Bedroom Redo

This is something else we've been spending a lot of time on this summer. This is the only room in our house that we haven't touched since we moved in 6 years ago. There are rooms that I've painted 2 times, but my poor room was left alone. I think it was because I didn't know what I wanted to do there and therefore didn't do anything.

Then, for Christmas, my parents gave me this beautiful chair and I really wanted to put it in my room. My room isn't very big so the chair was a tight fit, but I love the chair and that was a place I could look at it every day without worrying if my kids were going to get it dirty. So I started plans for the bedroom redo.

I found that the colors of the chair were a really hard color pallet. I couldn't find a bedspread that I loved so time continued to pass without any changes. Then we decided to put in a new window because I knew I was done with the storm window. The chair had to be moved downstairs while the window was put in.

Well... while the chair was in my living room I found that I sat in it a lot more. I also found that my kids didn't really care about it and pretty much left it alone. I also realized that it matched my living room! I wouldn't have to change a thing! So I decided that the chair would stay there. I have loved this choice. But that left my bedroom still not finished and completely back to square one.

Steve and I looked and looked at pictures of bedrooms to decide what we wanted to do. He found a picture of the wall paneling and I was pleasantly surprised to hear that he liked it and thought we should do it! We lucked out and were able to have Steve's brother, John put up the panelling and all I had to do was the caulk and paint. The process was forever because I never seemed to have the chunk of time required to get it done. But finally I did and I love it!

I'm thinking it might be fun to try and build a padded/fabric headboard... What do you think?

Reagan's Preschool Graduation

I think it's so funny that these little kids have a graduation for preschool, but on the other hand I loved seeing Reagan all dressed up and excited for the big celebration. It was fun to see what they had learned and meet her friends that I have been hearing about. So, I guess it's ok.

Reagan went to preschool this past year at Brighton High School. I really was happy with our experience. It was close, she loved all the people involved, couldn't beat the price and her bag was full of goodies every day when I picked her up. She learned a ton and had even more fun!

For her graduation they hosted the parents and families in the atrium and served cake. So funny! Reagan loved every minute of it. She still talks about how she "celebrated from school" so she is done now. Here are some pictures from the big day...

Vegas Baby

Wow. It's been awhile. I have been buuusy. But hasn't everyone? That's what it seems like to me. We have been really enjoying the beautiful weather. Swim lessons, bikes, slides, swings, walks, pictures, play dates. So many fun things! I just haven't spent any time editing pictures for the blog. But I thought I should probably put something on here as I realized I hadn't even posted their Easter outfits from months ago. Whoa. I am behind. But that will have to wait.

As summer was about to be upon us Steve and I realized we weren't going to be able to take our family on any kind of big trip this year. It just wasn't going to fit in. But we didn't want it to pass without doing something together. We wanted to try a vacation with just our little family. This was risky because we have 3 little ones under the age of 4 and we wanted it to be enjoyable and not a nightmare. We decided to stay close since we only had a few days. Steve picked Las Vegas. After a bit of hesitation we decided to go for it since our options were slim. It ended up being better than we ever could have hoped for.

I didn't take many pictures for a couple of reasons... #1 - it took both Steve and I's full attention to make sure the kids were safe and on their best behavior so there wasn't much attention left for picture taking. #2 - I took my point and shoot and the memory card was being screwy, I found out later that I needed to reformat my memory card. I took this one great picture of Crew in our hotel room... It speaks volumes of our experience.



Let me give you a brief rundown of our trip to Vegas. It was awesome! Really, it was. The kids were great! It made us so excited to do something again next year. They got along well and were very obedient. There is so much to see in Las Vegas, especially for the kids! We saw the tigers and ate at the Rain Forest Cafe at the MGM Grand. We saw the fountains and the beautiful moratorium at the Bellagio. We walked through the shopping mall in Caesar's Palace and had our own show at their fish aquarium and enjoyed a frozen hot chocolate from Serendipity. We saw the pirate ship at Treasure Island and the Volcano at the Mirage. We drove the strip many times. We went shopping and swimming at our hotel. We stayed at the Excalibur and Reagan was in heaven. She thought it was her very own castle and wore her princess dress every minute we were in our room. Crew was made a knight and saved her from every dragon they saw. So much fun.

I did take a bunch at the St. George Temple. We stopped there to let the kids run around and they really had a great time. The visitors center there has a lot of fun things for kids. If you haven't checked it out, you should.













So fun. Seriously. Love this little family of mine.

A little something

Just a little something to brighten your day!

20:52

I have been taking pictures, but I haven't been posting them. I will, promise. I have been so very busy with clients and they come first. But I wanted to share one today. My kids gathered some chairs and made their own train. Do you think we like trains at our house? Somehow Cache was the conductor but he wouldn't stay on the chair for very long. Reagan and Crew were happy to be the passengers.



*please ignore the mess that lays all around them. it's just all a part of the play;)

Summer Dance Workshop

Michelle Nielsen held a dance workshop for the young girls in the neighborhood and Reagan had the best time. What's more fun that dancing with all of your friends? Thank you Michelle! You are incredible!

 

Swimming Lessons

We've been talking about putting the kids into swimming lessons since the day Crew was born and we found out that he was a hemophiliac. We want our boys to be swimmers! We realize, of course, that we can't decide for them what they will want to do and what they will be good at, but we want to do all we can to steer them in that direction.

Well, we haven't been doing a very good job. This is the first time we've put the kids into swimming lessons and Crew is 3. At least we did it, right? And I am so glad we did. They loved it and so did I!

I was very nervous about Crew. He had a little incident last summer where he lost his footing in about 2 1/2 feet of water and kept slipping under the water. He didn't have time to catch his breath, he just kept coming up out of the water as he tried to stand up with a horrified look on his face. I ended up running out into the water and picking him up. He choked out the water and was completely fine. I think I was more traumatised than he was, but he has always been very cautious in the water since that day. Always by the edge of the pool or in the shallow end.

We have been very lucky that our friend found a fabulous teacher. We are so happy with Braden. He brings a ton of knowledge and is so good with the kids. It is fun to watch my kids with him in the water.

The first day was fantastic! They both did so great! I was completely relieved. But then on day two it was a different story. Crew didn't want to get in the water and cried the whole time. He wouldn't go with his teacher so I took him out of the pool and told him that if he would finish his lesson I would get him a special treat. "An ice cream?!?" he asked. And how could I say no? So with the promise of ice cream he finished his lesson, doing all that his teacher asked him to do, and crying the whole time. That's my Crew.

With the promise of ice cream on the next day Crew didn't even cry. He was very happy to be participating and by the last day he didn't want to get out of the water. Just what I was hoping for! Thank you Teri for including us in these classes and thank you Braden for doing such a great job with our kids! Can't wait til the next session!

Just for now...

I know there is a lot to say, but it is summer and I'm not feeling bad taking time away from my computer! But I really want to share something that I am loving right now...

CLICK HERE

...and enjoy

Randoms

* I am really behind on blogging and can't seem to find the time to do it
* cleaning up throw up is never fun, even when my heart is hurting for my child who is sick
* the weather is working against me this year. seriously
* editing, editing, and more editing
* new master bedroom... sweet!
* my mom had a brilliant idea to cut a hole in the wall of our living room and install a door so my children have direct access to the back yard. why didn't I think of this like 4 years ago? now I just need to figure out exactly how to make it happen
* I really love Dr. Pepper
* for some reason I am having an extremely hard time getting back on the diet train. I have tried at least 4 times and failed miserably. any good tips to help me stick to it? it worked great last summer and I would love for it to work again this time
* making lists of fun things to do with my kids this summer. no more TV please. time to play, play, play
* new books by the truck loads. I am going through them like water by some miracle. I must be reading them in my sleep because I really don't feel like I have a spare minute
* been having the best time with the hubby doing every day things, being constantly reminded how lucky I am that he found me and is sharing this adventure with me
* ear infections, warts, croup
* loving newborns, and weddings... keeping me so busy.. oh, and so are the 3 little rascals that live with me

Reagan's Spring Dance Performance 2011

Reagan really is becoming quite the little dancer. It is so fun to watch! It's like she was born to be on the stage. And isn't she gorgeous? I love this little girl and all her excitement. She makes our lives so much fun!