Made It Without My Hubby...

Well, I am entering this contest, "I made it without my hubby". I redid my table last year. It is 15 years old, and was that ugly, out-of-date light oak (I was SOOOOO sick of it!) So, I stripped the varnish off the top and re-stained it. Then, I primed and painted all the table legs, and chairs. AND...I LOVE IT! So, ladies at Shanty2Chic.blogspot.com - I hope you pick me :D

SHOCK...

That's right...you are probably in SHOCK if you are reading this! I have not blogged for SO long, I forgot HOW to get on, and log in, and do a post! I aint makin any promises to be better, but I figure if I really am "going to use this for a journal / scrapbook" I better get a writin' and bloggin'! So Jen...this is for you girlie!

My baby boy turned 1 in January!



If we can't find Austin...we look in the dishwasher. Seriously, the kid LOVES it!!!


Kelli and I surprised Mom and took her to Women's Conference. It was AWESOME! Love you guys ;)


I am pretty much a single parent...STILL! Poor Mikey is NEVER home. I feel bad for all of us! One year...and counting!!!


Sammie is taking singing...and is quite the performer....ALL the time! Love this girl.


Next piece of news...


I just finished the "Utah Women Of Steel Triathalon"
(it is not a FULL Tri, but it was awesome!) Training was fun, and I can actually swim UNDER the water now WITHOUT plugging my nose!...wahoo!!!



Where did the time go?....

My Bailee Rebecca graduated from Kindergarten and is headed to 1st grade! Wow...
She is ROCKIN at school. My mom-brag moment...she is testing in math and reading on a 2nd grade level (hmmmm...wonder where she gets the brains from in the family?....) :)


These girls are bestest buddies (most of the time!) They share a room, and a bed and will defend each other TO THE END! What a blessing they are to us.


My nephew, Hayden, needs a liver transplant. So, check his facebook page "Prayers and Support For Hayden". Concert, a run, and other things are coming up to help them raise money. Love you little buddy!

Fall Festivities!

We had an awesome October!


Helping Grandpa The Great in his yard. Isn't he so cute?!!


We got to spend a weekend in Vegas...all alone! It was awesome.


The 3 Musketeers! That is my Mom...she just looks like a sister! I hope I look that good when I am her age! Love these girls.



LOOK how big her lips are! Poor girl shut her lips in the back door of the van. Oh, it made me so sad :(


My 2 "Nice Witches". Sammie insisted that she was a NICE witch! :-)



Papa was a rodeo clown...and Austin was Winnie The Pooh the Bumble Bee. Aren't they cute?!!


Seriously...tell me those legs don't absolutely ROCK!!! Oohhh they are so yummy ;)

Where Have I Been?...

I thought you'd never ask! I have been PAINTING for the past week! I got started with a few projects...and it snowballed from there. But, it is SO nice to have all of this stuff done! Only a few more things to paint :-)

We got a "hand-me-down" dresser from my Mom. Mike wanted to give it to the D.I. but I saw potential...



Nice, don't you think?!


My bathroom was okay...but a little dull...so I faux painted and...


LOVE it!



My brother made us this bed for our wedding present. I love it. But, after almost 10 years, I am pretty sick of the white. So, I wanted a change...


And I got a drastic change!


We got this nice table from Mike's brother and again, have loved it but I wanted a change on this too...


So I stripped, and painted and sanded and stained and got this! This is my favorite project that I did.


I also faux painted my kitchen and it totally warmed it up. I finally like my kitchen a LOT more!


My poor kids and husband! When I find a project, I RUN with it! I learned a lot from these...and have to say it is a bit addicting! My back hurts, my body is black, and brown from paint, but I LOVE what i have done! Now...I will probably start faux painting my bedroom. (Yes Mike...this IS your warning!)

10 Years Ago Today...

I was driving home from college at Weber State University. We were stuck in traffic, so I told my friend to cut through the Smith's parking lot. We cut through, and then merged back onto Highway 89 in South Ogden. As we were merging back on, a cute guy in a shiny new car caught my eye. I was TOTALLY checking him out and he all of a sudden looked over at me. AAAHHH..what do I do? I just waved and smiled.

Then, we were kinda flirting and he told us to pull over. I told him we were going to get off the Kaysville exit, if he wanted to follow us. So...he did. We talked, and he got my phone number and...the rest is history!

Mike and I met 10 years ago, TODAY. I went home and told my mom, "Hey, I met my husband today!" She laughed and asked me, "Oh! Where?" I told her and she laughed and said, "Kaaaaara!" I just told her how cute this guy was that I had just met. My Mom used to wait up for me to get home from my dates. The first time my Mom met Mike, she told me after he left, "You are going to marry him!" She was right!

Mike and I were talking about it, and we have known each other for about 1/3 of our lives...crazy! I know that it was divine intervention considering the way we met. It is such a CRAZY story and I am crazy about him :-D

There are so many other details, but i am too tired, and can add them later!

Happy Happy Birthday Sammie Dear!

Happy Birthday to my Beautiful Baby Samantha! I can't believe it has been 3 years. It seems like just yesterday that I was pregnant, anxiously awaiting your arrival. Then, with the scare we had at your birth, it seemed like I had you forever.

Sammie girl, what a joy it is to have you in our home! You bring SO much liveliness and excitement...along with laughter and love. I truly love you to absolute pieces!!!

3 Things I love about you...

1. You LOVE to laugh and tease!
2. You are SO tenderhearted.
3. You are very sensitive.

You are among the few who can wear those legs with pride girl! I miss your chubby legs ;)


When you were a baby, I was always getting stopped and people would comment on how beautiful you are. I still have people comment on what a beautiful little girl you are. And, I have to agree 100 percent!!!

3 Nicknames for you...

1. Sammie Girl
2. Tsunami Sammie
3. Sam Sam

You have ALWAYS loved babies! Rarely can we find you without a baby in hand, or a stroller with a baby nearby somewhere. You have such a big place in your heart for babies.

3 Things you LOVE

1. Babies
2. Food
3. Gum


We had so much fun celebrating your birthday with you and can't wait to celebrate TONS more!

WE LOVE OUR SAMMIE GIRL!

An Awesome, Fun-Filled Week...

On Monday, August 17th Mike and I celebrated our 9th Anniversary. We went to lunch, shopping, spent the entire day together, and finished it up with dinner...all without kids :-) It was such a nice day. We sat at lunch and reminisced about the past years of dating and marriage. It was SO much fun! What a lucky girl I am ;)


On Wednesday, the 19th my little Bailee Rebecca started kindergarten! It was such a bittersweet day. I was so happy for her. We walked her into class the first day and she let go of our hands just as we got into the classroom. I felt myself trying to keep up with her because I was not ready to let go yet. I helped her find her desk and watched her for a second. When we left, I was trying not to cry. When I picked her up, she had a big grin on her face. She LOVES it! YAY!!!


Poor girl has Reactive Airway Disease...a lot like asthma...so nothing like a good old breathing treatment before the first day of school!


On Thursday, the 20th we headed up to Yellowstone with Mike's parents. It was SO much fun! We went to Yellowstone, swimming, shopping, Jackson Hole, and Idaho Falls! The kids traveled so good (for the most part!). The first day when we were headed back to the hotel Sammie said to Grandma..."Oh no! We forgot to find The Yellowstone Park!" I guess we should have explained a little better what "Yellowstone Park" was exactly!

The kids love their Grandma!


Notice Sammie's hands on Grandpa's eyes...she is such a tease!


Everytime Grandpa holds Austin, Austin holds onto his ear! We got a good laugh out of it!

Who knew? Except they spelled her name wrong! :)


Sammie girl's favorite mode of transportation.


Bailee saw this and said, "Look Grandma! It's the prophet!" We got a good chuckle from it!