Soccer Saturdays

Well we caved. We put our kids in soccer. I guess our lazy Saturdays will now consist of soccer games and whiny younger kids on the sideline. Honestly, it was awesome. It helps that the family also has all their kids on the teams, so it's always fun to sit in a camping chair, and visit with family and friends. Not to mention to enjoy this amazing weather. We all left with some really good sunburns! 

Alayna, Conner, Olivia

Yeah, he's an All-Star in the making. Let's just say that Jared is really hoping this is Jake's sport of choice. I think by next season he will have a better idea of what's actually going on. Let's just say you can tell this is his first attempt at soccer! So fun and entertaining to watch though.

Lovin the game treats and drinks!

Let me introduce you to the "Blue Dolphins...also known as the Fabulous Five-some" we were so lucky to get all 5 cousins on the same team! Yeah, for Coach Uncle Grady.

Alayna and Ashlyn...pretty much inseparable. These two "best" friends as Alayna says are so happy to play together. Jared is the coach for Alayna's team. He's loving it too. We were able to get 3 other girls the same age from the ward to play with them. It really is going to be great fun.  

Ah...sleeping baby on the sidelines. He fell asleep on my legs. Pretty much he was adorable. Caleb was a tad difficult to keep track of, chase after and keep entertained. I have learned next week I will bring a bigger stroller, more snacks, more water and sunscreen. Pretty much, I think I could get used to being a soccer mom. It was the best Saturday yet! As long as it doesn't rain I think we will really enjoy these next 7 weeks.

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.

Birthday Fun Continues...

Darling...Yup, I made these Cake Pops from Bakerella. They were darling, easy and seriously, I heard they were fabulous!

Alayna wanted her cake to be all flowers. We happened to Google a flower cake and found one that was up my skill level and so we copied it. It was easy and really darling.

Once she arrived home from school, we had all the cousins over for a birthday party! Bring on the ice cream cones. Chocolate Cake mixed with chocolate frosting, white chocolate, milk chocolate and a sprinkles.

I wish I could have captured every single kids happy face. These were a HUGE hit!

I just love this picture.

 

 

Cute girl cousins. Alayna couldn't have been happier about celebrating her favorite day with her cousins.

Getting ready to make a wish... (she's wearing sticker earrings...not the real thing yet)

 

Our ward was having a fun mutual activity with the youth. They were sent to different families homes as missionaries. Alayna was thrilled for Tyler to come to our house because he is our faithful home teacher. My kids adore him. (On the right in the bow tie). She thought it was SO great to have them over, celebrate and see all her presents. We of course served her FAVORITE dinner, Cajun Chicken Pasta.

Caleb brought Easter grass to me and said, "Mom, here is all the gross HAIR!" I busted up laughing because he was carrying it like it was something totally gross. I have to admit I have told my kids I really dislike (hate) Easter grass. So I'm not surprised he has taken my same feelings for that gross hair stuff!

Now, this is a picture of a boy who was totally saved by a miracle today...

As Alayna was opening presents, he slipped off the bench, his hands couldn't stop him because he was holding his delicious ice cream cone...you got it, teeth went through his lip. Opening presents stopped...sad Caleb and TONS of blood...or "bleed" as he called it. Oh, it was awful. Thankfully in the moment, between my sisters and I we decided that mouths heal quickly and bleed tons. Which is true. He has a huge whole in his bottom inside lip. The red mark you see is simply the last little layer of skin keeping it from going all the way through. We decided to not take him in for stitches because I know mouths heel quickly. He just might end up not being able to suck his thumb...and have an extra chubby bottom lip. Oh, and it's totally purple on the inside. It looks pretty good. He was a total champ, crying mainly because "bleed" was on his shirt. It wouldn't be a holiday around here with out him cutting some part of his lip/face open! The day was honestly so much fun...I have to admit though, I'm exhausted and SO ready for bed!!!

 

Happy Birthday Alayna!!

Our oldest and most wisest child has turned 7 this morning!

I decided to make a delicious breakfast that any child would LOVE to look forward to for their birthday...Chocolate Pancakes with Strawberries, and Strawberry Syrup.

My sister Krista let me borrow her DARLING birthday banners and chair cover. I have made a smaller one in the past, but when Krista made this large, bright and festive banner. I knew that this new design would please Alayna greatly. I was totally right, she was in HEAVEN! The good thing is, I have all the matching fabric to sew the same thing! Maybe by Jake's birthday I will have it done...wishful thinking.

These three monkies are birthday-loving-children. Seriously, it's a good thing that as the year comes around Alayna's birthday comes first, then Jacob and then Caleb. Seriously, there isn't a day that goes by that Alayna doesn't talk about her birthday. She LOVES being special. She LOVES being pampered and shown extra attention and love. It's surprising that I have a 7 year old girl. Wow, I think I'm finally getting older...Happy Birthday to our happy obedient little girl. We love you!

Happy Easter

Good Morning! Oh, what a wonderful morning it was. It was SO GREAT to have Jared home with us for a Sunday morning. No early church meetings, means slow fun, family mornings. Anyways, we slept in. Let Jared pick breakfast and we had the kids hide so I could finish a little thing I read to do for Easter baskets. I tied a yarn all around the house, up and down, all around, doors, furniture, etc. Then they had to start at the beginning then gather all the yarn up till it lead them to their baskets. I have never done it before until I read about it on 71toes.com. I loved the idea and so did the kids. Next year I will do what she suggested and have a different colored yarn for each kid, starting from their individual beds. I just wanted to try it with one mess the first time around...until next year!

 

This is Jake's new desired smile...I tell him it's a mean grouchy face and he says, "I am smiling!"

Here is our attempt to an Easter picture...let's just say Ben wouldn't smile...he really isn't as grumpy as his this picture looks. I was totally frustrated though, because I took a few darling pictures until I looked at them in my camera and realized the flash made them all WHITE...so I piled the kids back together and they were so not cooperating...oh, well. It's hard to get four kids to do what I want! Not to mention me, learning how to use my camera!

Here is Mr. Chubby himself...I think today was the first day he wore real clothes...yup, I changed him out of pajama's for the holiday...The 3-6 month clothes were literally bursting at the seams. When I tried to squeeze the pants on him, I felt like me trying to squeeze into my once smaller size pants...which I'm wishing I could fit into! Little buddy, it's just more comfortable to wear pajama's for us all! Alayna even noticed he was wearing clothes because she said, "Oh, mom, Benny looks so cute...he's like wearing real people clothes, cute pants, a shirt and even socks! He's so cute!" I literally laughed...he's 5 months old and finally wearing clothes! But...Monday he was back in pajama's again! Sorry dude.