Job

Many people complain about their jobs. Not enough money, too demanding on my time, coworkers... etc. Of course I have my complaints, but mostly it consists of: not-fulfilling-enough. However, afternoons like today are pretty much awesome. I'm listening to geography trivia while coloring. Kinda my favorite two things. #itdoesn'tgetmuchbetter

 

Utah Natural History Museum

April 7, 2016

Tree Season

May 28, 2016

 We did it.  We finally bought some friends for our peach tree.  It has been a single child for ten years and we finally decided to bite the bullet and dig some holes.  BJ spent hours... actually, DAYS planting these trees.  He wanted to make sure our investment was protected and nourished.  He bought soil, fertilizer , peat moss, and even made a screen to get rid of some of the bigger rocks. He intends for these trees to thrive in the tough Herriman soil.  Wish us luck!

Clean rooms!

Knock on wood... Their rooms are CLEAN!!! Even their "shove spots" are sparkling! They could still use some shelf organizing, but I'm really happy with how they look. I should have taken some in-the-process pictures to show the magnitude of the job. The boys room was literally knee deep at some points (granted, I pulled out every item they own and threw it on the floor to sort through). I filled up our entire garbage can, and a half, with broken toys, saved plastic bottles, discarded papers and much, much more. 

Ashlyns room took the longest, but we did some major re-organizing. My proud moment of the day was when the darling fruit of my loins proclaimed, "labels are the best things EVER". I loved her suggestion that we frame in her painting she made at Kaylees birthday party a few weeks ago. Then we finally hung the arrow-hooks we bought last year when we painted her room!

Room cleaning can be such a stressful, overwhelming experience, but we kept everything light and even fun! No one even broke out into a screaming fight (WHAT?!?!). 

Now if we can just figure out how to  encourage them to KEEP them clean!

While the boy's away, his wife will...

...Gather all the willing neighbors to move tons and tons of sand into the backyard for our sandbox!

And I feel kinda bad because after all that backbreaking work, the kids all had to go in because I had scrapbook club! (This picture is the kids playing in the leftover sand) I'll post pics later of the kids in the actual sandbox)

Project for tonight

Check out the lettering I just put up in the boys room!!! The Burgundy is vinyl, the HERO is painted wood.

While you were out... Heartland Cove Edition

While BJ was in Baltimore, I was a busy, busy lady! All of my "before" pictures are on my other computer but just imagine....boringness, then scroll down to see the transformation!

I couldn't have done it without the help of many people. Whether it was help painting, arranging, babysitting, shopping, shoveling, moving furniture, or just checking up and offering words of motivation, THANK YOU!!!

Please stop by and see it in person, it really looks much better than the pictures!

Kitchen: Paint Vista Blue "Suede" on stair wall, Paint Lion on other walls.

Family Room/Hall: Paint Durango "Suede" on North and West walls, Lion on others, Hang Palm Fan, Get new Clock for diagonal wall, Put shelves on east wall, get table and lamp for recliner, decorate! (BJ just beat GH Aerosmith...way to go!)

Needing to put a picture in the banana leaf frame...
I know, still need to add pictures...

Boys Room: Brick South and East walls (textured wallpaper) paint rest suntan, paint trim semi-gloss black, move carson in, ashlyn out. Still to do: install firepole (where changing table is, so kids can get down from top bunk!) and Decorate!

Ashlyn's room: Move office stuff downstairs (to new desk) paint bed....not recommended!!!, beadboard border, soft corner crown molding (thanks JOE!!!). Still to do: Find nobs for bed posts, and trundel, and Decorate.
Next Project: Finish "Garden Box" (It is actually a sand box, but for the sanity of myself and the kids we are calling it a garden box until it is done!) It is 1/2 way done but I think my metrosexual manscaping neighbor said he wanted to finish it for us!

to SWAT or not to SWAT

I feel like another 50 years has been added on to BJ's earthly years! He quit the SWAT (Special Weapons And Tactics) team in November . . . I think it was November . . . anyway . . . What an exhausting period of life! He has been a firefighter since the march before we got married (in July) so I have had plenty of time to accept the possibilities of complications. But with SWAT, it was totally different! He would get a phone call or page and have to leave the house . . . DRESSED LIKE THIS!!! . . . I didn't sleep, or relax till I got his phone call saying he was on his way home. I guess a few years have been added to my life since he quit too! I got use to the firefighting, but with swat, there are guns and criminals involved EVERY TIME! I know that "People gotta do it [SWAT]" but I'm really, really, really, really glad it's not my babies' daddy anymore! (I LOVE YOU BJ!!!)

So before he turned in his gear, we took a few commemorative pictures (Ashlyn was at school so she wasn't in the picture) and I was able to finally scrapbook them last night at a "Crop" with Lynette and Lisa (thanks for inviting me!)