaven, just from maybe a different perspective.

P U....

So my dog is allergic to grass...did you know that a dog could actually be allergic to grass of all things? We've been giving him some medication this last week to help him with his allergy, however apparently makes him have to pee. So I thought this morning, I would make sure I took him out before my shower in case he really had to go...and in hopes of not picking up or stepping into a puddle on the floor.



At 6:20 a.m. this morning my dog stumbled upon some visitors around our yard barn (shed) and tried to get them to play. It was dark, but I saw the shadow of their tails raised up in the air and started to scream...panic..for our dog to just come back. And if our dog did not surprise them, I didn't help by screaming. There were many of them...all tails arise.



I thought maybe we were lucky at first...but as he ran back to the door I could smell skunk...and even then I was hopeful that they had missed him. I leaned my head down and didn't have to lean far, but I still had the smell now in my hair, on my pj's and on my hands to get him on his chain. I wondered what my boss would have said if I called in because my dog got sprayed by a skunk? And as I walked back into the house, I stepped into a puddle of pee!



To all my facebook friends I am so happy for your suggestions. I actually did call my groomer to see what we should do. Paul and I were not about to put him in our cars. And while I considered spraying him and myself with Frebreeze...I just sprayed the house. I am happy that he didn't find a porcupine! And I am grateful to Anne who told made a suggestion that we followed and worked. Now Jack is back to his old stinking self, and little whiter, and smelling slightly of skunk.



P.S. Thank you Paul for being a great husband and washing him for me!

It's Almost Fall

Usually I love fall and everything about it! In the past it has been my favorite season! However as me and my kids grow older I tend to dread the coming of winter. I hate the idea of being shut in for the winter, driving in snow and ice, flu season, and cabin fever! I truly hate winter.

While I am looking forward to cooler temps (yet it is to be 92 tomorrow), fires, carving pumpkins, and fall colors...I just want to suck all I can out of the last few days of summer! I am going to miss all my flowers.

I am going to miss the looking up at the trees when they are full of leaves!

I will miss bare feet, and being able to let the dog out without a winter coat.

I will miss the sunshine, and playing outside with the kids!

How I Keep My Kids Quiet

I feed them oranges!

Although I cannot promise that a stray giggle, snort, or humming noise will still be heard. This one talks in her sleep.

Birthday Pickle

Some people have birthday cake...Gavin had pickles...

Looks a little hot!


wow...look at the smoke!



Gotta love trick candles!





Hope it is a good birthday wish!

We Remember

From September 11, 2010


Today I told my five year old about 9/11.
Deepest thanks to all the American's who give up time away from thier loves so people like me and my little girl can live a peaceful life!

I’ve been very reminiscent these last few days in the wake of Gavin’s eleventh birthday. He came to me in such an uncertain time in my life. He was to complete my idea of the perfect family that I had envisioned in my head. Instead of him completing the puzzle, he became the glue that mended my heart back together. He became my reasons. So many reasons…reason for getting up in the morning, reason for smiling when I didn't feel like it, reason to grow up, reason to better myself and to be brave.

I remember the days that followed his birth we had so many visitors. Too many really! Happy as we were to share our new bundle of joy I remember when we finally got home and he and I were left alone together, just Gavin and I. I took him outside to swing him, and told him all the things we were going to do together in his life. I fell in love with him right there in our backyard on the swing, just the two of us.

You know when you have a child that it is going to change your world, but Gavin not only changed mine, he defined it. There are countless lessons that God has taught me through Gavin and the people that are important to him in his life. The biggest lessons being forgiveness, waiting for God’s timing, and most importantly that even if the love you desire is not there the way you envisioned it to be…it is still there if you open your eyes to see it. My love just came to me in the form of a toe head boy, with slobbery kisses, that liked to pull my hair.



I may not be his best friend, or the best mom, but I love him six million and it has been an amazing journey watching him grow into a young man. Together we have come a long way!

Happy Birthday Gavin!!! We love you!!!

My Everything...

My love, my genes, my entertainment, my company, my muse, my frustrations, my worries, my happiness, my reason for believing in God, my hopes, my dreams, my past, present and future, my expectations, my view from the camera lens, reasons to keep going...to keep exceeding... there are lots of great things in life, but these two are the top of my list!

An Extra Day

What do you do with a lazy extra day...we chilled out, played video games, watched movies, did a little yard and house work, and went to Cheese Burger in Paradise to eat Chocolate Nachos. Yummy!

Indy...

My kids are in love with Indy...so on any one's birthday we have dinner downtown and walk on the canal. I think without us even trying it has become a tradition in the Payne/Brown house. Gavin wanted to eat at Hard Rock...so Indy here we come. And even if the rib fest was going on...we still snag a space to park and hiked the canal. What a beautiful day! Here are a few pics of the kids on our walk.

Everyone has a hero...

Macey's hero is her daddy! My hope is that she always remembers!

To my Husband...I love you!

Just a reminder that marriage is a true gift, and that we should always take time to love the one we are with.

p.s. this is as sad as it is good!

Danny & Annie from StoryCorps on Vimeo.

The Kids