Before & After

My boys are destined to a lifetime of bad haircuts if I keep trying to do it myself.

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My Daughter the Designer

My Emery is so very creative. She scrapbooks, draws, even her make believe is super creative. Now she's designing and hand sewing clothes for her American Girl Doll. She amazes me. Not only are they cute, but she makes a point to ensure they're modest. I'm so proud!!






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My New Favorite Room

A few years ago I found a great set of Camo quilts at Walmart, of all places. Now that the two youngest boys are in a room together, the ideas have been formulating. I painted quite a few months ago and couldn't have dragged out the finishing touches any longer - but it's finally done. With the help of my Cricut and some vinyl, I cut the border shapes. I want the boys to have pride in our country and those who protect it.






Have you ever started a project that you see in your head only to find that it looks pretty pathetic when it's implemented? I'm used to that. So when things turn out even better than what I see in my head, I'm ecstatic! LOVE this border!!


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Family Room Renovation

So the kids have loved their artistic freedom:












So where are we in the renovation? Well, we have finalized our decision on carpet. Made a selection of paint for our stand-out wall . . . All that's left is to have the room measured for carpet, choose the other wall color, paint the ceiling and walls, order the carpet, put in new floor trim . . .

Oh but wait, Dan made a discovery today that may put all those steps on hold indefinitely.






A bubble in the ceiling became a gaping hole after he touched it to see what was going on. Must be a leak up in our bathroom - so budget-wise, we may be enjoying our children's art and shuffling around on plywood floors for some time.


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Awesome Mom-ness

So - many of you know I'm not the most relaxed mother on the planet. I like cleanliness and order and propriety. Therefore, anything that falls outside my comfort zone as a mom is note-worthy!!

One of my vivid memories as a kid was when all propriety went the way of the shag carpet!! My parents did a major remodel and renovation of our home in Bountiful. The red shag carpet and heavy velvet curtains came down and were replaced by early 80's modernness - country cottage blue style. In the midst of ripping down old wallpaper, we began murals of pure art. Stick figure family portraits. Doodles. Who knows what else - I think there may be a photo somewhere. Wish I had it.

So after we ripped the carpet out of the family room this week, I felt nostalgic which morphed into proprietary rebellion. I told the kids about my memory and gave them the "maybe!" when they asked if they could do it.

Tonight - after the WORST teeth cleaning of my life, (never going to her again!) and with the pull of showing E's friend that I can be cool - I let the kids pull out the markers. And they are having a BLAST!!!!!!! This falls under the best-mom-ever category. Why not, right?



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Family Home Evening

Tonight's Family Home Evening was centered around ripping out carpet, trying to keep little fingers and toes from puncture wounds and the occasional outburst of reprimand for a swinging tool almost larger than the operator.

Hardest worker award goes to Jackson - that little man pulled up almost all the tack strip himself. With only one tiny finger poke all night.


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The Hut

Last year Daniel began a crazy project - an above-the-shed-hut. I was amazed when I saw the amount of materials he unloaded after a trip to the home improvement store. I realized it was more serious than I first understood. So this summer he finished it and the kids absolutely LOVE it - they had their first night sleeping in it last night - before it gets (any) cold(er). Aidan came in by 11:00 pm, Jack by 2:30 am and Emery by 6:30 am. Harrison was the only one who made it all night.








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R&P Photography

I love these gals! Ronalyn and Paula of R&P Photography - they have taken our family photos for three years in a row now and this year was just magical!! There were no melt-downs or non-cooperative tantrums. Just happy kids - mostly following directions and smiling.


I purchased a CD of our shoot and also got this CD case and box full of prints. I am in love!! If anyone in Alaska needs good family photos - and want to meet two of the sweetest, most fun and talented girls - check them out!!

www.randpphotography.net

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My amazing husband . . .

So the man that gives me perpetual butterflies turns old today. As old as me. And here he is . . . out fixing our mailbox. A friend of ours backed into it today and totally took it out. I hope she doesn't feel bad for more than a second because I just keep laughing every time I think about it. (Harrison keeps commenting that I must be in a good mood today - I am, but it's also just one of those things that hit me more funny than upset.) So I knew he could and would fix it - however, I was a bit concerned about: 1-what the mailman would do with our mail today and 2- what it would look like once he fixed it.

No need to worry because the minute Dan got home he went out and started working on it - and then when I went out there to see his progress, the wood matched perfectly, its more sturdy and it looks better than it did before.

Then - as Dan's finishing the last screws, the mailman pulls up and Dan opens the mailbox door for him.



He's such a good guy!! I honestly don't know how I got so lucky!!

And these kinds of things aren't even the top reasons I love him - he's forgiving and supportive. He's kind and considerate. He's a gentleman and confidant. He's dedicated and compassionate. He's fun and real. He's plain amazing!! So these kinds of things (like fixing the mailbox) are just icing on the cake!!!

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He's 5!!!!

I can't believe how much technology has progressed in my lifetime - nowadays a ((5)) year old knows his way around a laptop. I'm not fully worried though - he's still naive enough to delete and accidentally rearrange files.


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J-Man

I'm a bad mom. Not all the time. And surely not on purpose. But Jack has wanted me to go to the school playground with him and push him on the swings. I made him a promise that I'd meet them Friday after school at the playground and push him on the swings. Problem was - I got to cleaning my house. Top to bottom, the whole time fueled by hearing about two nurses at a local hospital helping a very large man into his hospital bed - and finding cockroaches between his belly-rolls. So yeah, you can imagine how distracted I was in trying to secure a clean home.

When Harrison got home, he told me Jack was angry with me. I felt truly awful!!

So today - after a VERY successful family photo shoot - we went to the playground and I pushed him on the swings. I even helped him learn how to pump a bit - and with a little practice, he'll be flying to the sky in no time.


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