The Washington Kennewick Mission facts:

*Because 3 years ago today I left on my mission.

It's Paul Bunyan's old stomping grounds.

It creates some of the cheesiest pictures ever taken... ever.

The apples are actually bigger but some days the ties are shorter.

It's home to THE BEST/most stylin' mission president ever, President Belnap.

It actually borders Mexico.

People don't like to get rid of their front yard's weeds...

And real woman live in Washington.

Because pictures are funner than words.

As I was sitting here stalking everyone else's blog, Erik kept

saying how I needed to post more pics,

because "pictures are funner than words."

So, here is a bunch of the Chachi's favorite pics....

Us on the honeymoon at Disneyland

We be gettin married!

Us in pre swine flu Mexico buying "real" Coach purses

The D-Backs game just last week.

Easter Pageant '09. I played a foolish ten virgin, 

and Erik came to see me almost every night.

Foolish Virgins have more fun!

(Or as Erik would say "Naughty Virgins")

So lately I have been longing for a little friend,

something to call MY own.

I was at Target with my mom looking for a curtain rod,

when I stumbled across this little creation.

Actually she stumbled across it, but it was the best thing that

could have ever happened to me at this time.

I call her,

Ms. Marigold.

She only cost $1, which made her

all the while so much better.

You see, I began to water her, made sure she had

sunlight, gave her a little ribbon,

and I even keep her on the window sill next to my bed.

A few days went by, and I realized she was lonely,

and even she needed a friend.

So.....

This is when the Zinnias (left) and Sunflowers (right)

came in. Now they all sit and bask in the sunlight together,

while I enjoy my little plants, which are my substitute fish.

(If I bought a fish, I would probably kill it.)

Then, today as I was watering and admiring my plants,

waiting for the flowers to grow,

Erik came in to the bedroom and stubbed his toe on our

really cool new bed frame we got.

This is what his pinky toe is supposed to look like...

And this is what happened...



Usually, his pinky toe does not face outward.
For some reason, he dislocates his toe more
than anyone I know.
I was too busy trying to take a picture, there was not much
time for sympathy.
Thankfully he popped it back into place.
Bummer.

It is so crazy how life can go by so fast!
I know it was forever ago but we just wanted to give a quick
shoutout
to a wonderful woman who gave up her weekend in California
to come see me in the Easter Pageant--Thank you so much
Mama Karin
we love you! You seriously rock for coming and spending
Easter weekend with us.

Happy Late Birthday!

I know it is almost two weeks late but this wonderful man had a BIRTHDAY! He is now 22 years old-that makes me feel so young!


We are poor, so my present to him was a bowl to mix his french toast in. Weird I know but he is super crazy about french toast and the bowl he mixes it in has to be the right size.

So I bought Texas Toast (the best kind of bread to have for french toast) and heavy whipping cream. You add that instead of milk and it makes your french toast the best you will ever taste it! Happy Birthday Chach!

A few days later we went to the zoo as a birthday treat/extra credit for his bio class. I promise there were giraffes everywhere!

We've been Tagged-5 Things

5 things I was doing 5 years ago...

1. going to Brimhall Jr High

2. worrying about my braces

3. dancing a lot more

4. trying to be cool

5. probably still going through puberty

5 things in my to-do list today...

1. homework

2. shower

3. help my mom with dinner

4. hang with fam

5. eat something

5 things I would do with a million dollars...

1. send my parents on a trip somewhere exotic for paying for our amazing wedding

2. buy a car

3. buy a beautiful house

4. pay off loans

5. go to Disneyland

5 places I have lived...

1. in a haunted house (few weeks)

2. buy the temple on matlock (few years)

3. in a ghetto neighborhood (7 years)

4. my parents house now (8 1/2 years)

5. in my bug-infested apartment (3 months)

5 things I want to be doing in 5 years...

1. living in a house

2. working as a RN in labor and delivery

3. have all of my loans paid off

4. have a few mini amberiks running around (kids!)

5. be pregnant possibly

5 people I tag...

1. Cecily Millican

2. Erica Holmstrom

3. Karissa Jarvis

4. Josie Thompson

5. Katelyn Burnett

The Good Things in Life

About twice a week I almost get hit by a car while riding my bike on my way to school. A few days ago I was having a bad day, thinking of everything that could possibly go wrong in my life. I almost get hit by cars, bugs infest our apartment, it is going to be so hot riding my bike to school in May, I don't have a job, I don't have a car, and the list could have kept going. And then I began to think of how selfish I was being. I began to think of all the things I have I should be grateful for, all the things that make me happy, and everything that has happened in my life the past month...


Things I'm grateful for/make me happy...

1) My beautiful bike. Not only my bike makes me happy, but seeing Erik's bike next to mine. Although half the time they crowd our already-too-small living room, I am so happy we have them. I love riding my bike to school, and almost getting hit by cars just makes for funny stories.



2) The fact that I am now a "Payne", and i can put "P's" all over our house. I am also in a fruit obsession right now where I love to decorate with them. I see this everyday and the colors bring joy into my life. Erik also uses them as weapons to throw at the cats that hang around our door.



3) The fact that I get to wake up next to my best friend everyday. This is above our bed and it reminds me everyday how much I really have. Having him in my life is all I could ask for.

Happy things that have happened the last month...

1) These two were married last Saturday in the temple. It was the funnest day, and the reception was amazing. I am so happy Erica found someone like Albert-he's hilarious and he is perfect for her. Even though they have only known each other a few months, I know it's going to be forever!

2)This beautiful girl was baptized! Cecily is one of the most amazing, Christ-like people I know, and she is only 8! I learn so much from her all the time, like how to love one another, obedience, positivity, and charity. You would think that I should be teaching her these things, but she is so good at them already I can't help but follow her example.

3) My grandpa was sealed to his parents, at age 71. It was such a cool experience to see sealings with a proxy and I am so happy I got to be there.

And last but not least, I know the temple is somewhere I can go to find happiness whenever I need it. It is so great to be able to attend and receive my own personal revelation. Erik's aunt and uncle and their family were also sealed as a family this past month and it was so great to be there for that. I can not wait to spend 5 nights a week there for the next month doing Easter Pageant. Even though there is alot of stuff going on with HBO, I know that everything will work out because this is the Lord's work and with the Lord's work there is no imperfection.