why I don't need Edward

As I was driving home from the Twilight preview thursday night, basking in glow of Edward Cullin, I realized, there was no need to feel empty and restless just because the movie was over! I had no reason to feel an overwhelming gulf as my car took me further and further from the theater! I didn't need to go get in line for the 12:00 showing just so I could see his face again! I had my own vampire waiting for me at home! Yes, I'm talking about my pale faced, hunk of burning love, Jason. Plus, all the perks! IE: I don't have to worry about him wanting to drink my blood every time he smells that particular fragrance coming just from me, and he and I will age together, no sweat!, when I want to snuggle with him, I don't have to wrap a blanket around myself just to keep warm! And don't forget, there's no fear of him crushing me to death when he feels like giving me a hug. I have it way better with Jason! And I doubt that Edward has the flexing of the buttocks skills that Jason has (shown above) I could go on and on about all of his great qualities but I wouldn't want anyone to feel shorted. Especially you Bella.

Haute Couture

So, last night Jason had this executive board dinner thing, which for me is merely an excuse to wear something cute and eat something I didn't have to make. I thought my outfit was pretty hot/haute, though I didn't have much time. As we were rushing out the door, Peyton came up to me and said " Mom, I love your outfit! Are you a pirate?!" Hmm. I tried not to dwell on that comment since there was seriously no time to change anyway and we went on with our night. When we got back Paisley came to give me a hug and said " Oooh, I love your vest! why are you a pirate?" Two separate comments in one night was really too much to ignore! I went to bed feeling a little like a pirate. And in the words of a favorite comedian, Jerry Seinfield, "I don't want to be a pirate!"

Things I'm not ready for

It's been a busy, crazy summer full of things I really never thought would happen. Like my twenty year homecoming at good o'l Spanish Fork High, and my oldest child in sixth grade, (sixth grade!), and my baby going off to preschool. I turned around and twenty years flew by! The next thing I knew I came in to find out what my kids were cracking up about only to find them perusing our yearbooks! I used to be cool. I mean, not as cool as Jason-mullet-peck-Payne cool, but who is?

So, when are you ready for your son to mercilessly mock you about being nearly 40? Or attend your high school drill team reunion and find yourself with the "older" 80's crowd where they teach you a military dance because your not flexible enough for the hip-hop the 2000's are doing?

I had a blast from the past kind of a weekend during SFHS homecoming. Our class did an assembly where we showed them what living in the 80's was really like! Then our drill team put on the half-time show for the football game. It was almost like being back in high school, except this time Angie and I didn't try to sneak out of the block after half time to get ready for the Palace, and I actually watched the game sitting next to a big stud from our high school (alot of you know him as Jason). Good times.

yep, more of the DR

We went on a little excursion with the dune buggys, these are the before and afters. there was some mud.

be glad this isn't a power point presentation

our friends bought a membership at this exclusive resort and invited us to stay the last few days we were there. this is the 6 bedroom villa and our personal chef. also the vip beach with the sushi bar. oh, and this is our friend Steve, or as we fondly refer to him, Esteve, our golf cart driver that came with the villa

Republica de Dominica or my new home

We just returned from a paradise vacation in the DR. Wow. I really loved it there! We've decided that all-inclusive is definitely the way to go. ( especially if you're looking to gain around 6 pounds) One hour massages for 25$, yep one every day. Cabana boys at your disposal for your every pina colada need. Step out from your room into the beautiful, warm, clear water for the best snorkling we've found. What's not to love?

humidity

So, while we were in the Dominican Republic my hair took on a life of it's own. It was mostly wet all day while we were in the ocean ect., but at night eventually it would dry and um, how should we say it, frizz. It was so fantastically big that I kept trying to get Jason to take pictures of it when we were alone in our room. ( if we were out, then I had to scrape it up in a clip as I was without a baseball cap) but he got bored of that really quick and this was one of the only ones he would take. Sadly, as the week wore on, my hair got frizzier and bigger but I don't have much photographic evidence to offer. Do you remember that episode on "Friends" where they all went to Jamaica or somewhere and Monica's hair didn't respond really well to the humidity....

as per request, more of Ja'Naye's dress

Thwarted again

It's been a bit of a quest of mine to procure a current family photo of the entire Ron Payne family for some time now. What with my sister-in-law living out of state, my mother-in-law insisting on family friends in every picture, and a general feeling of ambivalence towards formal pictures, my quest has been a challenge indeed. There have been some near misses sure. Take my sister-in-laws' wedding last April. Perfect time to catch the whole family in at least one or two shots right? I mean they all have to be there for the family wedding pic wouldn't you think? but alas, it's not meant to be. Due to a overflowing water heater, two vip's were missing in action in that photo. Oh sure, there were promises of photo shopping them in, but that never materialized and here I was back to ground zero.

Then this last weekend another opportunity came up. Jason's other sister Ja'Naye's upcoming nuptials filled me with anticipation and hope. I decided to take matters into my own hands (camera) as I never seem to be able to order any pictures from any of the photographers that are hired for these sorts of events. I consorted with Cameron's girlfriend, Shana for the hope of winning the prize. I pointed out all who had or still used the last name Payne and told her to shoot like mad right behind the photographer whenever these people stood all together. The moment arrived, just as we were all assembled and looking at the camera, someone yelled out "go get Mary and the boys!" ( family friends) So as I signaled to Shana to snap one while it was clear, my Mother-in-law turned around to tell me she had it all under control! Well, the outcome is pretty clear. I'll let you be the judge. Maybe next time....

Marilyn at sisterfest las vegas. And oh, did I mention that Jason had the mumps?!?

what I've been doing since my last ( first ) posts

So, not only have I had trouble logging back into my own blog, but I've also found myself various projects and events to keep me from posting. I also haven't invited anyone to view my blog yet so only the most devoted fans come to see that I haven't posted. Anyway, since March I have found myself at several soccer games. Ridge's team took the championship for u-11 in Utah County! Yeah Ridge! I finally tiled the laundry room! ( you may or may not hear the cheers) yes, that 5% of my house that was unfinished is now finished. I actually want to go in there, but I'm sure it won't last. I also attended sisterfest las vegas 2008. An event you really shouldn't miss, providing you are invited of course.

Ode to Deb

For many a month now my heart hath felt happy

not just a trip on the horizon but a visit from family

the butterflies, anticipation, looking forward to the sun

not just any family member, though any would be welcome

no, it's our own little sun, Deb with little beam Sophie

coming to our rescue

oh, the joy, oh, the happiness

and how our own children do rejoice at the thought of Deb

here and taking care of them

my heart hath wings

fifth grade maturation

Okay,so I never thought the day would come when I would attend the fifth grade boys maturation program. One reason is because I feel that it is the dad's job! The other reason is that, how can I possibly be old enough to have a child that is maturing enough to need guidance through the process?
Well, Jason couldn't attend (or so he said) and I found myself alone in a sea of testosterone and not in a good way lest you be reminded of my single days. Now, I consider myself a fairly mature women and not inclined to get the giggles even when the "p" word is said. which is more than I can say for Jason. But a room full of fifth grade boys and their dads discussing wet dreams is more than any girl should have to take!
Ridge was crouched in a corner acting like he didn't know me even when his friends kept pointing to me and yelling "hey, there's you're mom!" I didn't blame him, I was having a hard time making eye contact myself. Having been married for 13 years I wouldn't consider myself necessarily naive but there was information passed out that I would have been okay never being aware of. no, really.

Okay, we're going to take things down a little here. I 'd like to dedicate this, my first post on my new blog, to my sister jami. Without her there would be no blog, because I am computer illiterate and she just set this up for me. Also for other reasons which I am about to name. She is one of my idols though she may not know it. There are so many good things in my life that I truly owe to her. A shared fanship of Billy Blanks, tae bo master and my personal trainer. ( he tells me he is every other morning in his boot camp dvd series )

My new way of scrapbooking called "creative clips and fonts" by creating keepsakes, the best, easiest, cutest way to scrap. And though I may not be caught up ( ever ) all the pages I have accomplished since purchasing the aforementioned little gem, I give credit to her idea ( and demonstration as I have mentioned before, the computer is a mystery )

Next would be running. Now for those of you who know me, know that while running is a bit of a passion for me now, it wasn't always this way. No, some would remember me receiving an F each day in P.E. when we had to run the mile in less than 20 minutes. Well fast forward several years to when I had just given birth to my third child, turned thirty, and was visited by a little thing called gravity all in one year. My regular workouts just weren't cutting it and so who did I call? Yep, my sister Jami. She encouraged me to start running and kept on encouraging me when I would call to cry or whine that it was too hard and I could barely make it around our 1 mile route. It meant so much to be able to run my first marathon with her last September!

Okay, now fashion. Have you ever had the kind of friend that knows you so well that if she finds a pair of pants or a great skirt she knows you'll love, you don't even have to go try it on , you just buy it! And she's right and you love it.

Now there are a myriad ( dictionary.com word of the day ) of other reasons why she is my idol but just suffice it to say that if she tells me about something she thinks is great, I'm in!

Is this too long for a first post? Okay I'm done. By the way, the above picture is a reenactment of something we like to call Jami and Joey sing "somewhere out there" at my sister Nicole's wedding in 1987. It was awesome. You should have been there.

The Shoe That Got Me 26.2 Miles (in 1 day)

I have a relationship with my running shoes that is unlike any other . . .