Keep on Keeping on...

So like everyone else in the blogosphere that isn't a professional blogger I quit blogging. Sad but true, it got away from me. I've recently started working on Deakon's baby book using Project Life and have suprisingly ended up looking to this little blog for tiny details that I have forgotten and even pictures that never survived two complete computer meltdowns (learned my lesson the hard way and now am the proud owner of an external hard drive). Searching through my posts reminded me of why I started doing it in the first place. I'm so grateful that I have pretty much Deakon's entire first year documented so I can be reminded of all the little things that time helps your brain forget. 

So I'm going to keep on keeping on with my little family blog. No one may read it anymore but I know that my family down the road will cherish my posts filled with memories and bad grammar. :] 

So for a little fresh start, Deakon has something he is so excited to share...

...we are thrilled!

Halloween Celebration...

We decided to make the most of October and pack it full of Halloween festivities. 

We "boo'ed" a few of our friends with our favorite Monster Mash Treat...

Let me tell you Booing people and trying to do it secretly is super tricky with a four year old. 

 He loved it though, especially ringing the door bell and running like crazy.

 (Deakon getting his boo face on.)

Then we went to Pheasant Farms and picked pumpkins, looked at farm animals, and even found a cute little lady bug. 

Deakon's heart broke when we wouldn't let him bring his lady bug friend home with him. Like, as in had a little meltdown in the middle of the pumpkin field. He even tried to put it in his pocket thinking I wasn't paying attention 

(I'll be checking pockets apprehensively from now on). 

...and of course he was more excited about the Ladybug than picking the perfect pumpkin. 

A week later we carved the pumpkins, The middle is Deakon's. He put his hands in the pumpkin and said "ewe grwoss" after that I ended up carving it. Lame. He did want a mean face though, which I may be a little biased but I pretty much nailed it free hand. Preston's is the creepy one, let me tell you pumpkin carving is not for the faint of heart. By the time I was done with Deakon's my hand hurt so bad. Half was due to a long week of work but by the time I got to my pumpkin I clearly gave up and carved a lame heart. 

Finally Halloween came. His latest obsession has been Planes. If you couldn't tell from his birthday party.  Deakon's costume was his favorite so far. He told me he wanted to be Duddy Duddy Crwop Hopper. So preston and I put this little diddy together. 

He loved the costume so much he went around all night making airplane noises. SO cute. The look on his face made the work completely worth it.

Deakon fell asleep in the car before he even started.  We woke him up and took him to a little suburb and let him go from house to house.  Then we went to our ward trunk-or-treat. They had cars all lined up in the parking lot and a fire in the middle where everyone hung out and visited. 

We then went and treated ourselves with a good dinner. 

October is over. Whew! Happy Halloween. 

Team Payne's Summer According to Instagram...

Our first summer in Washington was great! The weather was amazing (I'm told it hasn't ever been this good), we worked a lot and played a lot. Including two trips to Idaho. Whew!... Now we are gearing up for Fall; family pictures, rain boots, hot chocolate, warm hats, pumpkin everything, preschool, and Seahawks Football! not going to lie, it's kind of fun having a "home team" to root for. 

I used the awesome Simple As That 6x12 insta templates and Project Life Blush Edition Digital Paper Packs to make these collages. I print them out and put them in our project life album at the beginning of each month. Love 'em.

A Quick Little Anecdote...

So the other day Deakon and I went to see Dr. Hawley for his well child visit, she wanted to evaluate his speech so she started to ask him questions...

Dr. Hawley: "Deakon what's your favorite fruit?"

Deakon: "mmm...fru nacks!"

Seriously kid...way to make me look bad.

Dr. Hawley: "Okay, what's your favorite vegtable?"

Eyes up toward the right corner of the ceiling, hand cupping chin, index finger tapping lips,thinking really hard...

 Deakon: ..."fwench fwies!"

Who gets the worst mom of the year award...This momma.

So here's proof that Deakon, your favorite fruit at the age of three is in fact bananas. NOT fruit snacks.

Silly Kid.

Besides Blogging I've...

Been landing jobs left and right. Okay not exactly left and right but compared to my luck in Idaho things have really turned around. YAY! I have managed to be hired at two different offices working a total of three days a week between the two. The offices are so nice, the DDS's are awesome and I'm really liking getting paid to do what I learned in school. Plus I'm home enough to feel like I'm getting in quality time with Deakon as well. It's great! So much better than the eight months I was left jobless in Idaho. I finally received my license in January and was hired at the offices a week later.

Enjoying being home with this little dude. He's getting quite the personality and our conversations we have daily are beyond my favorite. His little brain is starting to put things together faster than I can keep up with...

 Making grand attempts to catch up on Project Life. I've tackled 2012 and bought a new kit for 2013. It's brought back my love of scarpbooking. It's easy, and cute and I love that I'm actually documenting our everyday moments...

Finishing Deakon's room. This room has been a work in progress and I think I'm getting all the little touches put together... I will do a post about that soon.

 (Also Preston and I got a new king bed, cue the angel chorus singing hallelujah! So with a new bed naturally comes a new bedroom for us. Right? uh-huh.)

Being Preston's cheerleader. Ya know in October when we came out here Preston took a standardized Police exam that sends results to various departments in the state that accept the test. Well, not far after the big move we started to get letters from police departments saying he needed to take the new version of the test that came out in January and they weren't going to accept the old tests. FRUSTRATING. Needless to say Preston took an exam for Bellingham Police department who are looking to hire and is ranked #6 on their list. That's huge! So now we wait, and wait and cross our fingers, and see where that leads us. 

Visiting Idaho, man I miss home...so bad. I got to hop on a plane and visit for a week or so. It was so fun, and made me miss home even more.

We spent quality time with family and went and visited very missed friends...A visit to Chik.Fil.A and Cafe Rio may have happened a time or two as well.

 Celebrated Grandma No no's 90th birthday. 90. crazy. Love that sweet woman.

Also I've been fighting off the urge to get one of these...

 source 

I want one so bad! I either need a bunny or a baby and the baby thing isn't happening as easily as it did the  first time. At least that's my counter argument in Preston and I's bunny debate.

Hip-pity hop...

Dear Deakon,

Just a quick little note...When you were in my tummy I had mommy day dreams about us cuddled up on the couch, or in your rocking chair while reading a book. You would giggle and point and pay attention to all the cute little pictures. You would love to have me read to you. Reality check... you honestly couldn't have cared less about making my day dream a reality.

 Since you were tiny your attention span has lasted oh...um, about 2.5 seconds. Only lately, within the last few months or so have you really started to pay attention to the books I attempt to read to you. You love the bright cheery pictures, and pay attention to the story-lines. It's gotten really fun to read to you. We usually read a book right before "quiet time" aka: nap time (can't call it nap time anymore, if it has the N-word in it you absolutely refuse to sleep no matter how heavy your little eyelids are). We also read right after prayers and before bed. You choose a book and Dad or I take turns laying in your big boy bed reading to you. You love it when I read in character voices, point out colors, and letters and shapes.

 Although my favorite part... my VERY favorite part is when I'm done reading, you ask to read the story to me. No matter how tired I am. No matter what kind of day we have had, I take the time to snuggle next to you for a few more minutes and listen...

Listen to you re-tell the story how you see it. You have a good little memory and can repeat the story back to me pretty seamlessly. However it always has a cute little three year old spin to it. I love that time of day and will cherish it forever. Love you to bits, Mommy.

{Favorite books currently are: Tickle Monster, Boogie Monster, Splat the Cat, your ABC Book, and the Little Quack Books.}

"Happy Balentimes..."

That's how my tender hearted three year old says it. Pulls at the 'ol heart strings every time. There have been a lot of happenings in our home since we made the move. All of which could be a post all on their very own. Which I don't have the patience for, nor do you have the time to read that many posts. I've never been the type of blogger that feels like I have to keep up on our lives in chronoloigical order. If I fall behind, I fall behind. If it's that important I'll write about it anyway. Catching up with everything that goes on is burdensome and takes the fun out it. I just pop in here and there and document things as I feel. It can cause for some inconsistency on the blog, but whatev. I'll mention all the changes eventually.

 Until then we celebrated Valentines day like everyone else... a day full of chocolate, pink, red, hearts, and love.

That cute subway art was a birthday present from Lyssie. She made it herself, she's graduating soon with a major in graphic design. You better believe I'm going to take full advantage of that. :] 

Home made tortilla chips and nachos for dinner. 

 

This little man stole my heart from day one.

Merry Christmas...

Last Month In Idaho...

1. Black Friday shopping started at eight o'clock Thursday night. 

Just Lyssie and I grabbing purchases like a boss.

2. Packing began, this is the only way I could get anything done. Cute Stinker.

3. Some last minute gifts to give people we love. I'm learning to embrace my own handwriting.

4. A Favorite things gift exchange held for Janae and I. Cute party, good food, and generous hosts.
 Thanks Kellie, Camber, and Mel

5. Gutting the apartment. Packing a moving van twice (don't ask) and cleaning.
This little apartment has so many memories package into it.
 I brought Deakon home for the first time here, we finished college here, and hit five years in our marriage in this home.

6. Turning into our drive way into our new place. 

The goodbyes were the toughest part of that road trip. The transition has been bumpy at times but so far we are good.We are excited for Christmas. Whoever the crazy person was that decided to move during the busiest time of year should be shot. :]

We have been busy here. Preston went to work for Hill Moving until we hear from some police departments. I have been un packing and trying to pull Christmas together and getting everything lined up to get my license so I can find a job. I'm also trying to ignore the fact that we will be having our first Christmas alone. It's going to be tough I'm trying to come up with activities and traditions to fill the holiday season with.
I would love to hear any Christmas family traditions you may have!

Does saying it out loud...

Make it official?

Yes. Yes it does.

Preston and I have spent the last three months or so trying to make a huge descion. We have finally made it. although saying it out loud or typing it on the blog makes it so final and so official, which makes me more of a bawl baby than I already am. I can't stop from tearing up. We are moving. To Washington.

I have imagined my whole life of raising a family in the same little town that I grew up in. Some people might think that is lame or naive, but it's what I have pictured. Firth really is a great little town to be in. It's small enough that everyone waves to each other, even if they don't know each other. Yet it's not secluded like other little towns. Running into Idaho Falls to run errands takes about 20 min, rather than making a monthly trip into "town" as you would in other small towns.

When I married Preston I knew that there would be more of a chance of us not staying around my family. We stayed in Idaho because we met at BYU-I and My hygiene program was at ISU. The fact that Firth was practically smack dab between the two towns was a bonus. My family living two minutes away...a double bonus. Preston didn't think much of the place when we first were married. Most of it was kidding to push my buttons. As we were debating on the move Preston confessed he didn't want to move. He had grown to love this little place. Which made the descion even harder.

Why are we moving? Simple. We both went to school, graduated from college so that we could have careers that would provide for our family. Since Preston graduated in 2009 he has had no luck in finding a career oriented job. Like zip. zero. He was offered a job in Washington nine months after we had deakon but I had gotten into ISU literally the same week. We decided then that I needed to finish school. He turned down the job. Since then our goal was to survive school. Preston has worked as a server, then an insurance agent, a store manager then back to a server but none of them he has wanted to do forever. He still wanted to have a career in the police force. He was given a chance to interview with Pocatello Police Department but the timing just wasn't right. He's the hardest worker I know, and he's ready for a change. I graduated in May. Got my licnese in July and have handed out over 60 resumes from Blackfoot to Rexburg. With not even an interview. I did get to sub at a office in Rigby but other than that...nothing. Makes me feel like I went to school for nothing. Through the past three years our motto has been;

Source

The truth is this area we so desperately want to call home isn't working out for us. 

We have finally admitted it.

Before Halloween we went to Washington to see what the job market is like out there. Preston also took a standardized police test and scored a 197/200. He currently has three police departments wanting more information. YAY! The visit to his home ward went really well. I was able to talk to four dentists personally. I asked them how the hygiene market was and they said somewhat the same thing I have heard everywhere "it's tight". One dentist said though "not impossible". They were more than willing to get my number and pass along my info to all their dentist friends. They weren't hiring but they all mentioned they would love to use me as a sub when they need one. That Sunday I knew. We needed to move there. I've cried. A lot. It's going to be hard to move away from everything I know. My friends, our ward, and most importantly my family. Plus Deakon has gotten to know quite a few kids while living in our little apartment. I'll be sad to remove him from that. But we have gotten an answer and Washington is the place to be. I am sad but at the same time excited. We will be around Preston's family who love us dearly, and a new place, new adventures, and hopefully new jobs quickly. So we have shifted gears and adopted a new quote from a great man who we trust with all our hearts...

Source

Luckily we still have a month to relish our time in this little place we have made home.To clean and purge all the stuff we have accumulated over the last three and a half years, to have fun last times with friends, and to enjoy the thanksgiving holiday with family. 

Halloween Projects, and a Package...

Like everyone else out there I LOVE Halloween. 

Actually if we are being totally honest I love any reason to make things and decorate my home {let's be real}. The gory, creepy frightening part of Halloween I could live without. I cannot watch anything slightly terrifying without looking around corners and flipping on every light switch in the house for a few weeks after. That's just been my thing since I was little. When I was a teen and in college however I went along with the scary stuff because it gave me a reason to cuddle with a boy. Now that I married I can cuddle with my guy anytime I want...no need for terror.  

Although I do have a confession I love to watch The Walking Dead with Preston. He was watching it one night in the middle of the second season and I was painting my toes trying to not pay attention. It got me. I started asking questions and Preston tried to fill me in but begged me to watch it. I caved with a few conditions: 1- I can shield my eyes and watch Preston watch it on the scary gory parts. 2- he narrates through the eye shielding parts letting me know what I'm missing 3- We watch something light and fun a little while afterward 4- he stays awake until i fall asleep. The plot line and character profiles are amazing! As well as the costumes and special effects. Mind you I could live without the gore. He got me all caught up on Netflix and now we watch it every Sunday night. Anyway that was quite the Zombie side note.

 I like the cutesy child like memories type of Halloween. This is the shelf that's in my living room. I think it turned out pretty darn cute. The subway art is from the blog eighteen 25. and most everything else i have had in years past or bought at the dollar spot in target. I also printed off Deakon's costume pictures from the past two years. So fun.

I also found this Cute printable at it works for bobbi's blog. Even though I only have one little monster I thought it was still cute.I put it above my desk {which I refinished and haven't even taken a picture of}.

Then there was this little project that i undertook... I saw a wreath like this on Etsy for like $40.00 and thought phsst...I can make that.

 This baby took some diligence and patience, and a lot of burlap. It is huge, mainly because Joann's didn't have an 18" wreath frame when I was there, all they had was a 24" frame. I didn't think it would make that big of a difference but man it did. I bought the burlap with double coupons which made it pretty darn cheap. Then the very next morning I got this little lovely in my mailbox...

Talk about timing. I was annoyed, I got the burlap for cheap but this would have made it even less.

Oh well. I just started cutting the burlap in strips, tying, and bunching. Multiple hours and $20.00 later it was  it was done. I do understand now why they wanted $40.00 for it.

 Other than prepping for halloween and getting Deakons costume together we have been busy sending a greenie car package to our favotire missionary in Ohio. B has been in Ohio for a few eeks now and had said in emails that it has been quite a culture shock but he is loving every minutue of it. Deakon has been asking "where's B" and I tell him he's on a mission and he always replies "B on a mission? I want to go on a mission"
It's cute. So we thoguht we would send him a little :greenie" package. Hopefully he gets it and loves it.

We Have a Birthday Shout Hooray!

Well the Birthday Boy is wrapped snug in bed, with new toys (Bulls-eye and Woody) in each arm. A full day of celebrating being three years old under his tiny little belt. Man he's cute, being his Mom is the best thing that has happened to me.

Three years full of hugs and snuggles, growing and learning, and dare i say it...Sass. This kid is a spit fire ball of energy. Three years old is especially fun, because he's getting the birthday/present thing down pretty good. I love that he gets excited for things now. Although I have heard that the terrible two's don't stop at two. That we could use a break from.

We have a weekend full of partying planned, but while that is happening I'll just post his three year old pics. Bryana Likes took them and we love every one.

Happy birthday sweet boy!

Becoming A True Idahoan...

 Well, it's been slow process but the conversion is complete. Preston finally became a true Idahoan by working in spud harvest this year...

It has taken five years but Preston has come to rather like the area we live in. He'll even admit it too. He was able to take a leave from Carino's to work for Todd in spuds.He's worked into his third week, and hasn't minded it. Although driving truck is known as a cush job. When I was little I picked in the cellar for my Grandpa and that was pure torture.

 I remember closing my eyes and still seeing potatoes whiz by on the belt.

I will admit though, the smell of dirt in the cellar and potatoes is still one of my favorite smells, reminds me of Grandpa Gary.

Deak and I take dinner to Dad, Coltyn, and Todd every other night and we usually can sneak a ride or two in the truck with dad while he eats. Deakon loved being around all the trucks and machinery. Not to mention taking a roll in the soft cellar dirt. Silly boy...