Dane :)

Poor Rosco had surgery this week! He had a growth on his neck that had an unfortunate resemblance to a tick. After about a year or more we decided to go ahead and have it removed. So he had to be put under, had that removed- now has about 5 stitches and a shaved neck - and got his vaccinations, nails trimmed, teeth cleaned, and heart worm test and medicine. The night I picked him up he was very subdued and clingy. Poor Rosco. But after some special treatment (reference pic of him on couch...) and a couple of days he's like a new pup! Stitches come out in about a week and a half.

Movie night and popcorn! Love my boys :).

I was driving home the other night and there was the most beautiful sunset. I literally stopped the car right before I turned into our driveway and took this picture with my phone thru the front windshield!

Boys Will Be Boys....

...and I've got three of them! Fortunately, we've got a lot of land and a Ranger. :)

When Dane wants me to go somewhere with him he will get my attention, pat his leg and say something that sounds like "bear" I think it's his version of "come here". I finally got him on camera, but only because I happened to be carrying my phone at the time, and by the time I got it ready to record he was giving me his more impatient "BEAR" and two-handed slapping of his leg. :)

Santa Finally got it right

This is for Opa and Oma who have been wanting to see that Santa got it right this year with the tractor for Will. Here is the tractor, hay baler, and happy little boy. :)

The Coyote

The Coyote is still often spotted around the Payton household.

The kids all had fun playing together as well - Here is Will, Corinne (Kelly's daughter) and Jackson (Mandy's son). They are all within 3 months apart. (which made our pregnancies all the more fun) For the most part, everyone got along really well!

Last night 4 old friends from IU came over with their husbands and kids. There were 6 of us who were roommates throughout our 4 years at IU off and on. We hadn't all been together since Luke's and my wedding. At that point only one of us had one baby. Now there are 8 kids all together. Lauren and Joel came the farthest from D.C. We had a great time laughing, catching up and just enjoying being together again. There is something so special about old friends, like nothing else. Love them all!!!

Will was watching the movie Kung Fu Panda earlier. Today he informed me that "I'm the panda, daddy's the tiger and you're the yucky bug that stings."

Nana was chomping at the bit to get a hammer and nail session in with Will. She got a monster truck kit which was right up his alley. My mom is officially awarded a Medal of Bravery as she held the parts while Will hammered in the nails centimeters from her fingers all by himself. Alas, no wounds or broken bones resulting they finished their monster truck and Will was very proud.

Dane exercising.

What is that noise?

I've decided I'm walking the Mini-Marathon in Indy this May. My mom and Chuck are doing it and I'm doing it with them. I love walking, it's like my version of working out. I don't mind it, occasionally I'll get a wild hair and jog for a bit, but I don't dread walking, and I figure it's better that than nothing. I'm excited and have this vision of myself working my way up and by the end of April I'll be spending hours at a time on the treadmill.

I walked for about 40 minutes tonight, a pace leisurely enough that I was able to read on my new Kindle Fire, which made it thoroughly enjoyable. (if you don't count the two little people who were gathered around the treadmill whining and irritating each other the whole time.) After I was finished Dane and I headed to the shower. He prefers showers over baths usually. When we were finished Will came in and I heard a little "smack". Dane started crying so I knew something happened. Of course it was "I didn't doooo anything!" As the red mark appeared on Dane's back I knew, and Will confessed. Off to time-out.

I dried Dane off, basking in his cute nakedness. Took him downstairs, stopped to say hi to Daddy. I took him to his room, put his jammies on him. On my way upstairs I stopped to sit and talk with Luke for a few minutes. Dane decided he wanted to play with legos, so we got those out. As we were sitting there I started to hear this noise. What was it? I looked at Luke and we both tilted our heads in confusion. A banging kind of noise. Where was it coming from? Upstairs? Luke called for Will as I headed upstairs to investigate....

It was Will. In the time-out chair. Still. A good 10 minutes later, I bet. Rocking it back and forth so it bumped the wall. Not only did I completely forget that I put Will in time-out, I asked him why he was there. I looked at Luke who informed me that he didn't put him there. I finally had to ask Will why he was sitting there. He said, because you told me to go to time-out because I hit Dane. Oh yes, that's right.

Mother of the Year, I tell ya.