The House of Payne

Fall Fun

We have tried to get out a few more times while the weather is still nice. Here's what we have been up to lately...

Madeline got new boots for the rain. She LOVES them!

We went to a place near Woodland called Lava Canyon for Labor Day weekend. We went on a small hike and ate dinner. Madeline was living the high life eating a cookie and riding on daddy's shoulders during the hike.

Two weeks ago we went up to the Mt. St. Helens visitors centers for the day. It was a beautiful day and turned out to be free national parks day so we didn't have to pay! For those who don't know, Mt. St. Helens overlooks Woodland. It is a volcano and it erupted in May of 1980. There are several visitor's centers where you can learn about the event and the mountain. This is the best view of the damage.

Ian and Madeline were showing their "stick out their tongues" face.

On Tuesday we went to the zoo. Again, it was a beautiful day! (We have to point those out here in the northwest because it started raining this weekend and probably won't stop until July.) Madeline really liked seeing all of the animals and walking around outside.

Here is Madeline and Ian checking out the map - deciding where to go next.

This picture is Madeline looking at the chickens. They were her FAVORITE! She sat there and watched them for more than 5 minutes and was bawking at them. When we pulled her away she threw a huge tantrum. Ian pointed out that if we had known that she would love the chickens the best, we would have just walked down the street to see them, not paid to go to the zoo. Oh well.

At the end Madeline just crashed. It had been a long, fun day.

It's been a good fall so far. We will try to be better at keeping the blog updated!

Cute Picture

I just wanted to share this picture I took of Madeline today because I think it's too cute not to.

It's Official...

...I'm calling it. FIRST WORD! Madeline loves our dog Sadie. She's pretty much the only person that likes that dog. She loves to pet her, watch her, take her on walks, and feed her (which entails her dropping food on the floor and watching Sadie eat it). Now, she likes to say her name! Every time Madeline sees Sadie (or any other dog) she starts saying "dadie, dadie." Sometimes she gets the S in there too..."Sdadie." I think it's cute. It breaks Ian's heart. Hopefully more words will soon follow!

Summer

First off I wanted to start by telling you all that I got a calling (assignment) in my ward today. I am going to be the Beehive adviser which means I will be teaching the 12 and 13 year old girls every Sunday. I am really excited since I basically haven't had a calling since Ian and I were married. Plus I think it will be really fun! Ian also received a new calling in our ward about a month ago. He is the new Ward Mission Leader. He is doing great so far. It has helped me realize that I should be doing more missionary work.

Our summer has been fun. We have tried to get out and do something a few times. You may not believe me after looking at the pictures, but it has actually been pretty cold here. We beat all kinds of records for most rain, latest it has gone before an 80 degree day, coldest day/month, etc. It finally has felt like summer this week.

A month ago or so we spent a day at the beach. We went to Fort Stevens in Astoria and the Astoria Column. The Goonies was filmed in Astoria and it happened to be the 25th anniversary celebration there that weekend. Unfortunately all of the activities for it were too expensive. We then drove down to Tillamook to go to the Tillamook Cheese Factory.

For 4th of July we did a few fireworks at home on Sunday. On Monday we went to Cascade Locks in the Oregon Gorge and went on a family bike ride. We pulled out the bike trailor that my dad had bought when Oliver was born (17 years ago). Madeline DID NOT LIKE IT. We also stopped by Bonneville dam and watched the fish swim up the fish ladders.

Other than that, we have just done some of the usual summer stuff...

...eat watermelon...

...go boating...

...go swimming...(this isn't the best picture of her but it shows off her SIX new teeth that have grown in this month. She now has nine teeth!)

...catch some rays...

...and play outside. Isn't she getting so big?

One Year Stats

Madeline had her one year check up on Wednesday. She was 24 pounds and 30.5 inches which are both in the 90th percentile. The doctor seemed concerned that she doesn't say 1-3 words. I am not worried though. I think she is just in a house full of adults who talk for her. She does know words. For example, if you ask her to go get her baby, piano, or the ball, she will go get it. She also knows where her nose is and will point to it if asked. I'm sure she will start talking before too much longer. Anyways, as always, here are a few more pictures of her...mostly for her Grandma Payne and Aunt Emily to see.

She LOVES to be outside.

ONE YEAR OLD!

Saturday was Madeline's first birthday. I can't believe my baby is already one year old! I took this picture one year ago today.

Now look at her!

We went to California for Jeremy's (Ian's brother) wedding the second weekend of May. It was really fun to be there and see everybody and we are excited to have Cami join the family. We decided to celebrate Madeline's birthday with the Payne family that weekend. Since Ian's sister, Elizabeth, happens to be a professional cake maker, she agreed to help me make a cute birthday cake for Madeline (aka mostly make it herself).

Ian helped too.

Here it is. Isn't it cute?! It was a mini tiered cake. Madeline sized!

Thanks for helping out Liz! (She also made the wedding cake which was AMAZING. It was a busy weekend for her.)

It was a strawberry cake with strawberry buttercream and strawberries between the layers. We tried to make everything pink for the baby girl... The cake tasted really yummy.

After cake Madeline opened her presents. She wouldn't let anyone help her except Cami. She was proud of her books.

We celebrated Madeline's birthday with my family on Saturday. I made another cake, this one FAR less impressive (it still tasted good though).

Madeline kind of figured out how to open her presents, although she struggled a little.

We got her this baby doll which she "gives loves" to a lot. It's cute.

This week, as well as with the Paynes, she was pretty unsure at what was happening when were all singing to her.

She was sure she liked the cake though.

It's been a fast but fun year and I am excited to see how she will continue to grow and learn over the next year!

P.S. Just a family picture from the wedding...

Tulip Festival

Every April there is a tulip festival in Woodland. I wanted to go see the flowers and take some cute spring pictures of Madeline in the tulips. Plus, I was going to be one of THOSE moms and send a picture we took in to the tulip festival cutest baby contest (despite Ian's protests).

Well, things didn't go quite as planned. I guess Madeline had different ideas. I even went back another day to try again and had worse luck than the first day. This is pretty much what she did both days...

Besides crying, she was only interested in eating the flowers...

and eating the dirt. She WOULD NOT look at the camera.

Obviously, she wasn't thrilled about getting pictures taken.

Here is a cheesy picture Ian got. The thought blurb in my head for this picture is "Mom. I know you want to get a cute, sweet picture of me with the tulips. Here's your one picture. Take it or leave it. Now get me out of here."