Home Projects

2016 has been a really great year! Shaun and I both lost 30 pounds, we landscaped our backyard, and we got other little projects done around the house. Here are just a few of our DIY project results.

With the help of our wonderful sister missionaries, we painted the upstairs bathroom. A little before, during, and after.

Our cute sisters.

I think it turned out pretty great!

And speaking of painting bathrooms, we also painted our half bath on the main floor. Shaun and his dad did this one! And then Shaun installed these really great shelves I found online at Etsy. 

When Shaun's parents were here they also helped us install crown molding in our office. Shaun says he's never doing it again, but we will see about that. 

See he is smiling while installing it at least. 

It is amazing how something so small can make such a difference. 
 

But why stop there? In December Shaun and I both felt like it was time to let Ella have her own room. That meant taking Alex out of his crib, which I wasn't quite ready for, but we felt like Ella needed her own space more than Alex needed his crib. So he and Amelia share the pink room now, and Ella has this.

Ella helped me pick out all of the decor for her room. Ella choices, mother approved. Amelia was a little bummed she doesn't get bunk beds, but on special occasions we let them do sleepovers in her room. 

She has her own little reading nook too where she can go and chill, read, and play. 

We even added lights to make it fun. 

And sometimes you have to share your cool new reading nook with your siblings because it's just too cool. 

So that's about it for now. I have a list of other things I'd like to do, but really if we never get to those I'd still be very content. We've actually been talking a lot about moving in the next 2 1/2 to 4 years. They will fly by, and we are very aggressively trying to prepare financially for such a move. I found my dream home on line one day and then it was off the market. Turns out it is owned by a family at church that we know, and they took it off the market because the timing wasn't right. So who knows, maybe one day they'll be ready to sell and we'll be ready to buy. This is the house. 

Well even if it never works out it's important to be saving for the future! In the meantime, our house (though I love it dearly dearly), is a bit like a frat house. I never know who's going to wake up next to me. The bedrooms are small and every night everyone gets up and switches beds. One night I came home from mutual and absolutely no one was where they were supposed to be. If I didn't know better I'd highly suspect alcohol 😂😂😂. But other than the fact that Alex now has no bedroom, and that no one sleeps where they are supposed to, it's pretty fantastic! Wherever I live I always try to make it a place I love to come home to. 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 

 

 
 

 
 
 

 

Christmas Day!

The elves were busy Christmas Eve. There were race tracks to assemble and swings to hang. All in excitement as they awaited Christmas morning. 

Santa left Ella a pug and money in her stocking, plus some new clothes.

Santa left Amelia a race track and lots of treats in her stocking, plus some athletic clothes (her favorite).

Santa left Alex a t-ball set and some blocks, plus some new pjs. 

Santa left Shaun and I some hoodies in our stockings. 

I think Santa nailed it again this year. 

Grandma and Grandpa got Amelia a scooter for Christmas, and they got Ella a doll. 

Santa also brought Ella a swing. She loves it!

Shaun finally got a Denver Broncos jersey!

The girls got me a head band.

So needless to say we were all spoiled! Merry Christmas to all! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 

Christmas Eve with Nana and Papa

We enjoyed another Christmas Eve with nana and papa this year. As has become our tradition, we have dinner at their house and open presents with them. We sometimes go on a drive, though this year we opted to just stay at their home and face time with family. It was a beautiful evening filled with laughter and excitement. 

Nana's house... now you know where I get it from. 

The girls both got money and books, and their big presents were American Girl Dolls.

Alex got a toy car almost exactly like his Nana's. He kept saying,"It nana car!"

Nana and papa got gloves and a fake pearl bracelet from the girls. They picked out presents for them at Gum Drop Square. 

And we got my parents tickets to see Wicked at the Kennedy Center. 

We all enjoyed playing with nana's gift from my sister, Michelle, the selfie stick. 

The whole family shot 

My sweet little family on Christmas Eve.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

 
 

 
 

 

 

 

 
 
 

 

Santa Baby

Christmas has come and gone. It's a little sad to see the holiday season end, but at least I get to reflect by updating the ol' family album. What Christmas would be complete without a visit to see the big jolly man himself. Santa is always popular at our home with three little children, but never more popular than this year when Alex decided he was his new favorite obsession. It was ridiculously cute to hear him talk about Santa. He was convinced Santa lived in our basement and every day he'd ask to go downstairs to look in the chimney to see if he could see him. If there was a Santa figure in a store he was mesmerized and he would never forget where those stores were because if we drove by them again he'd beg to go back in. "I go see Santa" he'd say. So when we actually went to sit on Santas lap, he was in awe! Both times. At the church party and again when we went to see him at our Old Town's Gum Drop Square. Of course the girls were excited too. Amelia was very excited to ask for a hot wheels race track, and Ella, well let's just say that this year she learned how to be Santas very special helper. So without further ado, here are 2016's Santa photos. 

We also went to visit Gum Drop Square where we not only saw Santa, but we got to participate in a live Nativity. Can you spy a couple of familiar shepherds and angels?

Christmas in our beautiful little town. They shut down Main Street and let people visit the Nativity and other events as they go on on Friday evenings in December. Fun times!

Amelia waiting to see Santa. 

Alex and Shaun ready to see Santa. 

So it was a year of magic and wonder for my kiddos. I think that's one of the reasons people love Christmas so much. I know for me I love that Santa is a kind man who brings gifts to children everywhere. I saw this photo and poem on Pinterest and we read it as a family before Christmas. 

I'm not sure who the artist is. Here was the poem I found that was posted along with it. Again, I'm not sure who to credit with the poem, but I really love it. 

A long time ago in a land far away,

A child was born on a cold winter’s day

He wasn’t the baby you’re thinking about

But another small lad, he stood short and stout

He grew up to be quite a caring old man

He loved little children, everyone in the land

He found the “Good Book” and studied its pages

It was the story of Jesus passed down through the ages

His heart overflowed as he read, could it be?

A love so divine that he died just for me?

A twinkle appeared in his eye on that day

He found a road straight to Heaven and Christ was the way

As Christmas came closer, his heart filled with joy

He’d show God’s people he loved them – every girl, every boy

He made lots of goodies and stocked up his shelves

Yes, Santa was busy and so were his elves

He was filled with such love, that he wanted to share

So he handed out gifts to kids everywhere

Praise be to God, let the Angels sing

For this jolly old man spreads love for the King

As he steps into the chimney, he looks high above

And whispers, “Happy Birthday Dear Jesus, from Santa with Love"