36 Years and Counting

This year my birthday kind of snuck up on me with everything going on. I didn't even know what how to celebrate which meant low key was just fine with me...

Saturday morning I woke to meet Jorelle & Jenny for a run. It was a little cool, but the sun was out and it was beautiful and peaceful along the river. Then they surprised me with breakfast at Dixie's with Leslie & TD. It was fantastic! Giant Hot Chocolate's, Huge Breakfast, a Cinnamon roll with a candle and the whole restaurant singing Happy Birthday...Ok I was a lil embarrassed at that point, but I was very happily surprised by the whole morning.

On the drive home I called to tell the kids I was stopping at the store and they enthusiastically all 3 jumped on the phone to wish me Happy Birthday. It was soooo endearing and cute!

John did have to work in the morning but that gave me time to get myself waist deep in another disasterous birthday cake delima. As soon as he got home we jumped in the car and went and picked up the newest members of our family: Rainbow, Lollipop, Flower and Shiver. Our chicks.

The cake....well John tagged it as Typical Melanie...and sadly he's right. But I promised my girls a cake and although I was going to bag it at the last minute I just couldn't pass up Martha Stewart's Sweet and Salty Cake-Chocolate, caramel and Salt? It didn't look like much and it didn't taste that great until a day later so I guess all's well that ends well.

Luckily Leslie had my back with the YUMMIEST Trifle I've ever eaten-blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, cream. What's not to like? Did I mention Y-U-M-M-Y!

That was another highlight of the day-that and the pizza John's Mom treated us to so I wouldn't have to cook on my birthday. It was a perfect Day!!!

Thanks to all the birthday flowers, gifts, calls, texts, and wishes from family and friends! The highlight of my life are those I surround myself with, you make me a better me!

Pickin up Chicks

Saturday afternoon we headed out to Reber Ranch in Kent and picked up the newest members of our family. 4 of the cutest lil Chicks you ever did see.

Hard to believe that Tate's favorite was not the popcorn, although he did love that! He found a display of toy horses that he went gaga over! Can't believe we made it out without one in hand.

The chicks we bought were named: Lollipop, Rainbow, Flower & Spec aka Shiver

Guess who named them?

The Man Cave Reformed-Barn Room

Wish I'd taken real Before pictures with all the junk, the exposed wood and that made up this little room.

As you can see not much room for much else besides John and his saw.

We then brought in the Big Dog to do the Decorating. We always put our guests to work and this time Grandpa had his work cut out for him.

The finished product:

The Artist: J. Don Payne aka Grandpa Payne

The Signing

Thanks Grandpa-it's better than anything we had ever imagined and the kids LOVE it!

While our cousins slept in their room the girls were able to break-in and enjoy the barn room as their sleeping quarters creating the perfect sleepover environment. They were soo excited!

After taking out the sleeping stuff and putting in Tate's Toys-he hasn't left the room and called his Dad up to show him his new play room and to have him play with him.

Like I said-the room is a HUGE hit and we Love it!

Yeah Tyler! Binki Free!

Flynn Rider and Repunzel have joined the family now that Tyler is officially binki free. It wasn't easy but once her mind was made up she didn't look back, just read books at night and dreamed of her dolls to come.

Now that their here-they're now sleeping with her. For at least a night or two...

Grandpa Payne Comes!

Grandpa Payne flew in today to help take care of his sweet wife. John and the girls picked him up and they headed up to the Pacific Northwest Garden show. John said a great time was had by all! They had a Charlotte's Web theme and so there were animals, a piggy bank scavenger hunt with a prize of...tattoos. McKenna was a little disappointed to not get one of the piggy banks, but they still had a good time. Dad came home with bulbs and a beautiful Garlic storer, depaperer, and zester/crusher.

Being Saturday night we had the annual Payne Taco night.

It was a great day!

Not for the Weak of Stomach

Zaycon is a company that sells meat in bulk. I missed their last sale due to procrastination. We're working on getting our food storage put together and so we bought a couple of cases of chicken to put up.

I got the chicken Friday morning and luckily John's Mom came home from the hospital so she was able to give me some direction Saturday when I was finally able to get myself and my canning stuff together to start the canning process.

It was a LOT of chicken-80 lbs is. I froze half of it Friday night and after some trial and error was able to can a couple cases of chicken. It's delicious!!! Thanks Mom for your help and direction-even from your bed I couldn't have done it without you!

A couple of jars broke in the process-but there are always a few kinks to work out in anything you do for the first time...

Snow Days-Feb 2011

The End of February went out with a Bang with a series of snowstorms. It had been cold and on the 23rd the flakes began to fall. The kids were excited to get out their snow gear and go out into thhe snow. Tate despite my pleadings continued to put fists full of snow in his mouth as quickly as he could put it in.

The real snow fell that night and we woke up to a winter wonderland! The neighbors were nice enough to let us use their "hill" for a couple of rides-until we got a call from the dentist reminding John he was late. :)

Lots of Fun! Grandma was happy to be watching it all from the comforts of her hospital room.

Grandma's Progress

We came to see Grandma today-the girls had made her some pictures for her room and already missed her sooo much!

This is me trying to contain the 2 year old. Lots of buttons and fun things to push.

Day 2 up and walking