Christmas Letter 2009

Merry Christmas to all. Another year has passed and as I prepare to write this letter, I am truly realizing how very blessed our little family has been in this very uncertain and trying time. For that we are very grateful. Our hearts and year have been full. I may overload blogger with this post, but oh well! Enjoy!

In January, we blessed Jacob.

(Look how small he is!)

The zoo was a big part of our year, since we bought a season pass and went almost every week.

Cameron and I both went to school in the spring semester, which seems like a million years ago. I took a photography class and Cameron finished his Associates!!! He'll apply for official graduation when he gets around to it.

This is one of my favorite photos I took.

This is another.

Throughout the year we enjoyed having a baby a little too much and took him everywhere. I blame this for his extremely healthy immune system. He has yet to be REALLY sick. (Knock on wood.)

This is us at the Diamondbacks game in April.

We also went to an A's spring training game, a Suns game, and the Phoenix Police Museum all on Light Rail none the less. :)

During the Summer we packed the car to the brim with all our camping and baby gear and headed to Bear Canyon Lake on four different occasions.

I think Jake liked it.

Even dressed silly.

I believe it was in May that we traveled with my brother, Jared, to Disneyland!!!

It.Was.Awesome.

Jake rode Astro Blasters and Dumbo among other things.

Living in Arizona, when the real Summer heat hit, we spent our days in the pool.

Jake's a fan.

And, this year in Sedona we had my immediate family's family reunion.

We made air compressor rockets, visited Jerome, ate good food and visited Blazin' M Ranch, where this picture was taken.

In June we all dressed as cows and enjoyed free Chic-Fil-A day.

Major is still our loyal pup. He loves Jake and has really matured into a great dog.

Monkey is the newest member of our family. We inherited her from a friend.

She is half Jack Russell Terrier (like Major) and half Miniature Pincer.

She is spunky to say the least, albeit the most loving dog we have ever encountered.

Cameron took me to Wicked as my Mother's Day gift and I loved it.

This is another camping trip picture from later in the season.

Jake was also there, but napping. :)

See! He was there and happy!

In September, we took Jake on his first plane ride to Utah to celebrate my aunt's birthday and retirement. We also got to see some Payne cousins.

However, the highlight for me was driving to Lava Hot Springs, Id where my mom grew up and getting a personal tour from my aunt.

This is the house where my mom grew up.

I only took about a million pictures! haha.

Also, while in Ut, we got our own family pictures taken.

We traveled back from Utah just in time for me to start CNA school, which I completed. I am a certified nursing assistant, but not employed as such!

After briefly searching for a job in the medical field, I found employment at the new Hobby Lobby, a craft store. I love working there and talking with customers about all their projects. Right now I am working full time as a department lead in the crafts department.

In the midst of all of these changes (me returning to work), Halloween came and went.

We spent Halloween at the ward Trunk or Treat with our friends, Erik and Melinda.

Jake was a cute little lion. Even if he didn't like his mane.

Things slowed down a lot around here as we figured out our new routines as I worked so nothing else really happened until November when we celebrated Jake's 1st birthday.

Expanding upon his love of farm animal noises, we went with a farm theme.

I thoroughly enjoyed planning the whole thing and it went great!

In case you were wondering, Cameron is still working as a Tempe Police Officer. He has self proclaimed himself as "boring".

I am sewing like it is going out of style and the collection of fabric and my lack of fabric organization has evicted me from my sewing space. I am currently sewing on our kitchen table.

As of right now, Jake walks and says words like, "Mamamamama", "Dahdahdahdahdah", "Yeah", and "See?" He loves to tear apart the kitchen cabinets and eat just about anything!

He is also waving and clapping.

Merry Christmas and may many blessings find each of you in the new year.

Love,

The Paynes