Piercing

Savanah has been asking me for some time now to get her ears pierced. So yesterday my mother and I took her to the mall to get them pierced. I asked her several times if she was sure and she was positive that she wanted them. Unfortunately, there was only one worker so she had to get them pierced one at a time! But she was very brave and only made a sad face after the first ear.






After they were done she kept tucking her hair behind her ears so that everyone could see! She told my mom and I this morning that she was responsible enough to twist them around herself and take care of them. It was so cute!

CoUplEs GaMe NiGht...

Last night Shellie and Hans had game night out at their house! We munched on goodies and played some really fun games. (I forgot to take pictures at the start of the party so I don't have everybody~ darn it! ) We played "The Newlywed Game". Which proved to be hilarious.






Most couples had to leave after that game. But for those who stayed we played "M&M" game.

The point of the M&M game was to roll the dice and if you got doubles, you had to suck as many M&M's with your straw out of the bowl before another couple got doubles. It was hilarious!








We had so much fun. I have really been needing a night out and it was such a great one. Thanks Shellie and Hans! We sure do miss you two being in our ward!! We love your new home and of you should know~ you will never get rid of us!! ~HA HA~

NeW ProJecTs!!

So while I was home my sweet sister Hanna made me some crafts we could do while I was there. Unfortunately, there was no time to do them. So I brought them home and painted, sanded, and added things to them. I just had to paint the picture frame and sand it down. It stands beautifully but I have no room for that big of a frame to stand so I added a backer and ribbon and turned it into a wall frame!



I have had the idea for a while to do a Sepia picture of my kiddos feet. The frame was perfect for that idea!! I added the words "Lead me, Guide Me, Walk Beside Me" under their toes, on the picture.

The other craft she made me was a ladder, my sister Alison designed. Hanna was so nice to make me one and have it all assembled for me. I added some nice vintage knobs and handles and bought dollar store frames and mod-podged paper over them. (Thanks for the idea Han) I still don't have the top left picture in yet. But it will be of Beau and I. It added that extra flare my downstairs needed!



It is so nice to have such creative sisters! And I am so thankful for all of Hanna's hard work to assemble these crafts, share her creativity, and have them ready for me!! She really is the perfect Hostess! Thanks- Love and Miss ya!!

FaMiLy HoMe EvEnInG

We had such a great FHE last night. First, we all cooked together. Beau got all the kids together and they ground some wheat. Caleb especially loves this and is there to help with every part of it. Then Caleb and Beau went outside to grill some boneless ribs (yummy!), while the girls and I made dough for fresh scones and two loaves of bread. Savanah pays attention to the details and is getting to where she knows what we need next. She cut out all the scones and then rolled the remaining dough out to cut more. Kennedy mostly just played with her scone dough and rolled the same one out a billion times.





Then we cooked the scones and baked the bread. It was nice to sit down and enjoy something we all pitched in to do.

Then we took the kids on a long bike ride up to the college pond. I think Max enjoyed himself more than the kids. He was in the pond the entire time. The kids would throw pine cones at him and he would jump up and catch them. It was so relaxing to be outside and let the kids get some energy out.





When we came home we had a lesson on "Being Clean-Inside and Out." I love hearing the kids thoughts on things. And why they think we should be clean. Caleb kept saying "We get germs when we are dirty." And Savanah brought up that "We can feel the Holy Spirit, when we are clean." Kennedy kept saying "I clean my room."

I love family Home Evening so much! It has always been a part of my life. Something my parents did faithfully through my years at home. It really is an important time for families to grow together and learn together. It is easy to forget sometimes, but I can feel an increase of love in our home when we do it! This is one of my favorite quotes on FHE. It was said in 1915. I think if it was that important then, then in the world we live in today how much more important it must be!

1915: "We advise and urge the inauguration of a Home Evening throughout the Church, at which time fathers and mothers may gather their boys and girls about them in the home, and teach them the words of God ... If the Saints obey this counsel, we promise that great blessings will result. Love at home and obedience to parents will increase, faith will be developed in the hearts of the youth of Israel, and they will gain power to combat the evil influences and temptations which beset them." The First Presidency (Joseph F. Smith)


I hope you all are trying hard to find the time to be with your families! I would love to hear any fun ideas or things you remember about FHE's that were great successes!

Before and After- Part 2

BeFoRe:

This is the room how we walked through and viewed it. I knew it would be the perfect girls room. It had a large deep closet and the room is pretty big.


I hated to paint over the beautiful hand painted murals, but I had already been planning on how to decorate the girls room. I had the color scheme already picked out!

So here are a few pictures after. I painted the walls and the closet doors. We added molding around the windows and the window box. We added a vinyl lettering all the way around the room that says "Sugar and spice and everything nice...that's what little girls are made of." The room looks huge with the girls trundle bed.

AfTeR-



The old window on the wall is from my great Grandma Maxfields Farm. My sister Hanna grabbed one for me at a reunion a few years back. I left the original paint on it too! It matches great!




I am so pleased with how it turned out. I still have some pictures for the other wall I need to get up. But someday..

Our trip to Idaho

Beau and I took the kids to Idaho late Wednesday night after work. We didn't get there until 1:00 AM Thursday. It was such a short, fast trip that we didn't get to see everybody we would have liked to! But it was nice to be with my family. We hadn't been home for eight months. And my sister Rebecca hadn't been home for a year. So it was nice to finally all get to be together and see each other!



Thursday was Caleb's birthday and we celebrated with the cousins at my mom's house. I seriously can't believe that he is five now. It is so sad how quick they grow up! He got lots of presents from his Grandpa, Grandma, Aunts, Uncles, and cousins. It was nice to be able to celebrate his birthday with family!















Friday, was the day everyone else was arriving so as you can imagine the kids were hyper all day. My dad took us all to eat at the Great Wall. Then we just went back to his house and enjoyed each other.

Saturday we listened to Conference. What a exciting day. I love conference so much. I have always had a special place in my heart for Pres. Monson. He was the Apostle that I have collected all of his books and always felt like I really connected to. Being able to sustain him as our Prophet, was so special. I loved all the talks and felt so uplifted and edified. I love conference so much and each time feel a bit more motivated and renewed!

Later on that night my mom, sisters, and I went to Garcia's to eat. We had the best time laughing and giggling at each other!



I wish we could have been there longer. We had to drive home Monday and our trip just seemed soooo fast. But it was still worth it!! I miss my family so much. I value these special times that we have to be together! It is hard not to be there in person and see my sweet little nieces and nephews growing up. And it is really hard on my kids not to get to see their grandparents more often!

I am so grateful for the strong bond we share as sisters and as a family. It makes me sad to know that many families don't have that! I am grateful for such loving parents, who sincerely want us all to be together. My parents are so giving and generous and I appreciate all they continually for us! I miss you guys so much already and cried a good portion of the ride home!

Here are some more pictures from our trip- (there is a lot!!)

Before's and After's - Part 1

So I finally am getting things how I want them in my house. So I thought it would be fun to share the before pictures (how we bought it or how it looked when we viewed this house ) and after pictures. How it is now!

This is the Master bedroom. This is how we walked through and viewed it. There was no molding around the windows and there was a light pinkish tan on the wall.

Here are some after Pictures-







I wish you could see it in person. It looks better in person then in the pictures!

The Winner Is......

O.K. So the winner is Jessica Gray!! She guessed $800, and is the closest to the price we payed!! We payed $350 total! See what I mean when I say I would have been an idiot! Thank goodness for Beau!!