My So Called Life: 2007

Locks of Love

BEFORE:

Well, I decided that I had had enough of my long hair. It was always getting in the way. When it is SO long it is difficult to keep it off your neck, out of your face, and out of the way. I have been growing it out for over 5 years now and it is just time for a change. Since I was going to get rid of it - I wanted to do something meaningful with it so I donated it to Locks of Love. I cut off nearly 18 inches and was able to donate nearly 17 inches of it to Locks of Love.

(The lighting in this picture makes my hair look like it is really dark on top and then a completely different color on the bottom. Those of you who have seen me know that this isn't the case. Those of you who haven't seen me recently will just have to trust me that it really is just one color from top to bottom.)

AFTER:

Well, you will just have to wait and see me in person to see the "after".

But Justin says that he really likes it - and that is all that really matters to me. (Oh, and that I like it too - and I do.)

Maui September 2007

Justin and I went to Maui for our 5th anniversary and we had an incredible time!

While we were in Maui we attended the "Taste of Lahaina" annual festival; went snorkeling in Molokini Crater; snorkeling with the sea turtles at Turtle Town; hiked Waihe'e Ridge; drove around the upper side of the island where we were able to see many villages like the tiny, but beautiful village of Kahakuloa; hiked the inside of the Haleakala volcano; visited Iao Valley and Kepaniwai Park; drove the Road to Hana and saw many waterfalls; visited Waianapanapa State Park's amazing black sand beach and sea arch; visited the Seven Pools; drove up the backroads into Maui's mountains to Polipoli State Park; got beat up by the waves at Makena Beach; and swam at several different beaches including our own private beach (it sure felt like it was our own private beach).

Brayden's Haircut

Brayden got his first haircut! He looks so mature now - and he's not even two, yet!

(September 2007)

FOOTBALL SEASON

The 2007 football season is finally here! Justin and I got season tickets to BYU football and we are so excited! We went to their first game against Arizona on Saturday, September 1, 2007. There were some mistakes made and they could improve in a few areas, but all-in-all a good game and a good team. We are really excited to see if they can pull out another season like last years! By the way, BYU won 20 - 7. I was hoping for a shut-out, but I'll settle for the win. (I forgot my camera, so I wasn't able to get a game photo).

Two Princesses

Here are two beautiful little princesses.

LEAH

Leah, age 2

BELLA

Bella, 11 months

Lake Powell

Hard to believe, but this was our first trip to Lake Powell.

These pictures were taken on August 3, 2007. We are on top of the houseboat as we are docked in Iceberg Canyon. It is so beautiful there.

And here is the whole clan. We had a great time swimming, tubing, riding the wave runner, playing games - especially the iPod game, doing "Happy/Sad" each night, and just spending time with family. To our gracious hosts: Thank you for inviting us and letting us share this time with you.

Jadyn & Dixie

I couldn't resist snatching this photo from Logan and Jayme's blog. This photo is just too cute!

Couch Potato Returns

This picture looks a little familiar.

How cute, he's feeding Sully and Mike.

Hiro

Hiro doesn't like to hold still for very long and he suspects the camera is a toy and I am just playing "keep away" from him so we have a very hard time getting good pictures of him. I don't think he's very photogenic either because he seems so much cuter in person.

I just love his little curly pig tail.

Rianne

Rianne after her dance recital.

I love this picture of Rianne as she squints against the sun with her pink sunglasses sitting on top of her head.

Best Friends

I think if they lived closer together these two would be best friends. They just love to play together.

My boys

Those are my boys! This picture was taken the day after we got Hiro.

Daylon

Daylon, age 9

Couch Potato

He's the cutest little couch potato I've ever seen.

Brayden, June 2007

Big Sister

Jadyn's a big sister now. Cooper was born April 26, 2007.

He was a big boy at 8 lbs 4 oz and nearly 23 inches long.

Sam

This is one of my favorite pictures of Sam. He is so adorable!

1 year old!

Happy Birthday, Sam!

Nadia

I got these two photos from Nadia's blogspot. Isn't she adorable?

Brown Eyed Girls

What can we say? We're gorgeous!

My shirt says "Brown Eyed Beauty" and Bethany's says

"Everyone Loves a Brown Eyed Girl".

Easter Egg Hunt 2007

Gage

Rianne

Bethany

Talmage

Sam and Grandpa

relax in the Blazer.

Nadia kicks back. Content with her egg.

Bethany

Right side up. Upside down. It makes no difference. Either way, I make these look good.

March 2007

Cousins

Sam, DarRell, and Brayden

Believe it or not, but these two cousins are only a few months apart.
Sam is about 8 months old in this picture and Brayden is about 11 months old.

Yoda

Very cute, I am. Halloween 2006, this picture was taken.

Cute Kids

These are some of the cutest kids on the planet.

Daylon, age 8

Rianne, age 5

Sam, 5 months

Mighty Hunter

Justin got to go deer hunting for the first time in September 2005. With Caleb as his guide, Justin was able to bag this "trophy" buck within the first few hours.

Quaking Aspen

It's Payne family tradition - you have to put your name on a quakie. While deer hunting we ran across this tree where we had put our names in 2001. It is still a little difficult to read because it is still a bit new, but it says Justin & Maria August 18, 2001.

2nd Honeymoon

For our third anniversary we went to New York, Maine, and New Hampshire. I guess you could call this little vacation a 2nd honeymoon. We spent about 3 days in New York City’s time square, 3 days in Maine, and 1 night in New Hampshire with Justin's best friend from high school.

While in New York we took a harbor tour and got to see the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Brooklyn Bridge, Yankee Stadium and so many other cool sights.

Ground Zero

We visited Ground Zero. This is a portion of the mememorial that surrounds the grounds. It contains the names of every victim of that dreadful day. Across the street from Ground Zero is a small firehouse and on the side of the building is a memorial to the heros of that company who gave their lives on 9/11. Being at Ground Zero was such an amazing and humbling experience.

Guggenheim

We got to visit the Guggenheim, the Met, and the Museum of Natural History. We also got to walk around Central Park, saw Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, and went to the top of the Empire State Building. I think visiting the Met was my favorite part of New York - I was within a foot of the masterpeices of Van Gogh, Monet, Frank Lloyd Wright, and many others. (I got a little verklempt.)

Portland Head

Since I love lighthouses I couldn’t go to Maine without visiting as many lighthouses as possible. This is Portland Head lighthouse in Portland where we spent our first night in Maine.

Pemaquid Point

From Portland we drove up to Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Forest where we spent the rest of our time in Maine. On the way to Acadia we stopped at Pemaquid Point Lighthouse near Bristol, Maine. It was also near here that we stopped for lunch and I had the best clam chowder in my life!