What Now?

I love to have a winter project every year. Just to help keep my sanity and make the weeks until spring bearable. Last year I gestated (a very worthwhile winter project). This year I wanted to redecorate the kitchen/living room. I fully expected it to take until the end of February, but just 15 days into January I was done. Hmmm.

One trip to the fabric store and one trip to Hobby Lobby, pretty much everything was purchased. A night of sewing, a day of prep, and a 13 hour day of painting, moving and arranging and ta-da the project is complete. I was so worn out after the 13 hour day I even got an Ambien night (poor Chad was up with kids 5 times).

I think I just wanted to get it all done so fast because I really can't stand my house being in disarray and because Abby was such a "big help"---I would put on the green painting tape and Abby would quickly take off the tape. When the glaze was finally done she was expecting the "no no Abby". Instead she got "yah Abby". Oh she went to town tearing that tape off. She wasn't as big a fan when it got stuck to her clothes and her arms and her fingers. Mommy loved that part. Too bad I didn't get a picture--I was too busy laughing.

As a side note: next time you paint--go with the green frog tape, not the blue stuff.

Before

After

I painted the table purple and covered it with the bronze metallic glaze I used on the walls. Love it!!!

Before

After
I painted below the chair rail a Caramel color and rubbed the metallic glaze on with a shopping bad. It seriously looks cool. The bedroom will be the next change and I will probably be doing a silver metallic glaze. Love the metallic.

Before

After

I loved the fabric I found for the valance and table runner. I didn't really think of using purple as a main color, but mom and I both fell in love with the fabric.

I will probably always put a fun vinyl something left of the TV. I went from birdcages to birds on a branch---tweet tweet. Spencer said, "hey one bird for each of our family!!"

I am a lighting FREAK (just ask Chad). So I was thrilled to add these 2 lamps to the corner.
And the find of the project was this awesome No Tool Corner Desk from Pier One Imports (It took Chad just 10 minutes to put it together-so he's a fan too).

Before

After

It's fun to have a new rug too. I wasn't sure about it at first, but it's perfect. Abby loves to feel the sculpted lines with her little fingers. She noticed all the changes on Saturday morning when she woke up. She pointed and "ooh-ed" at things, especially the birds on the branch, but when Chad took her to get a closer look she was afraid of the birds. So funny.

CHRISTMAS "VOMIT" 2010

This is a Christmas "vomit" post because I put off downloading pictures until I have so many, it's just too overwhelming. So I just "vomit" a bunch of pictures in no particular order. Ah-hah maybe that could be a New Years resolution--hmmm, there has got to be a more worthwhile resolution. But really, once the living room/kitchen are redecorated and the new jewelry is created and listed on Etsy,,,,then I will do better about blogging. Priorities, priorities.

SO, in no particular order, this is how the rest of December shaped-up for my little family.

Richele making cookies with the kiddos for Santa on Christmas Eve. She always has great ideas to make things fun for the kids.

G-ma and G-pa and the grands on Christmas Eve.
Last summer we promised Andrew that we would have a Settler's night at our house. We ordered food and played till late. It was a great time. Spencer was thrilled to be able to play the Wii the entire time.

A good friend gave Abby this track suit---and boy I love it. I call her my little Abby-Sue Sylvester. (reference to Glee)

Our Christmas Eve tradition of dinner at Tepanyaki needed to be modified this year. We decided to try breakfast/early lunch at Village Inn, then back to Grammy's for games. It was a hit. I'm all about a new tradition.

The kids enjoy being together--can you tell?

Ready to open the loot at Grammy's.

3 video cameras and 2 still cameras capturing Cam's song.

Abby was having a rough night and needed some snuggles at 11:45 pm.

Centerpieces for Nat and Brett's wedding dinner.

Temple Square.

Eat her up!!!!!!! 9 month doll picture.

Cam with his Santa present and stocking.

Spence with his Santa and stocking.

Anything and Everything--in the mouth.

Lots of estrogen here.

Brett and Nat's reception.

There always has to be one uncooperative child.

Ayla did NOT want her picture taken. Abby and Alyssa were darling-they kept checking each other out.

Matt was so good with the boys. He let them play games on his phone.

yummy beads.

Notice the ornament she's looking at---it's a favorite.

Christmas was wonderful this year. The boys spent a ton of time with their Hall cousins. Lots of video games and sleep overs. Chad and I got a little too used to just one child at home. (why didn't we enjoy it more when we really only had one child?)

What We've Been Up To

I just had to take two 8 month doll pictures---I found this outfit and couldn't resist. (it was Cole-bears-they both looked darling in it.)

Spencer is just thrilled to be watching Cam's Halloween parade.

Before all the wedding craziness began (not my wedding, of course) I started making my own patterns for baby booties. I don't have the patience to follow the patterns I had purchased (about 6 patterns equaling 6 different almost finished shoes). If Abby had just one foot we would be in business. Hopefully after the first of the year I can get my patterns all organized and typed up.

I did a couple of boutiques---One in N. Ogden with my sisters, hosted by cousin Carin (so fun to see everybody). And one in Provo. I didn't do too shabby, it was fun to just try the boutique thing out.

Kater-bug turned 8 months old, and is she fun or what. Mostly fun during the day and "or what" at night. We enjoyed a couple of weeks in October of Abby sleeping 12 hours at night--straight through. Those days are long gone. Oh well, no sense obsessing over lack of sleep. I will sleep when I'm dead.

The first grade classes put on a darling Thanksgiving program. When Cam was telling Daddy about the upcoming program he said, "Dad, when you hear the song you're going to cry."

Chad said, "why's that?"

"Because you're like that."

It was a great song, but not necessarily a "crier".

If Abby refuses to take an afternoon nap for me, Chad is assigned to get her to sleep right when he gets home from work. It's a rough job, but he's willing to sacrifice so Abby gets a nap--hehe.

Abby is sucking on a snowball. She loved it---until she would put it in the water and it would disappear. She would look confused and put her hands all over the water like she was looking for it. Then when she realized it was gone she would get TICKED--little girl has quite the temper. Chad would get her another snowball and we would start all over with the joy, confusion, then anger. Funny girl.

Spencer and his best friend. They play almost everyday. His friend is in Kindergarten, so we start playdates at 8:30 am some days to make sure they get enough "friend time".

This is a 35 x 14 foot fort that Chad and the boys made. They used every folding chair, end table and blanket we have in the house--along with about 3 dozen clothes pins. I'm all for the fun and games of building forts, but I threatened the boys big time that they are to help clean up without complaining. We shall see.

Such a big girl---eating at the bar with her brothers.

She looked like a "tick about to pop". This was the night we went to pick out our Christmas tree.

These are the necklaces, brooches, and hair pins for the little girlies for Brett and Nat's wedding.

I had such a good time making all the jewelry and accessories for the wedding. I especially loved creating the necklaces for the big girls. Hopefully they will look awesome. I will post pictures of my "assignments" at the wedding. Jewelry, centerpieces, scrapbook. SO FUN.

Saturday night was the Hall Christmas party. Such a great picture of my babies.

Abby cries with EVERYBODY except Mommy, Daddy, Grammy and now Kristi (way to go Krispy)----Oh and add Santa Clause to the list. We thought for sure she would lose it, but she just looked at him.

That Kid Will Never Be Fat

Spencer's favorite cookies ever are No-Bakes (the chocolate and oatmeal ones). All day Thursday Spencer asked for me to make him No-Bake Cookies. He ate well at dinner so I told him I would. He was in the family room wrestling with Chad and came running in the kitchen, "mmmmm, No-Bakes. It smells so good." I put them on waxed paper and told him they were ready. He came back in the kitchen and said, "No thanks."

"But Spencer you have been asking all day for me to make these."

"Yah mom, I wanted you to make them. I didn't want to eat them."

And that would be my Spencer. I kept offering them to him and he kept saying, "no thanks."

No worries, Mommy ate the entire batch---by herself. Until the next day when Spencer saw that there was only one left in the container--he finally agreed to eat the last one.

Halloween

Halloween was kind of a bust this year because of the rain. Luckily Nat had a Halloween party the end of September so we were able to wear our family costumes at least once. Abby was a loaf of Wonder Bread. I was a jar of strawberry jam. Chad--Jiff Peanut Butter. Spencer- a glass of milk. Cam--an EPI pen (epinepherin pen for allergies.) Since they didn't want to be a glass of milk, or epi pen for school activities they went as Batman and a magician.

My "First Baby" Turns 7!!

Oh my goodness Cam-Bam--you're seven. I can't believe how the time has flown. You are such a handsome little man with an infectious laugh. I love that you are a nerd in training---asking for a chemistry experiment kit and robot kits for your birthday. You try so hard to be so good and are learning to not be negative and hard on yourself. You have so many good friends, there aren't many days that we don't get numerous phone calls for you to play.

I am so proud of what a good big brother you are. Spencer is always included when you are playing with friends and when you aren't teasing him you are so kind and patient. Abby will always be able to count on you for whatever she needs in a big brother.

Happy Birthday my love!!