New Couches

The new couches have arrived and I am throughly enjoying their presence.

We purchased these from Bassett Furniture.  The store in Orem is remodeling so everthing in the store is currently 35% off, including special order items such as our couches.

I sold our former set on the classified ads and within a day we had a buyer.

                              
                        Thank you for the birthday gift Clint.  You sure know how to spoil a girl.

A Mini Trip

The little man adores a good trip so when Clint mentioned he had a voucher for a free night stay we decided to get out of the cold and go to where it is even colder-Park City.

There was swimming, more swimming, eating pizza, cupcakes and candy, staying up late, and shopping. 

Even though we were gone for only one night, it was a lot of fun and satisfied the boy's insatiable appetite for trips.  Oh wait, it didn't.  Before we had even left Park City he said he wanted to go on another trip.  To that I say- sure, in two weeks we will go to St. George.

Pink Shoes & a Package

I adore these shoes on Little Miss.  Even though they don't stay on they are so very cute.

There was a knock on the door the other morning and much to Easton's surprise and excitement a package lay waiting for him on the front step. 

The little guy was squealing and jumping all around.  He loves getting anything in the mail.  I give him  my junk mail and he'll play all afternoon with the credit card terms and conditions pamphlets. 

This was much better than a credit card pamphlet though.  He tore into the box to discover a cache of treats and goodies sent from Grandma Connie.  Marielle tried to get in on the action but she was not quick enough.  Easton ate her share of the treats as well.

We made peanut butter kiss cookies with the chocolate kisses Grandma sent. Easton unwrapped all of the kisses for the cookies.

 I caught him sneaking a cookie before breakfast. {I'm sure it couldn't have been because he saw me eat one moments before.  oops}

The Blah Bathroom

This little Miss has now mastered the art of crawling up stairs.  She has not mastered coming down the stairs however, unless you count trying to go down head first.  It is now time for one of those obnoxious gates to be placed in front of the staircase.

{ I can't get enough of this smiley face.}

Several months ago I gave my bland, builder beige bathroom a mini makeover.  I was so tired of looking at this:

With a tiny budget {enough to buy a can of paint and a shower curtain rod} and some fabric I had on hand I transformed the blah into this: 

{slightly less bland bathroom}

The tiebacks are hooks I purchased for $2 a piece and originally planned to use them in  Marielle's room to hang a few things on but I never did. 

I love a good apothecary jar or two.  Not only do they look fabulous, they are functional as well as inexpensive.  I purchased mine at various places, Roberts craft store {using a 50% off coupon}, yard sales and Ross.

I have a list in my mind of  many more things to do to the bathroom such as add a mini chandelier above the tub but husbands and $$ prevent such things from happening.  For now I will just enjoy not having a beige bathroom any longer.

A New Year a New Me

As I type this post I am in my room having a time out.  Easton sent me to my room  because I wouldn't let him have a treat.  I really like time outs.  He should send me to my room more often.

Although I always dislike taking down the Christmas decor because our house seems so bare afterward, it always engerizes me to clean out unwanted items throughout our home and organize things a bit more. Easton assisted me in getting the hearts out for "heart day" and placing them around the house.  With each new year brings new goals.  I decided to try a new format this year with my goal setting and set a few goals in five different catagories. 

1.  Family: Go on a family vacation.

2.  Personal:  Become more organized.  This is one of my goals every year but there are so many areas to become organized in.  This year I am focusing on schedules.  I have scheduled  my daily goals for cleaning and playtime with the kids.

 Example:  Thursday- Dust & vacuum the upstairs

Craft time

3.  Health:  Run two times a week.  {Many of you are probably thinking- that's it, only two times a week.  In my defense I  have not run since high school and so I thought I would ease into things a bit.  I actually went running for the first time a few days ago and managed to run 1.8 miles without stopping or dying.}

4.  Social:  Call or send a card to each of my friends on their birthday.  I am the worse at keeping in touch so this will help me.

5.  Spiritual:  Read scriptures and say prayers with Clint each evening.

The new year also brings a new age for me.  I am now a thirty something, celebrating the big 3-0 last Friday.  My family as well as Clint's gathered at our home for a pizza party.  Easton really wanted me to have a roller skating dance party.  I wanted to as well but when you have a little one that loves to go to bed early, it's hard to do things like dance parties.  I guess I'm showing my age.

                                        
Clint took me shopping for my birthday.  I've been wanting new couches.  I've debated about getting new ones  because I don't worry when Easton plays on them or takes off all of the couch cushions and bounces around on them.  However, our couches have become so worn they are no longer comfortable and you sink when you sit on them.  So in three weeks these beauties will be gracing our family room. 
                                          
I can hear Easton calling me now- telling me my time out is over.  It was nice while it lasted but I don't think I got a full 30 minutes.

I know it's January 6th but I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season.  (One of my goals this year is to be better at blogging.)  We went to Grand Junction to my parent's home for Christmas.  All of my siblings were there.   If you notice Easton was really excited to eat the ham at Christmas dinner.

New Year's Eve all my siblings and cousin came over for the traditional appetizer party.  Clint and I barely stayed awake to welcome in 2010.  On New Year's Day, Easton awoke to find a present under the tree that Mrs. Claus brought to him.  She always visits New Year's Eve and brings the one present Santa forgot to bring at Christmas.  The tradition of Mrs. Claus has always been a part of my childhood and I'm excited to have Mrs. Claus continue the tradition with my children.

Little Miss is moving all over the place.  She is a proficient little crawler and pulls herself up on everything.  She had her first run in with the coffee table and received a little shiner. (I wonder if I could say little a few more times.)

She is exactly 8 months old today.

I Love Christmas

I look forward to laying by the fireplace each night.  When it's snowing outside it's my favorite place to be.  So cozy.

Of course I love the Christmas tree and I keep the lights on constantly.  The ambiance created by the tree adds so much to our home.

Christmas cards from friends and family near and far make me smile.

The beautiful story of our Savior's birth.

My absolute favorite thing I love about Christmas are these little gifts under the tree. 

Merry Christmas everyone!

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,

I've been a really good boy.  I help my mom with my baby sister.  In fact, just yesterday my baby sister pushed me so I sat her on the stairs for time out.  To make sure she wouldn't fall I placed lots of pillows around her.  I gave her a five minute time out.  I know she is only 7 months old but she pushed me so she deserved an extra long time. 

For Christmas I would like a big football, a big candy cane and a blue ruler.  I would also like another turkey baster.  My dad already bought me one but I figure you can never have too many turkey basters as a three year old.

Love,

Easton

Dear Santa,

I've been a really good girl.  The last few weeks have been kind of hard on my mom because I've been getting my two front teeth in.  I know I get up a lot at night but I just don't feel well.  Other than that I've been good.  Oh, except for when I pooed on my moms bath rug today while she was getting me ready for the tub.

For Christmas I would like a nice beard like yours and some knee pads.  I've been slithering around the house for a couple weeks now.  I forgot to mention that I keep pulling ornaments off the tree and ripping the wrapping paper on the presents under the tree.  I'm just so cute that maybe you could overlook that.  I can almost crawl on my hands and knees.  I get up and rock back and forth, take one crawl forward and then go down to my tummy to do the army crawl.  I really think a pair of knee pads would come in handy as I crawl around.

Love,

Marielle

Finally Finished

I finally finished decorating Marielle's nursery.  I was waiting for the dresser and nightstand before I could complete everything.  I originally purchased the dresser and nightstand at a consignment shop about two months prior to Marielle's birth.  The consignment store owner told me she would paint them and have them ready for me within three weeks.  Well, three months went by, I had Marielle and still no furniture.  I called the owner who informed me my items had been stolen by the consigner.   She said she would find something similiar to replace them with.  I waited and waited and seven months later the consigner finally delivered my dresser and nightstand which she said she had "painted."  Turns out she sprayed a few coats of spray paint on them and called it good.  Apparently she didn't have her glasses on when she was spraying because she missed the whole bottom portion of the dresser.   I can't complain though.  I received a great deal on the set.  I plan on repainting them in the Spring and spraying all of the knobs pink. 

Almost all of the accessories have been spray painted to match the colors of the room.  I mostly focused on a pink and cream palette and added a splash of seafoam green.  I purchased accessories from the thrift store, Hobby Lobby and TJ Maxx.

As I mentioned in a previous post awhile back, I was able to get the chandelier for free because they no longer carried the crystals that went with it.  They gave me my money back and I went to Home Depot and purchased my own crystals.  The medallion was purchased at a yard sale for $3.  It's actually an umbrella stand but for $3 it became a very heavy medallion which Clint nailed to the ceiling.

The crib is from Babies R Us, as well as the rocking chair and ottomen.  Originally the chair was purchased when I had Easton and so I just moved it into Marielle's room.  It has held up really well and I love rocking my babies to sleep in it.   

Christmas Spirit

The Festival of Trees is not only brimming with the most beautiful, amazing trees you have ever seen, the stories behind each tree are so touching.  My eyes always well up with tears as I see the faces and hear a little about the life each tree is dedicated to. 

If you notice Easton has his snow boots on.  Even though the boots are two sizes too big he insists upon clomping around in them wherever he goes.  He also insists upon bringing his giant plastic candy cane with him as well.  The candy cane was purchased at the dollar store recently.  It was a tough decision between a turkey baster and the candy cane but in the end the candy cane won out.  Those turkey basters can be a lot of fun though.

Over the weekend we had the chance to get together with our friends from Utah State for a little Christmas party.  Clint lived with these fellows his senior year and daresay the fun never stopped at the Chateau. 

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