A facelift

Last week I had fun with a 2 day nursery facelift for my friend, Terri. She gave me a budget and off I went. Oh, so fun to decorate with someone else's money, right? (Then, she and her hubby were out of town so they were surprised to come home and see that it was done!!) I am pretty streamlined and simple in kids rooms. Here is the result:

BeforeAfter Blue chambray Ralph Lauren sheets I found on clearance at Ross were used to make a duvet and curtains.

I adore this stripe. Lots of work, but worth the impact.


I painted this fun little growth chart for little B and his sibs (I am also working on one for my kiddos toy room). We also found this small armoire in another room and switched it out for the dark green long dresser. (ooh, and see that lamp? Not so much. It's a shade sitting on a wooden candle stick. Terri said she would never use a lamp, but I had this left over shade and wanted to use it.)

This polka dot fabric is so soft and adorable. Thank you Hobby Lobby (aka Heaven). Then for the both the pillows and curtains, I just added a grosgrain ribbon with iron-on adhesive.

Man, it's fun to make things perty.

More Reflections

Remember a few months ago when I found out I would get the opportunity to record on Mark Mabry's soundtrack? Well, I had the memorable experience to record in the studio with some very talented women this summer, and while one must strain to hear the "angel choir" in the background, I feel so grateful for the spirit of this project and that even an iota of my voice is lent to it! And, the CD is now at Deseret Book! In fact, the entire collection of unbelievable photography and music is out and it is just as breathtaking as his first project.

Click HERE to see!!

* For those who have inquired, the choir only sings on the 1st and last track of the CD. In fact, you can hear our lovely "ooooh's" and "aaaah's" in one of the songs if you watch the slide show on the link!

In Memory

Many of you are aware of the passing of my beautiful sister-in-law, Becca. It has been a very long 10 days, but I will always remember those sweet moments at her side in the hospital as we prayed for her recovery. We are so thankful to know that we will see her again and she will be with Jared and her sweet children forever someday. 'Til we meet....

Rebecca Leonard

November 13, 1978-September 29, 2009

*I have opened a memorial account in her name for the benefit of Jared and their three children, Elijah(8), and Rachel & Lauren (5).

Jam session.

Dessert on toast.

Reading=Free D-Backs

Two-fer

Chocolate-Peanut Butter cake

for BOTH of our September Students-of-the-Month:

Paige and Trevor!

Lunch with the Principal, for the siblings, was a hit, and we are now stocked with free kids' meal gift certificates to last us awhile.

Remembering

Watch this video to hear a survivor's story. The end of the video is very powerful.

Of career women.

Teacher and Fashionista

What: Stake "Girls' Activity Days" Career Day

When: The other day

Where: At church

Who: Girls 8-11 years of age

How: By wearing stuff that shows what you hope to be when you someday grow up, even though whatyouwanttobewhenyougrowup will change weekly, if not daily, until you are an old and silver-haired woman....

Result: A daughter who won for her costume of "Fashion Designer Extraordinaire" (Please note: measuring tape around neck; ribbons and fabric in tote) and who invited our next-door-neighbor friend because she's outgoing like that.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What I want to be when I grow up: Paige

missyoumissyoumissyou

Sometimes a little brother can really miss his big sister when she's at school all day. And sometimes he tackles her and gives her hugs just to show her so.

Of wind...

...and dollar kites

and foreboding clouds

and childhood

and raindrops

and bliss.

For who doesn't enjoy a good Ode?

* Written for my parents who, next week, embark upon their mission to Nova Scotia.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ode to Canada

O Halifax, Canada,
take care of our missionaries.
Keep their hearts warm
when your chill makes them wary.

They’ll come from afar
to help in the work
of teaching your people
the gospel’s word.

Your islands and ferries
and bridges, for the novices,
will lend for weekend adventures-
some distraction from the office.

We hope the sea air
will guard them from chill,
or frostbite, or windburn,
or any other frigid ill.

(Oh, and we’re thankful
that near them, in close proximity,
are plenty of stores
for healthy snacks unlimited.)

These servants will go
with faith, as in times of old.
To further God’s plan--
did I mention there’d be cold?

Though missed by their loved ones,
we know we are blessed
to send out our parents
and wish them the best.

The Lord will provide
for doesn’t He know?
Yes, the way is prepared
Now, sow missionaries, sow.

We'll miss you!

Who watches Wipeout?

I just had to post this. Last night, I reminded Steve that my friend, Travis, was going to be on Wipeout. "Remember Travis? He helped deejay our wedding reception?"

Well, we had the absolute viewing pleasure of seeing my old high school buddy win--yes, WIN--Wipeout!! Aka "Super Shorts" (brilliant!), Travis took the obstacle course by storm and did us proud. His goofy get-up was so Travis, a shout-out to his former class clown status. It was such a hoot to see him go for it and then win the whole thing! Stake Dances, high school musicals, and prom seem a long time ago, until last night, when my funny friend made his debut. Awesome.

Put some money in a savings account for your kids, Trav. Then, GO TO DISNEYLAND!

Sinatra, eat your heart out.

These are some ol' blue eyes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*more shots to come from my little photo shoot with Mr. Gavin.

growing pains

Paige playing a piece at our Family Reunion variety show.

She's 8.

And good at it.

Clenches her fist in determination to wear gym shorts to school.

And to do her own hair.

Could be worse, I keep thinking.

Keeps her scatter-brained mother organized.

Just yesterday, replied to something or other with a thoughtful, "Touche." and it was an appropriate response at the time.

Yes, comedic timing.

Loves her brothers.

Hides from her brothers.

Singing and singing and singing....

and singing.

"Please, honey. Let's not sing at the dinner table."

1.7 minutes later

she reminds me the same thing.

{I think I'll change that rule.}

Wears scarves and bandanas and hats...

has her own sense of style.

Growing up too fast--

it's hard on me, hard on her.

Still wants to be tucked in

forever, I hope.

view from here

Later, after the balloon gave way to physics....

Wishing...

...that I was taking a stroll along this little path here.

...that milk still showed up at the door every morning in a lovely glass jar.

...that this room existed in my home.

...that helium never ran out.

...that I could listen to my parents speak this Sunday.

Oh, did I mention? They were called to the Canada Halifax Mission and report on Sep. 7th. And, yes, Prince Edward Island of Anne of Green Gables' fame is in their mission!

weirdlove

I dunno. Kinda poignant...

in a weird way...

Happy Haiku to you.

I have a crush on last year's anniversary post, but I wanted to convey some true romance this year for #10. And I think I heard somewhere that nothing says romance like a haiku*...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

steve (my husband's name

short for biblical Stephen)

endears me to him

when we made a vow

he promised to make me laugh

each day while we're alive

reminded to speak

with soft words in our fam'ly

by a man of God

del mar room service

danish with donny and m'rie

beach walks lots and lots of love

BYU marrieds

studio with green carpet

and a big hole in the door

fun driving the champ

sitting on the floor all year

livin on love sweet

he taught MTC

teaching in our blood

i taught second grade

villa maria

stolen bike teaching english

laundry up 2 flights

baby paige graced us

with pink and curls and joy

new parenting scares

time at grandma o's

valley of sun here we come

hot hot hot hot hot

a first house we built

preemie trevor boy
bedrest baby preston t

m & d o serve

islands a far they did go

we stayed in a vintage house

'nother boy ahead

lots of shots and TLC

here he comes but wait

must find a new home

gavin joins this family

six people live here

keeping out the world

loving teaching laugh and sing

letting in the light

we stand here now us

ten years of eternity

holding hands tightly

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

* an non-rhyming poem using a syllabic pattern of 5-7-5.

We're going green.

I just bought a hybrid...

...fruit, that is.

I discovered this cross between a plum and an apricot.

A pluot.

And it's delicious and nutritious.

And our offspring can't get enough.

And they're currently on sale at our local market.

On my list:

• a full bag of pluots
• 3 gallons of skim milk
• 1 gallon of Vitamin D milk
• 1 gallon of 1% milk
  

{Not that milk and pluots accompany each other well, but I cringe to have a shortage of milk in our fridge--and our 2nd fridge--but that is another story.}

I even have a marketing slogan for the hybrid:

You-ot to try a pluot.

Post-edit: I've just learned that this delicious, mixed-up fruit goes by many names--Pluots, Plucots and Apriums. So, I guess Shakespeare still knows his metaphors, and "A {fruit} by any other name would {taste} as sweet." It's good, whatever you call it.

A dinner conversation.

Trevor: Mom, what is this?
Me: It's broccoli slaw.
Trevor: Oh...it tastes like wood.
Steve: Have you ever tasted wood before?
Trevor: (pause) I have now.

Just because...

...sometimes goggle-faced-sprinkler-water-drinking can be fun.

...sometimes it's about the journey. {Notice: Preston had black connect 4 long ago, but what's the fun in winning right away?}

...sometimes life at sea requires a lot of nautical decor.

...sometimes it's comical when corn starts randomly sprouting up in your front yard, thanks to a nearby obliging cornfield.

...sometimes when you have 4 kids, everyone has to pull their weight around the house.

celebrating the day that I made my debut upon this planet

Here we are, celebrating my debut at our favorite local restaurant, BJ's and enjoying their famed "Pizookie"

This is Gavin saying "cheese"

and this is Gavin who can't be bothered for he sees a ball on the TV screen above.

School Daze

Stats:

Paige

3rd grade

Mrs. S

Loves math, reading and horses

Trevor

Kindergarten

Mrs. G

Loves buddies, inventing, and green

Preston

Preschool

Mrs. C

Loves knights, pirates and the letter P

The first week back was a success with just a few mishaps:

* Paige's shoe broke on the first day

* Mommy went to the school to have lunch with 2 big kids and missed Paige's lunch altogether

* Mommy had anxiety about her kiddos making friends and being happy

* Trevor adores school, but collapsed physically (and emotionally) at the end of very-long-for-a-kindergartener-days

* Preston's cheeks exploded from smiling too much

* and Gavin felt quite beside himself with his older sibs gone.....

other than that, we are off to a strong start on week two!

Only 4 days left...

...for me to spend time with my kids before school starts.

This is why I am not a super-blogger lately.

I do want to post photos from our recent Utah family reunion...maybe tonight while they're snoozing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

For fun, here is some reading that I've amused myself with this summer:

Who knew Goop was so Good?

I am trying to work on feeling better these days.

Maybe I'm getting older {32 on Friday} or just not taking care of myself as I should...but I am taking wisdom where I can and trying to incorporate it. At the New Year, I was all puffed up about this whole program, but have since slacked.

I came across Gwyneth Paltrow's website Goop and I love it. I have been most interested in her wellness advice and ideas--ways to incorporate the holistic and organic...but there are also great insights into parenting, relationships, optimism...I like it. My parents {who are very healthy and holistic} would say, "We've been trying to tell you about this for years!"...sometimes it is from many witnesses that truth can finally stick!

**I have no idea why it is called Goop. Gwyneth is so intelligent and lovely, I am sure there must be a good reason for it. I hope.