A Soccer Game, A Spring College Football Game, and A Birthday Party in the Same Day

Saturday, April 17, was a very busy day at the Payne house.  First thing Saturday morning Jackson had his second soccer game and it was attended by both sets of grandparents.  Jackson is playing in a league through the N.GA. YMCA and his team name is the Crushers.  Jackson really seems to enjoy playing and hopefully by the end of the season he will understand the game a little better.  Next thing on Saturday's agenda was to watch the A-Day game on ESPNU.  However, I really did not watch the game because I was busy cleaning up the house for Jackson's 8th birthday party that afternoon.  Johnathan also missed the game because he was running around picking up last minute things for the party.  Thank God for DVR cause we've at least seen a quarter of the game since Saturday, and hopefully we will see the rest of it soon.  The birthday party started at 5 and the theme was Lego Rockband!!  We had 10 kids and several parents.  The kids were great!!! They all rocked out to Lego Rockband and no one fought over who's turn it was to play.  Johnathan grilled hotdogs and we ate an awesome cake designed by Amy Kurtz, who I work with at Galen.  Jackson received a lot of great gifts.  He wasted no time after the party was over building his new lego sets and playing his new Wii/Nintendo DSi games.  I can't believe he is already 8 soon he will be 16 then 18.  Please let it slow down cause I feel like I am going to miss something since the time is moving so FAST!!!

Jackson kicking the ball.

Jackson running after the ball.

Jackson's super cool cake!!!!

James, Jackson, Conal and Aidan rocking Lego Rockband!

Jackson opening his gifts.

Jackson showing off his cool model from Uncle Robbie, Aunt Emma and Jake

Getting ready to blow out the candle.

Jackson K. and Paul jamming on the guitar and drums.

Easter

Easter Weekend we went to Birmingham to spend time with my parents and Rob, Emma and Jake.  We had a very full weekend of shopping, eating and having family time.  Sunday morning before church the two boys had some time to check and see what the Easter bunny had brought.  After church we had an egg hunt in the backyard before eating lunch.  The boys seemed to have a great time and so did the grandparents.

What a cute pic of the grandparents and grandsons!

Jackson and his Easter goodies!

Grandad dyed the eggs at MIDNIGHT!

Jake and one of his books and eggs from his Easter basket.

These pics are just toooo cute!!!

Jake in his bubble suit.  Isn't he adorable!?

Pictures from the last 4 montsh

I promised after I posted the blog,which should have everyone who reads it caught up on what has been going on in the Payne household for the last 4 month, that I would add some pictures. Here are the pictures of what has been going on for the last 4 months.  They are in no particular order and if I have time I will add more tonight.  Enjoy!

Me on 3/15/2010 2 1/2 months since surgery and have lost 40 pounds!!! 

Jackson playing in the snow on Saturday 12/5/2010 in his PJ's

Aubie playing in the snow

Aubie, Pepper and Brutus

Jackson reading a Star Wars book at Barnes and Noble

Jackson decorated his room and tree for Christmas!

One of the many great pics of Jackson from the family pic session we had this summer.

Bringing You Up to Speed

So I am probably the worst blogger in the history of blogging! I know that I haven't posted anything since Halloween, but as many of you know I am very busy! For those of you who don't know how busy I am I will give you a bit of insight into my life. I have a full time job, 2 PRN jobs, and a full time school schedule, and, of course, the family/house duties. I also had gastric bypass surgery the end of December and changed jobs mid February. Somehow, I just don't think I have enough going on (JK)! So, I am going to try and catch up the last four months with this one post. November we took a trip to Gatlinburg for our 9th anniversary. Johnathan and I had a great time. Thanksgiving we spent in Auburn for what turned out to be a very exciting Auburn vs. Alabama game! Also, Johnathan, Emma and I participated in Black Friday shopping. It was Emma's first experience and we were in line at Target at 3:30am!!! It was quite cold, but we had a great time and hit Target, Wal-Mart, and Best Buy before 7 am. December began with me finishing my first semester at UAB. I thought it was going to turn out horribly, but somehow I pulled out a 4.0!!! We spent Christmas in Birmingham. It is always great to get together with family. Jackson really enjoyed spending the week prior to Christmas with Mimi and Grandad. It was also a really fun Christmas because Jake seemed to really enjoy opening his gifts and pushing one of his toys all over Mimi and Grandad's house. However, he really did not enjoy all of our dogs. They want to check him out and he is not too crazy about that. The day after Christmas we loaded up the car and went to visit Uncle Mike and Aunt Sylvia. Eric and Gina were in town, and we were very excited to get to see them. It had been almost 2 years since we had seen each other. Jackson also got a special surprise from Eric. Eric let him take his "vintage" Star Wars Lego sets home to build. We were also blessed that all 3 of our dogs behaved at Mike and Sylvia's, so they were invited to visit again. Four days after Christmas I sent in to Memorial Hospital for my surgery. Luckily, I only had to spend one night in the hospital and I got to go home. The first few days were a little rough, but I survived. After 10 days at home driving myself and everyone else crazy I went back to work. January was a whirlwind. After taking the first week of January to recover from my surgery I went back to work. The third weekend in January we went to Nashville to spend time with our best friends Heather and Justin. We had the most amazing time with their whole family. We got to meet Jenna Grace for the first time since she was born in November 2008. Jackson spent a lot of time playing with Reed (2 years old). It was really cute watching them play Thomas together like brothers. We are so lucky that Jackson is a very sweet and giving child. During our weekend we stayed up late playing Rock Band (they made me sing, and I have a horrible voice, but at least I know most the lyrics to the songs). Heather and I shopped on Saturday and left the boys at the hotel to mind the kids. Sunday we went to the Science Museum in Nashville and had a great time. The kids really enjoyed all the interactive exhibits. We stayed until 5:30 and then it was time for us to part ways! That was the worst part of the whole trip. It is so sad every time Heather and I have to part. Heather is the closest friend I have had in my adult life, and we are almost exactly alike (except physically and she can SING, really good). Our husbands are eerily similar, too. Hopefully, someday we will live in the same town. The end of January brought new possibilities when I received a job offer from the Galen Medical Group to be their Electronic Medical Record Implementation Coordinator. This was a dream job offer because I love being in the medical field, but I also love computers. This job is a mix of both. February 15 I started my job at Galen. I have spent the last couple of weeks getting settled in and learning my new position. We signed Jackson up for soccer the beginning of March at the YMCA. We are very excited that he has shown an interest in a sport. We tried football and baseball, but he just did not seem interested in either of them. We are looking forward to spending Easter in Birmingham. Jackson will be spending Spring Break in Niceville with Grandad Jake and GG Kathy. As for me, well since surgery I have lost 40 pounds and total since May of 2009 I have lost 57 pounds. I am still working very hard, going to the gym and hope to lose another 80 pounds by Christmas. I will add some pics to go along with this post later because I am not at home where my pics are stored.

Happy Halloween!

This year we made Jackson's costume for Halloween. He loves Lego's so we thought a Lego brick costume would be great. I found some ideas online, and then we just figured out what supplies we needed and threw it together. Jackson loved it!! I am so grateful to Johnathan cause he is the one who made it. I gave him the gist of what I wanted and he put it all together.

Jackson spent Halloween trick or treating with his friend Jacob. They also went to a haunted house in Hurricane Creek where Jacob lives. Jackson said it was "a little scary." He seemed to have a good time. The rest of the weekend he was with his Bebo and Grandpa while Mommy and Daddy were in Auburn.

Auburn vs. Kentucky Weekend

Richard Gallo, Christi Ashmun Gallo, Andrea Bush Payne, Johnathan Payne

Johnathan Payne, Andrea Bush Payne, Heather Carter Walton, Justin Walton

Spent the weekend in Auburn with Heather and Justin Walton! Despite the fact that Auburn lost to Kentucky we had a great time. However, it was a cold, rainy day. Heather and I had the best time just being together. It had been five years since Heather and Justin had been to Auburn. Also, while we were in Auburn I met up with my best friend from high school, Christi Ashmun Gallo, whom I have not seen in 20 years! I am getting so old. Anyway, she and her family joined us for the tailgate. It was great to see her and hopefully it won't be so long before we see each other again.

Heather and I before the game!
Heather and I the morning of the game. Grandad, Diana, Robbie and B. Hall
Tricia, Mr. Phil, Heather and friends at the tailgate.

Jake, Grandad and Bruiser

Jackson Falls Off His Bike

This past Saturday we gave Jackson a new bike. He had outgrown his old one and since he was riding all the time we decided not to wait until Christmas to give him his new bike. Jackson set out Saturday morning on a ride with two friends from the neighborhood. They were not gone ten minutes when Aidan, Jackson's friend from around the corner, showed back up in my driveway and said that Jackson had fallen and hurt his face, nose and shins. I got up and went to find my car keys and set out to find Jackson. I had just barely pulled out of the driveway when I saw Jackson walking up the sidewalk with Riley, his girlfriend, who was pushing his bike. Jackson had tears streaming down his face and he was only wearing one shoe. As I got closer I could see that he had a bloody nose, and abrasions to his face. I scooped him up and took him back to the house and showered him off and checked for other injuries. Jackson appeared to be ok, however, quite banged up. He laid in my bed and complained of his teeth hurting and that he could not open his mouth very wide. After an hour, I decided to take him to the hospital. Three hours later, X-rays and a CT scan and we were home with good news. Luckily, as soon as we got home Jackson was back on his bike. Now, four days later his wounds are healing and he is much better. Thanks to all who have called or emailed to check on him.

Right After The Accident

Day 3 After the Accident