Darling Noel

This one- who recently just turned 16 i might add, will be joining us for a good chunk of her Christmas break this year.  Can I just say our house is full of excitement over her arrival??!!!

tristans first day skiing!

This was the year! Tristan was finally old enough to venture out on the ski slopes so we decided that for Christmas we would get new ski gear. Neither Jonathan or I had much left from our college skiing days and most of our gear was very outdated. Elijiah having his dad get him a ski pass yearly was up every winter and it was time for us to join him. The coolest thing is that Khory and my mother connected to make custom ski harnesses for kids. When we were teaching Elijiah there wasnt much on the market that worked and thus an idea was born. The harness is great as it allows for the adult to be as close as needed, but also control movement left or right.

The whole time we were preparing to go Tristan was complaining that he didnt want to ski( um he didnt even know what it was) but once we got him all set up and he could see the other kids doing it he was ready to go. That is until we started...he just assumed that it would be cake. He wasnt prepared for keeping his skis straight, or "pizza" toes, or that his legs would hurt etc LOL. We did fall a couple of times, but after several

Tries with the rope tow he was getting it down. Unfortunately he didnt last long. We wanted to make his ski time fun and so when he was done-he was done!! The reward after a "long" day of skiing was hot cocoa, cheetos and a gatorade. During this whole time Elijiah would make runs up the mountain and ski by us...next time we go we are ready to take on the chairlift and mountain.

I am actually really excited- Alta has free skiing after 3 pm and Im sure we will do that this year- no use wasting money when we can ski for an hour or two without cost. It was a beautiful time to be out in nature doing something our whole family can enjoy. FABULOUS!!!

35

Thanksgiving brought with it my 35th birthday...cant believe it!! Jonathan rocked the house with a surprise day date- lunch, twilight, and a pretty cool gift.  thanks honey!!  the actual day however gets a bit lost with the holiday and my sweet mother wanted to make me a bday cake...however only HALF a cake as there were tons of goodies and pies! LOL. 

(on another note- our friend bought Tristan this awesome shirtcape.  its quite cool.  you have a built in cape to be any super hero you want to be! ) fun eh?

Engaged in some good work

With my mothers bday approaching...the best gift is spending some time together.  Its a rare occassion that we see eachother sans husbands, kids...so taking a night and being engaged in some good work...was much needed.

I felt uplifted, and peaceful as we spent time in the Draper Temple.

Thanks Mom.

                                                                          (source: mikehendriksen.org)

a little fun!

Our  work holiday party was in Midway this year...between the pics, the food, entertainment..it was a good time.

Ongoing look at projects around our home

This is the entry way of our home...
This picture was taken at the front door essentially.  We have done a lot of work to the entryway as we replaced the hanging light and painted...the ceiling is at least 20 feet tall so changing out the light and painting was no easy feat...This is the "after"....

Lets take a look at the before....this is just after we installed the new chandelier lighting for the entryway and the picture is taken at the top of the stairs in the hallway near the bedrooms...

Jonathan was a brave soul when he changed out the lighting...we always wanted to paint the entryway and staircase but was put off by how we could do the scaffolding safely...however we put several ladders together and he shimmied his way across to get the old light down, and the new light up...and in the process dinged the wall pretty bad so we were faced with having to paint anyway.

He did an incredible job as I really love our hallway and staircase now.....the pictures and collection of frames we have really makes a statement and is filled with all our favorite family pictures....

Dining room, Kitchen, Formal sitting area, and Entryway =Check.

Next up -finish Family Room and Guest bath(what I mean is gut the bathroom and redo it all-FUN!!)

Kitchen is done!

Kitchen remodel is complete. Im really excited about the changes...it took almost 4 months but its done.  Lets take a look at the before:

Lovely oak cabinets, white stained formica countertops, brass lighting, white walls, missing and unmatched not working appliances, old sink and broken faucet....

After: Refinished cabinets, grey quartz countertops, white mosaic tile backsplash, new hardware, lights, paint, appliances, new stainless sink and faucet...

Another before shot:

After---so pretty!

Its quite amazing the transformation of space and how the kitchen was my biggest dislike of the house, and now I love it.  Thanks to the amazing hubby for again sticking with all of my demands and his hard work! Love you honey!

A new thing work wise

So Ive really decided to turn the focus of the blog more into capturing the family pictures and brief updates of our lives.  Ive decided to go back to Journaling privately and capture my thoughts and feelings there....HOWEVER a great thing has happened and I just had to share...I am now working from home one day a week!  I know I know...not big shocking news like HEY we are PREGNANT!( Okay sorry that seems to always be on my mind) but this is quite important in our family for reals!  As many working mothers know- there is never enough time, you are stretched quite possibly too thin and sometimes life seems to unravel.  Well its been unraveling for a while- too many things on the to do list, obligations.  So I approached my boss- could I work from home on the day that afterschool activities and the to do list runs a mile long...It eliminates about 2 hours on the road for me that day ( commute time) and that means I have that time BACK for laundry, dinner, house cleaning, and just general less anxiety and stress.  She said YES!

The reason this is so huge, and why I love my job so much- is I used to work for a company and boss that didnt recognize that I could do my job from anywhere.  Also happy employees make for PRODUCTIVE/ loyal employees.  Crazy concept I know.  My company recognizes this- encourages this- wants their employees to grow, do amazing things and supports us in all our endeavors.  My boss rocks.  I have never worked for someone who is so amazing, inspiring, kind, a friend, a mentor and also is incredibly respected by all at the company.  This in turn gives me increased desire for us to succeed.  I am bought in to our mission, values and go above and beyond.  Its amazing to see how this works and also works in the opposite if your company doesnt do these things...morale goes and so does employee satisfaction.  At least for me. 

I will always wish and long for the day that I can stay home with the boys..but in the mean time I have a good thing.

Anyway as Thanksgiving approaches, a season of gratitude is upon us...I am just grateful for my job.  My career.  I dont think I have ever been able to say that before- and truly mean it.  Its an incredible blessing - to be employed, have flexibility, and its something that I dont take for granted. 

Happy Birthday Elijiah!

Happy Birthday my dear boy! Ah Elijiah 9 years old. Can we just stop the clock? You have obviously grown taller, learned much and done a ton this last year! Its really sad to know that the time continues to fly right on by and I have no power to halt it and keep you my boy forever. It’s a terrible thing you know :)

So lets see the recap of last year? This is getting harder to do each year- because there are so many milestones and memories but some of the best has been to see you continue to develop and grow in your talents. Piano continues to be something you are getting better and better at. You were on the competitive soccer league and you are incredible. Your primary role is to play defense…you have naturally gravitated to that spot- hating to loose and feeling that by keeping the offensive players at bay and stopping them for getting goals is your sweet spot. I cant tell you how many times your team has fallen apart when your not on the field. You have natural leadership and the other kids not only look up to you LITERALLY- but also because you are a consistent player- one that no matter what when you walk on the field the game changes. Parents have told me time and time again when your on the field they don’t have to worry about the game, but when your not there- its noticeable.

I know you have have struggled with the move, and its been hard on all of us. Believe me- we wouldn’t have done it if we didn’t think that it was for the best. With time I know that you will appreciate the things that we do about the change.

You and Tristan continue to be at odds 75% of the time but there are times, where you can play well and enjoy one another. I hope that as you get older you will protect, love, and want to be around him more. I know that its hard when he plays with your toys, or messes up your legos. But know that its only because he looks up to you and wants to do everything you do

You have done remarkably well in school- so much so that teachers from last year and this year, think you need to be in accelerated programs…unfortunately no matter what we have done, we cant seem to get you into those schools. Too many kids, not enough funding. Not sure what we will do for sure next year, but in all reality sending you back to Lourdes may be what happens. I know you don’t love catholic school, but its really a fabulous education and we want the very best for you.

Thank you for continuing to do your best at everything. I know you don’t like certain things, but you always try hard. What also amazes me is the level that you are reading. You are reading all the teen books and then some…you just finished the Hunger Games series and if you aren’t reading late in the night I know its because you have finished up yet another book. I honestly cant keep up with you. 

Well Elijiah-Today is such a special day…its YOUR day- the day that you truly brought happiness in my life…9 years ago you made me a mother and forever a better person. Thank you for being who you are and blessing those around you. I hope you have a wonderful year.

Much love,

Mom

paint colors

I never knew that finding a pale grey/gray color was so difficult.  A total of 14 paint samples have gone on our living room wall.  NONE are working.  They either have yellow, green, blue, brown or purple undertones.  I believe now that it probably has more to do with our lovely brown carpet and brown couches - but I still cant seem to pick a color.  Its a small room that is open to our kitchen that is grey/white/black so I wanted to paint the walls in something that would be a neutral color that would blend to the kitchen.  Between elephant skin, rain water, grey skies, sterling, pewter- etc etc its just not working so the room that should be so easy to complete - has still a lot of work to be done.
I have considered just painting it white again...afterall picking a white paint cant be THIS difficult!

Kitchen Progress

While I thought we would do the white subway tile to match the fireplace in the adjoining room...I saw this mosaic and reconsidered.  Our tile backsplash in the kitchen is coming along

Halloween Madness

A little slice of our Halloween this year.

Family Fall Hike

Weve been a little preoccupied with projects around the house to get out much.  Its been a bit sad really.  There is nothing more that I love than to be outdoors as much as possible.  So even though Jonathan is sick...we took the kids on a short but very pretty hike not far from our house. 

Not really sure why these pictures are so small...They really are great pics of the fall colors in normal size.

In other news- Jonathans Ireland trip was cancelled two days prior to departure- Raegan had to postpone her trip due to a family emergency.  Halloween is next week and honestly I havent thought much about it- and Elijiahs Birthday is also coming up quick.  What to do what to do...

Surgery news

( right before he went in)

Wow two posts in one week! Im on a roll.

Well considering Jonathans surgery --I had to document it for our posterity! Many of you may or may not know that Jonathan has suffered for years with sinus issues. This last round of sinus issues has lasted for several months with terrible daily headaches that would cause him to have to leave work or be on tons of medication with little relief. There was discussion of doing the sinus surgery for a long time, but it seemed like a last resort as folks reported mixed reviews on the outcome.

He hit his breaking point though and we decided to go for it. Needless to say, the day of surgery came and we thought it would be a simple affair. We didn’t count on a 2 hour surgery lasting 4.5 hours or me getting a migraine while at the hospital with no medication on me. I cant tell you how much I wanted to go to a nurse and ask if they had imitrex they could give me. Can you imagine? lol Anyway I wasn’t able to be much help after being at the hospital from 11-6:30 pm with the pain I was in---and so Jonathans parents came and picked us up and took us home. I wont go into the VERY yucky stuff that is currently draining out of his face, or how much pain hes has-not sure what we are in for as far as recovery goes, but Jonathan is hoping he will be ready to board his plane for Ireland come next Thursday. 

FHE anyone?

( not the place we went btw- camera charger still missing since move- sure looks good tho)

In trying to get it all done-

Pick up T after work

Pick up J

Pick up E

Go to ski store and grab our waxed up skis, and get Tristan his…

While in the car on the way to get Pumpkins for family night do a quick FHE lesson in the car

Figure it’s a captive audience

Doesn’t go well

Pumpkin picking quite the let down

Family dinner turned out to be Jonathan and I as the boys spent it in time out

Elijiahs 5 minute time out turned into ALL night time out and he was asleep in bed by 7:30

Not so lucky with T- he didn’t turn in so quickly

Night ended on a high note however, but yea family night was anything but.

Whats up?

Things that are happening around here:


1. We are starting on the basement this weekend( cross our fingers)

2. Jonathan will be traveling for 10 days to Ireland for work( SOOO Jealous)

3. Im running about 5 days a week and haven’t lost a pound. I think that extra 7 pounds I gained from last year is here to stay- LOVE getting older!

4. Tristan started preschool and hes doing awesome!!

5. Elijiah has had a great season of competitive soccer and has improved 10 fold!

6. Headed for Vegas for a short 3 day conference- Please Sun be shining

7. Got new ski gear for all of us( Merry Christmas). It’s the year to get Tristan on the slopes!

8. I don’t know if Jonathan and I have had more than 10 minutes of “Us” time in the last month. Looking forward to a date night next week!

9. Baby on the brain is here to stay. Slightly more than depressed with the whole thing.

10. Raegan and family will be coming for a week! It will be great to see her and the kids!

online shopping BOO continues

SAD! So after weeks and weeks of online shopping looking for a rug for my kitchen I finally settled on Safavieh Thom Filicia in Turquoise now the top picture looks blue not turquoise right?  So when I purchased the rug...I purchased the SECOND picture based off the color I saw on Amazon.  I realize the same rug can come in multiple colors so I chose the TURQUOISE/ NOT blue rug...guess what the TURQUOISE rug looked like upon arrival?  Yes thats right....the first BLUE rug!  I called and they said that its an obvious error, but yes the blue in the first rug was a more accurate color of the rug I ordered.  So needless to say I am now paying the shipping BACK for this item and Im still on the hunt for a kitchen Rug. 

On line Shopping BOO!

Mmmm perhaps shopping online is a bit over rated…
3 out of 4 purchases this last month arrived either damaged or so far from their online description that I had to return them....
A bit of advice:
Don’t buy the zig zag chair from Urban outfitters. Piece o crap. Damaged upon receipt and quite honestly not worth the money…
West Elm drapes were not the color seen online and had to go back
Recent Etsy purchase was damaged in shipping and now dealing with a somewhat unresponsive etsy supplier about a refund- we will see if I ever get a replacement or refund.( see pic below for evidence of damaged goods)

GRR

So what is this teaching me? Perhaps only buy things that I see in person. Which severely limits my shopping as I live in Utah and don’t seem to have a lot of variety….and I work full time so my ability to shop is non existent to begin with. Makes for completing home projects slightly difficult.