The BIG news...

Did I trick you? HA HA! I am so kidding with you all. That would be the icing on the cake. Although it would be ok too. But no, the big news is not that we have another Miles baby on the way. The news is that Kent was laid off from his job on Tuesday. We were pretty surprised, especially just after having him pass his Series 7 exam a few days earlier. So the relief and celebration has turned into.... hmm. What's next for us. We have known that they were going to get rid of his department since last fall. They took all of the people in his department and sponsored them to take the series 7 exam, and then they were going to place them all in their retail department. So Tuesday they called all of these people in for a meeting. They all thought that they were just going to get their training schedules. They told them that the economy had changed while they have been studying for this exam, and that they were going to have to lay them all off. Go pack your stuff, no more work, you are done. They were all pretty surprised. Having 75ish people take the exam is very expensive, plus they all got around 100 hours of overtime pay to study during the process. No one really thought that they would pay out all of that money, and then lay them off. It is actually a blessing that he passed that exam, and now has it when he is applying for jobs. It will help - it makes him more competitive for what jobs may be out there. I am grateful that Fidelity let them all finish it. It was a gift. Thankfully they have a severance which will be for about 3 months, so we have a little time to look without being extremely panicked. So, anyone know of a good financial planning job opening? :) I am afraid it is not exactly a booming business right now. We are trying to be positive about it all, and praying that something will work out. I just hope it is not a huge long ordeal. But, even though it is frustrating, and I am SICK of moving around so frequently, I am grateful for this challenge. There are many others I know who are struggling with challenges so much greater than ours. We have always been blessed to have everything work out. It is not always easy, but it does work out. We are pretty much open to going anywhere where we can support our family. Who knows where we will end up. I was thinking that next year for our Christmas cards, I could do a where's Waldo picture with our family "hidden" in it. Where are the Miles this year? :) That is, if I get Christmas cards done. This year it just didn't happen. I hate that. I love getting Christmas cards, so don't give up on me. Next year. So that is the BIG news. Not exciting, just big. Thankfully Kent is very positive about the situation, which definitely helps me. We appreciate all of the calls, thoughts and prayers. I don't know how we would make it without family and friends. We love you all! And watch out, we may just end up in your neighborhood! :)

Creating

We had a fun afternoon today. Camille checked out a book from the library on how to make things for you doll. She has been begging me to let her make some things for awhile. She and her friend Susanna were playing with their dolls today, and talked me in to letting them make some clothes. It was actually probably as much fun for me as it was for them. They made a swimsuit, a beach bag, a dress and a towel for their dolls, each using one of my old socks. Who knew that you could make so much from one sock! The towel was not made from the sock, I guess. I made the girls do most of it themselves, and they did a great job. I am so glad that Camille enjoys stuff like this- she spurs me on to get some of these things done.

The finished product.

McCray wasn't interested in making any doll clothes. He did get in on the creativity though. He had me run off tons of pictures of sharks from the internet. He colored all of them, cut them out, and then decided that he needed me to run off some little fish for the sharks to eat. Now that's my boy! He played with the cutouts all afternoon, and was so happy. Who needs toys, anyways.

Celebration!

The big day has come and gone. We are celebrating at our house! Kent took his Series 7 exam yesterday. He has been studying for it non-stop for a few months, and he passed. We are so proud of him! He scored an 87%, which is wonderful. He has been under a lot of pressure to pass. If he didn't pass, he would have been laid- off on the 31st of Jan. They are getting rid of his department. If he passed, he could continue working for Fidelity in their retail department. It was fun to see him when he came home. He looked like he had lost a HUGE weight from his shoulders. We had the house decorated when he got home. One of my friends came over today and saw the decorations. She asked if I had waited until Kent called me to tell me he passed to put the signs up. I didn't. Even if he hadn't passed, I would have still been proud of him, and grateful for all that he does to take care of our family. He worked so hard studying, and did everything that he could to prepare. So regardless, I was proud of him. I would have been extremely STRESSED, but still proud. :) We all went as a family to Chili's last night for dinner to celebrate. We don't ever do that with the kids, so that was fun and a big deal for the kids to get to go. We have all had to sacrifice for Kent to pass this test. When we got home he said "Wow, I don't even have anything that I have to do." Now that is a big change. We are going to go on a date tomorrow too. We're going to milk the celebrating all we can. :) It will be fun. We appreciate everyone's prayers and support. We felt it.

You sew girl

 

Camille got a new sewing machine for Christmas. She has been interested in sewing, and was really excited to have her own machine. Today we set it up, and let her go. She is really creative, and I am excited to see what she comes up with. Grandma Payne gave her a bag of scraps, and she showed them all to me last night. She had plans for all of them. She learned how to make bobbins and thread her machine today. It didn't take long. Then she was off. She made her first creation- a bandana for her doll. I wish I had a picture, it was really cute. I am glad that she enjoys sewing. I hope that she can teach me a few things before long.

Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. It seems that we have a wonderful Christmas EVERY year. We especially enjoyed having all of my family here celebrating with us. We are getting bigger and bigger in numbers every year, which makes me sad because I know it can't last forever, but it sure is nice to have everyone together. Kent and I need to work on getting a mansion that will accommodate all 27 people, so we can all have a place and space. Until then.... our family room had to do. It was cozy, but so fun to be together.

Camille was excited because she got a sewing machine of her own. Now she doesn't have to wait for me to sew her doll clothes. She can make them herself!

McCray got a space set to add to his "fake" Lego collection. It is nice when they are young and don't know the difference between the two.

Reed got a Geotrax set. He has been obsessed with them for awhile, and was pretty excited to finally have one.

Morgan LOVES the Biscuit books, and got a set of her own. When I take her to the library, she always wants to check them out. I decided that we better give someone else a chance at them. :)

She wasn't getting help from Mom in a timely manner I guess, so she took matters into her own hands, and got someone who would. Thanks Uncle Kelly for filling in, and helping Morgan with her presents!

This is my Mom and newest little niece Clara. She was born on my birthday. How lucky am I? I think it is a cute picture.

I wish I would have taken more pictures of everyone. I guess it was pretty crazy, and I should be glad I ended up with pictures of our kids. We were so blessed to have family here, good friends all around us, and many kind neighbors who made our Christmas very special.

Christmas Eve

When the Payne family gets together on Christmas Eve, we always have the kids act out the nativity. My Dad read from the scriptures, and the kids acted it out. They did pretty well playing their parts. Then came trying to get a picture. It takes considerable effort to get all of these little ones dressed. It takes even MORE effort to get them all in one place long enough to take a picture.

We finally did it, and got them all in the picture at one time. Whew! What a cute little bunch of kids, if I do say so myself.

After doing the Nativity, my Dad a prepared a little presentation on the computer. He had some pictures of when my brothers and sisters and I were younger, and he had the little kids try to guess who the picture was of. It was fun, and we all had a good laugh looking at the old pictures. The kids did pretty well guessing who everyone was.

The kids got to do something we have never let them do before- open a present on Christmas Eve. Grandma and Grandpa Miles got all of the kids new pajamas, and we let them open them up and wear them. They were so excited to have new PJ's to wear on Christmas morning.

Family

My family all was in Salt Lake for Christmas. What a treat to be together. My parents came from Florida, and it was so nice to have them here, and for the kids to get to spend some time with them.

This is my Mom reading to the kids. It must have been pretty interesting to keep the attention of 4 kids. I am sure they were all enjoying the snuggle too.

What a great Dad. He comes to visit, and ends up cleaning our floor and watching our kids, while I was out running errands. I always wish that my house could be spic and span before family comes, but it never is. This picture makes me realize that parents never stop taking care of their kids. Maybe not in exactly the same ways, but how nice of him to try and help make things easier for me. I am so blessed to have such great parents. They are always so helpful and supportive. Thanks Mom and Dad for coming.

Some snapshots

We snapped some pictures the other day after church. Some of the kids changed their clothes so fast, we didn't get their picture in their Sunday clothes. Oh well. I understand. I want to get my Sundays clothes off ASAP too.

Camille and I took a self portrait the other day before school because we both had our pink shirts on. I guess I had better enjoy it- pretty soon she will be mortified to have the same thing on as me.