School Days (Part 2)

This is Sophie. We call her our little nugget. Why? No idea.



She started big girl preschool yesterday (sniff) and boy was she ever excited! I had her enrolled at a local elementary school, but when we went to visit and meet the teachers on Tuesday, I had the strong feeling that school wasn't for us. Wednesday I visited a little private preschool which usually has a long waiting list, but I thought I would give it a try to get her in. To my surprise they had an opening on the day and time that I wanted! It was meant to be. It's about the cutest school ever with darling teachers. So, eventhough it was hard to see her go yesterday I knew she was in great hands and as expected she had a wonderful time. She even learned her first number...1.

She's brilliant.



She wanted her ponytail showing in the pics, hence the profile shots.

I also realized when I posted all of the first days of school pictures for Jake and Abby I didn't post any preschool shots...so here are their first and second years of preschool.







Ah, good times. It's a good thing that it's just the kids and not me who are growing older.

Ode to Summer

Dear Summer,

Oh how we've loved

your sunshine,

cool breezes,

late nights,

lazy days by the pool,

barbeques,

baseball games,

trips to the beach,

and

time with family.

We pause for a moment
on this Labor Day,
to mourn your passing...

...and promise to think of you fondly...

...on those gray winter days that last so long.

School Days

Could it really be that time of year again?? This summer has absolutely flown by and I am wishing I had more time together with my kids! We've had so much fun! So yes, they went back to school on Monday starting the 5th grade! What?!? How can they be starting 5th grade? To prove they are really that old I've posted pics of all of their first days of school. I can't believe how much they've grown!



First day of 5th grade




First day of 4th grade




First day of 3rd grade




First day of 2nd grade

First day of 1st grade

First day of Kindergarten (sniff)

Oh, how I miss them! Time seems to be going by in a flash so I'm trying to enjoy every minute. Sophie starts preschool in a couple of weeks and I'll have more pics then. (sniff again!)

40 Is The New 20......

....OK, so maybe it's the new 29! Yep that's right folks, I just turned 40. I've talked about it all year and now it's official. How come I still feel like I'm 25? I look in the mirror and still think I even look like I'm 25, but then I look at these pics and realize I'm starting to look older. Hmmmm, do you hear shrieking? Oh wait, that's just me realizing I even LOOK like I'm 40.....

We first celebrated in California (more pics to come on that) with my sister and brother-in-law. That trip was full of fun, eating, shopping, and the beach!

Yummy dinner and cupcakes courtesy of my sister.

Then on the actual big day, my mom made a feast for me at her house...we were so tired of eating out in Cali that this was such a treat!

This was the sweetest birthday kiss EVER!

Celebrating with these crazies is ALWAYS fun! So, cheers to turning 40!

It's Been How Long??

So, yeah it's been waaaaaaaay too long since my last post, and believe me I've heard about it numerous times from many people! The more time that goes by, the harder it seems to come up with a post. Do I catch up with all the goings-on? Or do I start with today?? I've decided to keep it simple and post a few pics of what we've been doing the last few months. I'm just going to warn you now that you will be seeing some way old pics (ie. snowmobiling)! That's just how long it's been!!











Snowmobiling in Midway with Rob and Kent.

Easter 2010

St. George with the Jensens

Last day of 4th grade with Mrs. Glade

First season of kid-pitch baseball

4th of July 2010

Summer playing golf (Abby) and first year of tackle football (Jake) starting in August.

Whew! Now that the hardest post is done I promise to keep up again with regular posts! Have a good weekend!

New Find

Check out this basket I found the other day at Home Goods (sorry the price tag is still on it)! I've been wanting one for a long time, but haven't been able to find one. It jumped right into my shopping cart to find it's new home on my mantle.

I'm linking to the nester's mantle party.

A Few Projects...

I love to look at blogs that show different interior design ideas and DIY projects--I spend way too much time looking and not enough time doing!! One of the hardest places to decorate for me is the fireplace mantle. I have never been able to get it right, so I've been spending a lot of time redecorating, moving and making things for it. Bill never knows what it's going to look like when he comes home from work.

My first project was this burlap wreath. I've seen these done on a ton of blogs, so I decided to give it a try, but I had to make it twice as big for over the fireplace. What do you think? I think the ribbon needs to be wider or something. Any ideas?

It still needs more work--picture in the frame at the end, switch out the pine cones for spring, maybe make some more jute balls for the containers, etc...... Any ideas?

I love burlap these days, so I put some in this picture frame as a mat. Love it.

Decorative balls are a great filler, so I experimented with sheet music, rope and jute. I think I might try making one with burlap.

See my little pillows I got from the giveaway I won? I was expecting them to be a little bigger for my couch, but oh well. They're cute anyway.

My next project is this baby. Still haven't painted the cabinets from the incident here. I'm not looking forward to that job. I'm also painting the walls behind the shelves the same blue as the kitchen here. I haven't decided if I want to paint the middle section since it's built out and not wall behind it. What do you think?

I'm also having the famous red ottoman reupholstered--poor thing has had a rough go of it since Miss Sophie came along! It will be fun to change this room up a bit. Any other ideas?