Colorific!

"I love all of you. I like all of you. You guys are the best like the Bom Digitty Dood!!!"

"You guys are the best. Rock on, rock on , ROCK ON!"

Tonight Elise got the crayons out and Luke, Nesssie and Elise entertained themselves. It was so quiet around here that I had to take a picture. When Luke saw me taking pictures he turned around in his chair, faced backwards and then slowly turned back around. He was trying to NOT smile. It was so cute. Vanessa kept checking out all of the crayons and announcing to everyone that they were "MINE" (hers). Yes, she has learned this word... and she does use it! Elise was in her room writing secret messages. She went and put them in the mailbox and then came to me and said "Mom, you forgot to get the mail." I responded ( not catching on) " no, I got the mail today." Then Elise said "well, I think you might have left some in the mailbox." ( now, I clue in.) So, of course I go to the mailbox while she is peeking out the window watching me and I find several "letters" to me. All of them telling me how much she loves her familyand how she wants to live good so that she can live with us through Eternity. There are no words to descibe moments like this. I love my kids, they are the best!!!

HOME SWEET HOME

I thought I would post a picture of our new home...well, new to us. We moved in February of 2007 and we have loved having our first home. It was built in the 90's so we have done some updating and remodeling inside. With what a busy year it has been we have not been able to do all that we wanted. Hopefully, over the next month or so we wil be able to finish what we have started. We also hope to finish the basement within the next little while.

Money Pit

Last year Nathan and I bought this Dune Buggy. We are excited to have it to just play around in. The kids love it... well at least Elise does. Luke and Venna are afraid of it. Later this summer we are planning a trip to Fairview to stay in a cabin and go on some trails that are around. The place we are staying has a swimming pool and tennis courts and a park. We are thinking of carting a babysitter along to watch the wee-ones while we go out on the trails. I'll let you know how it goes. ( notice the name of our little buggy?.. I named it and the name fits perfectly!)

Dear Lizzie...

I had so much fun with Amber today! She took me to Dear Lizzie, in Highland for a birthday lunch. What a fun girlie place! It was so nice to be able to just sit and enjoy ourselves. I told Amber that we need to do it again. Thanks to my Dad for watching the kids! For those of you who have never been to Dear Lizzie, I highly recommend it. Its not a very kids friendly place so make sure you leave the kids at home,find a good friend and enjoy!! P.S. Dont forget to get a dessert, they are absolutely dreamy!

Say Cheese!

Here is the deal... I have been wanting a new smaller digital camera for a long time. I have a nice camera but I have wanted a smaller one that is not too burdensome to carry around places. Since I have started this blog I told Nathan that in order to have a nice blog I "needed" a new camera. Much like I "need" a pedicure or any woman "needs" chocolate. So, the other day I was with my mom and we saw this cute red camera, I just had to have it, so I bought it and I am loving it! One more reason to love blogging huh?

Hot Summer Days

This week was such a fun week. My birthday was on Wednesday and Nathans was on Saturday. Nathan worked on Saturday and so I got all the kids in the car and we visited him for lunch at work. It was quite the process for me. Having 3 kids under the age of two makes for an interesting and tiresome day when I have to buckle them all in, go shopping and try to fend off all the looks I get from people that have "Lady, ever heard of birth control?" written all over their faces. OHHH... What a life I have. After all is said and done (when I finally get the kids down for a nap) I think of how blessed we are to have such a cute bunch of little ones. SIGH...

This week I also got to spend some time with one of my best friends in the whole wide world, Amber Purles. I love this girl. We went to Thanksgiving Point Childrens Garden and had a lot of fun. Elise loved to play with Ben so much that she went with them for the afternoon. When she got back home she asked me who I thought made a better Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich, Amber or her? Apparently she had eaten them for lunch and had been pondering this. She really wants to be the best at everything. Sometimes I think that she is a little TOO sure of herself. I love her stinkin guts! Shes a fun one.

Luke and Vanessa are going through this stage where when I put them down for nap time they take everything out of their cribs...including sheets. And after they do this they jump on their beds and laugh at eachother. Its really cute to sit outside of their door and hear them go through this process. Well, cute for the first 100 times! When I walk in their room to tell them to lay down and go to sleep they hurry and lay down and fake asleep. ( Like they are going to fool me that they have been sleeping.) I have to make the beds all over again and sometimes we go through this process 2 or 3 times before they finally give up and go to sleep.

Marcus is starting to unfold. I thought his eyes were going to be Vanessa's color but I think they actually might be blue. It's so fun to do his curly hair. I really hope it stays curly. I would just love that! We went to church for the first time since he was born and he was a dream!

Elise is Famous

While searching the internet we found pictures of Elise at Gma and Gpa Lookers wedding in Santa Barbara a couple of years ago. http://www.amedleyphoto.com/ It is the photographers website. She is on the homepage and on one of the portrait pages. My beautiful girlie girl.

Catch up...?

Well, we have officially joined the blogging community! Now, the problem is deciding where to start with filling you in on what has happened in the last 7 1/2 years since Nathan and I started this little "Garden" of ours. I guess I will just give you the basics....hmmmm.

We have 4 children.

Elise Haven Payne
aka Ellie,Elle,Leasie
6 years. Elise is very smart! She is a great leader and the best little mommy to her siblings. She loves water games and she sees everyone as her friend... no matter what their age. She is learning how to do her own hair which is always very creative. She has also informed me that sometimes I "just don't get her style" when it comes to picking out what she is going to wear for the day.

Lucas Anthony Payne
aka Luke, Lukie, Lukie Duke
22 months. Luke is our oldest twin. Luke is such a funny little boy. And I mean boy with a capital B! He is constantly using his hands or placing them on his hips. He acts a lot like his Grandpa Jay although you can tell who his daddy is . Luke is very sensitive to those around him, especially Vanessa, his twin. Luke loves to gives hugs and is very tender. His favorite movie is Cars although Monsters Inc. is a close second. Luke loves to be outside and is very sad when its time to come in. Luke loves Marshmallows and he also loves to Jump. His favorite book is The Big Hungry Bear. Luke's favorite saying is "there it is!"

Vanessa Anne Payne
aka Nessie,Venna, Nessie Noodle
22 months. Vanessa is very girlie. She wears her emotions on her sleeve. Vanessa is shy and new people are pretty scary to her. However, when she comes up to you and tickles your leg you know that "your in" and she considers you a friend. Vanessa loves to find a beat to the music. She catches on very easily to what is being said around her. She understands more than she can say. She loves to let her big sister get her dressed. Vanessa is a good eater, she especially loves noodles. This is why one of her nick names is Nessie Noodle. Vanessa's favorite saying is "I want..." and she loves to tease her brother. Luke and Vanessa's favorite game is "body slam"... WWF style and Luke doesn't always win.

Marcus Jay Payne
aka Markie
3 weeks. Marcus was a lovely surprise to our family. He is a very mild baby. We cant wait for him to come alive as the days pass on.

Happy 29th to me!

Today was a great day. The kids slept in late and I got to relax in bed until 9:30! I went to lunch with Elise, baby Marcus, Steph and my mom. Nate watched the twins while he realxed as much as he could with a pounding migrane headache. We went to Gandolfos, which always reminds me of Emily. At the end of lunch mom bought a piece of chocolate cake and she put a toothpick in it since she didnt have a candle. While we were eating the cake Elise announced that "now I was 29 because I had ate my cake". Next year I wont eat cake so I dont have to turn 30. Ha ha ha. I am so blessed to have such good friends and family that never forget my birthday. It makes me feel so loved. Thanks everyone, for making my day!