Random Happenings

So, a regular occurrence at our house is having a LOUD thud hit our window. I used to think it was the boys tossing balls or toys up and accidentally hitting the window. Until I'd look around and realize the boys are with me. So we have learned that when that thud hits the window it's a bird or two. It's honestly SAD. Not once, not twice but multiple times each week we have birds hit our windows. We've had some land and die (sadly) on our table out on the patio. Or we've had some lay there for several minutes then get up and fly away. It always gives me the shiver...ahhh

Well, this morning Uncle Riley (The Wildlife Biologist) happened to be there when two birds hit the window. So out he went to the patio and he swooped up the bird lying there and brought it in to show the kids. My boys ended up becoming brave enough to pet the little birdie.

Then there is Krista's daughter brave enough to hold the little chipper bird until it took a little snip at her finger and off she let it fly!

 

Once silly morning my kids had found all their babies...

I  love their imagination and how well they play together. I hope as cheesy as it sounds that they will remember how good of friends they were as kids.

Four kids on Ben's first birthday.

My favorite chubby clean baby. I realized an entire year went by and I haven't taken a chubby bath picture. Sad!

I love him!

We had our first snow storm of the year! The boys were in HEAVEN! Let's just say Jake was THRILLED he got to play in the snow when Alayna had to run off to the school bus. Look how cute Caleb is waving to me! I love this happy child.

They played all morning long.

Bring on the winter...baking, sewing and playing inside doing puzzles, games, reading. Oh, I really do like how life slows down. Love it! (But don't get me wrong I do want blue skies and sunshine!)

Make-over Update...

Oh, have you ever spent like an HOUR of your time on a post...to have it not upload. I could scream. Between you and I, I did just that. Wasted an hour uploading, typing up detailed information on each picture...just to have it not work. AHHH Well, this time around might just have to be pictures and no ooey gooey details, because my personal computer time is gone.

The darling white lamp started the whole new vision and make-over of the room. I blame it on having a four-kid-mini-house-life-crisis. Being trapped inside with three sick boys and Alayna out of school I was determined to change a few things up!

Coffee table. Painted with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, Aubusson Blue. LOVE it. It did end up lighter than I thought though. Just imagine if the camera could actually capture the right color. Because it's not bright blue or shiny at all.

Decorating is difficult. Why because who really has all the $$ in the world to buy everything perfectly matching and perfect? Well, not me. And now that I am done I'm not sure that is the best way to do it. Anyways, I stumbled upon a blog while researching refinishing furniture and this blog author was discussing how to decorate a home. I was intrigued by her writing skills and her ability to articulate my exact feelings on decor. Anyways, she pretty much said, "In life we can't have everything we think we want. In fact it's better to add to what we do have, with things you LOVE." Now she pretty much said to me, deal with free couches that aren't your perfect color or design. Just be grateful you have something to sit on. Simply add to what you have been given (which is pretty much everything in our house), and make it yours by adding things you LOVE. So that is exactly what I have done. I love the lamp. I disliked the coffee table, before when it was super ornate and goddy...but now, I love the designs and swirls. Totally love it. Beware other furniture...you just might be getting painted green, pink, orange...the chalk pain is the limit! Oh, how I love it!

Next story...Our first wedding anniversary Jared surprised me with this Entertainment center. He and I were at the early morning RC Willey Warehouse sale when I saw it. I knew I loved it. Simple, Big, dark and beautiful. I remember sitting inside of it, claiming to purchase it. As people walked up and down the aisle they would ask if it was for sale, I said, "No, we are just waiting for our salesman to write the ticket." Well, the truth was, I was trying to figure out how to convince Jared that I loved it and that the price was right (which it was) and that we really needed it! Sadly, I lost the debate. I had to be to work and so did he. I remember being totally emotionally attached to it and LOVED it. I was SUPER sad all day. The dumb thing was it was over furniture. Lame. I know. Anyways, I remember having the thought, "I wish Jared could be FUN and surprise me...too bad he's not!" Well, I got home and I remember seeing a shadow out of the corner of my eye...I dropped my bag out of total shock. I couldn't believe it. He really had got it for me. He put that post-it on it too. I remember starting to cry because I felt SO bad that I had the thought he wasn't "fun" enough. As years have passed on I have been surprised when I didn't expect to get what I want, from him. He is still just as wonderful as he was our first year of marriage!

Thankfully he was totally okay with me painting it white too. He said, "Hey, we've had it for 10 years, what is it going to hurt?" Nothing at all. Thankfully this chalk paint is AMAZING and it turned out great!

My entry table...once dark brown. Now blue...I put some decor up on the top, not sure what's going to end up there. This is just for the picture.

Love this bird house. I totally got it on clearance at hobby lobby. I've had it forever just waiting for somewhere for it to go...

I'm attempting to get you the right color...I still don't see it on the computer.

The over all view. The decor on top of the entertainment center is changing. I have something else in mind, but I just need to leave the house to go get it...

Happy Ben loving the new room. Ok, he totally loves me, that's why he's smiling!

Random pillows...they brighten the couches.

This is my favorite pillow.

Just a cute corner on the entertainment center.

Favorite bird and vase...

Last but not least, my chunky mirror I got...it was once black, now blue. LOVE IT.
Ok, that's it folks. Sorry you got the short non-detailed version, but at least you got some more pictures! It's been really fun, thanks to all those that have helped me with my decor questions and tips.

A long awaited update...



Our family from the eyes of Jacob (age 4). Seriously, I love this picture. I love that he took the time to color us all, write our names and give us all belly buttons. Let's just say that this is being saved in the book of memories, forever. I love it.

Besides loving my kids and living regular life I decided I must have gone through a mini-four-kid-off-track-mid-life-crisis....My mini crisis isn't over yet, so these are just a few pictures to catch my avid readers up on my life...

A little paint....(Oh, and I chopped my hair off again! goodbye longer hair, hello familiar short hair!)

Goodbye brown...Hello WHITE...

I will take better pictures in the day time and when it's totally finished, but so far I am IN LOVE with the changes.

For those of you who know me well know that my paint color around my home has driven me crazy for three years now. So at the start of my projects I have painted my ceilings WHITE...I love it. love it. LOVE it. I then painted my kitchen (yes, I painted it again for the third time in 3 years) and painted the main wall...the wall you see in the picture above. It's the same color as my guest bathroom. I LOVE it. I LOVE it in the main room with the white entertainment center. The kitchen still needs a little change and lightening up, but for the most part I'm LOVING the changes. Did I mention I really like the new feel?? Well, I do. I still have to paint the inside of the fireplace nook white, spray paint the canned lights, finish the office and master bedroom ceilings, and some new changes to the kitchen. But for the most part all is done! Oh, besides deciding what type of decor to do on top of the entertainment center...give me some ideas. Don't worry what's on top right now is just random decorations that I placed up there away from kids. (And the decor on the fire place.) I did however add flowers to the flowers in the fireplace.

If you notice carefully Caleb has his pants on backwards. As mothers of young toddlers you all know that that means...He's totally 100% potty trained. Go Caleb! Let's just say after a week he was totally on his own. It's been HEAVENLY!

During potty training I realized quickly that this almost three year old was not taught (by me) how to get dressed by him self. So what did we do...we taught him how! Yes, he accomplished this as well. Shocking I know...what almost three year old doesn't get dressed himself...Jake and Alayna are really good helpers!

Family Home Evening is truly a favorite night around our house. We have added a new fun thing to our scheduled/planned FHE's around here. I recently thought that I miss not reading the Friend magazine regularly. So one night a month (or as often as I remember) we do an activity and read stories and make the kid friendly recipes out of it. Seriously, we are so blessed to have an AMAZING resource to help teach our children the gospel principles. I love it and so do they. I have to admit we are hooked on the pretzels. YUM.

How have you all lived with out this chubby guy. He is such a doll to have around. He's probably around 20 lbs. and growing. He downs 8 oz. every 4 hours with out an trouble. He looks deeply into your eyes and keeps eye contact with you for a really long time. I LOVE this too. (Look at those chubby elbows. So gooey and cute!

Happy baby!

This was darling. In all my adventures of painting I had the windows open and listening to the boys playing outside. I over heard Jake saying, "Now...Bend...Now...Kick...Now Bend...Now Kick..Good job Caleb." It was adorable. I had to lean out to see what they were doing, then I realized he was teaching him how to pump in the swing. I have to give Jake credit, he has taught Caleb how to swing. It really was so precious. These brothers really enjoy being together. I just love watching them be friends, wrestle and show love and concern for one another. This was a good mom moment.

The leprechauns returned again this year!

My other project that I have been up to is organizing my pantry. You know it was bad when Jake said, "Mom, every time I'm in here I think everything is falling on top of me!" So when Jared had to work out of town all day long until midnight, I rushed off to Walmart and purchased new uniform containers (Spent a fortune- I don't recommend that!) Scrubbed, threw away 2 garbage bags full of who knows what was hiding in there, cleaned, consolidated, organized, and beautified this area of the home. And thank heavens for labels. Because seriously, with those clear containers, I need to read to know what's found inside!! ( ha ha ha - this sarcasm is for my sisters who have teased me unmercifully about the need for labels on clear containers.) Either way I love it and it pleased Jared greatly. He's Mr. Organize Pantry Man...so this was GOOD surprise for him to return home too. I'm proud to admit that because of such great organization it has remained clean for a month now! That's a big deal around here.

That's about it folks. Because you are all wondering why in the world have I not blogged, well you guessed it...my computer ONCE again was broken. It's not fixed permanently, but for the time being it's working. So I'm saving all my goods and crossing my fingers that we can solve all my computer issues. Jared is just praying that we can get it fixed because heaven knows an Apple computer is my next laptop in line...Thank to my ipad for my birthday, this has completely sold me on that upcoming decision! Life is good around here. We are "Enjoying and Enduring" that journey of life!