Kid Update

I just thought I would post some updated pics of the kids and a little info on them.


Andie is done with 2nd grade, she was kinda sad about school getting over, but she is looking forward to 3rd grade. There are lots of things she is excited about this summer and when she feels like it she is a great helper.


Tyson is enjoying Gymnastics a whole lot! He is so strong and it is fun for him to work on the different apparatuses. He likes it when Andie is home and they are spending a lot of time outside. I think he is looking forward to Kindergarten in the fall, and riding the same bus as Andie.


Casey is starting to talk and talk and talk. He is super cute and likes to tell us stories. He also is big into telling me how much he loves me, I really like that. He too is enjoying having Andie home and riding his bike in the nice weather.


Jenna got her first haircut the other day, and now she looks all grown up. She is exploring her facial expressions and has learned to climb up on chairs, couches and even beds, she is going to keep me hopping I am sure! We are hoping to fend off the crib climbing and are currently enjoying her sleeping though the night, but who knows how long that will last.

Sending off a Soldier

This last weekend my parents and brother and I went to Colorado Springs to send my brother Ben off to War. It was a wonderful weekend, and we spent a lot of time together just enjoying each others company. We went to the aquarium and then walked down by the river, attended Church with him at his ward and laughed together talking about old times and what we remember of him growing up. I was 11 years old when he was born and so there were a lot of things to talk about. Sunday night was the hardest. We enjoyed some dinner together then quietly discusses his funeral arrangements. These are things that had to be talked about, but no one ever wants to know what there 19 year old brother wants on the day he is buried. It was hard not to focus on the fact that we may never see him alive on this earth again.

Even with the idea of a last reunion playing in the back of our minds we were able to really have a good time. Ben showed us all the places he likes to eat and then we hiked up to 7 falls and went though some old tunnels up on the mountain. It was so beautiful there even though it rained most of the time. The lightning was amazing to watch and it stayed cool for our hiking and other activities.

Ben will be flying out on Friday to serve the country he loves. He feels so strongly about this and it is truly what he wants to do. Please pray for our Soldiers, they are out fighting a cause that is worthy and great. The next time you see an American flag think about all those families who quietly discussed the funerals of their sons and daughters, and then think about all of those families who have fulfilled those wishes so that we can have what we have today, tomorrow, and forever.

Denver, here I come!

I am going to Denver in two weeks with my Mom, Dad, and brother to see Benjamin off to Afghanistan. We are taking a quick trip so we can see him one last time before his tour with the National Guard. It is going to be really hard to say goodbye to him, but this is really what he want to do and I am so proud of him for going. I know it is going to be scary to think of him over there getting shot at, but I also know that my Heavenly Father loves him, and he loves us, his family. We have no control over Ben's future, but He does and He is going to do what is right for all of us. I am so thankful for my Faith, that allows me to see things though a different set of glasses, and know that we are in the life to learn and grow, and our Loving Heavenly Father will only give us what we can handle.

So when I go to see Ben, I plan on giving him a great big hug and telling him all the things a big sister should, but when we leave he will be in the hands of our Father, and I need to let my faith take over. We can be strong as a family and keep him in our prayers and hopefully in a year or so we can welcome him home back into the arms of our family.

I ROCK!!!

Today I ran 3 miles in 45 min. running the entire last mile. For the past 2 or so months I have been running on the treadmill, I went from one mile to two a month ago, and today I decided to take it up another notch. It feels good to be done, and I did a lot of stretching so hopefully I won't be to sore, but yeah for me, 3 miles!!!

Happy Anniversary!

Yesterday was Johnathan and mine 9 year wedding anniversary. A good friend of mine took the kids last night so we could have a quiet dinner at home. We had steak and corn, Texas toast, mashed potatoes and gravy, and sparkling apple cider. I decorated the house and put a sign on the door "Night of a thousand stars." It was such a nice evening and we talked about how we couldn't belive that it was 9 years already. I know that we don't have a lot, but we have eachother and that is really all that matters.

Today is our 10 year anniversary of the day we met. So I have known my husband longer than I have known any other person besides my family. It is great to know that we are still the best of friends and that it will be no suprise when we have made it another ten years and are going strong.

Our Headboard

We got this headboard about 7 years ago at a garage sale. It wasn't my favorite thing, but I really liked the shape of it. I thought maybe one day I would redo it to something I liked more, but never got around to it. Well the other day I decided "what the heck" so I pulled it out and sanded a bit here and there. I didn't really have a plan, but 4 hours later it was sanded down to the wood and I liked the color. Next, I wanted to replace the mesh with fabric so I got the wood finished like I wanted then went to work gluing on padding. The plan didn't work how I wanted it and after much debate I realized I need to pull the mesh off from the back. It was hard work but I finally got it off and removed from its stabilizing boards, not with out incident, but I have only made myself bleed three times.

When I realized I couldn't use the fabric the way I wanted to I needed a plan B. Andie suggested I paint part of it the color of the fabric I was using, so we loaded everyone up in the car and went to Walmart and Porters and that is where I found the lettering. Liking the brewing idea I got home, but Jenna to bed and went back to work. I was on day two of the project so I just let the big kids play outside while I sanded and started painting.

There was still no defiant plan but things were coming together. I though maybe some antique gold leaf would look nice, so I spend an hour putting it on, and three hours taking it back off when I didn't like it. At 1:00 a.m. I fell into bed. 7:00 a.m. back at it. I finished painting and the put the fabric over the removed mesh and stapled it back into place. After a few coats of sealer I had a final product. After all the work I can truly say I like it. Johnathan hasn't seen it because he has been with the scouts, but I don't plan on changing it, so he better like it. :) Over all, I am glad I did it, now I have a head board that I love, and...I will never have to do that again!

$1 Project

Yesterday I was catting around DI and found this transfer in the craft section.

"Hum, wonder what this is. Ah, a wall transfer! Well we rent so it won't really work on the wall, *thinking* but if I put it on a board then I can just hang it where I want to. And it is only $1.00, can't beat that!"

So I got it and brought it home. It was rather large so I went to look in the garage for some wood to put it on. In a deep dark corner under the stairs I found an old shelf with the brackets still on it. Digging deep into my Home Improvement Personality I got the drill and removed the brackets and took a good look. It was about 5 inches to long so I cut it down with the chop saw and laid it out on the table.Perfect! Now it was time to paint.

I wanted it to go in the bedroom so I mixed some paint I already had to make the color I wanted and went to town. When it dried I carefully sanded it then applied the lettering, and viola, the finished product! I am deciding if I want to hand paint the date we got married on it, or maybe some hearts, but I think for a buck it turned out alright!