Don't you love how our kiddos look mad, well this was after church last week and at this time they were clean and all spiffed up, but hungry and tired. I guess you can't have it all can you.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Merry Christmas!
Don't you love how our kiddos look mad, well this was after church last week and at this time they were clean and all spiffed up, but hungry and tired. I guess you can't have it all can you.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Living Room
Here is what the living room looked like when we first looked at our house. The paint colors looked really good with their furniture. 
Here is the picture of what our living room looks like now. We repainted the walls, and the biggest change that we made (actually in the whole house) was the addition of a mantle on our fireplace. We are 90% done with the tile, but we just need to put the finishing touches on it. I still have a lot that I would like to do to the front room. Most of the things that I would like to do are predicated on the twins learning not to grab things down and ruin them. ha ha. Notice that the mirror is the same over the fireplace. The old owners were kind enough to leave that as a little gift for us. I really love it.
Here is the picture of what our living room looks like now. We repainted the walls, and the biggest change that we made (actually in the whole house) was the addition of a mantle on our fireplace. We are 90% done with the tile, but we just need to put the finishing touches on it. I still have a lot that I would like to do to the front room. Most of the things that I would like to do are predicated on the twins learning not to grab things down and ruin them. ha ha. Notice that the mirror is the same over the fireplace. The old owners were kind enough to leave that as a little gift for us. I really love it.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Exactly One Year!
Exactly one year ago today we moved into our house! It seems like yesterday (kind of). I can still remember how tiny the babies were when we moved in. I had a great plan to take pictures of our house now and then post pictures of how it looked before. Well that was the plan until the babies both came down with colds, and I started to feel like I am getting the cold too. Well this week I hope to post before and after pictures of our house. In some ways I think that it looks better than it did, but there are some rooms that we still have a lot we would like to do. The to-do list is certainly shrinking, but it is still packed full of stuff. So, stay posted for some before and after shots of the house.
PS I know that you needed to stay posted for pictures of the fireplace redo. Honestly, I am still waiting for the 'after' to happen. I regret to admit that it isn't all done. It certainly has been a thorn in my side...
PS I know that you needed to stay posted for pictures of the fireplace redo. Honestly, I am still waiting for the 'after' to happen. I regret to admit that it isn't all done. It certainly has been a thorn in my side...
Monday, November 1, 2010
Sweet Fall Moments
We took the kids to the town pumpkin walk. It was a little bit cheezy, but they didn't seem to care. We had a pretty fun time.
This was a sweet moment while we were reorganizing the pantry today for FHE.
Hanging out after church.
My little rascal. He figured out how to get water and ice without mommy and daddy's help.
Here is a picture that just melt my heart. My three handsome boys!!!
This was a sweet moment while we were reorganizing the pantry today for FHE.
Hanging out after church. 
My little rascal. He figured out how to get water and ice without mommy and daddy's help.
Here is a picture that just melt my heart. My three handsome boys!!!
First Haircut
Cameron finally had his first real haircut in October, I just put off writing about it. I am very sad to say that with the first haircut, all of his gorgeous curls are gone. I thought that perhaps his hair would be somewhat curly still at the bottom, but time has proven me incorrect. :(
Friday, October 15, 2010
Balloon Fiesta
After the crazy week in Austin we drove all the way out to Albuquerque to meet Darin's family and watch the annual Balloon Fiesta.
It was quite an amazing event. The babies even enjoyed the balloons.
I only wish that I could have gone up in one, but it was mucho dinero.
We were there for only a short time, but we enjoyed seeing Albuquerque. Every time we go to New Mexico I have to get a green chili cheeseburger--deliciousness.
After being in the car for more than 24 combined hours over the past week we were absolutely done with traveling and driving and so so happy to be home.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Animals and Austin
We had the opportunity this last week to tag along with Darin as he was assigned to go to Austin for his work. The babies and I had a fun time and were able to see some awesome animals and to have some interesting adventures.
The first adventure occurred at a small park that I took the kids to. They were able to experience their first ride in a swing. The coolest thing was that I could fit both kids in the swing at the same time. I almost teared up, they looked so cute!
We had the chance to go and witness a spectacular event: the nightly exodus of bats at the Congress Avenue bridge. This was amazing. Apparently there are 1.5 million bats that live under this bridge and every night they all fly out in search of food. We stood there watching them come out and I was seriously amazed at how these animals have adapted to our urban society. The concrete gaps and ridges under the bridge create a perfect environment for these bats to give birth, grow, and thrive. We were very lucky because any day now, they will migrate south to escape the cold. The babies didn't really know what they were seeing, but I was very impressed.
One afternoon the babies and I made the trek out to the Austin Zoo. I was not very impressed with this zoo because the pathways were all gravel and a majority of the experience I was huffing and puffing from having to push the stroller over logs, large rocks, up inclines and so on. I don't even know how someone would navigate this zoo in a wheelchair (I specifically thought about that because embarrassingly enough, when I was 7 1/2 months preggo with the twins, Darin pushed me around the zoo in Glendale in a wheelchair when my class was going on a field trip so that I wouldn't have to be on my feet with my huge belly and I could still be with my class). The animals were interesting in this zoo because they were all rescue animals. Since they were all rescue animals, some were missing body parts (weird I know) but they were interesting anyway.
On the last night we stayed north of Austin in a place called Round Rock. While we were trying to find our hotel, Darin noticed something in the air that looked like smoke. Upon further investigation, we discovered that it was not smoke, but clouds of bats. We found that they were coming out from under an overpass. In some ways this bat sighting was more interesting because the bats were coming out when it was still light, and you could drive up underneath the bats and see where they lived. We found out that this overpass supports a bat colony that is not as well known or as large as the Congress Avenue bridge, but in some ways it was cooler. 
We had a great trip and there was only one major mishap: Cameron running out the door of the hotel room, me chasing him, Dallin shutting the room door, me not having a key, Dallin bonking his head and noticing he is all alone in the room, me trying to get Dallin to open the door, Dallin screaming so loud you could hear him all the way down the hallway, me running to get the key from Darin who is unloading stuff from the car, me pushing open the door and finding Dallin with a big bruise on his head and completely hysterical. Ahh drama. A daily occurance. Other than the drama, we had a great time seeing animals and having fun in Austin
The first adventure occurred at a small park that I took the kids to. They were able to experience their first ride in a swing. The coolest thing was that I could fit both kids in the swing at the same time. I almost teared up, they looked so cute!
We had the chance to go and witness a spectacular event: the nightly exodus of bats at the Congress Avenue bridge. This was amazing. Apparently there are 1.5 million bats that live under this bridge and every night they all fly out in search of food. We stood there watching them come out and I was seriously amazed at how these animals have adapted to our urban society. The concrete gaps and ridges under the bridge create a perfect environment for these bats to give birth, grow, and thrive. We were very lucky because any day now, they will migrate south to escape the cold. The babies didn't really know what they were seeing, but I was very impressed.
One afternoon the babies and I made the trek out to the Austin Zoo. I was not very impressed with this zoo because the pathways were all gravel and a majority of the experience I was huffing and puffing from having to push the stroller over logs, large rocks, up inclines and so on. I don't even know how someone would navigate this zoo in a wheelchair (I specifically thought about that because embarrassingly enough, when I was 7 1/2 months preggo with the twins, Darin pushed me around the zoo in Glendale in a wheelchair when my class was going on a field trip so that I wouldn't have to be on my feet with my huge belly and I could still be with my class). The animals were interesting in this zoo because they were all rescue animals. Since they were all rescue animals, some were missing body parts (weird I know) but they were interesting anyway.
On the last night we stayed north of Austin in a place called Round Rock. While we were trying to find our hotel, Darin noticed something in the air that looked like smoke. Upon further investigation, we discovered that it was not smoke, but clouds of bats. We found that they were coming out from under an overpass. In some ways this bat sighting was more interesting because the bats were coming out when it was still light, and you could drive up underneath the bats and see where they lived. We found out that this overpass supports a bat colony that is not as well known or as large as the Congress Avenue bridge, but in some ways it was cooler. 
We had a great trip and there was only one major mishap: Cameron running out the door of the hotel room, me chasing him, Dallin shutting the room door, me not having a key, Dallin bonking his head and noticing he is all alone in the room, me trying to get Dallin to open the door, Dallin screaming so loud you could hear him all the way down the hallway, me running to get the key from Darin who is unloading stuff from the car, me pushing open the door and finding Dallin with a big bruise on his head and completely hysterical. Ahh drama. A daily occurance. Other than the drama, we had a great time seeing animals and having fun in Austin
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Leave Well Enough Alone
Today I decided I had had enough of moving Dallin's hair out of his eyes and decided to cut it.
I snipped off the offending lock.
I snipped off the offending lock.
I couldn't leave well enough alone.
I thought the back needed to be evened up.
Then it looked too girly. I needed to trim the back. Then the top was uneven...
I snipped.
I cut.
Then it looked too girly. I needed to trim the back. Then the top was uneven...
I snipped.
I cut.
All of a sudden I found myself with a baby with very short hair. I couldn't believe what I had done to him. The poor boy. He looked so thin without all of that hair. He looked so foreign. I wanted to cry. I wanted to undo what I had just done. I couldn't. All I can do is hope that his hair fills in quickly and not make the same mistake again. Leave well enough alone.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Patio Furniture
After months of looking for affordable, cute patio furniture, I came across this set at an estate sale. It had good bones underneath the ugly paint and grody cushions. I got it (again much to Darin's chagrin) and set about refinishing it.
After many, many cans of spray paint I got it looking cute. We enjoyed our first outdoor dinner the other night and Darin admitted what a great purchase it was. I really love those moments.
I am still on the lookout for some cute clearance chair cushions but I do believe that my finger has finally recovered from all of the spray painting. I thought for a while that it was going to fall off, it hurt so bad.
After:
After many, many cans of spray paint I got it looking cute. We enjoyed our first outdoor dinner the other night and Darin admitted what a great purchase it was. I really love those moments.
I am still on the lookout for some cute clearance chair cushions but I do believe that my finger has finally recovered from all of the spray painting. I thought for a while that it was going to fall off, it hurt so bad.
Before:
After:
Room Reveal
The babies finally have a room that they can enjoy (they have been waiting for this for 15 1/2 months now!). It is not completely finished because there are a few more things I would like to get and hang up, but the painting is all done. I am very pleased with how it turned out. Yay.
Before:
After:
Surprise
Today a mysterious package came in the mail. It was addressed to Cameron and Dallin. It contained a pair of new scrub pajamas for each of the boys. They love them. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Ensign!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Advice Please!!!
I found this freakin' GORGEOUS antique iron bed at an estate sale about four weeks ago. It was only $75! I walked by it and immediately knew I wanted it for our guest bedroom (even though we recently acquired and painted a day bed for that room--this bed has so much more character than that bed). It came from Arkansas and is over 100 years old!
I love the shabby, old appearance of the bed. I want to keep that bed as it is and put a couple of coats of polyurethane on it to seal the old texture on it. Darin thinks we should have it sandblasted and paint it. I plan on accessorizing with white down pillows, white linens, and a colorful antique quilt at the foot of the bed. What do you think? Do you think it should be painted or left as it is?
Also, to go along with the bed, here are the other pieces of furniture that are going to be used in the room:
Antique Carved Commode and Green Wicker Chair
On a side note I love my husband very much and he is so fabulous to go along with my impulses for decorating. Love ya Darin ;)
I love the shabby, old appearance of the bed. I want to keep that bed as it is and put a couple of coats of polyurethane on it to seal the old texture on it. Darin thinks we should have it sandblasted and paint it. I plan on accessorizing with white down pillows, white linens, and a colorful antique quilt at the foot of the bed. What do you think? Do you think it should be painted or left as it is?
Also, to go along with the bed, here are the other pieces of furniture that are going to be used in the room:
Antique Carved Commode and Green Wicker Chair
On a side note I love my husband very much and he is so fabulous to go along with my impulses for decorating. Love ya Darin ;)
Refinished Furniture
Today's blogs are all about furniture. Here are a couple of before and after shots of some things we have been working on lately.
Corner Hutch
You may think that I have the before and after shots of this hutch mixed up because it looks older after I redid it, but that is what I wanted. I bought this hutch for $20 on Craigslist. It was missing one of the panes of glass when I bought it and it also had the most hideous pulls on the cabinet doors. With a little bit of paint and some new antique hardware from ebay, this cabinet looks similar to one I saw in a Country Living magazine. You may be wondering why I have two hutches, well this one fits in this small corner in the hallway and now brightens up the space where as the other hutch is located in the kitchen. Please ignore the clutter in the upper cabinet in the before picture as well as the streaky mirror oops. :)
Chest
I bought this chest at a wonderful estate sale (I totally scored a ton of great things at that sale!!!) for only $19. When I got it home I wanted to strip off the paint and see what kind of wood was underneath. After literally HOURS of applying paint thinner and sanding we could only see a little tiny part of the wood underneath that horrible orange paint. Darin convinced me that we could not possibly strip all of the paint off in this decade so instead we painted it and my little sis and I did some stenciling on the top. You might also notice that it had some very chintzy rings on the sides that I removed. Apparently I am not a fan of fake metal rings. I am very pleased with how this turned out. I decided to keep the latch orange as a token of what the original color was.
You may think that I have the before and after shots of this hutch mixed up because it looks older after I redid it, but that is what I wanted. I bought this hutch for $20 on Craigslist. It was missing one of the panes of glass when I bought it and it also had the most hideous pulls on the cabinet doors. With a little bit of paint and some new antique hardware from ebay, this cabinet looks similar to one I saw in a Country Living magazine. You may be wondering why I have two hutches, well this one fits in this small corner in the hallway and now brightens up the space where as the other hutch is located in the kitchen. Please ignore the clutter in the upper cabinet in the before picture as well as the streaky mirror oops. :)
Chest
I bought this chest at a wonderful estate sale (I totally scored a ton of great things at that sale!!!) for only $19. When I got it home I wanted to strip off the paint and see what kind of wood was underneath. After literally HOURS of applying paint thinner and sanding we could only see a little tiny part of the wood underneath that horrible orange paint. Darin convinced me that we could not possibly strip all of the paint off in this decade so instead we painted it and my little sis and I did some stenciling on the top. You might also notice that it had some very chintzy rings on the sides that I removed. Apparently I am not a fan of fake metal rings. I am very pleased with how this turned out. I decided to keep the latch orange as a token of what the original color was.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Visitors Galore!
These past few weeks have been very exciting in our little home! We had the privilege of hosting my little bro and sis Mark and Sarah as well as Darin's Mom, Dad, and sister Janae. Mark and Sarah came the last week in July and Darin's family came the first week in August.
Cameron and Dallin loved the attention and fun from all of the visitors. I am happy that they are able to get to know family members even though we live so far from home!
There really wasn't much to show them around town, so we mainly hung out at home and took it easy.
It was so much fun to have visitors. It is time for other people to come visit and keep us company--who is next?
Cameron and Dallin loved the attention and fun from all of the visitors. I am happy that they are able to get to know family members even though we live so far from home!
There really wasn't much to show them around town, so we mainly hung out at home and took it easy.
It was so much fun to have visitors. It is time for other people to come visit and keep us company--who is next?
Southern Texas
This past week we had the opportunity to travel south a bit and enjoy some time traveling around Texas. We stayed in this adorable little town called Shiner. It is dubbed, " The cleanest little town in Texas." What is not to love about a clean, little town with beautiful old houses? We had a really good time the week we were there.
Over the weekend we decided to visit Corpus Christi for a little seaside fun. I did not find it fun. I did not like that overcrowded, dirty town with ugly houses (not all of the houses were ugly, but not all were pretty). I wanted to go back to clean little Shiner. It was not so. We stayed in that darn town. The only thing I enjoyed about the town was the family picture we got taken on the boardwalk.
These are some pictures of the cute old houses in beautiful Shiner. The first home picture is the main house of the Bed and Breakfast that we stayed at.
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