Fun in Idaho

Whitney & Connor

"Under My Umbrella, ella, ella..."

Aunt Stef w/the kids

Trying to warm up with some hot chocolate

Doug & Rebekah w/the kids

Rebekah & Sadie

Doug & Connor

Matt & me w/Doug & Rebekah

Sadie, Doug & Connor


Lunch w/my mom and Sadie not letting go of grandma!

Sadie took the boys out drinks of water


Matt, Doug & Dad playing basketball

Little Bridger

Whit and the kids

It has been so fun to be home! What a nice break. Matt is doing a Dermatology Rotation here with a guy from his home ward, so that has been so fun for him. Here are just some pictures of the past week. Doug and Rebekah came for a couple of days before they left for the summer and it was so fun to see them. I won't be able to come home again for awhile because I will be too far along to travel, so I am just trying to enjoy my time. Even if there is snow on the ground on May 1!! Global Warming huh???

A Box..Really?

Such a good big sister!

I ordered Sophie's dresser online and when it arrived it came in 3 huge boxes. So, Matt started to set it up and my kids seriously thought they were in heaven . They got in the boxes and just played in them forever. Who knew that cardboard, bubble wrap, and styrofoam could be so much fun. It is so cute how the kids imaginations just go wild with the most simple things. Then, after a long day of playing Connor fell asleep and Sadie was right there to cuddle him.

It's Still A Girl!!

Today I went in for my "re-do" ultrasound. Last time they just couldn't get the shots they wanted. They were pretty sure it was a girl, but 85% wasn't good enough for me. Well, today they said 100% girl. So I was relieved. Everything that they couldn't see last time looked really good and I was so grateful and feel so blessed. We are going to name her Sophie, and Sadie loves how it sounds with her name!! We can't wait to welcome her here, but until then, I will enjoy feeling the flutters and the kicking. I love that part!

Dallin's Mission Call

My little brother Dallin got his mission call tonight. It was so exciting! It was so hard not being there for it. But, my mom called and put us on speaker so that we could hear. Hearing his voice read his Mission Call was very emotional. He has been such an unbelievable boy. He got called to the Manchester, England Mission. Matt actually guessed it before he opened it. He said he could see Dallin going to England - London or Manchester. Here are just some pictures we have of Dal with our little family. We love you Dallin and couldn't be more proud!

Me with my little brother!!

Dallin helping Connor bat

Sadie got all dressed up to have a tea party with Dallin

Sadie swimming with Dallin

Matt and Dal at the Diamondbacks game

Our Spring Swimming Days

Sadie & Matt - it melts my heart!

Sadie & Lexi

Lexi & Connor - they wouldn't put their arms around each other!

We are seriously so lucky to live at such a fun place. We are able to enjoy the swimming pool everyday. Matt had a couple of days off and the kids were so excited to have him swimming with us that they wouldn't even let him lay out. They sure don't bother trying to get me to swim - they let me lay out as long as I want. I wonder why that is! It is so cute because they know Matt can't resist playing with them. He loves it as much as they do. The kids love swimming with the other little kids out at the pool too. Especially Lexi, so I had to get some pictures of the kids with her. She and Connor are so cute together and make Natalie and me laugh so hard at their interaction.

Spring Break Visitors

It was such a fun surprise, my friend from Idaho Falls called me and she was here for Spring Break visiting her in-laws. So, we met Erin and her husband, James, for dinner in Scottsdale. We went to my very favorite Mexican Restaurant - Pink Taco. It was so fun! Erin and I have been friends since 5th grade. She lived right next door to Matt's grandparents growing up. So, she has known Matt forever too. She has been one of my very best friends all growing up and it was so fun to be with her again, and her husband James. We got a babysitter and actually had adult conversations. Sometimes I forget those exist! Thanks for making the effort you guys, it was such a blast.

Easter

Easter is such a fun time. All of the Easter Egg Hunts, pastel colors everywhere, candy, The Easter Bunny, it really is so fun to be a child. But, for me I am so grateful that I have the knowledge of the true meaning of Easter. For my kids it really is about all of those fun things - which is fine. We have tried to teach them what it is really about, but the pastel colors of the candy and eggs tend to distract them. What I am trying to say is that now that I am a mom, and I don't wake up to the Easter Basket and Easter Egg Hunts that I used to, I have something even more important and that is a Testimony of Jesus and His Resurrection. That means more to me then anything. So, I will let my kids enjoy the festivities that this Holiday brings, hoping that one day they too will grow up and when there aren't Easter Basket's waiting for them, they will have something even more meaningful.



Sadie & Connor before church in their Easter Clothes!

Sadie after her Easter Egg Hunt




Sadie & Connor with their Easter Stuffed Animals

Connor wouldn't hold up his basket or presents so here he is just being Connor



We went to visit the Easter Bunny, but Sadie clung to me and wouldn't get near him

Connor waived at the Easter Bunny, but wanted his dad

Thanks For Coming

Going out to dinner

Sadie & Bryce after church

Connor with his Sunday Picture

Sadie beating Bryce at Memory

It was so fun this past weekend. My brother-in-law, Bryce, came and stayed with us for a day and a half. He was down here selling security systems and so he came over Saturday night and left Monday morning. It was really fun to have him here. We went to dinner, played games and talked. My kids wouldn't leave him alone. He was so good to them and they didn't want him to go. Thanks for coming Bryce, you are welcome anytime.

We Are Having A...

The pictures were so unclear that I couldn't really post one. The baby was kind of a bug today for the ultrasound so the pictures are a little blurry. Infact, I have to go in again for another ultrasound next time to get some better clarity of some of the shots they wanted. So, I will post one then. Everything seems to look good though. The good news is I know what I am having. Matt and I are so excited to be having another little girl. We feel so blessed and Sadie is so excited she can hardly stand it. Connor will remain the only boy on the Payne side for now. But, luckily he doesn't really have a clue what is going on anyway. Hopefully by the time he does realize it there will be some more boys for him.

Registration

Sadie and her Polly Pocket

Connor and his bunny ears!

I had to register Sadie for Kindergarten this week and it was so hard! I have been trying to keep her home with me as long as I could. I even held her back a year so that she would be the oldest instead of the youngest. I just can't imagine sending her to school. So, I took her with me to register and then we went and got her a Polly Pocket to make her feel like it was a special little day for her. Just to let you know, she will graduate in 2021. Anyway, I was a little sad (hormones aren't helping me out here) and we went to go pick Connor up from Pre-School and they had made bunny ears that he was wearing while waiting for me. It just melted my heart and made me smile. He really brightened my day. Being a mom is so rewarding and can also be so hard when things change and they start to grow up. I know I don't have to tell anyone this. Especially my mom!!

Gymnastics and The Ninja Turtle

Sadie had her first gymnastics lesson on Saturday. She was so excited! She did really well and looked so cute in her little outfit. When we were at the store to get Sadie's stuff for gymnastics, Connor found a new ninja turtle. We didn't get it for him. For the rest of the day all he said was, "open ninja turtle". We thought he would forget about until the next morning he woke Matt up so early and said, "Daddy, open ninja turtle." Matt couldn't resist so we went and got him his ninja and I truly think he believes he is one! His moves are crazy!

Serious About Swimming

Sadie loves to swim. We call her a fish because she swims underneath the water. She calls herself a mermaid. She loves to dive and do flips. She always asks me if I want her to teach me how to swim. Sadie loves when Matt goes because he loves to go under water and play with her. I like to smile and wave at her from the lawn chair! Sadie plays so hard that her feet blister and bleed from the bottom of the pool. Her eyes are always red because when she swims under the water she keeps her eyes open. So, we went and got her water shoes and (as Sadie calls them) gobbles. So, I got a picture of her wearing her shoes and goggles and she loves it!!

Valentine's Day or Sadie's Day?

Her Princess Bear & Juicy Fruit Lipglosses

Connor and his "Pack Pack"

I am not sure how Sadie got it in her head that Valentine's Day was all about her, but she did. She really felt like it was her birthday or something. It was really cute though to see her so excited. Connor had a little party at school and he was so proud of all of his cards and candy that he got. He also made me a heart which I hung up and he thinks it is the neatest thing ever. Matt was so sweet too. He also does such special little things for me. I love my little family. Even if one of them (Sadie) thinks every holiday is to celebrate her!!

12 things about pregnancy you'll remember forever!

1. The way your heart felt when the stick turned pink
2. The way your stomach felt after the mere whiff of a cracker
3. The look on your husband's face-and your parents', your best friend's, and your boss's - when you told them
4. The miraculous flutter of that first kick
5. The closeness you felt with your husband as you held his hand and, together, felt the baby move
6. A few months later, watching your tummy undulate as the baby played soccer in there
7. How hard you laughed over all the silly name possibilities: Horace or Mango, anyone?
8. The agony (getting yet more blood drawn) and the ecstasy (previews of the baby's face via sonogram) of all those doctor visits
9. How much fun it was to march up to the bra counter and ask for a 36D
10. How incredible, in every sense of the word, your body looked at its fullest
11. How ravenous you were that one night when you wolfed down a pepperoni pizza, a pint of mint chocolate chip ice cream, and a jar of pickled peppers - and still could have gone for more
12. How thrilled - and terrified- you felt when the labor pains finally kicked in and you realized your child was almost here...and your life was about to be transformed forever

I read this and just HAD to post it!!

SURPRISE!!

Grandma & Sadie

Dinner at Gardunos

Sadie asked mommy for "Mariposa" and she said
no. Sadie asked grandma for "Mariposa" and they
went over to Toys R Us


Shopping at "Nancy's Boutique" in Scottsdale

Obviously by the background we were only
"window shopping" at the Fashion Square Mall
in Scottsdale.

Grandma playing games with Sadie

Pool Time!!

This was such an amazing week for me. Since I have been really sick my little sister Krystal said she was going to come and help me. So, Matt and I went to the airport to pick her up. Well, we met her at the security gate so that we could help her with her luggage and Bridger. We were getting ready to walk to baggage claim and I see Krys look up at someone and I turned around and it was my mom. She had surprised me and come with Krystal. It was like I had seen a ghost. I was so shocked. I instantly started to cry - I couldn't help it, I was so happy. I had been so sick for weeks and during that time all I have wanted was my mom, so to see her standing there was just overwhelming. I have never had time go by that fast. It just meant so much to me that they would drop things in their own life to help me with mine. Matt is on a really bad rotation right now, he is doing OBGYN at a huge hospital in Mesa. So, not only is he an hour away, but his hours are awful. The timing was so perfect for them to come. The only bad part is saying goodbye, that is something I can't get used to. I look around and imagine stuff we did and see things, it really is so hard to be away from those you love. Anyway, here a couple of fun pictures.