Novalee's Growing Up

Novalee went to the girl scouts overnight camp in May.  It was her first overnighter without us.

   Weird. 

We probably worried more than she did.  

The next day I went to pick her up and she was having so much fun! 

Then in June she graduated Kindergarten.

 Sadie couldn't handle Novalee getting all the attention.  Sadie in in the process of pushing Novalee out of the picture.

 All better.

 I never really got one of her looking and smiling at me.  

She is so cute, serious and all.

 Kinsley liked all the songs they sang and danced a little.

 Still not smiling

 I wonder if she was just wondering when it would be over...

We are proud of our little girl!  She had a really good kindergarten year and she learned so much!

Zoo Trip in the Spring

We got a family membership to the Zoo this year and went for the first time in the spring.  And awesome enough, Wesley got to go with us.  We've gone several times since, well me and the kids and once more with Wesley but I don't think we ever remembered to bring the camera again.  :)

The last few times that we have went Novalee and Jared have wanted to spend all their savings at the Zoo store or on other things at the Zoo.  We are slowly collecting a lot of zoo memorabilia.  

 They are so cute!  

 Proof that Dad was there.  :)  (This must have been before we got our double stroller.)

 One of Jared's most favorite things to do at the Zoo is to take pictures of the animals.  I think he has been bummed the last few times that I've forgotten to bring the camera.  We have A LOT of animal pictures on my dumb phone AND on our SD card.  I think it is really neat he likes to take pictures so much.  He wants to be on the photography club at his school.  I'm not even a 100% sure if they have one but he said the 3rd and 4th graders do it, so I guess it just might happen this year.

 Our first visit to see the elephants since Lilly was born.  She was born on Jared's birthday.

 There she is.  She is was so cute.  I thought she would grow so fast but since we've come back the last few times she doesn't look that much bigger...

 Do you think Jared is suggesting the lions breath is stinky?

I really like the snakes at the zoo.  I think this is the python.  I want to make it sometime in time for feeding time.  I think it would be interesting to see.

Getting Ready for Halloween

I loved summer this year! But for whatever reason as soon as it rained this last week I was ready for fall.

We went to Goodwill (I know, I roll high class) and picked out costumes for the kids.  We bought lights for our front porch and I started searching Pinterest for ideas on DIY halloween craft ideas.

I found a door wreath I liked right away and set out to copy it.

Here is the actual one on pinterest: http://lemontreecreations.blogspot.com/2010/10/wreath-bewitched.html

Here's mine:

 Perhaps not as cute as the one on Pinterest, but I like it.  :)

I tried to use things I already had.  I didn't have a foam wreath to I used the rim of a recently emptied Red Vines Tub.  It seems to have worked just fine.

I did buy the tulle and green fabric and the sign.

I didn't think it would be super simple to paint a plaque with our name on it so I cheated and bought this "Happy Halloween" sign at the Dollar Store today and cut it down to size.  Maybe someday I will paint our name on a sign...but probably not.

Happy Halloween...in 1 and 1/2 months.  :)

Beautiful Temple

Last Saturday I was at the temple.  Later I came home and told Wes that I thought we should take the whole family because the flowers there were so beautiful. 

But really our only chance before they closed for two weeks was the following day.

So after church we headed to the temple with our family.

It was such a sunny day.  And as an added bonus they were doing tours of the temple grounds.

 

 Look at those flowers!

 

 So sweet!

 

 I love my family!

 

Here are some other sweet moments.

 

This is kind of a fun picture because while taking it, I told Novalee that someday she would stand in that exact same spot (if she chose to be married at this temple) next to her husband and I described to her how beautiful she would be dressed in all white.  It's kind of cool to think about.

 Did I mention it was sunny?

 

 I love this picture of Novalee. 

 Just dreaming away by the fountain.

 Why do all the good pictures have to have strangers walking through the background.

  Annoying.

 

 We asked Jared to take a picture of Wes and myself by the fountain.  Once upon a time we were by this fountain in our wedding clothes.  So Jared stood WAY back, snapped the picture and this is what we got.  Ummm, too close!  We were cuter "once upon a time." 

 Here was his second attempt. 

That's better.

 



On the way out we saw this little guy roaming the Kruse Way neighborhood.

 

 

New Light Fixture in 2nd Bathroom

Yesterday I installed a new light fixture in the kids' bathroom.  

 

Anything is better than the generic silver one.

 

 

 

Master Bathroom

I painted our master bathroom blue probably four or five months ago. 



This is a little darker blue than it really is.  We think it goes well with the silver and white.

The cabinet next to the shower came "practically new" (a beloved phrase stolen from my stepdad Larry).  I got it a Thrift City on their 50% off day for only $12.50! Score!

This is the mirror the way it came when we moved in.  I had serious complaints that whomever installed it used some sort of black glue type substance in the four corners to hold it up.  I mean really, "What are people thinking?"













We framed the mirror.  (An idea totally stolen from someone I know.)  We bought trim we liked at the hardware store, painted it white and then cut it to size to fit the mirror.  If ever we move, the people that try to replace this mirror will be cursing us for eternity because I liquid glued that sucker all over! :)  The whole wall will have to come down to get that mirror off the wall!  Mwahahaha!  Seriously, "What are people thinking?"  ;)




We enjoyed our blue perfect bathroom, complete with a brand new double towel rod for about a week when Sadie decided it would be nice to use the towel rod for a swing.

When it happened I told Sadie to go down and tell Dad what happened.  She then proceeded to go downstairs and only say to Wes, "Mommy says not to be mad at me."  (Not quite).

 Little stinker

So Wes had to cut out a big hole and put in a horizontal 2X4 across the two main vertical 2X4s and then reattach the sheet rock.  Then I got the lovely job of spackling, applying orange peel, priming and repainting. 

 It was work. But you can't tell it ever happened AND that towel rod isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

 

So back to enjoying our lovely bathroom.