Twilight

For the record. Team Edward!

Clips

I took Jacob to get his "second" official haircut yesterday at Cookie Cutters. Grandma Nancy did the first trim... you know, the kind when you save the little lock of hair for your scrapbook. It was all fun and games (the slide, the cute airplane chair, the sucker), until he realized what was actually happening. Let the photos speak for themselves!

I love this last picture. Hopefully he isn't traumatized for life!

YW American Girl

I didn't have much to do with any of this, but I thought it was such a cute idea. "American Girl" was the theme for our YW in Excellence this year. A couple of the YW actually took the program on this year and will be using it as a value project. Rather than have the each girl do the typical "performance," a couple of the Laurels thought it would be fun to do a spotlight with a fun slide show. Each girl chose a time period or activity and dressed as an "American Girl" to showcase that period. They stood on the stage and another YW told a quick bio about the girl, why they liked that time period, and a little about them. The bio was also shown on the projector screen along with a few photos of the YW. They used American Girl dolls to decorate the stage. (Thanks Abby for letting me borrow a couple of your dolls and furniture). It added a nice touch. There was also a display table (featuring items the girls had made, awards, etc) the parents could look at afterwards, during dessert. The entire program was so well put together. I'm so impressed with all of our YW and their talents and abilities. I have no doubt they are being trained and will grow up to be active, good women leaders in our church. Thanks girls for letting me serve you as a teacher this year. I learn so much from each of you!

Remember the Warm Days (Part 2)

I had so many photos to add with my last post. Here's the rest of them (not in an organized order). Call my lazy!

Emma riding her scooter on the deck of the rented Bear Lake cabin.

Our family rented these family seater bikes at Bear Lake. Rob and I pedaled and the kids got the easy job of adding extra weight. Talk about making your thighs burn!

I love this picture. Emma in the same sunglasses she wore when she was two years old. Somehow they magically reappeared just a couple of days before the trip and she had to wear them. And those huge magnifying glasses for spotting bugs and rocks-too cute.

Famous Bear Lake, red raspberry shakes.

When you can't think of anything else to do-how about climbing a tree.

Our family ready for a day of boating at Bear Lake.

Jacob was walking, crawling, and splashing. At 16 months, he was not afraid of water.

Chillin on the beach, and I mean "chillin." It was a cool day.

No one loved the boat more than the kids.

Ethan

Emma collecting shells to take home. I think she would have filled the entire bucket if she could have. We have limits.

Ethan playing on the sandy Bear Lake Beach. I think this was near Garden City.

Right before the hike into Minnetonka cave, which was cold and dark, and didn't last long for our kids. We left early about half way through.

Lots of the Plowgian Family, including Grandma and Grandpa, our family, and some cousins.

Remember the Warm Days (Part 1)

Our backyard has a blanket of snow now. Why is it you seem to remember and really appreciate the warm weather when you no longer have it? A week or so ago, I noticed summer picture trips on a family members blog. It reminded me of our summer trip to Bear Lake. I don't think I ever posted any pictures. Those memories of sunshine and lake water are sweet right now. I'm trying to imagine the feel of the warm sun and muddy sand. This also got me thinking of other times we've spent outdoors recently. My brother's wedding and the perfect mild September evening. Temperature somewhere in the low 70's, glowing lights in the garden, delicious salad with strawberries, carmel fountain with endless munchies, dancing, and the beautiful couple. Then just last week...crisp air, crunchy leaves, Ethan riding a brand new bike and Jake running (just barely) after soccer ball in the backyard. I'm going to miss those times and others too...the first day of school, soccer games, and canyon cookouts. I hope I never forget the memories.

Emma's first time water skiing. At Bear Lake on the U board.

Proud moment after the ski trip.

If you can't ski, then tube. There's Ethan over on the left.

The trip wouldn't be complete without refreshments.

Canyon cookout with neighborhood friends. Emma's getting ready to make her s'more.

At the temple on Isaac and Megan's Wedding Day-Sept 26th

Beautiful day. The Salt Lake Temple early in the morning.

Fountain on the temple grounds. Ethan and Emma posing.

Our family at the temple.

The happy couple-Megan and Isaac.

Cheese.

Later that day at the reception-hitting the dance floor (Cousin Jane, Ethan, Emma, and aunt Abby, that is).

Moves from Rob and Ethan.

Rob and I. He is such a goofball. Can you just smile for real, please?!

Isaac and Megan at their reception.

My sister Cara and I.

All my sisters (Amy, me, Cara, Abby, Adrienne)

Rewind a few weeks. Ethan's first day of school at Miss Patti's.

Soccer season. Somehow I ended up with mostly videos and only a few pics. Emma is a good little player and fast runner. Crazy, all she's doing in this picture is biting her nails?

Two little spectators. Here's Jakey (on the right with his little friend Liam on the left). With a Big Gulp to cool off. Ha, ha!

end of pictures part 1. This is only about half. I'll need a part 2.

Presto Chango

I was busy busy busy earlier this week making some simple changes in our front room, as well as adding a few new items. I don't know what happened. I refinished the coffee table and then the projects snowballed.

Found this mirror at Real Deals on Home decor last week. It was at the back of the store on the 75% off clearance table. Love the back of the store! Love clearance! I was keen to the design but wasn't wild about the colors. I should say I wasn't wild about how I thought it would look in my house.

I taped off the mirror part, grabbed my gloss black spray paint and went to town. Then out came the sand paper, chocolate brown stamp ink from my distressing kit, and a little glaze. Sanded and rubbed until I liked it.

One project leads to another. I liked the mirror and the lamp together but I didn't know if liked them on the old brown cheap book shelf. Sorry no before picture. I painted it black and staple gunned fabric on foam core to the back. That's better. A complete copy cat project from the Thrifty Decor Chick. I even bought the same fabric!

That wasn't enough. I needed new floral for the mantel. I can't even tell you how quick I was to toss the old silk ivy plant. I don't have a picture of that either. Again, tells you how anxious I was to get rid of it! I trudged downstairs to the storage closet and found these:

What are they? Heck, I don't know. Cutesy little holder container things. Found them on clearance at Smith's Marketplace about a month ago. I think they were $5 and $7. Black paint, fall floral 80% off at Michaels, and here's what you get:

This is the little one. The big one is a holder for books right now. It may have a new job in the future, though. I love the colors. $10 for the floral. Yes, $10. And I had some left over that made its way into a container in the kitchen.

Mirror, floral, table, paint, fabric...I was on a roll...just trying to mix it up a little. I couldn't resist. I took down the galvanized silver mirror in the entry way and attacked it with the gloss black, sand paper, and stamp pad. Some may say they liked it before and I did to, but there was no stopping me that day. I needed change. Somewhere I may have a before picture. I don't want to look for it. What's done is done. Here's how it is now:

Enough with that room. I couldn't think of anything else! On to the bedroom. I found these wood trays at Robert's for $6 each a few weeks ago. They still have tons of Home Decor Deals right now. At the back of the store! You have to look! I went back and bought something else. But that's another project for another day. So little tray things...

...peel off the ugly paper, spray paint, apply silhouettes in cool scrapbook paper, and modge podge.
I plan to hang these silhouettes (of my cute kiddos) in our bedroom, if I ever get around to painting it first. But that's yet another project for another day.

That's all for now.

Another Thrifty Chick Party (Coffee Table Re-do)

I may be entering this PAAAARRRTAY a little late. But better late than never. This coffee table has been in the garage since September. I sanded it forever and then stained it forever and then polyurethaned it forever. I will probably never do this again ever (the wood finishing, I'm mean). Grrrrr...the oil based poly...we are not friends. Its over and done. Well almost. I bought hardware I decided I hated. I returned it and found these knobs that I love. Now I have just one problem, there isn't a handle to match. I couldn't find anything at Home Depot in a 3 1/2 inch width. Grrrr...again. Maybe I'll just put more knobs on.